Stereo + home theatre advice please [Archive]

Winston001

7th April 2008, 13:19

I must be getting old. I went to buy a ghetto blaster at the weekend only to discover some shops don't even sell them anymore. Eventually picked up a JVC at Hardly Normal - just wanted to play CDS, tapes, and radio in the kitchen. Ipods and MP3 players are all the rage....

Anyway, I need a sound system for the lounge which I'd like to plug my TV and/or DVD player into. How hard can that be....?

Well, it appears that home theatre and the bog standard stereo system have yet to meet - at least at anything below $1500.

To be honest I don't understand home theatre and whether I really need it. Surely the sound linked through a stereo would also be good even if it isn't split 5 ways??

I'm prepared to spend $1000 more or less.

I'd also like to know whether having my pc linked would be worthwhile - more cables - wireless?

Finally, I saw a JVC system at Hardly Normal for $500 which had USB, video, ipod, mp3 ports but no dvd/cd player - just attach what you like. Is this the new way to go?? It still requires a system with cd, tape, radio, record player to be any use.

Cheers
Winston

MyGSXF

7th April 2008, 13:31

lols.. I scored a surround sound system from our local Op Shop!! for $50.00 :gob:

It plugged straight into the tv, & now anything played on the tv, video, dvd & ps2 players, all goes through the speakers! :rockon:

It sure makes watching movies a better & more enjoyable experience, having the sound coming at you from all directions! :Punk:

vifferman

7th April 2008, 13:39

Sounds like you need to borrow the vifferbabe. She'll find summat for you to buy. :yes:

A couple of years back, I wanted to go window-shopping for some new speakers. Just looking, mind, to see what was available - no real intentions.
We came home with a 5-speaker surround-sound system and subwoofer (B&W), wall brackets, cables, etc etc and a 135W/channel receiver (Onkyo). :blink:

Then a year or so after that, we went window-shopping to look at helmets, and came home with a $12k bike. :pinch:

Jimmy B

7th April 2008, 13:50

I know this is 2x what you wanted to pay but it’s a really good piece of kit:

http://www.easternhifi.co.nz/default,1198.sm

or

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Home-theatre/auction-148554958.htm?p=3

5.1 or 7.2 home theatre is cool but needs to be partnered with a reasonable panel (TV) and speakers for the best effect. Setup correctly it can be stunning. Stereo set up for TV and Movies with a sub is a great compromise.

PC connection can be useful for downloading movies, TV programs/series and internet radio. Most modern amps have direct internet connectivity for radio. Personally I don’t use this feature.

If you want to stay within your budget then keep an eye on trade me. Some very high quality equipment to be found at a fraction of what they cost new. I recently moved on a 10 year old Denon AMP that cost 7K new for $300. It had a minor fault that would have been very easy to rectify

Eg:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/DVD-players-VCRs/DVD-players/auction-148799656.htm?p=2

or better:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Home-theatre/auction-148666616.htm?p=20

DMNTD

7th April 2008, 13:53

Sorry mate I can't help re that stuff but bling sent for saying ghetto blaster...what a freaking flash back! :lol::lol:

Ewan Oozarmy

7th April 2008, 14:01

Sorry mate I can't help re that stuff but bling sent for saying ghetto blaster...what a freaking flash back! :lol::lol:

Definitely! Or "wog box" when I was a lad.

Teflon

7th April 2008, 17:39

You wont get much for $1500..

Your best bet is to go with a good 2-channel amp. Depending on the size of your room, bookshelf speakers is the cheapest option.

I'm a huge fan of Klipsch Reference speakers, high sensitivity which takes fuck all watts to go loud. These speakers maybe in your price range..

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rb-10.aspx

Slingshot

7th April 2008, 20:01

IMHO, an AV Receiver is the way to go. The basic idea is that everything plugs into the AV Receiver, it sends the image signal onto the TV and it does some fancy decoding stuff with the audio signal then sends that onto the speakers.

