Is this Sony Home Theatre System OK?

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mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek

#29177 27-Dec-2008 16:19

Hi all,

I have just got myself a sony bravia TV, but my current older sony home theatre system does not do HDMI (and I have a PS3).

With the 20% off sony products at the moment over boxing day, I was having a look and came across the following.

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/audio-mp3/home-audio/rack-stereo-systems/sony-htddw7000-home-theatre-system/prod33545.html

Seems like a good deal to me, but interested in any other views people have. IS this an OK system?

Thanks

Mike.

vexxxboy

4228 posts

Uber Geek

#186279 27-Dec-2008 17:23

i have that model and found it a blast , it will sync with your tv and other sony products , i just set up the speakers around the room and let the system sort out volumes and such by using the sound microphone that comes with it, you will need a few power points as the two amps need there own power supply, but i can run my tv, sky hd and ps3 through the main amp with room for a few moresettings (pc) , spare im not a sound expert but action movies sound great and with a push of a button on the remote there are so many settings you can get the sound that you like instantly, for the price i highly recomend it, just hope your neighbours arent to close

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung (affiliate link).

lchiu7

6459 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186337 28-Dec-2008 07:25

Looks okay but it seems like the HDMI inputs on it are repeater only. That is they will allow the HDMI video signal from the PS3 to be routed to the TV with no problem but there is no audio handling. That means you still will have to connect Toslink for audio and so will not have the advantage of lossless audio like Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD Master.

I did see an Onkyo TX-SR 576 at HN for $699 which does all that (plus can decode DD+) which is a great deal for a HDMI receiver that can process LPCM. But it's an AVR only - you will need to get the 6 or 8 speakers or use your existing speakers and upgrade later when budget allows it.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek

#186338 28-Dec-2008 08:09

Hi,

Thanks very much for your email.

In terms of your comment on optical cable, I assume thats only when I am playing through the TV (say freeview HD)? The setup would be:

- PS3 into Sony AV via HDMI then through to TV (sound through AV)
- Sky Digital (not HD) into AV (I guess I will be limited here on the sound) then through to TV

We are not in a good reception area and so cannot get channels through TV or freeview HD, and so rely on Sky.

Mike.

lchiu7

6459 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186340 28-Dec-2008 08:20

mpvincent: Hi,

Thanks very much for your email.

In terms of your comment on optical cable, I assume thats only when I am playing through the TV (say freeview HD)? The setup would be:

- PS3 into Sony AV via HDMI then through to TV (sound through AV)
- Sky Digital (not HD) into AV (I guess I will be limited here on the sound) then through to TV

We are not in a good reception area and so cannot get channels through TV or freeview HD, and so rely on Sky.

Mike.

If you are watching a BD movie on the PS3, then you could just connect one HDMI cable to the TV. You would get hi res video but only stereo sound. Or you could connect a Toslink cable from the PS3 to your current AV system and get possibly 5.1 sound (assuming your current system does have optical or coax S/PDIF connections).

As for Sky Digital, I am guessing the best output from the Sky digital box is s-video though it might be component videeo (don't know - don't have Sky). You would connect the Sky STB to the TV via the best connection you could make and then the audio from the Sky STB to your AVR (via RCA jacks or possibly Toslink, though again no idea if the non HD Sky box has 5.1 audio out).

As an aside I helped a friend connect up a new HDTV the other day. Their TV1 reception OTA was pretty poor but the builtin Freeview HD tuner in the TV picked up a pristine picture on all Freeview HD channels. Digital is a lot more tolerant of poor reception (i.e. lots of mulitpath interference etc.) than analogue is.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

vexxxboy

4228 posts

Uber Geek

#186342 28-Dec-2008 08:42

there is one HDMI that runs from the main unit to my tv and i then use HDMI to connect my Sky hd and PS3 to the main unit. so if i play games the audio is what the game says it is ie 5.1 Dolby etc, Blue ray is what ever you want full digital is what i use, Tv is again what the program provides, at the start of September this product was $1700 so that price is very cheap

Common sense is not as common as you think.

lchiu7

6459 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186343 28-Dec-2008 08:56

vexxxboy: there is one HDMI that runs from the main unit to my tv and i then use HDMI to connect my Sky hd and PS3 to the main unit. so if i play games the audio is what the game says it is ie 5.1 Dolby etc, Blue ray is what ever you want full digital is what i use, Tv is again what the program provides, at the start of September this product was $1700 so that price is very cheap

Just looked at the Sony site. Seems like the unit does LPCM which suggests as you note, it can handle PCM over HDMI. Then that' is a great deal since it means for the PS3, if you have it set to output all audio over HDMI, it will process Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master internally and output LPCM for the Sony to handle.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek

#186691 30-Dec-2008 15:42

All,

Thanks very much for your advice.

I decided to buy the Sony system and now have it installed. It seems to be working OK, although just trying to set it up properly. I do have a couple of questions though:

1. The AV system doesnt upscale, which means that my sky digital plug in directly to the TV through composite cable yellow (for video) and red/white into AV for sound. I see the other option I have is to purchase a scart to component/composite cable that might give me better video quality. Will it be substantially better than composite?

2. My AV system and Song Bravia TV both have bravia sync. I have tried to set this up by enabling on both and it does allow some functionality between both. I have a W4000 TV.

3. Does anyone have a recommended setting for the W4000 TV for brightness, contrast, colour etc. (I know its subjective but... )

4. Can anyone recommend a good surge protector? Was looking at either:

http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/81991/UPS_SURGE_PROTECTORS/Belkin/BZ106130AU2M.asp which I can get for $55+gst or
http://www.aquilatech.co.nz/productList.asp?txtTarget=F9A823au2M or
http://www.aquilatech.co.nz/productList.asp?txtTarget=F9G823au2M-GRY

Many thanks for advice.

Cheers

Mike.

JimmyLizar

321 posts

Ultimate Geek

#186692 30-Dec-2008 16:06

mpvincent:
1. The AV system doesnt upscale, which means that my sky digital plug in directly to the TV through composite cable yellow (for video) and red/white into AV for sound. I see the other option I have is to purchase a scart to component/composite cable that might give me better video quality. Will it be substantially better than composite?
Mike.

I do seem to recall other threads on Geekzone mentioning the fact that you can call Sky and request a Scart to Component cable and they will provide it free of charge. You should try that. Component should give you a better picture over composite.

.....c'mon sucker lick my battery........
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vexxxboy

4228 posts

Uber Geek

#186749 30-Dec-2008 21:39

i use the belkin pure AV surge protector , i like it because all the power points are named so i know what plug belongs to what appliance sounds stupid but with 8 plugs used ,knowing which one is the tv etc makes life a lot easier and if i remember it is covered by a lifetime guarantee so if i do get a surge and it blows the protector they will replace it free of charge

Common sense is not as common as you think.

mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek

#187185 3-Jan-2009 15:53

Thanks for the tip on sky. Contacted them and they sent out a cable that arrived in a couple of days.

Certainly a better picture through component.

Cheers

Mike.