amplifier plus speaker or Panasonic home cinema package?

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bitem

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#39425 13-Aug-2009 16:49

Bought a Panasonic LCD tv recently, want get some with it, dunt know which option should i choose?

whats the difference between those 5.1 channal home cinema system(or blue ray home cinema package) and the amplifier + extra speakers?

Too green to this area?

any good recommadation of the amplifier for the beginner?

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Snowflake

#246146 13-Aug-2009 17:17

some of the 5.1 packages systems do a pretty good job. if you're not an audiophile or home theatre buff and you think they sound good - buy one :-)

One thing that you miss out on with the all-in-ones is expandability. If you're the sort of person who wants to hook up a VCR, CD Player, xbox, ps3 and blu-ray all at once, you'll be short on inputs and most likely wont get enough digital inputs to get the most out of all the devices. If you'll only ever use the all-in-one unit with maybe a single game console then you probably dont need the expandability.

my advice would be to think about what you're going to purchase over the next 3 years and decide if a component based system is really what you need. if not then go to a stereo shop and sit down and listen to a couple of different options and see what you like.

When you do go listen to some systems, take your favourite CD and/or DVD with you so you can listen to something you are used to - it will make it easier to compare systems.

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bitem

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#246465 14-Aug-2009 10:22

Cool, thx for that!! but if i buy an amplifier, is it gonna outdated quick? can you upgrade your am?

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Snowflake

#246487 14-Aug-2009 11:03

i have an Onkyo Amp which i've had for a few years now. Its "outdated" but still a very good amp. It has THX and Dolby digital and does 7.1. I can easily buy a new amp and plug it into the existing speaker setup. I could also just replace the amp and keep seperate CD/DVD/Blu-Ray player.... if i had one :)

There is no HDMI switching in it (where you plug all your HDMI inputs into the amp and basically the amp changes the source for the tv rather than having to use the tv remote to change source).

There is also no capability for "Dolby/DTS HD Sound" - the sound that comes out of the blu-ray discs over the hdmi cable.

I have no need for HDMI or HD sound right now so it doesnt really bother me. I also use an HTPC connected to the TV so I dont need the HDMI switching either.

I could also use my Harmony remote to change the TV input automatically, so i dont really need Video (HDMI, Component) switching in the AMP anyway.

One thing to keep in mind also, is that an all-in-one system can cost you <$1000 whereas an Amp + Speaker package will likely set you back a lot more. My Amp + Speaker package , if i bought the equivalent today, is worth around $3500... Amp @ $1500, Speakers @ $2500.

As well as the Panasonic/Samsung/Sony etc all-in-ones there are "kits/packages" available from Denon, Onkyo etc too. E.g. this Onkyo one for about $1100 http://www.easternhifi.co.nz/default,1547.sm

Figure out how much you want to spend first, then start looking at the options.

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bitem

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#246512 14-Aug-2009 11:49

i only have around $1500 to spend now, so i probably just can buy the all-in-one system.

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Snowflake

#246787 14-Aug-2009 22:13

if you have one in your city/town, drop in to an Eastern Hifi or similar shop and see what they have on offer. In general these places tend to give better advice than the DSEs, Harvey Normans, Noel Leemings etc because they specialise in these sort of systems.

Other stores may be listed in yellow.co.nz under "Stereo & Sound Equipment" category

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richms

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#247029 15-Aug-2009 19:56

Also with the all in one units, the speakers are really bad, so they typically equalize them in the dvdplayer/amp unit to make them sound ok - forget using the speakers on anything else.

Whereas proper speakers will have a flat response in the speaker so that any amp with a flat output will drive them so you can upgrade later.

Eastern hifi have had some stupidly cheap sales on trademe recently - hifionline is their username on there.

Richard rich.ms

bitem

23 posts

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#247153 16-Aug-2009 11:10

Thanks guys for all the advice!!!

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

bitem

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#247187 16-Aug-2009 13:44

http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?class=Receiver&m=TX-SR605

How about this AMP? Is that hard to tune an AMP?

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Snowflake

#247344 16-Aug-2009 20:40

that amp is one level down from mine, but a couple of models newer.... so its better :-)

when you say 'tune an amp' do you mean get the speakers set up right? the onkyo has a microphone you can plug in and it will auto setup your speaker levels - but most people prefer to mess around with it manually

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bitem

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#247626 17-Aug-2009 13:05

if i want set it manunally, is that hard?

richms

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#247690 17-Aug-2009 14:34

No, just pick the speaker size and then turn the levels till they sound the same volume from where you sit, and possibly play with the other settings - the sub it the hard one to match with the others, but usually you want it much louder then "correct" anyway.

Richard rich.ms

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Snowflake

#247707 17-Aug-2009 15:07

the onkyo menu gives you a speaker size and speaker distance menu so its pretty easy to configure. if you are interested in that particular amp, go to the onkyo website and download a manual for it before you buy it: http://www.intl.onkyo.com/downloads/manuals/index.html

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