Speaker recommendations for home cinema

[stanwan]

Hi folks,

I'm ion the process of budgeting for the dedicated media room. It's going to be a 9.1 setup with a 3D panny plasma and a Denon AVR-4311.

What I am trying to decide is what speakers to use: Currently I have a pair of old Acoustic Energy AE120 floor standers as main speakers, with KEF Eggs surround speakers.

Initial plan was to purchase pais of AE120 for side and rear channels, a dedicated AE centre speaker, and use a couple of KEF Eggs for the height channels.
Wifey is concerned about the amount of boxes littered around the room and wants me to consider in-wall speakers.

Any opinions on going in-wall for the rears and bookshelfers for the side speakers? Or do go with my original layout?

Total budget is around 5k all in

[OldSkoolRS]

I used to own the AE109 floorstanders and had the 'matching' AE107C centre...only it didn't match: It sounded boxy and thin compared to the AE109s which are smaller again than your '120s. I found it a disapointment and whenever sounds panned across the front the tone changed noticably. I picked up a used pair of 109s and use on laid on it's side as a (bulky) centre. This worked much better, even though it looked a bit poor. Eventually after much home demos of speakers I upgraded to some PMC speakers and again made sure the fronts matched. You can often pick up used PMC speakers at very reasonable prices so don't be put off by the new prices (I upgraded my little DB1+ fronts to secondhand TB2+ models for £50 after selling the DB1+ in Avforums' classifieds). As a former AE owner the PMC sound was to my taste, but speakers always demand a demo as they are highly personal. I don't know which centre you were thinking of pairing with your '120s but I think you'll struggle to get a decent match, hence the above ramble.

I wouldn't worry so much about matching the surrounds especially if going for the full 9.1. In fact I'd suggest only to wire for the 9.1 and maybe start with 5.1 with good speakers rather than 9.1 with cheap ones. If you've run the wires you can always keep your eyes open for a deal or a used pair to add as you want later on.

[talkssense]

OldSkoolRS said:

I wouldn't worry so much about matching the surrounds especially if going for the full 9.1. In fact I'd suggest only to wire for the 9.1 and maybe start with 5.1 with good speakers rather than 9.1 with cheap ones. If you've run the wires you can always keep your eyes open for a deal or a used pair to add as you want later on.

Exactly right.

Much better to go with a better 5.1 setup and add the effects speakers later if you ever feel the need, than compromise the important front, centre and sub in order to free up money for extra speakers that in relation to the money spent will add much less value to your setup

[Cheib]

Both very good bits of advice IMHO....less is more. If you get a set of quality speakers with proper amps it will transform a system.....you have a healthy budget so will be able to put a nice system together.

I would also go with a seperate amplifier/processor rather than a receiver with amplifier built in personally. The speakers and amplifier will be future proof but the receiver/processor will be out of date in three or four years.

[stanwan]

Cheib said:

Both very good bits of advice IMHO....less is more. If you get a set of quality speakers with proper amps it will transform a system.....you have a healthy budget so will be able to put a nice system together.

I would also go with a seperate amplifier/processor rather than a receiver with amplifier built in personally. The speakers and amplifier will be future proof but the receiver/processor will be out of date in three or four years.

Any recommendations on the processor amp combo? The avr 4311 is quite good according to reviews. Th next step up would be the avc1 pre/power combo which retails at 10k...!

[Ady1970]

[quote=OldSkoolRS]I used to own the AE109 floorstanders and had the 'matching' AE107C centre...only it didn't match: It sounded boxy and thin compared to the AE109s which are smaller again than your '120s. I found it a disapointment and whenever sounds panned across the front the tone changed noticably. I picked up a used pair of 109s and use on laid on it's side as a (bulky) centre. This worked much better, even though it looked a bit poor. quote]

I to had a pair of the AE109's, i also had the 107 center. And i must admit i never had a problem with the sound of the three together. Mind mine was paired with a Yamaha 3090. Obviously i have no idea what yours was hooked up to.
Also i did not realise you could still get these.
At the moment i have a 6.1 kef 2005 setup hooked to a denon amp and am really pleased with that. So would recommend a set of KEF speakers. But realise it is best to audition as many as possable.

[OldSkoolRS]

I just thought that the 107 was a bit unpowered and tonally different to the 109s IMHO. At the time I was using a Denon AVR3805 which was a decent enough amp (still have it working in my second system in the conservatory). The 107 had totally different tweeter and bass speakers plus it's much smaller cabinet volume wise, so not surprising it didn't really sound quite the same as the larger 109s. Having three identical PMCs biamped with Arcam amps/processor is a totally different setup (and if bought new would have been very much more expensive) but it sounds fantastic IMHO. I can't see me upgrading for a very long time now.

I don't think the AE107s/109s are still available, though perhaps the AE120s might pop up at Superfi or somewhere similar. I think AE have gone through quite a few different ranges since then as my setup must have been 8-10 years ago.

[stanwan]

OldSkoolRS said:

I just thought that the 107 was a bit unpowered and tonally different to the 109s IMHO. At the time I was using a Denon AVR3805 which was a decent enough amp (still have it working in my second system in the conservatory). The 107 had totally different tweeter and bass speakers plus it's much smaller cabinet volume wise, so not surprising it didn't really sound quite the same as the larger 109s. Having three identical PMCs biamped with Arcam amps/processor is a totally different setup (and if bought new would have been very much more expensive) but it sounds fantastic IMHO. I can't see me upgrading for a very long time now.

I don't think the AE107s/109s are still available, though perhaps the AE120s might pop up at Superfi or somewhere similar. I think AE have gone through quite a few different ranges since then as my setup must have been 8-10 years ago.

Hehe. I'm currently running with a Denon 3802, KEF KHTs and AE120, not too dissimilar to the systems that you lot are using!

[Cheib]

stanwan said:

Cheib said:

Both very good bits of advice IMHO....less is more. If you get a set of quality speakers with proper amps it will transform a system.....you have a healthy budget so will be able to put a nice system together.

I would also go with a seperate amplifier/processor rather than a receiver with amplifier built in personally. The speakers and amplifier will be future proof but the receiver/processor will be out of date in three or four years.

Any recommendations on the processor amp combo? The avr 4311 is quite good according to reviews. Th next step up would be the avc1 pre/power combo which retails at 10k...!

I'm very out of date on this stuff currently...I bought my current kit about 5 years ago and honestly feel I have no need to upgrade. You're obviously getting better compatability and things like 9.1 and HD audio on newer kit but I've no idea how good these actually are compared to buying older, higher quality second hand kit. I would definitely look at a second hand amp as they are pretty future proof and then maybe try and trial a second hand processor from a dealer and see if it's up to your standards. My processor is a Meridian G68J which second hand would cost you under £1000 the current version is over £5000....Now I realise the £1000 is probably out of your budget when you need to add an amplifier but I am just trying to give you an example of the value you can get in the second hand market. I've no idea how my system compares with a modern set up but I'd wager it would be okay.

It would actually make for a very interesting article review....take some slightly out of date kit second hand kit and compare to current kit at the same price and see what's better. Trouble is I doubt any magazines would do that....advertisers wouldn't like it!