ptw
Member
Hello everyone,
I'm here to ask for your feedback and advice on the choice of equipment. After a lot of research and combing the net, forums, comparisons, measurement analyses (many right here), subjective opinions, I've learned a lot, discovered lots of brands and models, but I'm still wondering which are the best options for me.
Let's start with what I need: a versatile audio system for audio listening and home cinema, connected to a variety of digital and analog sources (Android TV, NAS, turntable, etc.).
It will be use in a living room measuring a little more than thirty square meters. Note that the layout of my room means that the speakers will have to be installed perpendicular to the length of the room.
What I listen to: Mostly pop rock, some electro, and the occasional metal or rap digression, at medium volume, rarely at very high. I also watch a variety of films (60% music, 40% film).
I try as much as possible to use quality sources and formats (music and film).
For the past ten years or so, I've owned an eltax monitor home cinema system (III and center) + focal cub 3 sub + entry-level yamaha AVR, bought on my limited student budget at the time (around 600€ for the whole set, including cables and delivery) for a 15m² room at the time. It was already a slap in the face compared to the little budgets PC speakers I'd had up until then.
Today, my system no longer match to my use and my needs, being now installed in a larger living room, and for a still versatile use. I find my set too narrow for music listening, lacking clarity and precision in the highs and mids, and power, and for home cinema the same reproach at moderate and medium volume for clarity. Bass is well helped by the subwoofer, even if it's not very precise, and it drools a little when the pace increases in hifi.
My first choice is a pair of floorspeakers, coupled with a central unit for home cinema, and an AVR for their versatility (yes, I know, a hifi amp will offer better listening quality, but how do I connect my different sources, and what about films?). I'm not closed to other configuration proposals that could just as easily be adapted. I could also keep my current subwoofer, even though it's a fairly basic, for home cinema if the columns are sufficient on their own for hifi. The idea is to keep the system for a number of years, arriving at a time in life when you're more settled.
During my research, I came to several conclusions.
- I quickly realized that there are many more hifi brands than you might think, and that made in France or Europe is not necessarily superior to made in far-off places (I live in France).
- Many parameters can be taken into account when choosing equipment according to your needs (build quality, sound tonality, power requirements or not, dispersion, warranty, quality of components, casing, ease of positioning in the room, ease of combining speakers and amp, etc.).
So I'm looking for advice to narrow down the field of possibilities to what might suit me best, so as to target my research for listening before buying. (I can't imagine asking you to do a listening test of 10 speaker brands combined with 3-4 different amps).
So I'm listing what I identified during my research, and which are a little above my budget, to see if it's negotiable with the sellers in the event of a batch purchase like my previous one. These are proposals that seem ideal. Also, there may be less expensive options, perhaps inferior in some respects, but perfectly acceptable in terms of performance/price ratio, which I haven't seen or been able to tell if they are worthwhile.
AVR
Speakers
This is where it gets complicated. With my limited experience, I've identified several sets that seem suitable at first glance.
I've also eliminated the Polk R500, whose design doesn't appeal to me at all, the Revel F35 and F36 because they're out of my budget and hard to find, and the Davis Acoustics Ariane and Krypton because they don't seem to be up to the asking price.
Eventual power amp
AUDIOPHONICS HPA-T400ET (1900€) : a three channel power amp, no that much different from the Audiophonics HPA-S400ET reviewed here. In case of hungry speaker choice, and maybe with a less expensives AVR.
SUB
Probably in a second time, a SVS SB-1000 PRO to replace my actual.
---
My preferences are monitor audio 300 7g + marantz cinema 40, and focal theva n3 + denon x4800h. I'm not necessarily sure about the associations, and perhaps a more modest AVR coupled with a power amp would be a wiser choice. I'm not in a hurry and can wait for interesting discount.
After this “short” introduction, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or comments on what I've said.
I'm here to ask for your feedback and advice on the choice of equipment. After a lot of research and combing the net, forums, comparisons, measurement analyses (many right here), subjective opinions, I've learned a lot, discovered lots of brands and models, but I'm still wondering which are the best options for me.
Let's start with what I need: a versatile audio system for audio listening and home cinema, connected to a variety of digital and analog sources (Android TV, NAS, turntable, etc.).
It will be use in a living room measuring a little more than thirty square meters. Note that the layout of my room means that the speakers will have to be installed perpendicular to the length of the room.
What I listen to: Mostly pop rock, some electro, and the occasional metal or rap digression, at medium volume, rarely at very high. I also watch a variety of films (60% music, 40% film).
