We need your help!

[admin_exported]

Evening all.  

It’s time for me to ask for your help once again. We’re putting together the final pages for the Ultimate Guide to Systems (available on April 2nd from all good newsagents, and possibly some bad ones too) and I’d love to get your contribution. Regular viewers of these posts will know that typically I focus on a specific area of our interest – say, hi-fi – but this time around, the topic is broader: after all, the magazine will encompass every type of home entertainment product from a £300 Denon micro to a £7000 Pioneer AV pairing, with plenty of stops along the way.  

So here it is, folks: your chance for print immortality.Tell me why you love home entertainment kit – why you choose to spend your money on a Blu-ray system or a quality hi-fi rather than, say, a holiday, a new sofa or whatever else it is that people choose to spend their money on these days. What made you buy it in the first place? How pleased are you with it? How much value do you feel you’re getting from it? And what do you notice now that you didn’t get before?  

Incidentally, the forthcoming issue ought to be a rollicking good read:aside from the hundreds of products we’ve covered, we’ve secured interviews with the founder of Spotify, plus key figures at the BPI, EMI, Parlophone and a series of directorial types at Bowers and Wilkins, Cyrus,Linn, Naim and Meridian. Want to know what they’ve got to say about the future of hi-fi? You know what to do…

 

[Anonymous]

Why don't you summarize some more DACs? Oh wait, I said that last time, and the time before. And the time before that.

 

[Anonymous]

If you did, then I'm sorry if your expectations haven't been met. However, I wasn't looking for recommendations on content here, much as I appreciate them. The aim is more to attempt to enthuse others with a better understanding of our common interest.

 

[Anonymous]

Why don't you do an experiment such as on the Gadget Show, as was mentioned on a thread just gone by. Maybe that will help people understand just what improvements can be had by spending a little mullah?ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I'm confident one of our reviews would achieve the same thing. What I'm looking for here is affirmation by endorsement: I want the consumer (you and your fellows) to help convince other, less enthused buyers of the merits of our case.ÿ

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I'm struggling now the pressure is on...

How about: If I were to go back in time, spend the money I've invested in hi-fi gear on something else, there is a possibility I would never need to bat an eyelid ever again. Yet in the dark, late at night, I consider myself the richest man alive.

 

[Anonymous]

Nice.

 

[Anonymous]

I've just written several paragraphs in a text editor. I'm not willing to post it as it sounds too corny. How do you go about this lark?

 

[Anonymous]

I am from Perth, Western Australia.

For me, I have spent approximately AUD$30,000.00 (14,100.00GBP) in the last 18 months improving my system.

I could very well have saved up this money, or spent it on holidays, etc, but I do love HT and Hi Fi gear.

It has become something of an addiction, or obsession, dare I say it!

Trying to maximise the audio performance has become a big focus. Trying to get that additional 5% detail, smoothness, etc. Trying to find the best combination of Pre-Amplifier, Power Amplifier, loudspeakers, cables, etc.

Trying to get as wide a smile on my face as possible from my favourite movies and CD's. This is certainly a very expensive hobby, but a very enjoyable one.

I would much rather be able to enjoy my sound system and HT set-up after work everyday for years than to spend all this money on a one-month holiday overseas and take heaps of photos, videos, and some souvenir back - oh yes, and some nice memories.

Dan.

 

[Anonymous]

Andy Kerr:So here it is, folks: your chance for print immortality.Tell me why you love home entertainment kit - why you choose to spend your money on a Blu-ray system or a quality hi-fi rather than, say, a holiday, a new sofa or whatever else it is that people choose to spend their money on these days.

In a nutshell: I like to listen to music and love watching movies and I want the best experience I can get in my own living room for the budget I have.

The holiday, sofa etc are still important, I'm not sacrificing anything to feed an a/v habit; having just put together an home cinema system, it is low budget, put together piece by piece. That said, I am constantly looking at what to do next, which component(s) to improve. In this respect it has become a 'hobby' in it's own right, it's no longer just about the end result, the getting there is fun. Reading and researching, checking the reviews, comparing the specs, soliciting opinion on the forums is all part of the game. Going back 15+ years my interest was in building PC's, improving what I had and incorporating the latest technology and today convergence of IT and A/V is very much of interest.

Andy Kerr:What made you buy it in the first place?

DVD originally sparked my interest, I rarely bothered with video tapes and only ever occasionally rented, never bought. The audio quality was so poor that I couldn't always hear dialogue sufficiently well to enjoy watching videos. DVD solved this problem. An early(ish) DVD player twinned with a TV that supported Dolby Pro Logic (with surround speakers) gave me a first taste of home cinema circa 1999/2000 but it went no further until recently.

