AV Setup Thread

[s2driveruk]

samsung c650 LCD for me.....well until the head gasket went on the other car

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/samsung-le40c650-20100506527.htm

[Rusty]

When it comes to TVs, it really is each to their own. What I think is great, others might not and vice-versa. Many people are over the moon with their TV and then you see yours again and it's like a night and day difference. The Panny NeoPDP plasmas are plenty fast enough and so don't blur and play games well, they give excellent black/dark scene performance for a late night movie with 'er indoors, especially with the THX mode on the G20 series, giving some really nice, subtle colours for watching in low light. I can at least take some solice in the fact that every salesperson I've mentioned my purchase to have nodded approvingly and then said that they are saving / buying / have bought a similar 20 series Panny plasma. Happy days.

[s2driveruk]

totally.....i have a panny at the moment and bar the size....love what it shows me

[Thuppu]

Have you guys tried Projectors?

[S2central.net]

I had chosen the Panny neopdp G20 on paper (always liked Panasonic TVs as they have served me well over the years), then saw the reviews/awards and looked at one or two in stores - talked my Dad into getting one first so I could see it in the real world - and it is awesome indeed. They better keep making it for a while as my cabling is all setup to match it on that side of the wall - yikes !

Here's a question on that TV though wrt the AV setup... It has support for ARC (Audio Return Channel) via HDMI #2 port... does that mean it always pushes the audio signal out towards an AV amp connected on HDMI#2 when I am viewing source from any other input?

If it does - it gives me more flexibility on where I put things but I have cabled HDMI to both sides of the room just in case.

[borderS2]

No tv but I use an old Viewsonic projector in the sittingroom with pc, ps3, N64 and a sony av system as inputs. The sony runs a pair of 1970s Mission 770s as main speakers with the sony's sub, centre and satellites. Love the projector and not having a huge black box on the wall. I use a monitor to view on if it's too light outside when needed. The projector can move easily and gets taken to the playroom when kids/big kids need isolated from the grown-ups/women.

[skid]

Not really but then it depends what for. Have put a bid in on this 2807 so anything will be dependent on that...

I also have a Cambridge Audio CD4 that I'm going to sell on, about £25 delivered, and I have some JPW AP2 and AP3 speakers too, both old skool but not too bad for what I'd want for them...

Only saying because you can buy a brand new yamaha rxv 667 for that money! All the hd sound codecs and hdmi ports you'll need!

[Thuppu]

I have also no TV at all. Only a Sanyo FullHD lcd-projector and diy screen in the livingroom with htpc, Sony BD-player, Denon DVD-player(this is also a good CD-player) and a Pioneer AV 7.1 reciever. Speakers in front and center is KEF Q-series from the 90's. Surrounds is 4x JBL's with diy enclosures. Subs dual diy 2x100 liters reflex enclosures, SVS db12.2 drivers and Hypex digital amplifiers.

[skid]

Now this is a col thread Panasonic is the way forward for tvs no doubt about it. Pioneer were the best until they decided to stop doing plasmas. goood news was 90% of the kuros staff went to panasonic The panny vt series are getting real close to the level of the pioneers of the past. Anything bigger than 42 should be a plasma in my humble oppinion. Deeper blacks than LCD or LED, same thing really just different back lighting. As for receivers, it all depends on what kind of sound you like, Attacking and upfront? Sony, Onkyo and possibly budget Pioneer. if its warm and expansive sound you like then Denon and yamaha are the ones to go for. Pioneer at the upper range are brilliant and match the yammy and Denon for sound quality and have huge reserves of power. My mechanic hooked up his 4 year old pioneer vsxax2av-s to a pair of 7grand speakers, tri amp'd them as the amp is 7.1. the sound was amazing!
if your're gonna be using a mid range amp then you should also be considering full size speakers not saterlites. the sats will sound ok ( kef etc) cos there are some good ones out there but put similar priced boxes(monitor audio bx) in their place and the jump in quality will hit you in the face!! Hope this helps with choice making.

[Rusty]

Going B&W up front but don't have the space at the rear, so will have to get the best I can find that fits the space

Budget is about £100, ideally with wall brackets or stands, conteders are:-

• KEF 1001 / 2001
• Cambridge Audio Min10 / Min20
• JBL Control 1
• Q Acoustics 1010 / 2010

Anything else that fits the bill?

[Thuppu]

You should take all for listening at home and choose those that sounds most like your B&W's.

[Rusty]

Problem is that I'm looking secondhand so need to make a best guess. The B&Ws are smooth but powerful, they're not big and brash, so I guess I'm after something that is regarded as silky, rather than aggressive... The B&W centre speaker is huge, can't wait to get my hands on one

[skid]

You might want to look at some B&W mt speakers. small and a good match for your fronts. Monitor audio do good surrounds too. Radius maybe.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Monitor-Audio-...item1c192aa669

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Monitor-Audio-...item20b70c5faf

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Monitor-Audio-...item3f0722d373

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Monitor-Audio-...item27b89c69dc

[Rusty]

Thanks for the links there. I'll do some looking into them. The B&W M series are a little pricey and being B&W, secondhand prices are strong. Would be a nice solution though

[skid]

The m series are cheaper than the kefs!