Centre and Surround Speakers? & AV2

Also to fully use a centre speaker you are most likely required to have the surround processor between the pre and power amp so that the centre information is reduced in the two main speakers. This means that all your listening will be with the surround processor in the listening line even when it is not processing - I found that this reduced the sound quality of the main channels (just as if I was using poor quality interconnect) when listening to regular music.

I run the processor from the preamp tape output and do not allow the surround sound signal any where near the power amp and the main speakers.

Be aware that I set up the surround processor 10 years ago and so thing will have moved on.

To sum up - proceed gently - do not get a centre speaker until you are confident that you need one.

Derek W

My home cinema consists of a Yamaha DSP A1, Apogee Centaur fronts, Rouark Center, and B&W rears.

My Hifi system is : CDS, 52, 135s and Rouark Solstice.

Like everything else the best thing you can do if the dealer allows is to try before you buy.

At the sensible price end you should think about the KEF and B&W units and if you get the chance listen to the Rouark Dialog One. I have this and it is very good value. Rouark speakers generally work very well with Naim gear.

Happy viewing

Ken

In a surround mix (pro logic/DTS/5.1 digital), all dialogue is put on the center channel - in harmony to the action of course - with no center, leaving the sweet spot of your credos would ruin the impression of the movies sound stage. The center speaker should be at the same height as the tweeters of your main speakers.
In my surround system I use the Kef reference 100 center speaker which matches my B&W's main's (old setup) and my Cabasse mains (new setup) very well. As the center has to be magnetically shielded you have to use no naims...
For Dolby Digital and DTS the rear channels (l + r) are treated as full stereo channels - thereore better speakers than in an old dolby surround setup should be used.
Happy testing and listening
Guido

Derek

Arye

I use a Yamaha DSP E800 and love it. I run SBL's at the front and bought a pair of Eltax bipolar rears from Richer sounds £149 for the rears which I am very pleased indeed with. I find bipolars necessary because they create a much bigger sounstage behind you than conventional speakers.

I bought these because I tried my Kan's and they didn't work well as rears so I figured with Richer Sounds money back guarantee if I didn't like them I could go and get a refund and then buy something like the £450 B&W's! I loved them from the start and never considered returning them - a lot of speaker for the money!

I don't use a centre and don't really miss it but I spoke to naim when I was shopping and they indicated that the Pro-ac centre (around £700 I think) would be a decent match because it uses the same tweeter as the SBL's.

You will also find that a sub makes a big difference but it's not worth trying anything below an REL Storm (£800) in the context of a naim system - I tried the Q50 and it wasn't worth having. I don't have a sub (yet) but I'd rather spend the money on a sub than a centre.

Hope this is helpful - home cinema is a lot of fun!

Jonathan
(Still using a 'borrowed' projector from work - since Christmas!)

if you feed your A/V source(s) directly into the processor, and then feed out the main channels into one of the inputs of the pre-amp you will not degrade your CD replay.

If using a 5.1 processor to decode a digital source there isn't any other option, anyway.

Martin

Many thanks for the reply's. Based on the responses I think I am going to go for the Yamaha DSP E800 processor, and I'll try the bipolar Eltax surrounds as Johnathan likes them and as he says they are not too expensive and there's an exchange guarantee.

I'll probably wait a while to see how it works without a centre speaker, and then try one later. As for the sub, I'm not too sure. For one that will work well it seems like a serious investment that may be better spent on upgrading the main system.

I'm currently on business in Singapore so I'll see if I can get any of the gear here.....

Also, for the DVD player, I'm going to go for the Sony DVP S735D. This is only based on reviews however and I haven't seen one yet. Does anyone have any experience of this player?

Thanks, Ba

Good luck with the the set-up - let me know how you get on.

I don't have any experience with the Sony - I'm sure it's a very good machine. I nearly went for it but got a good price on a Pioneer DV636 (equivalent player) and have been very pleased with it. MAKE SURE YOU BUY AN ALL REGIONS PLAYER THOUGH. SOmebody recommended Techtronics to me and I was pleased with their service and price.

Good luck,

Jonathan

I've decided I'm going to go for a centre after all. Thi sis based on many of the responses I received here and some listening I managed to do while on this trip in Singapore. The centre really did make a significant difference.

Apart from this forum I received some input regarding Definitive Audio of the US for the centre and surrounds, as well as the Mission FS2 with NXT flat panel technology. The Missions are especially interesting due to aesthetics as well. Has anyone heard them? Any comments.

I'm taking all of the input you have given regarding the centre speaker and will short list them. Has anyone heard anything with the Credos?

BTW I have found out that the Sony DVP S735D is called the DVP S745D here in Asia. Not sure if there is any difference in spec.

Jonathan, I will definately go for Multi region and I have seen much positive input regarding Techtronics.

Thanks, Baz

I have the Sony DVP S725 which is the model prior to the 735 and I'm very happy with it for movies. I didn't want to compromise my Naim set-up and have a dedicated set-up with a Sony DD reciever and B&W speakers. You can do that in NZ, we have a ton of free space!

I believe that there aren't too many changes between the models but be aware that the Sony won't read CDR's and CDRW's. I didn't think about it too much when I bought it but now it's a bit of a problem.

Jay

Can someone confirm if I can use my nait 3 with Royd Doublet setup as front left and rights within an AV setup? I think by what I have read I can but want to make sure all the connections are right and I won't blow any of my kit up?

thanks, Jon.

If you are after a cute looking, good sounding, sub/sat system. The one to get is the KEF KHT2005, they are stunning to listen too and reasonably indiscreet too....

The AV2 by the way is £2200...and the NAPV175 is around £1800....

So for now I would get the DSP-E800 for £240 (from www.unbeatable.co.uk)
Scott

This works fine. Essentially these add-on processors just present you with another line level input to your main system to drive your L/R speakers. The processor drives the centre and rears.

With older Naim pre/integs, you need to dial in a repeatable position on the volume control, and then setup the system with your AV controls (they have a white noise test signal) to balance the volume of the centre/rears with your main speakers. Mine is balanced when I set the pre-amp volume control at midday for my AV input and then control the overall system volume from my AV processor.

Newer models (112?) have a "unity gain" mode for AV line inputs. I.e. the Naim pre-amp does not add any gain to the signal at all, so it doesn't matter where the volume is when you select the AV input. But you still need to balance the system initially using the AV processor setup mode.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Duncan Fullerton:

Newer models (112?) have a "unity gain" mode for AV line inputs. I.e. the Naim pre-amp does not add any gain to the signal at all, so it doesn't matter where the volume is when you select the AV input. But you still need to balance the system initially using the AV processor setup mode.

---

I believe the AV2 can also be used as a two-channel preamp, thus a 112 would be superfluous if it sounds just as good. Don't know if it is, though.

cheers, Martin