Well big for me!
I have finally decided that within the next 2 months I am going to replace my home cinema kit. I’ve had my existing (non-HD) kit for around 6 or 7 years now. Maybe more!
It currently consists of a 42” Panasonic plasma telly (just a monitor really) with a separate digital tuner. I think I paid about £3500 (still shudder at thought) for it when I got it. I can’t remember the model number but it was a what hi-fi 5-star product at the time and still delivers a fantastic picture but I want better and having seen some HD sets I know it can be achieved.
To partner it I have a 7 yr old Sky box, a Yamaha DSP AX630 amp (SE maybe?), a Panasonic recordable dvd player (cant remember model number) and a nice Mordaunt Short speaker set (906i floor standers, 905i centre, 903i rears and a 309i sub, connected via gale bi-wire cable). I picked up the amp and the speakers from richer sounds for a bargain £500 (along with a Toshiba dvd player which is now gathering dust under my bed)
So after much soul soul searching, web browsing, review reading and deciding I can live with my existing car for another year I had more or less decided on the following:-
TV – Pioneer LX5090: Wanted one of these for a long time and with a stand I can pick one up for about £1800. Oh and a Sky HD box for £50.
Amp – Really fancy the Pioneer LX81 (seen at £1320). It seems to do everything brilliantly and looks beautiful to boot. Although Amazon are selling the Onyko SR876 for £720. And my mind wonders whether the LX81 is twice as good?
DVD Player – This is where it gets a bit more vague. I originally really fancied the matching LX71. In fact that is probably what I will go for. And I can get the LX81/71 combo for £1750. A lot of money but together with the pioneer telly would make a great pioneer threesome (I imagine). However I have had my head turned by the Denon 2500BT (available for £680). Then again if i go for something like the Onyko SR876 amp am I wasting my money getting the Denon or Pioneer and would something cheaper suit? (say the Panasonic DMP-BD55, which can be had for £350-£400). Are you confused yet?
So in summary the constants are
The TV which i wont budge on unless someone tells me of a better 50” telly (& stand) for less than £1800
sky hd box £50.
oh and a Atacama stand for 50” TV (about £350)
A total of £2200.
So the variables are
LX 81/LX71 combo – additional £1750.
LX81/2500BT – additional £2000. (which may be better but may not look as good and is it £250 better?)
SR876/DMP-BD55 – additional £1100
I will be using the kit for watching movies 95% of time. I have a separate HI-fi which I use for Music, but it wouldn’t hurt if the amp/dvd played music as well (but it’s a nice to have, not a deal breaker)
Before I leave I have one other area to consider If I’m spending over £4k (or even £3k) on a TV, a Amp and a blu ray dvd player, will my existing speakers be up to the job?
If yes , great. If not, damm! However I really fancy the Dali Ikon 6.5.1 set. But cheapest i have seen them is £2100. But If I need them i need them and will buy them. But that will push my outlay up to £6k.
And before i stop spending i realise I will need some HDMI cables. How many will I need and what would be a good one to match systems above?
I will spend the cash if I need to but if I can get nearly as good performance for less then that appeals to the Yorkshire man in me J.
Thank you for reading my epic. Any comments welcome.
Dave
I have finally decided that within the next 2 months I am going to replace my home cinema kit. I’ve had my existing (non-HD) kit for around 6 or 7 years now. Maybe more!
It currently consists of a 42” Panasonic plasma telly (just a monitor really) with a separate digital tuner. I think I paid about £3500 (still shudder at thought) for it when I got it. I can’t remember the model number but it was a what hi-fi 5-star product at the time and still delivers a fantastic picture but I want better and having seen some HD sets I know it can be achieved.
To partner it I have a 7 yr old Sky box, a Yamaha DSP AX630 amp (SE maybe?), a Panasonic recordable dvd player (cant remember model number) and a nice Mordaunt Short speaker set (906i floor standers, 905i centre, 903i rears and a 309i sub, connected via gale bi-wire cable). I picked up the amp and the speakers from richer sounds for a bargain £500 (along with a Toshiba dvd player which is now gathering dust under my bed)
So after much soul soul searching, web browsing, review reading and deciding I can live with my existing car for another year I had more or less decided on the following:-
TV – Pioneer LX5090: Wanted one of these for a long time and with a stand I can pick one up for about £1800. Oh and a Sky HD box for £50.
Amp – Really fancy the Pioneer LX81 (seen at £1320). It seems to do everything brilliantly and looks beautiful to boot. Although Amazon are selling the Onyko SR876 for £720. And my mind wonders whether the LX81 is twice as good?
DVD Player – This is where it gets a bit more vague. I originally really fancied the matching LX71. In fact that is probably what I will go for. And I can get the LX81/71 combo for £1750. A lot of money but together with the pioneer telly would make a great pioneer threesome (I imagine). However I have had my head turned by the Denon 2500BT (available for £680). Then again if i go for something like the Onyko SR876 amp am I wasting my money getting the Denon or Pioneer and would something cheaper suit? (say the Panasonic DMP-BD55, which can be had for £350-£400). Are you confused yet?
So in summary the constants are
The TV which i wont budge on unless someone tells me of a better 50” telly (& stand) for less than £1800
sky hd box £50.
oh and a Atacama stand for 50” TV (about £350)
A total of £2200.
So the variables are
LX 81/LX71 combo – additional £1750.
LX81/2500BT – additional £2000. (which may be better but may not look as good and is it £250 better?)
SR876/DMP-BD55 – additional £1100
I will be using the kit for watching movies 95% of time. I have a separate HI-fi which I use for Music, but it wouldn’t hurt if the amp/dvd played music as well (but it’s a nice to have, not a deal breaker)
Before I leave I have one other area to consider If I’m spending over £4k (or even £3k) on a TV, a Amp and a blu ray dvd player, will my existing speakers be up to the job?
If yes , great. If not, damm! However I really fancy the Dali Ikon 6.5.1 set. But cheapest i have seen them is £2100. But If I need them i need them and will buy them. But that will push my outlay up to £6k.
And before i stop spending i realise I will need some HDMI cables. How many will I need and what would be a good one to match systems above?
I will spend the cash if I need to but if I can get nearly as good performance for less then that appeals to the Yorkshire man in me J.
Thank you for reading my epic. Any comments welcome.
Dave
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