What floor standing speakers and discrete (small) centre and rear speakers?

[admin_exported]

My wife likes music and I like movies. Consequently, she would like some nice quality (£750 - £1500) floor speakers to listen to music but does not want massive boxes cluttering her lounge room for centre or rear spearkers. Can anyone suggest a solution? We were originally quite happy with the B&W M30 package but she now wants better quality out of the front speakers for her music. Can anyone suggest a solution?

Also, to get the most out of the front speakers for music, should I get a dedicated stereo amp or would a c£1,000 home cinema amp be sufficient?

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I dont think you are going to get much better than the B&W's unless you go to the Apex speakers, but I think you would need a great amp to drive them properly.

What amp do you have?

 

[Anonymous]

I am starting from zero. Don't even have a tv at the moment so buying everything! Am planning on picking up a Sony KDL46EX503 tomorrow night as a start as the prices on them are quite keen and I don't have any desire for a 3D tv at the moment.

Thanks for such a quick response!

 

[Anonymous]

What Hi-Fi should use me to do an extreme make-over - zero to hero! ha ha ha!

 

[Anonymous]

I thin frank harvey have a BR5 full set for less than 700.00 but they are not small, but they are not huge either, they would be an awsome first choice.

 

[Anonymous]

You said floor stands but then you said b&w m30, not sure I have heard of the m30. the small ones are MT30 and they are not floor stands.

do you want book shelf with stands? then go for the BR1 pack which again can be had very cheap, and they would better that mt series, imo

 

[Deleted member 2457]

I know what you mean, i had the B&W MT30 and it just did not cut it musically, i really like my rock music dvd/blu rays so i had to upgrade quickly.

 

[richardw42]

The Monitor Audio BR5 are a good budget floorstander, and don't take up much more room up than a pair of small speakers & stands. As PP said the full BR5 AV package can now be had for around 700 (which is an amazing bargain). If you don't fancy the BRFX rears exchange these for BR1s or BR2s.
£1k for an amp may be a bit too good for a speaker set of this budget. I like Marantz and something like the SR6004 could be a great starting point (and as there is now a new 3d version out could be got for 500-600.

 

[bigboss]

Monitor Audio R270HD10

 

[scene]

bigboss:
Monitor Audio R270HD10

Good call

 

[bigboss]

johnwooller:

Also, to get the most out of the front speakers for music, should I get a dedicated stereo amp or would a c£1,000 home cinema amp be sufficient?

A dedicated stereo amp will perform better for music. But I would suggest you check the music from the home cinema amp first. If you're not happy, you can always add a stereo amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses - this is giving me a really good starting point.

In response to the earlier question, yes it was the smaller little B&W MT30 that we were originally looking at due to them being small and not obtrusive. However, the wife has since upgraded her demands so that we would need some floor speakers or at least some good quality stand mounted book shelf speakers to cut it musically.

Also, would a PS3 do the tv justice for watching blu-rays or should I get a stand alone player?

 

[Anonymous]

Blu-ray get the Sony BDP370, but if you are into games and streaming then the PS3.

As far as amps go I got a SC-LX72 for 899.00 which I think they can be had for less than that now.

I like the Monitor audio HD series, though the subwoofer is not that great, as I had one, and sold it and bought a RSW12. which really rocks.

first choice would be the HD series, if you can afford, then second the BR5 pack.

I have the RX6 fronts and RX1 rear, and its amazing, but again going over budget.

 

[bigboss]

johnwooller: However, the wife has since upgraded her demands so that we would need some floor speakers or at least some good quality stand mounted book shelf speakers to cut it musically.

The Monitor Audio speaker set seems to fit the bill perfectly.

johnwooller: Also, would a PS3 do the tv justice for watching blu-rays or should I get a stand alone player?

PS3 is an excellent blu-ray player. If you're not happy with it, you can always buy a standalone player.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a ps3 and the quality from the BDP-370 is very noticable.

Also if you have the PS3 PHAT then it cant bit stream HD audio which does make a difference, and also again this is were the Stand alone would shine.