£400 for receiver + 5.1 speakers? + need sum help

robo989

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Hi, I've been using my Dansai 955 dvd player along with some creative labs 5300 5.1 speakers for a couple of years for dolby 5.1, dvd player only cost £80 n speakers sound superb for the price (£50). I also got an nforce 2 motherboard in me computer n it can out put an encoded DD5.1 signal for decoding in an amp. Anyways, I got £400-ish to spend, need an amp that does all the usual dd\dts\pl2 n say a 100w. I aint sure about the speakers I need tho, like how many watts they should be? I dont want any satelite speakers. since I'm after a decent volume and I'm not an audiphile (the amp will be used for my ps2) I really dont know what I need I saw a marantz SR5200 ex-demo on the web a few weeks ago but when I emailed the site they never got back to me. I would appreciate some help in deciding a good amp\speaker combo package to get for £400 in total, the speakers really need to be proper ones not these namby pamby things "lifestyle" oe whatever the likes of jvc and sony do. Need meaty full bodied sound. Im into drum & bass music and some jungle.
 
Yamaha 5640 or similar amp and try unbeatable for Speakers as well as RS if you buy front floorstanders you will get better bass but consider spending £150 on fronts, £200 on amp and adding centre and rears as funds become available.
 
How about this amp for £150:-

http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=301476

It has all the sound formats you require and has plenty of connectivity options (including 6 channel input for sacd and dvd-a should you choose). 60 watts is plenty for a budget system but if you want more power then try this for £200:-

http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=301477

Yamaha seem to be the best at the moment for budget amps imo:)

speaker wise is a bit more difficult as there are plenty of makes on the market and one set is not necessarily better than the next just different. The only way to find the set that sounds best to your ear is to go audition at a dealers. Here's a few of the usual suspects though at various prices (these are just guides - if you shop around you can find CHEAPER):-

£280 (includes subwoofer):-

http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=301710

These have had rave reviews and are highly thought off. Offering a performance that defies there price tag (although slightly over your budget but worth it imo)

Also for £320 (I've seen for £260 though):-

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/1072

a lot of my mates have opted for this package and sound really good for the money. They cope with everything you can chuck at them and you can add a subwoofer at a later date.

Most of the better packages around this price range tend to be >£200 so I'd save a little longer as it'll give you more options and better sound for not much more money:)

a few more worth a look:-

http://www.qed-uk.com/?i=10bvCv163jF6&vp=6&bg=216&bp=72s&bi=0
this is a fantastic package. I started with this one:)

or build a set up around the KEF cresta series speakers.

I'd recomend you do a bit of research and put a short list together of all the likely candidates and go have a listen:)

happy hunting




:devil:
 
thanks for reply, my main concern isn't really funds..its more to do with compatability, I've been enjoying 5.1 for a while now and although its gud for what I paid it isn't a very "thick" sound with much texture to it.

By getting a package I hope to eliminate the hasstle of coordinating each speakers sound with one another.

Assuming I bought the Yamaha HTR-5640 (75w) , what speakers would you recommend to go with it I could probably stretch to £250 for speakers, idelly a package but if someone could please recommend a 5.1 seperate speaker settup with an active sub I'd be most greatful

Also got the issue of watts? how powerful do speakers need to be for 75watt amp? is there guidline somewhere?

Thanks ever so much for any help ;)
 
The fact that your using pc speakers at the moment is not really ideal. They are puny in comparison to designated AV systems including sub sat "life style" systems. If you get an amp that's around 75W then any of the packages (within your budget) on the market will be fine with them imo (say in the 60W- 100W region). This will give you plenty of bang for your bucks and will wipe the floor with any pc speaker solution.
The packages on offer can come with a sub in your price range but the sub in those tend to be the weakest link. I'd probably get a speaker only package like the mission M72. This package is superb value for money and gives good bass repro for movies, music and games. The level of performance increase over your current system will keep you more than happy till you have more funds to buy a designated subwoofer (which open up another can of worms lol). To get good un distorted Bass your looking to spend >£300 on a sub imo. You can buy cheaper but this can make a set up sound worse as these subs tend to be more of a boom box.
Also if you choose to buy in bits - say the front three speakers first then rears then sub make sure you get speakers that have the same tonal match . It's essential to have this so the movement of sound as it pans across the speakers is similar other wise it will sound strange. I currently have Linn fronts and Mission rears which go together fine imo.
 
thanks for reply, my main concern isn't really funds..its more to do with compatability, I've been enjoying 5.1 for a while now and although its gud for what I paid it isn't a very "thick" sound with much texture to it.

By getting a package I hope to eliminate the hasstle of coordinating each speakers sound with one another.

Assuming I bought the Yamaha HTR-5640 (75w) , what speakers would you recommend to go with it I could probably stretch to £250 for speakers, idelly a package but if someone could please recommend a 5.1 seperate speaker settup with an active sub I'd be most greatful

Also got the issue of watts? how powerful do speakers need to be for 75watt amp? is there guidline somewhere?

Thanks ever so much for any help ;)
 
Its not that I've got anything against the lifestyle yuppie speakers there just not for me :)

I'm sure they would wipe the floor with my "pc speakers", mind u best £50 i ever spent.
 
