Sony STR-DA 5500 ES & Monitor Audio Apex

[admin_exported]

Hi All,

I want a traditional package as music is important to me. My wife want's a style package, I've auditioned the MT-30 and found them very wooley. Next step seems to be the monitor audio Apex. This pushes my budget somewhat so am looking for a budget av to go wiht them and found a bargain for a Sony STR-DA 5500 ES (half price!) I figure this has to be a good buy but the downside is I can't audition the Sony.

Anyone know anything about the Sony (I only found one review) and how it will sound with the APEX? I know monitor audios are more fussy than most!

Comments much appreciated.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Andrew Steward:
Hi All,

I want a traditional package as music is important to me. My wife want's a style package, I've auditioned the MT-30 and found them very wooley. Next step seems to be the monitor audio Apex. This pushes my budget somewhat so am looking for a budget av to go wiht them and found a bargain for a Sony STR-DA 5500 ES (half price!) I figure this has to be a good buy but the downside is I can't audition the Sony.

Anyone know anything about the Sony (I only found one review) and how it will sound with the APEX? I know monitor audios are more fussy than most!

Comments much appreciated.

Hi Andrew Steward

Firstly the Monitor Audio's Apex speakers greatly improve on the already impressive MT30's and i feel fully justify the premium. Secondly the Sony is a very good AV amp however i found its presenation to be a little sharp. I've not heard this amp with Apex speakers however my gut feeling is this will probably not be an ideal match. Alternatively amplification to also consider is Yamaha's RX-V2067/RX-V3067 and Denon's AVR 3311 as all three amplifers work well with Apex speakers.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the reply, that was my worry. I was only looking at that amp as at £800 it seems to be a real bargain. Apex + the Sony really stretches my bugdet.

I think I will pair them with the Denon 2311 which I can upgrade at a later date!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Andrew Steward:
Hi Rick,

Thanks for the reply, that was my worry. I was only looking at that amp as at £800 it seems to be a real bargain. Apex + the Sony really stretches my bugdet.

I think I will pair them with the Denon 2311 which I can upgrade at a later date!

Andrew, for £800, the Sony will be a lot better than the Denon. I've not heard the 5500es but the previous 5400es and it's a good step up from the Denon 23 range. Have you thought about getting stereo speakers for the front two and then the Apex for the surrounds? This is the compromise I've gone with. The Apex are brilliant although I've not heard them with music.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Andrew Steward:
Hi All,

I want a traditional package as music is important to me. My wife want's a style package, I've auditioned the MT-30 and found them very wooley. Next step seems to be the monitor audio Apex. This pushes my budget somewhat so am looking for a budget av to go wiht them and found a bargain for a Sony STR-DA 5500 ES (half price!) I figure this has to be a good buy but the downside is I can't audition the Sony.

Anyone know anything about the Sony (I only found one review) and how it will sound with the APEX? I know monitor audios are more fussy than most!

Comments much appreciated.

By the way, where did you see the Sony for £800? I'm interested too!

 

[Big Chris]

Andrew.

You mention style packages but also that you're interested in music reproduction.

Why not split the difference and go for a pair of 'proper' speakers for the front stereo pair, and some style speakers for everything else? If you're looking at Monitor Audio's Apex for surround duties, perhaps look at the M.A RX series, or even better M.A's outgoing GS series which should be available at discounted prices.

They don't have to be huge. A pair of GS10s in gloss black look amazing, and even an unenlightened Wife may take to them.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Big Chris:
Andrew.

You mention style packages but also that you're interested in music reproduction.

Why not split the difference and go for a pair of 'proper' speakers for the front stereo pair, and some style speakers for everything else? If you're looking at Monitor Audio's Apex for surround duties, perhaps look at the M.A RX series, or even better M.A's outgoing GS series which should be available at discounted prices.

They don't have to be huge. A pair of GS10s in gloss black look amazing, and even an unenlightened Wife may take to them.

Why didn't I think of that?

 

[ric71]

Big Chris:
Andrew.

