robinbowes
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- Jul 8, 2002
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Hi,
I'm currently considering merging my hifi/AV setup and would appreciate some advice. I'm reasonable competent (degree in electroacoustics, worked in audio engineering, mod my own equipment, etc.) but have had no exposure whatsoever to the current market, hence the request for advice.
My hifi setup is as follows:
Slimdevices Squeezebox
Art DI/O DAC
Rotel RA820A (heavily modded) - used as preamp and to power HF drivers
Rotel RB850 - power LF drivers
B&W DM610, bi-amped
My home cinema setup is as follows:
Toshiba SD330 DVD
Sky+ Box
Toshiba 36ZP38B
speakers that came with the telly!
The main driver for making the change is that I am possibly going to come into possesion of a 40" NEC LCD which does not come with any sort of audio capability, so I would need to add a processor plus amps/speakers. So, I'm looking into buying a Surround Processor/preamp that I can use for both my hifi and Home Cinema setups.
A summary of my requirements/wants is as follows:
Must sound good with analogue inputs, i.e. hifi use
Surround processing, primarily from the Sky box, but also DVDs. I'm not really familiar with the current formats, but I think this means that Dolby Digital is a must, with the option for a sub-woofer. DTS, Dolby Digital EX, and DTS ES would be nice-to-haves
Remote control (source switching, volume)
I plan to use my existing amplifiers/speakers, purchasing more where necessary. Unless I spend some serious money (unlikely), I'll most likely use the DM610s for front left + right and pick up some small bookshelf speakers for rears and centres.
Perhaps I'd be better off picking up a cheap "all-in-one" home cinema setup like the Sony HT-DDW750 (to pick one at random) for use with the HC setup and keeping my existing kit for hifi?
All advice/suggestions welcomed.
R.
I'm currently considering merging my hifi/AV setup and would appreciate some advice. I'm reasonable competent (degree in electroacoustics, worked in audio engineering, mod my own equipment, etc.) but have had no exposure whatsoever to the current market, hence the request for advice.
My hifi setup is as follows:
Slimdevices Squeezebox
Art DI/O DAC
Rotel RA820A (heavily modded) - used as preamp and to power HF drivers
Rotel RB850 - power LF drivers
B&W DM610, bi-amped
My home cinema setup is as follows:
Toshiba SD330 DVD
Sky+ Box
Toshiba 36ZP38B
speakers that came with the telly!
The main driver for making the change is that I am possibly going to come into possesion of a 40" NEC LCD which does not come with any sort of audio capability, so I would need to add a processor plus amps/speakers. So, I'm looking into buying a Surround Processor/preamp that I can use for both my hifi and Home Cinema setups.
A summary of my requirements/wants is as follows:
Must sound good with analogue inputs, i.e. hifi use
Surround processing, primarily from the Sky box, but also DVDs. I'm not really familiar with the current formats, but I think this means that Dolby Digital is a must, with the option for a sub-woofer. DTS, Dolby Digital EX, and DTS ES would be nice-to-haves
Remote control (source switching, volume)
I plan to use my existing amplifiers/speakers, purchasing more where necessary. Unless I spend some serious money (unlikely), I'll most likely use the DM610s for front left + right and pick up some small bookshelf speakers for rears and centres.
Perhaps I'd be better off picking up a cheap "all-in-one" home cinema setup like the Sony HT-DDW750 (to pick one at random) for use with the HC setup and keeping my existing kit for hifi?
All advice/suggestions welcomed.
R.