Replacing my TV kicked off my renewed home cinema interest. The old Philips CRT had been great but with LCD offering HD pictures, I decided it was time to buy a new set. This time last year, through work, I came into contact with an a/v installation company and enquired whether they could get me a new TV at trade price; after doing my research I asked them to source me a set I knew would be going end-of-life in order to get a good price and they came up trumps. I paid less than 50% of the cheapest price I could find elsewhere. This being a bigger saving than expected I decided I could afford an HD source to get the most from the TV and bought a barely used PS3 from eBay - deliberately seeking out an original 40Gb model for backward compatibility with PS2. I chose the PS3 for blu-ray and gaming but also for viewing photos and video.

With the video side sorted, I just had to go for the surround sound too and that followed over time. As I said above, convergence with IT keeps me curious and interested in knowing what is possible.

Andy Kerr:How pleased are you with it? How much value do you feel you're getting from it?

Very pleased! As I have said, it's all been on a tight budget and I was lucky with the TV so I rate the value quotient as very high.

Andy Kerr:And what do you notice now that you didn't get before?

As far as home cinema goes: Stunning picture, clearer and engaging audio, even SD television can look fantastic. Holiday snaps and videos are now displayed on screen showing fabulous detail. Gaming is equally much enhanced. Oh and with the TV now wall-mounted - I've gained some floor space too! Actually there is a point here about improved aesthetics, though I doubt that figures strongly for many enthusiasts.

The other thing I have that I didn't have before...is the insatiable desire to buy bigger, better, faster, more!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Andy

I have been an addict since the birth of CD I bought one of the first players and have not stopped since! I have a large CD/DVD collection which is still growing. Lately though the HD revolution has taken hold and although money is tight I have been trying to keep up. I built a media Pc to start with which was great it gave me the best of all media in one box, but it could not give me HD audio through my Onkyo amp and the price made it cheaper to go stand alone. So my wife now has a new pc and I picked up a Toshiba HD E1 for £35 on ebay and the bought the Sony S350 after reading the review, the sound is awesome. My picture is currently provided by a Hitachi 42pd9700 but I wonder if a more current Sony 4500 would improve things as it is not 1080p . whatever it is I and my wife for that matter do not see my quest for the best(on a budget!) slowing down.

Think I'll go watch a movie !

Bc.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Octopo:help people understand just what improvements can be had by spending a little mullah?

Not too sure what diminutive Islamic theologians have to do with it...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
Octopo:help people understand just what improvements can be had by spending a little mullah?ÿ

Not too sure what diminutive Islamic theologians have to do with it...

You should try it. Opens up all kinds of new corridors.

 

[Anonymous]

Tell me why you love home entertainment kit?

I love going to the movies, concerts, live football and go-karting. But alas all that can be quite expensive. I love home ent gear because it allows me to listen to that magical artist, experience that movie moment, follow my beloved team (in HD surround sound) and take my virrtual Ferrari for a spin on my PS3. And all for arguably the smae amounnt of money as going to the footie or O2 a few times a year...

Why you choose to spend your money on a Blu-ray system or a
quality hi-fi rather than, say, a holiday, a new sofa or whatever else
it is that people choose to spend their money on these days?

I actually bought the sofa first! For me it was a question of budgeting and slowly putting together my ideal system I started with the HD TV and subscription to Sky. The next upgrade was the Blu-ray player. Then a few months later I have enough to add an amp, speakers and a proper stand/cables. In between I was adding bits to the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms, oh and buying food and paying the bills too! 😉

What made you buy it in the first place?

Demos. Reviews. Envy when coming back from the Neighbours. Jessica Alba in HD.

How pleased are you with it?

Sure I'd like a Pioneer 60inch plasma, but my entire system costs less than half the price of a Kuro set, and I'm happy with that kind of value. I'd still like that Kuro though, and a fridge sized Denon amp to go with it!

How much value do you feel you're getting from it?

Immense, especially in these credit crunch times. I can buy a Blu-ray for less that the local multiplexes popcorn prices, and see football every week for less than £3 a game...

And what do you notice now that you didn't get before?

Jessica Albas eyes. Oh those dreamy, dreamy eyes....

😀

 

[Andrew Everard]

Octopo:You should try it. Opens up all kinds of new corridors.

I so wish I understood that response...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
Octopo:You should try it. Opens up all kinds of new corridors.

I so wish I understood that response...

