From Scratch System to beat the VAT rise. But What?

[admin_exported]

I'm moving house in early spring and will be kitting out my new living room [just over 13"sq] for home cinema. This will be my first and was thinking of buying this side of new year to avoid giving the boy Osborne any more money in the VAT rise.

I've come up with a short list of possible kit to pick from and was wondering what you boys and geeks think would be the best combination. Top draw picture and sound quality are my priority, everything else is just gravy.

Blu-Ray:

Philips BDP7500s2

Panasonic DMP-BDT300

Panasonic DMP-BD85

Pioneer BDP-LX54

Amp:

Onkyo TX-NR808

Pioneer SC-LX73

Yamaha RX-V1067

Denon AVR-3311

Speakers:

B&W 683/4 Theatre

MA RX6 AV12 (with RX2's)

KEF Q500 5.1

TV:

Panasonic TX-P50VT20

Philips 21:9 Platinum 58PFL9955

 

[Anonymous]

Please don't blow £4000 on that Philips Platinum. You'll get a better TV for half the price I reckon. Their last attempt at a similar screen hardly got a glowing report did it?

There's lots of equipment there and advice will differ with personal preference, you may as well go and have a few demos and see which things you prefer and then come back to the forums once you've narrowed down the choice.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm hoping Philips have taken heed and knocked out a winner this time.

As far as demo's go, aside from access issues [cripple] there's a lack of places near me that I could set one up. That apart, trying out all the possible combinations there would be a struggle, hence my asking the advice of you guys.

 

[Anonymous]

I've never heard them but the RX6s are very popular on here and have yet to read anything bad about them.

 

[robjcooper]

Copperhead,

Forget that Phillips - Not sure why anyone would actually pay so much for a TV that zooms an image so much just to remove the 2.35 blanking bars, and thus introduce more artifacts and interpolation errors - an active picture of 1920 x 815 zoomed to fill a screen with a ratio of 2560 x 1920 is a zoom factor of 33% !! 21:9 is not part of any HD broadcast spec for either storage, post production or transmission that I'm aware of. HD is a native 16:9 format and so any film material shot 2.35:1 (which is roughly what 21:9 is) will always be transferred with blanking top and bottom. But then some people also seem to like Ambilight. Not been in any editing or grading suites with flashing coloured lights behind the monitor - usually a nice flat grey wall. Each to his own I suppose.

Rob

 

[Frank Harvey]

The RX package would be a particularly good match ith the Onkyo and the Pioneer receivers. As Anima mentions, there a re a number of RX package owners, with a growing amount of them who use Pioneer LX receivers.

I would also throw the KEF Q packages into the mix. Ignore them at your peril!

 

[Anonymous]

I have the SC-LX72 and MA RX6 and all I can say is ...........

They are amazing. very happy.

Sorry did I say I was very happy?

If I had the money again I would buy the same thing

 

[Anonymous]

robjcooper:
Copperhead,

Forget that Phillips - Not sure why anyone would actually pay so much for a TV that zooms an image so much just to remove the 2.35 blanking bars, and thus introduce more artifacts and interpolation errors - an active picture of 1920 x 815 zoomed to fill a screen with a ratio of 2560 x 1920 is a zoom factor of 33% !! 21:9 is not part of any HD broadcast spec for either storage, post production or transmission that I'm aware of. HD is a native 16:9 format and so any film material shot 2.35:1 (which is roughly what 21:9 is) will always be transferred with blanking top and bottom. But then some people also seem to like Ambilight. Not been in any editing or grading suites with flashing coloured lights behind the monitor - usually a nice flat grey wall. Each to his own I suppose.

Rob

I'm a fan of Ambilight myself, don't knock it till you've lived with it it's quite effective.

 

[Anonymous]

FrankHarveyHiFi:The RX package would be a particularly good match ith the Onkyo and the Pioneer receivers. As Anima mentions, there a re a number of RX package owners, with a growing amount of them who use Pioneer LX receivers.I would also throw the KEF Q packages into the mix. Ignore them at your peril!

So I've noticed Harvey. What about the B&Ws, how do they stack up to the MAs and what do they prefer as playmates?

Something I meant to ask originally, is matching Blu-Ray and Receiver a consideration or can you just throw any two quality products together and get premium output?

 

[Anonymous]

yes, ignore the Kef``s at your peril

but if you want a proper speaker package why not try what the professionals use

MK`s

if they`re good enough for the likes of Lucas Arts, Sony, Skywalker Ranch, Universal and many many more you should at least give them a thought and have a proper demonstration before blowing money.

Allan

 

[kinda]

You seem to be looking at large displays. Have you thought about a projector plus maybe a smaller TV? Bigger cinema thrills when you need it and not as intrusive for normal TV. Also probably more cost effective.

 

[Anonymous]

albriscoe:
yes, ignore the Kef``s at your peril

Allan

Duly noted and added to my list. Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

I'm still not much the wiser but I do have another question (or two).

Which of my combinations would best suit music. I know that the ideal solution would be a separate HiFi amp but I'd rather not compromise on the quality of the surround system and may add a dedicated HiFi amp further down the line. So for the moment which of the above 5.1, Av amp set ups would the most capable with music without compromising home theatre performance?

Also has any one lived with the a Kef Q500 5.1 setup yet?