New Home Cinema based on Monitor Audio RX 8 or RX 6.

[admin_exported]

Hello,

I am a real newbie to Home cinema and have been lurking in here trying to make sense of building up a home cinema set up from scratch.

I would want to use the system for both home cinema and HIFI about 70 / 30 % . Music taste is widely varied but Pop, Reggae, Blues and rock are the most dominant ones.

From what I have gathered here and elsewhere, I am thinking of the Monitor Audio RX 8 or RX 6 with centre speaker to start of with loudspeakers wise. Room is 4.5 meters by 5.5 meters. Would the larger RX 8 be a better choice? The subs and the surround are to be added later this year or next. Am I wrong in thinking that with the RX8 that I can do without subs.

Regarding the AV I was thnking of the Sony STR-DA 5500ES as I have a Sony Bravia TV and would be able to utilise Bravia sync, plus aesthetics of same brand, as I am also aiming to buy Sony Blueray later this year, jsut waiting for the new ones and price drops.. Would Sony 5500ES be a good match sound wise with the RX8 / RX6 speakers, or are there better matching speakers for the Sony 5500ES ( Elacs or B &W ???). Or could it be that I would be better off with Pioneer or Yamaha with RX6 / RX8???

I would be grateful for your inputs so I can try and get a short list to audition.

Budget is around the £ 3000 mark, at least the amp, fronts and centres, the rears and subs would be included if possible, but willing to delay buying them if budget is overshot on fronts and amps.

Thanks in advance for your inputs.

Regards Jason

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone????

 

[Sorreltiger]

I don't think there's really a compelling case to stick with Sony if the alternatives sound better. You'd control the system much better with a Harmony One remote - probably my best buy gadget of all time, making operating everything completely family-friendly!

The classic match for the MA speakers would be a Yamaha receiver - basically the best you can afford, with the DSPZ7 the ideal (£1399 or thereabouts). There also seem to be a few RX-V3900 around for £400 less.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Definitely look at the Yamaha DSPZ7 as a starting point - if you can find an amplifier that can better the Z7 as an all rounder - but it!!

Unless you have a large room, I'd stick with the RX6's. They'll do everything you need them too, and I really don't think that the RX8's will give you anything more other than more bass. One thing to do is to audition the speakers with the AV amp of your choice and see how they sound in normal 2 channel mode, in a hi-fi demo room (not an AV demo room - so no sub, centre or rears - just as you would audition a hi-fi system). Listening to films is all well and good, and usually sounds impressive - this also hides a lot of information you need to hear to make sure amp and speaker are working well together. See how they sound with music in normal stereo mode. Music is more important to you, so don't worry about the full AV system until you've chosen your front speakers. Once you've chosen those, then see how it sounds as a full blown AV system.

If you're really looking at the RX8's, I'd recommend trying their GS10's as an alternative option. Granted they're standmounts, but very capable standmounts at that.

Do try some alternative speakers too - something like KEF's iQ or XQ series, or the ATC's for example. You don't have to have floorstanders for an AV system - there are plenty of benefits for smaller standmounters!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your input FrankHarveyHiFi

The room is 4.5 X 5.5 meters.

Would the GS10 match with the DSP Z7? The Mrs is not too keen on big Speakers all over the place, so I guess the GS10 would suit her eyes much better than the floor standers.

Jason

 

[Frank Harvey]

No problem.

It'll run them ok, with movies they'll be set to small so the sub will be doing most of the work anyway. As I said, the best thing to do is to get a demo with the Z7 in normal 2 channel stereo and see what you think of the music side of things.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Tiger,

Everyone seems to recommend Yamaha, especially the DSP Z7.

I shall need to check out this Harmony One remote, sounds like it's just what I need.

Cheers!

 

[MUSICRAFT]

JasonDefender:
Thanks Tiger,

Everyone seems to recommend Yamaha, especially the DSP Z7.

I shall need to check out this Harmony One remote, sounds like it's just what I need.

Cheers!

Hi JasonDefender

The DSP-Z7 is an excellent av amplifier and as i have said on many previous occassions i believe the DSP-Z7 to be the finest VFM AV amplifier currently available on the market irrespective of price (even at its full RRP of £1960). At the moment DSP-Z7's are generally available for £1.4 - £1.5k which makes it a bargain.

