What would be an undisputed reference AV setup?

sid

sid

sid

Soldato
Joined
9 Feb 2003
Posts
5,178
Location
London
I know this is a complicated topic as sound is judged different by everyone.

But for something like a Home Cinema ( Music makes it even more complicated)

What would be an undisputed reference setup?

How much would you have to spend 10k , 50k or 100k?

Only stuff thats proven to be good, not random diamond cables or any of that please.

sid
 
Depends what you want out of it really, Magazines normally use a 'Reference' system simply because they have spend so much time listening to their reference system it makes it easier to compare other equipment up against it, be it better, or worse.

A good 'reference' system logically should sit in either in the high mid range, or low top end. If your reference system is too good, then everything will sound inferior, too poor, and the opposite, everything else would just sound so much better you would rate everything as wonderfull.

I'd put my own system up there with the 'reference' systems, with a Tag Mclaren AV32R, and a rack of Audiolab 8000M (monoblocks)'s providing the amplification. Mission 753 front, 75C centre, and 750SE for surrounds.

Including an 'ok' Sony DVD player, and a modest CD transport, the system cost around 9k, its a few years old now, but still performs perfectly, and I've yet to hear a 'new' system that I like better. If your including a screen as well, then 10k including my Panny TH42PX60.

Im already well into the league of diminishing returns, with some fairly exotic interconnects, and speaker cables. However I've not got any 'gizmos' like those cable lifters, green pens etc etc etc. Pretty sure for a good 'reference' system 10k is sufficient, 50k-100k are totally exotic imho.
 
Yeah soz, I didnt specify explicitly but I did obviously mean top end reference. As by your definition, I could say even mine is reference and then compare everything to that, which isn't really the point.

sid
 
tinners said:
What about this :D
Click to expand...


I've seen that thread already, fantastic stuff. I don't think his stuff is that high end? The interior design is great but actual sound quality/ picture quality?

sid
 
sound wise you will be looking at miller & kreisel S150 (probably actives - the MPS-2150PK are the pro active versions) or similar from Blue Sky etc , these are typically what are found in the mastering studios where the sound Engineer does the final movie mix.
If he has mixed it using them I would say thats about as good as it gets mainstream wise.
Sure you can go silly & spend 10k+ per speaker but I dont really know of any AV setups that use these kind of setups (other than a few scary people who bought Tag speaker setups).
 
I've be inclined towards a top end Meridian system, with full active digital speakers, awesomely good processing and DVD replay. Add in a 3chip 1080p capable DLP projector, BD and HD-DVD players, stewart fixed screen and you're away.
Probable cost of around £100k, and a pre-requisite of a BIG room to put it all in.
 
Well I have to say this ;) But a LINN set up,
Unidisk 1.1 for a Universal player, £6800,
Kisto Pre-amp £8300,
Then Artikulat active speakers with built in amps...
Main 350A £23,500
Centre 340A £9500
Rears 340A £13,900
Sub 345A £ 4000

Plus it will be stunning on music..... any format

Plus an external upscaler for stand DVD's ...then a HD Player, and a PJ ?

That's reference for me !!!...... might take me while ! :eek:
 
sid said:
I've seen that thread already, fantastic stuff. I don't think his stuff is that high end? The interior design is great but actual sound quality/ picture quality?

sid
Click to expand...
I wouldn't mind it :p
 
9designs2 said:
Well I have to say this ;) But a LINN set up,
Unidisk 1.1 for a Universal player, £6800,
Kisto Pre-amp £8300,
Then Artikulat active speakers with built in amps...
Main 350A £23,500
Centre 340A £9500
Rears 340A £13,900
Sub 345A £ 4000

Plus it will be stunning on music..... any format

Plus an external upscaler for stand DVD's ...then a HD Player, and a PJ ?

That's reference for me !!!...... might take me while ! :eek:
Click to expand...
Did you read the thread? That is serious overkill for a reference system.
 
Bes said:
Did you read the thread? That is serious overkill for a reference system.
Click to expand...

What we all classify as reference is surely personal perspective. You could use a Denon all in one if you want. I thought that by including a £10k+ budget, that anything goes.
 
