Sony HT-G700

Saw your post on avforums, I think it's better if you go for a AVR

1) Allows you to add more speakers and subwoofer later
2) Has HDMI CEC functions
3) Multiple HDMI, coaxial and optical inputs
4) Bass management, room correction, speaker levels and delays
5) Surround sound decoding, expansion/downmixing as needed (ie can downmix 5.1 DTS to two channel)
6) Sound quality should be good enough on a budget system - I doubt notice the difference, only once you get higher range speakers etc
7) Remote control might have source control functions (a stereo integrated amp won't)

Maybe get AVR and stereo speakers for now, save up for a sub, then add surrounds and center.

If you do get a full 5.1 system in one go, I'd step up from the HCP to these, they are bigger speakers


Add another £400 for a AVR, say Yamaha A4A, add another £100 for reel of speaker cable, banana plugs, subwoofer cable etc

Other things you may want in the future

a) A Audio streamer. AVR's have streaming facility but they won't be as good as a dedicated streamer. Something like Wiim Pro - using the digital output
b) A BD player, Panasonic 820
c) A dedicated video streamer, Nvidia shield or a Amlogic based kodi box.

You shouldn't need a universal remote control. I use one but my systems are bit complex so having this makes it easier, I also have ability on each activity for controlling another device, ie I have a IR controlled TV bias light, so for unused "hard" buttons (guide & prev ch) this is linked to power & brightness command. One remote controls three preamps/avr, three audio streamers, two video streamers, one BD player, one DVD player, two bias lights, one radio, two TV's each with own specific activities, and direct device control also
 
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Yeah, AVR is definitely the way forward now. I've been pondering starting with just two good from speakers and building up rather than compromising with a full surround set, presumably the AVR will operate in stereo mode and not try to throw audio to non-existent rears etc.

What's your thoughts on the Denon X1800H? It can be had for the same price as the AVR-S660H and perhaps gives me more future proofing?

That 9.1 HCP package looks very tempting and good value. What does the HCP stand for? I was also looking at Diamond 12.1 for the fronts and hoping they could handle enough bass and dialogue to keep me happy for a while before adding more speakers, or will this be overkill for me compared to that package?

I take it speakers don't come with cable then! lol

I've got a decent Blu-ray player, but audio and video streamers will probably be long into the video.


EDIT:


Some measurements if it helps:

Distance to TV and front speakers = 3m
Distance to potential left rear speaker = 2.5m
Distance to potential right rear speaker = 1.8m
 
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I wouldn't go budget floor standers best to go for standmounts. You'll need some stands also.

Does the Denon site do comparisons ? Or do 1800 versus 660 there's usually show differences. Possibly the room EQ app is available on the 1800 that will allow you to set correction limit etc

Yes avrs can function in stereo either use stereo mode, direct or pure direct.

Avrs will downmix a 7.1 mix to stereo you just configure in the avr what speakers you gave. It doesn't discard audio it just diverts it to other channels
 
12.1 are standmounts? They should be ok for music in a small room but for action movies you'll want a sub. Adding a subwoofer diverts low bass from speakers, sends those frequencies to the sub which can handle it. This helps the amplifier for the speakers, decreases distortion, lessens the demand on the amp, decreases distortion to the speakers.
 
Which ones are floor standers as I've been avoiding looking at them due to the height will be too much as I've only got 600mm height to play with? The Diamond 12.1 (link) I was looking at are bookshelf type I'm sure? I would probably need quite short stands, say around 280mm?
 
12.1 are standmounts? They should be ok for music in a small room but for action movies you'll want a sub. Adding a subwoofer diverts low bass from speakers, sends those frequencies to the sub which can handle it. This helps the amplifier for the speakers, decreases distortion, lessens the demand on the amp, decreases distortion to the speakers.

Bookshelf I believe, unless I've misunderstood somewhere? I'm kind of flicking between various shops sites at the moment and getting a little lost with it all.

What would the 12.1 be like compared to the 9.1 in that package? Cheers.
 
Bookshelf I believe, unless I've misunderstood somewhere? I'm kind of flicking between various shops sites at the moment and getting a little lost with it all.

What would the 12.1 be like compared to the 9.1 in that package? Cheers.

I've only owned the 9.0.

Yeah there's a lot of choice, quite overwhealming, different brands of AVRs, speakers, and subwoofers. Maybe have a demo of a few brands of speakers
 
I've only owned the 9.0.

Yeah there's a lot of choice, quite overwhealming, different brands of AVRs, speakers, and subwoofers. Maybe have a demo of a few brands of speakers

I think I'm settled on the AVR now, being the Denon X1800H. Unless there's something terrible about it I don't know about. I'll do more research but all being well it seems the logic choice being the same price. I think it has advanced setup as well, MultEQ XT rings a bell although I read there's an even fancier XT32 - but this is becoming a case of whooosh for me! lol

I'll need to start researching the various speaker brands now so I can a short lift and see if Richer Sounds have any of them available to listen to.
 
I think I'm settled on the AVR now, being the Denon X1800H. Unless there's something terrible about it I don't know about. I'll do more research but all being well it seems the logic choice being the same price. I think it has advanced setup as well, MultEQ XT rings a bell although I read there's an even fancier XT32 - but this is becoming a case of whooosh for me! lol

I'll need to start researching the various speaker brands now so I can a short lift and see if Richer Sounds have any of them available to listen to.

Denons can run hot so I'd have a couple of 12cm fans running
 
Another twist; after discussion with the wife it would appear that floorstanding speakers are the preferred choice. I think starting with two decent fronts and going from there would be the best way forward?
 
Another twist; after discussion with the wife it would appear that floorstanding speakers are the preferred choice. I think starting with two decent fronts and going from there would be the best way forward?

Good floorstanders will increase the budget. Many budget floorstanders lack bracing, and generally worse than their standmount counterpart in rigidity and sound quality.

Maybe look for second hand, so you can get better speakers for the same budget?

These look good value, half price

 
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I was also thinking if it were nice stands then maybe could be agreeable, but then I'm guessing that good stands will push the price up as well and I'd rather such money go into the actual speaker itself?

They will need to have front covers. I prefer the bare look, but the wife doesn't and drew parallels to a washing machine lol
 

Evo have option of matching stand. Yes stands increase price. They come with grilles

Good price for those evo

I use big towers for mains I'm not sure of the original new price but they weren't cheap.
 
Ive seen Evo 4.2 for £300. They'll be better quality speakers


I'd recommend better quality standmount over budget floorstanders.
 
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