Getting a Surround Sound System - First TIme Buyer - Help is much appreciated.

Hey everyone and great forums btw.

Ok i am a complete nublet with tech stuff, so i will try to put as much info i can here so you guys can try and suggest some items for me Thank you in advance for all your help and suggestions.

I have bought a new Plasma like 6 months ago and now its time to get some surround sound. I am after a Speaker Package.

My TV: Samsung PS50A558 plasma 1080p 50 inch

I will be useing the surround sound for PS3(Which i mainly use for Blue Ray&DVD but also as a games console), Virgin HD and as an added bonus if possible for my Ipod 80gb to slot in for music.

Room size atm that i will be useing them in is(13' by 20').

My budget would be from £200 - 300/400(Rather it 300 but would push my budget to 400 if i could get something thats newish technology(7.1?) and wont become obsolete in the near future or is worth that little extra push.

I spotted these :Panasonic SC-PT570EB-K 5.1ch Tallboy Home Theatre System with iPod Dock(Radio Wave's)

Also i have read that ONKY is a great make?
So i found these which seem to be only sold in the USA?

Onkyo HT-S7200 (B) 7.1-Channel Home Entertainment Receiver/Speaker Package with Dock for the iPod

Onkyo HT-S6200 7.1-Channel Home Entertainment

ONKYO HTS3200 Home Cinema System

Questions:
1] - Is wireless a good option(Radio Waves)(I dont mind wires so not a problem)?
2] - Do i need a reciever or 7.1 or is 5.1 ample for a newbie film watcher?
3] - Whats the difference between me buying all tall speakers or just two front tall speakers and two(5.1)/four(7.1)small rear speakers?
4] - Are all small speakers just as good as the tall ones?(I do like the look of tall speakers).
5] - I read something about good surround systems use the HDMI upconversion(whatever that is) and Dolby TrueHD also DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, Is all this possible on my budget?
6] - Which is the best way to recieve sound(Cables etc?)

Sorry for the long post folks wanted to get as much info in as possible.

Thanks again!

P.S. I did prepare all links to the above items for ease but this website will not allow me to post them sorry for this.

My choice for all around performance and bang for your buck would be the Onkyo HT-S6200. Great little system and the a ton of features/performance for it's $550 (US) pricetag. The receiver is the HT-R670 which is kinda HT hybrid between the 507 and 607. The speakers are quite ample and sound very good for HTIB speakers, especially in the price range. The 7200 is very good as well, but only real difference is the 2 fron speakers being integrated with stands and a slightly better receiver (HT-R160 I think).

But not sure what $550 US would be vs pounds. And as you stated, the 6200/7200 is not avaliable in Europe. The 6205 is and basically looks like a slightly modified 5.1 version... 5.1 is fine in most cases and may be a better fit than 7.1 depending on room size/layout. Most Blue Ray movies are 5.1 Dolby True HD/DTS HD-MA anyway.

1. Wireless speakers are usually not very good, especially in cheap HTIB's from what I have seen.
2. 5.1 will be fine and as mentioned, perhaps a better fit depending on room size/layout.
3. Nothing really other than having them already on stands. If you already have stands or a means of raising them to ear leavel no need really.
4. Do you mean the front 6200's vs the fron 7200's with integrated stand? If so same answer than #3 I believe.
5. The 7200 does analog to digital upconversion via the single HDMI out to the TV. So if you are sonnecting an analog source such as component video, it will convert to HDMI. But what I think your asking is about video upconversion. Both the 6200 and 7200upconvert up to 1080i via the receiver via the DCIe Farodja DCDi Edge for de-interlacing and upconversion. The 6200/7200 and both have internal decoders for both lossless Dolby True HD and DTS HD-MA or can do it via PCM as well with HDMI if your BD player/PS3 does not support it via bitstream.
6. HDMI for the most part as it can handle all of the codecs including the higher bitrate required for lossless. But if just going standard lossy DD 5.1 or DTS, optical or digital coax is just as good for that. Also, HDMI handles both digital video and audio on the same cable.


http://www.eu.onkyo.com/products/HT-S6205.html

Firstly many thanks Bigloww for your responce.

I checked out your suggestion, i havent got stands for the front speakers or wouldnt be able to mount them on the wall therefore i would prefer ones with stands, ive been looking to no avail still cant find anything.

Secondly damn prices are cheaper in the US $550 dollars is around £331.

From what i can see on the web these speakers for the UK will cost me nearly double that price or i just cant find any distributor i can order them from for close to my budget.

