Hi
Im a complete numpty in this department
Ive been promising my self a sound system for awhile now
Im looking for something with
DAB or would internet radio be better?
I want to be able to connect ipod/iphone
Connect and run tele sound through it
Connect and run dvd player
My dvd player is prehistoric so would i better of buyng a blueray player
The longe is fairly big so i want something with room filling clear sound
am i better of buying 5 point surround sound or just 2 big speakers either side of tele

With so many questions
i have thank in advance anybody with the time to answer them

Ive started researching on a few occasions and get totally baffled by
all the input /output/future proofing business
price wise…im obviously not hoping to get all this for a couple of hundred quid
but i think id have trouble selling the need for all this to the wife if it cost a grand

Many thanks

possibly should point out our tele is relatively new with all sorts of input/output connections

Have a look at the B&W Zeppelin Mini or even the full size version if your budget can stretch to it. It will do everything you’re asking, including taking a signal from your TV/DVD player. You can also stream music from a PC.

The Mini is about £350 IIRC.

http://www.naimaudio.com/

PS: Just re-read your post and just noticed your budget. Sorry, you won’t get NAIM for a grand.

IME tv systems are boomy (but you may have bass control on it or the tv) and so poor for music (IMO), hi fi systems don’t work too well with TV as there’s no central speaker.

Internet radio can drop out now and then but you can get spotify etc and also run your music wirelessly through say a logitech product.

Large rooms need reasonably big speakers and decent (which doesn’t mean huge RMS) amp.

Difficult to give advice without knowing your budget. My 4m x 4m LR does well on a £70 logitech AV speaker system and seperate hi fi set up.

Check out the Denon CEOL which you can get either with or without speakers. I’ve just got one and it’s excellent

ooh I see the “budget”…I guess it depends how seriously you value music over tv sound.

Lots of ideas here,
http://www.whathifi.com/reviews/all-in-one-systems/home-cinema-in-a-box
some of the Panasonic Bluray based systems also have an integrated I-pod dock,
http://www.whathifi.com/review/panasonic-sc-btt350
http://www.whathifi.com/review/panasonic-sc-btt755
http://www.whathifi.com/review/panasonic-sc-bt205
http://www.whathifi.com/review/panasonic-sc-bt200
Variety of features for your budget, yes other makes are available, and yes you could spend more and it may sound better, but for a budget and if you not an AV-holic user friendly in one box isn’t a bad place to start.
See if you can find a local stockist who could demo / install then you know what your getting before you part with your cash, and someone who knows what they’re doing can set it up and get the best out of it.
Hope this helps. Let me know if theres anything you’re still not sure about.

I’ve got one of these:
Onkyo HTS-5405 (AV amp and speakers)

with a sony bluray player and a squeezebox touch plugged into it – the squeezebox streams squillions of internet radios, including not just the live BBC stations, but all of the BBC iPlayer radio back catalogue (all radio for the last week).

Job done, lots less than a grand; plenty good enough sound for your living room.

Dave

here you go, get this:
Panasonic SCBTT370

then an Aux lead/dock for your iphone/pod and a squeezebox for your internet radio and streaming music. all in for less than £500.

A very simple solution would be an old amp, speakers and a PS3 – you will pick up a very good amp and speakers second-hand off Ebay for £150 and a PS3 costs £158 (Sainsbury’s).

Something like this – or get one with Optical input for direct sound from the PS3 (then you can bin the old DVD player too).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-Integrated-Amplifier-TA-F242-Hi-Fi-Amp-/220916541037?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item336fa6e66d#ht_1405wt_1180

(I am about to do exactly this using an old amp I have squirreled away in the loft).

Alfabus basically read my mind. I’ve also got an Onkyo system with the same extras as him. Great minds!

Sounds to me like you are looking for an AV solution rather than dedicated hi-fi just for music.

Have you got a Richer Sounds nearby?

They have a range of decent of well priced AV amplifiers which you can connect all you existing sources to. You can then think about what kind of speakers you need for your room.

For TV / movies and a bit of music you can get away with2 front speakers and a centre and add the rears later.

The alternative would be a soundbar like the B&W Zepellin but IMHO they aren’t as flexible or as expandible as buying a dedicated AV amp although they are a whole lot neater

theflatboy – Member
Alfabus basically read my mind.

🙂

mine is hooked up to a 1080p projector for full on cinema loveliness. We don’t have a telly, just watch films and the occasional thing on iPlayer.

Dave

Have a look at these if TV/movies is more important to you than music. MUsic will sti be OK though.

http://www.richersounds.com/information/home-cinemasystems

If music is more important have a look at their hifi systems and add a Sony Blu ray player to it.

Snap, look for an all in one unless you know a bit more than you’re letting on about set up and use of a separates system. see above post.