Mission M-Cube 5.1 amp choice

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

I am thinking getting the Mission M-Cube 5.1 and wanted to know what you think would be a good amp for them, budget of 200-300

Thanks in advance

 

[professorhat]

Are there any features you are looking for e.g. HD audio, video switching / upscaling / upconversion or is it all about the sound? Also what will you be using as your source e.g. DVD player, Blu-Ray and how will it be hooked up?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, I have a 40" Samsung 1080p, Ps3, Will and A HTPC with freeview. Currently i have the HTPC and the PS3 going into the tv via HDMI and then out into a Logitech Z-4500 via optical. Not sure if this is the way to go with a new amp? thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[professorhat]

Okay, you have a few options here, again really depending on your requirements. If you wanted to benefit from the HD audio offered by the PS3 in Blu-Rays, you could go for one of the latest amps like the Sony STR-DG820 (between £250 - £300), or the Yamaha DSP-AX763 (£350 from Richer Sounds VIP club at the moment). Either of these will allow you to hook up your PS3 via HDMI and benefit from HD audio and also connect your HTPC via HDMI and optical. A single HDMI out to your TV means all the video switching is done via the amp. The Wii could also be hooked in via it's component cable.
If HD audio isn't so important, you could go for one of the cheaper AV amps on offer, but there are a wealth of these. Does music fit into this anywhere? Are those the only three sources you have?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thanks for the responce, Music is not to much of an issue tbh. The source inputs are the ps3 the htpc and the wii. would the ONKYO TX-SR606 be overkill? and what would be the best way to hook it all up?

 

[professorhat]

Nope, wouldn't be overkill at all I don't think and has the benefit that it can power even better speakers if you ever decided to upgrade in the future.
With the 606, you would want to do the following:
PS3 ----> Onkyo 606 via HDMI for audio and video
HTPC ----> Onkyo 606 via HDMI for video and optical for audio
Wii ----> Onkyo 606 via component for video and RCA phono for audio
Onkyo 606 ----> TV via HDMI for video
I think the Wii is correctly connected that way as I don't think it has any kind of optical out - if I'm mistaken and it does though, you should use that.

 

[Anonymous]

Thankyou very much, i shall do that

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

samwj123:

Hi all,

I am thinking getting the Mission M-Cube 5.1 and wanted to know what you think would be a good amp for them, budget of 200-300

Thanks in advance

Agree with the Prof on all of the above however look at the WHF review here on the Mission as it requires careful positioning of the subwoofer and the max distance you can put it in relation to the AV is about 2.75m (3 m special cable) Unusually the satellites all wire into the subwoofer and a special connector takes it from the sub to the amp.You just need to make sure this is not going to be a problem/issue in your room layout.

 

[professorhat]

Good point matey - forgot about that.

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

When you have already decorated your room having channelled the speaker cables into the wall and then terminated them with a bit to spare for the amp,it is something that tends to remain with you for life

Fortunately I did prefer the Kef 2002's for their better musicality as well as their sub(woofer)normality.

 

[Anonymous]

I have this set up and the Cubes are good with the 606. I found no problem with the wiring but the manual says you can just wire the speakers into the amp (although not tried it myself) if necessary.

I got the 606 so that I could update the speakers if necessary in the future, but the cubes fill my viewing area (7mx4m) very well indeed.

I recommend this set up if you can get the cubes cheaply enough ...but then I would say that , wouldn't I ?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Thanks for sll the advice! was just wondering if the


Arcam AVR-280 would be a better choice of amp? i have seen this for £399

 

[Anonymous]

bump

 

[professorhat]

It's a great price for that amp I agree, the issue is, you wouldn't be able to receive HD audio from your PS3 with it as the HDMI sockets are only there for video switching. Although the amp has analogue multichannel inputs, the PS3 doesn't have the outputs, so the best you could get would be standard Dolby Digital / DTS 5.1 through the optical cable. You could of course buy a Blu-Ray player which has the ability to decode all the sources and also has the analogue multichannel outputs (like the Sony BDP-S550) and you could then get HD audio from this.
With your intended use though (i.e. not much music), I think you're better off going with an out and out home cinema amp like the Onkyo, Denon or Yamaha brands which will allow you HD audio support through the HDMI socket. Anything else is a bit outdated and may cause you issues further down the line.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks prof, i thought as much just wanted to be told by someone who knows more than me! lol Onkyo 606 here we come

 

[Anonymous]

Not sure how you feel about ebay but look at this.

He looks genuine and if you look at the other items a rather lovely set of speakers and a reasonable value tv are also there.

 

[Anonymous]

hi all thanks all again for all your help, not sure i would buy second from ebay as they are leaving the country, but will keep an eye out. One final question, how does the Sony DA2400 ES compare?

 

[Anonymous]

got mission m-cubes for £300!!

 

[Anonymous]

Right got the Amp as well, went for the Yamaha DSP-AX763 seeing as it the new award winner! got it for £339 delivered!!! thanks for all the help guys you have been very helpfull

 

[Anonymous]

Good price on the speakers. I thought I did well a hundred quid more expensive. Where did you get them from ?

 

[Anonymous]

ebay, ex display