5.1 Speaker Set - Any recommendations?

[Peps]

Hi all,
my friends are looking to offer me a surround system as a wedding present, and I was wondering what would be our best option around the 3.5-4 grand mark?

I just bought a 42" FHD LG TV so would look at something quite 'streamlined' & possibly wall-mounted, black if possible.

Would it make more sense to just focus on the speakers now, and upgrade with an amplifier later?

Would appreciate any advice, as I need to get it tomorrow afternoon around Cape Town.

Thanks.

 

[TJ99]

How exactly would you run speakers without an amplifier/receiver?

 

[Peps]

That's a very good question that I guess you answered for - so you can't plug speakers straight to a TV? Do you always require an amplifier?

What do you recommend then to do:
- get a great amplifier for that price & low priced speakers to upgrade later
- get great speakers with low priced amplifier to upgrade later
- find a middle ground

Looking at all different posts around here, I see that most people recommend Dion Wired as the shop to go to, and a brand called Jamo for speakers - unfortunately the combo amplifier/speakers seems out of my range.

 

[Peps]

Fyi: I'm not interested in a blu-ray player, as most of the programs I watched are either streamed lived (via computer) or stored on hdd.

 

[stevenv]

Probably won't get "proper" gear in that price range. Can easily spend that on receiver alone. Only other option is HTIB but difficult to find one with HDMI inputs in the price range, probably need to spend another R2k but then might as well spend a bit more and get even better (ie proper) gear.

 

[Peps]

Ok, it will be hard to convince my wife that we need to spend another 6K on an audio system when we just pitched 5K for the TV.

I think my brother-in-law got some speakers from few years back, that he never used, sitting in his cupboard: maybe I'll ask him what they are, use it & just spend the money on a receiver.

Would you still have few recommendations around 4K+ grand for the whole set?

 

[OGroteKoning]

Spend R4-6k on a good AV receiver and then spend same to double on speakers ... You won't regret it!

 

[TJ99]

That's a very good question that I guess you answered for - so you can't plug speakers straight to a TV? Do you always require an amplifier?

What do you recommend then to do:
- get a great amplifier for that price & low priced speakers to upgrade later
- get great speakers with low priced amplifier to upgrade later
- find a middle ground

Looking at all different posts around here, I see that most people recommend Dion Wired as the shop to go to, and a brand called Jamo for speakers - unfortunately the combo amplifier/speakers seems out of my range.

Yes, you would always need something to power the speakers (unless you buy a digital set of PC speakers for example, they have amps built in)

Dion Wired's prices are only good when they have specials. Their normal prices aren't particularly cheap. They had a deal on a Marantz Nr1402 receiver and a set of Jamo speakers for R5500 a while ago, which was a massive bargain.

To answer your question, if that's the budget you have, you could just barely get an entry-level receiver new. Cheapest Onkyo, Yamaha etc. models are around R3-4k. But they should last many years. If you shop around though, you might be able to get good deals on second-hand stuff.

As stevenv said, you could probably get a home theater in a box for that price range, but the quality won't be great to say the least...

 

[Peps]

I guess maybe I'll wait for that deal on the "Marantz Nr1402 receiver and a set of Jamo speakers", maybe it'll come back for that price some time soon?

If I had to go for a 'boxed' home theater, anything to look for in particular? brands?

 

[OGroteKoning]

I guess maybe I'll wait for that deal on the "Marantz Nr1402 receiver and a set of Jamo speakers", maybe it'll come back for that price some time soon?

If I had to go for a 'boxed' home theater, anything to look for in particular? brands?

Mate, save a bit and get something worthwhile! You will be so glad you invested in something proper instead of settling too early on a cheapy ... Marantz, Onkyo, Yamaha - there are often specials - when you see one, pop in and quickly ask if it is a good set. The guys here will quickly tell you if they reckon it is rubbish

 

[TJ99]

Mate, save a bit and get something worthwhile! You will be so glad you invested in something proper instead of settling too early on a cheapy ... Marantz, Onkyo, Yamaha - there are often specials - when you see one, pop in and quickly ask if it is a good set. The guys here will quickly tell you if they reckon it is rubbish

This is good advice. It's better to spend more and get something good than to waste money on junk. The Marantz NR1401 for example is brilliant, and is now a lot cheaper (it used to be 6 grand). Personally I prefer Marantz for build quality but Onkyos are good too.

http://www.dionwired.co.za/audio-visual/audio/amplifiers/marantz-av-receiver-silver-gold.html

It's 3D compatible and has 4 HDMI inputs, all of which are assignable and renamable. Also has the Audyssey system which uses a microphone to set up speaker volume levels and delays automatically.

