Home theater on a shoestring 'Budget'

Posted by: MangoMonkey on 10 November 2014

The day I dreaded has come. The TV has moved back into the living room.

 

I've got the NDS/555DR 552/300 with Kudos Super 20s speakers in there right now, but might put in a NDX/SN2 in there instead.

 

Need to look for a Blu-Ray player + some way to get better sound, rather than through the TV's speakers.

 

Any recommendations? I don't intend to do any more than two channels.

 

I was thinking of just a basic Sony Blu-Ray player. It's got a Coax out that can go into my NDX or NDS.

 

Any other thoughts? Oppo looks interesting, but not sure if it's a total overkill - 103 or 105 - since I intend to use the Dac within the NDS.

 

Again, first time building a Home Theater system, so any recommendation, advice is appreciated.

Posted on: 28 November 2014 by MangoMonkey

yeah, the oppo seems to be the way to go...

Posted on: 28 November 2014 by MDS
Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

yeah, the oppo seems to be the way to go...

You won't regret it, MM. From the way the machines look and feel you would think them much more expensive, and the packaging is of Apple standard. 

Posted on: 28 November 2014 by MangoMonkey
I'll get my nap100 back - evaluate the oppo into the  unitiqute vs nap100
Posted on: 28 November 2014 by Brubacca

Sorry to hear about your dilemma. I can say that the oppo sounded fine into my Rega.  I haven't tried it into my Qute.

 

possibly the sony is doing a poor job down mixing. 

 

Good luck.  

Posted on: 28 November 2014 by MangoMonkey

Sounds fine and better than the TV tonight. I might have had the unitiqute set to 'small speakers' which applies a filter on the sound. In addition, i changed all the settings on the sony to auto.

Posted on: 30 November 2014 by MangoMonkey

No Oppo for me. :-)


There were great deals on the XBOX One, and I got a sweet deal being able to trade in a XBox 360 on it's last legs.

 

For my purposes, the XBOX One's Blu Ray player is good enough - and it's digital out for movies is better than Sony's. And I get to play games again. 

Posted on: 14 December 2014 by MangoMonkey

Just closing out this thread - I went with a marantz 1503 ($350). Good enough for me for the odd time movies need to be played. Passing my UQ2 on to a friend. Just couldn't get the UQ2 to do movies. Even tried the marantz's digital out.

 

Listening to the music on the marantz system has one big positive effect. It makes me appreciate Naim better.

Posted on: 15 December 2014 by MDS

Hope you enjoy it, MM.  But I bet before 2015 is out you'll have tried an Oppo 

Posted on: 08 January 2015 by MangoMonkey

Marantz on it's way back. I'm too spoilt.

 

XBOX One + UQ2 it is. My lifestyle (kid sleeping in the other room) means I'll have to lower the volume and put the subtitles on anyway.