Page 1 of Samsung 811 with Videologic speakers vs Cyberhome 528 with Creative speakers

I am looking at a start up DVD player that is multi region. John Lewis are offering Samsung 811 with Videologic speakers (4 for front, 2 for rear, 1 centre and 1 subwoofer) for £249. Whereas the Cryberhome 528 with Creative speakers (set of 6) is available from Tiny for £199. Has anyone used any of these combinations?

Considering that the speakers with Samsung or Cyberhome don`t come with any remote to control volumes of speakers, does it make any sense to go with speakers only with the DVD player? Or should I buy the player only to start with and buy a proper A/V receiver and speakers separately. I have a Dolby Prologic TV, so assume the sound effects won`t be that bad on the TV.

Also, out of Samsung and Cyberhome, which is a better player?

Thanks in advance
PW

I have the Cyberhome 512, and have been pleased with it. If I were you, I`d shop around, as both the Videologic and Creative speaker sets are basically computer speaker sets with built in amplification. I`d get model numbers, and see how much you can get them for at somewhere like Dabs (www.dabs.com) or www.ebuyer.com (but customer service a bit naff - also they charge for shipping under £100, so may end up cheaper at Dabs). The 528 is available from www.unbeatable.co.uk at £109 (plus shipping).
Instead of the Creative or Videologic setups, you could also consider the Bush 300 (I think?) - £79 at Tescos - again, 5 speakers plus sub - also www.novatech to a couple of systems - search for novatech in this forum and get the info.
Obviously the more you spend the more you get - getting more expensive is the Yamaha VS10, which gets rave reviews from those who own/hear it. It costs £300, so another step up the ladder.

I`m currently running my Cyberhome`s 2 channel output through my hifi, which knocks the spots of the tv sound, but am fishing around for a proper AV solution.

If I were you I`d go for the player first, get some discs and get watching - I`m sure you`ll soon get an idea of how far you want to go down the av route - remember that Tesco will take back the Bush if you try it and don`t like it - that might be a good way of seeing if you want to spend more, or are happy with what you get with the Bush. Only thing is, I`m not sure Tescos still have them in stock....!! Alternatively you can get them from www.qed-uk.com.

Also see http://www.area450.co.uk/this_month.htm#Home Cinema on the cheap (cot and paste whole link) - another similar kit for £74 plus the purchase of a magazine.

Just found a review of the Bush speakers (with the Bush player as a bundle) here http://www.totaldvd.net/reviews/frame.html?http://www.totaldvd.net/reviews/HomeCinemaSystems/Bush/BushDVD2004PRO300.shtml - they seem to think the speakers are pretty good value - I think you`ll need to go to the VS10 to get something that really makes you grin, rather than think "goodie, I`ve got surround sound"

This item was edited on Friday, 14th September 2001, 06:08

Thanks Richard,

I think I will go for the DVD player first and try out speakers from Tesco later on. Or go for a proper AV solution at later date. Will probably use my Aiwa hifi for 2 channel output as suggested.

Could you (or anyone else on the forum) also suggest if I should go for Cyberhome 512 or 528? Which is a better value. Or any other suggestion for a DVD player without Macrovision.

Thanks in advance

The 528 does not have a Macrovision workaround (as yet - I guess they may discover one!). If you have a look at this link http://www.cyberhome-help.de/tadl528_english.php4 you will see a review of the 528 compared with the 512.
Only thing is you need to upgrade the 512 to multiregion - easy as long as you have a CDR burner - you can download the firmware (A009.8) and follow the instructions on how to burn it onto a CDR, and load it onto your player. If you don`t have a CDR, you`re welcome to the CDR I created - my player is upgraded now, so I don`t need it!

Richard

Richard,
thanks once again

I baught 512 today from WH Smith.
I need to know, is the Macrovision always disabled or do I need a hack/special settings to do this?

I tried connecting DVD player via NTL digital cable box to my VHS recorder. The picture and recording was not really good. I also tried connecting DVD and VCR via an A/V cable. The result were again the same.

Any idea if I am doing anything wrong?

Thanks for your help in advance.

PW

Sounds like you still have Macrovision switched on.

The hacks for this machine are via a CD, which you put into the machine, type a code and then the 512 reads the info from the CD and updates itself.
In fact, the "update" is actually a "downdate", as to get multiregion and macrovision free, you need to take the firmware (the DVD Drive`s instruction program) down from vA009.9 (what the player came supplied with), to A009.8 (the one on the site I mentioned above). As I said before, let me know if you need a disc with the firmware on, and I`ll post it to you.

If you have updated the firmware, then you need to go into the secret menu to change both the Multiregion capability and the Macrovision.

To do this, switch the player on, and with no disc in the drawer, type 7 6 [ENTER]. A menu should appear, with the firmware version, a region code etc on. For auto region, set the region to 13. Go to the mext page, and you will see a setting for Macrovision - I think you set it to 1 for it to be off, although it may just *always* be off.

I have just taken some screen shots of my secret menu - if you want them, or that firmware update, email me at drahcir[at]ku.oc.namllah

Richard