[bangraman]

First time I was tempted to put 5.1 surround in my bedroom. I bought a Sony DAV-S550 for peanuts... That's a DVD/CD/MP3CD/SACD/Radio+amp and 5.1 speakers for just barely more than the retail price here of a Sony MZ-N10 minidisc recorder. Incredible. I also bought a 20.1" TFT monitor with CVBS/S-Video input and remote, and now I have a bedroom 5.1 system. I was really surprised at the build quality of the S550 for something so cheap. The entire top and face of the S-Master system (i.e. the main box) is aluminium, and so are the Bose-sized satellite bodies. All said, very classy design. Sound is a little on the tinny side right now but I'll be in a better position to judge when everything has bedded in. It even has a Dolby surround headphone mode which I haven't checked out yet. I think the DAV-S550 is a seriously good deal if you're in the UK and you want an uncomplicated home theatre in a box.

 

[JMedeiros]

Quote:

Originally posted by bangraman It even has a Dolby surround headphone mode which I haven't checked out yet.

Please oh pretty please check out the Dolby Headphone feature!

 

[Gergor]

Sony S-Master (Sony's version of digital amplifier) is of very poor quality. I'd rather pay more for something better.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

So are you saying that there's a headphone jack and you haven't checked it out yet?

 

[bangraman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dusty Chalk So are you saying that there's a headphone jack and you haven't checked it out yet?

OK, I admit it... I can't hang with the Head-Fi hardcore cadre.


Yes yes Gergor, it's not great but it's fine for bedroom use. And 225+tax for a complete 5.1 system is unbelivable when the MZ-N910 portable MD is 212+tax!

 

[averydonovan]

That is pretty cheap for a complete system, and if it doesn't sound like complete crap it is a good value. It seems to be priced similarly with the majority of those type of systems, the equivalent of the $300 to $400 range.

I have seen some complete systems with DVD and all speakers go for as little as $150. Of course it does sound awful. I have heard some decent, not good or great, systems around $350.

 

[tortie]

The ramsey electronics SHA1 headphone amp will go well with your "hardly audiophile but what unbelievable value" theme. <$35

 

[kelly]

If the Dolby Headphone processor is good and you can get a clean output to the RCA jacks to feed to a headphone amp, that alone might make it worthwhile.

 

[bangraman]

Do I have to endure "Saving Private Ryan" again or is there a better sonic audition piece? The combination of the depiction of American heroism and Tom Hanks (although I have to admit he keeps his Hanksness to a more or less reasonable minimum in this movie) causes projectile vomiting as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Gergor]

Quote:

Originally posted by kelly If the Dolby Headphone processor is good and you can get a clean output to the RCA jacks to feed to a headphone amp, that alone might make it worthwhile.

Out of curiosity I check out the system online, it doesn't carry the Dolby headphone (DH) logo, and it's described as "Headphone Theatre Mode". I don't think it's authentic dolby headphone, probably one of those sony half-ass DSP virtual surround sound. bangraman, would you please check it out for us please?!

 

[bangraman]

I've been brought up to think any reasonably full sized piece of equipment with a 3.5mm jack is highly suspect. I will check it out over the weekend.

 

[AndrewB]

[size=xx-small]Do I have to endure "Saving Private Ryan" again or is there a better sonic audition piece? [/size]

I'm rather partial to the Helicopter/Machine gun audio from the Matrix.

 

[bangraman]

I tried it (AKG K271S) and it's strange... Everything happens behind you, it seems

There's zero soundstage extension at the front. Imagine a semi-circle behind your head with the middle being the centre of your head. That's where all the sound action happens. I can actually judge that some things are more behind than others, so there is clearly some 3D soundstaging going on. It's just not that useful, with everything skulking in/behind your head...


It's not that bad to listen to. It also helpfully switched into the Headphone Surround mode when you plug the phones in. Levels were a bit low for daytime / noisy area use even at max volume on the K271 which aren't that efficient. Fine for me as it's bedroom use.