Do I know more than Richer Sounds?! Beginner question re 5.1 Surround & Pioneer Amps

[schnide]

I recently bought the Pioneer HTP 071 surround package from Richer Sounds:

Pioneer HTP071 Black | 5.1 Package System inc Speakers excluding DVD Player | Richer Sounds (£250)

..but I'm holding onto the receipt, because something about it doesn't feel right to me. At the time of purchase, I asked if it didn't make more sense to buy the following separately:

Pioneer VSX322 Black | AV Receiver | Richer Sounds (£130)
Pioneer S-HS100 Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds (£99)

Richer Sounds told me no, because I'd have to buy a cable to connect the amp to the speakers and that would be £20 anyway. Buying the package together, I get everything in one box for the same price, apparently.

However, by going separates, not only does the separate amp appear to be a very similar if not the same model, but the speakers appear to be capable of handling 150w maximum instead of 100w in the package. They told me the speakers were the same but they sure look different to me.

Furthermore, and this terminology is new to me, but I'm sure that by going separately, I'd get active speakers instead of passive. I'm under the impression this is better. And I'm sure that I could get that cable for less than £20 if I didn't buy it from RS.

So overall, I could save a little money and get better equipment.

Am I completely mistaken, or has RS tried to fob me off here?

All views appreciated, I have a few days left to return my goods.

 

[dante01]

You are correct. The separate speaker package comes with an active subwoofer while the bundled sub is only a passive sub.

If RS said otherwise and told you an untruth in order to sell you goods then they breached the false selling aspects of consumer law. You have perfect right to return the goods and demand your money back. RS sold you goods by misrepresentation. If a business or seller makes a false statement to persuade you to buy goods, they may have committed a criminal offence. You can report the trader to Trading Standards who have powers to investigate and prosecute in relation to this type of offence.

If you think you've bought something because of a false statement made by a business or seller, you may have the right to end the contract and get a refund. The law that gives you this right is the Misrepresentation Act 1967.

Also note that the SHS100 speaker package includes the same cable pack you'd get with the HPT071 bundle.

 

[schnide]

Thank you, that's exactly what I thought.

Given that I'm going to be returning the set anyway I was actually thinking of spending a little more and getting the same speaker set, but a superior amp:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/pioneer/vsx922/pion-vsx922-blk (£239)

Except now, shopping with them at all leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I do everything I can to avoid buyer's remorse. Very disappointing.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[dante01]

What would you maximum budget be for both the AV receiver and a speaker package? To be honest, the speakers are that good and you could do better.

 

[vidjo]

You are correct. The separate speaker package comes with an active subwoofer while the bundled sub is only a passive sub.

The speakers all appear to be the same except that in the package the amplifier for the sub is in the main receiver - it is still a dedicated channel - just all in one box which has 6 x 100w amps in it. The separates have 5 x 100w amps plus another amp in the sub making 6 x 100w in total. The drive units and boxes for the speakers seem to be the same, at leased in the sizes quoted.

 

[dante01]

The speakers all appear to be the same except that in the package the amplifier for the sub is in the main receiver - it is still a dedicated channel - just all in one box which has 6 x 100w amps in it. The separates have 5 x 100w amps plus another amp in the sub making 6 x 100w in total. The drive units and boxes for the speakers seem to be the same, at leased in the sizes quoted.

Yes and thank you, but I do know the difference between a passive subwoofer and an active subwoofer.

If the sub is active then both the sub and the receiver would have their own PSU so the receiver isn't put under pressure while trying to power conventional speakers as well as a sub.

It is generally accepted that active subs are more desirable and provide for better performance than using the receiver to power passive models. It is also possible to use an active model with far more AV receivers than it is to impliment the use of a passive model with them. Most AV receivers do not support the use of passive subs.

The OP can buy the receiver plus speaker package that includes an active sub for less than it costs him to buy the bundle that comes with just the passive sub. RS told him the speakers were no different. He also gets the same cables pack which RS said he'd need to buy separately if not purchasing the bundle.

 

[schnide]

The plot thickens.. I just called RS customer services and got exactly the same info from their (slightly terse) guy there as I did in-store. The speakers are exactly the same and the separates are mistakenly listed in the specs on their website. Including whether or not the subwoofer was active or passive.

He also said that yes, I would still need to buy an subwoofer cable if I bought the separates. So in summary, according to them there was no mis-selling.

I'm only just dipping my toes into all this so I'm not pretending I'm an expert, but something feels off to me about this even though RS have repeated the same info from two different places.

 

[dante01]

Well they are still contravening consumer law for false advertising.

 

[schnide]

What would you maximum budget be for both the AV receiver and a speaker package? To be honest, the speakers are that good and you could do better.

I was looking at the £250ish packages from Onkyo, Yamaha and Pioneer but given that they were all of similar spec, I'm looking at Pioneer because the Yamaha speakers look cheap and Onkyo just isn't a brand I want to display in my room (even though I know their sound is reputable).

I also like the design of the Pioneer speakers and yes, that's despite the fact I'm buying a sound system and not something to look at!

Originally I was looking at £250 but might go up to £350-400. It'll be a 5.1 surround package for a medium size bedroom, with a PS3, PC and 42" plasma being plugged into it.

 

[dante01]

What about this:

Open Box Denon AVR-1713 Black

plus this:

Superfi - BOSTON ACOUSTICS SOUNDWARE XS 5.1 SE SPEAKER SYSTEM

£415 in total

?

or maybe the Yamaha RXV373 with the same speaker package?

http://www.hyperfi.co.uk/yamaha-rxv373-51channel-receiver-bstock-p-2010.html

If you can afford to go for it then there's also this speaker package that offers excellent value for money:

Monitor Audio Vector 5.1 AV Speaker Package Black - Special Offers - Audiovisual Online - Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists



Note that in these instances you will need to buy the additional cabling needed in order to connect the speakers. The Monitor Audio Vector package will also require you to purchase wall mounts seperately seeing as these are not included.

 

[dbeevers]

Hi
Well I bought this as a bedroom system:
Pioneer VSX527 Black | AV Receiver | Richer Sounds
Tannoy SFX5.1 Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds

and i think its really good for the price.
There is basic speaker cable in the package and wall mounts but you will need to buy/make a phono to phono cable to connect the powered sub.

 

[schnide]

Thanks for all the input guys. I've also seen this, if this is any good?

Pioneer PAH01536 | 5.1 Package System excluding DVD Player | Richer Sounds

 

[dante01]

Thanks for all the input guys. I've also seen this, if this is any good?

Pioneer PAH01536 | 5.1 Package System excluding DVD Player | Richer Sounds

Yeah, that would be okay and the included speakers, although nothing special, are a good tonal match for the audio signature associated with Pioneer AV receivers.

If interested in the Pioneer VSX922 then also consider the Onkyo TXNR515 as another option.