Buying an amp

[DeathAdder]

Current set up - Full High Vision TV, PS3, Wii and 360

I want an amplifier so I can have the sound from at least the 360 and the PS3 coming at me from speakers around the room, as well as the TV. And I don't want to have to change the cables into the amp every time I switch from PS3 to 360 and back.

Can this be done? What sort of ports does the amp need, and what sort of leads are required? Also which companies make good amplifiers (I've never bought one).

All help is much appreciated.

[charlesr]

How about an Onkyo?

http://www.eu.onkyo.com/indices/index_com_en_2008_5917373.html

You can then plug in your ps3, wii and 360 into it and it will switch the video and the sound for all three.

You'll need speakers and speaker cable....
budget?

[Goldenballs]

I was in your position not that long ago, and I found looking at amps with all the different inputs etc quite daunting.

In the end I went for the Sony HTSF1200. There's a massive thread on AVForums about it:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/all-one-systems/688495-sony-ht-sf1200-my-review-amp-packaged-htd-870rsf.html

Basically I can plug my PS3 and 360 into it via HDMI (it has three HDMI inputs), and then have one HDMI going to the TV. My freeview box is also plugged in via HDMI.

This was the cheapest amp I found that can do HD audio. It can't decode the HD sountracks on BluRay, but as I use the PS3 to play BluRays it doesn't need to as the PS3 does the decoding. Watching BluRays with the TrueHD soundtracks is awesome.

It cost ?220 about 4 months ago from Total Digital. It appears they don't stock that model anymore, but they do have the HTSS1300 (The last 'S' stands for satellite instead of the 'F' which stands for Floorstanding which is on about the speakers)

http://www.totaldigital.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2606

Thread about the HTSS/F on AV here:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/all-one-systems/883191-re-sony-htss-f-1300-part-2-a.html

[DeathAdder]

Not so much a case of budget - what I don't spend on the amp will likely be wasted, er, spend on games anyway. If it's expensive, it will just mean fewer games for more months.

Thanks for those suggestions - I'm in Japan, so the model numbers will likely be different, but it's good for audio newbs to know what they should look for. I'll have a shufty of those links in depth now.

[Lyris]

Current set up - Full High Vision TV, PS3, Wii and 360

Sounds like you are in Japan? I would look at Onkyo - assuming the prices are the same as they are here, they're excellent value.

[Unwell Cat]

My TV does not have any sound out connectors so am I'm right in assuming that if I buy on of the amps below I can connect my PS3 and Sky HD box into it using HMDI and then have one HDMI cable going from the amp to my TV? If I connect this way I will get 5.1 etc from both the PS3 and Sky HD (program permitting) with no extra audio cables required?

Does the amp stop the audio going to the TV via HDMI then and outputs sound only over the speakers connected to the amp?

Thanks

I was in your position not that long ago, and I found looking at amps with all the different inputs etc quite daunting.

In the end I went for the Sony HTSF1200. There's a massive thread on AVForums about it:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/all-one-systems/688495-sony-ht-sf1200-my-review-amp-packaged-htd-870rsf.html

Basically I can plug my PS3 and 360 into it via HDMI (it has three HDMI inputs), and then have one HDMI going to the TV. My freeview box is also plugged in via HDMI.

This was the cheapest amp I found that can do HD audio. It can't decode the HD sountracks on BluRay, but as I use the PS3 to play BluRays it doesn't need to as the PS3 does the decoding. Watching BluRays with the TrueHD soundtracks is awesome.

It cost ?220 about 4 months ago from Total Digital. It appears they don't stock that model anymore, but they do have the HTSS1300 (The last 'S' stands for satellite instead of the 'F' which stands for Floorstanding which is on about the speakers)

http://www.totaldigital.biz/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2606

Thread about the HTSS/F on AV here:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/all-o...-part-2-a.html

[charlesr]

1) yes
2) It should be configurable. If not, just turn off the TV speakers in the tv setup menu.

