Need some help with 5.1 choice

[pops107]

Hello all, I am getting a new system and trying to decide on what to get i have been looking a diffrent speakers around the £200-300 mark i have found thease but do not no anything about them or wether 1 is better then the rest ?

Also is it better to spend a little more ?

Is there a rule about how much you spend on speakers compaired to amp ?

What i have found :

Jamo A102 HCS5 Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds

Canton MOVIE 80CX Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds

Tannoy SFX5.1 Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds

BOSTON SOUNDWARE XS Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds

Or is it worth the extra money for some thing like this
KEF KHT1005.2 Gloss Blk | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds

Thanks Sam

 

[Andy98765]

They are all reasonable with movies but if you plan to listen to music then????

See if you can pick these up Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds and you will not be disappointed.

 

[pops107]

They are all reasonable with movies but if you plan to listen to music then????

See if you can pick these up Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds and you will not be disappointed.

Will have a look at them thanks

 

[pops107]

They are all reasonable with movies but if you plan to listen to music then????

See if you can pick these up Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 Black | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds and you will not be disappointed.

Carnt seen to able to get hold of them richer sound told me thy do not do them any more so back to the orignal ones to pick from

 

[soupdragon]

You could have a look here, I'm selling a full Mordaunt Short 5.1 speaker system, comes with stands, subwoofer, Marantz 7.1 amplifier and speaker cable to hook it all up, all for £285!

http://www.avforums.com/forums/spea...ort-premier-5-1-speakers-sub-marantz-amp.html

If thats of no interest to you and you want brand new gear, then I would recommend the Bostons from that lot - I've owned the Tannoys myself previously and they're are good little speakers but the Bostons are just that bit better.

Of course, it would look biased if I said the Mordaunt Shorts were better than all of the above but they really are, very lively exciting speakers and the win on paper too with their lower freq response

Pics here:

Premiere home cinema / Mordaunt Short

 

[Andrew K]

Hello all, I am getting a new system and trying to decide on what to get i have been looking a diffrent speakers around the £200-300 mark i have found thease but do not no anything about them or wether 1 is better then the rest ?

Also is it better to spend a little more ?

Is there a rule about how much you spend on speakers compaired to amp ?

Or is it worth the extra money for some thing like this
KEF KHT1005.2 Gloss Blk | 5.1 Speaker Package | Richer Sounds

Thanks Sam

We have the KHT1005.2 at £349 so closer to your budget :-
KEF's award winning Home Theatre 1000 Series KHT1005.2 5.1 Home Cinema Speakers - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

alternatively I can recommend the Monitor Audio BR1 package that we have as great value and a great starter package but you would need to add a sub later :-
Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited Monitor Audio Bronze BR1 AV 5.0 - Quantum Electronics (UK) Limited

I tend to go 60:40 for speakers to amp on a full 5.1 setup

 

[Passingbat]

Carnt seen to able to get hold of them richer sound told me thy do not do them any more so back to the orignal ones to pick from

Superfi have the QAs for £300 for online ordering

Q ACOUSTICS 1010i 5.1 SPEAKER PACKAGE - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/3676 for details

Coupled with this very well regarded amp, you have a system originally costing £1000 for £550

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128473&pf_rd_i=468294

 

[pops107]

Thans guys for all the advice think i have found what i want and the right amp for them see what you think, for the money it seems like a good set up but please advise thanks again

DISCONTINUED MORDAUNT SHORT ALUMNI 5.1 SPEAKER SYSTEM - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/4268 for details

http://www.progressive-av.com/special_detail.asp?prod_id=319

 

[Passingbat]

Thans guys for all the advice think i have found what i want and the right amp for them see what you think, for the money it seems like a good set up but please advise thanks again

DISCONTINUED MORDAUNT SHORT ALUMNI 5.1 SPEAKER SYSTEM - available from Superfi UK Visit http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/product_id/4268 for details

http://www.progressive-av.com/special_detail.asp?prod_id=319

Mordaunt short speakers are quite bright tonally and better paired with the warmer natured amps from Yamaha, denon or Marantz. Some people do pair them with bright amps such as Onkyo, but i'd want to demo first.