I try as much as possible to use quality sources and formats (music and film).
For the past ten years or so, I've owned an eltax monitor home cinema system (III and center) + focal cub 3 sub + entry-level yamaha AVR, bought on my limited student budget at the time (around 600€ for the whole set, including cables and delivery) for a 15m² room at the time. It was already a slap in the face compared to the little budgets PC speakers I'd had up until then.
Today, my system no longer match to my use and my needs, being now installed in a larger living room, and for a still versatile use. I find my set too narrow for music listening, lacking clarity and precision in the highs and mids, and power, and for home cinema the same reproach at moderate and medium volume for clarity. Bass is well helped by the subwoofer, even if it's not very precise, and it drools a little when the pace increases in hifi.
My first choice is a pair of floorspeakers, coupled with a central unit for home cinema, and an AVR for their versatility (yes, I know, a hifi amp will offer better listening quality, but how do I connect my different sources, and what about films?). I'm not closed to other configuration proposals that could just as easily be adapted. I could also keep my current subwoofer, even though it's a fairly basic, for home cinema if the columns are sufficient on their own for hifi. The idea is to keep the system for a number of years, arriving at a time in life when you're more settled.
During my research, I came to several conclusions.
- I quickly realized that there are many more hifi brands than you might think, and that made in France or Europe is not necessarily superior to made in far-off places (I live in France).
- Many parameters can be taken into account when choosing equipment according to your needs (build quality, sound tonality, power requirements or not, dispersion, warranty, quality of components, casing, ease of positioning in the room, ease of combining speakers and amp, etc.).
So I'm looking for advice to narrow down the field of possibilities to what might suit me best, so as to target my research for listening before buying. (I can't imagine asking you to do a listening test of 10 speaker brands combined with 3-4 different amps).
So I'm listing what I identified during my research, and which are a little above my budget, to see if it's negotiable with the sellers in the event of a batch purchase like my previous one. These are proposals that seem ideal. Also, there may be less expensive options, perhaps inferior in some respects, but perfectly acceptable in terms of performance/price ratio, which I haven't seen or been able to tell if they are worthwhile.
AVR
- Denon x4800h (1700€)
- Marantz cinema 40 (best price seen 2000€)
Speakers
This is where it gets complicated. With my limited experience, I've identified several sets that seem suitable at first glance.
- Dynaudio : Emit II C25 center + Dynaudio Emit II 50 : (total 2700€) they need power, positioning must be done with care, little info on tone
- B&W : HTM6 S3 center + 603 S3 : (total 3000€) Doesn't seem to offer the best value for money
- sonus faber : Lumina Center I + Sonus Faber Lumina III : (2900€) : Home-made filter, seems to be of high quality and yet weighs much less than the others (but is that a problem?).A little limited in the bass, good for the rest. Easy to position (event down). Brand tone. 8-year warranty.
- dali : Oberon Vokal center (or Dali Oberon Grand Vokal) + oberon 9 : (2650€) easy to feed, well-presented bass, good dispersion, easy to place. Perhaps a little less precise and responsive than the others. Little information on the quality of the filters used and the finish.
- focal : theva centre (or vestia centre) + theva n3 d : (2200€) little information on filter quality and no precise measurements to give an idea of their level. Better with enough juice. What are the differences between theva n3 and vestia 2, apart from the price? Focal is well known, but is the brand still up to in this price range ?
- monitor audio : silver 7g C250 + silver 300 7g (or silver 500 7g) : (2450€) fairly neutral, the 3-way control unit would be more efficient than the more basic ones. Doesn't require too much juice.
- q acoustics 3050c, 5040, 5050
- dali oliberon 5 / 7
- Monitor Audio Bronze 500
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.4
I've also eliminated the Polk R500, whose design doesn't appeal to me at all, the Revel F35 and F36 because they're out of my budget and hard to find, and the Davis Acoustics Ariane and Krypton because they don't seem to be up to the asking price.
Eventual power amp
AUDIOPHONICS HPA-T400ET (1900€) : a three channel power amp, no that much different from the Audiophonics HPA-S400ET reviewed here. In case of hungry speaker choice, and maybe with a less expensives AVR.
SUB
Probably in a second time, a SVS SB-1000 PRO to replace my actual.
---
My preferences are monitor audio 300 7g + marantz cinema 40, and focal theva n3 + denon x4800h. I'm not necessarily sure about the associations, and perhaps a more modest AVR coupled with a power amp would be a wiser choice. I'm not in a hurry and can wait for interesting discount.
After this “short” introduction, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or comments on what I've said.