Home audio

[MJ05LLY]

Anyone into home audio?
If so what systems do you have and you opinions on the products?

I mean some serious equipment not just a 100000watt JVC surround sound systems from littlewoods

Likes of NAD, B&W, Kef, Denon, Monitor Audio etc

[Gabbastard]

As per my pm, I have a Denon amp, Mordaunt Short and old wharfedale speakers, plus a Marantz cd player.

Sounds night and day from general "hifi" shit.

[m11ler]

Not really mine, but im 18 and still live at home so i influence the old man into which audio to buy haha.
We have the KEF kht surround sound speakers (the ported ones) as the music quality on these seemed alot better than the un-ported. Theres are running off an onkyo 7.1 reciever/amp, cant remember the model number though ha. They sound great for watching blu-rays etc.

Also we have bower and wilkins floor standing speakers running off a marantz amp and a few other marantz bits such as tuner/cd player etc.

Oh and in my bedroom i have 2 mission bookshelf speakers running off a denon amp (these things i did actually buy myself lol)

It's amazing how different this kind of equipment sounds when compared to your average joe's crappy argos surround sound/hifi. And the thing is, alot of it can be bought second hand for the same price as shit stuff is new. And good audio equipment doesn't really age either.. A set of 11yr old mission speakers will still sound great today when compared to new gear.

What kind of brands are you into man? What do you have at home?

[MJ05LLY]

Originally Posted by Gabbastard

As per my pm, I have a Denon amp, Mordaunt Short and old wharfedale speakers, plus a Marantz cd player.

Sounds night and day from general "hifi" shit.

Yea just going through your PM you should have one back shortly

Originally Posted by m11ler

Not really mine, but im 18 and still live at home so i influence the old man into which audio to buy haha.
We have the KEF kht surround sound speakers (the ported ones) as the music quality on these seemed alot better than the un-ported. Theres are running off an onkyo 7.1 reciever/amp, cant remember the model number though ha. They sound great for watching blu-rays etc.

Also we have bower and wilkins floor standing speakers running off a marantz amp and a few other marantz bits such as tuner/cd player etc.

Oh and in my bedroom i have 2 mission bookshelf speakers running off a denon amp (these things i did actually buy myself lol)

It's amazing how different this kind of equipment sounds when compared to your average joe's crappy argos surround sound/hifi. And the thing is, alot of it can be bought second hand for the same price as shit stuff is new. And good audio equipment doesn't really age either.. A set of 11yr old mission speakers will still sound great today when compared to new gear.

What kind of brands are you into man? What do you have at home?

Sounds like you have some nice bits in there, see if you can get some model numbers up when your bored, especially the 7.1 amp because Onkyo amps are meant to be really nice

I'm just starting out in home audio, always done it in cars but my mate has got a set of Bowers CM9s with some other high end running gear and I was blown away by the quality. Sounds you don't hear in music from a normal system. So since then I've been doing my homework and most of it is down to personal taste it would seem and what music your into.
At the minute ive got ky short list of speakers for a 2.0 audio system, which I hope in time I will build up

Current list is (I'll try put links up later)

Bowers and Wilkins CM7s
KEF Iq9
Monitor Audio Rx6 or even rx8 (if I can stretch budget)

Then I'll just be powering them cheaply while I research amplifiers and systems that can work with my network drive at home, possibly a sonos system. Or something like if anyone has recommendations

[Manu]

Yamaha amp, up to 24 bit / 192 khz HD audio and up to 7.1 channels (and I still miss my stereo NAD)
Samsung media player
joytech digital audio/video dispatcher
sony/nakamishi dual tape player

Front of house:
2 x custom hand made onken subs (google "onken speaker" if you don't know what it is) + custom hand made filters, heavy duty internal wiring
2 x custom modified sonys apm 121es - 22es hybrids with modified eminence compression bullet horn tweeters + custom hand made filters, heavy duty internal wiring
yamaha powered sub
yamaha center speaker modified with heavy duty wiring

sides and rear:
2 x mission 77 DS with modified wiring
2 x Mordaun Shorts (can't remember the ref just now)

either optic cables or AudioQuest cables.

Secondary system:

Jamo satellites, modified casing and combined with a modified sub, with built in amp.
Other various bits and bobs for DJing and production but the thread seems to be purely hifi.

Originally Posted by MJ05LLY

Onkyo amps are meant to be really nice

they are excellent value for money indeed.

