Advice on budget 3.0/3.1/5.1 system

[fritobugger]

Most international audio brands are available here, like JBL, Dali, Kef, Kali, Paradigm, Bowers & Wilkins , Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Anthem etc

Within your budget, unless you can find some good second hand deals, Denon S-series with Kef Q series is likely your best starting point.

 

[w149658]

If you are in China then disregard my post above. When I lived in Shanghai, I enjoyed to hifi shops but that was more than a decade ago. Best of luck.


This would be with passive speakers. The 305P are not going to be great for beyond nearfield and the cost to set them up as part of a surround system would far exceed the benefit of keeping them. Any AVR with pre-outs already exceeds your budget unless you find an X4300H second hand for cheap.

Thanks. I agree with ur opinion. I have two choice. it seems both needs higher budget

one is to increase the budget and buy AV processors and another active speakder like Kali IN 8. In this way the processors deliver quality sound and server for very long time.

the other one is to buy cheaper AVR like Denon X3800H and passive LCR like JBL studio 6 series or the Dali Sonic 7. I don't know which way delivers better sound and serves longer.

I live in a small city and there's only one Hifi shop selling JBL. It's difficult to try different speakers off-line

 

[fritobugger]

Thanks. I agree with ur opinion. I have two choice. it seems both needs higher budget

one is to increase the budget and buy AV processors and another active speakder like Kali IN 8. In this way the processors deliver quality sound and server for very long time.

the other one is to buy cheaper AVR like Denon X3800H and passive LCR like JBL studio 6 series or the Dali Sonic 7. I don't know which way delivers better sound and serves longer.

I live in a small city and there's only one Hifi shop selling JBL. It's difficult to try different speakers off-line

I would not go with the JBL Studio 6 or Dali. The older JBL Studio 5 series was good. Kef is a pretty safe choice if you go with the Q Meta series or higher Meta or the previous R series.

 

[Power Pop 23]

The Denon AVR-S760H has no pre outs. Are u sure it's ok with active speakers?

No,

You must use passive speakers with the Denon AVR-S760H AVR.

 

[Chrispy]

I would not go with the JBL Studio 6 or Dali. The older JBL Studio 5 series was good. Kef is a pretty safe choice if you go with the Q Meta series or higher Meta or the previous R series.

Curious, what don't you like about the Studio 6 series?

 

[fritobugger]

Curious, what don't you like about the Studio 6 series?

It is my understanding that they do not measure nearly as well as the previous Studio 5 series

 

[kyuu]

It is my understanding that they do not measure nearly as well as the previous Studio 5 series

Indeed:

Only one example, but it seems that achieving a decently neutral response was not a high priority for the 6-series, unless the 5-series.

 

[Chrispy]

It is my understanding that they do not measure nearly as well as the previous Studio 5 series

I think Erin's Audio Corner did measure the 630 and 698 (but don't think he did any of the 5 series) but would have to go review his tests and compare etc to measurements like Amir's 530 and the Australian mag that did the 590.....but I'm not shopping otoh

I also wonder if with something like the Denon 760 for avr if the spl thing would improve for the OP....

 

[Chrispy]

Most international audio brands are available here, like JBL, Dali, Kef, Kali, Paradigm, Bowers & Wilkins , Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Anthem etc

What about pricing for a few models within your budget?

 

[w149658]

Not familiar with soundcard options (or macbook for that matter). A glance at the mk5 seems to be a 2ch unit so not sure how that would work with multich. I have read about the Kalis but I've never seen one, that could be a nice option....they show a max spl spec of 117dB vs the JBL's 108 (and no idea if spec'd the same, Kali doesn't specify and JBL says C-weighted). Fwiw I run my JBLs with rca to xlr cables, indeed a multich processor or avr with xlr will be pricey. I think overall your budget is low and haven't even considered a sub yet.

ps saw a mk5 box rather than soundcard, got a link to the soundcard?

Motu mk5 offers 10 chs. Here's the link: https://motu.com/en-us/products/gen5/ultralite-mk5/. However, it has no vedio in/out . Max listening distance for Kali IN 8 is 4 meters. It fits my need now, but I'm still worried about its SPL capability. what's more, Kali IN 8 is about $450/pair. I think it may not be my best choice in the long term.

 

[Chrispy]

Motu mk5 offers 10 chs. Here's the link: https://motu.com/en-us/products/gen5/ultralite-mk5/. However, it has no vedio in/out . Max listening distance for Kali IN 8 is 4 meters. It fits my need now, but I'm still worried about its SPL capability. what's more, Kali IN 8 is about $450/pair. I think it may not be my best choice in the long term.

What I saw but didn't see a back panel pic....interesting unit. What would your sources of multich audio be particularly?

 

[w149658]

What about pricing for a few models within your budget?

klipsch R-26F $550/pair RP-600M $400/pair ; Wharfedale LINTON 85th $550/pair ; FOCAL VESTIA N1 $800/pair ; dali sonic 7 $1100/pair ; KEF- Q550 $790/pair ;Q3 meta $550/pair ； JBL 698+ 665 $2800/pair ；Bowers & Wilkins 606s3 $700/pair …… too many to choose, that's why i am so confused.
I think klipsch offers value for money here, but i was told klipsch is not good at music.

 

[w149658]

What I saw but didn't see a back panel pic....interesting unit. What would your sources of multich audio be particularly?

tv and tv box, laptops and mobile phone. mostly from streaming media.

 

[fritobugger]

klipsch R-26F $550/pair RP-600M $400/pair ; Wharfedale LINTON 85th $550/pair ; FOCAL VESTIA N1 $800/pair ; dali sonic 7 $1100/pair ; KEF- Q550 $790/pair ;Q3 meta $550/pair ； JBL 698+ 665 $2800/pair ；Bowers & Wilkins 606s3 $700/pair …… too many to choose, that's why i am so confused.
I think klipsch offers value for money here, but i was told klipsch is not good at music.

Of those, the Linton is the best choice I believe by far. Easy to drive. Measure well. Have good in room performance. Good to 40Hz. Fairly easy choice and that is a great price.

 

[john61ct]

I personally avoid AVRs completely, but then I am music focused and have no interest in decoding proprietary mch content.

So if that is your rationale for looking at AVRs, just ignore this post...