View Full Version : New Speakers and Amp
Having put the new TV into place in the living room, I brought one of my current speakers downstairs today and, as I thought, we're going to struggle to get everything in place and looking good. I've got Mission 773's, 77C centre, 77DS rears and an M&K VX7 sub all running off a Sony STR-DB980 amp.
We want to replace it with something more compact with smaller speakers. I know we'll not be able to match the sound quality but we just can't live with the current setup in the new room.
I've been looking at the Samsung HT-XQ100 system. This has an upscaling DVD player, amp and 5.1 speakers (was going to buy the extra wireless for the rears).
This looks ideal for what we want but was just looking for other opinions.
I'll also be looking to offload my other stuff. Any ideas on the best place and possible prices I should be looking at?
That samsung looks pretty nice, other than richersounds or pointing you to avforums, I can't be of much help :(
As to your old setup, you have a very interested buyer here ;) (i'm needing a setup for my house)
Matblack
13-05-2007, 21:27
Keep the amp and get a set of Canton speakers, a backwards step is going to be noticeable, the Cantons would give you compact size without losing too much quality, other option I would look at is the Mission M-Cube.
Wireless speakers? Bleugh!
As for selling the old stuff, I'd probably use AVForums, you might get slightly more on Ebay though its a higher risk.
I didn't realise you had an M&K sub, they are lovely, you should get some reasonable money for that but you WILL miss it, especially if you get that Samsung thing :(
As for prices I have no idea but a quick trawl of AVF should bring up similar stuff
MB
Piggymon
13-05-2007, 21:29
Nooo the amp is going .. it's all ugly and stuff :(
/hides as she knows f all about sound systems :p
I know, I know Matt. I was waiting for you and DRZ to come in and give me a hard time :p
But it's just not going to fit or look right if I keep the current stuff. I don't watch a massive amount of films now so having the better setup isn't a major issue. Also the noise levels for next door mean I can't crank it up and blast out a good film or music anyway.
Zirax, I'll think about all this sutff over the next few days and then will see what I get and what I'm getting rid of. Will look into some prices and get back to you.
No worries, I was literally thinking along the lines of... "I wonder what I am going to do" when your thread popped up. Bit cheeky, but hey
Sack off the 5.1 and get some of the standmount Dynaudio Audiences - if you want properly small look at the 42W (the W is the important bit there).
A nice discrete amplifier tucked away somewhere that wont set you back too much money and some careful setup of the M&K sub that you shouldnt sell and there you go - better sound (imo) than a teeny-speakered 5.1 system for about the same amount of money.
You've got a good surround setup at the moment, so it might take some adjustment but hey, the fronts are going to be so massively better you might just prefer it!
(I know I prefer my stereo setup for films to my old surround setup with speakers not too far from what you have now!)
I really don't think it's going to work guys. I appreciate where you're coming from, but I think unless you see the space we're tying to play with, you might no appreciate what we're trying to achieve.
My setup was fine for when I was living with the rents in a detached house. Play music and film as loud and as much as I wanted. Now we're in a terraced house the noise levels need to be kept lower. We've also moved the TV into a corner so space saving is now a major factor.
I never used to like all-in-one systems either but I do think they have a time and a place. And I think I'm now living in that time and place :/
Cheers for your input though. I guess I was maybe looking for an answer that isn't really there. We need a smaller and more space friendly setup so I think I'll stick to plan A.
Cheers again.
We've also moved the TV into a corner so space saving is now a major factor.
Not relevant at all, but I thought you were wall mounting it dude?
It will be wall mounted, but still tucked into the corner as we want to keep the bay window as open as possible....one of the reasons we don't want a bloomin great speaker standing there.
This Samsung thing is also an upscaling DVD player too and will also carry all sound for the TV, Wii and 360 so I think it's ideal for what we want now. Matches the TV too and isn't overly large.
As much as I don't want to change my stuff, I think my mind is made up.
Just to show you what I'm talking about, here's the TV in the corner...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Pigmo%20Pad/DSC02550.jpg
It's going to sit a few inches higher than that, mounted on the wall. There's also a fairly low cabinet now going into the alcove to the left, facing out.
Matblack
14-05-2007, 12:02
I won't bother trying to change your mind, although I do think you will regret the downgrade. Sound is one of those elements that when it is right you don't really notice it, but when its not so good you realise what you have lost. If the amp is integrated into the DVD player I can't see it having much umph.
