Surround Sound System $5,000

[djpark]

i'm new to home theater systems but have recently purchased a 50 inch samsung series 5 and thought i should make the most of it.

i'm wanting to get a surround sound system but i'm unsure how my $5,000 budget should be spent.

eg how much should be spent on each item and what exactly i need. eg receiver, speakers, sub, and do i need a seperate amp or does the receiver have enough power to handle the speakers.

any tips on brands/model would be helpful too. i

any comments would be great as i'm new to home theater systems.

my initial thoughts are after looking at this forum and other websites.

marantz 6003 because of hdmi 1.3 i think is around $1700

focal chorus cc800v centre $999

focal chorus 706v bookshelf rears $899

focal chorus 714v speakers for fronts $1299

$4597 and then whatever sub would match this equipment no worrying about the cost. will this receiver be fine for this setup?

Edited October 28, 2008 by djpark

[redxiii]

sounds like a plan.

just for fun throw in the krix, paradigm monitor, kef IQ and b and w range to listen to as well. If you are going to spend 5k on audio remember listening around is half the fun. (while cheerfully listening to his new krix neuphonix at 3 in the morning), I dont want to work tommorow:( )

For recievers try also the Harman Kardon , yamaha , onkyo, sony es range perhaps. That being said I currently use a marantz reciever as a pre and it sounds oh so sweet.

Edited October 28, 2008 by redxiii

[Gutty]

my initial thoughts are after looking at this forum and other websites.

marantz 6003 because of hdmi 1.3 i think is around $1700

focal chorus cc800v centre $999

focal chorus 706v bookshelf rears $899

focal chorus 714v speakers for fronts $1299

$4597 and then whatever sub would match this equipment no worrying about the cost. will this receiver be fine for this setup?

Looks ok, but why the 8 series centre with 7 series fronts ?

Maybe consider the 716 fronts, would be worth the extra IMO. If in Sydney, go see Mario at Instyle HiFi(five dock). He'll do you the best price by far, after some haggling, and maybe a budget stretch of a few hundred you'll probably get a 7 series sub in the mix too.

Otherwise sounds like a great package.

[Mitcon1503562253]

I would have said Marantz lol, some of the Pioneers are good to and all those already mentioned. I'd also give Adelaide Speakers a thought/look as there is some fantastic value there to be had, look at a few of the recent posts on them.

[jutta]

I would also recommend Yamaha RX1800b if you can find one still. Going for under $1500 in some stores

It runs the latest HDMI 1.3a

[djpark]

the reason i chose 714 instead of 716 was because marantz receiver delivers 100 watts to each channel. and 714 has 90 rms and 716 has 130 rms. so i thought would suit better? if i did go for 716 would i benefit from or need a seperate amp?

[Jliang70]

the reason i chose 714 instead of 716 was because marantz receiver delivers 100 watts to each channel. and 714 has 90 rms and 716 has 130 rms. so i thought would suit better? if i did go for 716 would i benefit from or need a seperate amp?

Those RMS figures you got for these speakers are meaningless, the correct spec you should look at are norminal impendance and sensitivity and also recommended amp power. I checked the JM website JM recommended min 25 watts for 714 and 40 watts for 716 and they both have impedance above 91db. So that would mean Marantz can drive them. Would you need a separate power amp for 716 probably no but you will benefit from having a separate power amp.

[djpark]

thanks for the response, i think i'll get the marantz because i've been reading reviews and think they sound like they'll suit focals well. i think i'd rather the 716v's, so now i'm just trying to understand pre amp and power amp.

do i need both?

if i need/will benefit from a power amp, considering the chorus 716v focal speakers have a recommended amplifier power of 40 - 200w and the marantz receiver has 100watts per channel.

how much extra will i need to spend on a power amp to get the most out of the speakers. thanks

Edited October 29, 2008 by djpark

[Jliang70]

thanks for the response, i think i'll get the marantz because i've been reading reviews and think they sound like they'll suit focals well. i think i'd rather the 716v's, so now i'm just trying to understand pre amp and power amp.

do i need both?

if i need/will benefit from a power amp, considering the chorus 716v focal speakers have a recommended amplifier power of 40 - 200w and the marantz receiver has 100watts per channel.

how much extra will i need to spend on a power amp to get the most out of the speakers. thanks

If you buy a AVR what you getting is a pre-amp, a power amp and radio tuner. In simple term pre-amp is the amplification section that accept input such as input from you CD, DVD or BD. To an AVR these input can now be audio as well as visual. Power amp is the amp section that input signal accepted by pre-amp get amplified and output to the speakers. Audio power like Rotel starts from $799 upwards and benefit of a power amp is that it gives you much cleaner and less distorted power than the power amp section of your average $2000 AVRs. In real life experience you will have a much cleaner sound from all listening level and you will hear greater level of details trhough your speaker from a good power amp.

[Juicester]

If you buy a AVR what you getting is a pre-amp, a power amp and radio tuner.

and a processor too. don't forget that.

[djpark]

so if i got the 100w receiver and ran the 716's would i be able to get the power amp and connect it to it or would it be better to get a seperate pre amp and power amp?

[Jliang70]

so if i got the 100w receiver and ran the 716's would i be able to get the power amp and connect it to it or would it be better to get a seperate pre amp and power amp?

