[WillPage]

Hello,

I just bought a Sony KDL-32V5500 TV.

I now want to get a surround sound system.
Im looking at getting Monitor Audio Bronze BR2-AV.

I got a couple of question:

What amp (Budget of £600 cheaper the better) shall i get with these?
Are they good speakers or are there any other speakers which can be suggested for roughly around the same price range?

Thank You for any help Will

[andymc]

Hi,

I would say the Bronzes are a bloody good choice and most Onkyo or Yamaha Amps at that price point will give you a pretty good sound. Also check out the Denons

[greg_SA]

I would look at Marantz, Cambridge Audio and Arcam...

[WillPage]

Can you suggest any specific Amp as im new to this and wouldnt have a clue which one.

Thank You

[greg_SA]

Originally Posted by WillPage

Can you suggest any specific Amp as im new to this and wouldnt have a clue which one.

Thank You

Basically you can just look at what av amps are available in your price range... From Marantz, try the SR-5003.

[andymc]

Check out this link

Welcome to the Home Cinema Choice Awards 2009 in association with DTS | Home Cinema Choice

under the AV amps as a good starting place and then you can read the reviews of each in the REVIEW section to see which one may suit your needs the most.

I know it was suggested you look at Arcam but its way our your budget.

Also you can look at Yamaha DSP-AX863SE Home cinema amplifier review - from the experts at whathifi.com though I always take their reviews with a pinch of salt.

The best bet is to really try and have a listen to them as what suits one set of ears may not suit yours. Its your money so you need to make sure you are happy.

[BlueWizard]

I would recommend at least £399 for an AV Surround Receiver. Fortunately there are many very nice and very popular amps in this range.

A couple of the most popular are the -

Onkyo TX-SR577 @ £399
Onkyo TX-SR607 @ £449

Additionally, there are several Pioneer, Yamaha, and Sony in this price range. All well liked. It is just a matter of finding the amp with the features you need.

Steve/bluewizard

[WillPage]

Originally Posted by BlueWizard

I would recommend at least £399 for an AV Surround Receiver. Fortunately there are many very nice and very popular amps in this range.

A couple of the most popular are the -

Onkyo TX-SR577 @ £399
Onkyo TX-SR607 @ £449

Additionally, there are several Pioneer, Yamaha, and Sony in this price range. All well liked. It is just a matter of finding the amp with the features you need.

Steve/bluewizard

It mainly for blu ray DVD my x box and ps3 and playing music.

[BlueWizard]

Originally Posted by WillPage

It mainly for blu ray DVD my x box and ps3 and playing music.

Yes, but it is the playing music that complicates things. A typical extremely compact AV surround system can go a very good job on video and special effects, but they typically fall short for music. To get good music playback you have to go to at least bookshelf speakers.

Again, there are a lot of variables here, a crappola bookshelf is not going to sound as good as a premium 'lifestyle' system. But all other things being reasonably equal, 'lifestyle/egg/pod' speakers have their limits. But again, to be fair, they sell millions of them to millions of satisfied customers.

None the less, my recommendation is always get at least decent bookshelf speaker in a 5.1 system.

The Monitor Audio BR2 speaker would certainly qualify as GOOD bookshelf speakers.

Now it is just a matter of finding an AV amp in your budget.

You need to look at the outputs of your various devices. Some have analog, some have optical, some coaxial, some have HDMI connections. Don't forget your DVD and BluRay players. You need to make sure the amp you buy has those necessary connections. Though typically all AV amps come with an assortment of connections, and usually have enough to accommodate most people. Still, I don't have your equipment here in front of me, so I can't say what you have.

Again, if you are in the £400 to £600 price range, many very nice AV amps are available too you - Sony, Yamaha, Denon, Cambridge, Pioneer, Onkyo, etc....

Anyone of them would do an excellent job for you.

Steve/bluewizard

[greg_SA]

One thing that I normally think about with regards to AV amps and music is the following... Does the manufacturer also make high quality pure stereo amplifiers? If they do, I would have more faith in the music capability of the AV amps for stereo too... Maybe not 100%accurate, but just an idea.

[WillPage]

Originally Posted by BlueWizard

Yes, but it is the playing music that complicates things. A typical extremely compact AV surround system can go a very good job on video and special effects, but they typically fall short for music. To get good music playback you have to go to at least bookshelf speakers.

Again, there are a lot of variables here, a crappola bookshelf is not going to sound as good as a premium 'lifestyle' system. But all other things being reasonably equal, 'lifestyle/egg/pod' speakers have their limits. But again, to be fair, they sell millions of them to millions of satisfied customers.

None the less, my recommendation is always get at least decent bookshelf speaker in a 5.1 system.

The Monitor Audio BR2 speaker would certainly qualify as GOOD bookshelf speakers.

Now it is just a matter of finding an AV amp in your budget.

