URGENT - speaker cables or sound bar?
Discussion
OK I'm no audiophile but really would like better sound quality from my telly which is a bog standard LCD.
I'm laying laminate floor and have the skirting off.
Do I get some speaker cable and lay it round the edges of the room now I have the opportunity or will I be suitably impressed by a reasonable soundbar that it's not worth it? Subjective I know...but hopefully a reasonable thing to ask.
If I go the cable route then the room is 6.59m x 3.09m with the telly down in one corner and sofas toward that end of the room too as the door is on the opposite corner to the TV. Do I get little speakers mounted in the top corners? Is that going to restrict choice too much? I have a toddler so up high seems preferable.
What about trunking for the vertical room corners? Perhaps there's some all white speaker cable that doesn't need it?
Sorry for all the questions but we're due to fit the skirting back tomorrow - any thoughts advice appreciated
Thanks
I'm laying laminate floor and have the skirting off.
Do I get some speaker cable and lay it round the edges of the room now I have the opportunity or will I be suitably impressed by a reasonable soundbar that it's not worth it? Subjective I know...but hopefully a reasonable thing to ask.
If I go the cable route then the room is 6.59m x 3.09m with the telly down in one corner and sofas toward that end of the room too as the door is on the opposite corner to the TV. Do I get little speakers mounted in the top corners? Is that going to restrict choice too much? I have a toddler so up high seems preferable.
What about trunking for the vertical room corners? Perhaps there's some all white speaker cable that doesn't need it?
Sorry for all the questions but we're due to fit the skirting back tomorrow - any thoughts advice appreciated
Thanks
sounds like the laminating is done?
I ask because when I laid our laminate (about 12 years ago!!), I cut the 2/3mm underlay to cut in some 2mm flat cable - kinda worked well for us!
Two speakers we placed up the walls (in a corner and along a door frame), and again the flat cable could be painted to pretty well disappear. I know, not as tidy as properly trunked stuff, but my skills are limited!
Of course, now we are looking at adjusting the position for a projector use, we may need to rethink a little....
Going behind the skirting could work if you have some depth, otherwise you may struggle.
Good luck!
I ask because when I laid our laminate (about 12 years ago!!), I cut the 2/3mm underlay to cut in some 2mm flat cable - kinda worked well for us!
Two speakers we placed up the walls (in a corner and along a door frame), and again the flat cable could be painted to pretty well disappear. I know, not as tidy as properly trunked stuff, but my skills are limited!
Of course, now we are looking at adjusting the position for a projector use, we may need to rethink a little....
Going behind the skirting could work if you have some depth, otherwise you may struggle.
Good luck!
ok...so two folks saying a soundbar is pretty reasonable, thanks for replies.......but I guess I need to consider cost too. I assume I can pick up a good second hand surround sound system for £150 tops - there seem to be a lot for sale. Whereas a decent new sound bar + subwoofer is what - £300? Hmmmm
People like sound bars because they are a decent step up from the increasingly crap speakers that TV manufacturers put in their TV's these days (fit worse speakers, sell more sound bars?)
Women also generally don't like lots of speakers dotted around the place and dealing with the cables. They also generally don't understand surround sound.
If you want an improvement on your sound in general buy a sound bar.
If you want surround sound buy a 5.1 set up.
These were very highly rated back in the day (£800 new)...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kef-Egg-Speakers/122781...
https://www.whathifi.com/features/was-then-kef-kht...
Receiver (or look around for something used)...
https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/av-rec...
Re. speaker cable the general consensus around these parts is 2.5mm oxygen free copper.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ex-Pro-AV-Pro-OFC-Oxyge...
That lot ^^^ should eat a £300 sound bar for breakfast.
Women also generally don't like lots of speakers dotted around the place and dealing with the cables. They also generally don't understand surround sound.
If you want an improvement on your sound in general buy a sound bar.
If you want surround sound buy a 5.1 set up.
These were very highly rated back in the day (£800 new)...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kef-Egg-Speakers/122781...
https://www.whathifi.com/features/was-then-kef-kht...
Receiver (or look around for something used)...
https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/av-rec...
Re. speaker cable the general consensus around these parts is 2.5mm oxygen free copper.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ex-Pro-AV-Pro-OFC-Oxyge...
