Recommendations for a first home cinema setup

PeterNem · 08-09-2006, 00:44

Hi all,

I'm growing a bit tired of watchign movies on my computer. A 19" TFT doesn't really cut it, and although the Videologic 5.1 speaker set I've been using for years has served it's purpose, it barely has it in it to fill my bedroom with decent sound.

In a couple of weeks I'm moving into a 2 bed flat with a mate and high on my list of things to buy once I'm settled in and have my finances in order is a reasonable setup to watch films on.

I think we're going to go along the lines of one of us buys an LCD tv (him I think - he has his eyes on a 32" Samsung R74 series), and I buy the sound stuff so we each know what we own when/if we eventually move out and don't have to worry about splitting money etc down the line.

I picked up a copy of this months "What Hi-Fi". I realise reviews on audio equipment are very subjective (and that some people don't rate this mag at all), but as a complete n00b I thought some reviews are better than none. A feature that caught my attention was budget 5.1 speaker packages (in the £500 to 600 region).

The two sets that seemed to come out of the review best were Q Acoustics 1010 5.1 package and Wharfdale Diamond 9 HCP

Does anyone have any experience with these sets of speakers or any speakers from within their respective ranges, or have any other suggestions as to half reasonable speaker systems for me to investigate? Wharfdale is a name I recognise, but not so with Q Acoustics. I gather they are a newish company and I cannot find much in the way of reviews on their products, but the odd bit I can find seems very favourable given their price.

The room they'll be going into will be around 17 foot by 10 foot if that makes a lot of difference.

I'll also need an AV amp/receiver to power them and would ideally be looking at around £250 for this, although would be willing to consider used if it meant getting something cheaper/better. As well as taking the optical input from a DVD player, it'd be nice if it also either had 6 channel analogue photo inputs or another optical input so I can hook up my PC soundcard to it (6 phono style connectors would probably be easiest, but unless I'm looking in the wrong place this doesn't seem too common).

I guess ideally I should go speak to someone in a shop and with a listening room, but I'd feel a bit intimidated not really knowing much about this stuff and also feel like I was not the best use of their time with me only looking for comparatively low-end kit.

Any tips or general advice appreciated.

Mark · 08-09-2006, 00:54

Richer Sounds is currently showing the Denon AVR1906 at sub-£250 (£100 off). That has more inputs than you're ever likely to need. There's also Yamaha and Cambridge Audio in that bracket.

I quite like my old Denon (AVR3902 I think). Never really used it to it's full potential though and now I do most things on the PC so it barely even gets used at all.

I'm no hi-fi buff. I'll just go with what sounds 'good enough'.

Mondo · 08-09-2006, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Indecisive

I'm no hi-fi buff. I'll just go with what sounds 'good enough'.

That's all that matters.

And get into demo-ing them, you'll get a feel of what's right for you. The term Fast, placement, direction .. and all the other hifi words will become second nature to you.

Matblack · 08-09-2006, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Indecisive

Richer Sounds is currently showing the Denon AVR1906 at sub-£250 (£100 off).

BUY THIS!

Also look for some second hand KEF 'eggs' or a Canton system, theres a group buy on www.avforums.com.

MB

PeterNem · 08-09-2006, 13:45

Thanks, that forum link looks like it could be a pretty useful place to have a read.

Heard lots of good things about that Denon, and it certainly looks to have more connectivity than I'll ever need with one exception. It doesn't have HDMI sockets. This isn't the end of the world and certainly isn't something that seems normal to have in the price range I am looking at, but I notice there are a couple of AV receivers that do have HDMI sockets that are about in budget (e.g., SONY-STRK880 - I guess Sony stuff isn't quite up to the Denon though in terms of sound quality?)

If I were to get one with HDMI sockets and a DVD player with HDMI out as well as a TV with HDMI in, I am guessing I could then pretty much never need to use the TV remote as I'd be able to switch sources (audio and video) using the AV receiver. If there are no HDMI sockets I'd have to run video from the DVD player directly to the TV, and therefore have to switch the video manually (I think...).

edit: Just tried to sign up to the forums, and it turns out I already have an account there, although cannot ever remember visiting there so it must have been a fair while ago. I must have mistyped my name though, as I'm registered as PetrNem!!

Mark · 08-09-2006, 15:27

The general consensus is that for best picture quality you shouldn't route video through the AV amp unless you have to. This is certainly true for analogue, but not sure how/if it affects digital (i.e. HDMI). Unless you've got more than one HDMI device, it shouldn't be a problem.

Glad other people agreed with me on the Denon. I do like their stuff. I like Kef too. Haven't researched the new model because I'm not in the market, so happy to hear they're as good as ever.

Flibster · 11-09-2006, 21:29

The Denon for that price is a cracker.

