Sony Home Theatre Component Systems vs Yamaha reciever and Whafdale Diamond 10s

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Sony Home Theatre Component Systems vs Yamaha reciever and Whafdale Diamond 10s

ashnizzle

196 posts

Master Geek

#88447 16-Aug-2011 14:46

hey just want some feedback on this.
ive got spare 3-4 grand to spend towards a home theatre. my mates got the sony HTDDW7600and that sounds really good. im thinking of getting diamond 10 series speakers along with Yamaha RXV 1067 reciever. im stuck wheather if i should just get the sony package and save one cash as suppose to the yamaha/wharfdale. is there a great deal of difference in price vs peformance comparison? what would you recommend?

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4086 posts

Uber Geek

#507353 16-Aug-2011 15:10

Yamaha / Wharfdale through and through.

Sony have never been a sound company, and even then, their panel (TV) division is struggling...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10742758
The setup you linked to is effectively a home theatre in the box solution, just on steroids. It runs two passive subs (hence the need for a seperate subwoofer amp) and the sound is nothing but 'boomy' and lacking clarity. The amplifier is a pain in the butt to use, and well, compared to the Yamaha it's a throw away unit in my books.
On the other hand, the Yamaha is one of the easiest to use amps on the market, and its flexibility (bi-amping both horizontally and vertically) means it'll be very flexible too. It will also upscale composite / component inputs to HDMI, with a simple GUI that'll make your life very easy (HDMI pass through is mint too). Soundwise, you'll need to listen to both setups - but at this price, I believe room setup will make a bigger difference.

Wharfdale Diamond 10's are the 'standard' by which all other speakers in this price range are judged. There are others, especially those that offer a little more 'snob' factor. Take a listen... but it can be very hard to get the different speaker sets side by side to compare.

For my money, I'd get the Wharfdale / Yamaha combo, add a Yamaha iPod dock (YDS12) and enjoy it.
The hardest part... choosing between Diamond 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 or 10.7 variations.

vexxxboy

4246 posts

Uber Geek

#507358 16-Aug-2011 15:14

i have the Sony and i have seen it for $1300 , for what it costs it is great value , i listened to the yamaha and better speakers but my ears couldnt tell the difference between the different units and for the extra $2000 to get the yamaha etc, i didnt think it was worth it other than the snob appeal.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

MarkX

109 posts

Master Geek

#507373 16-Aug-2011 15:26

Nothing to do with snobbery at all, but stand alone Amp and separate speakers will sound miles better than any home theatre in a box set up. I don't know about this particular Amp, but I have listened to home speaker in a box set ups (both Sony and Panasonic).

If you want significantly better sound, go with the Yamaha receiver and Wharfdale speakers.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#507421 16-Aug-2011 16:13

Actually - while we could compare these systems (and there's no real competition to be made here)...
It'd be better to ask a few questions first...

What size is your room?
What sources are you playing your content through?
What sort of TV / projector do you have?
Do you intend to put audio through into other 'zones'?
Do you have a cabinet for your audio gear?
Will you be putting speakers on the floor? The walls? On stands?
Who will be using the system?

If you can fire some answers on the thread, we will all be able to point you in the right direction.

ashnizzle

196 posts

Master Geek

#507482 16-Aug-2011 18:16

Dunnersfella: Actually - while we could compare these systems (and there's no real competition to be made here)...
It'd be better to ask a few questions first...

What size is your room?
What sources are you playing your content through?
What sort of TV / projector do you have?
Do you intend to put audio through into other 'zones'?
Do you have a cabinet for your audio gear?
Will you be putting speakers on the floor? The walls? On stands?
Who will be using the system?

If you can fire some answers on the thread, we will all be able to point you in the right direction.

its a open living room which is 75 meters squares.
Will be using Bluray/DVD player, PS3 and MySky HD.
Got a Philips HD Ready Plasma atm but might be getting a LED tv in the future.
That could be a possiblity but at this stage no.
Yeh, we've got a tv cabinet which has lots of space for reciever and other stuff
Speakers will be on the floor as i dont think there would be space to hang the rear surround speakers
Family mainly so parents, me and sister.

Dont want something way over the top but want something that will sound really good.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#507506 16-Aug-2011 19:05

Looking at your requirements - the cabinet that comes with the Sony unit will be superfluous. However, you could hang onto it or flick it on Trademe?
If you're putting the speakers on the floor, grab some speaker stands for the rear speakers, or in the case of the Sony, for all 4 of the stand mounts - do factor this into your budget.

Re: The 5.1 vs 7.2 approach.
Not many BluRay sources can provide 7.2 sound tracks, it hasn't really taken off... and it's definitely a no-go for MySky movies etc.
2 x subwoofers are great in theory, but to get the best out of them, you would need to spend a lot of time getting them in the right places so that there's even bass dispersion through out the room. I've seen (and heard) it done well in many a man cave, but not in family homes as some members of the family would rather hide the subs in a corner, or behind a piece of furniture.

