ChefDude

Simple question that's driving me round the bend with the number of options

Given a £1000, what AV receiver and 5.1 speaker system would you get?

(ie, everything between a PS3 and my ears)

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

If it were me, I'd split the budget 50/50. I'm Trying to decide between these 2 receivers in that price range:

HARMAN KARDON AVR255 HOME CINEMA RECEIVER - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/5361 for details

ONKYO TXSR607 HOME CINEMA RECEIVER - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/5174 for details

AV forums is not helping matters

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

I was told to spend roughly split your budget 65/35 in favour of the speakers. The reason being most modern receivers are more than suited for most demands and can provide enough power for almost everybodies needs so your money is better spent on a quality set of speakers which generally last longer. The receiver may be something you upgrade in 5 years but the speakers will still be going strong.

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

I'd be inclined to go for these speakers:

KEF KHT2005.3 HOME CINEMA SPEAKER SYSTEM - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/4360 for details

Styling not to everyones taste, but I dont think you can fault the sound quality.

MattW

I've got an Onkyo 605 sitting round doing nothing. I think the HDMI port out is broken but may just be a setup issue, I need to find the guarantee and get it fixed (The service centre is local to me). Otherwise perfect.

May be of interest.

ChefDude

I just asked the g/f about the KEF KHT2005.3 and I got "Nasty :|"

However, the wireless KHT5005.2 Wireless returned "these r cute " - only a small price difference lol

MattW

I have the 3005s excellent system.

stevem2k

Denon AVR1909 +

3 x Radius 225
2 x Radius 45
(Monitor Audio)

Not found any requirement for sub as yet , but I have left 'space' for it.

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

1909s are thin on the ground as they've recently been replaced by the 1910

Scott W

Take a look at the BK Monolith or one of their smaller subs depending on the "space" you have left for it. Gets rave reviews on the avforums and having recently purchased one myself, I now know why!

Chip

KEF speakers. Yamaha amp.

Chip

jods

You should test drive the difference between the KEF's and these:

View the XT Series speakers at Bowers & Wilkins - The World?s leading speaker brand.

hux309

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/4217
ACOUSTIC ENERGY AEGIS NEO 3 SPEAKERS (PAIR) - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/3222 for details
ACOUSTIC ENERGY AEGIS NEO CENTRE SPEAKER - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/3223 for details
ACOUSTIC ENERGY AEGIS NEO 1 SPEAKERS (PAIR) - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/3221 for details

All comes to £1017.

ScooByer Trade

Try Home Cinema Choice peeps.

mcbainna

second that get yourself a copy of HCC

onkyo amps getting a good name at the mo and you dont get much better than b&w speakers but at the end of the day it's down to personal choice and what you think sounds good so try and demo the gear before you buy

take a look at richersounds website always got good bargains

EddScott

Rossyboy has it right

AVR255 and see if you can still find a set of the old version Quad Lite speaker system. I understand the only difference between Lite 1 and Lite 2 is the tweaters.

I paid £450 for my AVR255 when it first came out because the shop I bought it from had it £150 cheaper than retail (its on the AV forum thread of the 255). The Quad Lite I got from weymouth Hifi for £499 in the rosewood which actually looks lovely - they came in little fabric bags and you got cotton gloves to hold the speakers with - very classy.

IWatkins

KEF 3005s all the way. Lovely sound regardless of the amp it seems and the sub is shake your teeth good.

Ant

Amp wise onkyo 606, brilliant sytem for the money.

I didn't go for kef I went with matching black onkyo book shelf speakers.

True HD and dts HD sounds superb

Tiss

second the onkyo 605 excellent kit. try canton speakers, german and excellent sound/price.

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

If you're chucking it out i'll pay postage

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

I want to buy the HK 255, I really do. BUT even the guys on the AV forum that continually praise them seem to have had issues themselves at some point. It looks great and seems to have a better sound than its rivals, but I just want something that has a good chance of working straight out of the box and the ONKYO 607 seems to do that much better.

Have you had any problems with your 255?

EddScott

No. I never really got what they were on about.

Some had problems with hooking up 360s but I have a PS3. I thought I had a problem with the amp missing off some sounds from Colin Dirt on the PS3 but when I hooked up the HDMI direct to my TV it still did it so wasn't the amp.

I only bought it as a stop gap until the 1909 Denon came out but I decided to keep the 255. Seeing as when it first came out the one shop had it at a much lower price it seemed silly not to. The on screen GUI is pretty cool IMO.

Never heard the Onkyo so couldn't comment but I didn't really like the look of it and I'd heard heat was a factor and my amp is up high on shelving.

I'd look for the Quads too. Never heard KEF and don't really like the egg shaped design. Much prefer the retro look.

ChefDude

Super thread

I am pretty set on the Quad lite 2 5.1 set and the onkyo 607... and the apollo SAT1 speaker stands for the rears.

When I lay cable for the surrounds, should I lay 4 leads to the surrounds for 7.1 (if i ever want it)? Is that where the extra 2 are supposed to go?

Ant

7.1 is between your front and rears . If your room is average size 7.1 is pointless IMO

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Personally I don't rate the KEF egg satelites (KHT 1005 and 2005s ), they are heavy little things, but I find they don't have enough low frequency response and rely heavily on the sub for the upper base frequencies. And I'm not a fan of having all the bass come from one single direction.

For that reson, I would push for Whafdale Diamond 9s or Mission MV 5.1, or better still; Mission M33i floor standers and M30i rears (no sub required, unless your a manic bass-head ).

SuperFi also do a MV 5.1 package with an upgrade option to have front floorstanders and keep the sub: MISSION MV 5.1 SPEAKER PACKAGE - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/4202 for details

As for amp, hmm. Depends on the TV. For example, if its Panasonic Viera, I maybe tempted to go for the Pansonic a/v amp as it will all work off the same remote as the TV(viera link).

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

I have this system in my house and its excellent for the price, they also do a trial time. So if you don't like it you just return it and they refund your cash There is loads of cracking onkyo amps around which are in a good budget marekt. I thinking of buying one sometime as my amp is well old now


Crane Audio - Award Winning Surround Sound and Home Cinema Speakers

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Mission is my speaker package of choice aswell.

MVAS Sub
M30i rears
M3c2i centre
?????? fronts - just moved house and have space issues where they will sit

Rapid17

I too bought a Quad Lite system in Rosewood from Weymouth HiFi and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Geoff.

alistair

Do you have any other requirements ?

Is it just PS3 or do you haveother sources ?

For example, some amps do up-conversion, so that any additional video inputs are converted to HDMI - the advantage being that you only need to run an HDMI cable to the TV, rather than potentially also needing s-video, component, composite etc.

If you don't need up-conversion, then the SONY STRDG820 is probably the best value for money amp around at the moment at £230 - I think it out performs Onkyo & Yamaha amps up to around £450.

Speakers are a more personal choice - it matters more what they look like - amps all look pretty much the same.

How much space do you have ? Floor standing front speakers or do you want all smaller wall mounted etc.

ChefDude

interesting points alistair

the speakers will be on stands in a fairly large room. later when the room settles, i might put them on the wall.

the setup will be a 60" plasma and PS3. maybe a wii later on.

I will probably network stream video and audio from my pc too.

I did look at the sony av receiver first, but the onkyo 607 looks quite matched to the quad lite 5.1 package, so i'll listen to that combo first.