Would you know of any site i can order these from with front stands aswell or another great system by Onkyo.

Thanks again.

Sorry man. Looks like the Onkyo's are a bit over your price range at around 700 pounds. So either are going to have to save up a bit more or settle a bit on another system.

The Panasonic PT870EB is not bad. I am not a big fan of the HTIB's with built in DVD players, but these are pretty good, especially for the price of under 300 pounds. They have 2 digital inputs I think for your PS3 and Virgin HD STB, so you are good there. No lossless Dolby True HD or DTS HD-MA for BD movies, but not a big deal.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-SC-PT870EB-K-Tall-Cinema-System/dp/B001Y8Y5XK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257536190&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TX-SR507-Acoustics-1010i-5-1-Award-winning/dp/B0027YTX1E/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257535618&sr=8-22

Thanks again Bigloww.

I did find these at slightly over budget.

Onkyo TX-SR307 + Onkyo SKS-HT528 (5.1)£424 ($703) - .exceptional-av.co.uk/product.php?fdProductId=310

Does this set have the new lossless Dolby True HD or DTS HD-MA ?

Is this a good set for the money or should i wait?

Onkyo HT-S5105 (£349) ($579) - .exceptional-av.co.uk/product.php?fdProductId=105

Onkyo HT-S5205 (£345) ($572) -
exceptional-av.co.uk/product.php?fdProductId=205

Or separate: ONKYO TXSR307
Black AV Receiver With HDMI Interface (£180) ($298) -

With

ONKYO SKSHT528 Black 5.1 Speaker Package (£170) ($282) -


Which of these offers me the new technology and is the best for me to buy thanks in advance.

All 3 of the Onkyo receiver/HTIB's you list come with a lower end receiver or version of the 307. The 307 is HDMI Passthrough which is kaka and found in many lower end/less expensive HDMI receivers. That means that the receiver will "pass" the video portion "through" to the TV with no audio support. You will need to run a seperate optical or whatever seperate audio connection. Quite lame and no lossless audio support either. IMO, you will want at least the TX-SR507. The 607 is better of course but if 5.1 is all you want, I would suggest that.

Thanks alot Bigloww youv'e answered everything i need to know now.

Ive found the HT-S6205 for (£499) ($828) its quite abit more than i wanted to pay but as you suggested this as the best buy and i hope by investing the little extra i can keep this set for a good few years without haveing to replace it i will go for this, Thanks once again for letting me pick your brains about this subject.

Thanks alot Bigloww youv'e answered everything i need to know now.

Ive found the HT-S6205 for (£499) ($828) its quite abit more than i wanted to pay but as you suggested this as the best buy and i hope by investing the little extra i can keep this set for a good few years without haveing to replace it i will go for this, Thanks once again for letting me pick your brains about this subject.


No worries... The 6205 is a great choice and well worth going a bit over your budget for the reasons you mentioned. Let us know how it all works out and if you need any help setting that puppy up. The audeysse calibration mic makes setup a snap. The 6205 speaker only weigh around 3 pounds (insert kilos here :D), so you should not have any issues finding a decent set of speaker stands for under $40 (insert pounds here :D)..

Too bad monoprice does not ship across the pond. I got my speaker stands there for $15 a set and they work great. Perhaps you can find something like this over there..

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10828&cs_id=1082804&p_id=3022&seq=1&format=2


Cheers.

Once again thank you.

I will have trouble finding a set of stands at that price over here hehe.

I could just move to the USA :hithere:

Im checking the web atm looking for black cheapish but a nice design, so far all i can find at that price is non adjustable silver which hold 2 pounds of weight :banghead: or some hideous design's.

Do the Speakers attach to stands via bolt or slot or?

What the hell is The audeysse calibration mic lol and where can i get one ?

My search goes on hehe......

The speakers usully bolt to the stands.

The Audyssey mic is included with many of the Onkyo receivers/HTIB's including the 6205. You just connect it up and place it as close to you main seating area at ear level as you can and it will do the rest.

Once again thank you.


I could just move to the USA



Forget the sound system for now-- buy a plane ticket!!

Come on over-- we love legal immigrants, particularly those who are educated, speak, read, write English. We would love to have you here!

Forget the sound system for now-- buy a plane ticket!!

Come on over-- we love legal immigrants, particularly those who are educated, speak, read, write English. We would love to have you here!

will you offer him frequent flyer miles if he comes over multiple trips?? :D

lol omw if you can find me a green card :P