As a side note, I've seen Pioneer units for a similar price to the Sony... and they smash them sound wise (powered sub), no money squandered on a cabinet that isn't always needed. So yeah, don't just go on the first couple of units you spy in-store.

ashnizzle

196 posts

Master Geek

#507626 16-Aug-2011 22:49

Dunnersfella: Looking at your requirements - the cabinet that comes with the Sony unit will be superfluous. However, you could hang onto it or flick it on Trademe?
If you're putting the speakers on the floor, grab some speaker stands for the rear speakers, or in the case of the Sony, for all 4 of the stand mounts - do factor this into your budget.

Re: The 5.1 vs 7.2 approach.
Not many BluRay sources can provide 7.2 sound tracks, it hasn't really taken off... and it's definitely a no-go for MySky movies etc.
2 x subwoofers are great in theory, but to get the best out of them, you would need to spend a lot of time getting them in the right places so that there's even bass dispersion through out the room. I've seen (and heard) it done well in many a man cave, but not in family homes as some members of the family would rather hide the subs in a corner, or behind a piece of furniture.

As a side note, I've seen Pioneer units for a similar price to the Sony... and they smash them sound wise (powered sub), no money squandered on a cabinet that isn't always needed. So yeah, don't just go on the first couple of units you spy in-store.

yeh thats true, 7.2 would kind of be needless. i guess i might have to go towards the yamaha and wharfdale system. but now have to decide on the reciever and what speaker would be ideal

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sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#507627 16-Aug-2011 22:52

For mine, that Sony system is uuuuugly. But of course beauty is in the eye of the purchaser and is nothing if not subjective.

I'd go the Wharfedale / Yamaha route.... much more versatility to mix and match and upgrade bits later on should you so desire. And it'll look a hell of a lot more classy to match the (IMHO) better sound.

Hobchild

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#507646 17-Aug-2011 00:25

ashnizzle:
Got a Philips HD Ready Plasma atm but might be getting a LED tv in the future.

I'd personally get the Sony and spend the rest upgrading your TV myself. You're wasting your blu ray player and PS3 on an HD ready.

bfginger

1272 posts

Uber Geek

#508195 17-Aug-2011 19:57

I'm surprised the Philips lasted this long without breaking down. Those were notorious for bad caps. Fairly cheap to fix though. 768x1366 with HDMI right? Find an electrical nerd to check the caps over before selling it ;)

A cheap LCD probably wouldn't be that much of an upgrade despite the additional resolution.

I am sure if he spent $3,000 on a new TV he could get something substantially better but do we need to fall into the trap of spending $1,000 a year on televisions? Because in 4 years' time there'll be something as much better than what's available now as what's available now is better than what he's got.

But for what it's worth I'd sooner spend $3,000 on replacing that with a VT30 plasma than spend $3,000 on a sound system.

Hobchild

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#508199 17-Aug-2011 20:03

bfginger:But for what it's worth I'd sooner spend $3,000 on replacing that with a VT30 plasma than spend $3,000 on a sound system.

My thoughts exactly, TV first, sound system second.

Hobchild

623 posts

Ultimate Geek

#508201 17-Aug-2011 20:07

Also he doesn't need to spend $3000, there are some really good TV's for between $1000 - $2000 that would still be a significant upgrade from what he currently has and he would still have a nice chunk of change for a mid range sound system.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#508203 17-Aug-2011 20:12

Sound is 50% - Vision is 50%...
And I agree, good TV's date quickly as of late (they didn't change for years) but audio doesn't age in the same way. A good set of speakers could be with you for the next 10-15 years.

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#508280 17-Aug-2011 22:35

Dunnersfella: Sound is 50% - Vision is 50%...
And I agree, good TV's date quickly as of late (they didn't change for years) but audio doesn't age in the same way. A good set of speakers could be with you for the next 10-15 years.

Agreed. I've got 20 year old Castle Acoustics speakers which still sound great (with a blown tweeter replaced this year) running through a 12 year-old Yamaha DSP-A1. Not to mention to 25 year-old Naim Nait 2 I've got in storage waiting for some new/old speakers!

ashnizzle

196 posts

Master Geek

#508714 18-Aug-2011 19:25

bfginger: I'm surprised the Philips lasted this long without breaking down. Those were notorious for bad caps. Fairly cheap to fix though. 768x1366 with HDMI right? Find an electrical nerd to check the caps over before selling it ;)

A cheap LCD probably wouldn't be that much of an upgrade despite the additional resolution.

I am sure if he spent $3,000 on a new TV he could get something substantially better but do we need to fall into the trap of spending $1,000 a year on televisions? Because in 4 years' time there'll be something as much better than what's available now as what's available now is better than what he's got.

But for what it's worth I'd sooner spend $3,000 on replacing that with a VT30 plasma than spend $3,000 on a sound system.

haha infact you might have jynxed my tv. its having problems when i turn it on. so might have to get a tv. but yeh i guess first i might get a tv then worry about the sound system as most of you agree that soundsystem takes a while to age as suppose to tv. but also another good point is if i shoud just get a tv for $1000-2000 which will get outdated in a years time or get something which will last be a few years.

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