Hello to all … I am a newbie here to the forums and need some of ‘your advice’!

I am what I call an AV voyeur, i.e. Love the technology, read all the magazines and net reviews but due to moving to Spain, having kids etc my hobby really hasn’t materialised as much as I wish.

I have recently upgraded my Loewe TV to a Sony KDL-40W2000 with a Panasonic EX-75 and have a small Pioneer lifestyle system in my main lounge.

I have converted a granny flat attached to my house to an AV room: - 7.88*3.88*2.25M with a full acoustic tiled room, pre laid conduits for cables and separate mains ring to the house.

I have a budget of 30k – 40k Euros to spend on a 80/20 movie/music system (although the wife would prefer the lesser as we are expecting again) to spend and after lots of reading and a little listening (there are not many AV companies here in Valencia) I thought I had decided on the following –

Sony Pearl
Stuart screen ( discounted by AV company)
B&W 803 Fronts, B&W sub and surrounds matching fronts
Classe SSP-300 CA -5200
Marantz 9600 dvd player of Nad M55
Cables MIT and installation included in price of Eur 40,000

Now after reading the press I thought about changing to a complete NAD master system as it would come well in budget with the B&W speakers ….

…. Last week I came across another AV company in the city and he suggested the following

Krell Showcase Amp Eur 6,520
Krell Showcase Pre Eur 5,870
Sonus Faer CremonaFronts Eur 6,731
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor surrounds Eur 2,795
Sonus Faber Cremona Centre Eur 3,077

Sonus Faber Cremona Sub Eur 2,404
Theme Scene H81 1080p Projector Eur 7,590
Cables Video Eur 750
Cables Audio Eur 2,750
Screnn Mella c244 Eur 1,395

I will be auditioning the alternative set up soon but ...

Does anyone have any ideas of other set ups considering my room size adn also the 80/20 movies / music split , or any ideas about the KRELL system ... it looks like its been around for a few years now ??

Merdian ?? Others

I thank you all in anticpation

[Henry]

Originally Posted by Barcaeagle

Hello to all … I am a newbie here to the forums and need some of ‘your advice’!

I am what I call an AV voyeur, i.e. Love the technology, read all the magazines and net reviews but due to moving to Spain, having kids etc my hobby really hasn’t materialised as much as I wish.

I have recently upgraded my Loewe TV to a Sony KDL-40W2000 with a Panasonic EX-75 and have a small Pioneer lifestyle system in my main lounge.

I have converted a granny flat attached to my house to an AV room: - 7.88*3.88*2.25M with a full acoustic tiled room, pre laid conduits for cables and separate mains ring to the house.

I have a budget of 30k – 40k Euros to spend on a 80/20 movie/music system (although the wife would prefer the lesser as we are expecting again) to spend and after lots of reading and a little listening (there are not many AV companies here in Valencia) I thought I had decided on the following –

Sony Pearl
Stuart screen ( discounted by AV company)
B&W 803 Fronts, B&W sub and surrounds matching fronts
Classe SSP-300 CA -5200
Marantz 9600 dvd player of Nad M55
Cables MIT and installation included in price of Eur 40,000

Now after reading the press I thought about changing to a complete NAD master system as it would come well in budget with the B&W speakers ….

…. Last week I came across another AV company in the city and he suggested the following

Krell Showcase Amp Eur 6,520
Krell Showcase Pre Eur 5,870
Sonus Faer CremonaFronts Eur 6,731
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor surrounds Eur 2,795
Sonus Faber Cremona Centre Eur 3,077

Sonus Faber Cremona Sub Eur 2,404
Theme Scene H81 1080p Projector Eur 7,590
Cables Video Eur 750
Cables Audio Eur 2,750
Screnn Mella c244 Eur 1,395

I will be auditioning the alternative set up soon but ...

Does anyone have any ideas of other set ups considering my room size adn also the 80/20 movies / music split , or any ideas about the KRELL system ... it looks like its been around for a few years now ??

Merdian ?? Others

I thank you all in anticpation

That is a serious budget to spend and deserves serious research and auditioning.

You should find yourself a good dealer and let them guide you. You should spend a good amount of time auditioning as, with that budget, there isn't a great deal you couldn't get: Meridian, Krell, Parasound, Naim, Arcam and many others.

Take your budget down to a dealer and they will fall over themselves to help you spend your money with them - with a fair old discount too, I'd imagine. If you find a good dealer, you will not be disappointed.

Finding that dealer is the key to your success. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[AngelEyes]

Your budget is a bit out of my league so I can't offer much advice except on your Projector which I have been researching avidly for months now.



I would suggest getting the JVC HD1 over the Pearl, a much better product in all ways and based on the same technology. Visit the DLP & LCD projectors forum for more info, I believe there is also a reveiw comparing it to the Pearl (which was also top of my list until a few months back).

Adam

[Peter Baker]

I'd try Krell, Bryston, Cary, Classe, Chord, and Bel Canto for amplification. Probably Arcam for DVD player ( but also listen to Classe)
Speakers are incredibly personal, and tend to add the character to the sound you get, so make sure you find ones you like

[Kenny Glasgow]

Both the B&W/Classe Combination and Krell/Sonus Faber combinations work well, so in theory, both should do the trick.

A lot of people don't like Krell because of their "in your face" presentation, but the SF seem to sort that out (to my ears)

Meridian again splits opinion but I like their sound too. Al full Naim set may be worth considering as would Linn.

Another fav of mine is McIntosh, but their looks are not to everyone's taste.

Not forgetting Lexicon or Arcam either which should work well with either B&W or SF speakers