Will a 5.1 system add fun to my audio (mp3 via usb) & cable TV experience?

[sumitagarwal19]

Hello,
I have been looking after a 5.1 home audio set up. Before the puchase, I wanted to enquire the benefits of the setup on the media that i would be playing.
My entertainment priorities are in the order below -
(1) Music: downloaded (5-6MB per song),
(2) TV (setup box) for sports and recorded movies and
(3) Movies (DVD rips downloads via laptop)

1. MUSIC: I normally listen to the mp3 which are downloaded at a size of 5-6MB. Are these songs recorded with 5.1 effect and would i feel the difference or shall i be downloading any other version/format of songs to play it in 5.1 setup? Does 5.1 setup enhances the expereince of listening music or is it just for movies?

2. TV (setup box): I have a setup box - Airtel IPTV connection for viewing television channels. None of the channels subscribed offer HD as of now, but expected to come in a staggered manner.

3. Movies: I basically download DVD rip formats of the movies i wish to watch (app 800mb) and connect the laptop to TV to watch them. Are these downloads 5.1 recorded. Will i get the benefit of the 5.1 setup playing movies via laptop. Do i need to upgrade sounc card in laptop. I do not want a recurrimng expense of buying a DVD for every movie.

Considering all of above, would a 5.1 setup be worth. If yes, gr8, what else do i need to do to enhance my experience?
I have a constrained budget of 30K. Can up it by 10% if it add value. I am thinking of Onkyo 3400.

Thanks
Sumit

 

[afj]

it will not help with music when compared to a stereo set up. even cable tv there will not be any difference unless you are watching in hd where it is recorded in 5.1 surround sound.

whats your listening habits - percentage of movies to music. what sort of music do you listen to. whats your budget

 

[borg]

+1, to enjoy 3400 you need to give it dd/dts (hd dth channels/dvd/hdrip) or hd audio(bluray) material

for music , stereo amp -speaker is best suited

 

[edjamesx]

Hello,
I have been looking after a 5.1 home audio set and have zeroed on ONKYO 3400. Befor i puchase wanted to enquire that the apart from the DVD movies does the 5.1 setup makes sense for a cable TV experience or just for listening music?

I normally listen to the mp3 which are downloaded at a size of 5-6MB. Are these songs recorded with 5.1 effect and would i feel the difference or shall i be downloading any other version/format of songs to play it in 5.1 setup?

Also I have an Airtel IPTV connection for cable channels. For movies until now i have been connecting my laptop to the TV which are DVD rip format in 700-800MB. I donot wish to keep buying DVD and would prefer the same approach going forward. Not sure whether i will benefit from the 5.1 setup playing the Airtel IPTV setup box or the movies from the latop.. Any help?

Considering all of above, would a 5.1 setup be worth. If yes, gr8, what else do i need to do to enhance my experience?

Thanks
Sumit

If your primary interest is music go with stereo setup as others are saying.

For TV viewing the sound will be a lot better than TV, if you connect to AMP for normal channels as the sound gets amplified. But 5.1 sound is available only in HD channels and its slowly coming now only. Very few channels/programs have only 5.1 surround in setop box.

If you have to play 5.1 sound movie then you need to buy the sound card with digital output to connect to AMP from your laptop. Most of the time 500-700 mb downloaded movies will have either stereo or mono channels. And sound quality will not be that good. If you want a good quality either buy original DVD ..or download DVD rips.

 

[just4kix]

Another +1.

HT 5.1 is suited for movies with true 5.1 sound - something that you will get from DVDs, BDs and DTH-HD (where 5.1 is announced).

The AVR is poor suited for music.