The beauty of this type of system is that you can add to it as you can afford it. So you could start off with the AV Receiver and 2 speakers, later on you could add the center and surround speakers and then the sub and a plasma or LCD if you haven't already got one.

I couldn't live without my computer hooked up to the TV, if you're keen to do this...look for an AV Receiver that has HDMI in (or DVI at the least). Even if your computer doesn't have this type of output you're future proofing it.

When looking for a unit, think about all of the components that you're going to want to plug in and make sure the unit has all of those inputs on the back + a few, there's nothing worse than running out of inputs.

Last piece of advice...don't skimp on cabling. Cheap cabling can make a good sounding system sound like shit.

or better:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Home-theatre/auction-148666616.htm?p=20
This type of set-up looks like it would be a good place to start.

Indiana_Jones

7th April 2008, 21:37

All I can say is make sure you get a turntable for the system :niceone:

-Indy

HTFU

7th April 2008, 22:23

Anyway, I need a sound system for the lounge which I'd like to plug my TV and/or DVD player into. How hard can that be....?

Well, it appears that home theatre and the bog standard stereo system have yet to meet - at least at anything below $1500.

To be honest I don't understand home theatre and whether I really need it. Surely the sound linked through a stereo would also be good even if it isn't split 5 ways??

I'm prepared to spend $1000 more or less.

I'd also like to know whether having my pc linked would be worthwhile - more cables - wireless?

Cheers
Winston

Personally I think that if you have gone this long without one then a basic system will be fine. (then again I have always been one for doing things on a budget)

I love listening to music but can't see the point in forking out big coin. For the last 10 years have had a basic Sharp 40watts rms stereo system. Cost me $500 back then and sounds great hooked up via the AV cords to my TV. I can also plug my computer into it to play my music on my itunes and music folders. Heaps of wireless options that can be hooked up to the stereo at a later date.

My flatmates back then spent big money on amps and speakers and yeah it did sound good but to be honest I can't really tell a big difference from my system when it comes to watching a movie. I am just running 2 channel not surround sound but my brother got a good pioneer system for less than $1000 new with 5.1 and a DVD player included in the system. Again not a big deal with the actual sound given out.

Any system with multiply AV inputs and AV outputs would be enough to future proof it. Something like this maybe

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/47f9f6270be609ce273fc0a87f3b06ef/Product/View/AE7951

Headbanger

7th April 2008, 23:50

bear in mind it will cost a fair bit of coin to ship a full system down to the bottom of the world.

this one is a bit closer to home

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Home-theatre/auction-149193473.htm

I have bought some stunning audio gear off trademe for very little money.

BIGBOSSMAN

8th April 2008, 08:33

Winston001

8th April 2008, 09:03

Thanks for the replies everyone, very helpful. I had a Technics system for years but it is no more. :argh: However I do have a couple of speakers so I'm part-way ontrack. :clap:

Hadn't thought of Trademe, so that is worth a look. Got to get a turntable too for all the big black CDs I still have LOL.

Teflon

8th April 2008, 17:12

If 2 channel sound is your priority then you can't really go past companies like NAD for bang for buck.
Add a pair of Wharfedale Diamond bookshelves (seen 'em on TM new for $299) and you'll be impressed.
Much much better than those 'all in one' JVC'c and Philips type mini systems.

http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-amplifiers/C315BEE-Stereo-Integrated-Amplifier
http://nadelectronics.com/products/cd-players/C515BEE-CD-Player

Yeah, NAD is the way to go..

Those Wharfedale diamond speakers are rubbish.. i've got the 9.5's boxed away in the garage.. they have no highs, low and mids sound 'muddy'. Chuck a thick blanket over my RF3's (Klipsch), thats how Wharfedales sound to me.

kiwifruit

8th April 2008, 17:37

i recently spent under 1000 on a stereo set up,

big set of cerwin vega floor speakers (400 trademe)
medium yamaha amp with digital fathoms (450 trademe)
all plugged up to the computer, works really well :)

BIGBOSSMAN

8th April 2008, 19:32

Yeah, NAD is the way to go..

