Time to beef things up a little..

[Stoo]

Last year I bought a nice shiny new Pioneer 32" Kuro LCD tv..

But I'm struggling with the little Aego P5 speaker set, more specifically the decoder - it doesn't have enough inputs, and can't decode the newer audio formats, so I'm now in the market for an amp and a new sub (the Aego amp is built into the woofer, with a separate decoder..).

I'm thinking a Pioneer 1018 and and re-using the existing P5 speakers (they're awesome!), thoughts?

I plumped for the 1018 because it's "very good" according to the local gadget peddler, and it has the Kuro-link so I don't drown in remotes..

A REL Quake was recommended but having a look at the reviews I'm not convinced..

[kushtibari]

It seems like a plan to me. Never heard the P5s but heard some of the other Aego stuff and I was very impressed. I'd stick with your speakers and upgrade the amp.

I used to have a Pioneer AV amp before I went back to stereo only and I love their stuff - still use a DV868AVi. If you upgrade the amp now you can always change the speakers when you get a bit more spending cash and it gives you a clear upgrade path. I was looking at the Kuro tvs a couple of weeks ago and I was really impressed.

[Stoo]

I'm liking the looks of this for the sub: http://whathifi.com/blogs/home-cinem...-microvee.aspx

Although this looks good for a hell of a lot less: http://www.petertyson.co.uk/ebuttonz...dio_r720.shtml

[Stoo]

I think I'm down to choosing between the Monitor Audio R720 and the BK Gemini mkII for the sub..

Both will fit if the rather small hole I have for the sub (Roughly 31cm wide, depth and height aren't really an issue)

http://www.monitoraudio.co.uk/produc...0/your-speaker

http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/Sub_Woofers/Gemini.htm

Both are around the £200 mark, well within budget

[kushtibari]

R720 at £200 all the way for me if you want to go down that route. I'd still go for the amp though

I had Monitor Audio BR2's in a second system a bit back and was really impressed with them.

Tysons are just up the road from me and I've bought loads of stuff from them. Very good firm.

edit: didn't realise you were posting at the same time - I was comparing the R720 to the dinky little thing. BK are supposed to be spot on but not heard them

[Stoo]

Guh, I've now read some quite bad reviews of the Radius Sub.. :/

Okay, pretty much all of them say don't bother with the Radius Sub, and get something different..


Looks like it might well be the gemini then, lol

[Alex]

The microvee looks terrible IMO, £700 for a sub that only goes down as low as 38Hz? I'd avoid that like the plague...

I'd look at a Mordaunt Short MS309i for around £200, or if you can tolerate a big (but nicely veneered box) then BK Monolith is apparently awesome at £440.

The thing with subs is that the bigger the driver and box, the better the sound is likely to be, or at least, a smaller driver limits the capabilities of a sub.

[Funkstar]

There is a tradeoff with the size though, especially for music.

Large subs, like a 12", are great at rumbling really low, but they lack punch as they are having to move a large heavy magnet back and forth.

A 10" sub on the other hand might not be able to get to the extreme lows, but it nice and punchy and fast.

Large subs are great for home cinemas, because they don't usually have to be that accurate for an explosion, just very low and rumbling. You want to be able to feel it as well as hear it. Music on the other hand should have some accuracy to it as well.

[Skinleech]

BK subs are the bees knees. My mate has a monolith in his home cinema room, and it really is spectacular. It's a sublte sounds too - you know there's bass in the room, but you can't tell that it's coming from the spot you positioned the sub. The room is nicely enveloped.

Once I have recovered enough funds (have shelled out about £2000 on AV gear in the last few months) a BK sub will be high on my list.

[Stoo]

ordered one of these: http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/Sub_Woofers/XLS200-DF.htm

and the pioneer amp

[menthel]

Good choice on the sub. BKs have a really great rep, especially for their size and price! Nice to keep it british too!

[Stoo]

I have the Pioneer amp in the back of the car at the moment..

Still writing SQL procedures at work though..

I want to get home and play!

[menthel]

I know how that feels! My Denon 1909 was in a box for a week and I have all my arcam stuff tucked away until my stand comes. Good luck with the setup!

[Stoo]

Plugged in, but not set up yet - need cable and connectors - I was going to see if I could easily use it with the old system to do the processing, then output the decoded stream to the old box - not enough cables, and the old box isn't flexible enough to do it.

Oh well, I'll get some cable and connectors tomorrow and set to it

[Stoo]

I has cable, connectors and a rather large box - this weekend should be fun

Yup, the sub arrived, and it looks like a beauty

[menthel]

I has cable, connectors and a rather large box - this weekend should be fun

Yup, the sub arrived, and it looks like a beauty

Mmm...

How low can you go?

I think it is finally time for me to put the TV on the wall. The missus is beginning to hound me about it. I personally want to wait for me to buy one of the new G15 TVs from panasonic...