Using a Home Cinema as a Hi Fi?

[admin_exported]

Hi,

I am planning to purchase some Home cinema equipment later in the year (e.g receiver & speakers with a blue ray player at a late date)

I was curious whether it would be possible to use this set up as a Hi Fi?

I presume i would need to buy a CD player or is it possible to play cd's through your DVD or Blue Ray player without necessitating need for a separate CD player.

I would welcome any suggestions/ comments, i know very little about this kind of thing.

my priorities are:

decent sound - but the home cinema element would be more important than hifi capability

price - looking to spend in the region of £700

avoidance of clutter -This is Key- i am not wanting to make the home cinema/hi fi a centre-piece of my lounge! I think that the AV receiver would be able to fit inside my existing TV stand, however were i to have to buy an additional seperate CD player that would not, hence i would like to avoid if possible

thanks

 

[The_Lhc]

Edward Teach:I am planning to purchase some Home cinema equipment later in the year (e.g receiver & speakers with a blue ray player at a late date)
I was curious whether it would be possible to use this set up as a Hi Fi?

Yes, although "Hi Fi" might be pushing the results a little.

I presume i would need to buy a CD player or is it possible to play cd's through your DVD or Blue Ray player without necessitating need for a separate CD player.

You can certainly use a Blu-Ray or DVD player to play CDs, the results are often less than satisfying though.

price - looking to spend in the region of £700

For amp and speakers that isn't a great deal, so in that case I'd suggest concentrating on getting the best HC sound you can on the understanding that the "Hi-Fi" side of things isn't going to go great guns.

avoidance of clutter -This is Key- i am not wanting to make the home cinema/hi fi a centre-piece of my lounge! I think that the AV receiver would be able to fit inside my existing TV stand,

Check the requirements for cooling, ie space around the receiver if you're putting it in a rack, rather than on a rack.

however were i to have to buy an additional seperate CD player that would not, hence i would like to avoid if possible

You have room for a separate Blu-Ray player though?

And may I just say, nice beard. Actually that was all I wanted to say but I thought that might be considered a trifle unhelpful...

 

[Anonymous]

With a budget home cinema set-up the sound quality will be limited by the rest of the components (especially the speakers) anyway, and even the most expensive CD player won't alter this fact. So sound-wise a dedicated CDP will most probably be a waste of money.

Beware though, that most DVD or Blu-ray players will be a little awkward to use as CD players. The DVD player I used to have could only play a CD straight from start to finnish, unless I used my TV as a display to navigate the tracks.

Myself I got rid of dedicated CD players a long time ago though. Now I use seldom use any other music source than iTunes on my MacBook Pro (with a AAC/MP3 library on the HDD for travel, and a AIFF/ALAC library on a network disc for home use).

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice!

the_lhc:Edward Teach:price - looking to spend in the region of £700

For amp and speakers that isn't a great deal, so in that case I'd suggest concentrating on getting the best HC sound you can on the understanding that the "Hi-Fi" side of things isn't going to go great guns.

Yes HC will be the priority, though anything is going to be an improvement over currently having no hifi and the sopund for film coming through my sony tvs dreadfull speakers!

the_lhc:Edward Teach: avoidance of clutter -This is Key- i am not wanting to make the home cinema/hi fi a centre-piece of my lounge! I think that the AV receiver would be able to fit inside my existing TV stand,

Check the requirements for cooling, ie space around the receiver if you're putting it in a rack, rather than on a rack.

however were i to have to buy an additional seperate CD player that would not, hence i would like to avoid if possible

You have room for a separate Blu-Ray player though?

And may I just say, nice beard. Actually that was all I wanted to say but I thought that might be considered a trifle unhelpful...

how can i check the requirements for cooling? e.g i was considering the Sony STDRN1000

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/hcs-home-cinema-receiver/str-dn1000#pageType=TechnicalSpecs

i didnt see anything in the technical specs relating to this.

with regards to the space I have a very wide stand, and if i buy a blue ray it will replace an existing DVD player.

