Hullo all, I've decided its time to completely overhaul the audio systems I am currently using, they are in one case, out of date and struggling, and in the other actually non-existent!
Current states:
Room 1: Cinema Room! I invested wisely a few months ago in a Sony HW50es projector, which is banging out a massive 3.5m wide image, with wonderful quality and immersiveness. This is all coupled up with the following:
Sony BDP S550 blue-ray player
Arcam AVR 200 amp (pre-hdmi, it shoes its age)
KEF KHT2005 eggs with the KUBE 1 Sub in a 5.1 setup.
The room is a very open mezzanine level above the living room, 5m x 8m (and up to 6m high where the roof joins at the top!), with hard wooden laminate flooring and this means compared to my past home (a much smaller living room!) much sound is lost in the open space, and it feels like a lot of fidelity has been lost. Certainly at lower volumes, or more gentle film soundtracks, the set seems to lose some edge in the sound department. Cranked up a bit (which has the problem of disturbing neighbours) or with a more action-packed film, the lack of fidelity is less of a problem. Currently also its my only real outlet for stereo music (I listen to mostly Jazz/big band/acoustic rock or grunge and a little classical!) and in this open space the fidelity is lost, and the problems of the system are readily apparent.
Room 2: Living Room! Currently has a TV (Phillips 42" Essence) and my PC, only!
The room is also very open and of decent size, about 6m x 5m, with hard tiled flooring! Given that I actually spend most of my time down here, and realised that I hardly listen to my beloved Jazz anymore, have decided that a Hi-Fi system needs to come in. It would be nice to be able to plug the PC into it, and also the TV if I wish to, and have the option of possibly future proofing it with NAS box connectivity and USB for ipad (when parties are concerned!).
In terms of budget, I don't want to go too crazy, but do like quality items/instruments. You will have to excuse me for talking in GBP prices!
Proposed Set-Up changes:
Cinema - I thought to replace the front 3 KEF 2005 speakers with a trio of KEF LS50 (£1200 for 3), leaving the rear pair with the old KEF 2005 eggs. I hope this will solve the sound quality problems I have with the front speakers several meters away, as well as when I do wish Stereo music upstairs. I tend not to use too much subwoofer, as it is more likely to disturb the neighbours, so thought also to continue with the KUBE 1.
Additionally, considering the age of the receiver, I thought to change it to a Pioneer SC LX86 (I maybe able to get one for just £1000, which seems like a bargain) otherwise would look at the LX57 or LX 77. I figure that the pioneer should have a great movie sound, though am told also to look at the Anthem MRX500 or Arcam AVR400 which would be more musical. Does anyone have any comments on these possibilities, or am I missing off another Amp I should be looking at? In the past musicality would have been particularly important to me, however if I do put together a hifi system for downstairs too, then it becomes less so.
For downstairs in the living room, I thought to couple a pair of KEF LS50 (£800) speakers to an Arcam FMJ A19 (£650) , and Marantz 6005 CD player (£350). I thought that keeping to the same speakers means that in the future I can integrate/marry the two systems easily if I like.
The total spend of these changes would be approximately £4000, though there is no exactly defined budget, I will be ok to spend a little more or less, as long as I get bang for the buck!
However, I have several additional questions, particularly as I don't know too much about Hi-Fi separates.
1. Will a mid-high end AVR like the above mentioned, really suffer in musical quality compared with a standalone stereo Amp like the A19?
2. Does the CD player really make such a lot of difference to sound quality? If so, should I look at spending more and upgrade to something like an Audiolabs 8200CD (£700), does this have particularly better features also that I should consider.
3. What of the speakers? the KEF R300 also seem extremely similar in writing to the LS50.
Will the LS50 (or R300) actually work well in a surround sound set-up?
4. Will I get away with my idea of saving some money by not replacing the rear KEF eggs? or is it a crazy idea which will cause a huge imbalance to watching a movie.
5. What other stereo amps should I consider, assuming I go down that route for downstairs. Is this relatively inexpensive Arcam FMJ A19 a good investment, or will a little higher spend get me something which produces a significantly better sound? Or is there something else that simply shatters it in performance?
6. If I decide the separate stereo set-up is too much, what simple addition would give me that improved stereo sound if I use just one set-up upstairs?
7. Are the various components I have selected above, generally well matched?
I want the detailed voicing and finesse that Jazz requires, but really I want the listening to be enjoyable, and reproduce the energy in the music and the punch of a Basie Big band. My current KEF's with ancient Arcam are ok, but they aren't exactly buzzing with excitement, and the more open echoey spaces I have don't help at all (am slowly dampening with added furniture/rugs, but is a slow process). I had an old Technics all-in-one before (which I bought as a teenager) and frankly though this didn't have as good quality as what I have now, the sound was probably more together and energetic, in its own more limited way.
