Splitting budget between speakers and amp

[admin_exported]

Hi

I've just registered for these forums, but have been reading them for ages.

I have a budget of about £1600 to purchase an AV amp and a suitable speaker set. I'm not sure how I should split this budget between amp and speakers - any suggestions?

My current ideas are either to get the Denon AVR1910 (£450) and B&W685 speaker set (£1200) - so weighting towards the speakers; or upgrade to the Denon AVR2310 (£800??) and get some cheaper speakers (Possibly the Acoustic Energy Neo set which are about £600 now, or similar).

Does anyone have any advice on what combination would give the best overall sound quality? I'd like to audition various combinations but it is often difficult to find a dealer with everything in stock at the same time..

Thanks

Dave

 

[professorhat]

dmr106:My current ideas are either to get the Denon AVR1910 (£450) and B&W685 speaker set (£1200) - so weighting towards the speakers; or upgrade to the Denon AVR2310 (£800??) and get some cheaper speakers (Possibly the Acoustic Energy Neo set which are about £600 now, or similar).

Ideally, I'd probably look for something in between i.e. a £600 amp with £1,000 speaker set. However, that Denon / B&W combination could work really well so worth having a listen to see what you think along with some other set ups in that price range.

 

[Anonymous]

I would make the amp the priority as there is no point buying expensive speakers if the amp is not going to bring the best out in them. I was originally going to get the 1910 but ended up getting the Denon 2310 as I found it was better for music than the 1910, you can get it for about £750 although I think Pistol Pete1 got his 2310 for £699. The other speaker packages you could look at would be the Kef 2005.3 £699 - £799, B&W MT25 £799 - £950 or QAcoustics 1010i 5.1 £550.

 

[d4v3pum4]

I think you've nailed it. Speaker technology rarely changes so they should last you an upgrade or two.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok. Thanks for the tips. Might see if I can try out the avr1910 against the 2310 and let my ears decide!

 

[professorhat]

Always the best method (though not always for your wallet

).

 

[Anonymous]

Another option, if you like the B&Ws is them with a Yamaha RXV-565, which Sevenoaks are doing for £1399 in their summer sale. I don't know the amp, but it gets 4 stars on here, and you're essentially getting it for £193. If you haggle, you may even get them to chuck in speaker cables or an HDMI. You would also have some budget left for Blu Rays. Make sure to have a listen first though.

Good luck.

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Al2009:

I would make the amp the priority as there is no point buying expensive speakers if the amp is not going to bring the best out in them. I was originally going to get the 1910 but ended up getting the Denon 2310 as I found it was better for music than the 1910, you can get it for about £750 although I think Pistol Pete1 got his 2310 for £699. The other speaker packages you could look at would be the Kef 2005.3 £699 - £799, B&W MT25 £799 - £950 or QAcoustics 1010i 5.1 £550.

Yes, I got mine for £699 at Creative Audio in Shrewsbury. Visited there the other day, though, and both the Denon 1910 and 2310 were just empty spaces on the shelf - either being demo'd or sold out perhap.

Can recommend the Denon 2310 completely - reviewed in the latest mag too (5 star, small group winner). As for speakers, I have the Q Acoustic speakers (see below), and a mate of mine as the Kef 2005.2 eggs. Both very good, but both very different sounding....I recommend demo'ing them though.

 

[JoelSim]

I think it depends on what you will do most of, Films or music.

 

[Pistol Pete1]

I agree with Joelsim,

Q Acoustics are much better with music, especially if you upgrade to the floorstanders in the range for front speakers.