Building a 5.1 system (1 Viewer)

[Keogh]

Hello all, I have been surfing a couple of days in a hundred of topics and I would like to thanks this community for all the useful material inside this forum. But the more i read the more i am confused! Maybe you can bring some light... I'm planning to build a small cinema at home. Finally I short listed the candidates for AV within my budget: Harman Kardon AVR 165 5.1 A/V Receiver (HDMI, Audio Rückkanal): Amazon.de: Heimkino, TV & Video Onkyo TX-NR414 5.1 Netzwerk AV-Receiver (HD-Audio, 3D Ready, RDS, USB 2.0, Apple iPhone/iPod, 130 W/Kanal) schwarz: Amazon.de: Heimkino, TV & Video Of course I can consider other options based on your experience. About the 5.1 system, - http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B002QQC0A4/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=08JEZD02Q2BT10WBEJPY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463375153&pf_rd_i=301128 - http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B003S9VW8E/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=08JEZD02Q2BT10WBEJPY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463375153&pf_rd_i=301128 What do you think? My budget (If I don't want to get killed by my gf) is about 300 for the Av and 350 for the speakers. Thanks a lot for your advice and suggestions Best Regards

 

[Jim Mcc]

Do you have access to the Energy Take Classic 5.1 system? That's a very popular, highly rated speaker system.

 

[Keogh]

Thanks for the answer, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get it in Europe :/. I've been checking some amazon places and it doesn't appear. Best Regards

 

[Jim Mcc]

Have you posted at Avforums.com? That is based in Europe.

 

[schan1269]

Of your choices, I would take the Onkyo and HK speakers.

 

[Keogh]

I have the onkyo in my local store and the Yamaha V473 http://www.saturn.de/mcs/product/ONKYO-TX-NR-414-B-schwarz,48352,252130,270806.html?langId=-3 I've found good reviews about this one as well http://www.saturn.de/mcs/product/YAMAHA-RX-V473-schwarz,48352,252130,287989.html?langId=-3 Any advice? Thanks a lot

 

[schan1269]

The "main objective difference".... NR414 Digital Ipod use(as in it bypasses the craptastic Ipod/Iphone DAC) Better networking(Onkyo created networking...they still do it better than everybody else) V473 YPAO Airplay(makes using your Ipod/Iphone "cooler", but it still uses the crappy Apple DAC)

 

[Keogh]

I don't really have iphone, I'm not an apple fan, so I guess from that point of view it doesn't matter. The main target is to connect a 5.1 speakers system for a home cinema including a projector a screen and a TV (potentially) Thanks a lot Best REgards

 

[schan1269]

I would give the edge to the V473...simply because it has YPAO... Unless you are willing to spend extra for the NR515(over here in the USA...the 473 and 515 are the same price) Basically, this year, Onkyo went "further down" with their product range. Last years 509 became the 414, 609 became the 515. So comparing the 473 to the 414 isn't "fair"....per se... So basically you have Onkyo with 4 AVR to Yamaha's three... 313/414/515/616 doing battle with the 373/473/573...so you can't really compare them...you almost have to ignore Onkyo's 313...as Yamaha doesn't have a 273.

 

[schan1269]

We also have to ask... Is "everything" HDMI you are connecting? If not, the 515 is the only one(at $300...USD) that has HDMI upconversion. If everything is HDMI(or streamed) you don't need the HDMI upconversion.

 

[Keogh]

Now I'm more confused, hehe Do you mean that Onkyo 414 is in the range of Yamaha 373, right? So 473 would be one step above? Thanks a lot!

 

[Keogh]

We also have to ask... Is "everything" HDMI you are connecting?

Good point! My projector is HDMI, but I only want the video via HDMI, the sound will go through the speakers

 

[schan1269]

What I mean is... The V473(or whatever you end up with) is the hub of the system. If all your sources are HDMI...you are good. But if you have a Wii, PC, VCR or an older DVD player without HDMI....you'll need to connect those to your projector "directly" as those signals won't be added to the HDMI.

 

[Keogh]

ok I understand now The source most probably will be a pc (with HDMI) and the TV (also with HDMI). Another issue will be how I separate the video from the audio, because from the PC to the AVR, I will have both. Thanks again

 

[Keogh]

Any other advice before the final decision? A new player in the field is this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monitor-Audio-Vector-5-1-System/dp/B0085VYZXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360310881&sr=8-1 For the AVR, most probably the Yamaha 473 based on your good references Thanks again Regards

 

[David Stanley]

Ignore. Thought I found something on amazon uk but it was the us site

 

[David Stanley]

What's the catch with these? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beng-Channel-Theatre-Speaker-Mahogany/dp/B002QVOR8M/ref=sr_1_184?s=receiver-speakers&ie=UTF8&qid=1360714918&sr=1-184 This looks good and fits the budget: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wharfedale-DX-1-high-gloss-white/dp/B005FPBO82/ref=sr_1_354?s=receiver-speakers&ie=UTF8&qid=1360715439&sr=1-354

 

[Jim Mcc]

The Beng speakers seem VERY cheap, I agree. How much is that in US dollars? I never heard of Beng speakers.

 

[Keogh]

Neither do I :S I'm finally thinking about the Energy 5.1 Take Classic or Klipsch HD 500, If I can find them in Europe :/ Thanks a lot!!

 

[Jim Mcc]

Did you ever ask at Avforums.com? It's based in Europe. The problem is we don't know what products you have acces to.