Obtaining a 5.1 speaker set without amp

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Obtaining a 5.1 speaker set without amp

oldwolf

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#220376 8-Aug-2017 14:31

I have a Sony STR-DH550 that I'm currently using with borrowed speakers and I'm happy with the receiver. The specs are: 145W x 5ch, active sub(s), 6-16 ohm impedance.

I'd like to buy some speakers to go with it, for my lounge. Just for normal viewing of TV and movies, I don't plan to shake the house down. Currently I only ever use it on a fraction of the maximum possible power output.

I'd like to spend about $300 getting the 5 speakers excluding subwoofer. Some places sell complete blu-ray systems with 5.1 speakers for about my price range, however it seems like a waste to buy the whole system just to chuck out the blu-ray player and sub (since they all have passive sub which is useless to me).

On the other hand, places that sell speakers on their own start from $600 for just a pair.

I've been unable to find any way to buy just the speakers of a similar quality to what comes with the blu-ray systems.

Are there any good options I'm overlooking, or does anyone have further advice?

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4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1841186 8-Aug-2017 14:44

https://www.rapalloav.co.nz/yamaha-ns-pa40-5-1-channel-speaker-system.html

If you're buying new... it's a powered sub with effective HTIB speakers.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#1841189 8-Aug-2017 14:53

Dunnersfella:

https://www.rapalloav.co.nz/yamaha-ns-pa40-5-1-channel-speaker-system.html

If you're buying new... it's a powered sub with effective HTIB speakers.

Wow, what a discount. Are they selling at a loss?

jarledb

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#1841192 8-Aug-2017 14:57

Dunnersfella:

https://www.rapalloav.co.nz/yamaha-ns-pa40-5-1-channel-speaker-system.html

If you're buying new... it's a powered sub with effective HTIB speakers.

Looks like an OK offer. Not sure how they think its 1,499,- regular. But the $399 seems fair.

They are 475 NZD (excluding shipping and GST) from Amazon.com. Would be around $600 including shipping and GST, I am guessing.

And the typical selling price seems to be around 400-600 NZD (only found them abroad).

Don't know if they are any good. You can look at the Amazon reviews here, they are usually pretty good indicators. (PS: A good setup would probably be in the amount of $3000 - $4000, so don't expect the world of these.

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jonathan18

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#1841194 8-Aug-2017 15:01

Or, given your budget, you'll get more for your money going s/h.

What about a set of Kef eggs?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/speakers-and-stands/home-theatre-sets/auction-1383224259.htm

oldwolf

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1841355 8-Aug-2017 18:44

Thanks, looks like I have two excellent suggestions so far!

I'm in Canterbury - on Trademe I'd filtered out other regions assuming postage would be too expensive, but the KEF Egg guy only quoted $60 including sub, sounds like a pretty sweet deal. I'm guessing they'll go for a lot more than the current price so I'll keep an eye on it. I had trouble trying to find how much would be "too much" to pay by googling.

The Yamaha set looks reasonable - the amazon reviews are mixed, but my current set also has a pretty average centre speaker so it can hardly be worse, and at 6 ohm it just squeaks into my receiver's acceptable range.

asjohnstone

76 posts

Master Geek

#1841359 8-Aug-2017 18:52

http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/product.php?pid=89

I got these from Jb hi fi, well worth considering

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1841446 8-Aug-2017 20:43

The old version of those speakers were 4ohms, combine this with their sealed box design and relatively low sensitivity... and you'd want to make sure that your amp is up to driving them.

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Athlonite

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#1841510 9-Aug-2017 01:01

jarledb:

Dunnersfella:

https://www.rapalloav.co.nz/yamaha-ns-pa40-5-1-channel-speaker-system.html

If you're buying new... it's a powered sub with effective HTIB speakers.

Looks like an OK offer. Not sure how they think its 1,499,- regular. But the $399 seems fair.

They are 475 NZD (excluding shipping and GST) from Amazon.com. Would be around $600 including shipping and GST, I am guessing.

And the typical selling price seems to be around 400-600 NZD (only found them abroad).

Don't know if they are any good. You can look at the Amazon reviews here, they are usually pretty good indicators. (PS: A good setup would probably be in the amount of $3000 - $4000, so don't expect the world of these.

Exactly what I was thinking where'd they get their RRP of $1499 from I bet it's a number pulled from a dark brown place of sitting if they can sell it for $399 you can bet they're still making a profit

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#1841548 9-Aug-2017 07:36

Athlonite:

jarledb:

Dunnersfella:

https://www.rapalloav.co.nz/yamaha-ns-pa40-5-1-channel-speaker-system.html

If you're buying new... it's a powered sub with effective HTIB speakers.

