Home Audio / Visual Set-Up

[tassini]

Hi there,

We are currently building a new family home which is almost ready to move into. Been looking at our home entertainment and would like any advice / comments on the set-up listed below:-

AV Receiver - Pioneer SC-LX83

Blue Ray - Cambridge Audio 650 Bd

Front Speakers - Paradigm Studio 100 V.5

Centre Speaker - Paradigm Studio CC 590 V.5

Rear Speakers - Paradigm Studio 20 V.5 (with stands)

Sub - Paradigm Ultracube 10 V.2

Our budget has been set to around 325,000 Baht.

What do you think of this set-up. Are we going too far with any of this or do we need to upgrade / downgrade certain items.

We do have a PS3 player so is the CA 650 really necessary? PS3 can be used in another part of the house (upstairs family room)

Previously we have always bought a 'set' and currently have the Bose Lifestyle 48 system in our present home.

Any comments / suggestions appreciated.

Tas

[stgrhe]

SPEAKERS

I audited these Paradigm speakers in the end of last year comparing them with the Dynaudio Focus 4x100 and the 220C as center speaker and the Paradigm fell short. The crisp details that the small Focus speakers cannot be matched by the Paradigm speakers you have listed. Having said that, sound preference is of course very individual. Also, the Focus speakers need a sub to compensate for their small size, but they are good, really good.

Piyanas' price for the Paradigm speakers you listed, excluding the sub., is THB 177,800 while the Focus set would be 186,900 plus stands if you need that.

I suggest you pay a visit to Piyanas and do an audit for yourself. They are very helpful and bring along your favourite music.

Did I buy the Focus speakers? No, I did not but it was very close. I am a lover of the sound created by planar speakers, have always been, so I bought Magneplanar MG 1.7 as front speakers and the Martin Logan Motion series speakers for the center and rear channels. ML's Motion series are tuned to sound like electro-stats and therefore also suitable to complement planars. I am very happy with my choice but believe I would have been equally happy with the Dynaudio Focus.

NOTE! The Dynaudio Focus speakers have 4 ohm impedance while the Paradigm has 8 ohm and are thus easier to match with an AVR.

BLUERAY PLAYER

Go for the OPPO BDP-93 (costs THB 19,000) or if you are really in to high end music stuff chose the BDP-95 (THB 36,900).

AVR

The problem many AVRs have is their lack of power. When looking into their specifications it often looks impressive but most of these manufacturer do in fact specify their power rating with only two channels driven. NAD is an exception but they focus on the music side and do not offer as many video features as their Japanese counterparts. Also, several of the AVRs have difficulty driving 4 ohm impedance loads.

YOUR SELECTION

My recommendation is that you start with the speaker selection. The speaker type will give you the character of the sound and it should be a sound that you personally appreciate. Once that is done then you can start looking at the AVRs and a type that matches your preferred speakers. Again, Piyanas can help you with that.

http://www.piyanas.com/product_brand.php?lang=en

Edited as I forgot the link to Piyanas

Edited May 25, 2011 by astral

[JackA]

Hi there...

I think you can get a better overall setup...

The Pioneer LX83 is nice, but don't forget it's class D

and that it tends to have a bright/harsh/detailed signature.

And I have a feeling that the AVR is not up to the task of driving

the Paradigm speakers, which is known ofhaving nasty impedance dips

into the 2.5-3 ohm.

I would suggest the following AVR

http://www.piyanas.com/productdetail.php?cat=146.154&id=2474〈=en〈=en

Review - please notice that A3000(US) = V3067 (Europe)

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/rx-a3000

As for blueray - I would certainly go with Opppo, which is the "bar" none

the best universal; player money can buy.

http://piyanas.com/productdetail.php?cat=121.451&id=2577〈=en〈=en

or http://piyanas.com/productdetail.php?cat=121.451&id=2743〈=en〈=en

Review here:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/oppo-bdp-93

As for speakers - have you looked at Mordaunt Short Mezzo series?

http://www.piyanas.com/productdetail.php?cat=115.209&id=2271&lan

http://www.piyanas.com/productdetail.php?cat=115.209&id=2323〈=en〈=en

The Mezzo 6 mightg be hard to get as they are selling out faster than produced..

http://www.powerbuy.co.th/ProductDetailPage.aspx?Prod_Code=PWB000166919

Review here:

http://www.whathifi.com/review/mordaunt-short-mezzo-6

http://www.hometheater.com/floorloudspeakers/908mor/

As for SUB - I would strongly suggest you go with Paradigm DSP3200 v2.

More power in sealed enclosure will not match sheer size..

http://www.piyanas.com/productdetail.php?cat=122.211&id=1501〈=en〈=en

Adding cost:

Yamaha rx-v3067 : 62.900,-

Oppo Blueray bdp 93: 19.900,-

MS Mezzo -2: 14.900,-

MS Mezzo -5: 10.900,-

MS Mezzo -6: 26.900,-

Subwoofer DSP 3200 27.900,-

Total: 152.500,-

[astral]

HiFi News in the UK, gave the Pioneer SC-LX83 a very good review, back in the Sept 2010 edition

Sorry I cannot find a web link, I have the magazine in front of me.

They particularly mention the Precision Quartz Lock System whereby digital audio

is governed by the receiver to reduce jitter.

For full benefit you need the latest Pioneer BDP LX52 Blu-ray player.

[stgrhe]

HiFi News in the UK, gave the Pioneer SC-LX83 a very good review, back in the Sept 2010 edition

Sorry I cannot find a web link, I have the magazine in front of me.

They particularly mention the Precision Quartz Lock System whereby digital audio

is governed by the receiver to reduce jitter.

For full benefit you need the latest Pioneer BDP LX52 Blu-ray player.

That review can be read here: http://www.whathifi....pioneer-sc-lx83

and the specification here: http://www.pioneer.c...&CatId=64,9,100