To the home entertainment gurus...

[Spiff]

Hello

I'm thinking of getting one of them surround sound thingies so I can watch DVDs while having 5.1 sound stuff thingos blasting into my ears (PM me if you want a less technical explanation). My question is, are these easy enough for a gumby like me to install? Is it just a case of plugging it into the DVD player or TV and then putting the speakers where I want them?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Not having one myself (I am thinking of getting one too, but I will need to get a powerful amp to be able to get the most out of the speakers I already own, and I can't afford it just yet), I can't give great advice, but I think it is just a matter of plugging the digital out (optical cable or whatever it is) into the amp, unless you get a Home Theater that has a DVD player, then you just need to hook it up and watch movies.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I will be wanting one to listen to the Gettysburg DVD, I hope I can afford it by then. Need to by rear speakers and a central speaker too.

 

[Sydo]

Easy - but you're gonna have wires going everywhere.

 

[Spiff]

Sounds fair enough. I was kind of expecting that, unless the speakers worked by remote or something.

 

[phlogiston]

I found the hardest thing was getting all your options straight in the first place. With mine, there were so many options available I got confused and scared and ended up curling into the foetal position and gently rocking while my brother came over and set it up for me.

I could run the TV through the amp, vcr or solo. I could connect the DVD player so the video went straight to the TV to through the amp or through the VCR, and then have the sound throught the amp or the VCR, or straight into the TV and then out to the amp. And then the antenna could plug into about 19 different holes, and they'd all work, depending on which switch I had in whatever position.

And my stereo wasn't able to connect at all, otherwise I would have been in real trouble.

You need a grand plan first, but once you have that, all you've got to do is plug in wires.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Having a DVD/VCR combo comes in handy there (as does buying a home theater with a DVD player), but I will get messed up with my consoles.

 

[Shannow]

Go work in a power station for a while.

When you lose 15dB in your 3-4kHz range, you can't even hear the lyrics sometimes.

Then you won't desire, nor need a surround sound system.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I would rather not. I like being able to hear the lyrics.

 

[Shannow]

Yep, and enjoy pub conversation.

 

[spawn]

Buy the DVD Audio edition of Death Cult Armageddon when you get one Spiffo, its Bombastictastic.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I would like that. One day.

 

[spawn]

Bombastic. Tastic.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

It does sound good. How much was it? Not heaps I hope, because that would deter me.

Bah, I am getting ahead of myself, I won't be getting any surround for a while yet.

 

[spawn]

I paid $39 I think, or maybe $35 I cant remember. Probably $39 I guess.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Not TOO bad I spose. I will pick it up when I get some surround, I will be looking for shit to listen to on it.

All this talk about surround has got me interested in it again. I might look into how much the sort of amp I require would cost me.

 

[spawn]

Considering its only 9 dollars more than a regular cd I think its actually quite good! It also has all the lyrics, a crapload of photos from the recording of the album and promo pics and the almighty, brilliant, best video clip ever for Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse. Phloggy should download it if he is bored, its really good, even if they did edit the song down

 

[Sydo]

I still believe that unless you're paying mega-bucks, stereo is better.

 

[Spiff]

This sounds too difficult for me.

I already have a TV and a DVD player, so I'm not gonna go buy some silly combo thing. And I know nothing about audio outs and nonsense like that. This just sounds too painful to bother with.

Don't they have, like, the AOL equivelant to surround sound where people who have no business using it can get by with little hassle?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

If you just want your DVD player to run through it, it is easy as pie.