[Goldenballs]

My TV does not have any sound out connectors so am I'm right in assuming that if I buy on of the amps below I can connect my PS3 and Sky HD box into it using HMDI and then have one HDMI cable going from the amp to my TV? If I connect this way I will get 5.1 etc from both the PS3 and Sky HD (program permitting) with no extra audio cables required?

Does the amp stop the audio going to the TV via HDMI then and outputs sound only over the speakers connected to the amp?

Thanks

Yes, you'd plug the PS3 into the amp via HDMI, and then plug the amp into your TV via HDMI.

You'd also have to plug your Sky HD box straight into your TV via HDMI, and then use an optical cable from the Sky box to the amp, as for some strange reason the Sky HD box doesn't send the sound through HDMI. (I haven't got Sky HD myself, but that's what I've read)

Optical cables are dirt cheap anyway, although this means you'd ideally need two HDMI ports on your TV. If you do the above then you would get 5.1 from Sky & PS3, & HD sound from the PS3 from Blu-Rays and some games. (Sounds great btw)

I've just had a go on my PS3 and the sound doesn't come out of the TV as well, just the speakers connected to the amp. You might be able to tinker with some settings and get it to come out of both though, I'm not sure.

[Unwell Cat]

I don't have an option to turn off the TV's internal speakers in the menu's, will that be a problem?

1) yes
2) It should be configurable. If not, just turn off the TV speakers in the tv setup menu.

[Unwell Cat]

Thanks for the info below. I only want the sound coming out of the Amp connected speakers not the TV speakers so that should be fine.

To clarify -

PS3 HDMI to amp - HDMI from amp to TV = Picture on TV, sound via amp connected speakers, no sound coming from TV speakers.

Sky HD HDMI to TV for picture, Sky HD optical cable to amp = Picture on TV, sound via amp connected speakers, no sound coming from TV speakers.

Is the above correct?

Note, I dont have an option on the TV to disble the built in TV speakers, is that a problem?

Thanks

Yes, you'd plug the PS3 into the amp via HDMI, and then plug the amp into your TV via HDMI.

You'd also have to plug your Sky HD box straight into your TV via HDMI, and then use an optical cable from the Sky box to the amp, as for some strange reason the Sky HD box doesn't send the sound through HDMI. (I haven't got Sky HD myself, but that's what I've read)

Optical cables are dirt cheap anyway, although this means you'd ideally need two HDMI ports on your TV. If you do the above then you would get 5.1 from Sky & PS3, & HD sound from the PS3 from Blu-Rays and some games. (Sounds great btw)

I've just had a go on my PS3 and the sound doesn't come out of the TV as well, just the speakers connected to the amp. You might be able to tinker with some settings and get it to come out of both though, I'm not sure.

[kernow]

Just turn the volume right down, thats what I do on mine.

[Goldenballs]

PS3 HDMI to amp - HDMI from amp to TV = Picture on TV, sound via amp connected speakers, no sound coming from TV speakers.

Correct.

Sky HD HDMI to TV for picture, Sky HD optical cable to amp = Picture on TV, sound via amp connected speakers, no sound coming from TV speakers.

As I haven't got Sky HD I can't confirm if sound will come from the tv as well, but that should be correct.

[Unwell Cat]

Thanks for the info.

Are there any other amp + speaker sets that anybody can recommend cheaper than the Sony's or are they about the best available?

Correct.



As I haven't got Sky HD I can't confirm if sound will come from the tv as well, but that should be correct.

[Goldenballs]

Thanks for the info.

Are there any other amp + speaker sets that anybody can recommend cheaper than the Sony's or are they about the best available?

If depends if you'll be watching Blu-Rays on your PS3 and are bothered about HD soundtracks. When I bought the Sony it was pretty much the cheapest amp+speaker set that was capable of HD sound.

If you just want normal 5.1 surround you could find one a lot cheaper.