Is this AV Receiver and speaker package a good (budget) place to start?

Ranek

Ranek

Ranek

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I'm hovering over the purchase button on this:
http://www.rgbdirect.co.uk/Products/Home-Cinema/Separates/Pioneer/HTP070

Is it as good a deal as it seems? Bit of background for you, just about to move into our first flat (with the gf) and need to replace my ageing (and huge) old LG HTK.

This will be my first "proper" amp rather than an out of the box HTK kit.

Please bear in mind I'm not an audiophile, it will be used for watching DVDs, Blu-rays and TV. We are on a very, very limited budget (£200 max) and as it's a flat I am not looking for anything too powerful.

I've compared it with the Pioneer HTP071 on Richer Sounds site:
http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/pioneer/htp071/pion-htp071

And the only difference seems to be different weight of the amp according to Pioneer's site. Is it simply a European model that RGB are selling over here, or is there a difference that I'm missing?

Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
hi, i would look at getting onkyo if you only want to spend a couple £££ on something
 
Haze said:
hi, i would look at getting onkyo if you only want to spend a couple £££ on something
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Anything in particular in the Onkyo range? I'm fairly clueless in this regard I'm afraid! I've ordered the Pioneer but might need to look at alternatives (see below).


Minstadave said:
That looks like a lot of kit for the money to be fair.
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That's what I thought, was on HotUKDeals and seemed to impress people on there but I know people on here are usually much more knowledgeable about this sort of thing.

It's gone back up to £219 now (from £149), hoping they had a few to clear rather than it being a mis-price and not honouring it.
 
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Slade2 said:
I recently got hold of this system

http://www.richersounds.com/product/1-box-home-cinema-systems/yamaha/yht398/yama-yht398

before christmas it was £400 and is now on sale at £300 so a real bargin if you ask me. The speaker system has an active sub so you can look to upgrade it later with a better amp and better speakers but it really is a good starting system.
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Thanks, looks like a good saving, little bit more than I wanted to pay though really. I know it's a very small amount compared to some people's systems on here but budget is very tight with being first time buyers and all.

Also I think the Mrs might veto those speakers as they look larger and less "clean" with the separate tweeter and woofer, no doubt they're probably better though. She's already getting funny about having 5.1 as she "doesn't want to see ugly speakers all over the place" :rolleyes:
 
My advice is to keep what you've ordered. There's no difference between the two systems you linked in the OP, (Apart from the size of the sub) I used to sell very few systems like this in my time in electrical retail, mainly because ladies don't like speakers & wires going all over the place.

It'll be more than enough for a flat & both you & your other half will be happy with it once its in situ & working. The only thing I'd change is the speaker wire as the standard stuff they supply with those systems is the same they supply for wired doorbells.

Speaker wire like this will be more than sufficent.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-cables/cambridge-audio/symphony-100/gale-symphony-100
 
Grimley said:
My advice is to keep what you've ordered. There's no difference between the two systems you linked in the OP, (Apart from the size of the sub) I used to sell very few systems like this in my time in electrical retail, mainly because ladies don't like speakers & wires going all over the place.

It'll be more than enough for a flat & both you & your other half will be happy with it once its in situ & working. The only thing I'd change is the speaker wire as the standard stuff they supply with those systems is the same they supply for wired doorbells.

Speaker wire like this will be more than sufficent.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-cables/cambridge-audio/symphony-100/gale-symphony-100
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Thank you very much, that's really helpful. Will bear that in mind once we move in and know what lengths we need.
 
Thanks. I've had a check of the manual & it looks like both both the receiver & the speakers have those godawful spring clip terminals that take thin speaker wire, I'd hang fire on what I said previously & check to see if said spring clip terminals will take thicker speaker wire. There's a good chance they wont, so you may well end having to use what comes with it unless you need longer lengths.
 
MissChief said:
Spring clips aren't so bad and usually ther holes are slightly bigger so they will take thicker cable. Is the sub on both separatly powered?
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I think it's a passive sub, so no power? Does that make a huge difference? Tbf I think we might have to have the sub off/low most of the time to be considerate to neighbours in flat above.
 
