Was curious if any of the group has any of these 2.1 surround sound systems. Bose has a system of just two smaller speakers and a sub woofer that will simulate 5.1 Dolby surround without the need of running wires for the rear speakers. It's running around $900.00. Yamaha has a rather interesting sound bar system uses some 20 odd little speakers in it and a sub woofer. And there are other brands as well. When you go into the stores not all of them have the systems set up or they are set up rather poorly and you can't get a good feel of how they will work in the home. Will be using the sound system in a bedroom with a flat screen TV.
Options for Surround Sound
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selectomatic
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I have a part-time job working for a Home Video and Stereo shop, and so I have some experience with these things.
I have a fairly low opinion of Bose and their products, but the Yamaha Sound Projector is nothing short of amazing.
Unfortunately the speakers in the unit are all on the small side, so a subwoofer really helps. I'm not sure how necessary this would be in a bedroom, however. It's something you can add later if you want to.
Of course, some of the rear-channel effect will be lost if you're laying in bed no matter what.
One of the nice things about the Yamaha is that it includes the amplifier and surround processor, and does the video switching -- you connect your source pieces, your TV, and your subwoofer directly to the YSP.
-kevin
I have a fairly low opinion of Bose and their products, but the Yamaha Sound Projector is nothing short of amazing.
Unfortunately the speakers in the unit are all on the small side, so a subwoofer really helps. I'm not sure how necessary this would be in a bedroom, however. It's something you can add later if you want to.
Of course, some of the rear-channel effect will be lost if you're laying in bed no matter what.
One of the nice things about the Yamaha is that it includes the amplifier and surround processor, and does the video switching -- you connect your source pieces, your TV, and your subwoofer directly to the YSP.
-kevin
The surround sound headphones
have made considerable progress in the last few years (the first ones were worse than bad) and may be a viable alternative for genuine surround sound in the bedroom.
Alternatively, wireless loudspeakers (you'd only need for the rear two to be wireless) have also become much better and less expensive. That way, you could have the real thing.
Virtual surround sound can actually work, but the optimal conditions are very limiting - and the really good stuff (Yamaha is the only one I have ever heard which really gave me the feeling of something 'behind' me) is more expensive than an adequate 5.1 system + wireless rear speakers.
The rear speakers (unless you are into DTS, which you aren't or you would never even consider virtual anything) don't have to be very high quality relative to the front...the standard used for nearly all current DVDs has a sound quality just slightly better than the old telephone reserved for the rear channels.
have made considerable progress in the last few years (the first ones were worse than bad) and may be a viable alternative for genuine surround sound in the bedroom.
Alternatively, wireless loudspeakers (you'd only need for the rear two to be wireless) have also become much better and less expensive. That way, you could have the real thing.
Virtual surround sound can actually work, but the optimal conditions are very limiting - and the really good stuff (Yamaha is the only one I have ever heard which really gave me the feeling of something 'behind' me) is more expensive than an adequate 5.1 system + wireless rear speakers.
The rear speakers (unless you are into DTS, which you aren't or you would never even consider virtual anything) don't have to be very high quality relative to the front...the standard used for nearly all current DVDs has a sound quality just slightly better than the old telephone reserved for the rear channels.
jasonl
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Kevin
Does the Yammy switch between HDMI inputs as well?
At least two, preferably three.
Does the Yammy switch between HDMI inputs as well?
At least two, preferably three.
selectomatic
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The newest YSP (the YSP-4000) has two HDMI inputs, and it upconverts so that the only thing you need to do with your TV is turn it on and off.
It's considerably more expensive than the other models, however.
-kevin
It's considerably more expensive than the other models, however.
-kevin
Took a break from painting the room (now for the fifth time, don't ask!). I appreciate the replies and suggestions! Thanks!
I may brave Frys here or Best Buy later and see if they have that Yamaha hooked up. On one of the reviews it mentioned that due to the nature of how it senses the room, in store demos may sound rather poor. And once you get the thing home, get the dogs and cats out of the room as it shoots it sound beams around to sense the room.
The room is about 14 x 24 feet, with the bed/TV toward one end of the room. The sound system will be paired up with a Phillips 47" LCD TV w/Ambient Light...should make for a very disco look.
I may brave Frys here or Best Buy later and see if they have that Yamaha hooked up. On one of the reviews it mentioned that due to the nature of how it senses the room, in store demos may sound rather poor. And once you get the thing home, get the dogs and cats out of the room as it shoots it sound beams around to sense the room.
