Speakers and AV Recievers

[sj33]

Thinking about getting a new setup, nothing TOO fancy, a good couple of hundred though.

I'm currently using some Logitech Z-5500's and it's great, but a bit limited in terms of inputs, having to use varous combination of switchers to get all my gear connected, and it's a bit of a mess tbh.

Anyone got any recommendations? Really interested in the thing having HDMI inputs so I can use the DD/DTS/5.1 analogue from stuff like PS3 and save cables.
Obviously as many optical/coax/5.1 analogue ports as possible! If it does Component switching too, all the better.

Obviously support for DD, DTS and Pro Logic II goes without saying.

Am I asking too much for the low-ish end of things? Should I just ssave my money and stick with Z-5500's until TrueHD/DTS-HD stuff appears?

[smouty]

For the budget conscious richer sounds is always worth a look.
Something like THIS?

I'm not a fan of the Sony 'sound'. I find it can be a bit clinical but there doesn't appear to be any Yamaha or Marantz at the price point you mentioned.

[ascender]

What's your budget? Onkyo's 674 has bundles of connections and seems to be one of the best budget amps available at the moment.

Clicky

[sj33]

Blimey when you add speakers, these are so much more than my £200 Z-5500's! That Onkyo one is along the lines of what I want mind (could do with 3 HDMI's though).

I have to put some serious thought into whether I'm going to do this tbh, as theser Z-5500's somewhat overkill for my bedroom as it is... I guess I'm just becoming fussy in time.

On a not-really-related topic, is there any device that can the a 5.1 PCM signal sent down the HDMI from the PS3, separate it from the HDMI and send it to the 5.1 analogue inputs on my Z-5500's?

[ascender]

Got my Onkyo today and so far have been extremely impressed with it, especially in terms of sound quality over my old amp. Even moreso considering the price of it.

[Brats]

On a not-really-related topic, is there any device that can the a 5.1 PCM signal sent down the HDMI from the PS3, separate it from the HDMI and send it to the 5.1 analogue inputs on my Z-5500's?

Most receivers from ?400 upwards will do that, you just need an amp that will accept LPCM via HDMI and has preouts. I know that Denon range from 2000 upwards will. Some more recent amps will take a 7.1 LPCM input and output that via the preouts.

If you get an amp with HDMI inputs, make sure it has an audio delay feature (again most do).

[sj33]

Not really on topic, but is it worth replacing the speaker cabling on my Z-5500's with posher cabling? Or is this just a placebo effect? I don't know much about that kinda thing tbh.

[Sane]

I general it's always worth it to use proper cables.

[Crisp_Rapper]

smoke and mirrors with regards to cabling mostly.. i noticed a slight difference from my bog standard cheap as **** cable to the silver coated copper stuff i replaced it with, but nothing major at all. audio gear applies to the law of diminishing returns.

i run qed micro on my surround setup and it's perfectly fine, i certainly wouldn't spend anything more...

one question i will ask, how good are your ears? are you used to listening to a well set up system or not? if not then i doubt you'll notice any differences to be honest. unfortunately i've had a bit of 'listening' training because of work and it's pretty much ruined every single setup i've listened to afterwards, including my own.

:/

[sj33]

Well, I'm no audiophile, but I'm also not deaf, I can usually tell the difference between one speaker system and another, but when it comes to cabling, I've no idea if it's just an audiophile thing.

Like I've read so many comments from audiophiles where they claim to be able to hear the difference between opticial and coaxial, dispite the fact that they're both sending the exact same digital SPDIF signal, that I often just wonder if it's all just a placebo effect.

[SubparMario]

It's really not worth it unless you've already got a high end system and money burning a hole in your pocket. It's all pseudo-science and placebo.

[Crisp_Rapper]

thing is, in ABX tests (blindfolded comparisons of cables) nobody ever has been able to consistently tell the difference between cables... people claim to, but sit them down and switch cables and they really can't.

like i said, i swapped cables and from bog standard (really really cheap) to the £5 a metre stuff i bought there was a discernable difference, anything above that? i'm really not convinced and to be honest i'm perfectly happy with the performance i've got. i don't think that another 35m x £10p/m is gonna make any difference whatsoever apart from emptying my wallet.

there's certainly a large amount of placebo effect when it comes to buying audio gear and i'll not deny that...

[Brats]

They can definately improve the sound, but their benefit is overstated. I would always spend as much money as I can on the best speakers. Speakers make the single biggest difference to any set up and only a small increase in quality (and expenditure) can produce a huge result.

If however you are already happy with your existing speakers, then new speaker wire will make a difference, but it depends on the speakers and the amp. I've never heard the Z5500s, but if they are anything like similar Logitech speakers, improving the wire will make little discernable difference imo.

If you really want to get some new wire, like Crisp I would go for QED Micro or Silver Anniversary if you've got the money to spend. But if you can use the money instead to upgrade your speakers instead, I'd go for that.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Is it worth spending money on cable for 300 pounds speakers/amp combo. (Sony HTSF1000) as I am a deaf guy who use it in 11ft X 11 ft room I think.

[Crisp_Rapper]

you think you're deaf or you think the room's 11' x 11' ?

to be honest the sound outputted from a setup such as that can be improved a little by running some qed micro but there's little point putting anything else more expensive to it. whether you'll notice the difference or not is another matter entirely. so you're deaf in what manner? you can obviously hear something, could you give me the skinny on the situation?