Page 1 of Help a newbie please :)

HI all,

finally decided to upgrade our main TV set from our ancient but still performing CRT Toshiba 28W8DB (with surround Dolby Pro-Logic system) to a more up to date LCD HD Tv set. We decided to try our luck with the Tevion 32" LCD one that`s going on sale in Aldi on Thursday, but that hasn`t got any built in 5.1 system so I`m looking to upgrade that as well.

I checked my DVD player for 5.1 connections to an external 5.1 surround sound system, but I`m well confused with all these types of connections! :( ATM I have everything through SCART! :) (the player is a Toshiba SD 220E)

Also, I`ll need to connect a freeview box (Philips DTR 1500) and a VCR
I`m not bothered to still use SCART for the VCR, and the new TV will have the following connections available:

# HDMI input, VGA input, Video (RCA) input
# Component input (RCA)
# Stereo audio input (RCA)
# 2 SCART connections
# Audio line out (RCA)


SO my questions:

1- suggestions for a cheap but still decent 5.1 surround sound package? budget iro £100-£150 Would like a complete one, unless you can convince me that buying the components separately is better for my budget. I heard about the Logitech Z5400/5500 (or even the 5450), any good?

2- connections: best connections TV-DVD player; TV-Freeview box; TV-VCR and finally the lot - 5.1 system.This is how I`m going to end up having to connect, right? Especially if I want all components to go through the 5.1?


Thanks for your help!

I`d be interested to hear how you rate the pic on the lcd compared with your Toshiba.

still not 100% on buying it now... read some truly horrifying stories on other AV forums about the previous Tevion flatscreens :(

Mind you I can still bring it back if it fails to satisfy me :)

Anyone can answer my questions at all please?

For a budget surround setup, you can`t go wrong with the Logitech Z-5500 Digital system.

It`s got the gamut of decoders - DD 5.1, DTS 96/24, Dolby Pro Logic II, as well as plenty of inputs - three stereo, an optical and a co-ax. Hook up your DVD player and freeview box (connections permitting) directly to the Z-5500 via the digital inputs, and your TV/VHS to a stereo input for PLII and you`re golden. Unrivaled sound quality for a budget all-in-one system; but labeling it `budget` does it no justice at all. :D

Quote:

I checked my DVD player for 5.1 connections to an external 5.1 surround sound system, but I`m well confused with all these types of connections!

All you need is either a co-ax or optical output on your DVD player and Freeview box...



...like the two on the right hand side.
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This item was edited on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006, 11:30

Thanks very much! you lot seem friendlier than the guys over at the AV forums >:(

I posted it in the wrong section as they have so many sections there, got a Pm and message on the thread from a Mod moving it to another section, 58 views and.... 0 replies. I guess they are too much into their "proper stuff" to reply a poor newbie. I`d love one of them to come over on my forum (I`m Admin on www.350z-uk.com ) with a question about their car... ;)

Matthew,

I have all the manuals in front of me about the connections on all the bits I need:

DVD player has both, co-ax and optical
Freeview box has: co-ax digital and audio out "cinch" (wtf is that?)
VCR has 2 scart sockets and also a Audio out L and R via phono leads, but am I correct in saying that is not much quality and scart is better anyway? Just wondering if I keep scart, in theory connecting it to the TV directly, sound would come throught he TV speakers only if I watch a tape (not that it happens that often anymore anyway) ?


Also, if I were to upgrade my DVD player with an Upscaling one, I guess I`d have to connect it to the TV via the HDMI port, if I keep the audio via 1 of the 2 connections mentioned above (to the 5.1 system) where would the sound come from, watching a dvd???

Same question for the VCR and Freeview, how are they connected to the TV, bearing in mind the above specs I mentioned before?

Currently the VCR is connected to the freeview box which then goes to the TV set, all via scart. Which would be best, for all 3 parts, to go to the TV?

This item was edited on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006, 14:25

Quote:
I`m Admin on www.350z-uk.com why didnt you get a proper nissan sportscar like a Datsun 240z 260z or 280zx (mk1)... personally for me it has to be a 240z samuri... :¦

PS. welcome to the madhouse!



`i am going to live forever or die trying`

This item was edited on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006, 14:47

ooo let`s not go offtopic :) :) I`m also member of the Z club, btw, I don`t reject the 350Z heritage, but in all honesty my car is well superior to cars that are 30+ years old ;) :) :)

Easy peasy.

You simply connect your DVD to the control pod via optical with a TOSlink, and your Freeview box via digital co-ax

With your VHS, you can connect it to one of the stereo ports with an 2x RCA to 3.5 stereo cable. The quality is probably not much better than connecting your TV`s stereo outputs through phono with the sound from your video carried through the scart, but I don`t use that option as my TV doesn`t have bloody L & R outs! >:( Not that I`ve got a VHS anymore, but I need the stereo connections for my plethora of games consoles! :D

Apologies If I`m oversimplying things, but the most important thing to remember with your sound set-up to be is that you`ll be connecting each component of your system to the Z-5500 directly, not through the TV, so you cycle the inputs on the control pod to switch between sources.

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This item was edited on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006, 15:26

great stuff, with pics too! awesome, thanks very much! :D


Now I`m a bit more clued up wrt the audio connections, which is a great step forward for mankind! :D

What about video connections? do they still go through scart from the freeview, DVD and VHS to the TV directly, even when sound is routed to the 5.1 as you explained?

TV connections remain the same. There will still be sound carried through the scart, but you just turn down the volume on your TV. Or, if you`re feeling extravagant, you can get RGB scarts that carry the visual signal only, which in theory make for a better picture as the lead is dedicated to the visuals only.


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This item was edited on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006, 16:02