[GrantW]

Ive got an Onkyo 508 7.1 3D amp, powering Acoustic Energy Neo V3 floorstanders and centre, PS3 and 3D Samsung blu ray player all going into a 59" Samsung 3D tv

Sounds amazing, I love the Onkyo, got it for a bargain as it was last years discontinued model and the main improvements that were being brought in were all networking stuff which I don't need.

I hate having everything digital, I like looking through Blu rays deciding what to watch, not scrolling on the PC. Same with CD's.

I know that's an AV setup, but still sounds amazing just for audio.

[Manu]

Originally Posted by GrantW

Sounds amazing, I love the Onkyo, got it for a bargain as it was last years discontinued model .

Pardon me for being nosey but how much?

[GrantW]

Got it for £170 from Richer Sounds, instead of £300, which is the price of the newer 509.

[Manu]

not too bad, the average price was around RRP£219 if I remember properly. The new one looks full of future proof thing you can't even use just yet. Still, they're awesome.

[MJ05LLY]

Little update. I've taken my first step and I've ordered a pair of floorstanders

Monitor Audio

Here is the what hifi review

I hope they will be here tomorrow to start running them in gently. I know this is just the start and I have more great expenses to come. I'm going to save for a really good stereo amp and cables next. I have a temp amp I'm going to use for now but it is no where near good enough quality wise and power wise for now.

Any suggestions on stereo amps? Least 140watts a channel and under £500?

I'm also in the hunt for a air play receiver so I can stream my music from my macs and network drive without having to run cables, failing that I think I may have to invest in sonos although I do not like the price that much!

[MJ05LLY]

Originally Posted by Manu

Yamaha amp, up to 24 bit / 192 khz HD audio and up to 7.1 channels (and I still miss my stereo NAD)
Samsung media player
joytech digital audio/video dispatcher
sony/nakamishi dual tape player

Front of house:
2 x custom hand made onken subs (google "onken speaker" if you don't know what it is) + custom hand made filters, heavy duty internal wiring
2 x custom modified sonys apm 121es - 22es hybrids with modified eminence compression bullet horn tweeters + custom hand made filters, heavy duty internal wiring
yamaha powered sub
yamaha center speaker modified with heavy duty wiring

sides and rear:
2 x mission 77 DS with modified wiring
2 x Mordaun Shorts (can't remember the ref just now)

either optic cables or AudioQuest cables.

Secondary system:

Jamo satellites, modified casing and combined with a modified sub, with built in amp.
Other various bits and bobs for DJing and production but the thread seems to be purely hifi.





they are excellent value for money indeed.

Looks like your serious about your audio, how do you go about your custom parts?

Also, any good places to buy isolation plinths from?

[Scottp]

i had a full multi room Linn system consisting of various Linn source, amps, wall panels and speakers.

Recently sold it all except the speakers to move to a Sonos multi room system. The Linn was uber however to continue going down the route i wanted was going to cost me another fortune so decided to split and move to something simpler and cheaper!

[Manu]

Originally Posted by MJ05LLY

Looks like your serious about your audio, how do you go about your custom parts?

Also, any good places to buy isolation plinths from?

I've been on it for a while. Then was lucky enough to have an uncle who builds speakers, taught me a lot. I bought most of the electronics from Tandy (rip) and ordered the speaker parts from a local hifi parts shop. Then the cables from another couple of hifi shops specialised in cables. Then yet another shop with a range of optics because that shitty 1.2 metre £20 from tescos just doesn't cut it.

To answer your question it actually depends what you're after, building walls or just sound treatment?

Walls: I used some rockwool combined with 5 layers of aluminium then some auralex panels on top of the walls. Not really by choice but to avoid neighbours wars, they don't need / want to hear the bass... It's actually not that expensive as I imported the rockwool stuff from France + the auralex panels were about 20 quid for the whole stuff. You can get similar stuff from B&Q and order the panels directly from auralex or resellers. The price varies depending on how much surface you have to cover.

[MJ05LLY]

Manu, sorry I think I'm confusing you. The house is a end one so bass isn't a problem in the room they will be in. I have read that depending on the surface you sit the speakers on wood or carpet will also have an outcome on bass and clarity so it's best to buy some plinths to sit the speakers on as these help to isolate the speakers and give a better sound?
Or is that all just rubbish?

