Advice for first home theatre buy. Go for 2.1 or cheaper 5.1

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happy123

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Topic # 111974 21-Nov-2012 12:23
Hi New to home theatre & want a good system for movies & gaming not music. Got a good deal on a velodyne EQ max 10inch sub at harvey but not sure whether to go for a couple of bookshelf speakers for fronts like Wharfedale diamonds ( haven't really got the room for floorstanders at the moment but will be shifting house in the future) or a satellite system like the Klipsch Quintet or KEF 2005.3. Really want to spend about $1000 -$1500 total incl receiver. Also is it risky to buy a receiver or speakers off trademe when you dont know how it has been treated? Thanks

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Orcon

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Reply # 720707 21-Nov-2012 12:38
Go 5.1 IMO. You won't know what you're missing with 2.1 and for movies, the center channel is crucial if you want to hear dialog.

ilovemusic

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Reply # 720749 21-Nov-2012 13:37
quality over quantity. center speaker not essential if you sit equi-distant between both front speakers.

ubergeeknz

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Reply # 720751 21-Nov-2012 13:39
ilovemusic: quality over quantity. center speaker not essential if you sit equi-distant between both front speakers. It doesn't work like that... if you are watching movies, games, as opposed to listening to music, 5.1 is critical IMO.

networkn

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Reply # 720753 21-Nov-2012 13:41
5.1 no question. I have helped the odd customer get 2.1 at their insistence and they always regret it 6 months later. Bose have a reasonable 2.1 with what I consider to be relatively good surround simulation, but it's all relative to cost.

kiwijunglist

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Reply # 720759 21-Nov-2012 14:06
Buy a nice 5.1/7.1 receiver with a pair of full size speakers (upgrade to 5.1 later) or buy a receiver + 5.1 speaker package. Later probably better if it's mostly for movies/games. HTPC - Intel i3-2100 / 12GB / 13TB Storage / HD4670 / HVR2200 / Win 7 x64 + MediaPortal 1.3 Final PC - Intel e8600 / 8GB / HD5830 / Win7 x64

networkn

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Reply # 720760 21-Nov-2012 14:08
Yah if you want modular improvements later, then start with an Amp and 2 Speakers, and perhaps the Sub if you can afford it. Then you add/replace later as required. Make sure you get at LEAST 4 HDMI Inputs, and if you have designs on 3D, make sure it's HDMI 1.4a at least.

kiwijunglist

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Reply # 720766 21-Nov-2012 14:15
Just dont buy a 2 channel amp/receover, I had a really nice NAD 2 channel amp/receiver with great sound, however still regretted it as I couldn't upgrade it to surround HTPC - Intel i3-2100 / 12GB / 13TB Storage / HD4670 / HVR2200 / Win 7 x64 + MediaPortal 1.3 Final PC - Intel e8600 / 8GB / HD5830 / Win7 x64

joker97

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Reply # 720787 21-Nov-2012 14:48
movies = 5.1 ideally get proper speaker pack. receiver not so important. don't the the home theatre in a box. save up a few hundred more and get a proper cheap receiver (they are really really cheap 2nd hand) and reasonable speakers (the boxy type not the satellite dish looking spoons) you can't hear receivers you can hear speakers yes receiver is important, but if you have no money, no it is not important. you can't hear receivers

Dunnersfella

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Reply # 720940 21-Nov-2012 20:03
Sorry what? 'You can't hear receivers'... Of course you can! It has the amplifiers built in, the power supply to your speakers is all important. What about the DAC? Come on... it's fine to say you think a receiver isn't as important as a speaker - but with blatant calls like 'you can't hear receivers', you're off target by roughly a mile! I like the OP's original plan. You already have a good 10" subwoofer. Now it's time to add to it. I think the concept of a decent set of stand mount speakers like Wharfedale Diamond 10.1's will offer some excellent results. They'll be able to offer pin-point imaging when required, as well as very good musicality for the money. Then, at the same time, the subwoofer is there to fill in the lower frequencies (both for music if desired) and for the booms and crashes during movies. Then, later on, if you feel the need, you can add a Wharfedale centre speaker (I do recommend a matching centre speaker as it's the easiest way to gain a seamless front end in your system). Later down the track, you can buy some Diamond 10.6 floor standers... move the stand mount 10.1's to the back - and you're sorted. It's a nice upgrade path if required. And I mean that, not everyone wants or needs 5.1. Heck, some research I read out of the States (and no, I can't find it now I bring it up) says that a vast majority of people use their 5.1 systems solely for music after half a year of ownership... Receiver-wise. Grab a decent high current amp from the likes a Denon or Yamaha (the RXV673 is well regarded in What Hi-Fi for 2012) - and you should be able to grab the Yamaha / Wharfedale combo within budget... with some haggling. What it comes to second hand, well you rolls ya dice ya takes ya chances I suppose. If you know the person who is selling and you genuinely know the history of the gear then it could be a good bet. However, as an example, I wouldn't buy second hand audio gear out of Christchurch at the moment as a lot of kit has taken a tumble, been shaken around / had gib dust etc shaken into it... My $0.02.

