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hi fi and home cinema integation?

diybry

pfm Member
Hi,
I have a pretty standard 2 channel setup, Linn and computer audio into Naim 32.5/250 and Kef speakers.
I'm looking at buying a projector based home cinema system, however it seems logical to use the existing system as the front stereo part of a 5:1 system, but I cannot find much on the 'net regarding this.
Do any Fishies have any experience/advice please?
 
Yeah, a lot of amps have an AV bypass input option aka Unity Gain, with the 32.5 you will need to use Aux and set the volume manually to the same level you used to set the 5.1 system up using the mic and room measuring software or old skool sound pressure meter/tape measure/test tones. So it's easy to remember set the Naim to 9 or 12 o clock, then when it’s movie time put the Naim to Aux and set the volume.

Some info with pics here
https://www.roydaudio.org/articles/improving-stereo-performance-surround-sound-setup-part-2/
 
If your budget stretches a sennheiser ambeo soundbar

j1nT4Xb.jpg


there were a lot of issues when first released, but my replacement has been fine over last 5 months

luckily my main speakers are best well away from wall, this allows the angled speakers on end of soundbar to navigate around them for a pretty convincing effect using the calibration mic
 
Yikes! £2k soundbar!! I don't think that is within the planned budget! I imagine it sounds great though.
Thanks for the Royd audio link, it looks like input to the 32.5 is the favoured option. I'll have to do some research into projectors next, all I look at seem to have built in amplification, which I don't need, am I looking at the wrong thing?
 
Depends on budget, massive oversimplification, LCD orDLP are the common technologies, some get rainbows and headaches with DLP so if buying blind :D go LCD.

Most have a basic speaker in cos they double as business machines. Epson do a lot of good value LCD PJ’s. Check the warranty and if it covers the bulb too and for how long/how many hours, they have counters built in that a tech can check.

https://www.avforums.com/articles/what-s-the-best-projector-for-you.11774
 
Most probably will buy blind, so LCD it will be....Interesting link, I'm not interested in 3D. native 4k sounds unnecessary. Probably will go for a projector around the £500 mark plus a 5.1 decoder/amp and centre/rear speakers.
Laser projectors sound like the dogs .... but far far too expensive yet. I an imagine they'll be cheap as chips in a few years!
 
Something like the Epson TW650 should suit
https://www.richersounds.com/tv-projectors/projectors/epson-eh-tw650.html

An amp from Denon/Yamaha/Marantz - £500 ish

If you want a slimline amp then Marantz 1609/1710 would be one of very few choices - I have the 1608 and it's great

Normal size amps like a Denon x2600H will be on offer as new x2700H model is just out

Yammy there are usually deals at Peter Tyson/7Oaks - RX880 or the 680 for £399
https://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/p-9920648-yamaha-rx-a680-black-av-receiver.aspx

Try and get a Centre speaker to match your front voicing (not always possible) rears don't matter so much Dipole or Tripole diffuse the sound - Monitor Audio do a lot so you can get deals ex dem/old stock e.g. Bronze centre + 2 x Rear Fx = £300 at 7oaks
https://www.sevenoakssoundandvision...onze-fx-black-oak-surround-speakers-pair.aspx

Maybe look at a Sub - BK Electrics (eBay outlet store) or Rel (Richer Sounds/7oaks/Peter T) - BK Gemini or Rel T Zero around £200
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338728743&icep_item=114277351242
https://petertyson.co.uk/open-box-rel-tzero-subwoofer-black-ref-630861
 
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Oh dear. I will never mix TV and hi-fi.

Two completely different and incompatible things as far as I’m concerned.

A total heresy. :)

I fundamentally hate those 5.1 thingies. Completely artificial. And that silly central speaker... really?

My TV is simply stereo and it is enough.
 
Yeah those Kef Eggs are great, should match pretty well with the R500 as they all use the Uni Q driver system, you can always upgrade to the matching R2c later.
 
Life was easy when Linn did their Classic Movie system and we all lived in DVD land. You had hi-fi, AV, TV and a tuner, all in one box and it sounded great.

Jack
 
You just need a amp with pre outs to feed to your HiFi amp to power your two main speakers, this is how I've done it, works tremendously.
 
Home Cinema? Yamaha DSP-AX763, it's a few years old now, that feeds my Rotel amp that's for my hi-fi
 
Each to their own, my grandmother couldn't see the point of an expensive colour TV - and she liked to watch Pot Black :)

A proper integrated AV/Hi Fi system is a fantastic experience, if it's done right, admittedly of most interest to hifi folk that are movies fans
Of great interest if you enjoy some of the great surround sound mixes from the likes of Steven Wilson & Alan Parsons. Some superb music concerts on Blu-ray/DVD to enjoy too. With systems like Dirac around to optimise multichannel sound, you've got a whole other dimension available for music reproduction.
 
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I have 72/Hicap/160 and to avoid needing to play around manually and using up another input om the 72 I built a switchbox using a reed relay. When I turn my Yamaha DSP-E800 decoder on it automatically switches the decoder output direct into the NAP. If the decoder is off then the 72 is connected.

The Yamaha also has analogue 6 channel input in addition to Dolby/DTS which has come in very handy lately for playing SQ Quadraphonic LP's :)

Projector is a now 10 year old Optoma DLP.

You do not necessarily need a centre speaker, I just set the decoder to centre off and the centre signal is then routed equally to the two front speakers giving a phantom centre.

When the Naim replaced my previous Audiolab setup for movies, to use the well worn forum cliche, my wife (who's more into movies than stereo) commented on the improvement!
 


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