Those Wharfedale diamond speakers are rubbish.. i've got the 9.5's boxed away in the garage.. they have no highs, low and mids sound 'muddy'. Chuck a thick blanket over my RF3's (Klipsch), thats how Wharfedales sound to me.

Ha ha no, the new Wharfedale Diamond 9.6 are very nice indeed - nice bass & mids combines with decently natural high frequencies. Coincidentally I have a pair of Klipsch RB61's ($1299) I use on my Class D setup and Ipod - these sound too bright with my big amp but sing beautifully with the tiny T20 Kingrex.
The Klipsch's amazed me with 12 watts per channel tho...

McJim

8th April 2008, 19:41

homer

8th April 2008, 20:14

Yeah, NAD is the way to go..

Those Wharfedale diamond speakers are rubbish.. i've got the 9.5's boxed away in the garage.. they have no highs, low and mids sound 'muddy'. Chuck a thick blanket over my RF3's (Klipsch), thats how Wharfedales sound to me.

have to agree with you there Wharfedale speakers are crap in general
If you could find them get some cerwin vegas, there a great speaker
high power and low drive , would be my pick of any speaker

Teflon

8th April 2008, 20:30

I have a pair of Klipsch RB61's ($1299) I use on my Class D setup and Ipod - these sound too bright with my big amp but sing beautifully with the tiny T20 Kingrex.
The Klipsch's amazed me with 12 watts per channel tho...
Yeah, you do need to match them with a 'warm' amp.

Klipsch are far from high end, but within their price range they are hard to beat.

I had an opportunity to buy a pair of La Scala's, i'm still kicking myself for not buying them..

BIGBOSSMAN

8th April 2008, 20:37

Yes, the legendary La Scala's are quite formidable even today. I went to Jason Parmenter's audio 'salon' in Muriwai to listen to some giant JBL based front horns, 118db efficiency and a giant 18" driver and TAD compression tweeter. Bloody stunning, but very costly!
Anyway back on the subject, just go around a few shops (preferably HiFi dealers), pick a few systems out, listen to 'em and then make your choice.
They're your ears, after all...

Slingshot

8th April 2008, 21:08

have to agree with you there Wharfedale speakers are crap in general
If you could find them get some cerwin vegas, there a great speaker
high power and low drive , would be my pick of any speaker

I've got component Cerwins in my car...they're fantastic!! A friend of mine has Cerwins in his smallish lounge...and they're fuckin (http://www.cerwinvega.com/VE15F.php) huge, but sound great too.

homer

8th April 2008, 22:16

I've got component Cerwins in my car...they're fantastic!! A friend of mine has Cerwins in his smallish lounge...and they're fuckin (http://www.cerwinvega.com/VE15F.php) huge, but sound great too.

Oh yeah theres the stuff you need
i bet they drive wicked even with 50 w power
thats what there great at , low power drive:Punk:

pete376403

8th April 2008, 22:52

I got a reasonably sized Panasonic 5.1 theatre system from Noel leemings for l$500. New, but superceded model. (SA-HE75) It sounds pretty damn good for the money, has optical inputs to match the optical out from the DVD plus RCAs for plenty of other devices to connect and, doesn't take up the whole lounge.
some of the gear mentioned in other posts is pretty mouthwatering, but you have to balance the price against how often you're really going to use even a fraction of the power and features

homer

8th April 2008, 23:06

yep there quite good used to have one

Winston001

9th April 2008, 00:54

Hey Winston - come round and see what I've got and see if that's what you're looking for. Dolby 5.1 stuff by Phillips. Sounds good enough to someone who has had their eardrums ruined by a half lifetime of playing brass bands and symphony orchestras.

It cost us $700 new a coupla years ago.

