9.1ch home cinema system with bigger subwoofer?

[nugget2014]

Hello.

I was looking at some 5.1 and 9.1 home cinema systems and the LG BH9530TW looks amazing, however the subwoofer is only 7" and i guess nowhere near as good as standalone subs such as the wharfedale sw150 and others that are 10" and above. are there any systems that have bigger subwoofers? a 10" sub included in a 5.1 7.1 or 9.1ch system would be amazing, budget can be around £700 max

 

[Dave2860]

Probs best saving for a bigger budget and using seperates?

starting with a Amplifer and 2.0 set up and expand over time? An on going project :dance:

 

[jonathanRD]

Hi Nugget, based on your comments - you seem to already be excited about what a bigger sub might give you over a smaller one as part of a complete all in one HC system.

If you are prepared to be a liitle patient and build the system over a period of time, I would also advise you to start with an amplifier, bluray and front speakers first. Then add centre, sub and surrounds when you can afford them. Assuming your room will 1) accomodate and 2) benefit from a separates based HC system, you will not regret taking your time to get there. There are plenty of £250-£300 a pair standmounts that will form the basis of a 5.1 speaker setup eg MA BX2's and Dali Zensor 3's are just two examples. I have a system based on a MA BX2 setup which I really enjoy, but if I was buying now I would be interested in the Dali setup too, although the MA BXFX surrounds suit my room as they are easily wallmounted.

If you can take your time, you will not be dissapointed

 

[nugget2014]

Hi Nugget, based on your comments - you seem to already be excited about what a bigger sub might give you over a smaller one as part of a complete all in one HC system.

If you are prepared to be a liitle patient and build the system over a period of time, I would also advise you to start with an amplifier, bluray and front speakers first. Then add centre, sub and surrounds when you can afford them. Assuming your room will 1) accomodate and 2) benefit from a separates based HC system, you will not regret taking your time to get there. There are plenty of £250-£300 a pair standmounts that will form the basis of a 5.1 speaker setup eg MA BX2's and Dali Zensor 3's are just two examples. I have a system based on a MA BX2 setup which I really enjoy, but if I was buying now I would be interested in the Dali setup too, although the MA BXFX surrounds suit my room as they are easily wallmounted.

If you can take your time, you will not be dissapointed

that is really a good idea, but if i get all different brands for example wharfedale sub and front speakers and a cambridge audio centre with dali zensor rear speakers for example would all that work well together? the only issue i am worried about is all the cables everywhere and setting up as i dont know how to setup hi-fi and home cinema etc

what do you think about starting off with a blu-ray player, amplifier, front speakers and a sub? getting rear and centre afterwards in a year or so

 

[nugget2014]

also Jonathan, what ratio would you say it's best to split my budget into each piece, i imagine spending more on centre speaker is more important than rear etc.

i need a good blu-ray player and amplifier that can handle 5.1 or 7.1 channel surround. does the yamaha HTR3065 3D ready home cinema receiver do justice do good seperate components for a good home cinema setup? if so thats one item checked off on my list.

edit: also if buying the amp/player seperate is it worth getting a speaker bundle for example the wharfedale DX1-HCP 5.1package? it's got a 10" subwoofer and decent speakers. or is it better to buy individual seperates?

edit 2:checked the driver size of the sub included in the package..7.8", time to look elsewhere again looks like buying seperates only way to go

 

[bigboss]

It's not a good idea to mix brands, especially for front & centre.

With regards to ratio, I would advise to spend 40% on an AV receiver (as it's the heart of any system) & 60% on speakers. A budget blu Ray player is equally good.

 

[jonathanRD]

Yea - don't mix speaker brands.

Setting up is quite easy, if you can't ask your dealer just post any questions on this forum, but it is quite straight-forward.

If you were going to take your time putting a system together, I would advise you get a bluray player, amp and front L/R and centre speakers first, then the sub, then the rears. It's the centre speaker that does most of the work (voices).

My ratio was 33%/66% so pretty similar to bigboss.

You don't need to spend a lot on a bluray, I've just bought a Sony BDPS4100 for my Dad (£69) - a lovely little machine.

I don't know much about the Yamaha HRT3065.

If you really want to put something together quickly, then the Yamaha plus the Wharfedale DX1 HCP 5.1 plus bluray and cables will come in under £700.

However, Superfi for example are doing a bundle with the Yamaha RXV675 and Wharfedale package for £649 - you get a lot more for your money with the RXV675. You will definately save money buying a bundle, and there's plenty of deals out there at present.

But, it all depends on whether you want it all now for £700 or you are prepared to be patient. I spent a few months deciding what to do. I remember I could have gone with a Sony AVR and Q Accoustics 5.1 set up which I could have purchased quite quickly, or go 'up the chain a little' and take time to put together a more expensive system. I went for the latter and it took me 18 months but I am glad I did. I think otherwise I would now be wanting to upgrade.

If it was me, I would be looking to purchase one of the network enabled AVR's that were £500 last year and are now being offered around £350 or less - such as the Yamaha RXV675, and deciding on a £600 - £1000 5.1 setup to pair with it, and just buy the front speakers to start, and as you get the funds, add the rest.

 

[nugget2014]

Yea - don't mix speaker brands.

Setting up is quite easy, if you can't ask your dealer just post any questions on this forum, but it is quite straight-forward.

If you were going to take your time putting a system together, I would advise you get a bluray player, amp and front L/R and centre speakers first, then the sub, then the rears. It's the centre speaker that does most of the work (voices).

My ratio was 33%/66% so pretty similar to bigboss.

You don't need to spend a lot on a bluray, I've just bought a Sony BDPS4100 for my Dad (£69) - a lovely little machine.

