What would be an undisputed reference AV setup?

[sid]

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

 

[sid]

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

 

[sid]

What about this

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

 

[sid]

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]

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]

It makes sense. It's that given stereo or multi-channel for films, give me the multi-channel system. Since it's a hobby/interest then the extra expensive really is irrelevent to people into it, if you like it, and want it you'll pay for it. If you can afford to, then why limit yourself to 2 channel just because?

If you have that sort of expendible money on your Hi-Fi, what's another £10,000 or so for the HT?



Then how do you get the full audio spectrum from film soundtracks? Many film LFE tracks go down to 10hz, can your amp and speakers handle that at reference levels? No so you need a subwoofer, unless you want distortion city?

Ok this has slightly gone off topic

I tend to agree with squiffy that you do need more than 2 speakers for AV.

What do you mean by 10hz at reference levels? i.e. 0db? i.e. insanely loud?

I can barely put my amp to -30db and this thing is rated at 30w/channel at 1% distortion. So does that mean at 0db I will be getting 30W / channel?

sid

 

[sid]

hz is the frequency of the material, sub bass is around 10-25hz.
Reference level is when you've calibrated the system to 75dB for all speakers, and with the amp then set at 0dB. If you don't calibrate the speakers they'll be at a uneven volume. You're "supposed" to then listen at 00dB, but I find that's too loud also. My level is -20dB, calibrated.

But given loudest sections of a movie can be quite demanding on your gear, plus the material being played, in this case sub bass you will probably find your main speakers distorting, if set to full range. What you usually do is set a higher crossover point. The subwoofer will then handle the lower bass.

It sounds like your amp isn't very capable, 30W output at 1% is quite high THD, and quite low power. I would be careful with that volume control. You don't want to fry your tweeters. Does it sound harsh and bass start to sound muddy at higher levels? If it does it means the amp is struggling.

Put on Toy Story 2 and Titan AE, I've used systems that just cannot handle the dynamics from these two films.

Well lookin at your 10k kit, mines bit of joke as you've probably got more expensive cables lol

The AMP is a pioneer VSX c300, Sub is a MS309, front are tannoys mercury mx3s, centre is a mission m70c and rears are eltax concept 180s. so basically what was in offer on the day.

Its pretty much impossible to calibrate this system on the amp and I don't have a SPL meter either

The base isn't very tight, (BTW is it ok to turn the sub power to max at the back? or do I have to let it run in for a while? i've had this unit for about 2 weeks now so a fair few hours)

Unfortunately I don't have either of those 2 films and since i've never heard something proper, its hard to know what you mean, I only recently worked out what tight bass is lol

sid

 

[sid]

Set the crossover on the amp to small 80hz, including subwoofer. On the subwooferback panel itself down the volume to minimum and the crossover to maximum.

Output the test tone on the amp and adjust the level per channel so it appears to be of a identical volume. Do the same for the subwoofer.

You shouldn't need to set the volume on the subwoofer to maximum, you want the sub to blend into the soundfield, not be heard over the other speakers. Watch a demo sequence, pay attention to the subwoofer. If you can hear it's parping, whoomping or boomy then it's set to high.

OK the amp is so basic I can only set Cross over frequencies to 100hz at lowest.

The amp will only test tone the speakers not the SUB, I have the sub set to auto on when signal is detected, during the test tone it sometimes doesn't come on, and even when its on, the sound is extremely low and deep, you have to be extremely quiet to hear.

Hence I have a uncalibrated system. mind you it still sound fine to me lol

sid