Can I buy a new Samsung Blu-ray player & connect with my HT-TZ222 speakers?

[BFLEFC]

I've already got a Samsung HT-TZ222 DVD player and home cinema system combi, and was thinking of taking the plunge into Blu-ray.

I was wondering if the home cinema system (sub-woofer & speakers) would be compatible with another Samsung blu-ray player. Is it just a simple case of ensuring I buy a Blu-ray player which also supports 5.1 sound etc, and connecting all the components via the sockets at the back?

Apologies for what might be a dumb question to most on here - I'll admit to being a bit of a techno-biff!

[jman98]

Generally speaking the best way to go would be to plug your speakers into a receiver and send the audio output from the BluRay player to the receiver. I do not know if this particular model supports direct connection of speakers or not. If it's any use to you, BluRay players do support sending out legacy AC3 and DTS output instead of high def audio. My receiver is a few years old and I have to use it in this mode.

[turk690]

Some combis were designed with upgrades in mind and often sport one or more set of HDMI, component video, and optical inputs at the back. This would make connecting a blu-ray player or an HD PVR a simple matter, if for example the component inputs can handle HD (and pass that to the component outputs intact). On the other hand some combis were designed to befuddle and disappoint you by not providing them (which makes sense to the manufacturer, because if you are a dead-set combi user you now have to buy a new one that supports blu-ray). I don't know in which camp the Samsung HT-TZ222 belongs.
Samsung is a great brand but seems to enjoy setting as many traps for knowledgeable people where it can. For example, a recent LCD TV designed to be sold anywhere in the world except North America will accept and properly display all manners of inputs: SD, HD, 50i/25p, 60i/30p, 24p. But that very same TV, if intended to be used in the USA and model number slightly changed to reflect it, will have its 50i/25p capabilities mercilessly cut out. On the other hand, some Sony LCD TVs in North America retain the ability to accept and display anything that smacks of 50i/25p, although it is not documented in the specs or manual.