hardware recommendation for my mom

[slacki]

Hi, i am looking for a "cheap" solution for my mom. I gave her my LG Oled C7 and she is happy with that. She uses DVB-S2 and the youtube plugin, but the TV is slow and it always pops up annoying ADs. So i thought i'll go and buy her a rpi5 with libreelec on it with a dedicated tv card. But also her stereo receiver is broken on her 2.1 system, so i thouht i'll go also and replace that. The thing is, she does not have that much money, so she will not spend 1000 EUR or so. I read that MultiEQ XT32 is way better than MultiEQ, but that starts with the denon X3xx series which are already too expensive (when bought new). So wondering if anyone has an idea if thats a good way to go or if this is not reliable. I thought about a used X3700h and a pair of speakers, but not sure which one. Right now she has what we call "Brüllwürfel" in germany Its two very small sized speakers that "cry" when its a bit louder.
Is the x3700h overkill for a (at the moment) stereo setup or is it worth the audyssey upgrade? Any recommendation for shelf speakers?

 

[GXAlan]

AppleTV and a good soundbar or HDMI enabled speaker from JBL, Klipsch, or KEF is a good idea.

 

[slacki]

Not sure if such a soundbar would fit, but guess that would be an idea. I try to get a picture of her current setup to show the space problem.

 

[GXAlan]

Not sure if such a soundbar would fit, but guess that would be an idea. I try to get a picture of her current setup to show the space problem.

The idea of a reliable HDMI CEC is key.

The Klipsch Fives, Sevens, and Nines can be found at bargain prices in the U.S. at times but I am not sure about Europe.

Soundbars do have economies of scale by being high volume products, so you do get a lot of value with Sonos, Samsung/JBL, and Bose soundbars which genuinely do apply science in their design.

I have Trinnov/Meyer Sound in my HT, and Meyer Sound Ultra X40 in my great room. Both are “summit fi” systems with science based engineering.

In the kitchen, the Sonos Beam2 works great. The problems with their recent app rewrite have improved considerably.

 

[Head_Unit]

the TV is slow and it always pops up annoying ADs.

I am suspecting your mom does not care so much about that sound,* rather it is YOU who wants to fix the "problem" which does not exist, rather like people who make forum posts asking what elaborate system would be good for their kid, who actually just wants a big Bluetooth speaker. And hence my suggestion is get another TV that is not slow no ads and clearer sound-DONE!
(If I'm wrong and your mom really IS concerned with the sound* then apologies)

Either way I would prioritize one one ONE remote control, NOT one for the TV and one for a sound bar. That implies a TV with analog output most likely, which are rare. Multi remotes drive old people nuts I can testify from several instances, and heck drives me nuts, hence I love my TCL Roku TVs.

*by "sound" I don't mean dialogue, everyone wants clear dialogue. I mean fidelity as though it were a music system.

 

[GXAlan]

Either way I would prioritize one one ONE remote control, NOT one for the TV and one for a sound bar. That implies a TV with analog output most likely, which are rare. Multi remotes drive old people nuts I can testify from several instances, and heck drives me nuts, hence I love my TCL Roku TVs.

One remote control makes sense, but HDMI-CEC gives that to you with multichannel audio.

 

[slacki]

And hence my suggestion is get another TV that is not slow no ads and clearer sound-DONE!

yes, you are wrong. First of, the AV receiver of her is broken. Second, the TV will stay as this is probably one of the best pictures she ever had. Third, when the TV has no internet, the ads are gone (shouldnt be so hard to see) and fast again. So before i buy a new TV for a couple of thousands EUR (which she is not going to spend), i disable the internet of the TV, ads are gone and the tv is fast. But then she can not watch youtube as the TV is offline.

Multi remotes drive old people nuts

She already has 3, if that can go into one it would be awesome. Thats why i am planning with something like rpi5 (or odroid n2+) with a usb-dvb-s2-tuner card and all controlled over hdmi-cec. That would solve the electronic problem. Whats left is either a soundbar or an AVR with speakers.
To visualize the space problem, attached is the picture.
She could remove the middle drawer, then there would be space for an AVR but probably not for a soundbar. Not sure if a soundbar would fit under the TV or if the TV then is too high. I asked here, still waiting for a reply. Also asked for a front picture and not for a 50%-front-picture. The speakers stay up in the height on the left/right part of the cabinet.
edit: just noticed the center "speaker" lol, so she has a 3.1 system.

I mean fidelity as though it were a music system

not possible, simply because of missing money and room layout and furniture, and even if i had that money, i would not do that as she does not need that.

