I get it!

Recently I decided to improve my TV watching experience. A flurry of activity saw me with a Panasonic TX-P50ST30 & DMP-DT310EB plus a Denon 2312 with Monitor Audio Silver RX centre and rear speakers. This lot was teamed up with a Sky HD box and a pair of Mission 753 Freedoms to form my first ever 5.0 system.

I used the amp assign function to channel what would have been additional rear or front surround effect speakers to drive the Missions as if bi-amped. The Audissey EQ programme was let loose once the boxes were all connected up and I settled down to see / hear the result. I decided to live with the system for a while to see how it fare in the lower registers, but I found no lack in that department. The bass power coming out of the Monitor Audio centre and the Missions is plenty; it would be gilding the lilly to add a sub (or 2 given the Denon AVR can support a pair of them).

I have to say I am pleased with the results. The only minor niggle was that Sky HD DD broadcasts only came over in stereo. I followed instructions and added an optical lead between the Sky HD box and the AVR, but no joy. It appeared that the Denon insisted on giving the HDMI channel audio preference. This was a pain because Sky currently refuse to provide 5.1 DD via the HDMI output. It took a long call to Denon and a dive into the deepest menu options to find a solution. The solution worked because I now get 5.1 DD from Sky HD when it is being broadcast.

Watching HD broadcasts of Blu-Ray films is a delight. The picture quality of the Panasonic plasma is very good indeed, and the sound quality of the system is excellent. If last I have become a devotee of Sky Arts 2 broadcasts as the live HD concerts and both an audio and a visual feast. The AV musical highlight to date was a recording of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with.. broadcast in HD with DD soundtrack. The episode was of Sir Elton John inverviewing Diana Krall on behalf of Elvis Costello. Brilliant pictures and fantastic music.

As this is the Naim Forum I will admit that there is at least one Naim power lead in the system. A tenuous connection perhaps, but a connection all the same.