5.1 speaker recommendation

Might me worth looking at the M&K stuff ...

I assume you want to keep your AV2, Naim Amps L + R setup. Also is cost a factor - I'll assume it is)

Well ideally the centre speaker should be the same as the L&R's so that's an n-Cent or a single n-Sat or take a drop in quality and skip the centre speaker and use 'phantom' mode. Also the amp should have the same character so assume that would be Naim - a 145 or 1/2 a stereo amp). I Use 1/2 a NAP 140 for my centre - eBay can help to keep cost down. Or perhaps trade your current stereo amp for a NAP 175 and then that's sorted.

For the sub, loads of options (I use a REL Strata 5) but with neighbours i'd avoid having it on late at night.

For surrounds (your going to need a power amp for them if driven by an AV2 - what will you use?) but for small speakers you could look at Gallo?

To be honest you mention neighbours the biggest disturbance will come from the sub (you could skip this) then the the L-C-R speakers and finally the surrounds. If cost is not an option then with regard to space the nSat's can be wall mounted and ideally for 5.1 should be high up on the walls so that makes thier impact smaller.

quote:

Originally posted by Stuart M:
I assume you want to keep your AV2, Naim Amps L + R setup. Also is cost a factor - I'll assume it is)

Well ideally the centre speaker should be the same as the L&R's so that's an n-Cent or a single n-Sat or take a drop in quality and skip the centre speaker and use 'phantom' mode. Also the amp should have the same character so assume that would be Naim - a 145 or 1/2 a stereo amp). I Use 1/2 a NAP 140 for my centre - eBay can help to keep cost down. Or perhaps trade your current stereo amp for a NAP 175 and then that's sorted.

For the sub, loads of options (I use a REL Strata 5) but with neighbours i'd avoid having it on late at night.

For surrounds (your going to need a power amp for them if driven by an AV2 - what will you use?) but for small speakers you could look at Gallo?

To be honest you mention neighbours the biggest disturbance will come from the sub (you could skip this) then the the L-C-R speakers and finally the surrounds. If cost is not an option then with regard to space the nSat's can be wall mounted and ideally for 5.1 should be high up on the walls so that makes thier impact smaller.

Hi Stuart

How do you connect 1/2 a power amp to your centre speaker. Do you need a special lead?

Cheers

Richard

Hi Jay,

if you don´t want to disturbe your neighbours, a center speaker is the most essential. You are forced to listen at low level - at least late night - but want to hear every whisper spoken, then a clear sounding and adjustble! speaker for speach is the most important.
If you make a 2 or 4- channel downmix you´ll always have a fixed center-level mixed to front-l/R, further no midnight/dynamic- compression mode useable.

If I understand it right, you have no space (or money) for a n-sub?
A good sub with a linear frequency response does not cross the interests you have with your neighbours.
For explanation: Linear frequency means it does not only play his favourite frequency. Vheap ones not seldom do that.
With a n-sub e.g. you can save different modes, say one for music, one for av when it does not disturb, one for late night av, one for thin recordings... .
Next from my experience. A good sub can make the speach better understandable. Yes, even if you don´t expect it for example a high female voice. (All I know the theory is that you´re brain adds the low-frequencies and is more lelaxed and concentrated to the rest if the sub does that work.)

regards
Hardy

Thanks folks, I'm digesting your advice.

We're the middle flat and it's pretty well insulated but we do like to be considerate!

I have considered trading the av2/nsat side against a receiver and 5.1 system but I'm not sure it'd be good enough. I enjoyed a full naim av set-up before we moved and it's been difficult to recreate that here in our new place. Although I must say having to get a Virgin, box, PS3 and Dvd player into a projectors ONE HDMI port is becoming a little tiring. Video switching would be very convenient.

The other complication is another Naim system in the music room, which does well but bizarrely hates ALL speakers. Royds, Missions, nsats and Allae's. The nsats seem to do the best so I've swapped the Allae's and nsats around for the time being!

What I will try and do is put the systems together in the living room and see how that works.

Thanks
Jay

quote:

Originally posted by Richard Adams:
How do you connect 1/2 a power amp to your centre speaker. Do you need a special lead?

