Page 1 of Some help required please :)

Hi, i just ordered the packard bell 5.1 speaker system. I am not sure how it connects to the DVD player, but i knew that for £60 i had to buy one.

I was wondering what DVD player do i need for it to work in dolby digital. I had a look at the Yelo 800, i think at jungle.com and that looked really good, but i wasn`t sure if it would work with it.

So i was wondering if someone could recommend a DVD player for me to buy, which would work with these speakers.

Thanks loads
Josh

You need one with an on-board decoder. Try the Cyberhome 528 (£99 from Richer Sounds, I believe) - also was available from WHSmiths. I have the earlier model, the 512, and, although I don`t use it, it has a decoder on board.

If you consider other players, make sure it doesn`t just say "5.1 compatible" etc - that will mean it`s simply capable of outputting an undecoded signal. If you get to see the player, make sure it has a set of 6 phono outputs on the back for all the channels.

Well, I am not sure whether it will connect to the DVD player directly, you normally would need an amplifier and decoder between the two. As mentioned on another post it is possible to buy a DVD player with an onboard decoder which will then send the decoded signal out via phonos to a suitable amp (which obviously must have inputs for a 5.1 signal).

Alternatively you could buy an integrated amplifier / decoder which would link to the DVD via the digital cable (either coaxial or optical) and then decode the signal internally and your speakers would connect directly to this unit.

As you have just ordered the speakers I assume that no amp was supplied, look at some on richer sounds or the other major ones.

Hope this helps ??/

Adam G.

Adam, it`s one of those things with amplification built in, but no decoder, hence the need for a dvd player with decoder.
Other similar systems include the Bush Pro 300, Novatech HT210 and HT218. Not the last thing in hi fidelity, but a very cheap way to get a surround sound system going, that you won`t mind selling at a loss when/if you want the real thing!

Damn, all for sixty pounds, that is pretty good value. I wonder if there are many features on the amp ? What size are the speakers and does it include a sub-woofer ?