The Yamaha 667 would be a good amp to pair with the Alumini setup, and can be had with a limited time £100 discount for £350. People on the 667 owners thread have found it for around £300.

Out of interest, why not the QA 1010i package? they have a better low end frequency response than the Aluminis and are neutral sounding, so will pair with any amp.

 

[soupdragon]

Mordaunt short speakers are quite bright tonally and better paired with the warmer natured amps from Yamaha, denon or Marantz.

When I had the Mordaunt short premier speakers (which are the same as the alumni's your looking at, the alumni's just hava a slightly rounded edge at the back and have a gloss finish whereas the premier's are matt finish) I paired mine with a Denon and they sounded great. My sister paired her's with the marantz (the one's I mentioned she is selling a few posts up) and they sound great with it too so well worth heeding dicklodges advise about amp choice. Personally, I didn't like the QA's when I had them a time ago, but they just weren't my cup of tea - demo is certainly time well spent if you get the oportunity.

The alumni's with the Denon, Yammy or marantz amp would certainly get my vote if you have to choose without demo-ing. If its of any interest, the for sale thread I linked to earlier, I have now changed the price to £285 delivered Less than half the price your looking at spending on what would be a very similar system

 

[pops107]

Thanks again guys i have found the amp and speakers at richer sounds close to where i live, I am going for a demo thurs night to see what i think, the main reason i was going with the modrant ones was i could get them in white, yes i no sad but think they will look right in the room.

I asked about the Yamaha 667 but they sead that the onkyo was a big step up from the yamaha, All i can do i go by people's advise as i am not up to date with all the new tec out there but he did say we can try both amps if i wanted.

As for the QA 1010i they carnt get them and dont no if i like the look of them style wise they also sead that i would have to spend a lot more money to get better speakers then the mods.

This is going to be my first time going to a demo is there any advise or things i should take with me ?

 

[Passingbat]

I asked about the Yamaha 667 but they sead that the onkyo was a big step up from the yamaha,

This is absolute rubbish.

The onkyo and Yamaha are the same level models and both have What HIFI 5 star awards. The reason for going with the Yamaha is that it is, for most people, a better tonal match to the MS speakers.

If you do a search of the forums, paticularly the AV amps section, you will see that there are many posts suggesting that Richer sounds push Onkyo as a brand.

Ask to demo both the Yamaha and the Onkyo and make sure they run setup on both amps before you listen and then pick the one that sounds best to you.

Because of all the feedback re RS and apparant onkyo pushing, I wouldn't trust anything they say, which is a sad thing to say. But, trust your ears and make sure they do an equal demo.

 

[soupdragon]

This is absolute rubbish.

The onkyo and Yamaha are the same level models and both have What HIFI 5 star awards. The reason for going with the Yamaha is that it is, for most people, a better tonal match to the MS speakers.

If you do a search of the forums, paticularly the AV amps section, you will see that there are many posts suggesting that Richer sounds push Onkyo as a brand.

Ask to demo both the Yamaha and the Onkyo and make sure they run setup on both amps before you listen and then pick the one that sounds best to you.

Because of all the feedback re RS and apparant onkyo pushing, I wouldn't trust anything they say, which is a sad thing to say. But, trust your ears and make sure they do an equal demo.

+1. I have to laugh, heard this same story so many times before with Richer Sounds and their Onkyo's its a bit of a running joke now. The biggest difficulty in listening to a yamaha demo will be trying to block out the sales assistant onkyo pitch while your trying to hear it lol!

 

[pops107]

Well thanks again guys for opening my eyes i will get them to let me test both the 667 and 608 thursday night see what i think

One quick question, Is there any thing i need to ask or take with me to the demo other then a Blu-ray or is there a film i should pick to take with me to test the set up out, I was thinking some thing like hurt locker or casino royale

 

[soupdragon]

Your best bringing something your very familiar with, even bring a cd or 2 with some music your familiar with too - this will give you an idea of the different sound qualities each receiver displays.