RE the beard- well spotted Mr Sparrow!

 

[The_Lhc]

Edward Teach:the_lhc:Edward Teach:price - looking to spend in the region of £700
For amp and speakers that isn't a great deal, so in that case I'd suggest concentrating on getting the best HC sound you can on the understanding that the "Hi-Fi" side of things isn't going to go great guns.

Yes HC will be the priority, though anything is going to be an improvement over currently having no hifi and the sopund for film coming through my sony tvs dreadfull speakers!

Yes, that's true.

the_lhc:Edward Teach: avoidance of clutter -This is Key- i am not wanting to make the home cinema/hi fi a centre-piece of my lounge! I think that the AV receiver would be able to fit inside my existing TV stand,

Check the requirements for cooling, ie space around the receiver if you're putting it in a rack, rather than on a rack.

however were i to have to buy an additional seperate CD player that would not, hence i would like to avoid if possible

You have room for a separate Blu-Ray player though?

And may I just say, nice beard. Actually that was all I wanted to say but I thought that might be considered a trifle unhelpful...

how can i check the requirements for cooling? e.g i was considering the Sony STDRN1000

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/hcs-home-cinema-receiver/str-dn1000#pageType=TechnicalSpecs

i didnt see anything in the technical specs relating to this.

with regards to the space I have a very wide stand, and if i buy a blue ray it will replace an existing DVD player.

It's the requirement for space above the receiver you need to look for. Rather annoyingly the manual doesn't give any figures but simply says, ensure there's adequate ventilation, basically you don't want to be blocking the side or top vents, otherwise you'll get heat build-up.

RE the beard- well spotted Mr Sparrow!

Captain Sparrow...

 

[lobby]

With your budget speaker wise Q Acoustic 1010i at £350 would be your best bet, providing you have room for the centre. Leaving £250-350 for amp, also speaker cable, stands and wall brackets. The Q Acoustic range can be added to with Floorstanders in the future for a 7.1. Or if you hunt around you may be able to include them in a 5.1 setup for noy much more.Amp wise i would look around as well, although Sony do make pretty good amps, ive not seen much mentioned about that model. Onkyo 607, Yamaha 765, Denon 1910 would be my choice. Speaker cable QED XT for fronts and micro for rears will work fine. Looking around you may well a deal that includes amp and speakers together they usually give your some free cable.If you don't like these speakers Tannoy Arena-lites at £400, or Jamo 102, may be the Kef 2005.3 in silver for £499, let us know what speakers you like.Also HC setup will never be as good as a proper hifi setup but can still work pretty well for occasional listening.

 

[dave_k]

Have you considered the NAD Viso 2? If you don't need 5.1 this could be ideal and is supposed to be better than most similar products for CD playing?

 

[AlmaataKZ]

Also, speaking about space an dclutter, do nto forget that the centre speaker will need a place, too. most likely on the rack. on the shelf nearest to the screen.

 

[visionary]

Edward Teach:
how can i check the requirements for cooling? e.g i was considering the Sony STDRN1000

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/hcs-home-cinema-receiver/str-dn1000#pageType=TechnicalSpecs

i didnt see anything in the technical specs relating to this.

Generally in the installation instructions it will advise, e.g. "allow 100mm clearance all round" for cooling purposes. If the website will allow you to view or downlaod a User Manual you should be able to find this info

 

[grifz]

I have Q acoustics 1010i with upgraded 1030i fronts conbined with yamaha 765 . you can purchase these sets at a fraction off there original rrp. They are a great combo for movies surround sound . I had the denon 1909 before the yamaha, but i couldnt live with the denons lack of detail in surround . At the manchester show last year i was reccomended the yamaha765 for movies by a WHFI team .imop what a difference in detail love this av receiver with Q acoustics , However i dont listen to much music sorry cant help you there.