I don't know much about the Yamaha HRT3065.

If you really want to put something together quickly, then the Yamaha plus the Wharfedale DX1 HCP 5.1 plus bluray and cables will come in under £700.

However, Superfi for example are doing a bundle with the Yamaha RXV675 and Wharfedale package for £649 - you get a lot more for your money with the RXV675. You will definately save money buying a bundle, and there's plenty of deals out there at present.

But, it all depends on whether you want it all now for £700 or you are prepared to be patient. I spent a few months deciding what to do. I remember I could have gone with a Sony AVR and Q Accoustics 5.1 set up which I could have purchased quite quickly, or go 'up the chain a little' and take time to put together a more expensive system. I went for the latter and it took me 18 months but I am glad I did. I think otherwise I would now be wanting to upgrade.

If it was me, I would be looking to purchase one of the network enabled AVR's that were £500 last year and are now being offered around £350 or less - such as the Yamaha RXV675, and deciding on a £600 - £1000 5.1 setup to pair with it, and just buy the front speakers to start, and as you get the funds, add the rest.

if i went the wharfedale route speaker wise it'd be a tad expensive. the 101c is about £150, SW150 £160, i don't know what wharfedale sells as "rear speakers" i imagine it's just bookshelf speakers for both front and rear? if so the diamond 10's would seem logical to get, 2 pairs of these 1 for rear 1 for front would cost £200. add a £75-80 blu-ray player and that adds upto about £600 and i didnt even count the receiver cost which is £250..that is way out of my budget even in the long run

right now im also contemplating getting the BIC america pl-200 12" subwoofer and the bic america fh-56 soundbar which they claim is 5.1 surround sound however i dont know if the soundbar will do anywhere near as good as a full package and not sure if work properly since i live in UK. if all else fails i'll stick with the 9.1 LG for £550

 

[jonathanRD]

Whatever you do, your speakers should be from the same range.

Have a look also at the Home Cinema Separates Deals from some of the leading retailers. Some include a bluray, or maybe you can get them to throw one in with a discount, plus speaker cables. The only thing to remember is placing the speakers so you may need to factor in the cost of stands.

At least with the LG you dont need stands or cables for the rears - although how closely it would compare to separates I do not know. Best to go try and demo some.

 

[nugget2014]

Whatever you do, your speakers should be from the same range.

Have a look also at the Home Cinema Separates Deals from some of the leading retailers. Some include a bluray, or maybe you can get them to throw one in with a discount, plus speaker cables. The only thing to remember is placing the speakers so you may need to factor in the cost of stands.

At least with the LG you dont need stands or cables for the rears - although how closely it would compare to separates I do not know. Best to go try and demo some.

What brands do you suggest I have looked at wharfedale and onkyo so far.

 

[jonathanRD]

Whatever you do, your speakers should be from the same range.

Have a look also at the Home Cinema Separates Deals from some of the leading retailers. Some include a bluray, or maybe you can get them to throw one in with a discount, plus speaker cables. The only thing to remember is placing the speakers so you may need to factor in the cost of stands.

At least with the LG you dont need stands or cables for the rears - although how closely it would compare to separates I do not know. Best to go try and demo some.

What brands do you suggest I have looked at wharfedale and onkyo so far.

Do you have a local hifi store you can drop into? Give them your budget and see what they can advise - that way you can see and listen to the kit and get a better idea rather than just looking online, or randomly looking at brands.

 

[nugget2014]

Whatever you do, your speakers should be from the same range.

Have a look also at the Home Cinema Separates Deals from some of the leading retailers. Some include a bluray, or maybe you can get them to throw one in with a discount, plus speaker cables. The only thing to remember is placing the speakers so you may need to factor in the cost of stands.

At least with the LG you dont need stands or cables for the rears - although how closely it would compare to separates I do not know. Best to go try and demo some.

What brands do you suggest I have looked at wharfedale and onkyo so far.

Do you have a local hifi store you can drop into? Give them your budget and see what they can advise - that way you can see and listen to the kit and get a better idea rather than just looking online, or randomly looking at brands.

i will pop into superfi nottingham, if no luck pop into richer sounds. BTW how do i connect my tv to a home cinema system? on richer sounds spec list it says: Analogue Audio Output: Does it have a dedicated analogue audio output? This lets you connect the TV's sound to a hi-fi system. it has a red cross so it doesnt allow it..shall i avoid this tv ? its samsung UE40F6320

 

[jonathanRD]

The Samsung has ARC - audio return channel - it feeds the sound back from a TV to an AV receiver, allowing the use of a single HDMI cable to connect TV and receiver/amp.

 

[nugget2014]

The Samsung has ARC - audio return channel - it feeds the sound back from a TV to an AV receiver, allowing the use of a single HDMI cable to connect TV and receiver/amp.

i have been looking again for seperates before i go in store sometime in a week or two, are the wharfedale diamond 121 or 122's designed to be used for home cinema? i was originally going to buy some for my denon system but no point after looking to purchase home cinema

i think upgrading slowly would be the best option after all. i'm thinking of something like this:

A/V Receiver: (which is best?)

Denon AVR-X2000

Yamaha RXV-375

Centre Speaker: Wharfedale diamond 101c

Front Speakers: Wharfedale Diamond 122

Subwoofer: Wharfedale SW150

but even that is SO expensive..i wanted to spend about £500 or so £600 max but even buying all that comes around to £700 including a blu-ray player and a couple of cables perhaps.

 

[jonathanRD]

Go into superfi and RS and ask to listen to a £700 max HC system, then have a listen to a £1500 system. You will then know yourself what you can justify spending. You may think it's not worth spending the extra money. If you have to justify or convince someone else - set up a further demo and take them along too.