Budget £2500, Help me spend !

[admin_exported]

Based on the reviews in What Hi Fi and some of the forums, I have purchased the Sony 40Z4500 and Sony Blueray BDP s550. I am now looking at the best option to replace my home cinema surround sound, which was a cheap £300 sony, and connect my music (all on iPod).

My budget is £2500 for all the necessary (excluding cables) and as a novice on the sound gadget front, I would like advice.

I have reviewed the BOSE V30 and I am very impressed (and it fits my budget perfectly) but due to the lack of reviews about Bose (because they dont supply kits for testing), I am wondering what all you experts advise for this budget ?

 

[professorhat]

Okay, Bose make good systems, but usually you can get better sounding kit for the same money. However, it depends what you're after - are you looking for a style system which won't be too obtrusive in the room or are you happy with more traditional box like speakers (which will give you the best sound for your money).

Also, what's more important for you, the movie soundtrack performance or music?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Massey:
Based on the reviews in What Hi Fi and some of the forums, I have purchased the Sony 40Z4500 and Sony Blueray BDP s550. I am now looking at the best option to replace my home cinema surround sound, which was a cheap £300 sony, and connect my music (all on iPod).

My budget is £2500 for all the necessary (excluding cables) and as a novice on the sound gadget front, I would like advice.

I have reviewed the BOSE V30 and I am very impressed (and it fits my budget perfectly) but due to the lack of reviews about Bose (because they dont supply kits for testing), I am wondering what all you experts advise for this budget ?

You can get a very nice system with that amount of money. The Bose system might look nice but it would not live with a full size system of the same price. There are a lot of new receivers coming out soon. I would have a good listen at some combinations. Something like this http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/4727 would leave you about £1500 for speakers and a couple of hundred for cables. You then could go for full size speakers or a style package like this... http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz/ebz_product_pages/monitor_audio_r90hd_av12.shtml

 

[JoelSim]

Massey:

Based on the reviews in What Hi Fi and some of the forums, I have purchased the Sony 40Z4500 and Sony Blueray BDP s550. I am now looking at the best option to replace my home cinema surround sound, which was a cheap £300 sony, and connect my music (all on iPod).

My budget is £2500 for all the necessary (excluding cables) and as a novice on the sound gadget front, I would like advice.

I have reviewed the BOSE V30 and I am very impressed (and it fits my budget perfectly) but due to the lack of reviews about Bose (because they dont supply kits for testing), I am wondering what all you experts advise for this budget ?

OK a bit of a generalisation, but Bose is a lifestyle brand rather than a sound quality brand. That's why they don;t supply products for demos as they would get hammered by the opposition. Then again it all depends on whether you want something that sounds decent and looks good. Or whether you want something that will slam you at certain moments but may be a bit less discreet.

 

[Anonymous]

I will spend more time playing music through my iPod than watching movies, and I am happy to look at a system that is not as small as the Bose, but I dont want large speakers or any that are very unusual in shape or colour. I have seen the B&W 685 package, which I quite like, but I have never listened to them.

 

[Anonymous]

Perfect setup coming your way, trust me!

Speakers = B&W 684 Theartre

Receiver = Yamaha RX-V1900

http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Yamaha-RX-V1900/This setup would cost about £150 over your budget, because you will have to buy stands for the rear 685's, the front 684's are floor standers! Trust me, this will create a system which is punchy, precise, and great with movies!

 

[professorhat]

If you like the look of the B&Ws, then definitely the first thing to do is go and have a listen with a few different HC amps (best bet is to get in touch with a dealer and see what he has and which he recommends, then do the same with a few others). If you don't like them, there are plenty of other options out there, but it's a good start!

I use the 685s personally with the HTM62 centre, ASW10 sub and M1 rears since I have a space issue behind my sofa, along with an Onkyo 905 amp (which has been superceded by the 906 now) - my priorities are definitely with movies though so you may find a different amp (such as Denon, Yamaha or Marantz) improves things musically for you.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice. I have set up a demo session in my local store for next week, where I will listen to the B&W685 home cinema package and we will try a few different subs and amps.