A hand Choosing speakers and Amp

simbot82 · **9th May 2008, 04:09 PM**

Hey lads

Looking for cheapness but a good sound still (i know kinda doesn't work that way but on a budget just getting new tv as well)

Anyways found a set of Welling Trieste 6.1 with 100W 10" powered sub for $400 with 3 years warranty these should do the trick.

My understanding with limited HDMI knowledge is that currently and at least for the affordable forseeable future HDMI HD audio is not available.

To this end I am then loooking for a good (but Again sub $350) Amplifier to do SPDIF.

WIth this is mind two requests:

1. With my low budget am I going to notice much is sound difference with SPDIF audio vs HDMI (ie should I wait)

2. Any recommendations for speakers/amp??

Cheers lads/ladies

vlad · **9th May 2008, 04:14 PM**

Hi simbot82
What are your expectations of the sound?
Did you think about getting something like this:
http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/58374/SP...SPK-GWS750.asp

logifuse · **9th May 2008, 04:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by simbot82

My understanding with limited HDMI knowledge is that currently and at least for the affordable forseeable future HDMI HD audio is not available.

Are you referring to 8 channel LPCM? The new Nvidia 8200 boards are supposed to, but I don't think anyone has managed to yet. I certainly haven't (got the Asus M3N78-EMH HDMI), but then I don't have a BD drive, so there's little wonder....

simbot82 · **9th May 2008, 04:32 PM**

No DD True HD and DTS HD audio supposed to be some riculous bitrate vs max that spdif can handle.

Looking for real HT speakers floor standing etc. Cheers anyway vlad but I have evolved from 2 speaker Logitech, to Thruster SPDIF surround sound, to LG home theatre in the box to now some floor standings with some actual tweets and woofs

vlad · **9th May 2008, 07:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by simbot82

Looking for real HT speakers floor standing etc. Cheers anyway vlad but I have evolved from 2 speaker Logitech, to Thruster SPDIF surround sound, to LG home theatre in the box to now some floor standings with some actual tweets and woofs

That is fine, had to ask. Mine B&W 6 series set is not considered to be top of the range but producing awesome sound and I was investing for the years to come. But price is high, around 6K. You can get something close to it for 1/2 price I guess, but less than that, will only get you what you pay for.

Matt is a fountain of knowledge in this area as installing this crap on daily basis, PM him - he will have the best advise for you IMO.

GlenR · **9th May 2008, 07:57 PM**

I have always liked Yamaha Amps. Some good ones at reasonable prices these days. Excellent sound and reliable.

Speakers - I have Richter speakers. Again, great bang for buck. My mains are over ten years old and still going strong. I'm a bit out of touch with their current offerings, but would certainly audition them again if I needed new ones. Nice sound, reasonable price (at least when I got them).

vlad · **9th May 2008, 08:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenR

I have always liked Yamaha Amps. Some good ones at reasonable prices these days. Excellent sound and reliable.

Speakers - I have Richter speakers. Again, great bang for buck. My mains are over ten years old and still going strong. I'm a bit out of touch with their current offerings, but would certainly audition them again if I needed new ones. Nice sound, reasonable price (at least when I got them).

That is my point, you buy some quality and use it for years. That is what I did. Over 10 year it does not cost that much. Speakers wise. Technology is slow in that department

Yamaha is good, I have Sony STR940 and very happy with it, from personal experience, installing some, I would recommend Dennon. Hard to beat this one. Any model.

HiitsJack · **11th May 2008, 09:54 AM**

I just bought the Denon 3808 and the Kef 5005.2 speaker system all up was $6240.

This is probably out of your budget ? and you also said floor standing speakers.

Before buying my system I was searching the DTV forums.

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showforum=7

There's alot of great information there although from what I can tell not many people using a HTPC.

I'd second the Yamaha option (1800 or 3800), although I just read someone who had just bought the 1800 has to bring it into the shop for a firmware upgrade to rectify some issue with decoding DTS HD MA ?

They say the best "Bang For Buck" receivers are the Onkyo models but they run a little hot ?

Jack

arkay · **11th May 2008, 10:02 AM**

I've run Onkyo amp's with Jensen speakers for the past 8-10 years. Love it but then others on here aren't impressed with Jensen. I think it's subjective. After auditioning many variants it was what suited me best. But cost was no object at the time and it did cost.

The latest Jensens I'm not so happy with, they went to a 6" cone from a 7" and they do sound a lot different. The amp on the other hand is great and if I were shopping for one now my first point of call would be Onkyo.

I should also note that the Jensens are floor standing x 4 + a fairly large centre. All the floor models have a built in sub so I have 4 subs all around me (even though sub bass is not directional it does make a difference).

My suggestion would be to wait a bit longer, save more cash and buy your audio gear once, you'll have it for a very long time if you buy quality.

Cheers,

Arkay.

GlenR · **11th May 2008, 12:42 PM**

Speakers particularly are subjective. Amps should be pretty objective - they shouldn't "colour" the music (although the do to a degree - it's not a perfect world) bu speakers are a very personal choice. What I find too "warm" others will love and so on.

The thing with speakers is to try before you buy. If they sound good to you, that's all that matters.