Get a SNAIC made with only the centre channel made up from the AV2. If you have a SNAIC and are happy to butcher it you can can cut the wire from the sub woofer pin. Or talk to you dealer or get http://www.flashbacksales.co.uk/ to make one up for you.

The reason to do this is if you use the other 1/2 of the power amp it will sap available power from the used 1/2. Also the amp will expect to see at least 3.5m of Naim cable + load on the end so could cause oscillation.

Works well

Hi Jay,

Since you have another Naim system, could you not try bringing the amp from the other system in and seeing what difference a centre speaker makes (E.g. use an nSat) then if that works well you could consider a NAP140, NAP145 etc, for centre channel duties

quote:

Originally posted by Stuart M:
Hi Jay,

Since you have another Naim system, could you not try bringing the amp from the other system in and seeing what difference a centre speaker makes (E.g. use an nSat) then if that works well you could consider a NAP140, NAP145 etc, for centre channel duties

Sorry Stuart, I was thinking about what you said re: centre speaker.

The short answer is yes, I could do. The problem is, the projector "projects" above our fireplace so a centre speaker is a little problematic!

I could prob fit one of those funky 5.1 sats (Kef or B&W) on the mantlepiece but an ncent is out of the question!

I have a similar-ish problem in that, the layout of my room dictates, I cannot have large speakers.

I bought the M&K Xenons as an upgrade from their K17s. They are tiny and pack a hell of a punch for their size. In piano black, they're lovely. Even my girlfriend approves.

quote:

Originally posted by Stuart M:

Get a SNAIC made with only the centre channel made up from the AV2. If you have a SNAIC and are happy to butcher it you can can cut the wire from the sub woofer pin. Or talk to you dealer or get http://www.flashbacksales.co.uk/ to make one up for you.

Works well

Cheers for that, but what's the best way to connect the amp to the speaker i) if it's a bi-wireable speaker and ii) if it isn't? (Mine is at present - but may change)

TIA

Richard

Jay,

I have a non-Naim system with a similar problem to you in that I wanted my main speakers to remain relatively large for the best 2-channel performance, but the rest needed to be nice and discreet.

I opted for an M&K Xenon system. M&K have been through odd times with head honchos changing hands etc. but nobody decries the products which are superb value. The Xenon LCR36 is a very small (about 10" tall, 4" wide, 4" deep, you can place them on their side) high quality unit. The Surround 26 is a tripole (fires in 3 directions) which sounds far better than something that small has any right to do. The subwoofers are excellent too.

Another discreet system, with which we have been quite taken is the new Arcam Muso/Logo package. Again, the satellites are relatively small (a bit bigger than the Xenons, and not finished as prettily) and sound great. You can see them on Arcam's site.

Some people seem to like the Gallo speakers, which are small if not exactly discreet.

quote:

Originally posted by Richard Adams:

Cheers for that, but what's the best way to connect the amp to the speaker i) if it's a bi-wireable speaker and ii) if it isn't? (Mine is at present - but may change)

TIA

Richard

1 length on NAC AC5 (That makes a small speaker really difficult to position) and just search for Naim views on Bi Amping, get the NAC A5 double terminated - did thing of trying bouble/bi amping that with the NAP 140 but just wen't for 1 channel as it (is supposed - i.e. did not try them, but I like an easy life) to give a better sound. However I did try the IBL's as centre laid horizontal head to head (on top of a fireplace) powered by the NAP 140 and that was great if ungainly.

Hi Stuart

Sorry to sound like an idiot, but just to clarify. Do I just connect the speaker to 1 channel (ie left or right - presume it doesn't matter which)

Are you saying that I can also effectively biamp the centre speaker by say connecting the L channel to the treble and the R channel to the bass?

It's just that I'm a bit confused and don't want to damage anything. Pictures or a small diagram would be helpful

Richard

Get a lead made up that connects the center channel to say the L input pin of the Din on the NAP 140 - then connect your speaker to the L output terminals.

This has the advantage of no signal on one channel so more power available for the other and no need for 3.5m of NAC A5 on the unused channel.

In theory you could bi amp but the signal MUST go through a crossover or you'll blow the tweeter and probably foul up the sound from the mid driver. Naim don't recomend bi amping (only active) as they believe a single amp is better.