Advice on HD setup.

daza · 24-06-2007, 11:41 PM

Right, now that Ive got all my pc stuff sorted out I'm turning my attention to going HD.

Currently Ive got a cheapo (£200) 27" lcd thats non HD hooked upto my xbox 360 that I use for gaming, watching movies and as a media extender for vista (currently testing it out). So I've got a shoe string budget of about £2000 that I would like to spend on some decent sound and a nice HD LCD.

Now comes the problem as I am currently a student I cant go and buy it all in one lump its going to take about 3~4 months to get my savings sorted so I dont know if the'll be anything else out then thats better than whats out now.

And the second problem is that my room is only 97" by 87" (yes the bedroom folks) so I think I might be looking for a 32" or 42" lcd and maybe a 2.1 setup as I dont have room for a 5.1 even though I'd love it.

So I'm basically after a nice all round setup that will look/sound better than what I currently have, any suggestions.????

menthel · 24-06-2007, 11:52 PM

£2000 is not shoe string these days for a 32" tv, receiver, speakers and a dvd player. You could get something rather nice in fact!

rover214 · 25-06-2007, 02:13 AM

Full hd tv - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-LE40...502639-3480408

decent 2.1 thx - http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=303910

hd dvd player - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-HD-X...2737437&sr=1-3

around £1450 all in

menthel · 25-06-2007, 09:21 AM

Those are computer speakers and will not really be of much use! Will need a receiver and speakers or an all in 1 jobbie.

daza · 25-06-2007, 10:52 AM

looking nice I had my eye on that hd/dvd player before so it might be in the list as said before not to sure on the speakers, so anymore help form people in the "know" would be nice and the lcd looks perfect.

neonplanet40 · 25-06-2007, 08:16 PM

Ok im going to help you spend your £2000

Im buying a load of HD equipment this week so i have read up laods so ill help you as best i can.

First up speakers
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/3086
Weird i know but for your space i would say it would do you well.

Blu-Ray Player
Playstation 3. £400

it really is good! And it upconverts well and also can do the new high def audio

Total = Approx £1650

You should maybe consider these speakers though

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/3397

Television
http://www.digitalempireonline.co.uk...s&ModelID=1617
Best 32" available

daza · 25-06-2007, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by neonplanet40

First up speakers
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/3086
Weird i know but for your space i would say it would do you well.

That looks so wierd I might have to get one, although I do like the look of this 2.1 setup thats just being released.

As regards to the telly Im pretty much sold on the one suggested earlier as I've done a little reading and it seems to be a good'un, and I'm not going to invest in a ps3 for my own reasons, but I have a xbox 360 already and I think I might just but the hd/dvd drive for the hd movies or would that be a bad move???

neonplanet40 · 26-06-2007, 08:14 AM

The HD DVD drive for the 360 will do you fine. As for them speakers, they look good but when it comes to speakers, looks isnt everything so try reading about before you buy. I suggest checking the AV forums and maybe buy what hi-fi mag (new one is out this thursday) to help give you an idea.

Neon

menthel · 26-06-2007, 10:38 AM

Home cinema choice is also a great mag to read, with a nice round-up at the back for all of their past, recent reviews.

PenguinJim · 27-06-2007, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by daza

I'm not going to invest in a ps3 for my own reasons, but I have a xbox 360 already and I think I might just but the hd/dvd drive for the hd movies or would that be a bad move???

Do bear in mind the noise of the 360, but I doubt you'd find it enough of a problem to spend the extra from a £99 HD-DVD add-on to a £215 dedicated HD-DVD player.

Also, you can use the HD-DVD add-on with your PC, too.

daza · 27-06-2007, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by PenguinJim

Do bear in mind the noise of the 360, but I doubt you'd find it enough of a problem to spend the extra from a £99 HD-DVD add-on to a £215 dedicated HD-DVD player.

Also, you can use the HD-DVD add-on with your PC, too.

This is another problem I havent got as my 360 is quiet very quiet I dont know why but just watching a bog standard dvd I cant hear the fans or drive over the movie unless I've got the volume turned down so I cant hear the movie.

I think that Im most likley going to go with the 40" suggested earlier, a HD/DVD addon for my 360 and the LG 2.1 speakers that I linked to as they seem to be ok for what I need.

Now just a few months of saving the pennys.

PenguinJim · 28-06-2007, 01:05 PM

For what it's worth, I'm extremely jealous.

Congratulations!

daza · 28-06-2007, 01:17 PM

So am I, I havent even bought anything yet and I want it now.

I've changed the lcd to another samsung thats supposed to be better, and I'm hoping the speakers from the 2.1 will fit in the space under my TV Bench.

Tarffie · 28-06-2007, 01:42 PM

Yeah, that Samsung is better. The F71 range posted earlier was a bit average PQwise compared to most of the alternatives.

edit: it's not 1080p, though.

daza · 28-06-2007, 02:48 PM

Still dont get what the difference is between 1080i and 1080p, anyway after a little more searching this should fit my bill and shouldnt need upgrading for a few years I hope.

Butuz · 29-06-2007, 07:40 AM

If your spending some £2000 odd - you should go for 1080p now. I honestly don't see the point of going for 720p (like that sony thing above) or 1080i. Your Xbox360 can output at 1080p and if you get a PS3 for Blueray that can output at 1080p too - wtf is the point of spending £2000 on a system that cant even display the best your input devices can give?!!!!!

Spend £1000-1200 on a 1080p telly, £400 odd on a PS3 and the rest on some speakers (i would go for 2.1)

Butuz

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