Amplifier + speakers under £1200

[admin_exported]

Dear Fellow members,

Please, really need your help!

Just bought a Kuro 5090 which will be delivered tomorrow and would need to buy amplifier and speakers asap.

My budget is max £1200. I want a decent system and if budget will not allow me then I can just buy front+center spaker for time being and thencan buy rear+sub later on.

I have done some basic homework and needs your feedback/suggestions:

1. Onkyo TX-SR875 (refurb) =£500, yes thats true

its really a good price. It is supposed to be very powerful but not sure if its cappable to decode all kinds of sound format e.g. it can not decode Pro Logic IIz.

2. Onkyo TX-SR607 = £500, again same price but its less powerful but latest model and with lots of features.

Both choices leave me £700 for speakers and wires etc. I will be using speakers mostly for movies and TV programmes i.e. music is not a priority. I love lots of bass, correct sorround sound and clear dialogs. Also, I should get the felling like I am involvedin the sound and pic..hope you understand what I want.

I would really - really apperitiate if you can anser my questions.

 

[d4v3pum4]

Over budget but worth it - Monitor Audio BR2 AV package. They also sell the new Yamaha 765. The Q-Acoustics package is also very popular. You might be able to get some MK speakers around your budget, speak to Frank Harvey aka hifix.co.uk. I wouldn't worry about pro logic IIz. Most people don't have room for 5.1/7.1 let alone more vertical fronts unless you have a dedicated cinema room. I don't think there is any material to take advantage of it. Has anyone seen a review of it yet?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, go for the Onkyo 875. It is a very muscular amp and will decode everything. I use one myself and will recommend this wholeheartedly.

As for speakers, go for the Q Acoustics speaker package. You will have enough left over for some good quality cables.

 

[Anonymous]

EvilWolf:
Yes, go for the Onkyo 875. It is a very muscular amp and will decode everything. I use one myself and will recommend this wholeheartedly.

As for speakers, go for the Q Acoustics speaker package. You will have enough left over for some good quality cables.

Thanks EvilWolf! ..will Q Acoustics 1010i be sufficient or shall I go for 1030/50i? Also your sig says u have B&W Theater ..how are they with ur 875 onkyo?

 

[Anonymous]

BTW Guys ...how about Best Budget WHF home cinema system i.e.SONY STRDG820 with Q Acoustics 1010i (both for £700) as
compare to onkyo 875 with decent speakers ?

I know Onkyo 875 belongs to class A but just asking myself do I need that powerful amp.? I have two children and don't want to disturb neighbourhood and plus I can save some money. Do you think they can produce nice clear sound and can decodes and upscalling features. At the same time I wanted to justify my tv (kuro 5090) as well as its one of the best.a bit confused..what do you say?

 

[Anonymous]

With reference to one off you're original choices I have the Onkyo 607 which I would fully recommend. I've partnered this with the Q Acoustics speakers however have the 1020i's as fronts which are bi wired, the sound is amazing. I did consider the 1030/1050i's but just felt they were a bit on the large side. The 607 is on ebay new for £429.99 delivered.

 

[Anonymous]

Onkyo 607 + Onkyo SKS-HT 235

http://www.intl.onkyo.com/products/speakers/speaker_packages/sks-ht235/index.html

 

[Anonymous]

I am going to see the demo of Onkyo 607 with KF2005.3, 3005.3 and Q.Accoustic 1010i today. Will let you know my experience. Any advice most welcome.

 

[Anonymous]

Hello Guys, I had a demo today and this is what I have found:

Demo: Onkyo 607 amp with Q Accoustic 1010i, KEF2005.3 and KEF3005.3 speackers

My opinion: Onkyo 607 with KEF2005.3 was having more crisp and clear sound as compare to Q Acoustic 1010i specially in low volume. Therefor Q. Acoustic is out from my list.

KEF3005.3 was definitely better than KEF2005.3 specially center speaker and subwoofer but it is £400 more expensive.

Sevenoaks is offering a package deal as follows:

Onkyo 607 + KEF 2005.3 = £1000

Onkyo 607 + KEF 3005.3 = £1400

Question 1: Can you please advice if its worth spending £400 more on 3005.3? OR do you think I can have something else better than this?

Question 2 (more important): Is there any benifit by having Onkyo 875 (refurb) rathar than Onkyo 607 for KEF speakers?

Question 3 (more important): Also, I have found Tannoy Arena/TS500 5.1 speakers for £550 and Rannoy Arena Lite as well. Do you think they will be better than KEF 2005/3005?

Please advice, I have to buy this tomorrow.

P.S. : I am prefering small speakers as I can mount them on wall due to limited space and children. Also KEF comes in black gloss same as my kuro 5090 which is nice.

 

[Anonymous]

Please, I would really really appericiate your help as I need to buy them today. Please reply to my questions in last message.

waiting for your answers ...Thanks in advance.

 

[lobby]

The Tannoy Arena-lites to me sounded better than the Kef 2005.3, and if the deal includes the grilles and stands for all speakers than go for that with the 875. Or the upgrade the centre on 2005.3 with the centre from the 3005se with the 875. Or for something completely different the MA Vectors are getting rave reviews and are around the £550 small compact speaker, more like a budget Hd Radius range with plenty of punch refined sound and even better than the Kefs and Q Acoustics, should wall mount fine and has a great finish. Hope this may help.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

aulakh:
Please, I would really really appericiate your help as I need to buy them today. Please reply to my questions in last message.

waiting for your answers ...Thanks in advance.

