Ditched my HT Receiver - still enjoying 5.1 though

What a great idea. I remember contemplating this once but then totally forgot about it as my Naim-based 2.0 setup was sounding so good. Interesting...

Have to say that we have also tinkered with this - both here in the shop and I've tried the Oppo out at home with 2 x NAP100 to do the job currently catered for by an n-Vi.

Works extremely well, and with the recent change in Sky's attitude allowing DD5.1 over HDMI it makes for a very good end result, including the phenomenal job the player does of scaling/deinterlacing the native SD/HD content from the Sky box.

I also know that Paul at HiFi Lounge has had a lot of success with this (we've chatted about it a bit), and that Phil Harris has also tried this.

Phil and I both experienced issues on early Oppo firmware with hum through the amps after a period of standby - this appears to be fixed now... but one handy hint - leave the power mode in Economy, rather than Quick Start (equally applicable to full Oppo machines & all derivatives like the Cambridge).

I don't know why, but Quick Start leaves some things powered, some things not, and it can cause hum through the speakers in Standby mode.

Hope this helps.

All the best

Mike

Infidelity

This is something I have been thinking about as well. Either with the newest Oppo's or the 752BD. However, I guess you loose any automated sound correction. (Audyssey etc). How does the 752BD handle volume control for each output ?

Right, I see. Thanks. When those levels are applied, is that universally set no matter what source input is being used ?. Or can you set different levels/size for each input ?

I just wish there was more broadcast material in 5.1. Disappointing to watch excellent drama like BBC's Luther and it only being in 2 channel. Surround sound would really add to the suspense IMO. 

It always amazes me just how much "off screen" information comes over with 2 channel, good 2 channel still has a sense of 3Dness IMO. Why I don't miss the  surround sound.

Interesting article from a sound engineer re mixing 5.1: http://broadcastengineering.co...ng-surround-sound-tv

I appreciate that many people find that 5.1 sound enhances their viewing experience. I lived with a full surround set-up (with a projector) for several years and yes, undoubtedly it was extremely impressive. Ultimately though I felt that it was too distracting and was actually preventing me from getting fully immersed in the movie or whatever.

I now have a very simple stereo set-up with an LCD TV. I don't miss surround sound one bit. The sound is not impressive, it's just good quality sound that enables viewing without drawing attention to itself with impressive dynamics, floor shaking bass or stunning surround effects. I find that I can forget all the paraphenalia and simply lose myself completely in a good movie.  

I guess it depends to some extent on how you like to watch movies or TV. Do you want it to be a relaxing experience where you can escape from the day-to-day realities of life for a couple of hours or do you want to be dazzled and amazed with sonic and visual pyrotechnics?

The Swami

The question should be - "Do you enjoy watching movies at the cinema, enjoy the audio experience and want to reproduce something similar at home?" If the answer's yes, then it can be done and indeed the quality exceeded but it requires a full 5.1 or 7.1 system, with components of suitably high quality, properly matched and positioned.

I've been using such a system since the days of Laser Disc & we still enjoy it immensely; stereo doesn't quite do it for us. Each to their own.

To me, watching movies at home on a TV is a very different type of experience to the cinema. Far more intimate, involving and relaxing I find. Recreating the cinema experience at home, especially with a projector, is hugely thrilling and exciting. A standard size TV and stereo sound can't hope to match this. To me though the cinema experience is just too 'full on' to be a substitute for the regular way I enjoy watching movies on a 'normal' set-up.

Ideally one would have both. The TV for routine viewing of DVD's and the cinema set-up for when one feels like a bit of excitement, as opposed to just relaxation. In fact this is exactly what we did have, but we found that we were using the projector/surround system less and less, to the point where having it at all just seemed like an expensive extravagance. Interestingly I have read often that many people who have dedicated cinema rooms at home tend rarely to use them after the initial novelty has worn off, preferring just to watch movies on a regular TV.

Certainly each to his own though. I'm glad I had the opportunity to enjoy the full cinema experience at home but having got it out of my system I can't ever imagine wanting it back. No doubt though that there are those who can't imagine being without it.

The Swami

Thank you Eloise for the link here. This is exactly what I was asking about!  I want to put together a simple USB stick / streaming system and considering Naim NAP 100 and Untiiqute 2. However, I 'm now also thinking about home cinema (simple 5.1 system) but need something which is good quality but simple, the simpler the better! Would it be possible to user the Oppo 105 with this system – as both CD and blu-ray player? - adding 2 more Nap 100s and using the Oppo 105 as a processor and volume control? If so, would B&W CM8 as fronts, CM1 as rears, CM Centre and ASW10CM sub be a good match or would I be better off keeping the Unitiqute, Nap 100 and main front speakers, and using an An receiver and matching Blu-ray player (also for streaming etc) adding a surround sound speakers. Another option is to ditch the Naim and go direct for a higher spec AV receiver and matching blu-ray and speakers, in which case I could look at something like the new Pioneer SC-LX87 and matching blu-ray (whatever that is as I can't seems to find one!) Eloise kindly suggested I could use the pre-amp outputs from an AV receiver to link to the Unitiqute - does this mean I won't be able to use a NAP 100 with the Unitiqute for music? Also for movies, is it better to have the same amplification all round especially the fronts and centre,  eg the NAP 100s, or would it be ok  use the NAP 100 for front and an AV receiver's amp for the surrounds? Would I there have to have different speaker (eg crossover) adjustments for the surrounds. I know crossovers are speaker settings but does the amp affect this or other settings such as audio delay etc.  I would like the best sound I can for my budget, around £7000 or so, and really simplicity is critical as I find many  AV receivers hugely complex. I did also consider the Audiolab 8200 AP and matching power amp into the Oppo but I understand this has now been discontinued. Would really appreciate some help. I spoke to two local dealers who gave me completely different advice, one suggested using the Oppo as a processor and pre-amp was a terrible idea and not to buy the Naims either and instead to invest the budget as 10-15% on the blu-ray and to split the rest 60/40 between speakers and an AV receiver - for the speaker budget, he suggested roughly a 40/30/20/10 split - 40% for fronts, 30% on the subwoofer, 20% on the centre and 10% on the rears, with all speakers from he same range, including the sub. 