Besides which IMO Yamaha AV amps + Monitor Audio speakers = great match (time after time)

Btw, the one thing which i have learnt over the years is that (particular when it comes to AV amplifiers) for me Yamaha inspires confidence.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Hi JasonDefender

The DSP-Z7 is an excellent av amplifier and as i have said on many previous occassions i believe the DSP-Z7 to be the finest VFM AV amplifier currently available on the market irrespective of price (even at its full RRP of £1960). At the moment DSP-Z7's are generally available for £1.4 - £1.5k which makes it a bargain.

Besides which IMO Yamaha AV amps + Monitor Audio speakers = great match (time after time)

Btw, the one thing which i have learnt over the years is that (particular when it comes to AV amplifiers) for me Yamaha inspires confidence.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Thanks Rick,

All roads lead to the Yamaha DSP Z7, target set.

Remains to audition which of the Audio Monitors (or the other speakers recommender by David) my ears choose to partner the DSP Z7.

Just wondering if one can mix subs from one manufacturer with speakers from another, or is it better to stick with the same manufacturer and series? I was thinking of choosing the much praised B&W PV1 to go with whatever Monitor speakers I end up with. I know I will need to audition to decide for my self, but there is so much to choose from that I want to narrow the list down to minimal.Thanks to all your help here, I have now a clearer picture of what to audition. I am very grateful.

Cheers!

 

[MUSICRAFT]

JasonDefender:

Hi JasonDefender

The DSP-Z7 is an excellent av amplifier and as i have said on many previous occassions i believe the DSP-Z7 to be the finest VFM AV amplifier currently available on the market irrespective of price (even at its full RRP of £1960). At the moment DSP-Z7's are generally available for £1.4 - £1.5k which makes it a bargain.

Besides which IMO Yamaha AV amps + Monitor Audio speakers = great match (time after time)

Btw, the one thing which i have learnt over the years is that (particular when it comes to AV amplifiers) for me Yamaha inspires confidence.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Thanks Rick,

All roads lead to the Yamaha DSP Z7, target set.

Remains to audition which of the Audio Monitors (or the other speakers recommender by David) my ears choose to partner the DSP Z7.

Just wondering if one can mix subs from one manufacturer with speakers from another, or is it better to stick with the same manufacturer and series? I was thinking of choosing the much praised B&W PV1 to go with whatever Monitor speakers I end up with. I know I will need to audition to decide for my self, but there is so much to choose from that I want to narrow the list down to minimal.Thanks to all your help here, I have now a clearer picture of what to audition. I am very grateful.

Cheers!

Hi JasonDefender

Your welcome.

You can mix subs from different manufacturers however if Monitor Audio are to be your main speakers than ideally (up to £1k) Monitor Audio's RXW12 or the ASW12 are the subs to consider as they'll match the main speakers far better than the PV1. Besides which the RXW12/ASW12 are both terrific subs in their own right.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Frank Harvey]

JasonDefender:Would the GS10 match with the DSP Z7? The Mrs is not too keen on big Speakers all over the place, so I guess the GS10 would suit her eyes much better than the floor standers.

Cosidering the above, another option to try out would be Monitor Audio's Apex range, which is more of a lifestyle based speakers system, but promises to be one of the better systems of it's type. Worth an audition.

 

[ear]

apex satelites go down to 60 hz...that seems good!

 

[Frank Harvey]

I'd recommend setting them higher though - 60Hz is more floorstanding territory.

 

[Peterkins]

Interesting thread this, I am in about the same boat as Jason, I am another green newbie to home cinema unsure of where to start, but I have now got a good idea on what to buy, thanks to the informative posts on this thread and also on the forum.

I live in Sweden and it is hard to audition several alternative combinations.My living room is about 5 meters by 6 meters and I will probably go for the floor speakers maybe the RX6 packet that is much praised i WH..

Yamaha DSP Z7 is unfortunately quite expensive in Sweden, lowest price is approx £ 2200, I wonder if there are any dealers in UK that arrange shipment to Sweden, Otherwise I may have to do a week end shopping break to UK.

.

How does what go about choosing cables for the speakers and the connections (HDMI etc.)? ARe there really big difference in sound/pic quality according to price, or is it just a matter of taste?

Thank you all in advaance.