Amp + Speaker Setup for £500

[Akah]

Hey guys,

After not getting much luck with my previous thread I have taken a MOD's advice and decided to break things down in to smaller chunks in each section relating to the product I am after,

Amp/Receiver: I have no idea about this department at all, so you guys will have to guide me entirely with all of this stuff. Basically I just want something that will give me good quality sound from my other devices and can offer the possibilities of having wireless speaker support (I'm not sure if this comes under the speakers or the Amp/Receiver). I will be looking to budget up to £300 to this area of my home entertainment system.

Speakers: Again I know little to nothing about speakers so all I am looking for are the tall type for the front of the room and wall mountable wireless ones for the rear, obviously need to be easily compatible with my Amp/Receiver and other devices, also I would want a sub.The whole lot doesn't need to be overly powerful as I don't plan on playing movies/games for the street... or next door for that matter. I will be looking to budget £200 to the speakers.

I am also looking for a Blu-ray Player and HD-TV in the linked threads.

Other Parts: I have also put aside an additional £75 for any cables or leads that I might need when setting up everything. Including this that should bring my entire new system in at £1800.

Basically the idea is to end up with something like this:

Sorry about the poor quality of my art skills lol! but I'm sure you guys get the idea. I already have the stands and stuff to do the wall mounting so thats not an issue.

So I guess thats everything, I will leave you guys to do what you do best lol and help me spend my money!

[dante01]

I don't think breaking your requirements up will yield more response? The problem is more to do with what you want for the money you are willing to spend. You may get an entry level HD receiver for less than £300, but you are not going to get a speaker package for less than £200 that includedes floorstanding speakers.

Amplifier wise, you are limited to three main options, four if you include the Sony STRDG820's replacement.

Sony STRDG820 £230
Sony STRDH800 £280
Onkyo TXR507 £300 (HD, but only 5.1)
Yamaha RXV465 £325 (HD, but only 5.1)

[Andy98765]

First off £200 will get you next to nothing and the need for floor standers will just push up that price.
Wireless rears are a waste of space, power socket needed and cables to rear speakers that will your £200 done there.
Look at putting a little more towards the speakers and think about getting stands for smaller speakers.
TANNOY SFX 5.1 SPEAKER SYSTEM - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/3804 for details
KEF KHT1005.2 HOME CINEMA SPEAKER SYSTEM - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/3942 for details

[dicklodge]

This is a good price (£300)for the 465 and just creeps into your budget.

https://www.forumhifivisual.co.uk/Ho..._465_2455.html

If you can go up a bit in price, I'd add this to your list to look into
Denon AVR1610

[Akah]

Well I did say that I know nothing about Amp's and Speakers, I was just told by a friend that I would be better going with them for my new setup.

If £300 is not enough for a decent Amp then what is?

Same question again in regards to the speakers to get what I want.

Because if any of my other Items come in under budget I can shift the extra money this way, thats why I made it as one thread because then people can look the the bigger picture so to speak and shift the budget around to better suit,

[dante01]

Originally Posted by Akah

Well I did say that I know nothing about Amp's and Speakers, I was just told by a friend that I would be better going with them for my new setup.

If £300 is not enough for a decent Amp then what is?

Same question again in regards to the speakers to get what I want.

The amp isn't the problem, although better can be had for £400. I'd say you should be putting aside the same again for decent speakers, but not even £400 will get you a package with the floorstanders you desire.


I'd say, get one of the entry level HD AV receivers in the region of £300 and then get a speaker package in the region of £350 to £450. The speakers will be bookshelf cabinet designs, but you can add a pair of floorstanders at a later date.

Cheap floorstanders perform no better than comparable priced bookshelf speakers


I'd suggest the Q Acoustics 1010i speaker package.

[davepuma]

£300 will get you an entry level HD receiver that will sound pretty good. £200 will not get you decent floorstanders on their own imho, let alone with a speaker package. You could look at second hand. Tannoy Mercury M3 or F4 would be a good start. TBH, what I would call decent floorstanders would start with something like the MA Bronze. Q-Acoustics make cheap floorstanders (1030i) and you can often upgrade their 1010i package to include them. You could always start with a 2.0 or 3.0 and add the rest later.

Packages

[dicklodge]

One thing to decide is whether you will be happy with a 5.1 system always or wheather at some stage you would like to move up to 7.1.

If it's 5.1 full stop, it would give you a saving in the amp area.

If it's 5.1, but would like to move to 7.1 later, Dante's suggestion of a 5.1 speaker package now and then add floorstanders, would not waste speakers; you'd put the floorstanders at the front and move a pair of the existing speakers to rear surrounds. However it would cost you more on the amp front as you'd need a 7.1 amp.

[Akah]

Originally Posted by dante01

The amp isn't the problem, although better can be had for £400. I'd say you should be putting aside the same again for decent speakers, but not even £400 will get you a package with the floorstanders you desire.