 

[Waxx]

I would get a relative cheap integrated amp and a few decent passive speakers if your mother does not want to much change and have a small budget. Don't try to complicate it to much. A Yamaha A/S301 amp is cheap and decent, and a pair of cheaper Elac or Edifer passive spearkers will probally solve your mother's issue. As long as that tv has toslink or coax digital out, you can do that. Ease of use is also a huge factor in such cases, and often way more important than pure sound quality. And those parts i mention are all at least decent for their price and very easy to use for someone of agae (and no technical background).

If it's only HDMI, you will have to find a similar amp with that. I'm not so up to date with those...

 

[slacki]

I am just wondering if it would make sense to have audyssey or something like that. And if audyssey, the MultEQ or XT32 variant. Later one could get rid of room modes better if there are some. Yes, its only HDMI. The only one i found on geizhals.de is the Denon X1800H (i checked the eARC box because that would remove one more remote), that would also be perfectly fine, the question is only: MultEQ or XT32, does it matter.

 

[slacki]

Here is "the big picture". The upper left is the L, the upper right is the R, in the middle the C and on the far right the subwoofer.
The drawer where the C is now located could be removed to fit in a AVR if required. The speakers on the ceiling are way too high, but on the left/right of the TV is not much space, maybe 10cm on both sides or even less. Waiting for a reply if its ok for her if the TV goes ~10cm higher, so i could put a soundbar under it.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Is the x3700h overkill

Yes (in this scenario).

MultEQ or XT32, does it matter.

No (in this scenario).

 

[slacki]

No (in this scenario).

please explain why

 

[ShadowBoxer]

please explain why

MultiEQ should be "close enough"
(in this scenario)

 

[slacki]

I still dont get it. Close enough to what? Close enough to XT32? Why is that?

 

[slacki]

I found an Marantz SR6010 for about 250 EUR in a good shape, i guess i will buy that. Or does anything speak against that?
The question is then: should i go with a FL/FR or with a center or with FL/FR/C? The problem is the space. I could place the center below the TV but on the left/right is nearly no space :/ Also wondering if it makes sense to have the speakers so close to the TV, that feels probably then just like a center.
Well, and at the moment the budget, so FL/FR/C is only possible if there are used speakers out there that are really at a good price.

edit: after reading a bit, it makes no sense to have FL/FR/C with this layout. I have to figure out whats my mom willing to do at the front to get that better. Otherwise, would it make more sense to have a FL/FR in close distance (TV width) or would be a single center be better?

 

[Head_Unit]

should i go with a FL/FR or with a center or with FL/FR/C?

My experience in the past was the center was not too important when the speakers were pretty close. I think in that setup I'd want good L/R and that's it.
- Can you measure exactly how much width between the TV and the cabinets?
I'd actually want towers, one next to the right-hand cabinet and one to the left of the plant. Maybe then just a stereo amp directly fed from the TV (does it have variable analog output though?).
If that's not possible then I'd put speakers between the TV and the cabinets. The cabinets could more some centimeters away from the console without looking too strange. Maybe these could fit?
https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg23m-monitor-center-channel
Or the ELAC 4" which was surprisingly good. Or the old Infinity TSS sounds neutral, if you can find one used.
and then a subwoofer under the plant, more out of sight and in the corner out of the way.

 

[slacki]

Thanks! Can you tell me which elac exactly? I was not able to find Elac 4"
The RSL look nice but seems like they are hard to get in the EU

update: i have very good news. My mom is willing to put speakers on the front/left of the cabinets That opens a lot of options, e.g. floorstanding speakers or even a center now (to bring the TV up, she has a problem with her eyes so she needs to look up). Her max. budget is 800 EUR for everything, so when i get an AVR for 300 means i have 500 left for 2 speakers. Center would probably be nice but not sure if thats required when she has a good phantom center. If there are some EUR missing, i would pay that.

 

[slacki]

I bought now the Denon x3400 for 320 EUR, guess thats a fair price. Now i'll search for some floor standing speakers.

 

[slacki]

Unfortunately, i can not edit my previous posts 0o
I am going to listen to a pair of Cabasse Jersey MC170, https://www.audiotra.de/cabasse/mcjersey170?c=15 for about 600 EUR. Its a bit over the budget but if they are good, i am willing to spend that bit more. Unfortunately, i did not find any review :/

 

[slacki]

I have now 2 options:
1) i buy the Cabasse and put them very left and very right, without center and without extra subwoofer
2) i buy bookshelf speakers and put them "ok left" and "ok right" but pretty high (way above the ear height) but could buy an extra subwoofer
I am wondering what would be better. I was listening with the Cabasse to some songs like to Fugees - Killing me softly, and i was missing the clear and precise punch.
If the too high fl/fr are not that big of a problem, i probably would go with that + extra sub.