Originally posted by robo989
Its not that I've got anything against the lifestyle yuppie speakers there just not for me :)

I'm sure they would wipe the floor with my "pc speakers", mind u best £50 i ever spent.

none of my suggestions are sub sat systems. They are all "proper "speakers.
If you have a larger room you may want to use floorstanding fronts as oppose to standmounts. This will give you more bass until you can afford a designated subwoofer.
I think your completely right to go the larger speaker route over an all in one. All in ones offer no upgrade path so when you get bored of it's limitations you have to sell it on and start from scratch. The larger speakers offer much better performance over satalites in both movies and especially music.

let us know how you get on:smashin:
 
I've decided to go with

http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=301645

Theses speakers for £280

And...

http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=301478

This amp

Would that be a suitable match for me? I notice this amp supposedly has only 1 digital input and 1 coaxial. I was hoping to connect my (Playstation2\DVD Player\Digital-out on computer) all at once since you can get PL2 encoded streams from the PS2. Anyway around this problem.

Any different good amp I could get for £200-£250
 
:suicide: I don't know what to do I'm scared I'm going to mess things up here , buy seperate? buy package? buy sub later? :confused: :confused: its all too much....:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
buy amp and speakers PL2 does not require digital in put only DD and DTS require digital input some games use DD for cut scenes and DTS4.0 for game action (not a huge number)
I am not a great fan of marantz but SR4400 for £250 is a good deal.
Richersounds shop sure to be one near should be able to offer you a demo of the kit before you buy and their returns policy is very good.
I'll Simply alternative speakers so you have a choice of 2 speaker sets and 2 amps mate
Yamaha 5640 £200
Marantz SR4400 £250

With either
MS premiere (works well with Marantz amps)
Eltax traditional speaker
http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=205791
Eltax better for music (CD's MP3's)
Premiere smaller.

If you go eltax and can spen a bit more on an amp then (sorry I know Decisions decisions)
http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=301579
More power!!!! Louder better built IMHO


MArantz detailed data http://www.marantz.com/p_prod_specnew.cfm?id=2485&cont=e&line=avr
Yamaha detailed data PDF
http://www.yamaha-audio.co.uk/pdfs/specsheets/RXV540RDS.pdf

IMHO ELtax speaker Yamaha 540RDS amp is a going to sound better be easier to set up and is more future friendly.

I really hope i havent confused you but
http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=205791
+
http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=301579
Is the best way to spend your hard earned.
If 540 is too much strain on wallet then
http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=301478
Is next thing to go for.
 
The RXV540 does look nice and seems good value, I really do want 5.1 speakers thought and any speaker other than black\gray\silver wouldn't look right with other decor in the room.

Would the MS Premier 5.1 package suit the RXV540, it says on the richersounds website they're 50watts per channel, whereas that amp is rated for 115watts at 4 ohms?

If I can clear this up then thats the one I'll get.

thanks for your help horneydragon!
 
regards MS premire and Yamaha see "tons of fun" He works for MS and can advise you on suitability better.
Most of the ones in beech are available in black for less money!
http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/product.asp?id=1142&aid=53502&oid=577 OR http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/product.asp?id=1
+
http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/product.asp?id=1032
+
http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/product.asp?id=1141

You can shop around for better prices. I'll leave that to you.
For music traditional speakers will work better!
For movies/games the satellites will work well but not be so good for music.


EDIT:http://www.qed-uk.com/?i=10bU_n0TDU6i&vp=6&bg=216&bp=d8s3b&bi=0
 
My advice would be to stick with the Marantz if you like the MS Premiere package.

The SR4400 is also 6.1 compatible, so you could add a sixth centre rear channel to handle DTS:ES and DD:EX tracks as well, which adds another depth in the soundfield when watching a movie.

I have the Marantz SR4300 at the moment, and it sounds fantastic, bass is tight, sound steering is accurate, and the power is more than enough.

The power rating of the speakers being 50Watts is fine, as long as you don't over-drive the speakers (ie, whack it to the highest volume on the amp and keep it there). The speakers should also be able to handle short bursts of power up to about 70Watts, check with Richer Sounds on this.

I prefer the sound of the Marantz amps to the Yamaha ones, the Marantz amps tend to be better with stereo music, and they also offer more surround modes than the Yamahas mentioned above (DTS:NEO 6 for one). I also feel the Marantz is better built than the Yamaha alternative.

The Yamaha amps are great, and so are the Marantz ones, but they do have a different sound, better to audition them both side by side at Richer Sounds and see which you prefer.

For £50 more you could go for the Marantz 5400 from RS, that is a serious bargain :) And don't forget about decent speaker wire, QED Silver Anniversary works really well with all the amps and speakers mentioned above.

Above all, enjoy the experience, for it is like a mini adventure delving into seperates home cinema, you get addicted to it.......be warned, for once you take the first step, it will turn into a continuous search to tweak the system at every opportunity :):):) My next upgrade is a Sub to replace my Eltax Sub-10 sub, thinking of a B&W ASW675. Then the next upgrade would be to replace the Marantz SR4300 to a THX certified model, I have the upgrade bug, and it hurts LOL! :)
 

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