I'd say, get one of the entry level HD AV receivers in the region of £300 and then get a speaker package in the region of £350 to £450. The speakers will be bookshelf cabinet designs, but you can add a pair of floorstanders at a later date.

Cheap floorstanders perform no better than comparable priced bookshelf speakers


I'd suggest the Q Acoustics 1010i speaker package.

Where would I find floor-stands for the smaller type of speakers as I literally have no where to put that type of speaker?

I already own a Pioneer HTPGS1 that I got along side my xBox a few years back but after several RROD incidents I have given up on the xBox, how do you guys rate this speaker system or is it about as much good as a RROD xBox?

[dante01]

Why can't you place bookshelf speakers on stands and place the speakers where you'd put the floorstanders?

Q Acoustics floorstanders:
http://www.quantumelectronics.co.uk/...ics_1030i.html

http://www.quantumelectronics.co.uk/...ics_1050i.html

[Akah]

Originally Posted by dante01

Why can't you place bookshelf speakers on stands and place the speakers where you'd put the floorstanders?

Q Acoustics floorstanders:
Q Acoustics 1030i Floorstanding Speakers Pair available in Graphite Black, Cherry or Beech - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

Q Acoustics 1050i Floorstanding speakers - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

I thought I just asked for advice on where I would be able to find floor-stands for the smaller type of speakers......

[dante01]

Originally Posted by Akah

I thought I just asked for advice on where I would be able to find floor-stands for the smaller type of speakers......

You mean stands?
Q Acoustics 1000ST Speaker Stands for Q Acoustics 1010i and 1020i - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

or you could mount the speakers on the wall either side of the TV:
Q Acoustics 1000wb Speaker Wall Bracket for 1010i and 1020i Speakers - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited


I also noted that your diagram shows that you intend to place the centre speaker on the floor. It would be better placed on the top shelf and as close to the screen as possible. Try to get the speaker on the same level as your head will be while you are viewing the TV.

[Akah]

Originally Posted by dante01

You mean stands?
Q Acoustics 1000ST Speaker Stands for Q Acoustics 1010i and 1020i - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

or you could mount the speakers on the wall either side of the TV:
Q Acoustics 1000wb Speaker Wall Bracket for 1010i and 1020i Speakers - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited


I also noted that your diagram shows that you intend to place the centre speaker on the floor. It would be better placed on the top shelf and as close to the screen as possible. Try to get the speaker on the same level as your head will be while you are viewing the TV.

I must apologies for my diagram it is poor at best, The speaker at the bottom on the floor is suppose to be a Sub, I totally forgot about putting a Center speaker on the diagram but you are right and I would be looking to put it on the upper shelf of the mounted supports,

The stand you linked looks a lot better then I expected actually, At first I was expecting some cheap looking metal bar with a bracket hole at the top like the ones on eBay but the one you linked looks very strong and sturdy, you wouldn't by any chance know if they offered something similar in Black?

Also would I be able to use the speakers from a home cinema system like theSamsung HTBD1252 or can these speakers not be purchased separately as I really like the way they look although I don't know what they will preform like.

Sorry for all the Q's but I'm lost when it comes to all of this stuff

[dante01]

Originally Posted by Akah

I must apologies for my diagram it is poor at best, The speaker at the bottom on the floor is suppose to be a Sub, I totally forgot about putting a Center speaker on the diagram but you are right and I would be looking to put it on the upper shelf of the mounted supports,

The stand you linked looks a lot better then I expected actually, At first I was expecting some cheap looking metal bar with a bracket hole at the top like the ones on eBay but the one you linked looks very strong and sturdy, you wouldn't by any chance know if they offered something similar in Black?

Also would I be able to use the speakers from a home cinema system like theSamsung HTBD1252 or can these speakers not be purchased separately as I really like the way they look although I don't know what they will preform like.

Sorry for all the Q's but I'm lost when it comes to all of this stuff

I don't think that there is a colour option for the stands? You could enquire though. You could also have them sprayed at a car body shop

You may be able to use the HTBD1252 speakers, but I'd advise you not to. Such speakers are usually spec'd to go with the HT system they were supplied with. There's usually a discrepancy in relation to impedance and power handling when used with alternative amplification sources. The sub isn't normally compatible either. I don't think these speakers can be obtained separately anyway???

[Akah]

Originally Posted by dante01

I don't think that there is a colour option for the stands? You could enquire though. You could also have them sprayed at a car body shop

You may be able to use the HTBD1252 speakers, but I'd advise you not to. Such speakers are usually spec'd to go with the HT system they were supplied with. There's usually a discrepancy in relation to impedance and power handling when used with alternative amplification sources. The sub isn't normally compatible either. I don't think these speakers can be obtained separately anyway???

Ok thanks for that, I will see how the thread for my TV goes and if i get some good advice and have change from the £1000 I have put in that direction then I will bring it here to spend on a better speaker system or Amp