robski,
Guess it means the telly has built in dolby digital decoder.

To be honest I'd try and get a TV that does NOT have built in DTS/Dobly of any sort. Just get a plain old, huge screen with nicam. Why?

Well, this is from personal experience. a few (aprox 4) years ago I decided that the 14inch portable needed a kicking, so out it went and I started looking at big tv's, namely a 25 inch sony (hey 4 years ago 25inch was huge )

Anyway, I got a good deal on a 25inch Sony, with built in Dolby ProLogic. This was a mistake. Not because the tv was naff, it's not, still got it toady and it's great.
The problem was that I had a seperate sony CD player, and had some speakers hooked up to it, and I thought it'd be nice to integrate the whole shebang. But to do this I needed to get an amp, and if I was doing that I might as well uprate the speakers for the Surround sound system, and if I was doing that the amp should have a prologic decoder. This basically nullified the built in prologic in the TV. This narked me off a bit to say the least. I wished I'd been a bit clever and thought about this beforehand, if I had then I could have got a 29inch or bigger, Nicam only TV and then got an amp, or got the same 25incher, but spent the saved cash on an amp.

So the moral of the story? Think before you get the TV, if you're going to get into home cinema, then you really want to look at getting a seperate AV amp, and don't bother about built in fancy decoders in the TV.

I've just had a similar talk with my dad who's just gone out and bought a widescreen tv with built in prologic (if it's 5.1 I'll swap my telly with his ) I did say that he could have my amp as I need a dobly Digital one, but he didn't bite! oh well.

As mentioned I'm gonna get a Dolby Digital amp sometime soon, probably when I get my DVD player (PS2?). Will have to get a sub, which'll be a B&W so it matches the front and effects speakers I've got (DM601's)

As for CD's though the system. Does sound OK, but personally turn off the surround and cut in the main speakers (four 601's) and things really kick off.

Final option would be to go do a course in electronics and build your own amp! My brothers just made a rather nice little amp which sounds very good. I'm trying to persuade him to built be a Dolby Digital and DTS amp.

 

Im going to be getting a new telly soon.
But Im confused!

There seems to be more than one dolby system about (like 3 or maybe 4!)

Whats the difference between them all, obviously the most expensive is best, but how much better actually is it!? Is it DTS?

Im confused, and cant find it written down anywhere. The last this I want to do is ask a COMET shop assistant!

help!

(going to be buying a DVD as well, so if any of the systems are better for DVD please advise)

robski

 

Have a look at

 

Robski,

DTS is regarded as being better than Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS is meant to be richer and deeper in its sound. BUT virtually the only discs to feature DTS are American R1. DTS is starting to trickle into the R2 market. Chicken Run and Gladiator being to such examples.

DD 5.1 is 5 speakers, 2 front, 2 rear surround effects, 1 centre channel (for speach) and the .1 is the sub woofer.

However there is now Dolby EX, which adds extra rear surround channels. Again only a couple of American discs (Gladiator, again!) feature this. A few amps will be featureing this soon.

This post could run into pages!

If you live near Kingston etc, Go to Unilet Sound and Vision. Speak to Vernon, top bloke.

Also look at

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by robski:
<B>Im going to be getting a new telly soon.
But Im confused!

There seems to be more than one dolby system about (like 3 or maybe 4!)

Whats the difference between them all, obviously the most expensive is best, but how much better actually is it!? Is it DTS?

Im confused, and cant find it written down anywhere. The last this I want to do is ask a COMET shop assistant!

help!

(going to be buying a DVD as well, so if any of the systems are better for DVD please advise)

robski

[/quote]

Ok here goes.
'Normal

Dolby prologic 2.0 .
An analogue sound signal is split into
front left, front right, centre(sometimes) and rear signals.

I.e The rear speakers are in mono and are 'linked' to each other.

