Shock - a real bargain from Curry's

Posted by: Jez Quigley on 14 January 2004

I have been toying with the Home Theatre idea for a while, but I'm always reluctant to spend cash other than improving the main music system.

I had an idle look in the 'Clearance' section of our local mega Curry's (Junction 26 M62) and to my surprise and delight found the Yamaha E800 there for £149! No box, manual, or remote. A quick search on the webnet found a pdf manual and same day dispatch of the remote for £14 inc postage. I don't get this lucky every day.

A rummage through the attic produced an ancient Yamaha centre spkr, and cables I needed to shuffle round the kitchen system so that the Epos 14s could be pressed into service as rears.

Pro-logic via the digibox is nowt to get excited about, but DVD replay is a revelation. The LFE via the briks is amazing.

AV lovers here, any low/zero cost tips I should know?

Posted on: 14 January 2004 by domfjbrown

Yep - the E800 rocks - you got a steal there!!!

DTS is better than DD on most UK movies that have it btw

__________________________
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What would have followed if you had.

Posted on: 14 January 2004 by BLT

I'm another fan of the DSP E800 - it allows you to get the best of both worlds; decent hi-fi and home cinema in the same room. I would recommend getting a decent centre speaker to go with your 'brik's. The performance of the centre speaker is critical to surround sound (the rears are less important). I believe that Richer Sounds were doing Linn Centriks at a decent price - this might be a reasonable match for your 'briks.

Posted on: 14 January 2004 by Jez Quigley

Thanks chaps.

I only have a modicum of AV knowlege - Can THX optimode be used with the E800? Is it better than the built in test? If so, how can I tell which discs have it on? Anyone know a few others with it? (Just thought, I could rent TS2 from my vid shop).

No mention of Centriks on the Richer Sounds site - I guess they have all gone. Any other suggestions? The Yamaha speaker is better than nothing - just. I'ts placed under the TV, but due to a lack of space I have had to put it directly on top of the E800. Yes I know, but I had no alternative, I even had to take a shelf out to squeeze it in, I've managed not to cover too many ventilation slots though and I will put some blu-tak on it to lift it and fix it a little.

On the subject of Richer, I noticed a serious looking, huge Tannoy sub in the sale at the new Leeds branch for £299. I have no idea if it is any good, but it certainly looks the business, and Tannoy have been known to make the odd decent speaker. Just thought I'd pass the info on.

Posted on: 14 January 2004 by BLT

You could try a Linn Unik as a centre speaker, thay are available singly for around £100. I use them as rears and they sound OK. They are very unobtrusive, but won't be as good as a proper centre speaker. I guess the main problem is finding a centre that is close to your 'briks in sound, tricky without buying one of the more expensive Linn centres.