Pioneer SC-LX81 - What Speakers? Will a Q Acoustics 1010i 5:1 cope?

[admin_exported]

Hi - I'm looking to buy a new home cinema system.

Currently I'm looking at Sony KDL46W4500 for the T.V hooked up to the Pioneer SC-LX81.

Not sure about the blu ray player yet, but have a PS3 - is that a good enough blu ray player for the system in mind?

Secondly and more importantly, I'm trying to choose a speaker package. The reviews are excellent for the Q Acoustics 1010i but I'm wondering if the top quality amp would be wasted on these "budget" speakers.

Don't have a great deal left in the budget, but I really want that amp - do I need to stump up some more cash for better speakers?

Any replies would be much appreciated.

 

[professorhat]

The Q Acoustics will work, but you certainly won't be taking full advantage of that amplifier. Is there any reason why the amp cries out to you - it would be better to split the budget at least evenly between the amp and speakers. If you're really set on that amp though and have enough patience, I would definitely save up for a better speaker set such as the awesome B&W 685 Home Theatre package which would get a lot more out of that amp. Another option would be to buy this setup in steps e.g. first buying the 685s themselves as a stereo setup, then add the centre and sub and finally get the rears.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the speedy reply professor - I have thought about the B&W 685s - might have to wait a little while and squeeze the budget as much as I can - I would like the Pioneer amp because from the reviews I've read its one of the very best available to date and just love the look of it - plus when funds allow I think it would be the best starting point to allow for upgrades e.g. projector etc.

 

[Anonymous]

I would certainly recommend something a lot more price-appropriate to be powered by a Pioneer SC-LX81 than those QAcoustics loudspeakers. Those QAcoustics loudspeakers would be sufficiently powered by something that costs about one-quarter of the price - for example, an Onkyo TX-SR875.

The 'LX81 is a beautiful unit, and extremely capable. As good as the B&W685 Theatre 5.1 package is, I would even say that this amp is certainly capable of powering quite much more expensive loudspeakers. Maybe 684's at the front could do the trick. Otherwise, the Tannoy Signature 5.1 package appears to be a favourite among the What Hi Fi crew here.

Dan.

 

[professorhat]

Absolutely, the Pioneer amp can easily handle better speakers than the 685 package, but since, just with that, we were jumping from £400 to £1,200 in budget, I didn't want to push it any further! The 685 package will hold its own with the Pioneer amp and, at a later date, the fronts can be upgraded to the 684s, allowing you to push the 685s back to rear duties and then use the 686s for surround backs for a 7.1 setup.

Of course it was only a suggestion - there are plenty of other speaker packages that would work with the Pioneer.