I've also been looking at some good quality cable to use also. Not sure if to biwire or not though. Again this brings mixed views from people




Scott sounds like you had some quality gear there before. How do you get on with Sonos, is it worth the money? I been looking at them and really cringing at the price especially since I've got the scope to use air play but if Sonia has more features and scope then it could be a better choice for future upgrades etc

[Manu]

It's always nice to kill what is called reflections. A carpet on the floor does help, then you may want to get rid of those bouncing off the walls. Hence the use for some auralex panels and bass traps...

And yes you can have your speakers on spikes or stands to isolate them from the floor.

so it's best to buy some plinths to sit the speakers on as these help to isolate the speakers and give a better sound?

In my case, my main speakers are sitting on a 30 mm thick bit of wood. That's there mainly to isolate the speaker from the floor and kill any unwanted vibrations.

Or is that all just rubbish?

I've also been looking at some good quality cable to use also. Not sure if to biwire or not though. Again this brings mixed views from people

I swear by audioquest. It is pricey stuff but the difference was clear enough to justify the expense. Not looking back since. And I could not care less what people say. They all have different ears and some swear by their little Bush system from argos. Some tried with me, I gave them a listen.

[Scottp]

Originally Posted by MJ05LLY

Scott sounds like you had some quality gear there before. How do you get on with Sonos, is it worth the money? I been looking at them and really cringing at the price especially since I've got the scope to use air play but if Sonia has more features and scope then it could be a better choice for future upgrades etc

I cant rate the Sonos highly enough tbh. Its not pricey compared to the Linn before it beleive me!

I hardly use the system myself, the missus uses it and when we have friends over and its more than adequate to power the Linn speakers. Its also far more flexible and user friendly than the Linn Knekt system which is waaaay out of date. It still sounds great especially since it enevitably has Lady Gaga blaring out of it

[MJ05LLY]

Originally Posted by Scott

I cant rate the Sonos highly enough tbh. Its not pricey compared to the Linn before it beleive me!

I hardly use the system myself, the missus uses it and when we have friends over and its more than adequate to power the Linn speakers. Its also far more flexible and user friendly than the Linn Knekt system which is waaaay out of date. It still sounds great especially since it enevitably has Lady Gaga blaring out of it

Yea I'm kind of warning to Sonos now. Do you use any kind of DAC after the sonos? Or you finding quality good enough?


Manu, thanks again for great input
I've got some old Monster bi wire cable which am going to use for now. I've decided no point in cutting corners. May as well save and do it right rather than have one half decent bit of kit muddled with budget stuff. to start with the speakers will be on carpet but shortly they will be onto a wooden floor

Any of you insure your audio equipment separately? Or just leave it on the house insurance?

Looks like its Monsay before my new floor standees arrive boohoo
Couldn't sleep last night with excitement

[Manu]

Originally Posted by MJ05LLY

Manu, thanks again for great input
I've got some old Monster bi wire cable which am going to use for now. I've decided no point in cutting corners. May as well save and do it right rather than have one half decent bit of kit muddled with budget stuff. to start with the speakers will be on carpet but shortly they will be onto a wooden floor

You're welcome. But dear god, monster cable. Believe me they're rubbish. I did some side by side tests and they were outperformed by any other cables including the cheapos. I suppose it will do for now... Meanwhile here's a bit of reading: http://gizmodo.com/363154/audiophile...-a-coat-hanger. Monster is generally seen as snake oil suppliers

you can use some thick wood to rest your speakers on, cheap effective trick

[MJ05LLY]

It's possible these guys weren't super-hardcore audiophiles that might not be able to tell the difference. Ignoring the main point for a second, we don't really recommend re-wiring your home theater after a firesale on wire hangers.

Good job I'm not a hardcore audiophile, at least when i get some good cable it should be a nice little upgrade for me.

now to do some overtime to pay for more toys.

So basically now i have

Decent speakers
Rubbish amp
Rubbish cable

What would you upgrade next?

Ive been advised to sort out my signal into the amp first. So my dac and some kind of music streamer and cd player etc. Then look to the amp and lastly the cable. What order would you go round things

Im just wanting a nice clean 2.0 system for now which can stream music from my macs or network drive with a cd player and maybe even digital radio with as much quality as possible within a reasonable price. Don't mind saving from month to month to get good items

[KrisB]

I've got an old skool Fisher amp.

A pair of B&W Dm220i's which i never have running cos they're just too much, And a pair of Eltax Monitor III's which are plenty enough for the whole house.

All that lot cost me £65.