Many thanks for your time and responses!
Current states:
Room 1: Cinema Room! I invested wisely a few months ago in a Sony HW50es projector, which is banging out a massive 3.5m wide image, with wonderful quality and immersiveness. This is all coupled up with the following:
Sony BDP S550 blue-ray player
Arcam AVR 200 amp (pre-hdmi, it shoes its age)
KEF KHT2005 eggs with the KUBE 1 Sub in a 5.1 setup.
The room is a very open mezzanine level above the living room, 5m x 8m (and up to 6m high where the roof joins at the top!), with hard wooden laminate flooring and this means compared to my past home (a much smaller living room!) much sound is lost in the open space, and it feels like a lot of fidelity has been lost. Certainly at lower volumes, or more gentle film soundtracks, the set seems to lose some edge in the sound department. Cranked up a bit (which has the problem of disturbing neighbours) or with a more action-packed film, the lack of fidelity is less of a problem. Currently also its my only real outlet for stereo music (I listen to mostly Jazz/big band/acoustic rock or grunge and a little classical!) and in this open space the fidelity is lost, and the problems of the system are readily apparent.
Room 2: Living Room! Currently has a TV (Phillips 42" Essence) and my PC, only!
The room is also very open and of decent size, about 6m x 5m, with hard tiled flooring! Given that I actually spend most of my time down here, and realised that I hardly listen to my beloved Jazz anymore, have decided that a Hi-Fi system needs to come in. It would be nice to be able to plug the PC into it, and also the TV if I wish to, and have the option of possibly future proofing it with NAS box connectivity and USB for ipad (when parties are concerned!).
In terms of budget, I don't want to go too crazy, but do like quality items/instruments. You will have to excuse me for talking in GBP prices!
Proposed Set-Up changes:
Cinema - I thought to replace the front 3 KEF 2005 speakers with a trio of KEF LS50 (£1200 for 3), leaving the rear pair with the old KEF 2005 eggs. I hope this will solve the sound quality problems I have with the front speakers several meters away, as well as when I do wish Stereo music upstairs. I tend not to use too much subwoofer, as it is more likely to disturb the neighbours, so thought also to continue with the KUBE 1.
Additionally, considering the age of the receiver, I thought to change it to a Pioneer SC LX86 (I maybe able to get one for just £1000, which seems like a bargain) otherwise would look at the LX57 or LX 77. I figure that the pioneer should have a great movie sound, though am told also to look at the Anthem MRX500 or Arcam AVR400 which would be more musical. Does anyone have any comments on these possibilities, or am I missing off another Amp I should be looking at? In the past musicality would have been particularly important to me, however if I do put together a hifi system for downstairs too, then it becomes less so.
For downstairs in the living room, I thought to couple a pair of KEF LS50 (£800) speakers to an Arcam FMJ A19 (£650) , and Marantz 6005 CD player (£350). I thought that keeping to the same speakers means that in the future I can integrate/marry the two systems easily if I like.
The total spend of these changes would be approximately £4000, though there is no exactly defined budget, I will be ok to spend a little more or less, as long as I get bang for the buck!
However, I have several additional questions, particularly as I don't know too much about Hi-Fi separates.
1. Will a mid-high end AVR like the above mentioned, really suffer in musical quality compared with a standalone stereo Amp like the A19?
2. Does the CD player really make such a lot of difference to sound quality? If so, should I look at spending more and upgrade to something like an Audiolabs 8200CD (£700), does this have particularly better features also that I should consider.
3. What of the speakers? the KEF R300 also seem extremely similar in writing to the LS50.
Will the LS50 (or R300) actually work well in a surround sound set-up?
4. Will I get away with my idea of saving some money by not replacing the rear KEF eggs? or is it a crazy idea which will cause a huge imbalance to watching a movie.
5. What other stereo amps should I consider, assuming I go down that route for downstairs. Is this relatively inexpensive Arcam FMJ A19 a good investment, or will a little higher spend get me something which produces a significantly better sound? Or is there something else that simply shatters it in performance?
6. If I decide the separate stereo set-up is too much, what simple addition would give me that improved stereo sound if I use just one set-up upstairs?
7. Are the various components I have selected above, generally well matched?
I want the detailed voicing and finesse that Jazz requires, but really I want the listening to be enjoyable, and reproduce the energy in the music and the punch of a Basie Big band. My current KEF's with ancient Arcam are ok, but they aren't exactly buzzing with excitement, and the more open echoey spaces I have don't help at all (am slowly dampening with added furniture/rugs, but is a slow process). I had an old Technics all-in-one before (which I bought as a teenager) and frankly though this didn't have as good quality as what I have now, the sound was probably more together and energetic, in its own more limited way.
Many thanks for your time and responses!
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