A well build power amp can last for a long time (>20 yrs) but AV-pre tends last a few years before an improved and better model comes along or models with newer and superior surround sound decoder comes on the market. I think the basic upgrade cycle for

AVR is about 5 years. AV-pre are expensive and are harder to sell when it comes to upgrade time. If you have a 100w receiver you can connect a power amp as long as the receiver has pre-out connection. Check your receiver if it has pre-out connection.

[djpark]

just had a look and the marantz 6003 has pre out. this system sounds good to me. i'm just a bit concerned that the receiver being 100w may cause the chorus 716v speakers to sound empty as its recommended amplifier power is 40w to 200w and as i will not get a power amp in the near future.

does anyone have experience with a matchup similar to this in terms of power and whether it will not produce a full sound? i know i should go and listen but i am planning on getting the receiver and speakers from 2 different places. all this help is great. thanks

[Jliang70]

just had a look and the marantz 6003 has pre out. this system sounds good to me. i'm just a bit concerned that the receiver being 100w may cause the chorus 716v speakers to sound empty as its recommended amplifier power is 40w to 200w and as i will not get a power amp in the near future.

does anyone have experience with a matchup similar to this in terms of power and whether it will not produce a full sound? i know i should go and listen but i am planning on getting the receiver and speakers from 2 different places. all this help is great. thanks

If Marantz and JM are quoting the spec with realistic figures then I think this combination should have enough powerer to play loud in a normal size room.

[Gutty]

just had a look and the marantz 6003 has pre out. this system sounds good to me. i'm just a bit concerned that the receiver being 100w may cause the chorus 716v speakers to sound empty as its recommended amplifier power is 40w to 200w and as i will not get a power amp in the near future.

does anyone have experience with a matchup similar to this in terms of power and whether it will not produce a full sound? i know i should go and listen but i am planning on getting the receiver and speakers from 2 different places. all this help is great. thanks

I'm currently running Focal 826V's off a Yamaha RXV-1600. Quoted power is 120W per channel i think.

But don't worry about all the bullsh!t specs. Because that's exactly what they are.

For example, my Yammy 1600 has a 550W power supply, not possible for it to be 7x120W as it can't put out more power than it sucks in.

The Marantz 6003 has a 600W power supply, but claims less power than the Yammy. Reality is they are probably very similar, with the Marantz actually having more grunt. Marantz simply don't bullsh!t as much as Yamaha.

And ultimately, if one day you do decide to add a power amp the 6003 has pre-outs so your good to go.

Now just to be completely open/honest, i do normally run a power amp(Elektra theatron 7x185W with an 1800W power supply ) and it does give a better sound, but even without it, the Focals being farely easy to drive the Yammy does pretty good all by itself.

If at all possible, maybe moving up to the 7002 would be a good idea, but if not possible, don't let some silly figures deter or change your speaker choice from the 716 to the 714. In my opinion the 716's will run just fine off the 6003 for normal listening levels. Only when you get up near full bore will you find something with more grunt being better than the 6003.

And for what it's worth, the efficiency specs on the 714 and 716 are so close it's irrelevant, and the 716 having bigger drivers will tend to have a more fuller sound no matter what's driving them... just my opinion.

[Katarn]

I got the following quote from E-Home Solutions www.e-home.com.au

2 x Chorus 706v 900

2 x Chorus 716V $1800

1 x Chrous CC 700V 700

1 x Velodyne CHT-10R 950

1 x Denon 2808 AVR $2200

Offered Price - $5500... slightly over your budget but I think definitely worth the investment.

Auditioned them in that setup as well, and I can say they made a good match. Benefit of the 2808 is that it has all the newest codecs (Dolby True HD, DTS MA)

Went with the Velodyne sub as it sounded better than the Focal equivalent.

[dantan]

just had a look and the marantz 6003 has pre out. this system sounds good to me. i'm just a bit concerned that the receiver being 100w may cause the chorus 716v speakers to sound empty as its recommended amplifier power is 40w to 200w and as i will not get a power amp in the near future.

does anyone have experience with a matchup similar to this in terms of power and whether it will not produce a full sound? i know i should go and listen but i am planning on getting the receiver and speakers from 2 different places. all this help is great. thanks

G'day mate,

Perhaps try out an Integra DTR7.8 (part of the same group as Onkyo). This model is, I believe, being replaced. RRP is $2,499.00, but can be had for under $2,000.00.

I have owned mine for almost half-a-year now, and while I only used it to power my loudspeakers for several weeks and since then have added a NAD Masters Series M25 7-channel Power Amplifier, the Integra DTR7.8 is a very grunty unit and powered my large Krix loudspeakers (which are all 4ohm-rated and extremely power-hungry) much, much better than my Denon AVR2807.

Dan.

[djpark]

just from a quick look that krix system looks like a great deal! but i wasn't planning on buying the whole system at once. i was going to start with the receiver and front speakers and the rest in a couple of months. thanks for the option though.

[adze]

Hi djpark

I've just been through the same exercise as you on a similar budget. If it helps, I settled on a Denon 3808 ($2500 from John at Appollo HiFi). This was a step up from the Yamaha 3800 (<$1990 @ GG) which was my second choice. I really liked the VAF DCXs but a bit pricey. Edward at Adelaide Speakers built us equivalent quality at a much lower price. Still waiting on delivery though so I can't tell you how it all sounds together.

I hope this helps.

Cheers, adze

Edited November 2, 2008 by adze