Newbie - what to buy to set up a good sound system

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Newbie - what to buy to set up a good sound system

Tiff88

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Wannabe Geek

#242487 30-Oct-2018 17:37

Hi everyone

I've just signed up to this forum because I'm wanting to buy a surround sound system for my boyfriends birthday. He has a new Sony 65" TV but just has an old school stereo hooked up to it.

I want to get either 5.1 or 7.1 (just learnt what this means 😁) and ideally would like to stick with Sony, but open to other suggestions.

Question is... do I have to buy as a set or can you buy speakers separately and wire them together??

And is there anything I should be looking for or I should know before buying anything?

Any advice would be appreciated as I really have no clue about this stuff

Thanks 😊

Hammerer

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#2117001 30-Oct-2018 17:41

You might have no clue about the stuff but you probably know how much "good" you are prepared to buy. The sky is the limit when it comes to good audio so what are you thinking you would be prepared to spend?

Tiff88

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Wannabe Geek

#2117003 30-Oct-2018 17:50

I probably wont be able to get much if I go brand new. But I thought if I can find something decent on trademe or facebook etc. I wouldnt mind spending up to $300 or so

geekiegeek

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#2117007 30-Oct-2018 17:54

I'd stick to 2 channel with that budget or even a decent soundbar.

Hammerer

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#2117010 30-Oct-2018 18:15

geekiegeek:

I'd stick to 2 channel with that budget or even a decent soundbar.

I agree that $300 is not enough because you don't get much at that price. But it is possible to get something second-hand. The problem is that most of the used 5.1/7.1 systems seem to be about 7 years old. Here's one exception which was a four year old system on Trade Me that sold well within your limit:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/home-theatre/listing-1767985664.htm?archive=1

P.S. I meant to say that I've yet to hear a decent soundbar at that price.

Tiff88

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#2117011 30-Oct-2018 18:20

I know I wont get anything new for that price, so that's why I mentioned trademe.

I spotted this one...

https://www.trademe.co.nz/1812152217

xpd

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#2117015 30-Oct-2018 18:58

Depends what he wants to use it all for.... if for a console, then best to get a dedicated amp + speakers or a half decent sound bar. Both will be more than $300 though.

Those all in one bluray and speaker sets are fine if all you want to do is watch blurays/DVDs but I have yet to see one that supports an external device such as a console connected.

So let us know what else is going to be plugged into the TV, and then can give better idea.

XPD / Gavin

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Hammerer

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#2117048 30-Oct-2018 19:11

xpd:

Those all in one bluray and speaker sets are fine if all you want to do is watch blurays/DVDs but I have yet to see one that supports an external device such as a console connected.

A lot of people use consoles connected to home theatre players. They just require HDMI inputs which aren't provided on the cheapest ones.

Agree about needing to know what it will be used for.

Hammerer

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#2117051 30-Oct-2018 19:19

Tiff88:

I spotted this one...

https://www.trademe.co.nz/1812152217

That's a 2011 model which would be too old for me. It is old-tech and is probably slow to start up - just like one we've got. However, it would give you 5.1 sound within your budget.

A big positive is that it has two HDMI inputs so you can connect a computer, console or TV box/receiver to it. Cheaper home theatre players, like the one I linked to earlier, often don't have any HDMI inputs.

Assuming the TV does 4K video than a big negative (for guys like me) is that this player only does FullHD (1920x1080 resolution) so you couldn't stream a 4K video from Netflix or YouTube through it. There could still be options to send 4K video direct to the TV and send the 5.1 sound to this player.

A 4K alternative from 2014 would set you back more, e.g. $485 plus shipping from Wellington

https://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/home-theatre/listing-1816857114.htm?rsqid=1e29934c96444ee5b1ddfd967bc08a60