[Uvgsgssu]

Much improved I hope you'll agree.

Before:



After:



I've added a Sony STR-DA2400ES Amp/Receiver and some KEF iQ5SE speakers. They replace the Logitech Z-5450's I had before. All sat in an Alphason TV stand which came today and I think is pretty good. Also ditched the 360 a few months ago which is just as well because it would look a bit crap in white. The other stuff in there is a Foxsat Freesat HD box and a Wii.

[Heclailia]

Very clean setup there! Great work!

I've added a Sony STR-DA2400ES Amp/Receiver

I just got exactly the same! My 10 year old Sony STRDB930 AMP was showing its age with things not working as well as they should anymore, and it took me ages to find a viable upgrade. Luckily after a good hunt around, I got a fantastic price from Amazon for brand new so I was chuffed! Does everything my old one does, and a whole lot more! Money well spent - enjoy it!

[Uvgsgssu]

Very clean setup there! Great work! I just got exactly the same! My 10 year old Sony STRDB930 AMP was showing its age with things not working as well as they should anymore, and it took me ages to find a viable upgrade. Luckily after a good hunt around, I got a fantastic price from Amazon for brand new so I was chuffed! Does everything my old one does, and a whole lot more! Money well spent - enjoy it!

Yeah I got a really good price as well. I think it's kind of a discontinued model, maybe being HDMI 1.3, rather than the 1.4 supporting 3D I suppose. Still excellent for the price.

[Heclailia]

Yea, well I'm not using the HDMI ports at the moment cause I can use the AMP for my PC audio while watching TV and using the HDMI ports usually does one or the other, so it doesnt really bother me. Its only a few years old too, its quite shocking how quickly the AMPS go down in price if you can hold off a bit!

[dmoiknlasd]

Big improvement. Well done [thumbup]

And yes true on the amp thing; getting one 2nd hand (even with hdmi 1.1, doesn't matter) is so much more worth your money than getting a new one for the same price. Made the mistake once, will never do it again.

[Uvgsgssu]

I think both me and Langaleer got the amp new, just at a very much reduced price. In the region of £200, which is a steal. It seems to drive the speakers well and sounds good for games, movies and music.

What's the best way of listening to music with this kind of setup? Adding a CD player isn't a great idea because everything is MP3 so it's too inconvienient. At the moment I copy or stream to the PS3 and play off there because it seems to be pretty capable at playing MP3's. Originally I was thinking of an iPod and dock, but that's the best part of £300, and I have no other sue for the iPod.

[vioppyskype]

I think both me and Langaleer got the amp new, just at a very much reduced price. In the region of £200, which is a steal. It seems to drive the speakers well and sounds good for games, movies and music.

What's the best way of listening to music with this kind of setup? Adding a CD player isn't a great idea because everything is MP3 so it's too inconvienient. At the moment I copy or stream to the PS3 and play off there because it seems to be pretty capable at playing MP3's. Originally I was thinking of an iPod and dock, but that's the best part of £300, and I have no other sue for the iPod.

I'd get an Apple Airport or a SlingBox and stream the music wirelessly from your PC to your amp.

Bluetooth sounds OK as well, but wifi is generally much better.

[Uvgsgssu]

I'd get an Apple Airport or a SlingBox and stream the music wirelessly from your PC to your amp.

Bluetooth sounds OK as well, but wifi is generally much better.

Is that any better than what the PS3 can do?

[vioppyskype]

Is that any better than what the PS3 can do?

I don't know I'm afraid. I've never tried it on the PS3.

EDIT: Logic dictates not though. Wireless streaming should be the same quality and you don't have a 50 grand system so you won't notice the difference through the cabling.

[Ygxejxox]

Are the speakers good for games and movies without a sub? I've considered getting a set up to use also as a hifi and the sub would kill the music.

[vioppyskype]

Are the speakers good for games and movies without a sub? I've considered getting a set up to use also as a hifi and the sub would kill the music.

You could just unplug the sub to listen to music....but saying that, a decent sub will integrate perfectly into a stereo set up.

[LarryG1978]

Looks much cleaner, very nice!

I'd get an Apple Airport or a SlingBox and stream the music wirelessly from your PC to your amp.

Bluetooth sounds OK as well, but wifi is generally much better.

At the price point of the new Apple TVs being the same as an Airport Express, that would be a viable option as well.

However, since he has a PS3 already, using that in conjunction with ps3mediaserver, it will allow him to playback any file format he throws at it and due to the internal HDD on the PS3, he won't be relying on a server running to playback music.

You could just unplug the sub to listen to music....but saying that, a decent sub will integrate perfectly into a stereo set up.

Correct, if the crossover is set properly, they can be integrated quite well. Also, many receivers have the option to not output a signal to the LFE if a stereo signal is detected.

As far as running floor standing speakers without a sub, while it depends in the frequency response of the speakers, proper power will be a big factor as well. Since upgrading my receiver, my fronts now dig a lot deeper and I only really use my sub for movie and game playback.

[Uvgsgssu]

Are the speakers good for games and movies without a sub? I've considered getting a set up to use also as a hifi and the sub would kill the music.

I tend to have the bass on the receiver turned up for music. Games and movies are fine like this as well. No sub required for them. I thought about adding a small sub for music, but thats my personal tastes.

The PS3 works really well, being able to wirelessly stream or wirelessly copy music to it to play. The sound quality is also noticeable better than the PC's Creative X-Fi sound card can produce.

[LarryG1978]

The PS3 works really well, being able to wirelessly stream or wirelessly copy music to it to play. The sound quality is also noticeable better than the PC's Creative X-Fi sound card can produce.

The DAC on your receiver is most likely better. If you connect your sound card to the receiver via a digital connection, the sound quality will be identical.

[Uvgsgssu]

The DAC on your receiver is most likely better. If you connect your sound card to the receiver via a digital connection, the sound quality will be identical.

Yeah. I was comparing when using the Z-5450's actually, the PS3 always seemed better then.

[vioppyskype]

I tend to have the bass on the receiver turned up for music. Games and movies are fine like this as well. No sub required for them. I thought about adding a small sub for music, but thats my personal tastes.

The PS3 works really well, being able to wirelessly stream or wirelessly copy music to it to play. The sound quality is also noticeable better than the PC's Creative X-Fi sound card can produce.

I'm not sure if I'm right on this, but it's likely that you are missing out on the entire low frequency effects channel without a sub.

[LarryG1978]

I'm not sure if I'm right on this, but it's likely that you are missing out on the entire low frequency effects channel without a sub.

Since he is using a two channel setup, his receiver is downmixing all 5.1 audio to stereo.

[Uvgsgssu]

Since he is using a two channel setup, his receiver is downmixing all 5.1 audio to stereo.

Yes I think that is correct. I'm slightly unsure what would happen if I added a sub though. Would all low frequency be sent to the sub?

[LarryG1978]

Yes I think that is correct. I'm slightly unsure what would happen if I added a sub though. Would all low frequency be sent to the sub?

There would be an option on your receiver that would allow you to redirect bass (set a crossover) for stereo signals.

[Uvgsgssu]

Ah ok thanks.