You need to look at the outputs of your various devices. Some have analog, some have optical, some coaxial, some have HDMI connections. Don't forget your DVD and BluRay players. You need to make sure the amp you buy has those necessary connections. Though typically all AV amps come with an assortment of connections, and usually have enough to accommodate most people. Still, I don't have your equipment here in front of me, so I can't say what you have.

Again, if you are in the £400 to £600 price range, many very nice AV amps are available too you - Sony, Yamaha, Denon, Cambridge, Pioneer, Onkyo, etc....

Anyone of them would do an excellent job for you.

Steve/bluewizard

Scrap the music idea then.
Main use would be PS3.

Sorry im new to this so that why so many questions thank you for your help.

[WillPage]

Right im Looking at either sony or Pioneer.

[BlueWizard]

Originally Posted by WillPage

Scrap the music idea then.
Main use would be PS3.

Sorry im new to this so that why so many questions thank you for your help.

Well, let's not be too hasty. You said you were considering the Monitor Audio BR2. That's an excellent speaker for both AV and Stereo music. If you really are getting those speakers or speaker similar to them, then you don't have a problem.

Assuming that is true, it is just down to the amp.

The Onkyo's are always good and very popular, but have a look at the other possibilities to.

To get you started here is a short list of places to buy equipment, look at their range of Home Cinema and AV amps and see if any appeal to you.

Superfi Online - UK's best supplier of hifi equipment and Home Cinema
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 ~ HiFi and Home Cinema separates
HiFiBitZ - No.1 for Hi-fi, Home Cinema, and more.
Weymouth Hi-Fi - vast selection
Digital Direct - Home Cinema Systems
Home Entertainment Audio Visual Systems - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited
Creative Audio - Welcome
HiFi Confidential Ltd.
Classic HiFi & Home Cinema
STONEAUDIO UK | hi-fi, home cinema, multi-room, design and installation

This list is by no means comprehensive. If you find something you like, the search the UK for the brand and model number on Google to see if you can find a better price.

If you stay in the range of £400 to £600 there are very few wrong choices. When you see a few amps you like, post back with a list and we will comment on them.

If you are not intent on buying the Monitor Audio BR2 AV speakers, then give us a budget for the speakers, and we will see what else is out there.

Steve/bluewizard

[WillPage]

How about this option:

Onkyo TX-SR607 & Monitor Audio BR2 AV Home Cinema 5.1 Package - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

[BlueWizard]

That system bought individually would cost about £1400, so the Quantum price is pretty attractive. Plus it comes with a full compliment of interconnecting cable and wire. Though I don't think it comes with stands.

You might also want to look at this package -

Onkyo TX-SR706 and Monitor Audio BR2 AV Package - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

Is is essentially the same. The SR706 amp is more powerful, but it is an older model. All the new model Onkyo amps end in a '7'. None the less, it is still a very new and very good amp, for slightly less money.

You can see the Monitor Audio BR5 combined with many other amps, it is simply a matter of setting your budget and picking the one you like best.

Regardless of which package you choose, it is certain to be a very very nice system.

Also, Quantum is an Assured Advertiser and a sponsor of this group, so you can be reasonably certain that this is a trustworthy place to buy equipment.

Steve/bluewizard

[WillPage]

Originally Posted by BlueWizard

That system bought individually would cost about £1400, so the Quantum price is pretty attractive. Plus it comes with a full compliment of interconnecting cable and wire. Though I don't think it comes with stands.

You might also want to look at this package -

Onkyo TX-SR706 and Monitor Audio BR2 AV Package - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

Is is essentially the same. The SR706 amp is more powerful, but it is an older model. All the new model Onkyo amps end in a '7'. None the less, it is still a very new and very good amp, for slightly less money.

You can see the Monitor Audio BR5 combined with many other amps, it is simply a matter of setting your budget and picking the one you like best.

Regardless of which package you choose, it is certain to be a very very nice system.

Also, Quantum is an Assured Advertiser and a sponsor of this group, so you can be reasonably certain that this is a trustworthy place to buy equipment.

Steve/bluewizard

One last question.
What cable pack i need it for audio and visual?
Also Would it be better to pay that little bit extra for the BR5'S?
thanks

[kevo35]

Bluewizard i notice you mention the sony amps when talking about these speakers, i really fancy the BR 5av and a sony amp. What would be your advice as dante doesnt recommend. As this is expensive stuff dont want to make the wrong decission. Thanks

[BlueWizard]

WillPage,

If you don't mind spending the money, and you can handle the size, and assuming a reasonable sized room, then the BR5 would be a good choice. It's £200 more though. Is that stretching your budget too far?

