Sound systems...

I know this is technically not computer hardware as such, but I was thinking of geting a Pioneer AV reciever and a set of Eltax speakers and liking them up to my PC (soundstorm on the NF7-S via an optical cable). The thing is, I've no idea how good AV recievers are at dealing with music, and seeing as this is what I mainly use my computer for at the moment it seems important! I will obviously be using it for movies and such too, otherwise there'd be little point in getting one rather than a normal amp... So does anyone know how good a budget(ish) AV reciever would be at dealing with MP3s, CDs, and other music from my computer?

Any input gratefully recieved! :)

they are average at best, but unless you have trained ears you will be hard pushed to tell the difference. I have a Pioneer AV reciver and it deals with music great. And if i were choosing speakers right now id go with Acoustic Energy, they are cleaning up the awards and they are cheap as chips :D

If it makes any difference then the reciever I was going to use was :

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_...onomy_id=62-98

With these speakers:

http://www.eltax.com/products/produc...ie&farve=Black

I have the Denon PMA-255UK Amp, tho not a reciever and connected to two AE Aegis Evo 1 Speakers:

http://www.superfi.co.uk/images/aegisevo1_dk_550.jpg

The frequency response on these r really good for money - 38 - 22,000Hz which means ur really gonna feel that low range bass.

I did have a rotel amp, they gave a very clear rich sound, But the Denon gave a much more ambient powerful sound, it depends what u want. Dont just go for "hmm, 100w speakers, i shall buy them..." Think about ur amp/reciever, the power that will drive ur speakers.

Anyways, they are connected to my comp with just a L + R anologue connector out of my souncard (SB Live Platinum)

I recommend AE speakers ;)

AE speakers own

Cor bliemy - Pioneer AV and Eltax speakers :(

AE are a good lot to go with ... for surround you might wanna check out the Wharfedale Diamond pack, £200 from HyperFi and a great sound!

I'm with Denon for budget, they make some cracking amps .. not heard there decoders but presume them to be just as good (don't forget, HiFi aint like PCs .... you need to take reviews with a pinch of salt, a BIG pinch of salt)!

Was it the pioneer AV or the Eltax speakers that got the :( ? Ive only heard good things about the pionerr C301, the next model up from the one i had chosen, and now the one Im probably getting.

Anyone know any good places to get a good set of speakers from? Im only looking at about £150 is the problem...

link to the other pioneer AV receiver if anyones intersted:

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_...onomy_id=62-98

IMO Pioneer started out average and IMM they still are ... same with Eltax!

Try http://www.hyperfi.co.uk or http://www.superfi.co.uk

Have the Evo1s on my stereo - fantastic speakers - esp for the money. Rigged up to a Rotel Amp too - couldn't afford the Cirrus Straight line & AE109s I wanted at the time...

An AV receiver will never be as good as a stereo amp for music really, as it has to be the jack of all trades.

Currently I've got a Pioneer receiver linked up to my PC too. Pioneer aren't great for receivers (apart from their flagship model, which is unsurpassed) but when I was in the market for one the only choices under £400 were made by Pioneer or Sony. Had a listen to both. The pioneer one sounded far better and also looked nicer. It's currently linked up to a pair of Mission M74 floor-standing speakers. It does fine for my needs at the moment so I'm happy. Certainly better than any PC-based speaker system.

These days every company is doing budget receivers so you've got a lot more choice. Marantz are excellent for music, Yahama seem to be kings for films.

My home cinema setup (Monitor Audio Bronze B2 fronts, Sherwood receiver, etc) sounds incredible in my room. Beats the crap out of ANY multimedia speaker system money can buy :)

Any seperates combination (unless you go with REALLY puny speakers) will be better than multimedia speakers, so if you've got the money, invest wisely in some nice seperates :)

I use Marantz and Kef.

A dedicated 2 channel amp designed for music is probably gonna be better than a multi-function receiver since it's designed soley for music, but just about any receiver will basically blow any pc speakers away.

I've got a cheap(ish) Aiwa dolby digital/DTS receiver, and its connected to some B&W DM series speakers (which cost £6 :) ) and it really is outstanding compared to any pc speakers, but having good quality sound card makes a difference - i've got a nforce2 chipset and my m-audio revolution is miles ahead of any sound card i've heard for audio playback.

Any brand will probably do the job well enough, don't go by the power ratings though, go by the reviews and you can't really go wrong. I'm thinking of upgrading my Aiwa receiver for the Marantz SR4300 if RicherSounds get anymore for £150!

For speakers, just get some floorstanders if you can fit them in, the bass is much better plus they look cooler. AE ones seem to be going strong, or KEF, Tannoy R2s, Mission 73's (i think) or Mordaunt Short's new range all look pretty good.

