Hi
I'm new to the forum. I'm in the UK.
The Question
Am I too fixed on the idea of an AV amp?
Would we be better off with a soundbar with surround speakers instead?
- Jewelie
Current Setup
Current* Use Pattern (in priory/hours-used order)
Other Info and Considerations
I'm fairly housebound due to long-term illness -- gaming, and secondarily on-demand TV/discs are pretty important entertainment for me when alone.
I'm getting old, sight and hearing are just starting to become an issue. Current TV size and sound quality (and lack of surround) are currently big impediment to me enjoying screen-based entertainment: age and depreciating senses! I have to use subtitles to watch TV due to the awful sound quality plus my hearing is starting to go a little bit. UI/text-size for games, even with mods to make text bigger, is becoming a real problem for me, plus I find surround sound really important immersion.
I'm very tech literate, handy with a soldering iron, much much less useful with DIY etc (limitations due to health.) So moving things, mounting a TV, putting surround shelves up etc isn't something I can easily do.
We think it's time to get a new TV and either an AV amp or maybe a soundbar (I've never owned a soundbar before, so don't really know.)
Income low, but we have some savings, at a push we could pay a MAXIMUM (and I mean maximum) of £1k in total for both (and even that will take some puppy-dog-eyes manipulation of my spouse!)
I've been thinking of a 50" TV, which is the biggest size we can practically make space for. We're not sure which one, we have been going around in circles on this, but maybe a Sony Bravia KD50X89JU with 6year warranty from Richard Sounds if the price drops a bit lower than £650.
Amps are what I'm used to and trust. So I've been thinking of an AV amp, for now perhaps retaining the quad-setup which seems to be adequate. Again, we're not sure which one, but maybe the STR-DH790 again from Richer Sounds if they come back in stock and the price goes back to £350 or lower.
We live in a block of flats, so we can't ever have things on very loud, and I have to be careful to take out the ultra low frequencies in order to avoid disturbing neighbours etc (which means decent EQ on amp to be able to do that.)
I'm new to the forum. I'm in the UK.
The Question
Am I too fixed on the idea of an AV amp?
Would we be better off with a soundbar with surround speakers instead?
- Jewelie
Current Setup
- TV: Samsung 32" 2013 F-Series UE32F5500 (LCD panel badly deteriorated)
- AV Receiver: Sony 5.1 STR-DB925 (Broken - so no longer able to use)
- Speakers: Quad-layout (both vintage bookshelf style)
- Front: 2 x B&W DM'601 (on stand)
- Rear: 2 x JPW Minim (on shelf)
- Room: 3m x 5m (10' x 16')
- Viewing/Sitting distance: 2.5m to 3m (8' to 10')
Current* Use Pattern (in priory/hours-used order)
- 60%: HD SDR On-demand (UK) video players. Mainly BBC iPlayer, Netflix. (Not many services, 1080p only, to keep down monthly subscription costs.)
- 20%: HD SDR Broadcast live TV via Freeview. (Satellite dish connections available.)
- 18%: 1080p 60Hz Gaming. Currently streamed over network from Steam PC to a Steam Link box running Steam Link app or the Moonlight app. Relaxed, immersive, sofa gaming. I LOVED surround sound gaming before the AV amp broke and REALLY miss it!
- 2%: Blu-ray, CDs & DVDs. (Probably mostly HD / SDR. Listen to no music.)
Other Info and Considerations
I'm fairly housebound due to long-term illness -- gaming, and secondarily on-demand TV/discs are pretty important entertainment for me when alone.
I'm getting old, sight and hearing are just starting to become an issue. Current TV size and sound quality (and lack of surround) are currently big impediment to me enjoying screen-based entertainment: age and depreciating senses! I have to use subtitles to watch TV due to the awful sound quality plus my hearing is starting to go a little bit. UI/text-size for games, even with mods to make text bigger, is becoming a real problem for me, plus I find surround sound really important immersion.
I'm very tech literate, handy with a soldering iron, much much less useful with DIY etc (limitations due to health.) So moving things, mounting a TV, putting surround shelves up etc isn't something I can easily do.
We think it's time to get a new TV and either an AV amp or maybe a soundbar (I've never owned a soundbar before, so don't really know.)
Income low, but we have some savings, at a push we could pay a MAXIMUM (and I mean maximum) of £1k in total for both (and even that will take some puppy-dog-eyes manipulation of my spouse!)
I've been thinking of a 50" TV, which is the biggest size we can practically make space for. We're not sure which one, we have been going around in circles on this, but maybe a Sony Bravia KD50X89JU with 6year warranty from Richard Sounds if the price drops a bit lower than £650.
Amps are what I'm used to and trust. So I've been thinking of an AV amp, for now perhaps retaining the quad-setup which seems to be adequate. Again, we're not sure which one, but maybe the STR-DH790 again from Richer Sounds if they come back in stock and the price goes back to £350 or lower.
We live in a block of flats, so we can't ever have things on very loud, and I have to be careful to take out the ultra low frequencies in order to avoid disturbing neighbours etc (which means decent EQ on amp to be able to do that.)