Which AV-receiver for Tannoy Arena-System?

[admin_exported]

Dear girls & boys

,

I've recently taken a first step (okay: a Panasonic plasma & PS3 are already part of the current 2.0 hifi-system) towards creating a HT-system by purchasing the lovely Tannoy Arena 5.1-system. But I'm also looking around for -quality- speakercable & a new receiver. So I have some questions and here they are

:

- Which diameter (or effective cross-section in mm2) should the cable to the satelittes be at least? Longest run I have to make is about 34ft. I'm looking at QED Original or maybe Micro, Van Den Hul "The Snowline", that kind of material. Need about 100ft total...

- An adequate AV-receiver is also difficult: I'm looking for something like the Onkyo-606, Harman Kardon AVR255 or -would require some patience though- the new Denon AVR-1909. Of course I'll have (and want!) to audition them all (which is difficult, since not many shops have 'em at all: only the Onk is relativly widely available over here), but is there a speaker-amp combination that should be avoided or is preferred?

Thank you very much for the input!

Have a pleasant day & greetings from The Netherlands!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

WilcoL:
Dear girls & boys

,

I've recently taken a first step (okay: a Panasonic plasma & PS3 are already part of the current 2.0 hifi-system) towards creating a HT-system by purchasing the lovely Tannoy Arena 5.1-system. But I'm also looking around for -quality- speakercable & a new receiver. So I have some questions and here they are

:

- Which diameter (or effective cross-section in mm2) should the cable to the satelittes be at least? Longest run I have to make is about 34ft. I'm looking at QED Original or maybe Micro, Van Den Hul "The Snowline", that kind of material. Need about 100ft total...

- An adequate AV-receiver is also difficult: I'm looking for something like the Onkyo-606, Harman Kardon AVR255 or -would require some patience though- the new Denon AVR-1909. Of course I'll have (and want!) to audition them all (which is difficult, since not many shops have 'em at all: only the Onk is relativly widely available over here), but is there a speaker-amp combination that should be avoided or is preferred?

Thank you very much for the input!

Have a pleasant day & greetings from The Netherlands!

Any of the receivers you mention along with the new (and older) Sonys will work perfectly well with your Tannoys. As for speaker cable, don't worry about diameter. The QED micro (or any bog standard cable) will be fine for your rear lengths and centre speakers, you might want to go for the Original or VDH stuff for your front left and right (especially if you use them for stereo playback).

 

[Anonymous]

Hi WilcoL,

Just wondering how you've got on with your Tannoy Arena's? I'm thinking of purchasing a set soon just trying to decide on an amp at the moment. Any thoughts, are you happy with the sound quality etc?

cheers

 

[kinda]

Hello,

I've had the Arena for a month or so now, and have been very happy with it for film, TV, and music. I did quite a bit of demoing against almost all the other style packages, so I knew that it was good, (notable exceptions were the Quad Lites and Arcam Muso/Logo, so I don't know if they are better).

Unless you are expecting it to sound like a similarly priced, quality full size speaker setup, I don't think you'd be disappointed, though the Tannoy was by far the best in what I demod at hiding it's sub / sat nature, and I often marvel at how the subwoofer integrates, with bass sounding like it's coming from small satellites. I'd demo if you can, as it's all subjective, but I don't think anyone could argue with the superiority in detail and musical bass the Arena offers.

I run it with a Marantz SR6001, which I've found to be good with films, TV, and music, (and I think the music bit is also important during films), and can also take high-def audio as PCM. The SR6001 was originally £700, but it's a lot less now.

I didn't do loads of comparisons with other receivers, so I can't comment much, but did find it better than the Onkyo 605, (but it would be since it cost almost twice as much at RRP).

I'd try and demo the receivers as much as you can, as reviews aren't really a substitute, but I don't think the Arenas have any specific amplifier "matching" issues to look out for.

 

[kinda]

Hello Again,

As an after-thought, I did hear the Arena with a Denon amp, (might have been a 4308), and that provided good sound.

With the cables, I've not bother with the brand names and got some thick oxygen free copper cable, (it looks about 15 or 14 guage). The recommendation in terms of thickness, from what I've read, is 16 gauge will be OK for most rooms, even large ones, but you need 14 gauge for very long runs to the speaker. There's a website that discusses it. and shows the lengths. apparently it's about keeping the cable impedance below a very small percentage of the speaker impedance.

Hope this helps.

 

[Anonymous]

Excellent, thanks for the feedback. I've managed to demo the Arena Lites but not found anyone local with the normal set in stock. The only difference as I understand it, is the sub so I think they should do the job nicely. They will be used for movies and games but I take you point regarding the musical aspect in movies. On the amp side, I'm thinking either 606 or the new Sony 3400 when it comes out (might also check out the Denon 1909 now that it's been highly rated).

 

[Anonymous]

Livers:Hi WilcoL, Just wondering how you've got on with your Tannoy Arena's? I'm thinking of purchasing a set soon just trying to decide on an amp at the moment. Any thoughts, are you happy with the sound quality etc? cheers

Hey there Livers. Well, I don't have anything to tell you since I don't have an amp yet & the system hasn't even arrived yet at my house

! It won't be until next month around this time of the month that I'll be able to comment some more on them, since we're about to move out of this house, have to do some redecorating and after that I can hook them up and post my impressions here!

But my experience with the demo's I've had revealed that they reveal an amazing amount of detail, are fast and articulate & amazingly dynamic!

On another note: I've read that the Lite-sub is indeed a tad too light... But if it suits you fine, there is no real problem (I've only listened to the 'non-lite' Arena...).

kinda:

Hello Again,

As an after-thought, I did hear the Arena with a Denon amp, (might have been a 4308), and that provided good sound.

With the cables, I've not bother with the brand names and got some thick oxygen free copper cable, (it looks about 15 or 14 guage). The recommendation in terms of thickness, from what I've read, is 16 gauge will be OK for most rooms, even large ones, but you need 14 gauge for very long runs to the speaker. There's a website that discusses it. and shows the lengths. apparently it's about keeping the cable impedance below a very small percentage of the speaker impedance.

Hope this helps.

Kinda: thank you very much for your reply! Highly appreciated! Some kind of a coincidence, but I've just (saturday afternoon) ordered a Denon AVR-2808 to become the heart of the system and provide the Arena's with ample, clean power! Really liked the machine and it looks better than the Onkyo 606 too...

I've just received my shipping notification that the Tannoy's are on their way! After they arrive, my only enemy is time

. Have to be patient!

Thank you all!

 

[Anonymous]

Cool, lucky you! Let us know how you get on with them please and enjoy!

 

[kinda]

Hello,

I think you'll be well away with the Denon. I also agree with the comments on detail, which was one for the big things for me. As an example, at the end of the tunnel scene in Underworld, there's abit where a bullet wound bubbles and sizzles, and only the Arenas captured the sizzling, burning sound.

I also think that the Lite sub may not be quite as good as the full Arena one, from what I've seen in reviews, though I haven't actually heard it. It looks like the same power and everything, but is in a smaller cabinet, which may make the difference, and I don't think it looks as good either.

At the price the full Arena is going at, (and it can be bought online from a real approved dealer with a shop), I'd demo the Lite if you can't reach a full Arena dealer, then order the full set on the internet. It's less than some places sell the Lite.

Also, the full set comes with grilles, and the centre grille doesn't come with the optional stands, (though the other satellite stands do come with new grilles). Not sure if the centre grille can be bought separately.