See what I mean?ÿ

 

[Vimeous]

Tell me why you love home entertainment kit?
See below

why you choose to spend your money on a Blu-ray system or a quality hi-fi rather than, say, a holiday, a new sofa?
I buy hifi rarely and it must last along time because it competes with my other hobbies for attention and money. It also competes with owning a house, a car, holidays and furniture but to me they are all essential.
In my life hifi looses out to other priorities regularily. And yet this year I will replace my TV, home cinema amp, DVD player and add a subwoofer. This is because right now there are huge leaps in home cinema and TV performance over what I've been using for ten years or more. Crucially my family can see this too and the technology has reached a price we're prepared to pay.
As for a holiday? You really think I'd be allowed to compromise that?! 🙂

What made you buy it in the first place?
When I was a kid my Dad had an amazing device that made music sound wonderful. It had a radio, could play tapes and old records but the sound always made me smile. No Ghetto blaster or Walkman came close. I wanted one!
Some years later as a student a friend invited me round to watch his brand new VHS player and hear its NICAM sterio through his mini-hifi. I was blown away. I'd never considered VHS as anything other than a time-shifting device. Now I could hear a massive difference, it added a new dimension to watching movies and I loved it. That was the beginning of my home-cinema adventure.

How pleased are you with it?
14 years after my first proper paycheque evaporated in a cloud of CD/Amp and speakers I still use them every day. In fact I'd done nothing but add to my system until January 2009 when I finally replaced the TV. Each and every purchase I've made has been well researched and agonised over. I've auditioned new equipment before rejecting it, bought new and second-hand but because I've been careful I've yet to regret a single item.
I love driving, I am a car nut and yet I get as much pleasure from my hifi and home cinema because it takes music and movies and makes me happy.

How much value do you feel you're getting from it?
When you first buy a piece of hifi, how ever much you spend you always wonder how much value there is to be had. It drives me to make the most of what I spend and when I spend it.
Fundamentally I am getting great value because I use most of my equipment everyday.
However if I used it once a week to whisk me away from work to a world of fabulous aural and visual relaxation then it would be equally worth it.

And what do you notice now that you didn't get before?
Music and movies are not background noise to notice but not be involved. They are to be enjoyed, to take part, to raise emotion and stimulate the mind.

 

[Anonymous]

My passion I guess started in the 70's. ( forgive the lack of model numbers but can find out if need be, as all the kit is still there).
My Uncle was into hifi back then in a big way, my parents soon picked up on this and bought a Pioneer receiver, record deck and tape deck, with Celestion speakers.
It wasn't long until an upgrade to a Sansui receiver came about. My Brother got the Pioneer receiver and purchased a pair of Tannoy Mercury speakers and Pioneer turntable and tape deck. After some time my brother went for his first upgrade to a new Pioneer receiver, I then got my first hand me down and first system, I got a pair of Solavox 60 speakers to go with it and my source was a tape recorder with 5 pin din connection(mono).
It wasn't long before I got my own turntable and guess what, yes a Pioneer.(still not as good as big bros), but happy all the same.
Then one day all changed, big Bro got a set of Tannoy Arden's , big giant speakers and a CD player came later on.
At this time big bro was working and I was home on school hols.
Well what do you do at the age of 13 but dig out your copy of Paul Hardcastle's 19 and give it some while you can on your brothers kit, plus play some of bro's stuff.(Happy days).
Many years pass and I become 26 and my Uncle gives me a Pioneer CD player (upside down input) and then years later a Sherwood Newcastle AV receiver, with a pair of Tannoys.
My brother gives me a centre polk speaker and Mordaunt Short rear speakers.
I then got a Mordaunt Short sub to go with it.
My first AV set up. (Brother had the Yam A1).
Sadly my Uncle passed away in 2006, after he died my aurnt said that he wanted me to have some floor standing speakers and a sub.
What I got was a pair of Acoustic Energy Aegis Evo's still in their boxes and a REL 100E sub. I have since completed the set and now I can afford to have built up around them, am still upgrading, but can't say goodbye to the speakers.
My Brother got some very nice Arcam kit again unboxed.
Also expensive interconnects, and sadly I don't know what happened to the Nakamichi tape deck neither of us wanted at the time.
I think to sum it up, it's a passion that goes on.

 

[Sliced Bread]

OK I've had a thought about this one and come up with something. Now be warned.you're going to want to employee me as a journalist after reading this, but I want you to know that it's not a career I wish to pursue. So please save yourself the embarrassment of the rejection:

"Because watching a film on a plop system is like being slapped in the face with a wet fish!"

 

[Big Chris]

JohnNewman:OK I've had a thought about this one and come up with something. Now be warned.you're going to want to employee me as a journalist after reading this, but I want you to know that it's not a career I wish to pursue. So please save yourself the embarrassment of the rejection:

"Because watching a film on a plop system is like being slapped in the face with a wet fish!"

Oscar Wilde, eat your heart out.

;-)

 

[idc]

Andrew Everard:

Octopo:help people understand just what improvements can be had by spending a little mullah?

Not too sure what diminutive Islamic theologians have to do with it...

Don't you mean mufti? Its all over the internet.