Dolby digital 5:1
A compressed(AC3) Digital signal is split into Front Left,Front right, Center, rear left and rear right channels(that's the 5 bit). The 1 bit is for a subwoofer or LFE(Low Frequency Effects Channel)

This allows each speaker to be seperatley controlled and setup. In real life the difference in sound is about the same as a Nicam stero TV to a prologic one.

DTS Is the same setup as 5:1 but has a much less compressed signal and therefore sounds(in most cases) much fuller and complete than 5:1. It's like looking at a BMP image close up, as opposed to a JPEG one.

I've only got a few DTS disks and in every case the DTS sounds way better.

5:1 EX provides an extra channel for a rear centre speaker(s).

DTS 6:1 provides the same as above but with a less compressed signal.

The last two are very new, and as far as I can remember only Region 1 Gladiator has DTS 6:1 and only then few people have it

Check out

 

Ok, more questions!

I was looking at a DTS compatible telly, does this mean that the decoding will be sorted by the telly?

My missus is going to go psyco at having more "black boxes" about, and when she finds out that I need more speakers shes going to go even more skitz! I already have 7 for my stereo

Can the DVD player play CDs at an acceptable quality through the telly?

robski

 

Robski,

With regards to playing CD's through your TV- yes you can, and in most cases, the quality is extremely good - particularly if you have a surround setup and you're used to hearing CD's through a Stereo Hi-Fi.

The quality would be slightly improved if you were playing the CD's through a <B>specific</B> Dolby Digital/Pro-Logic Hi-Fi, but in most cases, playing via the TV will be perfectly sufficient, and if you can hear a dramatic difference then you have better ears than me

If you want to go for an "all in one" DVD/Amp/Speaker setup then the two I'd reccomend would be the Sony DVAS 300 (about £500), and the Panasonic SCHT 80 (about £550) - both good quality systems, cant say that I've had first hand experience with the Pioneer.

Good Luck!

Kelvin.

[This message has been edited by kelvin (edited 20 November 2000).]

 

Mmmmm my kind of thread

If you do go separate route make sure you give yamaha a test.

Si

 

Ok, so Ive found the telly I want!

its Toshiba 32WD98B its got Dolby Digital Surround sound, nicam

so whats this in english!?

thanks for the help guys

robski

 

Robski,
Why the 7 speakers for the Stereo? As regards the TV I went for simply a nicam TV, Then bought separate amplifier, that way you can upgrade the sound setup by putting in another decoder (useful when the standards are changing so regularly), without having to upgrade your TV. Also allows a bit more volume as most standard TV speakers dont have much amplification. You can then use the amplifier to output your stereo, games, consoles, DVDs, etc. all through 1 set of 5-7 speakers.

 

7 speakers, its only really five in the lounge I guess (arch through to dining room off lounge)

2 mains in lounge
1 homemade centre sub
2 satellite surround
2 mains in dining room

her complaints, takes up too much room, and too many wires, why do we need all these spekers !? she will never learn

robski

 

Aaargh, confused

still, mrs has "approved" the purchase, so now I just need to find the exact kit

robski

 

Retail therapy .... outstanding stuff...

 

Don't have any home cinema magazines at work with me so don't know anything about the Toshiba other than your description.
Dolby digital sound is what you want for playing current DVDs as that is what 99% of them are using, it is very good. Normal TV reception is in either mono, stereo or pro-logic, so your TV will be fine with those as well.
Would still recommend going for a separate dolby digital amp, speakers etc, but that does mean lots of cash.
But for watching TV and DVD at normal levels that spec of TV should do you fine.

NB let me know if you want me to check for any reviews of the TV and I will do so tonight.

 

Robertio,

that would be good, cheers!

I actually spotted this TV in a which TV guide or something that I took on my honeymoon earlier this year.
Quote was something like "Home cinema perfection" or something.

Ive looked for cheaper telly with separates, but they are soooo expensive. I think that telly will met my needs for now (providing it actually decodes the 5.1), and I will get a better amp etc later. Cant really afford too much more at this time anyways. I have to have 100hz Ive found it stop migranes), and there still aint that many who actually produce it!

robski

 

If your going to have 5 or 6 speakers make sure that they have a High WAF as this can be critical to peace of mind and save hours of nagging.


