Amp + Speakers

[Lee`]

I'm looking to replace my 5.1 system with a nice amp and Speakers set-up. I will be using it for the sound on my PC (this year and hopefully be using for my HD TV setup when I get a flat/house next year) I have a budget of about £150-£200. Would I notice any increase in sound performace going from my onboard sound or from a sound card (ie X-fi) or becuase it is going through a amp anyway it won't matter?

I think the Floorstanders would be prefered but I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks

[tinners]

It wont really matter.

Using optical passthrough (SPDIF) interface the PC is not doing the sound processing, it is being done on the amp.

[Lee`]

Presumably not all amps come with optical in, will most new amps come with it? It's not something that seems to crop up on the amps I've been looking at.

[Nemeliza]

Is your £200 budget for the amp alone, or is this for amp+speakers?

It will be tough to pick up an AMP and all 6 speakers for this price, however this depends on how bothered you are about your amp/speaker choice. You may be able to pick up a cheap AV amp/reciever for ~130 but then you have to decide if you want to purchase all 6 speakers at once?
Also, dont forget you will also need speaker cable for each channel as well as the digital optical/coax cable for input.

Try looking on the web for reviews if there is a specific brand/range you are after.

[tinners]

Originally Posted by Lee`

Presumably not all amps come with optical in, will most new amps come with it? It's not something that seems to crop up on the amps I've been looking at.

Any half decent amp should come with a TOSLINK or Coaxial digital input or both, even one a few years old.
Spend the money you save on the X Fi and get a nice cheap setup like this one:

Yamaha RXV359 ~ £119.95
Tannoy FX5.1 Silver (5.1 speaker package) ~ £149.95

or if you want a DVD player
Sony DVPNS29 + Sony STRDE400 + 6 Speaker Package Yamaha NSP110 ~ £249.95

I have the Yamaha & Tannoys and find them an excellent system/. I also found Richer Sounds aftersales service very good, but make sure you check the shop prices aren't cheaper on the web before you buy anything !

[Lee`]

Originally Posted by tinners

Any half decent amp should come with a TOSLINK or Coaxial digital input or both, even one a few years old.
Spend the money you save on the X Fi and get a nice cheap setup like this one:

Yamaha RXV359 ~ £119.95
Tannoy FX5.1 Silver (5.1 speaker package) ~ £149.95

or if you want a DVD player
Sony DVPNS29 + Sony STRDE400 + 6 Speaker Package Yamaha NSP110 ~ £249.95

I have the Yamaha & Tannoys and find them an excellent system/. I also found Richer Sounds aftersales service very good, but make sure you check the shop prices aren't cheaper on the web before you buy anything !

Right, the amp looks good, but I think I'm going to go for a 2.0 set-up this year then get surround sound next year. I work in Edinburgh so I might pop into Richer sounds tomorrow.

[Lee`]

How about this amp;

http://www.avland.co.uk/yamaha/dspax750/dsp-ax750.htm

I've been offered £100 for one second hand. The only disadvantage is the lack of a third component connection, but would it offer a superior sound?

[Nemeliza]

I have the AX757 and it's excellent. Friend of mine has a similar model yamaha and also feels the same way. I had a pioneer amp before the yamaha and i definitely prefer the yamaha (although granted the pioneer was a few years older)

If you trust the person and it's in good nic, go for it.

[Lee`]

I don't know the person but it looks to be in good nic, comes in the box and with the remote and it's cash on collection so no chance of it being a scam. I presume there isn't going to much diffrence quality wise between buying a used or new amp if it's the same model.

[Nemeliza]

Bar aesthetics, if its in good nic then there wont be a difference quality wise

[Lee`]

I'm now just looking for a nice set of stereo speakers foremostly for music. I would prefer some floorstanders. Any suggestions?

[99Flake]

Well Richer sounds are doing these http://www.richersounds.co.uk/showpr...KEF-CRESTA3CCH at a bargain price. I used to have a pair before I got my concertos and they are fantastic, go have a listen to them.

Remember, whatever you do listen to speakers first and decide what suits your ear.

[Lee`]

Thanks Flake, I'll take a trip up to RC tomorrow lunchtime those speakers look like they will fit the bill, I presume I'll also have to buy speaker cables? Do you think I could bargin with the sales reps at RC?

[trusz]

Wow those crestas are a bargain and the cherry finish is lovely. I used to have the Cresta 2's on some nice stands and they've done me proud. Recently upgraded to some Monitor Audio RS6's.

£200 for amp/floorstanders is very tight. You might be able to haggle a bit if you get all of it at once, especially at richer. My housemate bought a cheap Yamaha AV receiver/amp and some TDL floorstanders (I'd recommended the Kefs over these).

[Lee`]

Well for anyone intrested I think I've done it. I went down the second hand route and picked up a set of Tannoy MX surround sound speakers. I got a pair of MX3s, MX1s and a MXC with some speaker cables throwen in for £85 and I should be collecting a av amp later today for £70, so I've come in under budget and got a surround sound set-up. I've still to get it all connected up but I shall do later today and let you all know if it makes a big diffrence. If anyone would like any advice about buying a similar set-up second hand, feel free to ask away here.



PS. I'll post up some pictures when it's all up.

[Lee`]

So first of all here is a picture of from the front,



one of a MX3



and one of the MXc



Which is all good and well, but the most important part. How they sound. For me they sound amazing, for music and video. Considering the whole set-up cost about £160 and I only have the rear-left setup (as I don't have a place for the rear-right or a long enough cable) I'm really impressed, and as the seller of the speakers said, 'they go loud' and they don't half! I put on GoW and was bloody blown away.