Hi Guys,

Just really need someone to point me in the right direction... I know this is the wrong forum, but i haven't got a clue!

I want to get a superb sound system however I have a few questions:

1) Do you know of anyone that would sell the complete package that includes:
Wireless Speakers, DAB and Wireless Link so I can stream music from a network share?

2) These Home theatre systems are they any good for playing music?

3) I just want the full package that's nice and simple, I have around £1,500 to spend... and £500 on a TV...

any ideas?

Any Ideas

[BlueWizard]

Originally Posted by tomehb

Hi Guys,

Just really need someone to point me in the right direction... I know this is the wrong forum, but i haven't got a clue!

I want to get a superb sound system however I have a few questions:

1) Do you know of anyone that would sell the complete package that includes:
Wireless Speakers, DAB and Wireless Link so I can stream music from a network share?

I don't know about the whole package but there are many devices that alllow network acess to audio file. 'Squeezebox' comes to mind, but I don't have any direct knowledge or experience with it.

2) These Home theatre systems are they any good for playing music?

Home theater systems can be good for music. It depends on the speakers you buy. If you buy extremely compact or 'egg/pod' speakers, then they will probably play video great, but just OK on music.

However, if you buy larger more musical speakers, then certain they will work find for both music and video.

3) I just want the full package that's nice and simple, I have around £1,500 to spend... and £500 on a TV...

any ideas?

Any Ideas

So, we can assume £1,500 for just the amp and speakers, plus an additional £500 for a TV?

The general rule, although it is far from hard and fast, is to divide your budget in half; so £750 for an AV amp and £750 for a 5.1 speakers system.

More realistically, you would want to look at AV amp in the roughly £500 to £700 range, which would leave you £800 to £1000 for speakers.

Next, you have to decide what kind of speakers you can tolerate.

The 'Egg/pod' speakers which are small palm-of-your-hand speakers, can be very unobtrusive, and can sound reasonably good for their size.

But bigger speakers sound better. I, as would many, personally recommend bookshelf size speakers. Though if you have the room, floorstanding or tower speakers in front can do a very nice job for both video and music.

A good cross section of Amps in your price range, would be the -


PIONEER VSX1018AH HOME CINEMA RECEIVER @ £440

SONY STRDA2400ES HOME CINEMA RECEIVER @ £440

YAMAHA DSPAX863SE HOME CINEMA AMPLIFIER @ £587

ONKYO TXSR706 HOME CINEMA RECEIVER @ £599

SONY STRDA3400ES HOME CINEMA RECEIVER @ £685

Prices from SuperFi.co.uk

Again, this is a quick cross section of what is available. Onkyo seems to be the most popular brand, but other brands are also very well regarded.

For speakers -

The first that come to mind is the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 5.1AV speakers system for about £650. They don't seem to be listed as a system anymore. Perhaps because the Diamond 9 series is about to end, and be replaced by the Diamond 10 series. Though, that just means bargains on the Diamond 9's.

A similar package could be constructed from individual Diamond 9 products using floorstanding speakers in the front (Diamond 9.6 fronts) for about £1000.

The Mordaunts Shorts Avant bookshelf series is alway a good choice, and run in the £500 to £600 range.

Similarly, the Q Acoustic 1010i bookshelf at a similar price are popular and well liked.

The Tannoy Mercury F1 series in a 5.1 package for about £685 would work well.

If you insists on tiny speakers, the Kef series is extremely popular, 1005, 2005, 3005 series -

KEF KHT2005.3 SPEAKER PACKAGE @ £695
KEF KHT3005SE SPEAKER PACKAGE BLACK @ £978

The Monitor Audio bookshelf BR2 AV package @ £879 is a respected speaker company and a respected speaker package.

Prices from Hifix.co.uk

Another very good system, though stretching you budget to the limit would be the SVS SBS-01 5.1 system.

http://www.subsonicsounds.co.uk/html/sbs-01-1.htm

In most cases, the smaller front speakers doesn't matter so much because each system comes with a subwoofer that handles the very low frequencies.

Places to shop on-line for ideas and prices -

Superfi Online - UK's best supplier of hifi equipment
HiFix the Hi Fi and Audio professionals
Peter Tyson Online
Richer Sounds - The UK's Hi-Fi, Home Cinema & Flat Panel Tv Specialists!
Hifi Gear ~ Buy HiFi and Home Cinema separates
HiFiBitZ - No.1 for Hi-fi, Home Cinema, Speakers, and more
Welcome to Weymouth Hi-Fi -
Digital Direct
Home Entertainment Audio Visual Systems - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited
HiFi Confidential Ltd.
Tannoy Revolution + Rel, HiFi Audio Home Cinema

and many many more.

That should get you started.

Steve/bluewizard