I have been thinking about this for a while now and I just cant agree with myself on what I would want from it. I dont really watch that many films so it would end up being hugely stereo biased - which doesnt half drive up the cost! Im pretty sure I would end up with a stereo sound that I loved and a 7.1 sound that I liked for films. Perhaps some bi-monoblocked Dynaudios with a decent multiformat player like the Unidisk.

I dislike the connotations attached to the word reference in this context, especially when you throw in words like undisputed!!!
 
DRZ>
As I've mentioned in the past, I've been through the process of owning an OK dedicated stereo, then adding AV to it, before going back to pure stereo for both music and films.
I really do think that NOT having to cater for an additional bunch of channels, their amplification and processing not only simplifies the audio chain, but also frees up a LOT of cash to be used in a more focused manner on the stereo system. So yes, you end up with only front channels, but wow, just how good they are.
 
Ok so Mr sukebe

For about 100k you can go to the cinema 20k times (assuming £5 ticket)

Thats about 70 years assuming go once every day!

Is your 100k meridian system gonna match a cinema?

sid
 
sid said:
Ok so Mr sukebe

For about 100k you can go to the cinema 20k times (assuming £5 ticket)

Thats about 70 years assuming go once every day!

Is your 100k meridian system gonna match a cinema?

sid
Click to expand...
It'll probably be far better.

And would you like to account for inflation in your estimate, or has Brown's magical monetary policy miraculously brought it down to 0%? ;)
 
sid said:
Is your 100k meridian system gonna match a cinema?
Click to expand...

Sid>
If I had a £100k, I think I'd be spending it on improving my existing stereo system and buying an Aston, but thanks for asking.

As for matching a cinema. As already suggested, would probably walk all over your average multiplex. Just think of how "built down to a cost" most cinemas are. Do you seriously think that one would stand a chance against a dedicated top of the range AV system from a group like Meridian?

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't spend the money, but I'm sure it would do the biz.
Now something that would interest me to try that is stupidly expensive is this:
MD-300B.jpg


I've only heard their "cheap" unit, but thought it was easily the best amp I've ever heard. Needs partnering with some appropriate speakers and source, but was completely awesome.
 
Wow,

I didn't realise that home cinema equipment could better a theater as easily as you mentioned. I presumed theaters cost millions and use proper equipment.

The sound quality may be better but theaters still use those analogue reels which are greater than hd quality and not avaliable to buy.

Ps - that amp you posted looks a a kids toy lol, I haven't been lucky enough to hear expensive audio, Stereo or AV so as you can understand its hard for me to imagine how it sounds.

i have heard a valve amp before and the rich warm sound was definately better than my cheap AV amp could produce.

sid
 
Sid>
I've no idea how much cinemas cost, but I would be highly surprised if they were built to "money no object" budgets.
As for their kit, I'm sure that it is "proper", but then you need to think about what proper means. In the case of a full blown cinema, it's a system capable of wide dispersion over a BIG room at large volumes. Some of those requirements are clearly different to the ones in a smaller room and thus the compromises will be different.
I'd certainly expect a system designed to work in a "normal" room to do a much better job than one that's been shoe horned into it. Don't get me wrong, quite clearly if you put the £100k Meridian system in a normal cinema, it would also be completely out of it's depth. Just horses for courses.

Ref the Wavac valve amp. Again it's been designed with a specific set of compromises and to specific budgets. The implications being no remote control, valve levels of reliability and very limited power capability. In it's favour, they can sound completely amazing. I say "can", as I've heard a number of truly bad sounding valve amps. Just because it's got valves in it, certainly doesn't guarantee it'll be the best solution.
 
Many multiplexes use the JBL Pro range and Crown amps, new Vue in Exeter has Martin Audio speakers. No idea what processors are used. The Vue's soundsystem is the sharpest multichannel I've heard, but I've not been lucky enough to sample even a mid-range home system.

I've no doubt that an audiophile system can top a commercial cinema, but my god I've love to hear it. One problem though- would such high end equipment expose DD/DTS compression?
 
In the home, you can get a better experience with £10k than you would get in a cinema. Think about where you sit, other people etc etc and you have a much, much better place to be as well as the audio quality being tailored exactly to your desires. A 100k system would be rather good indeed.

By the way, Mr_S, when I was describing mine I was thinking more along the lines of a system that was as good as I would ever need or want for the stereo side of things which I would then extend to 7.1. That way, my stereo wouldnt be compromised.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom