Page 1 of **Surround Sound System** Advise/Pointers please if you would be so kind :-)

I have been doing some `basic` research on the net and in stores regarding picking up a surround sound system for £150 or less. I have come across a few systems, and am wondering if anyone can EITHER advise as to whether the systems listed below are any good, OR point me in the direction of another recommended system that they are aware of. I am running a Minato G1 DVD player, but am wanting to set this sytem up so that it works through the TV( ie use the system for sound for everything - TV/DVD/VCR). I am assuming this is possible?!?!

Models I have come across - any good?:

• Sony Pascal SA VE225 Speaker Package - £149.99
• Pioneer SV 230 QL Home Cinema Speaker System Light Wood - £107.99
• Panasonic SBHEP10 - 5 Speaker Package 2 X Front 1 X Centre 2 X - £94.49
• Panasonic SBHEP20 - 5 Speaker Package 2 X Front 1 X Centre 2 X - £111.49
• Goodmans Home Cinema Kit - £150-ish at Comet (cant remember model, if anyone is aware of this `offer`)
• Venturer DVD Cinema System (Tescos £150-ish) - will this work for normal TV as well?

Thank you people :-)

If you are getting a surround system make sure it is at least dolby digital 5.1 as a lot are only pro logic. Dolby digital 5.1 has far superior sound as the rear speakers have seperate channels and are in stereo whereas pro logic only has mono sound in the rear speakers, provided your dvd player has 5.1 capabilities. I bought the yamaha TSS-1 series speaker system from pc world for £167. It has an optical socket a coaxial socket and two stereo sockets front and rear. The system is compatible with DTS, 5.1 and pro logic. I love this speaker set as everything is small and neat and sounds fantastic. However it is not suitable for large rooms. From the prices of the products you mentioned I would be surprised if they were 5.1 dolby digital compatible, it is worth spending a little extra for one that is.

Thankyou Slayer, your advice is greatly appreciated. I shall make sure I check it is a 5.1 system when searching. Does anybody have any other recommended systems around my £150 budget like slayer? Thank you :-)

I think you`ll find that the products listed are all speaker sets, and rely on something else doing the decoding, and some even the amplification too. Either that or they will not have any external inputs to allow you to run the TV/VCR through them.
I think I`m right in saying that the G1 doesn`t have on board decoding, so you need to get something that will decode the optical/coax output from the DVD, and then amplify it, as well as the speakers. A tall order for £150!!!!
I think something like the Yamaha mentioned above or a Videologic Digitheatre (maybe a bit too £££ - the cheap LC model has no decoging capability) is your only option at the price. I see that it has two analogue inputs as well as the coax/optical used to decode the dd5.1 output from the DVD player. The easiest way to run the TV & VCR to this would be to use the phono outputs on your TV (if you have them) - send that to the Yammy, and then mute the TV. Then whether you`re watching sky, tv or VCR the sound from that will be sent by the TV to the Yamaha, and then amplified.

Here`s a link to a review of the TSS1 - the page in the link has a nice close up of the rear of the unit.
http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1466&p=3

EDIT:
You could almost get a set of seperates for this money, although I think you`d need to upgrade the speakers after a while. Do you have a pair of speakers you could use for main left and right? If so, http://www.richersounds.com have some bundles of centre and surround speaers (look in the speakers/speaker packages section - Sony SSCD490 for £29.95, for instance. If you can find one in stock, then they also have the Pioneer VSXD510 for £110 - a receiver (amplifier with tuner) with DD and DTS decoding, plenty of inputs and decent build quality to complete your system.
Or, spend a bit more on some reasonable surround speakers, leave the centre for the time being (the amp should run a "phantom centre mode" where the centre channel info is mixed in with the main left and right), then later on look at a set of front speakers plus centre from the same range - Wharefedale are good. I know this is stretching the budget, but I think it will reap rewards later on. Hope I`ve not caused too much of a dilemma!

This item was edited on Thursday, 5th September 2002, 09:13

Phew! Thanks - have taken note of everything. Looks as if my £150 budget was a bit too optimistic!! I`ll have a further hunt around now that I know what to look for. Both of your help is much appreciated - thanks guys :-)

Sadly, it is. The only way you could really have done it is if your dvd player had an on board decoder, so you could output to one of the speaker sets designed for PCs - Novatech do one that gets a reasonable write up (HT210?) for £99.
However, the budget can really be a "piece of string" thing, so it is important to find a budget and stick to it! Other bits and bobs like cables can add to the costs too.

BUT - it`s worth it!!!

If I were you, I`d look out for a DD/DTS capable amp/receiver - you may pick up a second hand Yamaha A5, or find a Richer with that Pioneer in stock. Then look at speakers as I suggested above. Another thing to consider is room size, and how much you want the room to be dominated by the speakers etc - maybe the small speakers plus subwoofer (know as a sub/sat (satellite) system) is more practical for you. Happy hunting!