That LG has an optical input. So you will be able to get sound in from the Dreambox. However, if you want to connect anything else via optical (or coax for that matter) such as a games console or audio back from a TV then you're out of luck.
The going rate for this home cinema kit is around £550~£600 sterling in the UK, and you seem to get a lot of stuff for your money. However, all-in-one kits are not the only game in town. Before you throw down your hard earned, be sure that there isn't something better suited to your needs.
One thing that comes up time and time again is connectivity. There just aren't enough of the right types of sockets once people start to think about what else they'd like ito connect. Then there's sound quality... There is a tendency for these kits to be a bit harsh and boomy. "Wireless" speakers will emphasise this even more as there's some fairly agressive compression going on in the transmission process. Also, the rear speakers might receive their signal wirelessly, but each one still needs to be plugged in to a mains socket to power the wireless receiver and built in amp, so they aren't truly
wireless. Having a built-in Blu-ray player is great for saving money, but what happens if there's a problem? You end up losing the amp too. It's the same with the amp and speakers. Neither can be replaced independently. One fault in the chain means replacing the whole lot!
There's nothing to say that any of the above is important to you. But if just one of those points gives you pause for thought, then take a little time to have a look at the alternatives.
A separates system is where you have a Blu-ray player connected to a dedicated AV amp, and then partnered with some speakers. This might all come from one manufacturer, or more often is the case that it's mix and match to get the best performance for your money. That's not an issue. All the gear is designed to be interchangeable. Come upgrade time that's actually a possitive advantage!
Things you'll get with the typical £500 AV amp & speaker package...
- more inputs: 3+ HDMIs, 2+ digital audio (coax/optical), TV audio return over HDMI (one HDMI to TV is all you need)
- better audio processing: Dolby ProLogic II for standard TV and stereo sources, then DD, DTS, Dolby Tru-HD and DTS-HD for DVD, HD TV, Blu-ray and HD gaming
- more useable power: They might have a lower wattage claim on paper, but proper AV amps deliver cleaner sound and go louder that their all-in-one brothers. This is partly to do with how they are designed and then also to do with how the amp power figures are measured versus the real world.
- superior build quality: Decent AV gear lives or dies on its sound quality. A big factor in the final sound is the build quality. This is especially true of speakers. Once you get past the glossy finish and bling of all-in-one kit speakers what's left isn't all that substantial. More a case of looks over substance. It's the oposite with proper AV gear.
- easier to use: all-in-one kits rarely make life simple when it comes doing anything beyond the basics. They'll often use auto features that leave you confused or frustrated when you just want to do something simple like listen to music while the TV is showing something else.
- better sound: listen and compare an all-in-one to a similarly priced AV amp & speaker package. You'll hear more realistic voices, easier to understand dialogue, better music, clearer at higher volumes, less fatiguing and just all round better sound from separates.
Have a look at this
Sony & Wharfedale package for £500. Add the matching
3D Blu-ray player for £80