Hope that helps.

-Scott

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Originally posted by 3Dfx
I use Marantz and Kef.

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I used Kef with my other setup, they were really clear sounding, but there was no umf behind them, maybe cos they were the Q15's eeeeeek.

Still, AE are good :D

I wouldn't really call 38Hz low range bass, though anything below 33Hz feels like the real low bass.

Quote:

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I used Kef with my other setup, they were really clear sounding, but there was no umf behind them, maybe cos they were the Q15's eeeeeek.

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Thats why I use a 25" sub. :D

25" sub ??? :o i won't believe it until i see the pics! and then i'll need one!

Quote:

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Originally posted by 3Dfx
Thats why I use a 25" sub. :D

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25" would be very difficult to make, also to drive ... pics please!

I've seen 18" subs before ... a M8 had two 18" Rockfords, hooked upto 2 Alpine 800Watt amps, w00t what a noise, lol ... quality was shocking tho, lol!

Quote:

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Originally posted by Enverex
I wouldn't really call 38Hz low range bass, though anything below 33Hz feels like the real low bass.

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well obviously thats where subs come in, for normal bookshelf speakers, 38 aint bad...:p

Me thinks he was joking about the 25" sub and, tbh, I've always preferred quality to size. ;)

Its whats inside that counts!

my sub is hand-built using a 12" car subwoofer driver and a solid 2CM thick MDF and makes a hell of a noise! Cabinets are what makes subs sound great :)

Also, what is the frequency response on that 25" sub? (best to use a tone generator, not the manufacturers specs).

I highly doubt it is a 25" sub. Lol.

Mine goes audibly down to about 23 Hz which I am damn impressed with :)

I saw a 30" sub at the motor show once, cost like £3000 though and only a handfull were ever made.

OK, so where do I go about slating a retailer?

Hyperfi look really great on their website, and they say its £10 for next day delivery... its all looking good...

Then you phone them up. Firstly, their realy prices are all about £40 more (at least) than on their website, which I could understand if they were just on ex-demo stock, and they only had new stock in, but it isn't. Their website is just misleading.

Next problem, is when I phone them up, they have next to nothing actually in stock anyway, even at their inflated prices. (I admit that the actual prices still aren't too bad, but nowhere near as good as they first look.) They didnt have any of the acoustic energy 101 rear speakers, even though that only went up on their offers page today! D'argh!

I think I have successfully vented my frustration...

Yup, Hyperfi are truly awful. People accuse Richer Sounds of baiting with non-existant stock but Hyperfi are the pits.

I'm still waiting to here about this 25" sub. Unless it was a euphemism for something else, of course. :D

Quote:

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Me thinks he was joking about the 25" sub and, tbh, I've always preferred quality to size.

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Hehe keep telling yourself that mate ;)

I think ur best bet is SuperFi In manchester, online prices are 10% cheaper than in shop. I got all my stuff from there.

OR,

U can go to Richer Sounds In whitefield, apparently they know their stuff, and my Recording Studies Lecturer reccommends them
"they guys there are fairly old blokes but wont conn u out of ur money"

Lol

But sup to u...


I still think u should go for Acoustic Energy Speakers tho...

In the end I went for a set of mordaunt-short speakers (well, so far I only have the 2 floorstanding fronts) which sounds lush! I'm getting a couple of mission rears (m71i) and a mission centre (m7c1) as well, I cant afford the acoustic energy packages! Oh well!

I did get the pioneer VSX-C301 reciever in the end, I know you guys weren't too keen on it but the reviews on it said it was really good, and it sounds amzing to me, which is I guess what counts!

Got it all connected up to my soundstorm now with an optical cable, it sounds absolutely gorgeous! (My new mordaunt-shorts look it too!) So I'm happy now! :)

Glad you're happy with your new kit. At the end of the day, thats what matters the most, so congratulations on making the right choices!

I hope u dont get too scared when u stick Doom 3 on!

i just got myself an a/v reciever an speakers too - tho a diff set.

i had a budget of £200 for the lot which didnt help matters really ;) so i ignored all reviews etc and trolled around the hi-fi shops, listning to loads of diff combos of reciever/speakers that were in my range. in the end i picked up a Sharp SDAT1000 1-Bit Digital 5.1 Home Theater System from my local co-op lol ;) £200 and they threw in a free dvd player too.

now before you all go slating it like nearly all the online reviews do i dont know what they are on about, it sounds friggin amazing in my room whether im playing sound from my PC/GC/TV/Freeview/DvD/CD/Radio - i couldnt reccomend it more for the price. It could go even better with some better speakers but i need some more £££ before i upgrade them ;)