 

[OGroteKoning]

It's 3D compatible and has 4 HDMI inputs, all of which are assignable and renamable. Also has the Audyssey system which uses a microphone to set up speaker volume levels and delays automatically.

Oh yes - very important! It must have enough HDMI inputs - at least 4 imo. The cheapies do not have that many

 

[flarkit]

Amp/receiver recommendation: www.dionwired.co.za/marantz-av-receiver-silver-gold.html (on special since the NR1403 replaced it)

Many newer entry-level Onkyo, Denon, Marantz and Pioneer receivers do the job nicely.

5.1 Surround:
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1 Subsat System

Dionwired can be overpriced, unless you find a quality item which is on an "end-of-range" promotion. Tafelberg Furnishers are at a similar level and may carry decent stuff alongside the mass-produced ranges. I'd rather look for a dedicated AV store who're willing to negotiate and allow you to test-drive the items in an audio room.

 

[stevenv]

you could probably get a home theater in a box for that price range, but the quality won't be great to say the least...

That said, I have a Samsung 5.1 HTIB which I actually find quite decent. I'm certainly no audio expert and I realise it's far from "quality" but it is most definitely many times better than the built-in TV speakers. That and it also provides repeating for my HDMI devices, processing surround for DSTV and PS3. However I certainly wouldn't mind better kit

 

[OGroteKoning]

That said, I have a Samsung 5.1 HTIB which I actually find quite decent. I'm certainly no audio expert and I realise it's far from "quality" but it is most definitely many times better than the built-in TV speakers. That and it also provides repeating for my HDMI devices, processing surround for DSTV and PS3. However I certainly wouldn't mind better kit

What did you pay for it?

 

[stevenv]

Ultimately, the problem is that if your budget doesn't allow for ~R10k to be spent on an audio system, none of this helps, no matter how awesome it might be to have

 

[stevenv]

What did you pay for it?

Testing my memory now. I think it was around R3k-R4k, certainly not more but it was about two years ago. Granted the speakers are plastic and the sub is passive, but given the other features (Blu-ray, HDMI input) it was a good deal. I see you can still get Samsung packages that have HDMI input but they seem very expensive (>R6k).

 

[OGroteKoning]

Ultimately, the problem is that if your budget doesn't allow for ~R10k to be spent on an audio system, none of this helps, no matter how awesome it might be to have

The options are easy ... save a bit and get something proper or settle for something that sounds adequate. I bought a cheap Kenwood 5.1 and started saving up for something better. Later I got me a Yamaha (which admittedly is an entry level model), but the sound quality and output is astronimically better than my old cheapy. If I had money that burned a hole in my pocket, I would have spent more on the speakers though.

 

[TJ99]

Testing my memory now. I think it was around R3k-R4k, certainly not more but it was about two years ago. Granted the speakers are plastic and the sub is passive, but given the other features (Blu-ray, HDMI input) it was a good deal. I see you can still get Samsung packages that have HDMI input but they seem very expensive (>R6k).

Yes, I suggested such systems as well but in the long run they tend to cost more since you will want to upgrade at some time and with an HTIB, you can't really. So you'll end up trying to get rid of the whole thing anyway eventually and then buy a modular system. I know, it happened to me too...

 

[stevenv]

Yes, I suggested such systems as well but in the long run they tend to cost more since you will want to upgrade at some time and with an HTIB, you can't really. So you'll end up trying to get rid of the whole thing anyway eventually and then buy a modular system. I know, it happened to me too...

Yes, quite right. I think in the end its about how satisfied you are with an HTIB if it meets all of your needs. In my case its adequate (at this point) and for many people it may always be just want they need. For example, my parents have an HTIB and they will never want to upgrade, guaranteed. In my case, while its adequate, if I had the money lying around (wishful thinking) I certainly would upgrade and then would just flog the old one for a few bucks, putting the loss down to experience.