The room is about 14 x 24 feet, with the bed/TV toward one end of the room. The sound system will be paired up with a Phillips 47" LCD TV w/Ambient Light...should make for a very disco look.
YSP-4000
Painting got done and decided to brave Frys here. They had the smaller YSP-800 (might have been 900) set up in a busy traffic aisle. Could not hear it very well, I think the volume control may have been locked. In one of the demo rooms they had the Yamaha YSP-4000. The 4 salespeople did not know what the difference was between the 3000 and 4000 models. No 3000 unit on display. One salesman tried to demo the 4000 unit, turning on several other demo speakers until he finally thought he got the right one. Not sure if we even heard the 4000 one or not. They couldn't figure out their system. So for now, the search continues!
Jason if you're looking into one of these, I hope you have better luck actually hearing one!!
Painting got done and decided to brave Frys here. They had the smaller YSP-800 (might have been 900) set up in a busy traffic aisle. Could not hear it very well, I think the volume control may have been locked. In one of the demo rooms they had the Yamaha YSP-4000. The 4 salespeople did not know what the difference was between the 3000 and 4000 models. No 3000 unit on display. One salesman tried to demo the 4000 unit, turning on several other demo speakers until he finally thought he got the right one. Not sure if we even heard the 4000 one or not. They couldn't figure out their system. So for now, the search continues!
Jason if you're looking into one of these, I hope you have better luck actually hearing one!!
selectomatic
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It won't really work in an impossibly large room, so it
The 800 doesn't do video switching, and it has fewer speakers so the surround effect is less noticeable.
The 1000/1100 have more speakers, and they switch S-, Composite, and Component video. I don't believe that it upconverts video, so you'd have to switch your TV to the same type of input that was going into the YSP (Composite/S or Component).
The 4000 adds 2 HDMI inputs and one output, and it upconverts so that any input can be sent out of the HDMI output.
The 3000 doesn't upconvert, so you have to change inputs on your TV when you switch between source pieces with different video output types (for example, if you're watching a BluRay DVD player with HDMI output, and you want to change to a cable box with Component output, you need to switch inputs on both the YSP and the TV).
As was mentioned earlier, the YSP works by bouncing sound off of walls to create the illusion of the sound sourced being behind you. This cannot work in huge Big Box stores. Our relatively small store has three areas for demonstration, of which one is very irregular, and has no back wall to speak of. The effect works surprisingly well in that area, but much better in the regular, rectangular demonstration rooms.
If you're propped up in bed with pillows behind you, you won't hear the rear channels very well even with 'real' 5.1 surround, but I am very favorably impressed by the YSPs, and our customers have all been happy with their purchases.
-kevin
The 800 doesn't do video switching, and it has fewer speakers so the surround effect is less noticeable.
The 1000/1100 have more speakers, and they switch S-, Composite, and Component video. I don't believe that it upconverts video, so you'd have to switch your TV to the same type of input that was going into the YSP (Composite/S or Component).
The 4000 adds 2 HDMI inputs and one output, and it upconverts so that any input can be sent out of the HDMI output.
The 3000 doesn't upconvert, so you have to change inputs on your TV when you switch between source pieces with different video output types (for example, if you're watching a BluRay DVD player with HDMI output, and you want to change to a cable box with Component output, you need to switch inputs on both the YSP and the TV).
As was mentioned earlier, the YSP works by bouncing sound off of walls to create the illusion of the sound sourced being behind you. This cannot work in huge Big Box stores. Our relatively small store has three areas for demonstration, of which one is very irregular, and has no back wall to speak of. The effect works surprisingly well in that area, but much better in the regular, rectangular demonstration rooms.
If you're propped up in bed with pillows behind you, you won't hear the rear channels very well even with 'real' 5.1 surround, but I am very favorably impressed by the YSPs, and our customers have all been happy with their purchases.
-kevin
Side not back
Technically, the rear speakers should be on the sides not behind you for a 5.1 setup.
Have to agree, stay away form Bose, really not a quality product.(Reacall the old saying? "No highs, no lows, must be Bose...") I sold the stuff for years, even own a set. It works in the application I'm using it, basically background music on my sun porch, any serious listening is done on my favorite Mission speakers.
Technically, the rear speakers should be on the sides not behind you for a 5.1 setup.
Have to agree, stay away form Bose, really not a quality product.(Reacall the old saying? "No highs, no lows, must be Bose...") I sold the stuff for years, even own a set. It works in the application I'm using it, basically background music on my sun porch, any serious listening is done on my favorite Mission speakers.