I bought seperate speakers though.
They really need to be replaced with something better...
Thinking M70S' front and rear, I like the Kef centers - sub is something I need to play with - but I really like the cast iron B&O ones though.

Simon/~Flibster

08-09-2006, 00:44	#1
PeterNem Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St. Albans Posts: 193	Recommendations for a first home cinema setup Hi all, I'm growing a bit tired of watchign movies on my computer. A 19" TFT doesn't really cut it, and although the Videologic 5.1 speaker set I've been using for years has served it's purpose, it barely has it in it to fill my bedroom with decent sound. In a couple of weeks I'm moving into a 2 bed flat with a mate and high on my list of things to buy once I'm settled in and have my finances in order is a reasonable setup to watch films on. I think we're going to go along the lines of one of us buys an LCD tv (him I think - he has his eyes on a 32" Samsung R74 series), and I buy the sound stuff so we each know what we own when/if we eventually move out and don't have to worry about splitting money etc down the line. I picked up a copy of this months "What Hi-Fi". I realise reviews on audio equipment are very subjective (and that some people don't rate this mag at all), but as a complete n00b I thought some reviews are better than none. A feature that caught my attention was budget 5.1 speaker packages (in the £500 to 600 region). The two sets that seemed to come out of the review best were Q Acoustics 1010 5.1 package and Wharfdale Diamond 9 HCP Does anyone have any experience with these sets of speakers or any speakers from within their respective ranges, or have any other suggestions as to half reasonable speaker systems for me to investigate? Wharfdale is a name I recognise, but not so with Q Acoustics. I gather they are a newish company and I cannot find much in the way of reviews on their products, but the odd bit I can find seems very favourable given their price. The room they'll be going into will be around 17 foot by 10 foot if that makes a lot of difference. I'll also need an AV amp/receiver to power them and would ideally be looking at around £250 for this, although would be willing to consider used if it meant getting something cheaper/better. As well as taking the optical input from a DVD player, it'd be nice if it also either had 6 channel analogue photo inputs or another optical input so I can hook up my PC soundcard to it (6 phono style connectors would probably be easiest, but unless I'm looking in the wrong place this doesn't seem too common). I guess ideally I should go speak to someone in a shop and with a listening room, but I'd feel a bit intimidated not really knowing much about this stuff and also feel like I was not the best use of their time with me only looking for comparatively low-end kit. Any tips or general advice appreciated. __________________ PeterNem

08-09-2006, 13:45	#5
PeterNem Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St. Albans Posts: 193	Thanks, that forum link looks like it could be a pretty useful place to have a read. Heard lots of good things about that Denon, and it certainly looks to have more connectivity than I'll ever need with one exception. It doesn't have HDMI sockets. This isn't the end of the world and certainly isn't something that seems normal to have in the price range I am looking at, but I notice there are a couple of AV receivers that do have HDMI sockets that are about in budget (e.g., SONY-STRK880 - I guess Sony stuff isn't quite up to the Denon though in terms of sound quality?) If I were to get one with HDMI sockets and a DVD player with HDMI out as well as a TV with HDMI in, I am guessing I could then pretty much never need to use the TV remote as I'd be able to switch sources (audio and video) using the AV receiver. If there are no HDMI sockets I'd have to run video from the DVD player directly to the TV, and therefore have to switch the video manually (I think...). edit: Just tried to sign up to the forums, and it turns out I already have an account there, although cannot ever remember visiting there so it must have been a fair while ago. I must have mistyped my name though, as I'm registered as PetrNem!! __________________ PeterNem Last edited by PeterNem; 08-09-2006 at 14:10.

11-09-2006, 21:29	#7
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	The Denon for that price is a cracker. I bought seperate speakers though. They really need to be replaced with something better... Thinking M70S' front and rear, I like the Kef centers - sub is something I need to play with - but I really like the cast iron B&O ones though. Simon/~Flibster __________________

08-09-2006, 00:54	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Richer Sounds is currently showing the Denon AVR1906 at sub-£250 (£100 off). That has more inputs than you're ever likely to need. There's also Yamaha and Cambridge Audio in that bracket. I quite like my old Denon (AVR3902 I think). Never really used it to it's full potential though and now I do most things on the PC so it barely even gets used at all. I'm no hi-fi buff. I'll just go with what sounds 'good enough'.

08-09-2006, 15:27	#6
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	The general consensus is that for best picture quality you shouldn't route video through the AV amp unless you have to. This is certainly true for analogue, but not sure how/if it affects digital (i.e. HDMI). Unless you've got more than one HDMI device, it shouldn't be a problem. Glad other people agreed with me on the Denon. I do like their stuff. I like Kef too. Haven't researched the new model because I'm not in the market, so happy to hear they're as good as ever.