Adam M

Hi guys.

normally I would be inclined to answer a question like this, but I cant be arsed to think, and many hands blah blah blah.

Friend of mine has bought a new flat. Needs complete av system. Forget tv etc. I will sort that separately.

He wants a convenient set up, rather than having separate hi fi and av.

I figure a one box yamaha/denon type thing with AC3 and DTS, and a dvd player to double as a cd player.

Cant be bothered talking speakers here, will sort that too,.

Basically he has £1500 to spend on these and speakers (5), thoughts anyone?


My initial idea was to suggest a ps2 as a source unit but it could be annoying using it for listening to cds. Has anyone used one with a remote control unit? plus multiregional cheats for ps2s can be annoying to use, making it even more inconvenient.


He has suggested that he can do without a ps2.

So choice of dvd players? want multi regional.

plus av amp.????

second hand from audiot.co.uk? or brand new. if new which models (I dont normally look at this price range cos I am too poor).

Perhaps someone is selling? or knows where I should look.

Need to sort this out this week.

Thanks guys (and gals although I doubt it),

Adam

Blow Dog

Is this guy someone who would tell the difference between a £150 DVD player and a £450 DVD player?

alistair

Lots of different questions / tradeoffs and everyone has their own bias.

I went for Bose AM15 speakers 'coz I wanted something small and they sound amazing for the size, I then got a Sony 940 Amp and a 325 (multi region) player. Just over £1500 all in and I'm very pleased with it.

DavidBrown

Go for a

Denon AVC-A10SE Amp (£900)
plus POA-T10 Power Amp (£250)
both are THX certified.

Giving you 5.1 / 7.1 / THX EX / THX Ultra / DTS / DTS ES etc. etc. (~1000 watts too)

Connect that to a Sony CX-860 DVD (£400)

The CX-860 holds 301 (yes 301) discs in a jukebox style. The device is only slightly bigger than a traditional DVD player (discs are stood up rather than laid flat) That way you can put all your music and films into the changer.

Sorted.



[This message has been edited by DavidBrown (edited 22 August 2001).]

roadrunner

Adam,

DVD player - Pioneer 636D around £350 for the multi-region. Won What Hi-Fi award

AMP - Yamaha DSP-A5. The ultimate AMP fro around £250 - gives you DTS and DD5.1. I believe the AMP has been superceed but I can't remember the new model, but I have been told it's superior.

I would recommed putting aside a min of £100 for the Optics, speaker cables, RGB Scart lead.

HTH

rr

Adam M

Cem, it is david!!!

he cant ell the difference, no.

Like alistairs advice.

David likes the bose acoustimass speakers,its just teh rest of it I wasnt sure about.

David,

I cant imagine him buying 301 dvds, so it may be a touch ott, anythnig more normal to someone who doesnt mind changing his disk.

PS. beware of thx ratings on amplifiers.

All it means is the capacity to drive specifically efficient speakers in a specific sized room to a specific volume. Aprart from that it means **** all.

Even less if it is thx ultra.

DavidBrown

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Adam M:
<B>
David,

I cant imagine him buying 301 dvds, so it may be a touch ott, anythnig more normal to someone who doesnt mind changing his disk.
[/quote]

Hmm, yeah, but you can dump 301 DVD + Audio discs in it.. so it's a music and movie jukebox

Besides, you'd be surprised how many films you start to accumulate.. I'm up to 150 DVD discs already

Adam M

Beleiev it or not, david, I could probably fill that with dvds already, and then ahlf again with laser discs (if they fitted). but I would still rather just remove the disc from its case and put it in the machine.

Would be a great gadget if I was that way inclinced! which I am.

but it isnt for me!

Bajie

I reviewed quite a few systems when looking for my system at home.
Get your friend to get HWhat Home Entertainment magazine as they review the top five systems/amps/speakers all to suit different budgets.
But he absolutely must audition the equipment he is going to buy.
If you think your friend will get the bug and wish to upgrade I would suggest getting the best DVD player he can as the amps are still changing though some like Denon are allegedly upgradeable.