AV help

Peter,
I've been using a Pioneer AV receiver for a few months with my Naim kit to great effect. I use the pre-outs on the Pioneer into my 52 so the pioneer is only driving the rears. I'm not after great fidelity when watching movies so can't really comment on sound quality but for thrills and spills £1000 all in for receiver and rear speakers seems good value. A PJ is next for me at around £1500 that'll be £2500 for a good system.

Brendan

[This message was edited by ARC on TUESDAY 13 January 2004 at 13:19.]

Peter

My system is very similar to yours.
I use a pioneer DVD with a Denon3802 a REL Q400 Subwoofer and Mission/kef centre and rears. This solution (<£2000) is considerably less than the Naim alternative and works well. However I'm not suggesting for a minute it's as good.

You need to decide how much you value the AV experiance, for me this is secondary to Music. Of course with a solution like the above you would be left with enough money to get a CDS3 from your £8000 budget

Brendan/Greeny

This all sounds good to me. I'll check out your suggestions.

Brendan Excuse my ignorance - but what's a PJ?

Greeny CDS3!! please don't tempt me! I looking to save a bit on the AV so I can get myself a beemer!

Cheers
Peter

I have been using my Naim system with AV hardware for about six years. My current system is:

LP12/Lingo etc.
Naim Pre + PSU
250
Kans

Naim - all Chrome; never liked Olive. Still content and so haven't investigated Reference.

Initailly added Pioneer DVD, Yamaha sub / centre / rears and a E492 processor. Sounded surprisingly good. However still not content so -

Upgraded DVD to Arcam and Processor to Parasound. Therefore had to get amplification for centre and rears = 250 + 140. Big improvement. However still not content so -

Upgraded centre to KEF Q9c, sub to REL.

Now this I retained unchanged for 18 months - and made the BIG mistake of demoing the AV2; I didn't give it back. It pulled the whole system together. Dispite the disperate speakers everything just came together.

Satisfied?

Well I'm toying with the idea of buying some Mk1 Kans for rears - and perhaps another pair so I can use one for a centre. All in preperation for DVD-A / SACD, once I'm satisfied they have a long term future.

I have had NO complaints about the AV2. I was even impressed by it as a pre-amp. It didn't beat my old 32.5 - but it did run it very close on CD, presentationally different. So I'd say demo it - but be prepared to keep it!

Peter,
There are no problems with the AV2 as long as you have the latest software versions. All bugs have be solved now.
My personal one hasn`t shown any problem since i updated it one year ago. It is used extensively 3 to 5 hours per day on multiple sources and formats.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm going to give the pioneer and denon suggestions listed above a listen to - and have pretty well decided on dynaudio for centre and rears with a rel sub. Its just the significant extra cost of of naim electronics against the like of denon etc that I'm jibbing against!

I will also see what's on offer at Bristol next month.

Cheers
Peter

Peter,

You've got to go with what you feel comfortable with but.....

I had the same thoughts, hence my move from the E492 to the Parasound.

I'd stongly recommend you listen to some top flight processors - including the AV2 before you make up your mind.

You might be better off buying an E492 for £50 and saving for what you feel is best. On the other hand the demos might help yuo decide that, say, Denon IS the best for you. In which case you'll feel more comfortable all round.

In summary - I'd try to avoid something which might become an expensive short term solution.

Good Luck.