That lot ^^^ should eat a £300 sound bar for breakfast.
Edited by B17NNS on Wednesday 1st November 12:18
ollya said:
ok...so two folks saying a soundbar is pretty reasonable, thanks for replies.......but I guess I need to consider cost too. I assume I can pick up a good second hand surround sound system for £150 tops - there seem to be a lot for sale. Whereas a decent new sound bar + subwoofer is what - £300? Hmmmm
I got this for £150 last year although it's now £200. Astounding sound quality for the money. Bluetooth sub is brilliant in terms of practicality.https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-home-entertai...
Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 1st November 14:24
Cheers B17NNS - I'm bidding on a black set of 'KEF KHT2005.3 5.1 Speaker System with Kef Kube subwoofer' on eBay.
Looks like they go from £150 to £180 and are great for me as they can be wall (corner?) mounted.
Good shout....
Now I need an amp thingy - I think one with bluetooth could be useful as we could stream stuff from Spotify on our phones then.
Looks like they go from £150 to £180 and are great for me as they can be wall (corner?) mounted.
Good shout....
Now I need an amp thingy - I think one with bluetooth could be useful as we could stream stuff from Spotify on our phones then.
ollya said:
Cheers B17NNS - I'm bidding on a black set of 'KEF KHT2005.3 5.1 Speaker System with Kef Kube subwoofer' on eBay.
Looks like they go from £150 to £180 and are great for me as they can be wall (corner?) mounted.
Good shout....
Now I need an amp thingy - I think one with bluetooth could be useful as we could stream stuff from Spotify on our phones then.
For streaming duties, a Chromecast works well for us (£30) so you don't need to be limited to bluetooth-enabled amps.Looks like they go from £150 to £180 and are great for me as they can be wall (corner?) mounted.
Good shout....
Now I need an amp thingy - I think one with bluetooth could be useful as we could stream stuff from Spotify on our phones then.
Aye, we've got an Amazon box with Spotify on it but it's a bit more convenient via mobile (though battery draining!).
Hmm..I wonder if the fire TV app on my mobile that controls the box lets you get to Spotify easily...will give it a bash, if it does then we can scrub the bluetooth ask and I can get an older ampy thingy
Hmm..I wonder if the fire TV app on my mobile that controls the box lets you get to Spotify easily...will give it a bash, if it does then we can scrub the bluetooth ask and I can get an older ampy thingy
chromecast audio is WAY better than using an app on an android box.
I've used both spotify on a minix android box and chromecast audio and the CC is much more seamless and reliable.
and the sound quality is much better than using bluetooth. bluetooth is handy, but if you're using spotify, then it's both inferior and unnecessary.
you still control it from your mobile, but the device does the streaming and doesn't munch your battery/data like doing it via bluetooth does.
I've used both spotify on a minix android box and chromecast audio and the CC is much more seamless and reliable.
and the sound quality is much better than using bluetooth. bluetooth is handy, but if you're using spotify, then it's both inferior and unnecessary.
you still control it from your mobile, but the device does the streaming and doesn't munch your battery/data like doing it via bluetooth does.
ollya said:
Cheers B17NNS - I'm bidding on a black set of 'KEF KHT2005.3 5.1 Speaker System with Kef Kube subwoofer' on eBay.
Looks like they go from £150 to £180 and are great for me as they can be wall (corner?) mounted.
Good shout....
Now I need an amp thingy - I think one with bluetooth could be useful as we could stream stuff from Spotify on our phones then.
If you are bidding for just the speakers the you need a AV Receiver. Looks like they go from £150 to £180 and are great for me as they can be wall (corner?) mounted.
Good shout....
Now I need an amp thingy - I think one with bluetooth could be useful as we could stream stuff from Spotify on our phones then.
What is your budget? as you could forgo bluetooth and in return get a used amp that was high-end in its day (with atmos being new thing, 5.1 amps are cheaper and lots as people upgrade). Have a look on the classified ads on the AVForums site.
hmmm....will look into Chromecast but already have the Amazon thing....any idea why sound quality of Chromecast is better?
I'd like to buy the amp second hand - figure £150 should get something tidy - yes, willing to forgo bluetooth.