WAF for the technically slow is of course Wife Acceptance Factor, this normally rules out anything black or big......sometimes anyway !!!

 

So, just to confuse thing's a bit more.
Is it possible to get an AV that decodes all the different types of Dolby signal available, built into one box?

 

Ian/555,

Not sure about a Dolby/DTS AV unit but if you were to buy a Dolby Digital AV system it would also double up as a Pro Logic/Stereo Amp - the amp would simply select the best quality sound depending on the signal (ie DVD = Dolby Digital, TV/Video/Music = Pro-Logic, anything without either Pro-Logic or Digital signal = 2 ch. Stereo).

As I said, I think if you wanted a DTS decoder aswell I think youd be looking at a seperate AV unit.

Think this is what you were getting at

Kelvin

 

Ian

Yes most that do Dolby digital will do pro-logic and likewise most that do DTS will do both the other two. With DTS you need to connect RCA as well as optical link, and surround ex is basically a prologic'd rear i.e they use a matrix to carry siganl for centre surround in with the rear left and right. Also of note is that although most Amps are auto switching some dvd discs don't carry signal to tell them so and will need to be set manually in dvd lpayer sound options.

Simon
Ps Dolby digital and DTS are only available on certain source material DVD's and US Laserdiscs.

 

Thanks for confusing, err I mean clearing that up for me Guys

 

Robski,
Checked out your TV in the reviews last night, seems that it is a very good box, the only slight problem being that the rear speakers are not really up loud noises, but other than that very little to complain about. Home Cinema Choice have it reviewed on their web site:

 

Ian/555,
Yes, there are lots of amps with DTS and Dolby Digital Decoding, Richer Sounds are advertising the Sony STRDB930 which does this for just under £300.
If you want Dolby Digital EX though, you are looking at around £2k for something like the Dennon AVCA1SE. These should come down in price during the next 6 months or so (hopefully, because that is what I am waiting for).

 

Robertio,

yep Ive found it for just over a grand delivered, which has been given the seal of approval by the boss

cheers for the link, more reading!

robski

 

Am I right in thinking that the 32WD98B actually decodes the dobly 5.1?

robski

 

Robski,
You are correct, the TV does indeed decode Dolby Digital (another name for dolby 5.1), so just plug in a DVD player and off you go.
If you have not agreed to buy it from that place I would recommend phoning around, I know I have seen it advertised in a few places for £950 inc delivery. TVs are like insurance, phone around a few places and I would imagine you should be able to get it down to around £900, leaving an extra £100+ to go towards your DVD player.

 

Robertio,

this was with the stand, thats about £50
will have a better look tho.

Made up my mind to go for the scan DVD player, seeing as I have no disks at the mo, I will build my collection, and get a better player in a few years.

Cheers for your help

Scoobynet, dont you just love it (most of the time), its a community

robski

 

If I were to give any advice, start with your price limit, decide what you want, then go to a dedicated HIFI/Home Av shop and listen to it all!

I spent 6 grand on speakers, dvd and AV components not including the telly, couch or little fridge that sits next to the couch. result: it sounded brilliant and it was only a DD 5.1 system.

I initially bought a what hifi mag, decided on the kit from the bunches of 5red stars and it sounded pants. the shop changed the av amps and speakers and the sound was transformed and for not much more. use their knowledge.

TVs should just be used as a monitor. buy separates for everything else and use good leads (approx 10% the cost of the system as a guide).

 

Robski,
Just checking through this months home cinema choice:
Hi-Spek: tel: 01727 791 133 £949 inc del & cabinet & rearspeakers
Most other places say special or call.

 

Robertio,

can you post a few more numbers?

they are out of stock

robski

 

Robski,

Just went through the mag and listed any with Toshiba TVs:

RGB - 0208 924 7744 / 7755