What to purchase for stereo and surround

[westpoint]

I have approximatelly 30m2 big living room and 2000 euro (2200 USD) to spend for music/surround system. I've been thinking on buying a Bose Lifestyle SoundTouch 525 system (I can get it for that price). I am just not sure how good that system will perform in delivering a stereo sound. I've been also thinking on buying separate systems: fo stereo and surround. What do you think about a Bose solution? Is it possible to get something better for this money (I prefer smaller speakers, actually my wife does )? Would it be better to purchase separate systems? Thanks for you responses in advance.

 

[raoulx]

Bose probably isn't the way to go. I don't really know how they've a "good" high street repultation in comparison to the much better brands sold in a proper hi-fi/av based shop.

You can possibly spend a lot less money on a lot better system. Get a good amp, good speakers for a good price.

How little does your wife require the speakers? Would book case/stand mounted speakers work for her? Or would pretty speakers tip the scale for your wife?

 

[westpoint]

Raoulx,

She is just not so happy with a big floorstanders. Otherwise, I am sure I can make some compromise Do you have any suggestions for a setup? Have you had any Bose so far?

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Bose has been trading on its "style" and advertising for over a decade.

They don't sound great for music at all, although they're better than they were, and they're okay for surround sound.

You basically have to decide whether you want a surround sound system in one box (like Bose) that will probably do a middle to poor job of playing music, or build a stereo system around an amplifier and some proper stereo speakers. those "everyox" systems usually sound rubbish for music and aren't easy to upgrade. I would stay clear.

A good brand surround sound receiver will do pretty well for stereo as well. Yamaha's RX-A850, for example, got very good reviews by WhatHifi, but there are others to consider.

As your room is only 30m2, you don't need a powerful system, and anything more than 7.1 would be overkill.

So I would suggest starting out with a 7.1 surround sound receiver in the 500 to 750 Euro range, some good bookshelf speakers (Monitor Audio Bronze, for example, 300 to 500 Euros), a modest subwoofer (200 to 300 Euros) and a good BluRay player (which will also play CDs) (100 Euros), then add small bookshelf speakers and a center speaker, which you can always buy used on EBay for about 50 Euros each.

Leave some spare money for speaker stands, speaker cables, and decent HDMI cables.

 

[Leeps]

Agreed with much of the last post.

Something like the Yamaha Aventage RX-A850 or the Denon X2200 with Monitor Audio Bronze surround package will make a pretty good allrounder for movies and music. And it'll have all the typical features that an AV receiver offers these days like Airplay, Spotify Connect, numerous HDMI inputs alongside optical and coax inputs.

If MA Bronze is too big, you could look at Monitor Audio's Radius range which are smaller and still pretty decent at music. The main advantage of the Bronze range in my opinion is their "proper" surround bi-pole/di-pole rear speakers which can be easily wall-mounted. Many competitors just offer small bookshelf speakers for the rears which are not so easy to hide visually and offer a more directional sound rather than a wide convincing surround sound field. You can also get their speakers in white, which for some colour schemes may hide better visually.

Also, the new Bronze 5 floorstander is actually smaller than the old BX5 and uses slightly smaller speaker drivers. But if they're still too big, there's always the Bronze 1 or 2 standmount.

A system along these lines will outclass anything Bose has to offer for surround and music.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Agreed. Sorry about the sticky keyboard - what I meant to say was "everything in one box" systems - not good.

 

[raoulx]

the posts are going along the right lines too, maybe Q acoustics as a great value brand too. You've got a lot more choice and style for you cash potentially rather than going to bose. I've only heard Bose their in store and years ago when they were supposed to be good. Just now being older and bought my own equiptment comparing the two (bose to other hi-fi brands) there are big differences and a lot more flexibility and features.

 

[westpoint]

Hi guys, thanks for all good comments. I've also done some other research and it seems I will have to go with floorstanders - I will just have to convince my wife thet floorstanders are a must if we want to have a good music. Bur I am still looking at a 5.1 surround. I've been thinking on getting 2 floorstanders, a center and two bookshelfs. Is it necessary to get an sub too? There have been some good offers for Klipsch RF-280 lately (a pair for $500). what do you think? And how should I build a surround around floorstanders? Thank you.

 

[Reijer]

Hi Westpoint.

Something different perhaps. Heard today something from LSS. Sounded great in a 2.1 setup.

This http://www.lss.it/products/point-source/pulce with this http://www.lss.it/products/sub-woofers/pulce-w

But:

If you want a real 5. 1 setup, make sure that at least your left, middle and right speakers are full range. The left and right surround should also be full range, but could also be monitors. The .1, the sub, is than available to do it's job properley, only the extra soundeffects.

Good luck searching.

 

[westpoint]

What do you mean with a full range?

 

[Reijer]

What do you mean with a full range?

20Hz to 20kHz.

 

[westpoint]

Hi guys, here I am again. I still haven't got anything. It seems I am a bit slower

After many researches and forums surfed and IAW my budget I have come to a short list of nominees. I would like to emphasize I would only need those for music listening (room size approx. 30m2 with 20m2 dining room attached - all open. ceiling at 2,8m). I am not planning to get any additional SUB so floorstanders should provide me with sufficient bass as well. I have been deciding between following two:

Q acoustics 3050

Monitor Audio Bronze 6

I would also like to ask you for recommendation what stereo receiver should I use. I need a stereo receiver since I do not want to have sepaarte tuner and even separate network player. And the price range for that receiver should be aroung 600 euros.

Thanks.

