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I recieved the SoundStation 2 Speakers in time for X-Mas, and they are great, BUT what about the Surround Sound Setup? I see the Digital Out in the PS2, but if there are no Surround Sound Setup's Available (i.e. Dolby 5.1) then what is the point of having one? Is there any of you knowledgeable people that know where I could go to get a Surround Sound System for my PS2, and roughly how much it would cost??? If you can help it I would like the U.K Sites only, if there aren't any then I will have to do some number crunching with the U.S. Sites (If they would even deliver here!)
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Okay, well I won't guarantee that this is 100% correct, but this is how I see it from my cabling experiences...
If you want the absolute best picture for your GAMES, then a true RGB SCART lead is the best cable to have; but you will have green DVD output.
If you want the best picture for both games AND DVD's then you need an S-Video or component lead. (Check the link to Monster Cable below for examples. They are expensive, but you should be able to get cheaper versions elsewhere.)
You can get an S-Video cable with seperate audio outputs to plug in to your hi-fi/SoundStation speakers.
The SoundStation will not give you surround sound, though. If you want Dolby Pro-Logic surround or Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, you will need some form of external decoder & amplifier.
You can get Dolby Pro-Logic surround from just the standard 2 audio cables connected to the necessary equipment (my hi-fi has Pro-Logic). If you want DD5.1 you will have to get a DD5.1 amp and speakers, and use the optical output on the back of your PS2.
There's a good selection of cables at:
http://www.monstercable.com/monstergame/index.html
...and they also have a useful section on hookup tips.
Alternatively, the Creative PlayWorks PS2000 that I mentioned earlier in this thread will recreate DD5.1 surround using just the two speakers.
It might be worth reading all the info about them before you dismiss them, as a seperate DD5.1 amp and speakers will put a serious dent in your wallet!
Hope this is of help to you.
If you want the absolute best picture for your GAMES, then a true RGB SCART lead is the best cable to have; but you will have green DVD output.
If you want the best picture for both games AND DVD's then you need an S-Video or component lead. (Check the link to Monster Cable below for examples. They are expensive, but you should be able to get cheaper versions elsewhere.)
You can get an S-Video cable with seperate audio outputs to plug in to your hi-fi/SoundStation speakers.
The SoundStation will not give you surround sound, though. If you want Dolby Pro-Logic surround or Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, you will need some form of external decoder & amplifier.
You can get Dolby Pro-Logic surround from just the standard 2 audio cables connected to the necessary equipment (my hi-fi has Pro-Logic). If you want DD5.1 you will have to get a DD5.1 amp and speakers, and use the optical output on the back of your PS2.
There's a good selection of cables at:
http://www.monstercable.com/monstergame/index.html
...and they also have a useful section on hookup tips.
Alternatively, the Creative PlayWorks PS2000 that I mentioned earlier in this thread will recreate DD5.1 surround using just the two speakers.
It might be worth reading all the info about them before you dismiss them, as a seperate DD5.1 amp and speakers will put a serious dent in your wallet!
Hope this is of help to you.
Then what IS the best cable for my PS2? I have heard conflicing talks about 2 of them. Some sites say that an RGB Cable will offer the best quality, and others say that an S-Video Cable will offer the best quality. I do like the sound of the second one, but if I got that Cable, I would not have any sockets to plug in my Speakers! If I did manage to get Surround Sound for my PS2, would that all connect to the Digital Out only, or would I still need the Red & White Sockets???
Aha - still as I suspected though...
If your cable has the three RCA phono connectors (red, white & yellow), it is *not* an RGB SCART cable (regardless of what it says on the pakaging!), but a composite A/V cable. That would explain why you have colour DVD output.
While your new cable may be better quality than the one supplied with PS2, it's essentially the same thing, and you're still not getting the best quality for your games. Your S-Video cable will give you the best of both worlds, though.
If your cable has the three RCA phono connectors (red, white & yellow), it is *not* an RGB SCART cable (regardless of what it says on the pakaging!), but a composite A/V cable. That would explain why you have colour DVD output.
While your new cable may be better quality than the one supplied with PS2, it's essentially the same thing, and you're still not getting the best quality for your games. Your S-Video cable will give you the best of both worlds, though.
No I am not, that cable is of poor quality! I went to Virgin Megastores and bought myself a "PS2 RGB Cable", and it cost £9.99. I like this cable as it is better quality, and has the separate 3 sockets (Red, White, Yellow). It also has those Gold Connectors for extra sharp quality. I am still waiting for my S-Video Cable that I pre-ordered from Chipsworld, I am hoping that cable is the best of them all!
Maff, are you using the cable that came with the PS2?
I must be one of the lucky ones, because on my 28" Toshiba Screen, when I plug in the RGB Cable, there is no Green Screens, whether I am playing a PS1, PS2 or a DVD, I get a perfect & clear screen first time, everytime. I don't know what my Screen does to stop it turning Green, but it is a good thing none the less, and having the SoundStation 2 on is excellent, I just need Dolby 5.1 to experience the true Potential of the PS2, it seems that no-one knows where to get it from yet, I think I will have to E-Mail Sony.
> I am
> sure that Sony would have thought about the Piracy issues and made
> some kind of Protection to stop you recording from the PS2 to
> Video???
One such system is called Macrovision. PS2 does not contain Macrovision or any protection code, and this is why Sony have prevented RGB output on PS2 - you can record from PS2 to VHS, but you get the low-grade composite output only. Apparently.
> sure that Sony would have thought about the Piracy issues and made
> some kind of Protection to stop you recording from the PS2 to
> Video???
One such system is called Macrovision. PS2 does not contain Macrovision or any protection code, and this is why Sony have prevented RGB output on PS2 - you can record from PS2 to VHS, but you get the low-grade composite output only. Apparently.
That is what I was thinking about, but if you plugged your PS2 Scart into your VCR, where would you get a picture from??? I am sure that Sony would have thought about the Piracy issues and made some kind of Protection to stop you recording from the PS2 to Video??? Apart from this, is there any other people who know a Web Site to offer Dolby 5.1? Or do I have to E-Mail Sony themselves???
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