Surround Sound/Home Theatre

[Deleted account rno]

SWMBO wants a new Home Theatre Surround system preferably with little or no unsightly wires. Our current Sony system has small speakers but she's hates the wiring that accompanies them and I don't want to start tacking the wires to walls etc. The Sony system is now 3 years old and now the audio "cuts out" for a few seconds periodically when playing a DVD. Don't know why it does this. It plays CDs OK.

I've considered the Bose 3-2-1 system but it's £850 (and that's on Special offer!) but haven't heard it yet. That said, I have a Bose iPod Docket and the sound is excellent. It cost £250 so six hundred quid more should be an impressive sound!

Anyone got any suggestions as to cheaper/better alternatives. The Bose system comes with DVD player which is a bit unnecessary as my Sony player is working fine.

 

[Schtum]

You need more speakers not fewer. 5.1 is old hat. 7.1 is what you need. SWMBO needs to sacrifice her hatred of wires in favour of sound quality. So you also need bigger speakers.....

HTH

ps I also offer marital counselling.....

 

[ianf]

The bose stuff is horribly overpriced...

Get a sony/denon/yamaha amp or similar, and some decent speakers like mission / baby linn's etc. and hide the wiring in the gap between the grippers and the skirting. If you have laminate and used the trim rather than redo the skirting hide it under that. If you took the skirting off then you're a bit stuffed though.

 

[Gecko]

Pioneer DCS-515 - has remote rear speaker unit with no wires - it uses RF to send a signal to the rear unit.(Front speakers still have wires ) Slightly older model now but it's a good sound and you should be able to find one for a song as newer models are now available. Won't play Div-x but will play DVD movies - not sure if you can play MP3 - you may need to check that if it interests you. Has a built in tuner too. 6 speakers 3 front, 2 in rear wireless unit and a sub woofer.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

LG has something out with wireless rears.

I can't understand why this wireless thing hasn't taken off much quicker.

who wants to piss about with wires all over the place .

mind you - you'll still need power

 

[Bateman]

Don't waste your money on Bose - overpriced tat that has somehow managed to convince the masses that they are buying into a high quality product. Same goes for B&O.

Sony does a set with wireless rears - the Sony Dav DZ700 seems to do well and is a good price at Pixmania (see here)

But if you don't want a DVD player and aren't to concerned about true 5.1 or 7.1, then give the Yamaha YSP800 an audition. Its about £550 and was the winner of the EISA European Home Theatre Innovation of the Year 2005-06 Award. See here for more. I listened to one at Sevenoaks sound and vision and it sounded great, considering it is all from one box. But to get the best out of this I think you need a rectangular or square shaped room so that the sound reflects properly.

 

[blues n twos]

I recently bought a new Sony lcd tv and the salesman was trying to sell me the new Sony home theatre system. No I said I have just empied my account with you

However the system was wireless. No wires, zippo nought nowt.

So that might be an option for you. Can't remember model specifics though.

Jon

 

[Deleted account W]

But to get the best out of this I think you need a rectangular or square shaped room so that the sound reflects properly.

Ok for everyone but lighthouse keepers and millers then

 

[Deleted account rno]

Thanks for input (no pun intended). I'm going to forget about Bose and look at some of the systems recommended. Must say I like the look of the yamaha single unit

 

[Deleted account rno]

Went in to Sevenoaks, Edinburgh today and after hearing the Yamaha unit, left the shop some £600 lighter They also threw in a free Panasonic DVD player worth £150. It has some sound and is even better with a Sub Woofer The one in the demo room cost £300. I'd better get saving...

Thanks for the heads up, Bateman

 

[Deleted account rno]

Received the goodies today. Great sound and er...I doubt if I'll be neding the additional Sub-woofer