Would a HiFi setup sound better than a home cinema setup for music?

[Witterings]

My system sounds way better being fed quality sources such as CDs instead and Blu-rays than it does through free streaming on Spotify for example. Then I don’t feel I am lacking anything in the music sound department. Thanks guys for your help in this thread.

It sounds as though your source could be an issue, especially if there's a noticeable difference by using CD's /Blu-rays.
Spotify is the lowest quality streaming provider, Tidal, Qobuz and Amazon Music all offer much higher resolution, some tracks will be high definition which is better than CD quality.
It's also unclear how you're getting the sound from your devive to your AV, if you're using Bluetooth which isn't the best quality or if you're plugging your device directly into the AV via a cable???.

If youre using Bluetooth, I'd pick up a streamer from Amazon, either a WiiM Mini or a Bluesound Nano and most of the other streaming providers will offer a month's free trial and see how that compares, you can return the streamer if you don't feel there's any benefit.
Out of the above, personally I'd go with the Bluesound Nano (I own both Wiim and Bluesound) and get a free trial with Tidal as the streaming provider.

You did mention you're a little green in which case you may not undertsand the difference between using bluetooth and a streamer, bluetooth plays the music on your phone and then relays it to the bluetooth receiver and isn't the highest quality .... with a streamer, your phone becomes a remote control for the streamer which then connects directly with the streaming provider and plays the music directly cutting out a weak link in the chain.

Try that as a 1st step and see if you notice a difference and unless I missed it you don't say what speakers you currently have, you can always upgrade just your main speakers with your current system after trying the above 1st.
You'd have to go through the setup process again to get the balance / mix right between the various speakers so it works for home cinema.
I would have thought your AV also has the option to play music as stereo as opposed to 5.1 and you could just select that setting for music.

 

[Messiah]

My system sounds way better being fed quality sources such as CDs instead and Blu-rays than it does through free streaming on Spotify for example.

You mention free Spotify. Is it definitely the free version (and not paid) that you use?

If so, the free version is capped at 160kbps so I am not surprised it sounds inferior.

It might be worth seeing if you can use a free-trial for the full version (or pay for it for 1 month) and see how this compares. Your receiver utilises Spotify Connect so you can use that and just ensure the quality is set to the highest level (320kbps).

I'm pretty sure you will find this to be better / more convenient than Bluetooth (if that's what you currently use).

 

[Messiah]

Depending on how feasible it is with your layout, you could also utilise the Zone 2/3 of your receiver to run a pair of floorstanders for stereo and leave the home cinema side as it is.

 

[R2D2]

Thanks guys, this is really helpful. 👍

I will look into all of the above - brilliant!

 

[RayP]

@R2D2 , you’ve had plenty of good advice here. I’ll give you my story as I played music via an AVR for 22 years before discovering HT Bypass and how it allows you to combine a hi-fi system and home cinema into a single system.

Prior to my first home cinema system in 2000 I had a Meridian CD Player, Audiolab 8000 C/P pre/power amps and B&W CM4 floorstanding loudspeakers. Excellent sound.

I knew even with a Denon AVR costing £2K 25 years ago it wouldn’t match my Audiolabs but home cinema was the priority. Music took a leap back in quality but surround sound was brilliant.

Fast forward to 2022 and I discovered HT Bypass. Add a decent integrated amp to my system and it would feed L/R for two channel stereo. In home cinema mode it became a power amp for L/R with the AVR handling all other channels in a 5.1.2 system. Best of both worlds. 😁

Find yourself a good dealer and chat to them about your requirements, budget and photos of your room. That will help them recommend decent kit.

Your AVR is a good one but music will be SIGNIFICANTLY better via a simple integrated amp. My £2,200 Naim XS3 knocked spots off a £2K Yamaha RX-A3010. It’s not subtle. It’s one of the biggest sonic Improvements I’ve made in my 50 years of hi-fi interest.