Blu-ray Home theatre system

[george321]

Hello everyone,
I just had a couple questions. I would really appreciate your help.
Thanks

1) I just got a blu-ray player and I was planning to use the speakers i already had, but they did not match with the player. THe speakers used wires and the player needed plugs. Therefore, i was forced to use only 2 speakers instead of the other five. Why did the two not match?

2) DO I really need the 5 speakers or is 2 enough? (the 2 i am using are really strong.) Is there going to be a difference and if there is, is it a big one?

Thank you so much,
george321

[dvdjunkie]

If you are using the Blu-Ray correctly, you have the sound (Audio Out) plugged into your stereo system, and there shouldn't be a need to mess with your wiring. I don't understand what you are saying about needing plugs instead of wires. Can you describe the problem more clearly, and I then I can help. I have both a Samsung BP1000 and a PlayStation 3 and have no problems with sound in any way shape or form.

[TM2-Megatron]

I don't understand what you are saying about needing plugs instead of wires.

It's likely the speakers he has use those wiring connectors that require the spring-plugs to connect; surely you've seen such things... pretty much every stereo system ever manufactured uses them, and most still do. It's only the multichannel stuff that tends to use other connection types... although I've seen quite a few decoders for DVD setups that still use the wiring connection.

Anyway, I don't believe most Blu-Rayers are designed to have speakers connected directly to them, unless they're powered. Blu-Ray players are expensive enough without building an amplifer into them. Based on the audio outputs of the Sony Blu-Ray units I've examined, there should (at least) be:

1. analog 2-channel output (red and white RCA plugs)
2. analog 6-channel output (2 red, 2 white, 2 black RCA plugs)
3. coaxial SP/DIF (single black plug that looks like an RCA but isn't)
4. optical SP/DIF (usually beside the coaxial, kind of shaped like a phone jack)

In this instance, DVDjunkie is correct in that all of these outputs are designed to be connected to a stereo or multichannel amplifer and/or decoder which is, in turn, connected to your speakers. The SP/DIF connectors are primarily meant for connecting to an external decoder that's capable of more types of surround than the player alone, and the analog outputs can be connected to a simple amplifer (whether stereo or multichannel).

If you don't have an amplifer, all you can probably do for the moment is buy one or use the 2-channel analog output on the Blu-Ray player to connect up to your television's Audio In jack and use its speakers. I'm sure Radio Shack sells RCA adapters that you could try and solder on to the wiring connectors of your existing speakers, however I doubt it would work as they aren't powered.

Personally, while a surround setup isn't strictly necessary, I have found on the TV in our house that doesn't have one that it can impact the audibility of certain elements; particuarly dialogue.

[george321]

Thanks everyone for your great help.
Yes, the problem was that I could not attach them directly to the player but for my HDDVD player I could. Right now I have a SONY Audio Video Control Centre (It's like a small box), but it can only hold up to 3 speakers. How much is the price, do you think, if I wanted one that could hold more?

Thanks again.
George321