Thanks McJ, must catch up one of these days.

So if I understand the advice here, the amp is the big deal (assuming it has a tuner in it) and into that I plug 4 speakers (if I like) and a subwoofer.

The output from the TV or the DVD player gets plugged into the amp - no need for a CD player?

I still want to play records and the odd tape so I'd need to find them separately?

I only ask because some of the links only show "receiver" plus speakers. I was kinda expecting CD, radio, and tape too. I used to understand that mixing and matching brands wasn't a good idea.

Great ideas everyone, thanks again.

Cheers
Winston

CookMySock

9th April 2008, 06:27

I just put a 21" screen on my pooter, added TV card for FM radio eww, satellite TV card for freeview, verrry nice Energy ExL bookshelf speakers, HT amp, 150W sub, and its just great for movies, gaming, online and radio stations. Makes a telly look and sound stupid. It's not utra-tech to hook up either, but yet it will do anything.

DB

Tank

9th April 2008, 10:30

I love movies but hate the little shits at the theaters with cell phones etc.

So I setup my own system at home.

So far I have a 106" widescreen screen
High definition projector (ceiling mounted)
Up scaling DVD player
The best AMP I could buy without my wife killing me
xbox 360 with hidef setup
$1300 of cable around the room
7.1 wharfedale speaker setup, with all speakers on spikes etc.

1 x nice sofa, and 1 x small table for my beer.

No-one else is allowed any food or drink in my room (named the man cave) and I love it.

But because GOD is a vengeful GOD and I obviously pissed him off somewhere - just after I get it all in and setup - my son decides to move back home.

His old bedroom is currently a office and hobby room - so you guessed it - he is living in my man-cave.

I don't get to use it.

My shit is covered in dust.

Yes - I'm bitter!

Teflon

9th April 2008, 17:43

So if I understand the advice here, the amp is the big deal (assuming it has a tuner in it) and into that I plug 4 speakers (if I like) and a subwoofer.

Yes, you need to match the amp with the speakers. If you have bright sounding speakers, normally youll match it with warm (neutral) sounding amp.. if your speakers are efficient, you don't need a large amp.. But, it's better to overpower your speakers than under-power them (clipping)..

Then you have speaker impedances..lower the impedance, the more power you need. So, if you have a 4ohm speakers, you will need a high current amp..

When i buy a amp, i go by weight. If it's heavy, then you know it has a good power supply.

I think my amp's around 25kgs, my dvd player is 12kgs..

BIGBOSSMAN

9th April 2008, 18:17

Tef's right on the money here, it's a kind of magic when components come together to produce the sort of sound that keeps ya glued to the couch - system synergy is what it's called and it's a combination of room, positioning of and of course the gear itself.
He's also correct with having hefty power supplies in components, definitely a step in the right direction regarding sound quality.
Now I'm off to play with an Anthem Home Theatre pre/power amp. Yum!

Winston001

10th April 2008, 12:47

Just a couple of interesting bits I've picked up on my wanderings on this topic:

First the Hafler speaker configuration http://sound.westhost.com/project18.htm

Secondly, get an FM transmitter (such as the Belkin Tunecast $89 at DSE) which sends a signal from any device you can plug it into = wireless signal to the amp. Use the FM tuner in the amp to pick up the signal and presto - your own radio station. Send a signal from the DVD player or computer, tape, turntable, whatever.

Thirdly, the Belkin needs it's range enhanced see here http://www.instructables.com/id/Belkin-Tunecast-II-FM-Transmitter-Mod/

I guess the ideal would be to also send sound wirelessly to the speakers but thats beyond me.

Teflon

10th April 2008, 17:34

That tunecast isn't very good.. it was unusable. move the transmitter more than a metre away from the tuner, and you pick up a lot of static.

I recommend this: http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AR3116&CATID=&keywords=fm+transmitters&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=

It looks cheap and nasty.. but it works. Operation range is 10 metres.