Home Cinema Setup - Second Hand Guidance?

[dlockers]

Hi folks,

I have limited budget but a decent space to progressively add to. Inspired by the hc Vs. Sonos I'm tempted to try and assemble a basic 2.1 system with nice floor standing speakers and receiver for under 300 quid?

I had a quick scan of marketplace and eBay and I'm already lost; other than the fact stuff is available.

What are thoughts for secondhand bargains and what I should be searching for? I presume HC is distinct from HiFi and I get the sense a lot of my results are hifi ATM.

Basically watch James Bond movies and a few other cult classics. Not trying to push my boundaries in immersiveness; just good quality sound. I'm happy with a Sonos beam and sub in the living room but that was 800 quid brought new over 5 years.

Thanks

 

[dlockers]

You need to add a few numbers to that and another decimal point. Don't forget your port plugs as well.

Really? Best sticking with Sonos then?

 

[dlockers]

What sources are you using? If you’re on DVD, then there’ll be a lot more to choose from second hand on a tight budget. It’s not really the audio parts that become obsolete in high end receivers, it’s the video and audio processing that does. It’s easy to forget just how good DTS / DD 5.1 can sound on a great setup.

Just Plex/maybe Apple TV.

I was planning on optical out to the TV as that's how I did this 20 years ago with an old Onkyo unit.

 

[dlockers]

I would look at second hand Yamaha floor standing speakers, something like NS-F160 or NS-F150, should get those around £150 mark maybe.

Then I would get a second hand Yamaha AV receiver that's once been good but lost lots of it's money.

Then connect whatever source you have available to drive it. Don't get the sub at first, add it on later when you have spare cash. This is best you will do for £300.

On Facebook there is the 'UK HiFi exchange' group, loads of stuff appears on their cheaper than eBay keep checking that, this is where I advertise stuff also.

Helpful thanks -- I was a bit worried HiFi was distinct to Home Cinema. Is it broadly the same/reads across?

 

[dlockers]

I've also found some Kef Q35's for cheap. Is there a way to compare with each other?

 

[dlockers]

What about Eltax?

Way less on eBay/FB than I expected tbh.

eltax speakers X 3 And And Two Gale Back Speakers Plus Yamaha Amplifier | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for eltax speakers X 3 And And Two Gale Back Speakers Plus Yamaha Amplifier at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[dlockers]

That Yamaha is ancient, 20 years old. No mic setup, not even HDMI. Just S-Video

I wouldn't recommend tower speakers at your budget. Get Diamond 9.1

I'd bin the amp - are the speakers any good?

 

[dlockers]

Where are you in the country, I have just checked the 'Hi-Fi exhange uk' facebook group, and there are Wharfdale diamond 10.3 floorstanders in black ash with piano gloss baffle panel - £95

Cant see them, could you ping a link please?

 

[dlockers]

Thanks gents, super kind. Let me get back to you once I've done some homework (I'm a buy it for life type of guy so wouldn't want to end up kicking it on too soon!).

 

[dlockers]

Quite like the look of these and they aren't mega expensive:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-NSF51-Floorstanding-Speakers-Black/dp/B00X3BQZ70/ref=sr_1_1?c=ts&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Nuv-4KBAh5fqS8epgdQameJ8Uj6VHW_3HEjWFKPbztHGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.tA9YVD8AXS1g4omA6CkqmqjVxBhSJyqWVlW-UFcqq64&dib_tag=se&keywords=Floorstanding%2BHi-Fi%2BSpeakers&qid=1725792887&refinements=p_89%3AYAMAHA&s=receiver-speakers&sr=1-1&ts_id=199619031&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.16386313-b7bf-4b29-bfa1-0d3d5f3a0dd5&th=1

The market for second hand gear is a lot less than I expected. I am tempted to just go to Richersounds at this point!