 

[seemorebtts]

Hi guys, here I am again. I still haven't got anything. It seems I am a bit slower

After many researches and forums surfed and IAW my budget I have come to a short list of nominees. I would like to emphasize I would only need those for music listening (room size approx. 30m2 with 20m2 dining room attached - all open. ceiling at 2,8m). I am not planning to get any additional SUB so floorstanders should provide me with sufficient bass as well. I have been deciding between following two:

Q acoustics 3050

Monitor Audio Bronze 6

I would also like to ask you for recommendation what stereo receiver should I use. I need a stereo receiver since I do not want to have sepaarte tuner and even separate network player. And the price range for that receiver should be aroung 600 euros. 

Thanks.

what about the tannoy xt6f.you can get these for £600 now and are great for movies and music.they will fill your room with sound.are you running 4k if so I would go for a Yamaha receiver if not go for a second hand Arcam this will be great for music and movies but no 4k pass though.the new Arcam movie solo is fantastic and will work great with the tannoys.then you could save a little more for more speakers and add them a later date

 

[westpoint]

Thanks seemorebtts. As I said I will only use these florstanders for music. For movies I will get a soundbar with a small sub. Unfortunately my family doesn't want to have too loud surround. I made a compromise. So, soundbar for movies, but floorstanders for music. So I can enjoy loud music when I want to.

 

[jonathanRD]

Thanks seemorebtts. As I said I will only use these florstanders for music. For movies I will get a soundbar with a small sub. Unfortunately my family doesn't want to have too loud surround. I made a compromise. So, soundbar for movies, but floorstanders for music. So I can enjoy loud music when I want to.

The fact that you will have an AV receiver driving your floorstanding speakers, I think you should re-consider adding a soundbar and small sub system. Rather than a soundbar, initially all you need to do is add a centre channel speaker and with your floorstanders, that will give you a far better sound for movies and TV than the soundbar option. This option is not loud inless you play it loud. And then when you get an itch, just add a small sub to the receiver, and if you dare, a set of surround speakers (if you can easily hide the cables). This system, even without the rear surrounds, will be far better than a soundbar. All in my opinion of course *smile*

 

[westpoint]

For movies I will be using Bose Soundtouch 120 whic I've gor as a gift and will keep it. So, there will be no AV receiver. I only need stereo receiver and a apir of floorstanders.

 

[jonathanRD]

For movies I will be using Bose Soundtouch 120 whic I've gor as a gift and will keep it. So, there will be no AV receiver. I only need stereo receiver and a apir of floorstanders.

Ok, but just to be clear, so far every receiver recommended has been an AV receiver, so what make and model of stereo receiver do you have in mind?

 

[newlash09]

is important, as I have realised lately. I have a setup of marantz SR6011 with QA q7000i. And it really sounds lovely, both for movies as well as music. I was previously using a less powerful Sony AVR, and in 2ch stereo, I felt the scale was reduced. In order to remedy the situation, I bought a pair of Qa concept 40's next. Though they fixed the scale, they over powered my room with too much bass, as they couldn't be drawn from the rear wall by more than half a meter. So I finally upgraded to my present marantz amp for 4k, and now don't find the scale with the q7000i a issue anymore. In fact iam listening to more music on my marantz SR6011+QA Q7000i, than the QA concept 40+ BS powernode .

Further to that, as the Q 7000i has 5 identical satellites, even multichannel surround sounds seemless and beautiful. And the whole setup in white, looks sleek and elegant.

 

[westpoint]

I was thinking about Yamaha R-N602, R-S700 or maybe Harma Karfon HK 3770. HK promise 120W per channel, rs700 100W and rn602 80W. Since MA Bronze 6 has recommended input power up to 150W I think I would need more powerful receiver. Both rn602 and hk3770 have networking available.

 

[jonathanRD]

I was thinking about Yamaha R-N602, R-S700 or maybe Harma Karfon HK 3770. HK promise 120W per channel, rs700 100W and rn602 80W. Since MA Bronze 6 has recommended input power up to 150W I think I would need more powerful receiver. Both rn602 and hk3770 have networking available.

The MA Bronze 6's have a sensitivity of 90db which makes them easy to drive, so a less powerful amplifier would be fine. However, a more powerful amplifier will control the speakers far better and get the best out of the speakers. Do you have a chance to listen to any of these combinations?

 

[westpoint]

I had a chance to listen a pair of QA3050 with Yamaha r-n602. They sounded great but not loud enogh for me. Therefore I am trying to find a bit louder speakers. I guess MA Bronze 6 or Tannoy XT6f would be louder. Just not sure what stereo receiver should I use.

There are different opinions on HK3770 out there. Bur specs say it is 120W per channel. On the other side I've seen a lot of positive reviews on Yamaha r-n602. I am just not sure that only 80W per channel will bring out the best from the speakers.

 

[jonathanRD]

Be careful not to just go by the stated watts per channel @ 8ohms, as you can have some amplifiers with a stated power in watts (say 70w to 80w) that might have more 'power' and grip on the speakers that another at 120w. I'm no electronics expert but you only need to look at other more expensive amplifiers that 'only' have a stated watts of say 50w to 70w that will be twice the price of the amps you have mentioned. And a lot of that extra money will have been spent on the amplifier's power unit.

I'm not sure what you mean by loud, do you mean bass that thumps you in the chest or just plain ear splitting noise levels? Or maybe scale?

Whatever it is, based on your previous demo (the 3050's have a sensitivity of 92db making them more senistive that the MA Bronze 6's) you must get a demo of the combinations, to avoid dissappointment when you get them home. Don't purchase just by the specifications alone.

 

[Native_bon]

Am surprised you not getting loud enough with QA3050. You must be going party mad loud. Like mentioned, very easy to drive speakers. Unless problem with the demo amp.

The 3050's can fill medium to large rooms with sound easily.

I think you need to do more demos and no matter what I or anyone says buy what sounds right to you, ccause you will be doing the listening.