Advice For New Amp

[londonmandan]

Morning Everyone,

I don't know if this is the right area but I am looking for a 5.1 Amp for front room, not looking for one of them DVD combo things just one that I can use for the following HD Sources:

XBox
Sky
Apple TV
PC
TV

Also I would like if possible I would like to attach to my network to stream from my NAS box.

Nothing overly expensive maybe £400?

This has probably been asked hundreds of times before but when I entered the title the threads that came up were from 2010

Thanks in advance
Danny

 

[dante01]

If you can still get one, look out for a Yamaha RXV671. This model is last years and now replaced by the RXV673, but no less of an amp than its replacement. You can get them for less than £300 for what was originally a £500 AV amp.

http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/yamaha_rxv671.shtml

What speakers do you intend using with the amp?


You say you want to stream media from your NAS? It should be noted that AV amps only handle audio via their networking abilities.

 

[londonmandan]

That looks like it will do the trick!

I will just use the speakers that came with an old all in one thing that I have for the moment as I don't really know what to look at on that side either lol

I looked and it says that streams media, all I want to do it just play the MP3's that I have on my NAS. Guessing this will work?

Thanks

 

[dante01]

That looks like it will do the trick!

I will just use the speakers that came with an old all in one thing that I have for the moment as I don't really know what to look at on that side either lol

I looked and it says that streams media, all I want to do it just play the MP3's that I have on my NAS. Guessing this will work?

Thanks

You should ensure that the impedance of your speakers is no lower than 4ohm (6 or 8ohm would be preferable). An impedance lower than 4ohm can potentially cause damage to the amp and the speakers regularly supplied with all-in-one setups use very low impedance speakers. You'll also probably not be able to use the subwoofer from the all-in-one setup? You need an active subwoofer with its own onboard power supply and amplifier. Subs supplied with all-in-one set ups are invariably passive with no integral amplification.

Yes, streaming MP3 files to the amp will be fine.

 

[londonmandan]

Hmmm.... Well I guess I can wait to find some then.

Any suggestions on this?

Thanks for help

 

[PSM1]

What would your budget for new speakers be, assuming you need them?

 

[londonmandan]

I think I would need them according to dante001, budget wise I don't have a clue.

I don't want anything to expensive or big, I'm just looking for a decent sound something with a nice treble and bass. I don't really know what to expect price wise.

 

[PSM1]

As a general guide you can spend up to 2 to 3 times the price of the receiver on speakers to get the best from the receiver. Hence if looking at the 671 then this would put you in the £1-1.5k area. The minimum I would look to spend would be around £500. Now there are some discounted speaker packages around, like the Monitor Audio Vectors, which would be a good option but cost you less.
Probably the best option is to come to an overall budget for speakers and receiver and then we can recommend a balanced system which will get you the best sound possible. There is no point spending £300 on the receiver iff you only have £150 say left for speakers (unless of course you use that to buy the front pair and then get the other speakers as funds allow).

 

[londonmandan]

Well what I want I have put in the first post and to be honest I like what that unit does and for the money it does seem fair so from that side of things I think I am set (unless you can suggest otherwise)?

Speakers, I am in no real rush to be honest hence saying I would use what I have but I don't want to damage the unit so can hold off for now and if as you say I would be looking at £1K-£1.5K then I think I would have to buy these stage by stage.

Sorry if it seems long winded but I am kinda new to this, appreciate the help

 

[PSM1]

The 671 is a good base to start from although they are getting short in supply so you would need to buy one fairly soon. As for the speakers a pair of standmounts to start would be a good place to start and limit the costs for now. Something like the Monitor Audio BX1s would be a good option. This would at least get you started and a working sound system.

 

[londonmandan]

I will be buying the 671 Tues/Weds for sure

Just looked at the Monitor Audio BX1s and saw a thread on here about them and £200 seems reasonable so this will be next month lol

I have some stands already, I am guessing these don't really matter as long as they are off the floor?

Rears and Sub I can later, is it worth sticking to one brand i.e. Monitor Audio or can I mix and match on this?

 

[dante01]

Rears and Sub I can later, is it worth sticking to one brand i.e. Monitor Audio or can I mix and match on this?

The most important speaker to match with the stereo pair is the centre speaker. It isn't as important to match the rears, but still advisable to do so in order to maintain tonal equilibrium. You can use any brand of subwoofer and tonal matching is of no importance in relation to the sub.

 

[londonmandan]

The most important speaker to match with the stereo pair is the centre speaker.

Confused now lol

Ok so Monitor Audio BX1's are a pair what should I use as a centre then?

 

[DodgeTheViper]

Presumably a centre from the BX range. ;-)

 

[dante01]

Confused now lol

Ok so Monitor Audio BX1's are a pair what should I use as a centre then?

This would be the appropriate centre speaker:
BX Centre | Bronze BX | Monitor Audio

You could have another pair of BX1 speakers at the rear as surrounds or use BXFX speakers as surrounds:
BXFX | Bronze BX | Monitor Audio

You may even want to get the BX2 speakers up front rather than the BX1 speakers?
BX2 | Bronze BX | Monitor Audio


For the sub I'd look at either a BK Gemini II or the BK XLS200:
http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/Sub_Woofers.htm

 

[londonmandan]

Great links and advice thanks, I will bookmark these now

Would most likely go for the BX1's and the BX Centre with the Gemini II

 

[londonmandan]

You should ensure that the impedance of your speakers is no lower than 4ohm (6 or 8ohm would be preferable). An impedance lower than 4ohm can potentially cause damage to the amp and the speakers regularly supplied with all-in-one setups use very low impedance speakers.

Amp arrives tomorrow, I looked at the speakers I already have and they are all 6ohm so all is good from that side until I upgrade them, I also have to larger speakers that are on the old stereo that I am getting rid of that I will use for the fronts but I'm not sure on the mixing of 6 & 8 ohms??

This should be ok no?