Why is this so hard? I'm looking for a home theatre set...

[DarKWateR]

sory yes... 505RMS 1000watt true peak power :erm:

I won't argue, the Z5500 is nice but the lack of inputs and even the HDMI switcher is kinda lacking since the Sony is basically the same price.

Then you still have the PC Set vs HT Set thing going on.

 

[Nokkie]

ya, its a bugger

 

[Dolby]

Z5500 are actually a good example of marketing ...

Power is 1000w+ PMPO ... only 505w RMS ... 188w RMS in the sub, 69w RMS into the mains and rears - and 69w RMS into the center.

All with 10% distotion, fed with 1khz tone instead of the full range too. In the end you're probably looking at 40w RMS for the satellites if you're lucky

 

[ponder]

Err....I don't get it since that's the norm these days.

Are those figures real at all? I love looking at these output ratings and then compare them to the power consumption and many of these things out there actually generate power out of nothing. If it actually does get to that output how much distortion is involved? Energy crisis solved

I have a 20W stereo amp here that puts a lot of stuff out there to shame.

 

[Brawler]

What LCD do you have?

 

[Mcwidowmaker]

Its all a question of how much money you want to throw at it. Some systems are better than others. For about R4k you can get a decent sony / nad system with about 80w RMS with 5.1 surround sound.

Then you can go up the about R20k and get a nice merantz 4004 with the B&W CM series speakers that will give awesome performance.

Then you cna spend about R50k for Rotel RX1550 / 1560 with B&W 6 series speakers that is just wow.

And If you have a sport car garage collection, a yacht, a house in houtbay, a game farm and a few other toys, you can buy classe with B&W 8 series speakers for about R300k and impress everyone with perfect sound and 0 distortion.

 

[Dolby]

You get a 5.1 NAD and speakers for R4k?

 

[Mcwidowmaker]

Probably a little bit more, but lets say sub R10k bracket.

 

[DVD007]

My Z5500 is running very nicely, PC, PS3 and HD PVR connected to it. No prob's

 

[Wasp_21]

I think you misunderstood. The HDMI-DVI cable is from the receiver to the LCD. My LCD does not have HDMI. For example:

Connect PS3 via HDMI to Sony AMP and from AMP to TV via HDMI = Fine
Connect PS3 via HDMI to Sony AMP and from AMP to LCD via HDMI-DVI = No go

I've got the Sony Mu-Te-Ki setup, and it doesn't code the HDMI passthrough any better than going direct from source to screen. Also, you have to flip and switch between sources. Its much easier as mentioned above, go direct and then optical the sound out to the receiver.

 

[Yarik11]

Also looking for a home theatre at around 4k so following this thread with some interest.

Apart from the Sony MG-DDWG800H (R3999 at Dion Wired)
http://www.sony.co.za/product/ht-ddwg800

I was also looking at Sony DAV-DZ790K (was also R3999 at Makro, but now out of stock)
http://www.sony.co.za/product/dav-dz790k

The former has a proper amp, but small speakers, while the latter has an amp/dvd combo but tallboy speakers. Which one would you guys recommend?

 

[DarKWateR]

Also looking for a home theatre at around 4k so following this thread with some interest.

Apart from the Sony MG-DDWG800H (R3999 at Dion Wired)
http://www.sony.co.za/product/ht-ddwg800

I was also looking at Sony DAV-DZ790K (was also R3999 at Makro, but now out of stock)
http://www.sony.co.za/product/dav-dz790k

The former has a proper amp, but small speakers, while the latter has an amp/dvd combo but tallboy speakers. Which one would you guys recommend?

Well the Sony DAV-DZ790K seems very limited...no optical outs, no coaxial outs, no HDMI inputs and no component. Needless to say, this unit is purely a standard HT set and not a HT component set. Not worth it IMO.

 

[Yarik11]

Well the Sony DAV-DZ790K seems very limited...no optical outs, no coaxial outs, no HDMI inputs and no component. Needless to say, this unit is purely a standard HT set and not a HT component set. Not worth it IMO.

Could you expalin the difference between the optical/coaxial/hdmi inputs and outputs?

My main concern is to be able to connect my PS3 and HD PVR and maybe my ipod to a home theatre. And then I also want bass that doesn't distort and shake all over the place. I've heard one of the low end Samsung home theate's bass (the one with 5 small satellites for R 999) and it sounded like it wants to break all the time. My Creative A200 speaker's bass is better than that.

 

[DarKWateR]

Could you expalin the difference between the optical/coaxial/hdmi inputs and outputs?

My main concern is to be able to connect my PS3 and HD PVR and maybe my ipod to a home theatre. And then I also want bass that doesn't distort and shake all over the place. I've heard one of the low end Samsung home theate's bass (the one with 5 small satellites for R 999) and it sounded like it wants to break all the time. My Creative A200 speaker's bass is better than that.

Well basically the optical and coaxial(SPDIF), component, composite, HDMI are all used to connect external devices. The problem with that set you're looking at is that it's not created for this purpose.

The MG-DDWG800H allows to connect three HDMI advices to 1 HDMI display and it also allows you to connect optical, rca, component, coaxial, etc sources. It's just so much more future proof in terms of connectivity. Also it's a component set so it's easy to upgrade speakers or add additional devices.

I don't think it's fair to compare an "el-cheapo" R999 plastic set with a full component R4000 HT set (bookshelf speakers) from the same brand.

 

[Yarik11]

Thanks for the advice dude

I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to home threatres...

What you said definitely makes sense. BTW, I just contacted Sony SA and they said they're not selling the DAV-DZ790k anymore so it looks like I don't even have a choice anymore.

 

[DarKWateR]

Thanks for the advice dude

I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to home threatres...

What you said definitely makes sense. BTW, I just contacted Sony SA and they said they're not selling the DAV-DZ790k anymore so it looks like I don't even have a choice anymore.

No problem.....it seems like I'm going the DDWG800H route but I'm still shopping around.

 

[Naks]

I've been looking so hard but with no luck....I've check out the LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, etc. websites but nothing so far.

Please help

Dion Wired at the Somerset Mall is having a special on Sony stuff, give them a call.

I think I saw a Sony HT system for R4999 on Saturday.

 

[DarKWateR]

Dion Wired at the Somerset Mall is having a special on Sony stuff, give them a call.

I think I saw a Sony HT system for R4999 on Saturday.

Yep, that's the one but it seems to be R3999 although I'm not too much in a hurry so I'm still gonna check around for different options.

 

[DarKWateR]

Z5500 are actually a good example of marketing ...

Power is 1000w+ PMPO ... only 505w RMS ... 188w RMS in the sub, 69w RMS into the mains and rears - and 69w RMS into the center.

All with 10% distotion, fed with 1khz tone instead of the full range too. In the end you're probably looking at 40w RMS for the satellites if you're lucky

Interesting. I'm just wondering if the Sony HT set as discussed here will be better or worse than the Z5500 in terms of sound quality and volume.

 

[soldierboi]

Try the SONY DAV-DZ777 HOME THEATRE SYSTEM - I bought this a few months ago. It's within your price bracket and its got decent upscaling. Unfortunately no receiver, but if you will to spend abit more on a receiver check out STR-DA2400ES at the Sony centre in Jhb/Melrose Arch.
Bought it DionWired.