As you probably guessed, I don't have NAS or a big music collection or anything so I'm guessing I don't need any sort of network connectivity in the amp boxy thingy right?
I'd like to buy the amp second hand - figure £150 should get something tidy - yes, willing to forgo bluetooth.
As you probably guessed, I don't have NAS or a big music collection or anything so I'm guessing I don't need any sort of network connectivity in the amp boxy thingy right?
If you buy wisely something used for £150, chances are it will be worth about the same if you later decide to sell for another with network capability.
Have a look through ads on that site, You can also post wanted ads, so perhaps post one saying amp wanted with budget up to £150 and see what you get offered.
Have a look through ads on that site, You can also post wanted ads, so perhaps post one saying amp wanted with budget up to £150 and see what you get offered.
You need to decide what you want. If you're an avid movie watcher and want the best setup go 5.1
If you watch a bit of TV and a couple of films at the weekend, then go soundbase/soundbar. I fall into the latter category, and bought a Canton sound base a couple of years back. It's bloody great. I list it as one of the best purchases I've made. It can go loud enough and deep enough to totally immerse you in a movie, it's got bluetooth for streaming to, and sounds great with music. there's no wires and it's very tidy and unobtrusive.
I've had 5.1 in the past, and although the sound base is a compromise, I don't miss the 5.1 enough to warrant all the wires/speakers everywhere.
Go and listen to some decent soundbars at Richer sounds or similar.
If you watch a bit of TV and a couple of films at the weekend, then go soundbase/soundbar. I fall into the latter category, and bought a Canton sound base a couple of years back. It's bloody great. I list it as one of the best purchases I've made. It can go loud enough and deep enough to totally immerse you in a movie, it's got bluetooth for streaming to, and sounds great with music. there's no wires and it's very tidy and unobtrusive.
I've had 5.1 in the past, and although the sound base is a compromise, I don't miss the 5.1 enough to warrant all the wires/speakers everywhere.
Go and listen to some decent soundbars at Richer sounds or similar.
£180 does gets you something new with warranty.
https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/av-rec...
But I agree, I'd be looking for something a bit higher end but used for the same money.
As above use a Chromecast audio for tunes from your phone.
https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_audio
A cheap and worthwhile upgrade is to swap the 3.5mm supplied cable for a optical
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fisual-Mini-Toslink-to-S...
You won't be disappointed with the KEF eggs.
https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/av-rec...
But I agree, I'd be looking for something a bit higher end but used for the same money.
As above use a Chromecast audio for tunes from your phone.
https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_audio
A cheap and worthwhile upgrade is to swap the 3.5mm supplied cable for a optical
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fisual-Mini-Toslink-to-S...
You won't be disappointed with the KEF eggs.
Edited by B17NNS on Friday 3rd November 12:40
Some good advice in this thread.
If you decide to go for an AV amp plus speaker package (why wouldn't you?
) I have an amp sitting doing nothing that would go really well with Kef eggs + sub available in the budget mentioned.
No networking and no atmos but covers everything else including 7.1 DTS-HD.
https://www.whathifi.com/denon/avr-2809/review
If you decide to go for an AV amp plus speaker package (why wouldn't you?
) I have an amp sitting doing nothing that would go really well with Kef eggs + sub available in the budget mentioned.No networking and no atmos but covers everything else including 7.1 DTS-HD.
https://www.whathifi.com/denon/avr-2809/review
Wow ...£800 and now going for less than £50 on the bay of E.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Denon-AVR-2809-7-1-Chan...
I'm happy to spend £150 on the second hand amp...but I don't know enough about them to know which one so any advice in that respect appreciated.
If I get a WiFi AV receiver then I don't need Chromecast right?
I don't need 7.1 so maybe I'll struggle to spend £150
This sony is visually appealing.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-Strdh550-5-2-Chann...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Denon-AVR-2809-7-1-Chan...
I'm happy to spend £150 on the second hand amp...but I don't know enough about them to know which one so any advice in that respect appreciated.
If I get a WiFi AV receiver then I don't need Chromecast right?
I don't need 7.1 so maybe I'll struggle to spend £150
This sony is visually appealing.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-Strdh550-5-2-Chann...
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