Good evening all!

Having made a few life-changing desicions I think I will be investing in a package as in the title of this thread! I have done a few searches and have a few ideas but would really appreciate any new comments, especially re. amps and speakers.

Many thanks in advance!

Mossman

 

Seperates all the way IMHO try testing stuff from denon and yamaha reference amps and kef, mission, B and w amongst others for speakers also go to

 

Denon Amp. Best I auditioned without exception [IMHO] and not so many foolish DSP settings.
B&W Speakers. Excellent AV and stereo reproduction.
Sony DVD player. Personal favourite for no real reason.

 

One strange thing with the sony is that on dual layered discs you do notice the changeover.
I don't remember this on my old Pioneer 606d.

 

Have recently done the same...

Sony KV32FX60 TV
Sony STRDB940 Amp
Sony 536 DVD Player
Mission 771e Fronts (Smallish room - well it is now the TVs in there !)
Mission 77c1
Small Jamo surrounds

Am very happy. The TV in particular is superb. The Amp sounds great (I'm not a great audiophile so can't really comment on pure stereo but it sounds just fine to me using the DVD as a CD player...)
Films at home are a whole new game now.

I love the mission speakers. In cherry with some nice stands from a local hi-fi shop they perform well without taking over the room. When (if) i move to bigger house, they'd become the rears with some nice 773s up front.

Sony Amp remote is not quite as good it could be with a couple of annoying quirks but have asked for a Pronto for my birthday so hopefully that will soon be sorted !

Went with Sony on all the bits cos the matching silver was key to getting home approval.

Dean

[This message has been edited by dsmith (edited 14 February 2001).]

 

Mossman
As has been said by others. Seperates are the way to go. I got, a while ago now, a 25 inch (how small!) Sony TV with built in dolby surround, about a month later I was kicking my self as I wanted a seperate DS amp, so I don't use the on-board decoder in the TV. Just get a nice big TV with nicam, then get yourself a nice Dolby Digital/DTS amp.

My present setup is of a Sony, something or other dobly surround amp, which I will ,at some point (when I get a DVD player/PS2, or both ) upgrade to Dolby Digital/DTS (probably a pioneer one, though I like the Yamaha AV1 (think that's what it is called))

Speakers.

Well, I've got four B&W 601DM's which one magazine said 'sound like the voice coils of God' don't know about that, but they are pretty good. Front pair are for from L & R sound, rear set are surround effects, and are a bit of overkill for effects speakers to be honest!
Center speaker is a JBL something or other, can't remember.

Have no got subwoofer, a) amp does not have connections for it, b) no worth it for only DS, will get one for DD/DTS as it is a must!

Oh, and the amp never gets turned abov 3.5 mainly as louder than that is way too loud.

 

Thanks everyone!
I am pretty ok with the DVD player and speakers but what about a decent Sony (?) TV with no Dolby bits on and what DD/DTS amp!?
Recommendations welcomed once more!

Thanks again,

Mossman

PS MArcus hope you're well mate!

 

Have a look at the forums in

 

Fully agree ref TV don't buy what you're not going to use...

The KV32FX60 is the 32" super trinitron, 100hz, non pro-logic model.

I have heard some reports about problems but I am delighted with it. price was £890 (no stand) from letsbuyit. Before their recent problems it was on offer at 850. I believe letsbuyit have raised new funding so I'm sure it will be back.....

Dean

 

Hi Jon,

We went for a Panasonic 36"widescreen flatscreen Nicam TV in silver, Panasonic DVD and video in silver and then the Sony STR DB930 Amplifier also in silver. This is a DTS/5.1 amp with optical input/outputs and IIRC 5x100w amplification. For speakers we went for a Bose Acoustimass with the 5 split satellite speakers and bass box. The sound is very clean and beautifully balanced.

I'm over the moon with it all and the ps2 sounds wicked through the amp If I could choose again I would definately go for the same setup!

Also, you should get some fairly decent discount if you're buying a package like this so make sure you shop around!

Nito

 

Thanks Nito!
How are you anyway mate!? Where did you get your gear from?

Cheers,

JOn

 

I went with the Panasonic 32" Tau, very pleased with it. If your getting seperates for surround sound, don't get a surround sound TV!

This forum posts DVD bargains, inc hardware etc

 

Mossman,

I'm another Sony convert.

Sony KV32FX60 - its got a fantastic picure quality, I think mainly down to the 100mhz picture;
Sony DVPS725 DVD player - again used to be one of the most highly rated DVD's;
Sony STRDB930 amp - again highly rated;
Sony SA-VE705 pascal speaker system.

I've had this around 18 months now, and since buying I've not really been keeping a track of updates.

I've had a few problems with the amp and subwoofer, but they've all been sorted now.

The main reason I went for the particular speaker set up is that it was the Sony "4D system", and the speakers are really small so they fit in the front room without standing out too much.

I've also got a NAD hi-fi system and B&W speakers. Both a really god IMHO, so if you can get either or both in 5.1 set up, it will definitely be worth a look.

As an aside - what do people rate as their best DVD?

Matt

 

Mossman,
Yep, can also confirm Sony STR-DB930 (940 now) is an excellent amp with DTS.
In general you can't go wrong with Sony gear, but for a different idea on the telly how about a 32" Loewe Aconda, pricy but you will be amazed at the picture quality.
Regards
Allan

 

Mossman,

I'm just doing the same thing. I should be picking everything up tomorrow

My brother and a friend work in the HiFi trade so I get good advice and also every thing at cost

I've gone for :

Sony STR-DB940 Amp in Silver
KEF KHT2005 speakers (highly recommended)
DVD? maybe Sony DVPS735S.

I should get the lot for around £1200.

Dave.