You mention style packages but also that you're interested in music reproduction.

Why not split the difference and go for a pair of 'proper' speakers for the front stereo pair, and some style speakers for everything else? If you're looking at Monitor Audio's Apex for surround duties, perhaps look at the M.A RX series, or even better M.A's outgoing GS series which should be available at discounted prices.

They don't have to be huge. A pair of GS10s in gloss black look amazing, and even an unenlightened Wife may take to them.

Hi bigchris,

Good meeting you the other day @WHF

Andrew,

The Apex sound fantastic with music and if there is £800 for a receiver look at a 2010 model ie Denon 3310/4310 which will rock.You wont get 3D switching but hey there are ways round that!!!

 

[Big Chris]

ric71:Hi bigchris,

Good meeting you the other day @WHF

You too Richard. Good day had by all I believe, even if you were totally wrong at the end of it.

 

[ric71]

Big Chris:ric71:Hi bigchris,

Good meeting you the other day @WHF

You too Richard. Good day had by all I believe, even if you were totally wrong at the end of it.

I was waiting or that

Hey maybe i just have terrible taste and i am tone deaf. Will save £££ though ha ha!!

 

[Big Chris]

ric71:Big Chris:ric71:Hi bigchris,

Good meeting you the other day @WHF

You too Richard. Good day had by all I believe, even if you were totally wrong at the end of it.

I was waiting or that

Hey maybe i just have terrible taste and i am tone deaf. Will save £££ though ha ha!!

True, true. Trust me to like the expensive stuff.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the input... I'm still a little confused though...

As I am buying the Apex that stretches my budget so I am really looking at amps at most £800 which means I could have the Sony STR-DA 5550ES. Or a massive step down to the Onkyo 808, Pioneer 2020 VSX or Denon 3311.

One person has picked up on this and said it's got to be the Sony... what do others think?

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Andrew Steward:
Hi Rick,

Thanks for the reply, that was my worry. I was only looking at that amp as at £800 it seems to be a real bargain. Apex + the Sony really stretches my bugdet.

I think I will pair them with the Denon 2311 which I can upgrade at a later date!

Hi Andrew

Your welcome.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[bigboss]

Andrew Steward:

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the input... I'm still a little confused though...

As I am buying the Apex that stretches my budget so I am really looking at amps at most £800 which means I could have the Sony STR-DA 5550ES. Or a massive step down to the Onkyo 808, Pioneer 2020 VSX or Denon 3311.

One person has picked up on this and said it's got to be the Sony... what do others think?

I'd go for Yamaha RX-V2067

It's more in the league of Denon 3311 and superior to the Denon 2311 to my ears.

Audition the Sony 5500, Denon 2311 & Yamaha 2067 & see what you prefer.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Andrew Steward:
Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the input... I'm still a little confused though...

As I am buying the Apex that stretches my budget so I am really looking at amps at most £800 which means I could have the Sony STR-DA 5550ES. Or a massive step down to the Onkyo 808, Pioneer 2020 VSX or Denon 3311.

One person has picked up on this and said it's got to be the Sony... what do others think?

Hi Andrew Steward

The Sony's overall performance may be superior to some of the other amps mentioned however if ultimately the STR-DA5500ES and the Apex speakers are going be sonic/tonal mismatch then what is the point in going for it? Price is not always a guide to quality and compatability.

Ime experience the safest bet with the Apex speakers are the Yamaha AV amps. At your budget the RX-V2067 will do the trick nicely.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[wireman]

Andrew Steward:...I could have the Sony STR-DA 5550ES. Or a massive step down to the Onkyo 808, Pioneer 2020 VSX or Denon 3311...
Or a massive step up to a Denon 4310 for about the same money as the Sony. Although this Denon model never was quite flavour of the month with this particular magazine, another magazine gave it a Best Buy review soon after it was launched at £1900. It has the same sonic character as most all Denon's do, just more grunt and refinement than most... and there're quite a few using Denon's successfully with Apex's.