Help a newbie choose a cinema system

emil87b

emil87b

emil87b

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Joined
27 Mar 2017
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5
Location
Huntingdon
Hi All,

I'm currently looking for some budget home cinema system and I have no idea where to start. I visited many online shops and websites and i feel more lost and confused than i was when i started searching.

I was looking at something like this http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-19515-on...er-with-denon-sys-2020-51-speaker-system.aspx but my knowledge about those things is poor and need some professional advice.

Is there anything someone can recommend for a price around £500?
 
If I was you, rather than getting 5.1 with tiny little speakers, spend the money on stereo, then get the rest later. For £500 you'll get a good AVR and stereo speakers. You won't get much for £500 in a 5.1 + AVR.

There isn't much to choosing a home cinema apart from things in spec in the AVR, like HDMI version, 4K support etc. Different room EQ for the brands though.

You need to go and have a demo, ask them to compare that sat/sub combo with some £150 standmount speakers, and try a few speaker and amplifier brands.

If you're just buying blind, then I'd get something like a Yamaha AVR and Q Acoustics 2000 or 3000 series. Or maybe just get something second hand, plenty of ones on auction site. You can get real bargains too, I bought a pair of standmounts that retalied for £900, but I got them for £150.
 
Is your heart set on a surround system? A good approach for a beginner is to buy the best 2.0 or 2.1 system (front speakers with or without a a subwoofer) that you can afford and then build from there if you still want to. This gives you almost all of the benefit of a sound system without the hassle of placing surround speakers and running wires to them.

The Denon X2300 is £400 but should get closer to £300 when Denon launches its replacement in the summer. I would couple that with a pair of good second hand fronts (ideally floorstanders if you can fit them in).

Edit: I've been beaten to it. While I'm editing this, I might as well add that second hand speakers can be very good value for money. The technology hasn't really moved on in decades and the people who sell quality speakers have almost always taken good care of them.
 
TJM said:
Is your heart set on a surround system? A good approach for a beginner is to buy the best 2.0 or 2.1 system (front speakers with or without a a subwoofer) that you can afford and then build from there if you still want to. This gives you almost all of the benefit of a sound system without the hassle of placing surround speakers and running wires to them.

The Denon X2300 is £400 but should get closer to £300 when Denon launches its replacement in the summer. I would couple that with a pair of good second hand fronts (ideally floorstanders if you can fit them in).
Click to expand...

Also going for an expensive AVR with "cheap" speaker is a waste. £400 AVR with £150 speakers is bad £ ratio. Hell I'm using a £350 AVR with £900 speakers- but I don't need massive amounts of power as they're for gaming PC speakers.
 
Thank you guys, this is very helpful, you are right i think i will start a stereo and later on add more to it. anything specific you can recommend to start with beside what was mentioned already?
 
Hi Guys, thank you all very much for your help. Just to let you know i bought Yamaha RX-V481 with Q Acoustics 3020 and I'm very happy with it!
 
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