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Surround Sound / Home Cinema Amp with decent phono

Mysta

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Joined
Apr 9, 2025
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Hi I started out seeking a simple mid range set up in short Rega Plana 3 or potentially 6, KEF R3 Metas and the Arcam A35 purely for vinyl and streaming with connectivity via arc into an LG TV.

The room is 3.6M x5.5M with the setup facing the room length with acoustic panels placed behind and may pop some simple sound treatment in the room - but that's a maybe. Above where the amp and player will be placed is a LG55 TV with arc hdmi and a basic sound bar/sub (bluetooth) that came with it as an offer.

So, I am wondering if I should be considering a surround sound amp as have a set of rear cambridge speakers and center speaker but not paramount - just a consideration.

Mention this as I realised I can stream from the TV online music services and networked music server but I would like a decent phono to link in with the record deck.

Just had a read through on What Hifi for the r1000a and actually ticks a few boxes functions and input wise, interesting amp for the money. Then I saw the Denon AVC-X6800H!

Now Im delving into the surround sound fray and totally lost.

So in short as a recap:

Existing LG55G4 with an LG G1 Surround sound bar and sub.

Have an older rear surround sound speakers and a center speaker (both cambridge audio from memory theyre tucked away).

I will likely purchase a Rega PLanar 3 or 6 yet to decide and currently the Kef R3 Metas are on the top of the speaker list.

Any recommendation please. Much aprpeciated.

M
 
An AVR makes a lot of sense - sensible way to go.
The x8600h is a *lot* of AVR though, perhaps overkill unless you plan to extend your home cinema setup later.
Note that the phono stage (which is probably fine) is MM only - but that's pretty sensible too.

The other big advantage of an AVR is room correction - definitely worth having.
 
Most phono preamps are better than the records themselves. ;) You may hear some hiss from the preamp, especially when turned-up with headphones. But once the stylus is in the grove, record noise will dominate.

Personally, when listening to regular stereo recordings I like using a "hall" or "theater" setting on my AVR for some delayed reverb in the rear and the feel of a larger room. ...I also have as shelf-full of DVDs with surround which I enjoy. My setup is "only" 5.1 but that's enough for me and much more fun than stereo.
 
I own a 6800 and updated to a Cambridge Audio Duo phono preamp. It made a very noticeable difference over the internal 6800 phono preamp. I would not buy a receiver based on the phono preamp. You can easily get a good phono preamp for under $100 such as a FOSI X5.
 
Thanks Laika ironically I wad looking at the ohinos particukarly the Fosis ob the foeuns earlier and nakes sense.
Thabkyou
 
No problem, The 6800 does have a good internal phono preamp. It's something you can add latter if you want to step up a bit. I do love the 6800, lots of power and Dirac. It's very flexible, I added 13 300 watt monoblocks and put it in pre amp mode after about a year. Adding a external headphone amp when it gets here. It's very solid on its own but if you want to upgrade you can add on instead of replace
 
Due to a house refurb ive had to oop a kot into storage and some won't return, however I do hibby hone musoc production as well as listening so I did treat myself to some headphones and preamp. I was blown away. Siurced a Dluxlab Mentor feom Ukraine and a set of Audeze LCD-X CB headphones.
The first track I played as Im fanikiar and believe its a great recording was dire strauts brothers in arms.
I kid you not , its the first time I actual boticed the snare transients as the drumsticks hit. Thw stereo field is amazing. I realllu dobt want to go insane so In still diggibf re my phono setup and exploring various options.
Hence the divergeance from rwcoes swck amo and speakers to surround. So yes I think I am lwaning more towards a sinpke 5.1 surround jusy the wiring thats going ro cause an issue. As hardfloor and wife hayes wires everywhere so the tear speakers maybe an issue. Sorry Im trangressing with thoughts as I type.
Keep flipflopping between the stereo and surround amps.
 
Sounds like you have a great set of headphones and amp. I have ran rear speaker wires inside the walls and up to the attic and back down. Also through the basement and back up. That way rear wires don't show at all except where they come out of the wall. Dirac will help with the hard floor but a big rug and Dirac normally will normally greatly reduce destructive floor reflections.

Are you from Ukraine?
 
I've used Denon avrs with phono stages for a while, entirely adequate to the purpose at least with most mm cartridges....you can always get an external stage if worried or have special requirements.
 
Sounds like you have a great set of headphones and amp. I have ran rear speaker wires inside the walls and up to the attic and back down. Also through the basement and back up. That way rear wires don't show at all except where they come out of the wall. Dirac will help with the hard floor but a big rug and Dirac normally will normally greatly reduce destructive floor reflections.

Are you from Ukraine?
No, my wife is from Poland around 60km from the Ukraine border - lots of military in her town when it all started.
I was just amazed at how Fluxlabs manage to operate and get units couriered out of the country to the UK.
 
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