But as you say your doing it for design reasons and you don't use the system much so its over kill for you. I'm in the lucky position of having an dedicated room and I don't think the amp is too prominent in my living room with the smaller Cantons.
Hope you are pleased with the end result, the TV will probably take some of the edge off the change anyway :)
MB
I know what you're saying mate and I'd rather not have to change. I just guess my priorities are different now.
I know I'll miss the old setup but I have been using the TV's speakers (which most say are crap) for the last few weeks and I've got used to them so I guess having this new stuff will be a step up again....hopefully I won't miss the old speakers.
Now all I need to do is stitc....I mean strike a reasonable deal with Zirax and we're set to go.
OK, just so I didn't change my mind in any way, I've just ordered this ;D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Odds%20and%20Ends/xq100.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Odds%20and%20Ends/xq1002.jpg
Don't forget, it also gives us an upscaling DVD player along with the fact it plays Divx, MP3, jpg, etc off the CD/DVD or via USB host.
or via USB host.
That could be cool, let me know how you get on with that side of things if you use it :)
Don't forget that over VGA or HDMI, your 360 is also an upscaling player, though how good it is my eyes aren't trained to tell!
New speakers and stuff are here :D
Don't know whether to be happy or sad, lol.
If Zirax doesn't have the old stuff, shout at me. I rent my telly which has built in 5.1 but am on the verge of changing it which means I'll lose all my surround stuff so will be on the lookout for replacements.
OK mate, will do :)
I'll be lookin to get rid of all the kit in one hit.
Piggymon
16-05-2007, 21:37
New speakers and stuff are pwetty ! :D
LOL at Piggymon going for aesthetics over function. It'll be pink fluffy stuff next. :p ;D
Best super micro system I've come across so far was from Bose. Yeah, I know a lot of people almost religiously like to destroy them, but I had a full demo of it and it was bloody good, and incredibly small (except for the subwoofer, which is scarily big) :).
The price tag - £4,000. I'm not anticipating anyone here going out and buying one. :eek: :)
PS - I suspect I'll be downsizing my Mission floorstanders pretty soon so I know where you've come from.
Matblack
17-05-2007, 08:16
LOL at Piggymon going for aesthetics over function. It'll be pink fluffy stuff next. :p ;D
Best super micro system I've come across so far was from Bose. Yeah, I know a lot of people almost religiously like to destroy them, but I had a full demo of it and it was bloody good, and incredibly small (except for the subwoofer, which is scarily big) :).
The price tag - £4,000. I'm not anticipating anyone here going out and buying one. :eek: :)
PS - I suspect I'll be downsizing my Mission floorstanders pretty soon so I know where you've come from.
This demo, I presume it was in a Bose store?
MB
Well i got these set up last night and, expecting the worst, was pleasently surprised :)
Can't really set them up proerly until the furniture arrives but I think they'll do just fine. I put on the gunfight scene from The Matrix as I know what this should sound like and it was actually pretty crisp and clear. It was just lacking that little oomph.
Overall though, I'm happy :)
LOL at Piggymon going for aesthetics over function. It'll be pink fluffy stuff next. :p ;D
See, I've been let loose on the living room, and given a choice of it looking perfect or sounding perfect, I'd choose the former :embarassed:
I'm not an audiophile, and so long as it sounds acceptable I'm not fussed. Will spend some time looking at speakers next month, I already have a good idea what I want TV and receiver wise.
Matblack
17-05-2007, 09:37
See, I've been let loose on the living room, and given a choice of it looking perfect or sounding perfect, I'd choose the former :embarassed:
I'm not an audiophile, and so long as it sounds acceptable I'm not fussed. Will spend some time looking at speakers next month, I already have a good idea what I want TV and receiver wise.
No, your a metrosexual! I think your more likely to choose something pink and fluffy then Sinead :p
MB
I have to say that in a dedicated room, I'd choose function over form. But in the living room it needs to be the other way around for us now. And this set hits the spot for me. Matches the TV nicely, sounds good and has enough features for what we need :)
I have to say that in a dedicated room, I'd choose function over form. But in the living room it needs to be the other way around for us now.
Exactly my thinking :)
This demo, I presume it was in a Bose store?
But of course. It's a proper demo, complete with fake big speakers and everything. I've read reviews with similar findings though. Anyway, that's a discussion for somewhere else.
As for the form/function debate, I'm slowly heading from function to form I suspect. Either way I'll be shedding a hell of a lot of old kit over the next year or two.
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