'Hifi' to 'Cinema system' advice?
Discussion
Current system -
NAD C-something Stereo AMP
Tannoy Mercury F1 edition bookshelfs on Stands
Into which runs the Humax, a Radio Tuner, Ipod dock etc.
Reason - its cheap, sounds really quite lovely for the money, and I listen to music more than films, good stereo better than naff surround etc etc...
Our lass has bought me a Budger Blu-ray player for Christmas. Only outputting through HDMI, and/or a Co-ax for the Audio. Thus, the only way I can get audio through my Amp is to run it from the headphone output on the TV - so the TV is doing the converting. Also, the signal level is very low so I have to have the TV or the Amp cranked right up.
Rather than changing the Blu-ray player (which might not go down so well for 'political' reasons), is there a way round this?
I don't want to go with surround, because I don't watch enough films and I can't be arsed running wires etc.
However - could/should I invest in an AV receiver, which will take HDMI input/switching, and simply run it in stereo.
The other thing I would really like to add though, is a Sub output - as that's what my current system lacks due to small-ish bookshelf speakers and big-ish room.
Will this work? Can I get good musical, 2 channel or 2.1 channel performance from a cheap AV receiver?
Can anyone reccomend a brand with this in mind? Also whether to go active, or passive Sub, and what to buy?
I'm not averse to 2nd hand either, so any reccomendations to look out for on AVforums or ebay etc?
Budget only couple of hundred quid really. NAD stereo amp will be sold.
NAD C-something Stereo AMP
Tannoy Mercury F1 edition bookshelfs on Stands
Into which runs the Humax, a Radio Tuner, Ipod dock etc.
Reason - its cheap, sounds really quite lovely for the money, and I listen to music more than films, good stereo better than naff surround etc etc...
Our lass has bought me a Budger Blu-ray player for Christmas. Only outputting through HDMI, and/or a Co-ax for the Audio. Thus, the only way I can get audio through my Amp is to run it from the headphone output on the TV - so the TV is doing the converting. Also, the signal level is very low so I have to have the TV or the Amp cranked right up.
Rather than changing the Blu-ray player (which might not go down so well for 'political' reasons), is there a way round this?
I don't want to go with surround, because I don't watch enough films and I can't be arsed running wires etc.
However - could/should I invest in an AV receiver, which will take HDMI input/switching, and simply run it in stereo.
The other thing I would really like to add though, is a Sub output - as that's what my current system lacks due to small-ish bookshelf speakers and big-ish room.
Will this work? Can I get good musical, 2 channel or 2.1 channel performance from a cheap AV receiver?
Can anyone reccomend a brand with this in mind? Also whether to go active, or passive Sub, and what to buy?
I'm not averse to 2nd hand either, so any reccomendations to look out for on AVforums or ebay etc?
Budget only couple of hundred quid really. NAD stereo amp will be sold.
Get down to Richer Sounds, hand over £200-300 for an A/V receiver (I bought this last week...)
http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/s...
..and wonder how you did without. Now streaming music from various sources, AirPlay, USB, whatever you want to throw at it. Hook up 2-7 speakers plus a sub. Everything you asked for in a box.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/s...
..and wonder how you did without. Now streaming music from various sources, AirPlay, USB, whatever you want to throw at it. Hook up 2-7 speakers plus a sub. Everything you asked for in a box.
The only issue is that a cheap AV amp won't sound a patch on the NAD for stereo use: I searched long and hard to upgrade from a NAD C350 amp. In the end I went for a high end, but secondhand Arcam processor. There are clumsy alternatives that retain the NAD for the front speakers, but they aren't very family friendly, so it depends on how much you value good stereo sounds verses surround sound.
If you want to go this route (as I did for a while) you would need an AV amp with preamp outputs for the left and right signals, so bare this in mind when choosing. I can explain how to do it if you want to go this route.
The other option might be to buy some kind of DAC (also sold by Richer Sounds) which should allow you to hear the BluRay output downmixed to stereo, though it very much depends on the menu options in the player. Is there not a phono output for sound on your TV? I use this on all my TVs over the years and even if the family forget to change the amp over to the BluRay input, at least they get sound and they usually don't notice any difference.
If you want to go this route (as I did for a while) you would need an AV amp with preamp outputs for the left and right signals, so bare this in mind when choosing. I can explain how to do it if you want to go this route.
