Audio Gear That Turns Your TV Into A Surround Sound Cinema

Ever walked into one of those ‘home cinema’ showrooms? It’s mad fun.

You wander in, sit on those custom leather chairs. Look up at that world class projector and the crisp audio. You imagine yourself kicking back after a long day at work. Ah, this is the life. You sip on a nice cold drink.

Then you look at the price tag and have coronary.

“So how can I do something kinda like this that doesn’t cost $AU400,000?”

Uh, good question.

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To keep things simple let’s focus on audio. Let’s assume you buy a decent sized, quality TV. Maybe one of the LG OLED’s if your flush, but there are plenty of high quality LCDs on the market at a reasonable cost.

Now, let’s talk audio.


Consider The Blu-Ray Player


Oppo UDP-205: $US2199.95

So if you really want to go hard, you’ll want to get a 4K Blu-ray player that really enable that extra layer of audio quality. The Oppo UDP-205 is the type of 4K Blu-ray player that works hard to deliver that additional layer of quality that audiophiles require.

I mean look at this:

This isn’t ‘plug in your HDMI cable and forget about it’. This is for the person who wants true 7.1 surround sound and likes to tinker and get sound just right.

This is high quality, high end stuff. If you’re the kind of person who cares about high quality output, be it audio or visual, this is one to consider.


Consider The Soundbar


LG SH7: $799

If you have a smaller room, or don’t have the patience or means to set up a full 7.1 speaker set-up, you might want to consider a soundbar. Get a decent one and you’ll notice the difference. It won’t perfectly replicate the surround sound experience, but it’s as close as dammit. If you’re renting a place, and don’t want to deal with mounting speakers at different points of a room, the Soundbar is a great solution. It can quietly sit underneath a television and create a very high quality surround sound experience.

Personally, we like the LG SH7 if you can get it. It’s reasonably priced and is better than most regardless of whether you’re using HDMI or Optical.


Consider Going Pro


Definitive Technology ProCinema 800: $2334

If you’re a Bitcoin billionaire and feel like splashing out, might as well go super high quality with this 5.1 set-up. This is very expensive, particularly for a 5.1 set, but when you consider the size and what it can do in terms of sound quality — there is value to be had here. $2334 is the Australian RRP, shop around and see if you can get a deal on this speaker set. You won’t regret it.


Consider Going Cheaper

Onkyo SKS-HT540

These are a bit more difficult to find in Australia, but a quick Google search shows them being sold on eBay and at a number of online retailers for around $700. They represent tremendous value if you’re looking for a relatively cheap set of surround sound speakers that also deliver in terms of sound quality. You’ll struggle to find them at retail, but even if you have to get them shipped from overseas, it’s still worth the hassle. This is the one to go for if you want a high quality set-up at a reasonable price.


Did we miss anything? What’s your current set-up? Let us know in the comments.


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