Question:
Ok guys, this is one for the Audiophiles I guess..
I currently have
DVD - Toshiba 2109b
CD - Arcam Alpha 5
Amp - Audiolab 8000s
I've been happy with the sound, although i've always been aware of the deficiences in my speakers.
I've finally realised that i spend next to no time now actually sitting in front of the hifi listening and just use it for background music. However, I do use it a lot for watching DVD's. So here's the crux...
Sacrificing pure audio for functionality and home cinema..
What DVD player can people recommend to replace the CD/DVD I own with one DVD player that can hold a tune with CD's and is good for DVD's ? I know i'm gonna lose some audio clarity but there must be a semi decent DVD player out there for audio ?
What receiver can people recommend to replace the Amp ?
Now I know I could go out and spend £1000 for the AMP and maybe another £1000 for the DVD but unfortunately that's not what I have.. Maybe £300-£400 for DVD and £400-£500 for Amp. Am I asking too much ?
Thanks
Mark.
You could buy an AV amp with pre amp outs so the AV amp drives all the speakers except the front two, which are fed to your current amp. This way, you would keep the quality of stereo sound from CDs.
As for the DVD player, how about the new Pioneer 656a? It's supposed to be very good for DVD-A and SACD, but I don't know how good it is for CD. Oh and you'll need to make sure your amp can ustilise the full frequency range to use DVD-A/SACD
kiran_mk2 <--- wot he said.
Most decent HC recievers have 6ch preouts, just plug the left+right into your 8000s and leave the L+R speakers connected to the 8000s.
Set the volume to 50% on the 8000s (need to tweak this , depends on relative volume lvls) and away ya go.
You could even leave the alpha 5 pluged into the 8000s and just use those 2 when you want decent CD sound (remembering to turn the volume down - also remembering to mark where the volume was set to before).
This way your only using the recievers center and rear amplification channels, its probably inferior left+right are redundant.
I do this with my kit sort of...
Indeed, I have a similar setup, but with lesser quality equipment.
I use a Marantz 4100 OSE DVD player as both my DVD and CD player (and is without doubt the best item in the whole setup).
For amplification puropses, I have a Yamaha RX-V596 powering the centre and rears. The line-outs from this connect to a Cambridge Audio A500 stereo amp which drives the front main speakers. The DVD is also connected to this amp with a good pair of Phono cables.
For AV duties, the CA amp is set to half volume and AV input. The Yamaha then controls all audio duties and does a fine job of it.
If I want to listen to a CD, everything except the CA amp and DVD player are turned off. The just set the CA amp to whatever volume is needed and press play. Bonza sound.
Apply this to your 8000 and whatever AV amp you buy and Bob's your aunites husband. You could even keep the Arcam and Toshiba and spend more on the AV amp.
Me too - seems there's a lot of us that have this type of setup :)
I have a Sony 725s with the analogue outs going to a NAD C370 and the digital out going to a Yamaha A5. The front pre-outs from the Yamaha feed into the Video in on the NAD.
This way, if I listen to CD, I only use the sony and the NAD. If I want movies I set the NAD to 50% volume and use the yamaha as normal.
Confuses the wife though :(
All great ideas guys and I had a long time ago thought about buying a Yamaha E800 to go with my Audiolab 8000s. The 8000 is designed with an additional processor in mind and doesn't even need to have the volume set to 50%. You just plug it in to the right hole and select the right input and everything else is done.
HOWEVER, the point is I know longer need a hifi of this quality. I want something that can replace these boxes. Still give me reasonable CD play back and also great Home Cinema. I don't want to add additional complexity. If anything I want to reduce it. And by removing both the CD and DVD and just using a DVD for audio, and also just having one Receiver for all inputs that would be nice and simple. I also just don't have the space to put another piece of kit.
Any ideas ??
The new NAD all in 1?
I just replaced my expensive seperates sytsem (Micromega stage 2 CD player, Naim Amp and Mission speakers) with the Sony DAV-S800 for exactly the same reasons you mentioned.
I found that I just wasn't spending as much time as I used to listening to CD's and this seemed to be the perfect answer. While the sound quality isn't as good, the diffence is marginal.
The Sony system takes care of everything, looks really good and is easy to set up.
Would whole-heartedly recommend!
:)
You could buy an AV amp with pre amp outs so the AV amp drives all the speakers except the front two, which are fed to your current amp. This way, you would keep the quality of stereo sound from CDs.
This is the route i have chosen .
I have an Audiolab as well , had it for nearly 15 years now and i still love it. So do yourself a favour and keep the Audiolab.
Mine is connected to a Yamaha DSP - E800 AV processor and i am well pleased with the results, as i get to keep my original hi-fi set up as well.