The other option might be to buy some kind of DAC (also sold by Richer Sounds) which should allow you to hear the BluRay output downmixed to stereo, though it very much depends on the menu options in the player. Is there not a phono output for sound on your TV? I use this on all my TVs over the years and even if the family forget to change the amp over to the BluRay input, at least they get sound and they usually don't notice any difference.
telecat said:
Get a £39 CYP AUD3-192 or £150 ARCAM RLink DAC. (Depending how Audiophile you want to be). Plug the Coax into the DAC and then connects the phono outputs to your amp. Bob's your Uncle and you do not have to fork out for extra speakers.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CYP-AU-D3-Digital-Stereo-C...
+ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cambridge-Audio-S80-Subwoo...
+ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Profigold-Performance-Digi...
+ http://www.amazon.co.uk/QED-PERFORMANCE-GRAPHITE-A...
comes in £20 under budget delivered
.Edited by Crackie on Monday 31st December 21:23
Id agree with this, you really need to hit the 1k mark with AV amps beofre they sound as good as dedicated hifi amps.
Im a bit of an Onkyo fanboy,Ive got the 809, and it is awesome. For cheaper AV Amps and go with a Yamaha or even Denon, they are more musical when it comes to to £300 mark.
As always go and listen to demos and let your ear decide.
Im a bit of an Onkyo fanboy,Ive got the 809, and it is awesome. For cheaper AV Amps and go with a Yamaha or even Denon, they are more musical when it comes to to £300 mark.
As always go and listen to demos and let your ear decide.
I'd look at going second hand in your case without a doubt. With what you want to do anything new will cost a lot of money and you'll be paying for things you don't really need if you want 2.1 sound/
I'd be looking for old but decent quality AV processor to replace your NAD. I am sure you can probably buy say an old Arcam AV processor which will do what you want an probably not cost the earth.
Something like
http://www.avforums.com/forums/amplifier-receiver-...
http://www.arcam.co.uk/advice-and-support/disconti...
I have no idea what that model is like but you get my drift.
I have a Meridian G68 which would do excactly what you want and still sound great for two channel listening....trouble is they are still £700 or so second hand.
I'd be looking for old but decent quality AV processor to replace your NAD. I am sure you can probably buy say an old Arcam AV processor which will do what you want an probably not cost the earth.
Something like
http://www.avforums.com/forums/amplifier-receiver-...
http://www.arcam.co.uk/advice-and-support/disconti...
I have no idea what that model is like but you get my drift.
I have a Meridian G68 which would do excactly what you want and still sound great for two channel listening....trouble is they are still £700 or so second hand.
I used to have a Yamaha DSP E800 processor that takes the 5.1 signal and decodes it - sending the front main pair output to your stereo amp (thus retaining this for music as now). The Yamaha then runs the center and 2 rears with its own amplification.
Result - fantastic 5.1 and the same stereo performance as you have now !
Its in the box and yours for £120.
Bob
Result - fantastic 5.1 and the same stereo performance as you have now !
Its in the box and yours for £120.
Bob
The DSP 800E is great bit of kit, but not a patch on modern equivalant... albeit they are cheap as chips these days .. see ebay.... (mine ended up with an issue on power to rear right speaker).
I bought an Yamaha RX V765 which allows straight through channel to my Roksan Amp for fronts....
However if you don't want surround sound.... HDMI to TV, and then takeout to amp for L/R from tv to amp
I bought an Yamaha RX V765 which allows straight through channel to my Roksan Amp for fronts....
However if you don't want surround sound.... HDMI to TV, and then takeout to amp for L/R from tv to amp
Hoover. said:
The DSP 800E is great bit of kit, but not a patch on modern equivalant... albeit they are cheap as chips these days .. see ebay.... (mine ended up with an issue on power to rear right speaker).
I bought an Yamaha RX V765 which allows straight through channel to my Roksan Amp for fronts....
However if you don't want surround sound.... HDMI to TV, and then takeout to amp for L/R from tv to amp
Trouble is there is not a modern equivalent.I bought an Yamaha RX V765 which allows straight through channel to my Roksan Amp for fronts....
However if you don't want surround sound.... HDMI to TV, and then takeout to amp for L/R from tv to amp
struttob said:
I used to have a Yamaha DSP E800 processor that takes the 5.1 signal and decodes it - sending the front main pair output to your stereo amp (thus retaining this for music as now). The Yamaha then runs the center and 2 rears with its own amplification.
Result - fantastic 5.1 and the same stereo performance as you have now !
Its in the box and yours for £120.
Bob
That's hopeful.Result - fantastic 5.1 and the same stereo performance as you have now !
Its in the box and yours for £120.
Bob
Average selling price on Ebay for those is around £20 - £50 (£50 on a good day).
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