Spec me an audio system, bitches!

cheeseandham · Post by **cheeseandham** » September 8th, 2007, 21:26

Right guys, I wonder if the audio geeks among you can help me here. IF so let me pick your brains....

I have, after years of making do with some Dell speakers (with a sub-woofer!!1) straight out of the 3.5mm jack of the TV, the want to get a decent sound out my TV/Cable/Xbox media centre/Wii/Tivo/360.

So I dug out my very old (but still good condition) Mordaunt Short MS55Ti floor standing speakers from my folks spare room with the mind of using them. [1] [2]
However I have no amp or even speaker cables to connect it with, so for tthe last 3 months they've been very nice looking flower stand and remote control table.

What I want is a decent sounding media centre type system to link all my kit without faffing when I want to change inputs.

The Mordaunt Short MS55Ti's have a plug which I'm not sure of. I think it's a banana plug, but if anyone can confirm this I'd be grateful.

So I have:-

Hyundai HQL320WR LCD TV -
* 1 x RF input
* 1 x VGA input ( 15 PIN HD D-Sub (HD-15) )
* Composite video input
* 1 x S-Video input ( 4 PIN mini-DIN )
* 1 x component video input ( RCA phono x 3 )
* Audio line-in
* 1 x headphones (3.5mm jack)
* 1 x composite video/audio output ( RCA phono x 3 )

I'd like the following hooked up to it.

* X-box 1 - used as media centre - SCART
* X-box 360 - games - <s>SCART</s> 3 video component + 2 component sound
* Wii - SCART or Composite
* TiVo - SCART (cable tv passes thru tivo) - (has 2 phono plugs by the look of it for sound)
(all currently hooked straight into the TV)

So, I've probably given too much info, but hey better than not enough.

No solid budget as yet, I guess I'd entertain anything up to £500 for the amp (& cables etc). However I'm not an avid audiophile (obviously) so I'm interested in "bang per buck". Whether the MS55Ti's are used is entirely up for discussion.

Any suggestions on what I should spend my money on? If no actual suggestions then good resources to find out more would be hugely appreciated.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » September 8th, 2007, 21:44

Looking at that (while fairly drunk)

I'd suggest hitting richer sounds for an AV box to do all the switching and amplification etc. (the denon AVR-1507 there looks good to me, fuckloads of everything in, component out)

Obviously, most of them only use composite and component in, along with spdif and optical (as scart is kinda huge and not universal)

Speakers wise, if they're good, use them (does look like they eat banana plugs, i think) maybe look at buying a sub to compliment them if needed.

cheeseandham · Post by **cheeseandham** » September 8th, 2007, 22:06

Good start, the speakers are (were) good ones, very nice sound. Don't reckon they need extra bass and I'm not a bass fanatic anyway.

The TiVo has phono plugs, so thats cool. So does the Wii. The Xbox 360 is via component (not SCART) so that has 2x phono too. I guess I could buy an Xbox component cable (damn, I gave a spare one away a year ago!)

The Denon looks fine, I take it that has all the right inputs I'm after? (Maybe I'll wait till you sober up Berk

)

Any recommendations on good quality speaker cable? Obviously I'm not talking "top notch made out of gold cables and rolled between virgins thighs" here, but I'm not adverse to paying a few quid for some semi-decent stuff.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » September 8th, 2007, 22:18

Probably

As far as cable goes, all i can tell you is the stuff I use sounds pretty good,
(note for eion to work it out for me: it's that company that makes that kickass sexy braided cable)

Edit: I think it's IXOS XHS233 I'm using, I think most of their stuff is good. so there

Edit2: Eion knows fuckloads more about this stuff than I, so I'd wait for his input

Fear · Post by **Fear** » September 8th, 2007, 22:42

I think Berk's right with the AV amp thing, seems the best suited.

I've always liked Yamaha AV Amps, certainly their low-med end kit is immense. Cable wise it's always a good idea to spend some dosh. Gale 315 is nice. I use QED Original BiWire myself, as it lays flat.

Post by **deject** » September 8th, 2007, 22:43

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:Looking at that (while fairly drunk)

I generally just assume that you're drunk to some extent.

Also, I've had very good experiences using Harmon/Kardon AV receivers. If you can get a decent one cheap I don't think you can go wrong.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » September 8th, 2007, 22:47

deject wrote:I generally just assume that you're drunk to some extent.

Also, I've had very good experiences using Harmon/Kardon AV receivers. If you can get a decent one cheap I don't think you can go wrong.

Tis a safe assumption, but I figure it's worth mentioning that I am when I'm not totally sure on the subject

Harmon/Kardon? HARDON.

Fear · Post by **Fear** » September 8th, 2007, 22:47

<darth>

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

</darth>

My speakers are no longer current range.

Fail.

The new ones look shit, tho...

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2374

cheeseandham · Post by **cheeseandham** » September 8th, 2007, 22:55

Fear wrote:<darth>NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!</darth>
My speakers are no longer current range.

What compared to my ~20 year old speakers?

buzzmong · Post by **buzzmong** » September 8th, 2007, 23:02

Fear wrote:<darth>

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

</darth>

My speakers are no longer current range.

Fail.

The new ones look shit, tho...

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2374

All worship the 70's wood effect. Fucking brilliant.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » September 8th, 2007, 23:04

buzzmong wrote:All worship the 70's wood effect. Fucking brilliant.

I'd hope it's real 70's wood for how much they cost.

Fear · Post by **Fear** » September 8th, 2007, 23:06

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:
I'd hope it's real 70's wood for how much they cost.

Worth every penny. Sonic orgasms don't come cheap!

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » September 8th, 2007, 23:07

Fear wrote:Worth every penny. Sonic orgasms don't come cheap!

True, but they cost a fuckload less through decent cans and a nice amp

On the subject of speakers, does anyone know if there's any decent companies doing the same as this lot but in the UK?

MrGreen · Post by **MrGreen** » September 8th, 2007, 23:41

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:On the subject of speakers, does anyone know if there's any decent companies doing the same as this lot but in the UK?

Buggeration, I was about to ask exactly that, I think I've been reading Dan's Data too much.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » September 8th, 2007, 23:42

MrGreen wrote:Buggeration, I was about to ask exactly that, I think I've been reading Dan's Data too much.

pwn'd.

How is/did your new build go, btw?

MrGreen · Post by **MrGreen** » September 8th, 2007, 23:46

Dr. kitteny berk wrote: How is/did your new build go, btw?

Working great

, I just need for my HDD to arrive, then I'm full steam ahead.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » September 8th, 2007, 23:48

MrGreen wrote:Working great , I just need for my HDD to arrive, then I'm full steam ahead.

Woo!

MrGreen · Post by **MrGreen** » September 8th, 2007, 23:51

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:
Woo!

Indeed, your stuff will be back in the post on Monday.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » September 8th, 2007, 23:53

Hurrah! no real hurry, be super sure it's all working if you need to be.

cheeseandham · Post by **cheeseandham** » September 8th, 2007, 23:54

Has everyone forgotten about me?
/sobs