I currently have
DVD - Toshiba 2109b
CD - Arcam Alpha 5
Amp - Audiolab 8000s
I've been happy with the sound, although i've always been aware of the deficiences in my speakers.
I've finally realised that i spend next to no time now actually sitting in front of the hifi listening and just use it for background music. However, I do use it a lot for watching DVD's. So here's the crux...
Sacrificing pure audio for functionality and home cinema..
What DVD player can people recommend to replace the CD/DVD I own with one DVD player that can hold a tune with CD's and is good for DVD's ? I know i'm gonna lose some audio clarity but there must be a semi decent DVD player out there for audio ?
What receiver can people recommend to replace the Amp ?
Now I know I could go out and spend £1000 for the AMP and maybe another £1000 for the DVD but unfortunately that's not what I have.. Maybe £300-£400 for DVD and £400-£500 for Amp. Am I asking too much ?
Thanks
Mark.
Answers:
You could buy an AV amp with pre amp outs so the AV amp drives all the speakers except the front two, which are fed to your current amp. This way, you would keep the quality of stereo sound from CDs.
As for the DVD player, how about the new Pioneer 656a? It's supposed to be very good for DVD-A and SACD, but I don't know how good it is for CD. Oh and you'll need to make sure your amp can ustilise the full frequency range to use DVD-A/SACD
Answers:
kiran_mk2 <--- wot he said.
Most decent HC recievers have 6ch preouts, just plug the left+right into your 8000s and leave the L+R speakers connected to the 8000s.
Set the volume to 50% on the 8000s (need to tweak this , depends on relative volume lvls) and away ya go.
You could even leave the alpha 5 pluged into the 8000s and just use those 2 when you want decent CD sound (remembering to turn the volume down - also remembering to mark where the volume was set to before).
This way your only using the recievers center and rear amplification channels, its probably inferior left+right are redundant.
I do this with my kit sort of...
Answers:
Indeed, I have a similar setup, but with lesser quality equipment.
I use a Marantz 4100 OSE DVD player as both my DVD and CD player (and is without doubt the best item in the whole setup).
For amplification puropses, I have a Yamaha RX-V596 powering the centre and rears. The line-outs from this connect to a Cambridge Audio A500 stereo amp which drives the front main speakers. The DVD is also connected to this amp with a good pair of Phono cables.
For AV duties, the CA amp is set to half volume and AV input. The Yamaha then controls all audio duties and does a fine job of it.
If I want to listen to a CD, everything except the CA amp and DVD player are turned off. The just set the CA amp to whatever volume is needed and press play. Bonza sound.
Apply this to your 8000 and whatever AV amp you buy and Bob's your aunites husband. You could even keep the Arcam and Toshiba and spend more on the AV amp.
Answers:
Me too - seems there's a lot of us that have this type of setup :)
I have a Sony 725s with the analogue outs going to a NAD C370 and the digital out going to a Yamaha A5. The front pre-outs from the Yamaha feed into the Video in on the NAD.
This way, if I listen to CD, I only use the sony and the NAD. If I want movies I set the NAD to 50% volume and use the yamaha as normal.
Confuses the wife though :(
Answers:
All great ideas guys and I had a long time ago thought about buying a Yamaha E800 to go with my Audiolab 8000s. The 8000 is designed with an additional processor in mind and doesn't even need to have the volume set to 50%. You just plug it in to the right hole and select the right input and everything else is done.
HOWEVER, the point is I know longer need a hifi of this quality. I want something that can replace these boxes. Still give me reasonable CD play back and also great Home Cinema. I don't want to add additional complexity. If anything I want to reduce it. And by removing both the CD and DVD and just using a DVD for audio, and also just having one Receiver for all inputs that would be nice and simple. I also just don't have the space to put another piece of kit.
Any ideas ??
Answers:
The new NAD all in 1?
Answers:
I just replaced my expensive seperates sytsem (Micromega stage 2 CD player, Naim Amp and Mission speakers) with the Sony DAV-S800 for exactly the same reasons you mentioned.
I found that I just wasn't spending as much time as I used to listening to CD's and this seemed to be the perfect answer. While the sound quality isn't as good, the diffence is marginal.
The Sony system takes care of everything, looks really good and is easy to set up.
Would whole-heartedly recommend!
:)
Answers:
You could buy an AV amp with pre amp outs so the AV amp drives all the speakers except the front two, which are fed to your current amp. This way, you would keep the quality of stereo sound from CDs.
This is the route i have chosen .
I have an Audiolab as well , had it for nearly 15 years now and i still love it. So do yourself a favour and keep the Audiolab.
Mine is connected to a Yamaha DSP - E800 AV processor and i am well pleased with the results, as i get to keep my original hi-fi set up as well.
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