Natalia,

You ask a lot of questions!

I don't have time to go into detail, but one point to make is the Audiolab 8200AP processor is still available. The predecessor 8000AP was discontinued 12-18 months ago. 

The Oppo (105 or 103) and Audiolab would form an impressive, flexible system especially if you want a fairly simple system. The 8200AP has few bells and whistles with a focus on sound quality. In contrast, Japanese receivers from Pioneer, Denon, Onkyo et al tend to focus more on features as well as sound quality, and may require a bit more patience. Although many now have iOS and android apps as well as remotes to make set up and control much easier.

£7000k is a decent budget so I would spend time speaking to your local dealers, demoing as much kit as possible, at home if feasible. Do you listen more to 2ch music or watch movies in 5.1, or is it 50-50? That would tell me where to focus the budget if you have a preference.

One other option is to consider a used Naim Napv175 3-channel amp to complement your front channels, which can be picked up for £400-600. This works well in my system (Oppo 105, Nait XS, ND5XS).

One of the most important aspects is to make sure the front 3 speakers all match from the same range from the same manufacturer. The 2 rear channels should ideally be the same as well but not essential. The sub is probably the least vital aspect to keep consistent with the main channels. REL subs are often highly recommended on here and match well with Naim systems.

Good luck and keep us posted on your journey!

About a year ago the guys here were incredibly helpful to me when I was buying my boyfriend a Naim system; since which time we've actually split up but I kept the hifi!  That was the start of my interest and it's been growing and growing!!! I think many people have faced the same challenge as you, I have but not with exactly the same problem as my music and movie systems are in different rooms, so I haven't had the integration challenge. I think you would  love the small-form-factor Naim Unitiqute and Nap 100 (I have these plus the Dac V1 but you certainly won't need this at the starting point on your voyage of hifi  discovery. However, if I had to integrate the two,i think I would go for a dedicated movie system. Yes, they can be complicated but many dealers will set it up for you and if not, many of the settings can be automated without having to understand exactly what it's doing! The Audiolab route could be a solution but I see where you got the idea it was being discontinued for that's what it says on a well known internet retailer's site. Personally, I wouldn't buy a discontinued product and nor would I a 10 year old second hand power amplifier, even if it does make things easier by being three channel. I bought a relatively modest movie system - based upon a Denon AVR-3313, discounted to £700 - but unless you're seriously into movie and the cinema effect, I'm pretty sure that would be good enough to the average person. Whether it's good enough as a main hifi is a different question but again for many it will be and if you buy a more expensive receiver as suggested by your dealer, It may be for you too. I spoke at length to a great dealer iwho was incredibly helpful, picking up on one of your questions, they advised me to match the amplification across all channels, and that this was more important that things like power etc. So, personally I wouldn't add the Unitiqute / NAP 100 to an AV receiver. You could of course use 3 NAP100s and the Oppo or the Cambridge Audi blu-ray player, but this sounds as complicated, if not more so, than the automatic set-up of an AV receiver. My advice for what it's worth, especially as your priority seems to be music, is to by the best hifi you can afford - and the Naim solution with B&W CM or Kef R series is a great one (I have Kef R speakers), buy a blu-ray player and plug it into the Naim system and initially use it in stereo, this can still sound great. Then you can decide later whether you want more channels etc. Good luck and, a hugely important lesson for me, was to have fun!

Which website shows the audiolab to be discontinued? Has this been officially confirmed? You may be right but I'd be surprised if so after only being released last year.

There are plenty of decent, used Naim 3-channel amps which are less than 10 years old Available if you look carefully, many backed up by dealer warranties. They only stopped being produced last year.

Av-land. Whether It's true I don't know but it's  not the only dealer I have heard this from.  I mean the NAPV175 is a very old design. Bearing in mind that TomTom sells eight year old ones for £900, I think it's crazy. I'm sure Natalia would prefer 3 Nap 100s for all kinds of reasons, power  and sound matching (my NAP100 does not sound as forward as other Naim power amps), cosmetics, warranty.  Still my advice is to go down the stereo route and using a bluray player into that.

I agree, £900 is over the top even if backed up by a top dealer. I bought mine which was 5 years old for less than £700 from a Naim dealer. 

Can't argue with multiple NAP100s, that would make a very good system. For me personally, a 3-channel amp was a neater solution