Which type of speaker system to get?

I agree with what is being said but I still think it is possible to get a system for the budget which will give good surround sound along with very competent stereo performance.

However as the OP specified 'superb' stereo performance he should have course go for the 2 speaker setup.
 
Another recommendation for a stereo system. Ive gone from 5.1 to 2.1 to 2.0 and the 2.0 is certainly the best and most balanced. It doesnt help that my rooms are quite small but so is yours really.

Speakers I'd recommend b+w 601s2s, second hand of course. Ive had a pair for 2 or 3 years now and theyre amazingly cheap now given how good they are.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;12060754 said:
It's not going to be good either. You'll be splitting your speaker budget over six speakers, one of which is a sub, rather then two. That's going to degrade the quality available for a start.
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Not only that av amps quality, compared to similar integrated. To get similar SQ to a £200 stereo amp you need to be looking at £600+ for the av amp.
 
badbob said:
Not only that av amps quality, compared to similar integrated. To get similar SQ to a £200 stereo amp you need to be looking at £600+ for the av amp.
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Or even an arcam av amp, which have a much higher regard when it comes to music reproduction. But the amount they cost, they need to give a good musical performance.

Stereo recommendation from me as well. My stereo setup sounds awesome for movies and games, and doesn't need loads of silly little speakers and leads trailing all over the place. It'l do until i buy a house.
 
Im running a custom built stereo amp which i know isnt a great help but im using that to drive a pair of eltax monitor III which are very cheap speakers compared to the tannoy and B&W mentioned, ive recently replaced the drivers with gale 5.5" 100watt drivers and the sound is amaizing so i can only imagine what the tannoys will be like.
Id never go back to pc speakers or 5.1 set ups unless exclusivly for movie playback now that ive owned this, id also struggle to buy an amp after building my own but thats another kettle of fish alltogether!!!

keep us informed on you purchase and how it pans out for you as im going to be replacing my bookshelfs soon and im tempted by the tannoy, though the mordaunt short 902's are taking my fancy aswell, bar them its on the bay for a nice second hand pair for around the £100/£150 mark which should get a pair of stonking bookshelfs!
 
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If you can afford it though I'd go multi-channel, movies do sound much better. The cost does rise though, £300+ on a centre, same again for surrounds, £500+ for sub, £500+ av amp, or poweramps at least a thousand pounds, av pre-amp (Lexicon cheap now if you don't mind not having HDMI switching)
 
If you just want stereo, you'll need a "stereo integrated amplifier" plus a pair of stereo speakers, and source(s) You don't need a subwoofer unless a) your speakers are satellites b) You have a surround sound system c) you want to reinforce the low bass below your stereo speakers

With stereo system you don't have a centre speaker. I'd pickup a copy of What Hi-Fi, it seems you need to understand the differences, it should have a couple of guides.
 
Just get a stereo amplifier and a decent pair of bookshelf speakers for now (both second hand so you get more for your money). Then, later down the line, you could add a subwoofer if your bookshelves aren't quite up to the job in the bass department.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;12050157 said:
Your options are fairly wide so your best off picking some things form the bay that you like the look of and offering them up here for people to comment on.

You might want to start by looking at amps by:

Cambridge Audio
NAD
Rotel
Arcam

As for Speakers, the world is your oyster. Start with:

Mission
Wharfdale
Mordunt-Short
Tannoy
B&W
Keff

No doubt others will be along with more advice, but this should do you to start with.
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Any of these will do you good from the 2nd hand sections of other forums and the big auction site.

I run a

Arcam A75 and some Kef Q1's and its extremely loud in my bedroom and does not go above 15%.
 
Right, been looking at What Hi Fi.

Speakers

Tannoy Mercury F1 Custom
5/5 Brand New @ £79/

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
5/5 , eBay buy it now @ £70 (used)

Think Ill go for the Tannoys , now to find an amp
 
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