It means that if you want to upgrade the amp or the sub then you may have problems. Any dedicated amplifier won't be able to power your sub. if you change the Sub it won't generally be comaptible with the amp.
 
MissChief said:
It means that if you want to upgrade the amp or the sub then you may have problems. Any dedicated amplifier won't be able to power your sub. if you change the Sub it won't generally be comaptible with the amp.
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Ah ok, so If I eventually wanted to buy a better sub (active?) then it wouldn't work with this amp?

I suppose for the price I've paid in a few years time when our finances are in a better position I might be better off "starting afresh" with a better separate amp and components?

Thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming as I'm a bit of a "Noob" when it comes to separates.
 
your in a flat, just use the tv speakers or buy the cheapest 5.1 system you can, and buy something proper when you move into a detached home, no point in wasting cash on something you cannot use properly without ******* off neighbours
 
my suggestion of the yamaha system although a little more than you wanted to spend would future proof you a little bit with regards to upgrading it in the future. You get an active sub so dont have to worry about what amp you decide to use in the future and should you want to you could get some better fronts in the future as well at least spending a little more now gives you some options for the future rather than wasting the money and having to buy new later, just my view is all.
 
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Psycho Sonny said:
your in a flat, just use the tv speakers or buy the cheapest 5.1 system you can, and buy something proper when you move into a detached home, no point in wasting cash on something you cannot use properly without ******* off neighbours
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Fair enough, we're likely to stay there for 4-5 years anyway so I figure by then we'll hopefully be in a house and technology will have moved on and our income should rise significantly so I won't mind "starting over" so to speak.

Slade2 said:
my suggestion of the yamaha system although a little more than you wanted to spend would future proof you a little bit with regards to upgrading it in the future. You get an active sub so dont have to worry about what amp you decide to use in the future and should you want to you could get some better fronts in the future as well at least spending a little more now gives you some options for the future rather than wasting the money and having to buy new later, just my view is all.
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Normally I'd totally agree, I'd usually spend that bit more to future proof as much as possible but considering we've yet to buy a washing machine or fridge freezer convincing my girlfriend we need to spend that £150 extra on audio is going to be a very hard sell. She's probably right in this case to be fair :p

Thanks guys, going to stick to what I've ordered then look to upgrade a few years down the line.
 
It's a superb system to start with, I did the same with an Onkyo one a few years ago and I'm still more than happy with it so there's no need to feel pressured into upgrading just for the sake of it. I was living in a flat until last December too and it never caused me any problems, as long as you're considerate (e.g. low volumes late at night, turn down the sub volume etc) there's no reason for anyone to get annoyed.

That said, now that I'm in a detached house it is awfully nice to be able to turn the sub up a few notches and see what this system can really do. I've been nothing but impressed with it.
 
TheVoice said:
It's a superb system to start with, I did the same with an Onkyo one a few years ago and I'm still more than happy with it so there's no need to feel pressured into upgrading just for the sake of it. I was living in a flat until last December too and it never caused me any problems, as long as you're considerate (e.g. low volumes late at night, turn down the sub volume etc) there's no reason for anyone to get annoyed.

That said, now that I'm in a detached house it is awfully nice to be able to turn the sub up a few notches and see what this system can really do. I've been nothing but impressed with it.
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Thanks that's reassuring, we're not ones to play it loud late and night or anything (hopefully our neighbours will be the same!)

BuToNz said:
For just a little bit more I'd be inclined to go for this: http://www.richersounds.com/product/1-box-home-cinema-systems/yamaha/yht298/yama-yht298

Friend has one and the sound is fantastic for movies, sound quality is comparable to my dedicated setup at lower volumes.
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When I posted the Pioneer was £149 so not sure I'd want to pay £100 more unless it's that much better?

Just had a call from RGB direct to say that they don't have enough stock to fulfill the orders they received.. They wanted to cancel it but they've agreed to honour that price if they get any more in but no promises.

I bet they know they aren't getting any more in but worth a try.

So could be back to to the drawing board so keep the suggestions coming, thanks for those so far!
 
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