Hifi decisions - classic set up or cinema combo?
Discussion
Having had my interest in hifi rekindled recently (and actually visited a proper hifi shop for the first time in years - wow, money obviously no object!!!) would the traditional setup of a music system be your favoured or a cinema/music combo?
What have you got/or would get?
>>> Edited by iandbeech on Monday 24th January 18:29
What have you got/or would get?
>>> Edited by iandbeech on Monday 24th January 18:29
True stereo hi-fi. I'm not a movie freak, and having to divide my budget between 5 channels rather means the difference between having a shipload of mediocre stuff, and 'entry level high end' (a bit of a contradiction in terms, but anyways). That, and the soundquality of dvd/sacd players when fed normal cd's is well below that of an equivalent cd-player.
But then again - if you're the sort that owns a three grand telly...
But then again - if you're the sort that owns a three grand telly...
Money no object? Go seperates all the way with a high-end surround sound amp.
Money an object? Get a decent home-cinema out of the box jobber.
I went through this last year and sided with the latter, also because it's only a little cottage that I live in and what I really wanted would have been complete overkill.
I was pleasantly surprised at how good the soundscape on some of the ones I listened to were. Went for a Panasonic in the end which I'm very happy with.
Money an object? Get a decent home-cinema out of the box jobber.
I went through this last year and sided with the latter, also because it's only a little cottage that I live in and what I really wanted would have been complete overkill.
I was pleasantly surprised at how good the soundscape on some of the ones I listened to were. Went for a Panasonic in the end which I'm very happy with.
Definitely one of each if you can afford it (and have 2 separate rooms).
Mind you, I'd be prepared to compromise if a Meridian G-Series and full digital speaker set up was on offer.
The stuff those guys can do with processing in the digital domain really is outstanding and negates all arguments for two separate set-ups based on 'different sounds' being required. Universal excellence carries a fairly hefty price ticket though.
Mind you, I'd be prepared to compromise if a Meridian G-Series and full digital speaker set up was on offer.
The stuff those guys can do with processing in the digital domain really is outstanding and negates all arguments for two separate set-ups based on 'different sounds' being required. Universal excellence carries a fairly hefty price ticket though.
One issue to be aware of is that about 99.9% of the 5.1 "Surround" CDs / DVDAs out there are "faux surround". This means that they were remixed from multi-track masters, which were originally intended for stereo representation, recorded via mono or stereo mic techniques.
If you want true 5.1 surround, you have to mic-up the band with a 5.1 set-up, and trust me, very few studios even know how to mic-up for 5.1.
Movies would be a different issue, the film industry is years ahead of the music industry in terms of providing the full 5.1 experience.
As for whether you should blow your cash on a theatre set-up or a purist hi-fi, I'd say go with the hi-fi, but then again I would say that as my business is in designing and selling hand-made audio :-)
Another issue to be aware of is that in a typical home environment you will get a more "faithful" representation of music via 2 speakers - this is due to the lesser known fact that your acoustic environment is responsible for about 90%+ of perceived fidelity, and when you fit 5 speakers into a room acoustic issues such as room modes / flutter echo etc make their presence known exponentially.
If you want true 5.1 surround, you have to mic-up the band with a 5.1 set-up, and trust me, very few studios even know how to mic-up for 5.1.
Movies would be a different issue, the film industry is years ahead of the music industry in terms of providing the full 5.1 experience.
As for whether you should blow your cash on a theatre set-up or a purist hi-fi, I'd say go with the hi-fi, but then again I would say that as my business is in designing and selling hand-made audio :-)
Another issue to be aware of is that in a typical home environment you will get a more "faithful" representation of music via 2 speakers - this is due to the lesser known fact that your acoustic environment is responsible for about 90%+ of perceived fidelity, and when you fit 5 speakers into a room acoustic issues such as room modes / flutter echo etc make their presence known exponentially.
I've got a set of Tannoy studio monitors (mid 60's) 12" bass cones, dome midrange/tweeter, crossovers which look like something out of a power station, giant cabinets, brilliant sound £45 second hand.
A old amp from the same studio £15, can break any set of speakers, no noise and eminently tweakable/bypassable.
Turntable is something out of the ark, massive, chunky, clunky, adjustable, I think I paid a tenner for it. Some silver interconnects, some seriously heavy duty cable (30A). Bobs your uncle.
I used to be into Hifi, I have studied speaker design, have my own designs, etc, etc. I was trying to convince an old woman (owner of a famous recording studio in th 60's) about speakers, she said "Stuart, shut up and listen to this". Enough said, her old Celestion monitors were incredible. I was converted and giant infinite baffle speakers are the go if you ask me with high quality drivers.
There is a lot of snobbery in Hifi and it is another aspect of bling. I have had some amazing setups, including some total overkill stuff. My secondhand setup kicks ass. (apart from the speakers need a bit of juice to get moving properly).
I would say, do your research and then go and buy some secondhand stuff of top quality. I had 2 mates at uni with £2K and £4K hifis, easily blown out of the water with my £100 of carefully tailored components.
I am seriously into my reproduction (sonic) as well.
Your hifi is only as good as your speakers.
A old amp from the same studio £15, can break any set of speakers, no noise and eminently tweakable/bypassable.
Turntable is something out of the ark, massive, chunky, clunky, adjustable, I think I paid a tenner for it. Some silver interconnects, some seriously heavy duty cable (30A). Bobs your uncle.
I used to be into Hifi, I have studied speaker design, have my own designs, etc, etc. I was trying to convince an old woman (owner of a famous recording studio in th 60's) about speakers, she said "Stuart, shut up and listen to this". Enough said, her old Celestion monitors were incredible. I was converted and giant infinite baffle speakers are the go if you ask me with high quality drivers.
There is a lot of snobbery in Hifi and it is another aspect of bling. I have had some amazing setups, including some total overkill stuff. My secondhand setup kicks ass. (apart from the speakers need a bit of juice to get moving properly).
I would say, do your research and then go and buy some secondhand stuff of top quality. I had 2 mates at uni with £2K and £4K hifis, easily blown out of the water with my £100 of carefully tailored components.
I am seriously into my reproduction (sonic) as well.
Your hifi is only as good as your speakers.
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