Looks like an OK offer. Not sure how they think its 1,499,- regular. But the $399 seems fair.

They are 475 NZD (excluding shipping and GST) from Amazon.com. Would be around $600 including shipping and GST, I am guessing.

And the typical selling price seems to be around 400-600 NZD (only found them abroad).

Don't know if they are any good. You can look at the Amazon reviews here, they are usually pretty good indicators. (PS: A good setup would probably be in the amount of $3000 - $4000, so don't expect the world of these.

Exactly what I was thinking where'd they get their RRP of $1499 from I bet it's a number pulled from a dark brown place of sitting if they can sell it for $399 you can bet they're still making a profit

Quite right, this type of price gouging is rampant in New Zealand and is the reason I cannot wait for Amazon to show these ripoff merchants they have no right to be.

richms

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#1841561 9-Aug-2017 08:09

surfisup1000:

Quite right, this type of price gouging is rampant in New Zealand and is the reason I cannot wait for Amazon to show these ripoff merchants they have no right to be.

Im afraid that the importer protective laws around SDOC and other BS approval requirements will see it continue here with just the "official" importers selling via amazon and them not wanting to anger their legacy dealer network so we will not see any decent deals on things. Manufacturers already leave required marks of EU model receivers to make it hard to import and sell the cheaper stock from there to protect the local markup cartel's so I dont think amazon will be the super-hero price gouging eliminator we are all hoping for.

Sure, for passive things without stupid local regulation like speakers will help, but getting recievers for the same prices they are in the states or europe not going to be happening.

Richard rich.ms

surfisup1000

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#1841599 9-Aug-2017 08:51

richms:

surfisup1000:

Quite right, this type of price gouging is rampant in New Zealand and is the reason I cannot wait for Amazon to show these ripoff merchants they have no right to be.

Im afraid that the importer protective laws around SDOC and other BS approval requirements will see it continue here with just the "official" importers selling via amazon and them not wanting to anger their legacy dealer network so we will not see any decent deals on things. Manufacturers already leave required marks of EU model receivers to make it hard to import and sell the cheaper stock from there to protect the local markup cartel's so I dont think amazon will be the super-hero price gouging eliminator we are all hoping for.

Sure, for passive things without stupid local regulation like speakers will help, but getting recievers for the same prices they are in the states or europe not going to be happening.

Possibly you are right, however, amazon has tremendous market power.

It will be interesting whatever the case.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

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#1841602 9-Aug-2017 08:55

surfisup1000:

Quite right, this type of price gouging is rampant in New Zealand and is the reason I cannot wait for Amazon to show these ripoff merchants they have no right to be.

Hello, can I just ask how this exact price of $399 is a ripoff?

Can you buy it new for less?

If so, where from?

Would I be out of line to suggest that the OTHER retailers on Amazon are price gouging while the NZ retailer is the only one actually cutting a deal?

Oh wait...

That's a much harder concept to cover off, so we'll leave it alone eh?

Also - what the heck is the issue with a business making a profit?

If my employer didn't make a profit I'd be out of a job and on the dole / looking elsewhere... how about you? Does your employer make any money?

We're a capitalist society after all.

sudo

392 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1841609 9-Aug-2017 09:14

I see those Yamahas were selling for AU$299 across the ditch at catchall.

jonathan18

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#1841637 9-Aug-2017 10:03

Dunnersfella:

surfisup1000:

Quite right, this type of price gouging is rampant in New Zealand and is the reason I cannot wait for Amazon to show these ripoff merchants they have no right to be.

Hello, can I just ask how this exact price of $399 is a ripoff?

Can you buy it new for less?

If so, where from?

Would I be out of line to suggest that the OTHER retailers on Amazon are price gouging while the NZ retailer is the only one actually cutting a deal?

Oh wait...

That's a much harder concept to cover off, so we'll leave it alone eh?

Also - what the heck is the issue with a business making a profit?

If my employer didn't make a profit I'd be out of a job and on the dole / looking elsewhere... how about you? Does your employer make any money?

We're a capitalist society after all.

Don't get your ks in a t!

I read these posts quite differently, ie in relation to the $1499 RRP claim being bollox, not so much as to whether the speakers were good-value at $399.

It does seem that retailers are increasingly good at inflating RRPs (or those made-up equivalent value claims, for items not even sold here) to make the "discount" seem that much more, thereby increase the potential buyer's perception of the item being good value.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1841671 9-Aug-2017 10:35

Fair call.

But as this thread drifts slowly away from helping the OP (3 actual speaker recommendations) and into capitalist behaviour... I'm starting to think that the OP isn't going to get any value from this forum?

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