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Old 01 January 2007, 07:15 PM
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Tiny
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Thumbs up Home Cinema ~ Surround sound

Over the xmas hols i visited our local Home cinema , Sound & Vision specialists , I Was blown away with the sound that these seperate systems produce .

Called back into our local store yesterday for yet another listen And whilst there made the purchase

The set up .................

1 ~ Arcam Diva AVR 300 ( AV Reciever )
Arcam - DiVA AVR300 Surround sound receiver

1 ~ Arcam Diva DV 79 ( DVD Player )
Arcam - DiVA DV79 DVD player

4 ~ Definitive Technology Mythos Gems Speakers ( FL , FR . RL . RR . )
Mythos Gem Compact Loudspeakers

1 ~ Definitive Technology Mythos Seven ( Front Centre )
Mythos Center Channel Loudspeakers

1 ~ Miller & Kreisel KX10 Sub
M&K Sound SUBWOOFERS

Cannot wait until i collect it all this week & Get it set up

All linked yp out pioneer PDP 506XDE Plasma

Been all day channelling out the lounge walls ( Newly decorated ) Ready for all the speaker cables

Our son cannot wait to hook up his PS2 To it

Anyone else running a similiar set up ??

Last edited by Tiny; 01 January 2007 at 07:18 PM.
Old 01 January 2007, 07:18 PM
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Scooby Soon!
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What was the total cost?
Old 01 January 2007, 07:22 PM
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gatecrasher3
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I have a Marantz SR4400 amp, Kef Q35 fronts, Kef Q95 centre & Kef Q15 rears. No sub at the moment. The sound quality and seperation is absolutley fantastic
Old 01 January 2007, 07:32 PM
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Tiny
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Originally Posted by gatecrasher3
I have a Marantz SR4400 amp, Kef Q35 fronts, Kef Q95 centre & Kef Q15 rears. No sub at the moment. The sound quality and seperation is absolutley fantastic
Nice ...

Did listen to the Arcam set up with the Kef's ( 3000 Series ) Wife liked the look of the egg shape speakers , But opted for the def techs in the end , Sound just as good & Look ok as well

Was not allowed floor standing speakers

Tiny ...
Old 01 January 2007, 07:33 PM
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Tiny
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Originally Posted by Scooby Soon!
What was the total cost?
Ermmm Bit more than i bugeted for

Mrs also uses these forums best i not say

Tiny ...
Old 01 January 2007, 07:47 PM
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mart360
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And it wont sound as good as it did at the dealers

I take it you tried it in a demo room?

you should have asked for a loan of the kit before you purchased.

its amazing how your own rooms interactions can have an effect.

thats why they use demo rooms, (I almost thought Linn kit sounded good) until i demoed some Tannoy stuff in various surroundings

Enjoy the next 2 years of tweaking, for audio nivarna


Mart
Old 01 January 2007, 08:57 PM
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jods
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Originally Posted by tiny01
Over the xmas hols i visited our local Home cinema , Sound & Vision specialists , I Was blown away with the sound that these seperate systems produce .

Called back into our local store yesterday for yet another listen And whilst there made the purchase

The set up .................

1 ~ Arcam Diva AVR 300 ( AV Reciever )
Arcam - DiVA AVR300 Surround sound receiver

Got that - awesome, just be sure to use banana plugs and decent speaker wire (£5-10 / metre)

1 ~ Arcam Diva DV 79 ( DVD Player )
Arcam - DiVA DV79 DVD player

Got also - Upscaling of standard DVD's is great - Makes a real difference, haven't got any hi def DVD's yet (don't fancy McCartneys effort TBH)

4 ~ Definitive Technology Mythos Gems Speakers ( FL , FR . RL . RR . )
Mythos Gem Compact Loudspeakers

I went down this route :

http://www.bwspeakers.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.ranges/Label/RANGE%20XT%20Series

1 ~ Definitive Technology Mythos Seven ( Front Centre )
Mythos Center Channel Loudspeakers

1 ~ Miller & Kreisel KX10 Sub
M&K Sound SUBWOOFERS

Cannot wait until i collect it all this week & Get it set up

All linked yp out pioneer PDP 506XDE Plasma

I went for the panny viera 37 plasma

Been all day channelling out the lounge walls ( Newly decorated ) Ready for all the speaker cables

Our son cannot wait to hook up his PS2 To it

Anyone else running a similiar set up ??
Not sure how much your budget is but might suggest the AVR300 is a bit of a beast to power compact speakers.

