Surround sound setup...

[ytrebil]

Good morning.

I bought a set of surround sound speakers a little while ago now, but they don't have an amp (just a connecting box). It says on the instructions to hook it up to a 5.1 DVD player. So bascially...

a) What can someone recommend as a decent 5.1 channel output DVD player?
b) If I connect the speaker box up to the DVD player, will I be able to watch normal TV through the speakers?
c) Will the DVD controller be able to adjust the speaker volume? Will the TV controller be able to control speaker volume?

As you can tell I'm a complete newbie to this stuff, so advice please. At the mo I just watch DVD's thru my PS2 and tbh the DVD player on it isn't that special!

[5lab]

5.1 output boxes are generally a bit pricey.. not sure if you'll be able to alter the volume on either - you may have to use yer control for the speakers

alternitively, keep using the ps2 and get somethign like this http://www.creative.com/products/pro...6&product=9468

to decode all the audio for you - more future compatible that way - it will work with yer ps3 etc as well

[BenW]

PS2 has dolby digital doesn't it?

I guess the best i dea would be to get a home cinema reciever

[ytrebil]

Sorry bit of a newb, can you elaborate please? ie what I need to get surround sound working and a decent DVD player - how to connect it up etc.

Cheers!

[Tom Scott]

PS2 has dolby digital doesn't it?

I guess the best i dea would be to get a home cinema reciever

Nope it only supports PLII, Xbox does DD but only if you have the optical special scart lead adapter unit.

b) If I connect the speaker box up to the DVD player, will I be able to watch normal TV through the speakers?

Depends if you DVD player has a Scart/Composite In for your to hook the SKY/Cable to the DVD player then to the TV.

c) Will the DVD controller be able to adjust the speaker volume? Will the TV controller be able to control speaker volume?

Basically.... unless they're designed to work with each other then, no.

[ytrebil]

I'd have thought with the speakers being the DVD output, then adjusting the volume on the DVD remote would alter the volume coming out of the speakers? *shrug*

This is all confusing me - thought it would be easy.

[Howard]

PS2s have digital outputs..

[5lab]

ps2s have digital outputs which will do dd or dts on dvds

rather than just get a dvd player with 5.1 out, i woudl go the home cinema decoder route or that creative box, as it will offer you surround sound for the next gen of consoles, as well as dolby pro logic 2 for yer tv shows etc. a dvd player with component sound out will be good, but they are *expensive* and you woudlnt get surround sound thru anything else

the reason i suggested that creative box is cos its quite good value - i'm guessing your speaker system wasnt super expensive.

as for dvd players, toshiba make good cheap ones (some with divx output too). have a look on richersounds.com

[ytrebil]

Thanks 5lab - it's not expensive no, about 50 or 60 quid for the speakers I think. Cheap and they are fully upright so stand up nice.

So you think I should go with that creative box? Does it come with all relevent leads and stuff? Will that remote be able to alter the speaker volume etc? The only volume control on the speakers I have is via the connecting box and it's a knob, which isn't practical.

DVD wise if I get that encoder I'd just want a nice slimline one that plays all regions and also vcd, svcd, divx etc etc.

ta.