Now that I've ordered equipment ...

[anweiss]

OK, I've just ordered an NAD T753 and T534 DVD player. I'd like to know what to do next.

Can I hook these two up analog? If so, what sort of interconnects should I use?
I have two high-quality speakers. What would be my next purchase? A center channel speaker? A (powered?) subwoofer? Surround speakers?

My principal objective is securing reasonably high audio fidelity while improving the home theater experience.

TIA

Andy

 

[jaxvon]

Regarding the connections, it doesn't matter. You can go for digital or analog. Try both and see what you like better. Digital will result in less cable clutter and cost and should sound about the same, seeing how they're both NAD components, just in one situation the DVD player is doing the D/A conversion while in the other the Reciever is. For digital, either a single 75-ohm coaxial cable with RCA terminations or a Toslink cable will work. For analog, you'll need 6 RCA interconnects.

For brands, I'd recommend something from Blue Jeans. These aren't the cheapest, though nowhere near as expensive as BS stuff like Monster, Nordost, Transparent, Shunyata, etc. These are studio-quality cables.

Another option is Impact Acoustics. They also have good prices and an Audioholics discount. Ram Electronics is another good option with good prices.

You'll also need some component video cables (I would assume you have an HDTV or a projector to utilize the quality of a good DVD player). Any of the above mentioned companies can supply you with good video cables as well. Blue Jeans and Ram both offer custom Belden and Canare cables with Canare terminations. I believe Blue Jeans is a little less expensive.

As far as what to buy next, that really depends on what you want, what you already have, and what your budget is. First of all, what kind of speakers do you have currently? It's always a good idea to timbre match at least your front 3 speakers, if not all of them. This will result in consistent sound when the soundstage pans around them.

What is your budget?
How big is your room?
Are there any other factors (like a wife) that would affect your purchase?

 

[anweiss]

My current speakers are Acoustic Energy AE-1s which are small, accrate, neutral, stand mounted speakers with little reproduction of deep bass. I have Cardas interconnects.

The room is about 250 sq ft and there is a wife but balanced by four cheering children (2 teenage girls and 2 ex-patria living on their own).

Andy

 

[jaxvon]

Those really look like some nice speakers. The sad thing is, it will probably be hard to find a center channel that matches the neutrality and sound of your mains. For surrounds, you could get another pair of AE-1s. I would e-mail Acoustic Energy and ask their advice on what to audition as a center channel. If possible, try to audition the center channel in your room with your speakers.

For a subwoofer, you should look into Hsu, SVS, Martin Logan, and Velodyne. Hsu and SVS are very good performers for the price. SVS is known to have oodles of output. However, Velodyne has long been regarded as one of the best for bass. Their HGS-X series subs are worth a look into. There's a review of the 15-inch one here. Martin Logan is also not cheap, but makes very nice subs that are known to be "smooth". Their Dynamo is around $600, while their Depth and Decent subwoofers run quite a bit higher.

Oh, and Axiom's EP500 and EP600 subwoofers would be worth looking into as well.

What is your overall budget though, for the improvements you want to make?

You have my sympathies. Two teenage girls...