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Old 01 January 2007, 09:19 PM
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Chip
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Originally Posted by mart360
And it wont sound as good as it did at the dealers

I take it you tried it in a demo room?

you should have asked for a loan of the kit before you purchased.

its amazing how your own rooms interactions can have an effect.

thats why they use demo rooms, (I almost thought Linn kit sounded good) until i demoed some Tannoy stuff in various surroundings

Enjoy the next 2 years of tweaking, for audio nivarna


Mart

I'll agree with that

Chip
Old 01 January 2007, 09:47 PM
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jods
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Oh - by the way, now you are on the Audiophile expressway - you'll be spending on tweaks and improvements - FOREVER Resistance is Futile.

High Emotion Audio - Pipedreams

World's Most Expensive Stereo Components - Forbes.com
Old 01 January 2007, 09:52 PM
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GaryCat
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Get some DVD-Audio discs if you like your music. A well-produced 5.1 mix sounds stunning
Old 01 January 2007, 09:53 PM
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My stuff is way out of date really, but still does my ears

Yamaha DSP Amp & DD decoder, Mission Speakers, Kenwood Sub

not expensive kit, but did stretch my pocket at the time I bought it all (about 10 years or so ago now)
Old 01 January 2007, 10:01 PM
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Edcase
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So, given that my sony 'package' system is now nearly dead and I've just bought a 42inch LCD TV, how much should I be budgeting for a new seperates / component system. I'm not going to spend silly money, I want something that is going to give the best bang for buck. Not interested in chasing that last decibel in the same way as I'm no longer interested in chasing the last BHP.

Any recommendations? As guidance I imagine the most I'd ever spend would be £2k, but interested to know what you could get for even half of that? If anything
Old 01 January 2007, 10:13 PM
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jods
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Question

Originally Posted by Edcase
So, given that my sony 'package' system is now nearly dead and I've just bought a 42inch LCD TV, how much should I be budgeting for a new seperates / component system. I'm not going to spend silly money, I want something that is going to give the best bang for buck. Not interested in chasing that last decibel in the same way as I'm no longer interested in chasing the last BHP.

Any recommendations? As guidance I imagine the most I'd ever spend would be £2k, but interested to know what you could get for even half of that? If anything
is that £2k per separate or £2k for everything ?
Old 01 January 2007, 11:38 PM
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Tiny........that sounds like some great kit,well done.
May i offer you a tip. Make sure they set it up for you so they can set the speaker delays and all that. Its a mistake i made when i got mine thinking i could do it myself.
Old 01 January 2007, 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by *Sonic*
My stuff is way out of date really, but still does my ears

Yamaha DSP Amp & DD decoder, Mission Speakers, Kenwood Sub
Still sounds like a good setup to me !
Old 02 January 2007, 08:58 AM
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mart360
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Originally Posted by paulr
Tiny........that sounds like some great kit,well done.
May i offer you a tip. Make sure they set it up for you so they can set the speaker delays and all that. Its a mistake i made when i got mine thinking i could do it myself.
And remember the loudspeakers should be run in for 24 ours before some rigerous use



Mart
Old 02 January 2007, 08:58 AM
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Tiny, get one of these: Order Digital Video Essentials essential when setting up and tweaking a home cinema setup. Have a read of the Dolby Digital pages here as well: Dolby | Home Entertainment | Room Layout and Speaker Setup and you wont go wrong
Also, I'm off to the northern sound and vision show at the end of this month, and they're advertising some down south later in the year here: chesterfield communications home page have fun
Old 02 January 2007, 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by jods
is that £2k per separate or £2k for everything ?
2k for everything.

Or is that totally unrealistic?
Old 02 January 2007, 09:36 AM
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Tiny
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Originally Posted by mart360
And it wont sound as good as it did at the dealers

I take it you tried it in a demo room?

you should have asked for a loan of the kit before you purchased.

its amazing how your own rooms interactions can have an effect.

thats why they use demo rooms, (I almost thought Linn kit sounded good) until i demoed some Tannoy stuff in various surroundings

Enjoy the next 2 years of tweaking, for audio nivarna


Mart
Cheers Mart / Chip

Never really thought of them loaning me the kit to be honest , Yes listened to the kit in 2 different demo rooms , Not dis similair to our lounge set up i must add , But understand the point that you are making

