What amplifier and speakers to buy

[nitrogym]

Hello audioholics,

I have just got myself a new Panasonic DMP-BD80 Blu Ray player and I have a 42" Full HD Panasonic plasma. So far so good!

Now I am looking to invest in a 7.1 system and in today's markets we are spoilt for choice. I was thinking to get a

Yamaha DSP-AX763
or
Yamaha DSP-AX863SE

depending on what I will be able to afford.

Then I will need a good set of speakers, and I was thinking of getting a set of Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 and add another couple of 1010i to make it a 7.1 system.

Do you guys think that I am on the right track or can i invest my money in something better?

Just to let you know a bit of my tastes - i want my sound to be natural as sounding as possible, i am not really interested in high volume levels, the system will only be used for watching movies, I need to have a really clear centre channel as i want to understand dialogue correctly even with low volume.

Thanks in advance!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

First, I don't think you need 7.1 because 5.1 is just fine.

Put the extra money (and save up) for Better Speakers - like $2,000 or more.

 

[alexsabree]

First, I don't think you need 7.1 because 5.1 is just fine.

Put the extra money (and save up) for Better Speakers - like $2,000 or more.

I think it really depends on your room. 7.1 doesn't cost too much more.

Most people have a hard time finding a place to put those two side speakers

 

[lsiberian]

Hello audioholics,

I have just got myself a new Panasonic DMP-BD80 Blu Ray player and I have a 42" Full HD Panasonic plasma. So far so good!

Now I am looking to invest in a 7.1 system and in today's markets we are spoilt for choice. I was thinking to get a

Yamaha DSP-AX763
or
Yamaha DSP-AX863SE

depending on what I will be able to afford.

Then I will need a good set of speakers, and I was thinking of getting a set of Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 and add another couple of 1010i to make it a 7.1 system.

Do you guys think that I am on the right track or can i invest my money in something better?

Just to let you know a bit of my tastes - i want my sound to be natural as sounding as possible, i am not really interested in high volume levels, the system will only be used for watching movies, I need to have a really clear centre channel as i want to understand dialogue correctly even with low volume.

Thanks in advance!

7.1 is nice, but your subwoofer is the basis of your home theater. As such it should take up half your budget. Then look at getting your fronts and a couple of dipoles for your side surrounds.

Put your money on your subs first. Then build up.

Remember amazing Bass is what makes a theater great.

 

[lsiberian]

I think it really depends on your room. 7.1 doesn't cost too much more.

Most people have a hard time finding a place to put those two side speakers

7.1 adds rears not sides. In 5.1 surrounds should be place on the sides for the best sound. Putting them in the rear is a compromise that should be avoided in many rooms. Of course most folks put their seating against the wall. Which compounds the problems.

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

7.1 adds rears not sides. In 5.1 surrounds should be place on the sides for the best sound. Putting them in the rear is a compromise that should be avoided in many rooms. Of course most folks put their seating against the wall. Which compounds the problems.

Does the same setup apply to games? Surrounds at the sides for 5.1? Seems like that might defeat the purpose of hearing enemies coming from behind.

 

[Mike19]

For movies, quality center channel speaker just as important as a sub.

 

[lsiberian]

For movies, quality center channel speaker just as important as a sub.

Untrue. A center channel can be omitted while a subwoofer should never be omitted.

The front sound stage is important, but a sub should be around half your speaker budget.

I know this may be foreign to some folks. I've used a phantom before and would rather do that than have no bass.

In fact some setups make a good centers impossible to achieve. Still you are correct that the first speaker bought if a center channel is desired should be a center channel. Kinda funny how that works.

 

[nitrogym]

Thanks for all the interesting info guys!

I am still scratching my head though, there are so many products to buy nowadays that this choice seems to be a hard one to make. I will try to find time and a place where to hear some Harmon Kardon, I heard they are excellent speakers as well.

I probably do not have enough budget for the high end speakers that you guys are mentioning, but they made my mouth water Unfortunately I also cannot go as large as i want with the base (out of respect for the neighbours) and i would prefer the other speakers to be not too large... Originally i was going for Bose but i dunno, its like there was something missing in them...

Thanks to all!

nitro

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Originally i was going for Bose but i dunno, its like there was something missing in them...

You will be banned immediately for getting Bose.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think it really depends on your room. 7.1 doesn't cost too much more.

Most people have a hard time finding a place to put those two side speakers

Well, I think anything above 5.1 is nice, but not top priority. I think you should focus the budget on more important components first. Then later add 7.1, 9.1, etc.

Subwoofer, front L, C, Right are the most important.

 

[nitrogym]

Hmmm ok guys i am focusing on 5.1 speakers then for now. I'll take your advice

Sooo, i have shortlisted the following two that are quite to my liking:


Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 - (sorry cannot post links yet...)

and

Harmon Kardon: HKTS 11

opinions would be very welcome and thanks in advance!


nitro

 

[Lordoftherings]

For the receiver, I'll go with the good reputable brands; Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Marantz and Pioneer.

I will let go HK, Sony, JVC and similar brands.

You can't go wrong with Denon, Yamaha & Onkyo.

Some Denon & Pioneer (newer) models are very affordable and full equipped.
You'll save even more money by going with refurbs.

Rule of thumb; put 2/3rd (70%) of your budget on speakers and the other third on your receiver. Your source is out of the equation, you already had.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[nitrogym]

That's good to know! I am thinking of going for a Yamaha amp/processor as they seem quite good - probably DSP-AX863SE or DSP-AX763 depends on what i will be able to afford.

