Page 1 of cheap 5.1 digital

im looking for a cheap 5.1 speaker system to connect my MiCO classica 20 dvd player up to.
im on a budget of £150.
but the sytem has to have a coax or digital input because the MiCO only has L/R audio outputs.

If the Mico only has L&R audio out, and no coax/optical (have I understood correctly?), then it suggests that it has no on board decoder, and so a budget of £150 won`t make it - you need a decoder as well as amplification and speakers.
Cheapest thing I can think of is something like a Videologic Digitheatre, but that`s the wrong side of £200, IIRC. There was mention of a cheap bit of kit that had a decoder made by Typhoon, on sale in Aldi or Lidl - have a look in the bargain forums. Otherwise, you could look out for a second hand Yamaha A5 amp (which has decoders on board), and some speakers - again, though, it`ll be tricky for £150.

Sorry I can`t be more help!

R

Grab a copy of what hifi (£3.50). In the classifieds you could pick up a Yamaha RXV396RDS (DD5.1 and prologic - no DTS) for £119 (£139 without quoting what hifi) from richersounds. If you have some speakers you can use for the front then richer also have a sony centre and surrounds for £19.99

This leaves a tenner towards a digital cable and speaker cables. Realistically though you could spend the tenner on cheap speaker cable alone. The cheapest digital (coax or optical) cables I have seen are either profi gold or cambridge audio for around £20.

I`m not saying that this would be a monster system but for £120 quid you`ll get an amp able to handle stereo TV and Video as well as the DVD and although it won`t do DTS could you realistically expect it to for £150????

Another option is to save another £50 and go for a relatively cheap system reviewed in last months what hifi from scan for £198. I don`t know how it will compare to the Yamaha but it got an ok review. Have a look at http://web6.scan.co.uk/Products/Info.asp?WPID=1970 if you are interested.

If you go for a budget amp you can always improve the cables and speakers at a later date to improve things as well but I would suggest that this cheap system would be more than a match for the Typhoon system from Lidl and possibly better than the scan one pound for pound. Beware though, if you grow weary of the amp the upgrade path will be pricy with the next best thing coming in at £200.

If you do all the pruchasing at richersounds you could book a demo in one of their rooms and hear it before you buy. You could also take out the extended warranty which entitles you to half your money back if you come to trade it in for a newer (DTS enabled?) model.

Good luck and sorry to have rambled on.

Just seen a post in the bargain forum re the Yammy AVS-77 - less than £120 - what are you waiting for - here`s the link to QED http://www.qed-uk.com/?i=tR71Z0YUrEM0&bg=225&bp=s77s&v=8
Link to yamaha site for info http://www.yamaha-audio.co.uk/homecinema/system/av-s77/index.asp

Only odd thing I can see about it is that the centre speaker (and fronts???) is combined with the actual main unit, so you`d need to locate that somewhere sensible.

Readmenow has some good suggestions too - personally I wouldn`t have touched the Typhoon thing, but Readmenow`s suggestions or this Yammy might do the trick - and if you get the upgrade bug you`ll be able to sell it on in a year`s time for little or no loss, I`m sure.

>>Edit >> digital cables - optical or coax of decent quality - see http://www.beyondhifi.net - less than £10 delivered :)

This item was edited on Monday, 10th June 2002, 11:42

Creative DTT3500 might be worth a look.
It has a Dolby Digital ,DTS and Prologic Decoder with a 30w subwoofer ,21w Centre and 4 by 7w satellites.
www.ukpc.tv are selling it for 150 pounds which isnt bad.

Videologic Digitheatre, £125 if you`re interested. Pro logic, 5.1 but no DTS.