 

[pops107]

Your best bringing something your very familiar with, even bring a cd or 2 with some music your familiar with too - this will give you an idea of the different sound qualities each receiver displays.

Right guys, To night i have been with 2 frends to have a listen to the Yamaha 667 and Onkyo 608 we all liked the speakers but had a diffrence off opinion on the amps

We found that the yam was better for vocal and the quite thing's that happen in the film, So you dont have to have it on that loud to hear all the film but the onkyo had to be turned up higher to hear the vocal properly but i dont no if it was just not set up properly, (I do find on the onkyo that i have now the vocal is very low and i have to turn the center speaker up so you can hear people speak at a good volume), But on the 608 when turned up and you got in to the action parts of the film was better sounding so i am still dont no what to pick now.

Is it just the case that the onkyo needs setting up corectly or is that the yam is better matched to the speakers i realy dont no

 

[soupdragon]

Worth reading this in full, epsecially note the dynamic range control piece:

Feature Article

Once you understand this article, you can change the dynamic range control on the amp to see if thats playing a part in what your hearing (some amps call it DRC, some call it night mode)

If you apply no dynamic range in the amp, you will need to listen with the volume knob fairly loud to get the dialogue to an acceptable level, and peaks in the volume will sound extremely loud - just the way it should be for a full cinematic experience (but too loud for some people). This sometimes leads people to believe the center speaker is too low but what is actually happening is that people adjust the volume so that the volume peaks (eg, dramatic car chase) are at an acceptable level for the volume they want to hear, but when the peaks dissappear - it sounds like the center speaker is to low.

If you supress the dynamic range, you will still have the volume knob in a similar position as you would with no supression, but the volume peaks will be nowhere near as dramatic because the big peaks/dips are levelled off, and all of a sudden the dialogue appears to be more acceptable.

Knowing this, I normally listen with no DRC applied and just enjoy the highs and lows of the soundtrack but at night, if I didn't adjust the DRC, I would be continually reaching for the remote to turn it up on the quiet scenes, and turning it down on the louder scenes.

Hope this makes sense

 

[pops107]

Worth reading this in full, epsecially note the dynamic range control piece:

Feature Article

Once you understand this article, you can change the dynamic range control on the amp to see if thats playing a part in what your hearing (some amps call it DRC, some call it night mode)

If you apply no dynamic range in the amp, you will need to listen with the volume knob fairly loud to get the dialogue to an acceptable level, and peaks in the volume will sound extremely loud - just the way it should be for a full cinematic experience (but too loud for some people). This sometimes leads people to believe the center speaker is too low but what is actually happening is that people adjust the volume so that the volume peaks (eg, dramatic car chase) are at an acceptable level for the volume they want to hear, but when the peaks dissappear - it sounds like the center speaker is to low.

If you supress the dynamic range, you will still have the volume knob in a similar position as you would with no supression, but the volume peaks will be nowhere near as dramatic because the big peaks/dips are levelled off, and all of a sudden the dialogue appears to be more acceptable.

Knowing this, I normally listen with no DRC applied and just enjoy the highs and lows of the soundtrack but at night, if I didn't adjust the DRC, I would be continually reaching for the remote to turn it up on the quiet scenes, and turning it down on the louder scenes.

Hope this makes sense

Hello soupdragon, That is a very good point but bit late now to retest now but thanks,

I think the main problem is that the onkyo amp it was not set up at all even if he sead he had because over the next 24 hours thinking about it there was lots missing from the sound of the onkyo like at the begining of the casino royal film when bond kicks the door open in to the stairwell the yam gives you an eco as the door slams open but the onkyo had it missing all to gether and there was other things missing as well like in transformers when they are shooting one of them at the army base with the yam you can here all the bullets hitting it but the onkyo you could just here the guns firing not the bullits there was a few things like this with all the films, Icart see that there is a diffrence like that between the amps