If it sounds 75% As good as it did in there demo room im still going to be a happy bunny

Oh & Looking forward to the next few years modding the home set up , Just as well the scoobs finished


Tiny ...
Old 02 January 2007, 09:39 AM
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Tiny
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Originally Posted by GaryCat
Get some DVD-Audio discs if you like your music. A well-produced 5.1 mix sounds stunning
Oh yes indeed , Have a few already
Old 02 January 2007, 09:42 AM
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Tiny
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Originally Posted by paulr
Tiny........that sounds like some great kit,well done.
May i offer you a tip. Make sure they set it up for you so they can set the speaker delays and all that. Its a mistake i made when i got mine thinking i could do it myself.
Paul ..

Thanks very much for the tip , Yes mate the guy's from the shop will be coming here to set it up for us in our lounge , They have already advised on the speaker positions

To be honest i would not really know where to start , But after it is set up i will have a little tinker with it
Old 02 January 2007, 09:44 AM
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Tiny
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Originally Posted by mart360
And remember the loudspeakers should be run in for 24 ours before some rigerous use



Mart


Thought the " AV Forums " Were usefull getting some greatr tips from you boys

Glad i posted now
Old 02 January 2007, 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by cw42
Tiny, get one of these: Order Digital Video Essentials essential when setting up and tweaking a home cinema setup. Have a read of the Dolby Digital pages here as well: Dolby | Home Entertainment | Room Layout and Speaker Setup and you wont go wrong
Also, I'm off to the northern sound and vision show at the end of this month, and they're advertising some down south later in the year here: chesterfield communications home page have fun
Some very interesting reading there

My speaker set up is spot on 5:1 , Got room to also add another 2 maybe @ a later date for a nice 7:1 Set up
Old 02 January 2007, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Edcase
2k for everything.

Or is that totally unrealistic?
ED Tbh mate i think that is a little un realistic , If you wish to go the " Seperates " Route

I Was also thinking of a 2k Budget when i set out to get mine , Speaker packages really start @ £!k For a basic set up , That's without the other bits & bobs reqd

There are a few " All in one " set up's on the market if you wish to go down that route , Sure pioneer do one between £300 - £400

Tiny ...
Old 02 January 2007, 09:57 AM
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Ill, make a prediction....


first to go will be the compact speakers.......

M&K subs are designed to be driven hard and LOUD!!!!! so you may find that after a while they swamp the front speakers......, so you run the sub low, and loose the bass extension.....


So then it will be either the fronts or the sub....... fronts will go first, then the sub, as you wont find a happy medium

Rel subs, are meant to me superb for intigration and providing extension, to the base as opposed to boom...

I have tannoy DC fronts, old but give the same performance and delivery consistantly...

and they dont get swamped by the sub

welcome to audiophile heaven.......(funds permitting)


Mart
Old 02 January 2007, 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Edcase
2k for everything.

Or is that totally unrealistic?
Not at all:

Denon AVR-1507 Receiver and DVD-1930 DVD Player £439

B&W MT-20 speakers £975
Old 02 January 2007, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Edcase
2k for everything.

Or is that totally unrealistic?

Denon 1906 ~ £280
Wharfedale HCP ~£500
Qed micro speaker cable ~£60
Qed Opitcal cable ~ £40

All sounds great to me
Old 02 January 2007, 10:41 AM
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Whats the most important parts of the equation? In order of 'importance'?

I assume:

Front Speakers
Amp
Subs
Source player
Rears
Cables

?

PS I know they are all equally important to a true Audiophile, but to a general consumer or even 'prosumer'?
Old 02 January 2007, 10:56 AM
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Question

Originally Posted by tiny01
Ermmm Bit more than i bugeted for

Mrs also uses these forums best i not say

Tiny ...
Where did you get the money from ???




Looking forward to seeing the set-up Big Boy
Old 02 January 2007, 11:02 AM
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I recently bought the following kit.

BK XLS 200DF sub.
Orb Audio mod1 satellites. (I wanted a WAF setup and I can add to them if needed)

BK was highly regarded on the AVforums and is way to ample for my house £300.

The orbs where a bit of a gamble as I could not demo. But the quality is superb £300ish imported from USA.

Rather than spending a heap of cash on a new AV amp I intend to buy a 2nd hand top of the range amp like a Yamaha AX1 for less than £350.

All in will be less than a grand and sounds fantastic even now on a small temp amp. Cannot wait for the big amp to arrive.



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