You can do better than that for the money.

http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/monitor_audio_r90_av-12.shtml

http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/sony/strda2400es/sony-strda2400-blk

 

[kinda]

I agree from my demoing that the Arena setup was much better than the KEF 3005SE, (and 5005 and B&W MT-30 in my opinion). Very good detail and bass control. It's RRP is in the MT-30 price range.

Lites with TS500 subwoofer should be as good or better than full Arena, as this is basically the Arena with the sub from the high end and well-regarded Arena Highline 500. However, as mentioned by someone else, beware if you want the grilles.

The Monitor Audio speakers are well regarded, so are probably also well worth a listen, though.

I haven't heard the 875, but I demod a 605, and it was well-beaten by an £800 Marantz, so I'd go with the 875 if you're amp budget is around £500. I wouldn't get too hung up on the Class A stuff though, and have a look at other amps from around the £1000 mark that might now be discounted if you can.

As I understand it Class A is just the the way the amp's designed, where transistors are constantly driven, (but this leads to power loss and heat). In Class AB, there is a switch over so amplifying is shared; there's a potential slight loss of quality in the switchover, but this will be designed against in good amps, but the heat / power loss is reduced. Class A isn't a rating, and quality amps will be good whether they're A or AB designed.

hope this helps. I'd defiitely try to do some more demoing if you can.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your great suggestions.

As adviced, I have bought Onkyo 875 for £499 which will be delivered tomorrow.

Also one guy at Richard Sounds told me that you can try different speakers for max 14 days each. After your advice, I am thinking of trying THREE different sets, for one week each, from the followiing potential list:
[*]KEF 3005.2 (These are my fav one due to their small and attractive design...will take less space)
[*]KEF 2005.2
[*]B & W 685[*]MA Vector[*]T Arena 5.1/T500

 

[Gerrardasnails]

aulakh:
Thank you everyone for your great suggestions.

As adviced, I have bought Onkyo 875 for £499 which will be delivered tomorrow.

Also one guy at Richard Sounds told me that you can try different speakers for max 14 days each. After your advice, I am thinking of trying THREE different sets, for one week each, from the followiing potential list:
[*]KEF 3005.2 (These are my fav one due to their small and attractive design...will take less space)
[*]KEF 2005.2
[*]B & W 685[*]MA Vector[*]T Arena 5.1/T500

The MA Vectors won't be a patch on the R90s - that price of £1k is amazing - the sub alone costs £750 normally.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, how can I forgot about RA90. Many thanks Gerrardasnails!

So here is my list again (with amp Onkyo 875):
[*]KEF 3005.2 = £960 (These are my fav one due to their small and attractive design...will take less space)[*]MA RA90 = £865 (will take more space than 3005 but will have to see if they ar good in sound quality by KEF 3005)
[*]KEF 2005.2 = £599
[*]B & W 685[*]MA Vector[*]T Arena 5.1/T500Any advice most welcome, specially if you have experience of KEF 3005.3, MA RA90 or B&W 685

 

[Anonymous]

Hello!!

Unfortunately, Onkyo 875 amplifier does not fit in TV Cabnet and there is no other option other than replacing amplifier (TV Cabnet just bought recently for £450 and can not be replaced or returned, also there is no more space for having another Hifi-cabnet)

I have to buy the following due to height limit (max 160 mm)

[*]Sony STR-DA2400 (5* rating)[*]Pioneerm VSX819H [*]Onkyo 507/577[*]Cannot have Onkyo 607 as it exceeds 160mm height limit.

Also speaker choice is narrowed according to lower power amp. as follows:
[*]Q Acoustic 1010i (came back to my list)[*]T Arena 5.1/T500[*]KEF 2005.2
Please help!

 

[kinda]

I'm sure I've seen advertised recently a low height Marantz, which might be worth having a look at.

From the 3 speaker packages you've listed there, I'd go Arena without a second thought. It's in a different bracket to the other two.

However, while I'm not certain, I would have thought you could drive the speakers in your original list from the amps you are now considering. The power ratings of the speakers is a maximum they can accept, (I have heard the Arenas can take a lot more than their rating), but you don't have to hit it, and as long as your amp isn't being pushed to its power limit, risking clipping and damaging the speakers, and the sound's loud enough, then there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[lobby]

Yes i agree the Tannoy Arena would be my choice followed by the Q Acoustics, as you can add floorstanders for fronts and get a great 7.1 with good stero. Not sure about what amp would be best for those but i own the Onkyo 606 and thats a fantastic amp so the 577 should be close.I do like the look of the Sony and the Marantz SR6003 which has 160.5mm height, but i can't find it for under £630 but maybe worth adding to your list, l also wouldn't rule out the MA Vectors, if your looking for something tidy which can be wall mounted. May be some experts from specialist stores on here can help you.

 

[Anonymous]

Hello Kinda, Lobby,

Many thanks for your reply. You know what?? As I love Onkyo 875 so called carpenter yesterday and have modified my TV cabnet to fit this beast (removed fixed shelf). Very happy now and so is my wife as both cabnet and the beast are saved.

Kinda, I know you are a big fan of T. Arena and I believe so is Lobby. Do you think T. Arena T500 and Onkyo 875 will be a good combination?? I know traditional big speakers will be more suitable but don't have enough space and have narrow down search to only shelf / wall mountable speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, one more question:

Which one is better among T Arena T500 and T Arena Lite T500?

 

[lobby]

All the speakers are the same just a different sub, i believe the lite package now comes with either a T300 or TS10, its really now using a cheaper more affordable sub to bring down prices, to compete against the Kef 3005se. Have a look at Creative Audio one of their best sellers and many package deals available if you haven't already bough your amp, just get some decent cables for fronts and use the cheaper cables for rears.