Speakers i am still not sure yet if i will go for the Harmon Kardon or the Q Acoustics models mentioned in the previous post...

nitro

 

[PhillyDan1969]

While I agree that a Good Subwoofer will eventually define your system, unless you are getting satelite type speakers you could always build a system around a strong pair of front speakers while saving your money to get the best subwoofer you can afford.

Here is my logic...if you have a limited budget, say $500 dollars, using a chunk of that to get your subwoofer will not get you a very good sub unless you look at used! I suggest getting decent fronts and center and perhaps some bookshelf speakers for your rears then save up and add a higher quality sub instead of just a decent sub!!!

I personally have never been a fan of the small boxy satellites built around a system subwoofer, but there are some nice options out there, just not my cup of tea!!!

I built my first Dolby Pro-Logic system around a receiver, a Yamaha RXV992, backwards from what everyone suggests I know, and got lucky and purchased POLK audio speakers from Campo electronics when they went out of business. Since then I added an SVS sub, upgraded my speakers across the board, staying with POLK, and upgraded to a Denon AVR 3805!!!

 

[Lordoftherings]

That's good to know! I am thinking of going for a Yamaha amp/processor as they seem quite good - probably DSP-AX863SE or DSP-AX763 depends on what i will be able to afford.

Speakers i am still not sure yet if i will go for the Harmon Kardon or the Q Acoustics models mentioned in the previous post...

nitro

Yamaha is very good indeed.

As for speakers, the same apply; stick with well known brands, like B&W, KEF, Axiom Audio, Acoustic Research, Canton, Celestion, Infinity, Definitive Technology, Athena Technologies, Energy, Mirage, Paradigm, PSB, Mission, Jamo, Monitor Audio, NHT, RBH Sound, Reel Acoustics, Swans, Tannoy, and Wharfedale.

I will skip entirely Harman Kardon. And the Q Acoustics, I am not familiar at all, so I cannot comment on those.
Just try to stay with one of the brands I just mentioned. They are all reputable companies.

Bob

 

[nitrogym]

Hey Bob did you give out all that list from memory? Wow you're good!!

I'd love to get B&W but they're probably out of budget and secondly i am a bit limited in the space for speakers. The ones that i will eventually get will have to be a bit conservative in size. I am surprised that Harmon Kardon are not really know around here, I heard a good number of people telling me that they are excellent speakers and have quite a good reputation over here. Bob can i ask if you're from outside Europe? I am asking perhaps Harmon Kardon could perhaps be mostly European?

Thanks again!

 

[Lordoftherings]

Hey Bob did you give out all that list from memory? Wow you're good!!

I'd love to get B&W but they're probably out of budget and secondly i am a bit limited in the space for speakers. The ones that i will eventually get will have to be a bit conservative in size. I am surprised that Harmon Kardon are not really know around here, I heard a good number of people telling me that they are excellent speakers and have quite a good reputation over here. Bob can i ask if you're from outside Europe? I am asking perhaps Harmon Kardon could perhaps be mostly European?

Thanks again!

I've been in audio all my life, so I know all the brands out of my head of course.
And the one that I mentioned are especialy choosen for you, because of where you live. And also they all have very affordable models, and of modest size too.

As for Harman Kardon, it is a personal choice, I just stay away of their products, that's just me. And Harman Kardon is probably made in China with origins in the USA and some ties in the UK.

I am a Canadian (I use to live in the Montreal area, and now live near Victoria, in British Columbia, on the West coast), and I am a member at various audio/video forums all over the globe. I am very familiar with what the British or the French or the Scottish or the Germans or the Italians or the Americans like in their sound and the models available in all countries of the world for speakers, receivers, amps, preamps. interconnects, speaker cables, etc.
I am an audio purist international. I've been reading audio magazines from all around the globe for over 40 years. It helps too that I can read 3, 4 languages. In audio, many of the words or terms are very similar.

Hi-Fi Choice, What Hi*Fi?, Gramophone, Hi-Fi World, Hi-Fi News and Record Review, Home Entertainment, Home Cinema Choice, What Video & TV, Prestige audio Video, and other mags from the UK and France are some of the mags that I've been reading for many years. And I really like Area DVD from Germany.
And as for Canadian & American magazines, I've been a subscriber to more than a couple dozens for many years since the late 60's.
Music and Movies are my true passions. I am also a musician myself. I play all guitars and steel flutes. I studied Arts and Cinema at school. Plus much more related to creativity in the Sound department and the Visuals.
And I'm still learning every day.
I love life, I love Music and sweet sound (piano is my favorite instrument to listen to), and love beautiful pictures with nice scenery.
My main interest in music is Classical, Jazz, Blues, Folk & Soul.

I'm not stock on my continent only. Audio is like Peace, it is Universal.

B&W speakers have some models that are affordable, you can even find some on clearance, or for sale on the internet (just make sure that you got a guaranty).

Cheers to you,

Bob

 

[nitrogym]

Wow Bob I am truly impressed! I will start some research to find an affordable 5.1 speaker set and take it from there...

Thanks a lot for sharing your expertise! I appreciate it.

Best regards,

Jonathan

 

[Lordoftherings]

Wow Bob I am truly impressed! I will start some research to find an affordable 5.1 speaker set and take it from there...

Thanks a lot for sharing your expertise! I appreciate it.

Best regards,

Jonathan

Hey Jonathan, you are very welcome, it is indeed my pleasure to share my learnings over the years with all members.

Bests to you too,

Bob