To AV, or not to AV; that is the question

Hello All,

I'm a newbie here, and like most newbies, stop reading and start writing when there's a problem! sob!

I'm wondering if there are those who've had some practical and listening experience with AV who could offer some advice/comment on the issue of adding AV to my Naim system. Hot favourite, would have to be to add an AV2 and 175 to my existing 72/Hi-Cap/180/SBL setup, except for the little matter of (cough) money

On the Naim ladder, my system is a lot less than what others have been able to achieve judging by some of the posts here, but I love it, whilst accepting it's performance limitations and compromises like any other piece of Hi Fi equipment. It's a well balanced system, and I don't want to spoil that if possible.

Starting with the word 'compromise'- much as I hate it, my somewhat impecunious circumstances demand it, hence my quandry.

I'm facing two choices; both have been mentioned in the past in forums I've read elsewhere, but I've no knowledge on how this will work in the context of my Naim system, so any experienced and practical listening advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm aware of the theories, just not the results from a sound point of view.

First up would be to purchase a good quality receiver - (note the Yamaha combined 3channel amplifier/processor which would've been on my list is not availble here, nor any other such units to the best of my knowledge, hence the choice of a receiver)- the better Denons, and the top ES series Sony's spring to mind. I could run pre outs for the left and right front from the receiver to the 72, utilising the receiver to process sound from the DVD player, and to drive center channel and rears, thus incorporating AV into my Naim system.

Contemporary thought though, about AV systems, is that one MUST (?) have matching speakers all round for a convincing result, especially in the areas of phase response, tonal balance, imaging etc.

This would mean using the receiver and a set of matching speakers (bookshelf models like for eg Ruark come to mind, or maybe a set of B&W's or similar)as a totally seperate system from the Naim, which would be my second option.

Trouble is, as I have only one lounge of around 5x4m, this would mean TWO systems in the one room. I have reservations about this route; the aesthetics of four speakers across the front of the room with the Telly in the middle doesn't exactly appeal, let alone the deleterious effects that the extra front speakers would have on my main stereo listening due the physical proximity to the SBL's of the additional speaker boxes, and the resultant standing waves, reflection etc (bad enough with the TV in between them already) let alone the other sometimes mentioned negative effects of many speakers in a room impinging on the performance of the main ones due the colouration added by the additional drivers acting as passive raditors.

So, I'm wondering how well the first proposal with a receiver integrated with the Naim, and a mismatched set of speakers, would work/PERFORM for movie use, versus the second using the receiver and a set of matched bookshelf speakers/sub, all around.

Has anyone actually done this, and if so, what are the results like?

My other thoughts about going with integrating a receiver into my Naim system is future proofing insofar as stereo may well eventually give way to multi channel, in which case I'd be able to move toward the AV2/175 scenario should funds permit in the future. If I go the matched speakers all round/receiver route, then that would leave me with a high quality two channel system, and a low-fi multi channel movie/music surround system when/if stereo gives way to multi channel. But, unfortunately I can't portend the future either, so I need to consider the possible unavailability of funds to go the AV2/175 route as well! (SOB!) Decisions, decisions!

Given these sorts of choices, I'm hoping someone out there with practical listening experience of this out there in 'Naim' land would be able to offer a tortured soul some advice! - particularly as to how the Naim setup with 'integrated' receiver and mismatched speakers would SOUND - (I'm aware of the sound of the matched receiver/speaker route, at least through store 'demos'- varies from quite good to bad)

As a matter of interest, currently I'm running the system in a sort of 'quasi pro-logic' mode in that I've got signal running from the TV/Video/DVD player into the 72, and then a line level out from the Hi-cap to a basic kenwood 3 channel amplifier/prologic decoder. It simply decodes and drives a pair of bookshelf speakers to provide rear surround; the fronts (SBL's) are running in straight stereo from the source; no processing and no center channel involved. Sounds a bit weird, but my dealer recommended this approach, a little similar to what Naim did with the first AV1, and I find that results this way are superior to any pro-logic system I've heard from the point of information, clarity, dynamics, detail etc. True, I don't get the same front to rear seperation as a good prologic setup; those helicopter flyovers etc aren't quite as spatially impressive, but for quieter ambient scenes, it's more impressive than most.

I guess the main thing pushing me here towards a full Dolby Digital solution, has been the purchase of the DVD player, and a desire to get the best out of it soundwise, plus the new receivers all have prologic 11, a plus for me with my existing collection of VHS Cassettes (pre-bought Movies)

Bottom line. As I mentioned, I love my system, and don't want to spoil it. Much as I enjoy movies almost as much as music, at the end of the day it is still music which provides the most involving, spiritually nourishing experience for me, and I don't want to limit that by my choice of how I integrate/add audio video to the sytem.

May I just finish by saying how much I've enjoyed browsing this forum from time to time, and have gained some useful insights and experience from it; hopefully that will continue, and I hope I may be able to contribute a few of my own.

Looking forward to all and any advice,

Cheers,

John.

Music is the Naim of the Game