Hifi, soundbar or ipod dock? that is the question. Anyone got an answer?

admin_exported

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Aug 10, 2019
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I'd like to boost the sound of my excellent Sony (KDL40EX503) and Blu Ray (BDP S370). However we don't want cables, so 5.1 is out and I'm on a small budget (£300-400). Mainly music and blu ray use. Must have ipod link.

I'm thinking either:

Soundbar, Yamaha etc. or

Ipod dock, B&W Zeppelin or

HiFi Seperates. Marantz PM6003 plus Q acoustic speakers 2020?.

Can anyone please advise the best way to go? and any sure fire hits for either category other than my examples.

Thanks !
 
T

the record spot

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Harman Kardon HK980, or Yamaha's new RX-V667 AV receiver, both apparently excellent, and get some Q Acoustics 1030is, or similar. You'll get plenty of punch (the HK980's got 80wpc, the Yammy does up to 140) good sound quality and whatever speakers you go for should have a decent bit of bass on them if they're half decent.
 
A

Anonymous

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Thanks for the reply.

Heard the sound bar, nice sound, but tends to feel confined. I think I'm erring on the amp/speaker package.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Thanks for the reply.

I'm a bit new to Hifi stuff, so looked up your suggestions. Great idea suggesting a cinema amp, I hadn't thought of one ! (duh! yeah I don't know much...). I may check out the Sony aswell as the Yamaha amps, as they both test well.

Great ideas, thanks
 

audioaffair

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One question worth asking is - how large is your room and what are the dimensions? Sound bars can work reasonably well in some rooms but in other size spaces a 2 channel set-up might actually sound better with movies.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Largeish lounge room. 7x5metres. Wood floors and solid walls. I had a sony DVD 5.1 system prior to Blu ray, which was just OK for DVD but dissapointing for Hifi sound. I have a feeling an amp with more muscle would fill the room better.

I'm erring on a cinema amp (sony STR810 or Yamaha RXV667) with bookshelf speakers (Monitor Audio Bronze/q Acoustics 1020's or similar). With cinema amp, I 'm thinking I'd get better quality sound more movies with the power for playing music also.

Am I heading in the right direction?

If I lived a bit closer to your shop I'd drop in...

Thanks !
 

RobGardner

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Jul 22, 2008
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It's always difficult to know what another person finds acceptable in terms of sound quality, my daughter will listen to music of very poor quality and love it, whereas I will long ago have given up and started reading a book.

I've use both a stereo and av amp for movie sound. Each has it's own advantages. My av system is really poor when it comes to hifi sound (£1500 av amp and £1500ish speakers) but is obvious great with movies. My experience with even a cheap stereo is that it sounds better with music and really not too bad at all with movies - so this is probably where you need to be headed. The fact is that to get the full experience of thumps and bumps in movies using a stereo you are either going to need floor standing full range speakers, or a 2.1 system with a sub-woofer, which is probably a more expensive and compromised solution. Otherwise it's going to be a bit of a lightweight movie experience. If sound quality is what you want then floorstanders are in my opinion preferable.I've not used any form of sound bar, so I am not able to give an opinion on them.

In terms of an amp with ipod dock/charger it's down to how much you want to spend and what ipod/iphone you are using. Check that your ipod/iphone will work and charge while its on the dock, my iphone 4 doesn't like my old docking stations.

Lastly does your tv/blu-ray have a stereo output?
 
A

Anonymous

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Thanks for all the advice. After several demo's of soundbars, ipod docks and higher end 5.1 systems. I have gone for athe Yam 367 AV Amp plus Cambridge audio's s30's as set up as a 5.1 system. CA speakers seemed to get excellent reviews and sound better than some more pricier models. Also fit into the budget !

Thanks and Happy Christmas listening !
 

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