As to the cable packs, I really don't know how that works, I just noticed them there. Depending on the price, if it's extra, you would probably need the AV pack. You need speaker wires, subwoofer cable, probably an HDMI or two. As to the optical and coaxial cables, that depends on your equipment.

kevo35,

A lot of people like Sony amps, and they do seem to have lots of features and seem to be reasonably price, but I have a personal vendetta against Sony over a crappola camera they sold me. Biggest waste of £200 I ever spent. But that didn't stop me from buying a new Sony TV.

Also, it depends on which model Sony. Again, I'm not that familiar with Sony models other than the ones people mention here.

I'm also not a big fan of amp and speaker matching. In general, any amp is make to work with any speakers. To really intimately know the sound characteristics of a range of given amps takes a lot of listening over an extended period of time, and too few people are able to listen that extensively. Mostly because it cost a lot of money.

That said, I do acknowledge that some amps sound slightly brighter and some amps sound a little warmer than others. And, if you get a bright amp and an over-bright speaker, the combination can be very over-bright. Still, the are ways to compensate for that.

Others are probably more qualified to make a judgment of specific amp/speaker combinations than I am.

Steve/bluewizard

[quantumAV]

SR706 is now discontinued and its replacement the SR707 is due out at the end of this month (which will mean we will see it first week of August). However I don't think the SR707 is great value for money at £700 especially as the SR807 with networking is only £100 more at £800 so I don't see it as a very popular amp other than in the Custom Install world where the RS232 and pre-outs may be important.

Personally with the BR2 AV package I would stick with the SR607 or the Yamaha RX-V765.

If you can, the BR5 AV package is the one to go for and really by the time you put the BR2's on stands doesn't take anymore room up anyway.

[WillPage]

Originally Posted by QuantumUK

SR706 is now discontinued and its replacement the SR707 is due out at the end of this month (which will mean we will see it first week of August). However I don't think the SR707 is great value for money at £700 especially as the SR807 with networking is only £100 more at £800 so I don't see it as a very popular amp other than in the Custom Install world where the RS232 and pre-outs may be important.

Personally with the BR2 AV package I would stick with the SR607 or the Yamaha RX-V765.

If you can, the BR5 AV package is the one to go for and really by the time you put the BR2's on stands doesn't take anymore room up anyway.

Ive only got a small room to put it in so would prefer to stick with the BR2'S.

Also do the speakers come with the stands?

Will

[kevo35]

Originally Posted by WillPage

Ive only got a small room to put it in so would prefer to stick with the BR2'S.

Also do the speakers come with the stands?

Will

You dont get the stands with the BR'2 although they are shown in just about all pics, deceiving eh

[WillPage]

Originally Posted by kevo35

You dont get the stands with the BR'2 although they are shown in just about all pics, deceiving eh

Ok.

Do you know where i can buy the stands from which are in the picture?

[quantumAV]

Originally Posted by WillPage

Ive only got a small room to put it in so would prefer to stick with the BR2'S.

Also do the speakers come with the stands?

Will

Monitor Audio took the picture a while back and I am not sure which stands they used. I can ask on Monday.

Normally we would use the Soundstyle Z2i stands
Soundstyle Z2 improved Speaker Stands - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

and if asked nicely we would probably throw them in with the package anyway.

[quantumAV]

If you want closer to the picture then you can get the Soundstyle Z1 improved stands
Soundstyle

They are about £115 though.

[WillPage]

Originally Posted by QuantumUK

If you want closer to the picture then you can get the Soundstyle Z1 improved stands
Soundstyle

They are about £115 though.

I think i will ask very nicely

would it be possible to come and get a demo?

Can tell the girlfriend im taking her on holiday

[quantumAV]

Originally Posted by WillPage

I think i will ask very nicely

would it be possible to come and get a demo?

Can tell the girlfriend im taking her on holiday

Of course

[WillPage]

Originally Posted by QuantumUK

Of course

any nice hotels u can suggest nothing to expensive dont want to be left with no money to spend

[xmb]

Originally Posted by WillPage

Ive only got a small room to put it in so would prefer to stick with the BR2'S.
Will

Given the BR2's are slightly wider than the BR5's and once placed on stands will take up the same space you may as well go for floor standing speakers.

If you are really worried about the size of your room and speaker dominance then while you are at the dealer have a listen to the Radius R270HD's as these look great and sound quite good too!

[quantumAV]

Originally Posted by WillPage

any nice hotels u can suggest nothing to expensive dont want to be left with no money to spend

Plenty of B&B's around but if you really want to impress the girlfriend I would suggest the Quay Hotel & Spa, Deganwy
The Quay Hotel and Spa | Luxury Hotel, Deganwy, North Wales

[WillPage]

Originally Posted by QuantumUK

Plenty of B&B's around but if you really want to impress the girlfriend I would suggest the Quay Hotel & Spa, Deganwy
The Quay Hotel and Spa | Luxury Hotel, Deganwy, North Wales

thanks got to take her somewhere nice after she realises how much money im going to spend