home cinema setup, newbie questions

[admin_exported]

hi there, this is my first post and i'm just looking for a bit of advice. I'm buying my first flat in a couple of months and will be looking to get a home cinema setup. I'm pretty set on getting a pana plasma but i'm less certain about what to go for regarding the sound side of things. In an ideal world i'd like a separate system although my budget probably won't stretch to it. i would also quite like to use it for both movies and music. i think i'm gonna use my ps3 for movie playback. what i really want to know is whether or not i can get a decent av receiver and use it for both film and music. my budget is probably only gonna be about £500 but i don't mind adding to a basic system over time e.g adding extra speakers/sub. any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I think you should hold back until you have a bit more cash, buying a separate system which is both good with music and movie is difficult the best of times. However if your desperate to start buying, based on you budget, reallistically something like the the onkyo sr505 (£250) would be a good start, but I would spend a bit more and go for the sr605 (£400) as it supports the new HD formats. In terms of speakers I would start with geting some decent stereo speakers first such as the Tannoy Mercury F1 (£100) or better stil some MA BR2 (£200), you can then add the rest latter when funds allow inc a sub. Once all the speakers are eventually bought you will have a good home cinema based around the PS3. To improve the music side of things you should buy a separate CD player (Marantz, Rotel, NAD etc) for about £300.

Its a long process, thats why its woth either saving or building gradually. Trust me its better to do it this way than buy some budget tat that will disappoint.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks for your ideas. i do like the look of the 605 it seems to do everything i would want it to. would you recommend the tannoy f1's against the wharfedale diamond 9.1s, i've seen they get pretty good reviews. i think i would rather spend £500-600 to start and then build up.

when adding rear speakers would it be advisable to go with a matching pair to the front set. also when listening to music through stereo would i just be using the front pair?

thanks again

 

[Anonymous]

The diamonds are decent enough, prefer the tannoys tho. You could always check out the B&W 685 as well, but they are much more expensive (£380). Its best to audition and see what you think. Yes, definately ensure you buy matching surround and centre speakers, and even the sub if you can. This is so the system maintains a consistant tone. You can just change the mode of the reciever to stereo so only the front speakers are used for music, there is also often a pure direct function which bypasses all the other electronics in the reciever giving a cleaner sound. You can also bi wire the front speakers for improved detail.

 

[timwileman]

on this same(ish) topic i have the same dilema as i am soon to buy a TV etc and set up from scratch...

i was thinking along the same lines of getting an 'all in one' solution for quite little money but getting separates and adding speakers as you go appeals.

i have a pair of Kef koda 7's would these 'do' for now in place of the tannoys mentioned above?

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't bother buying anything until you can afford a decent AV amp and at least a pair of decent speakers. You could use the Koda's as a crude rear channel tho as this is less crucial. Always aim for the best you can afford and then spend a bit more