AV newcomer seeks advice

Hi Doc. I was in the same position - totally 2 channel oriented until I realised that I spend more time on movies than music, which opened up a whole new world of techno-geekery .
Which of your 3 sistems are you going to turn AV? I'm guessing its the big room one? Also, what is your budget? You will need to get a new TV, DVD and/or hard disc machine plus AV processor/receiver and 3 more speakers (centre and rears). Then there's wire and possibly a rack. I'd suggest splitting the budget 50/50 for sound and screen, although you have a pretty substantial amount of kit already.
Regards
Josh

quote:

I find I'm spending nearly as much time watching the box as listening to music these days,

Are you sure there's nothing wrong or 'broken' in your 2 channel setup?

quote:

so it's time to invest.

that would be: spend

o.k
So which recommendations for;
DVD player
HD recorder
AV processor/receiver

thanks

It really depends on your budget but some thoughts:
DVD: Denon 1920 £230/Arcam DV29 £1600. I know its a wide gap but the Denon is very good for the money!
HD Recorder: Sony 710 or 910 at £500/700
Receiver: Yamaha 757SE lists at £500 can be had for £350ish or the Arcam AVR300 at £1300 which is brilliant.
Don't forget to check out the N-vi - I've not demo'd it yet but everyone seems very enthusiastic about it.

Rockingdoc

I'm no expert, so treat my guidance with caution.

You need

Source ie dvd player to spin the discs and read the digits.
This sends the video signal to the viewing device and the audio signal to the sound-processor

Viewing device eg
a projector and a projection-screen or
a plasma/lcd/rear-projection TV

Sound processor to decode the audio digits read by the dvd player and control their volume/balance

Amplifier for each channel. Normally 5 plus 1 (for the low frequency effects)

Speaker for each channel. Normally 5 plus 1 for the LF (sub)

Sources. These play dvds. At present they are all standard dvd players. there are no HiDef dvd players yet. The Blue Ray v HiDef DVD war is only just beginning. Both should knock spots of standard dvd, even eccedingly good dvd players.

Tuan recommends a $200 Sony player. The Arcam FJ29 at £1600 is good (but their matching processor is a bit steep). The Naim dvd5 is excellent at £2,500. At the Bristol show, Fujitsu claimed they were using a £170 dvd player, and their screens were the best plasmas on display

The n-Vi at £3000 is good value because it includes a superb dvd, volume/balance control, processor and 5xamps

The viewing device is crucial. Projector? plasma? lcd? Rear projection?
I've seen good projectors at £3000 (Sharpe). At £1000 the pics look washed out to my eyes.
for 42" or 50" plasmas I would consider Pioneer or Fujitsu at £2500 and £3500 (size)
Tuan swears by the 40" Sony Bravia LCD
The 55" Sim 55 rear projection monitor used by Naim was excellent at £4000
The plasmas/lcds/rearprojection systems come with/without TV tuner built in.
Most come with a separate connection box containing the tuner and allowing connection of multiple sources then a single cable to the monitor/projector
seems essential to buy HDMI ready screems and projectors

The sound processor decodes Dolby Digital Logic/ DTS/ProLogic and a few other encodings no doubt. For full sound-effects it is essential. It also helps to have a good sound for music dvds with/without visuals.
The AV2 at £2500 sound good as does the n-Vi. The Arcam also sounds good but at £3,250 means the Arcam system (dvd + processor) is similar in price to the Naim system. Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer seem to do "receivers" that combine the processor and amps. Prices anything from £500 to £5000

Speakers are important, best to get matching front/centre and if possible rears. The subs are probably also best if matched.
The Naim n-Sats/n-Centre/n-Sub sound good. I also think the MK systems sound good. And of course REL make excellent subs that are very versatile and easy to integrate into any system and modestly priced. REL were demonstrating three subs in a system (front, centre, rear) to very good effect. You probably need to budget about £3000 for a decent speaker system

And you need a few cables, including optical/digital ones and loads of speaker cables.
Racks for the dvd/processor/5xamps. Speaker stands, table for the monitor (or wall bracket). Table for the front projector if you take that route and also a decent screen.

And TIME. Most movies are 90 mins + and you tend to watch them right through rather than selecting tracks as with cd, or listening to 20 min LP sessions!!!!!

Hope this helps a little

cheers

Don

I would add,

Richer Sounds are selling Panasonic plasmas at £900 (but not hidef).

Your existing sub, speakers and stereo amps mighthelp save a bit, but can they be integrated sound-wise? if the amp and speakers are Naim, then probably yes

Also, i've been told by dealers that many customers buy the screen, but make do with stereo sound.

Cheers

Don

RockingDoc,

If you're changing the screen then the Pioneer 436XDE is the plasma of the moment in my view. LCD technology still lags (pun intended) behind with standard pictures (ie DVD, ordinary TV) although higher definition pictures appear to fare better (hence the Fujitsu success at the show).

If you do change to a newer screen, it should have at least one HDMI or DVI (digital) input. If so, then the afore-mentioned Denon DVD1920 is remarkably good value at under £250. The picture is real quality. A Denon DVD2910 at £600 is better and Arcam's DV79 at £1000 is a bit better than the 2910. If you intend to watch live gigs on DVD, then the Arcam is the best.

Arcam's cheapest surround receiver, the AVR250 at £1000, cannot be integrated into a stereo system, so Arcam's only solution for you is the £1300 AVR300. Again, if playing music DVDs the Arcams are the best solution. If you're more likely to be watching movies and TV, then the Japanese offerings are very good too. Denon have just announced the new AVR2807 for around £700 which is meant to be cracking value for money. Add Chord Odyssey for the centre and Rumour for the rears and you'll get good results.

You mention a powered sub but don't say what it is and your profile doesn't mention it. If it's not a good sub (typically £300 up), then it will make a lot of noise but be limited in its ability to give good deep bass. After completing the speaker set consider that as the first port of call.