Help with home cinema set up

[sprite1275]

At the moment i have some Acoustic Energy neo 3 with neo1's at the rear of our living room powered by an Onkyo606.

To tell the truth i hardly ever use the system as 1) i live in a semi detached 2) the onkyo has the HDMI handshake problem and 3) the onkyo uses 50watts in stand by.

Im trying to make my house a little more smart. Buying a tablet to control harmony hub, hue lights, nest and music (when ive bought it all)

Im now wondering whether to sell my speakers/amp and get maybe a sonos soundbar which i can stream music to as well. Then maybe get some play 1's for upstairs. Or would i be better to buy a different Amp which streams music?

I know the soundbar is not going to sound as good as the speakers but it would be neater and easier to use.

What you think, or is there a better option?

 

[sprite1275]

Totem Kin 2.1... no need for surround. This set is the nuts. Ditch the Onkyo. They don't sound good. Get yourself something better like a nice 100W+100W+LFE Yamaha and you're off to the races.

Alternatively, check out the KEF X300A powered USB speakers.

wow there nelly youve blown my mind with this one. No need for surround sound, onkyo dont sound good Dont get going on home cinema forums or they will implode.

I can see where your coming from though as i have never really had an immersive surround sound experience with my set up.

 

[sprite1275]

The onkyo shouldnt be using that much in standby unless you have zone 2 switched on, surely?

It was about 47watts using a power meter. Zone 2 wasn't on. This is why I want something that I can leave on and connect to wirelessly when someone wants to play music. I'm not leaving something on that takes 50watts for the privilege.

 

[sprite1275]

If I get another amp I fancy a change from onkyo. Been looking at Yamaha AV receivers with musicCast which sounds great and will do what I want.

Also Adaptive DRC (Dynamic Range Control) sounds like it would be ideal for keeping the volume and base down.

 

[sprite1275]

I live in a mid-terrace and I often listen at "enjoyable" but considerate levels, and my neighbours haven't heard anything yet. Have you actually checked with your neighbours whether they can hear anything / done a test to see how loud you can go before they can hear it?

I'd keep it as it is (or replace the Onkyo with something newer which supports the formats you require), it's hardly a complicated setup and sound bars are just junk. If your Onkyo is using 50w in standby then it's either broken or it's not on standby.

Whats your setup? The Onkyo is definitely going anyway as i want the wireless connectivity and fancy a change.

 

[sprite1275]

Mate either your neighbors are death or your a double hard mo fo and are too scared to say anything to you

The fronts alone would kick some low ends out before we even get started on the sub.