- Aug 10, 2019
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Hi,
I'm new to all this and this is my first post so please be gentle with me.
All my stuff is about 8 years old and while I still like the sound, there is nothing that I really want to keep.
Requirements are to find the best compromise for an audio system for both hi-fi (cds) and home cinema. I'll be more likely to watch music DVDs than action movies. TV is likely to be either 32 inch LCD or possibly 37 inch plasma - no larger. So audio quality will more important than video quality. I'd like to be able to play DVD Audio as well as SACDs (and of course "normal" CDs). My room size is about 4 metres by 3. It has to be aestheically pleasing to keep the beloved happy so most of the gear will be hidden away in some sort of cabinets. I'm not an audiophile as such but would like to be able to match or preferrably improve on the sound of my aged, entry level, Arcam/B&W set up, and I'd like to be able to do all this for a budget of no more than £4k excluding the TV and "furniture".
I realise I have to start somewhere so let's just say that I have thing for B&W speakers. They seem to suit my ears/room/taste in music. I currently have a pair of 602s on stands which the beloved hates. She is sonically content listening to Snow Patrol on her MP3 player at barely audible volume. This is a trait to be admired. If only I could be the same, it would save me a lot of money. Strangely enough, it is not the size of the speakers as such, it is more to do with the fact that, "they are black, the stands are ugly and they don't go with anything else in the room". When shown a picture of the 684/683s in Red Cherry, the reaction was "Now they look nice, why don't you get something like that?" Isn't it amazing how they can still surprise you after 32 years of marriage?
So, I'm thinking along the lines of the B&W 684 theatre package consisting of a pair of 684s for the front, a pair of 686s for the rear (althought stands will have to be given a lot of thought), an HTM62 centre and a sub of some sort (but will I need one?)
Question 1 - Do I need a sub?
This'll be about £1.5k leaving £2.5k max for the rest.
So, I guess the next decision will be the receiver and from what I've read the Onkyo seems to be the first route to explore. Keeping in mind the aesthetics, I can hide the brute away when it's not in use, but cables are always a problem so I think HDMI is going to be must in any receiver. I also want to be able to listen to DVD Audio and SACDs so I guess features are going to be as important as sonic ability.
So, it's over to you good people. Which receiver(s) should I consider auditioning? If the Onkyo is a good bet, which model?
Quetion 2 - which receiver?
When that's decided, I'd like to follow this up with which DVD player and which CD player (if both are needed)
Thanks in anticipation
I'm new to all this and this is my first post so please be gentle with me.
All my stuff is about 8 years old and while I still like the sound, there is nothing that I really want to keep.
Requirements are to find the best compromise for an audio system for both hi-fi (cds) and home cinema. I'll be more likely to watch music DVDs than action movies. TV is likely to be either 32 inch LCD or possibly 37 inch plasma - no larger. So audio quality will more important than video quality. I'd like to be able to play DVD Audio as well as SACDs (and of course "normal" CDs). My room size is about 4 metres by 3. It has to be aestheically pleasing to keep the beloved happy so most of the gear will be hidden away in some sort of cabinets. I'm not an audiophile as such but would like to be able to match or preferrably improve on the sound of my aged, entry level, Arcam/B&W set up, and I'd like to be able to do all this for a budget of no more than £4k excluding the TV and "furniture".
I realise I have to start somewhere so let's just say that I have thing for B&W speakers. They seem to suit my ears/room/taste in music. I currently have a pair of 602s on stands which the beloved hates. She is sonically content listening to Snow Patrol on her MP3 player at barely audible volume. This is a trait to be admired. If only I could be the same, it would save me a lot of money. Strangely enough, it is not the size of the speakers as such, it is more to do with the fact that, "they are black, the stands are ugly and they don't go with anything else in the room". When shown a picture of the 684/683s in Red Cherry, the reaction was "Now they look nice, why don't you get something like that?" Isn't it amazing how they can still surprise you after 32 years of marriage?
So, I'm thinking along the lines of the B&W 684 theatre package consisting of a pair of 684s for the front, a pair of 686s for the rear (althought stands will have to be given a lot of thought), an HTM62 centre and a sub of some sort (but will I need one?)
Question 1 - Do I need a sub?
This'll be about £1.5k leaving £2.5k max for the rest.
So, I guess the next decision will be the receiver and from what I've read the Onkyo seems to be the first route to explore. Keeping in mind the aesthetics, I can hide the brute away when it's not in use, but cables are always a problem so I think HDMI is going to be must in any receiver. I also want to be able to listen to DVD Audio and SACDs so I guess features are going to be as important as sonic ability.
So, it's over to you good people. Which receiver(s) should I consider auditioning? If the Onkyo is a good bet, which model?
Quetion 2 - which receiver?
When that's decided, I'd like to follow this up with which DVD player and which CD player (if both are needed)
Thanks in anticipation