networkn

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Reply # 720962 21-Nov-2012 20:35
Yup I'm with dunners here, the Receiver IS important, it's the core of your system and I can assure the OP that you CAN hear the difference between a crappy receiver and a decent one. It's like the chassis on your car. What would your wheels get attached to? Second hand receivers from a reputable brand is probably ok, I would buy one second hand if I had your budget, because you can't really "break" them. Not so true of speakers. I agree that the Yamaha or Pioneer are safe and good buying.

happy123

4 posts

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Reply # 720963 21-Nov-2012 20:37
Thanks all. Listened again today to the kilpsch 5.1 & 2 warfies diamond bookshlves & there really isn't that much of a difference. Diamonds had better mid range while klipsch had better high range. Also another option would be to spend another $350 over the klipsch reciever pack & get a complete set of warfedale obsidians & abit better receiver. Got a small room at the moment so might be over kill but will be moving within the next year or 2. Any recommendations about the obsidians dont think they're as good as diamonds but haven't directly compared the sound of each but they are cheaper than the complete diamond setup.

networkn

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Reply # 720970 21-Nov-2012 20:56
happy: There is a set called the Energy 5.2 System. It was my first and still left a considerable mark on my memory. They are a smaller set and depending on your room may not suit, but they were AWESOME.

joker97

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Reply # 721073 22-Nov-2012 07:31
Dunnersfella: Sorry what? 'You can't hear receivers'... Of course you can! It has the amplifiers built in, the power supply to your speakers is all important. What about the DAC? Come on... it's fine to say you think a receiver isn't as important as a speaker - but with blatant calls like 'you can't hear receivers', you're off target by roughly a mile! I like the OP's original plan. You already have a good 10" subwoofer. Now it's time to add to it. I think the concept of a decent set of stand mount speakers like Wharfedale Diamond 10.1's will offer some excellent results. They'll be able to offer pin-point imaging when required, as well as very good musicality for the money. Then, at the same time, the subwoofer is there to fill in the lower frequencies (both for music if desired) and for the booms and crashes during movies. Then, later on, if you feel the need, you can add a Wharfedale centre speaker (I do recommend a matching centre speaker as it's the easiest way to gain a seamless front end in your system). Later down the track, you can buy some Diamond 10.6 floor standers... move the stand mount 10.1's to the back - and you're sorted. It's a nice upgrade path if required. And I mean that, not everyone wants or needs 5.1. Heck, some research I read out of the States (and no, I can't find it now I bring it up) says that a vast majority of people use their 5.1 systems solely for music after half a year of ownership... Receiver-wise. Grab a decent high current amp from the likes a Denon or Yamaha (the RXV673 is well regarded in What Hi-Fi for 2012) - and you should be able to grab the Yamaha / Wharfedale combo within budget... with some haggling. What it comes to second hand, well you rolls ya dice ya takes ya chances I suppose. If you know the person who is selling and you genuinely know the history of the gear then it could be a good bet. However, as an example, I wouldn't buy second hand audio gear out of Christchurch at the moment as a lot of kit has taken a tumble, been shaken around / had gib dust etc shaken into it... My $0.02. but he has no money ... which would you buy, high end receiver with paper "speakers" or proper speakers with cheap 2nd hand for a couple of bucks?

joker97

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Reply # 721075 22-Nov-2012 07:36
ok 2nd hand receivers on TM seems a bit expensive but found 2 for $300 http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/amplifiers-tuners/auction-534827261.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/amplifiers-tuners/auction-534694617.htm one has hdmi one doesnt as opposed to $1000 upwards for decent brand new one looks for the THD at 7 channels driven to give you clean sound must be as low as possible eg < 0.5% or even better < 0.1%

joker97

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Reply # 721078 22-Nov-2012 07:42
of course as someone suggested if you can afford to be choosy there are a million features that sets different receivers apart, apart from sound quality and signature alone ... from upscaling to ipod connectivity to internet to preamping to dual zoning speciality to audyssey to vertical surround ... but if there is one thing to look for it is THD (total harmonic distortion) at all channels driven being lower than low

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