How many folks out there have Naim components in their home cinema system? My Dolby Pro-Logic system in the lounge is getting somewhat long in the tooth and I'm trying to decide whether to buy another integrated home-cinema amp (a dolby digital one this time) or to build something round spare Naim amps (92R/90.3) I have at the moment.
The current system consists of a Pioneer 535 DVD player (which does not have on-board decoding), a Panasonic VHS, an old Pioneer 7070 dolby receiver and Mission speakers (73C centre, 733 fronts, 731 rears).
The system is really only used for home-cinema as I have music only systems in a several other rooms, therefore music production isn't a priority (although it would be nice if it was of acceptable quality, especially when listening to music channels etc.).
My options would appear to be:
1) replace the amp with a 300 quid or so integrated receiver (probably from Yamaha or Denon) and perhaps get a sub as phase 2.
2) Sell the 92R/90.3 (what are they worth? £700-800?) and perhaps get a better receiver and a new speaker system.
3) Buy a processor to power the centre and rear speakers and use that with the 92R/90.3.
4) Leave the home-cinema system as is (as it's only really the kids and my wife who use it), sell the 92R/90.3 and get a better pre-amp and/or turntable for my main music system?
Does anyone have option 3? If so with what processor and speakers?
Regards
Steve
Posted on: 30 October 2001 by Duncan Fullerton
.. on this topic. Look at the "AV Expansion" thread and search for "Yamaha". The pro's and con's of their DSP-E800 add-on processor have been discussed in depth.
I use your option #3 and it's excellent. Yam DSP-E494(I think) - the predecessor of the DSP-E800 - B&W Centre and Eltax bi-polar rears.
Posted on: 30 October 2001 by Simon Matthews
I would keep the 92/90 and audition some processors - this route will give you better sound quality and greater flexability in the long run.
At the bottom end (250 pounds) is the yamaha dsp800. This gives surprisingly good results for the money. I use one with a nait and the sound is very fast and precise. The dolby digital is great fun with DVD movies, also the Pro logic with TV is really impressive. Check out an earlier thread where this product gets a lot of praise.
The naim av2 with a separate 3 channel power amp will be where I would head first if you fancy spending more serious cash. If you go the processor route at least you can improve locally without having to ditch the whole 'amplification'
Posted on: 13 November 2001 by Steve G
As a first stage I've stripped the Kenwood pro-logic amp out along with the centre and surround speakers. I replaced the amp with my spare 92R/90.3 - what a revelation. Despite only have 30W x 2 compared to the Kenwood amps 100W x 5 the system is now capable of going a lot louder and produces much better quantity and quality of bass. I'd originally thought my Mission 733 speakers were part of the problem with the A/V systems sound but with the Naim amps they sound pretty good, especially with music CD's from the DVD player.
Obviously there are no surround effects though and I haven't really decided what to do about that. I've seen the Arcam AVR100 for sale for £400 so I might sell the 92R/90 and get that.
Regards
Steve
Posted on: 13 November 2001 by Paul Stephenson
"Does anyone have option 3? If so with what processor"
Wait and check out our AV2, I think you will find it to be very special in terms of sound quality.
Posted on: 13 November 2001 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
Wait and check out our AV2, I think you will find it to be very special in terms of sound quality.
Paul,
Sounds interesting - I've got a few questions about it if you don't mind.
1) What will it cost roughly?
2) Does it have on-board amplification for the centre and rears?
3) Does it have on-board dolby digital processing (as my DVD player doesn't).
Regards
Steve
Posted on: 13 November 2001 by Paul Stephenson
) What will it cost roughly?
£2200
2) Does it have on-board amplification for the centre and rears?
no, ideal partner for you is our napv175, channel amp, £1195
3) Does it have on-board dolby digital processing (as my DVD player doesn't).
yes
Posted on: 14 November 2001 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by Paul Stephenson:
) What will it cost roughly?
£22002) Does it have on-board amplification for the centre and rears?
no, ideal partner for you is our napv175, channel amp, £1195
3) Does it have on-board dolby digital processing (as my DVD player doesn't).
yes
Thanks for that but a spend of £3395 puts it well outside what I've budgeted for my home cimema system (which I don't really use all that much). I'd love to hear a full Naim AV setup though.
Any chance of Naim producing a lower priced AV processor with on-board amplification for the likes of myself with lower-end Naim systems?
Regards
Steve
Posted on: 14 November 2001 by Manu
The AV connection on the NAIT5 and 112 is an input you can select has having no gain/attenuation (independant of the volume control). Using this input you can control the overall volume only with the AV2 (or other processor).
You can use any NAIM amp with the AV2. It is of course interesting to use used 90,110,140,160 or even NAIT (set the volume level full open). However it is better to use amps of the same power.
For the unused channel, I'm sure you will find a usage. My spare 160 channel is used to bi-amp my center channel (waiting for the IXO2 to go active).
Emmanuel
My rack is ready, waiting for the AV2...
