Which is better?

[cheesy999]

as the title says, which one of these is better?

This one
http://www.bestbuy.co.uk/product/10...3_1321822519_7776c6730f9370196382bf25bb1180e0

Or this one
http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/onkyo/hts5405/onky-hts5405

EDIT:I'm mainly thinking about the speakers, i know most of the differences in the amps

 

[Deleted member 24505]

The speakers look the same in both setups tbh, go for the one with the best amp.

 

[cheesy999]

The speakers look the same in both setups tbh, go for the one with the best amp.

so that would be the 509?

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Yes, has better speaker connectors, don't like spring clips.

I'm using similar sized sony 140w speakers, and my system rocks

 

[Dent1]

as the title says, which one of these is better?

This one
http://www.bestbuy.co.uk/product/10...3_1321822519_7776c6730f9370196382bf25bb1180e0

Or this one
http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/onkyo/hts5405/onky-hts5405

EDIT:I'm mainly thinking about the speakers, i know most of the differences in the amps

The amp is good, but the speakers are AWFUL in comparsion to even budget bookshelf speakers.

Word of advice from a someone thats been there - Buy the amp and the speakers seperately.

Edit:

Get two pairs of these:

YAMAHA NSBP200PB - £45

or

WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 9.0 - £39.99

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-3432-yamaha-nsbp200pb-speakers-pair.aspx
http://www.richersounds.com/product/bookshelf-speakers/wharfedale/diamond-9.0/whar-9.0-blk


They are one of the better speakers you'll find under £50. They are not great but he quality would be much better than the HTIB speakers you linked. You can find your own center speaker + sub!

 

[cheesy999]

Yes, has better speaker connectors, don't like spring clips.

I'm using similar sized sony 140w speakers, and my system rocks

which Sony's?

The amp is good, but the speakers are AWFUL in comparsion to even budget bookshelf speakers.

Word of advise from a someone thats been there - Buy the amp and the speakers seperately.

I'm on a low budget so at the moment buying a set seems to be a efficient options

besides that amp is worth £300 by itself so I can always upgrade the speakers when I have a larger budget , I've also heard some onkyo speakers and they at Least sound much better then my TVs speakers.

if you can suggest a better set of separates I will consider them

edit:just to clarify this Is already at the limits of what I could afford, so if I spend more on speakers I will have to get a lower end amp to compensate

 

[Dent1]

I've also heard some onkyo speakers and they at Least sound much better then my TVs speakers.

if you can suggest a better set of separates I will consider them

Onkyo generally make good bookshelf speakers, but HTIB is usually an exception where the quality is often neglected across the board with most leading manufacturers. In both sound quality and build quality.


It doesn't have to be expensive. I let you into a secret, sometimes finding your own parts is cheaper than HTIB!

Get the ONKYO TXSR309, I have the exact amp - It's one of the cheapest amp you'll find with the HD formats (DTS Masters HD and Dolby Digital True HD Support). It's Only £179.

ONKYO TXSR309 £179
Pair of Yamaha NSBP200PB x2 (front + rears) £90
YAMAHA NS-C125 Center speaker £51

That alone will shit on any HTIB. Cheaper too. Only £320.

The subwoofer you can add later as bookshelf speakers tend to have quite good low frequency response already. Check Ebay you'll find a used subwoofer for £40-60 easily.


http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/onkyo/txsr309/onky-txsr309-blk
http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-3432-yamaha-nsbp200pb-speakers-pair.aspx
http://www.overstock.com/Electronic...annel-Speaker/5108553/product.html?cid=133635


Edit:

Found subwoofers:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-SW...omeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item1c206c8eb9

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400257794...id=m570.l2736&_nkw=400257794590&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-ac...omeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item336d5a95b1

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAMSUNG-P...omeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item3cbe17a549

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I'm using a full set of these,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-Rear-Speaker-SS-TS92-DAV-HDX285-DAV-HDX589W-/260897897458?pt=Home_Theater_in_a_Box&hash=item3cbeb9fbf2#ht_809wt_1139

I was using a set of active studio monitors, and believe me I am very particular about my sound setup, and these little speakers are fine, with the sub. You don't need whacking great speakers no more, I used to have but you can get pretty good sound quality form small ones and a sub, look at the bose acoustimass setups for instance.

Buy one of the ones you originally linked imo, but it is up to you.

Onkyo generally make good bookshelf speakers, but HTIB is usually an exception where the quality is often neglected across the board with most leading manufacturers. In both sound quality and build quality.


It doesn't have to be expensive. I let you into a secret, sometimes finding your own parts is cheaper than HTIB!

Get the ONKYO TXSR309, I have the exact amp - It's one of the cheapest amp you'll find with the HD formats (DTS Masters HD and Dolby Digital True HD Support). It's Only £179.

ONKYO TXSR309 £179
Pair of Yamaha NSBP200PB x2 (front + rears) £90
YAMAHA NS-C125 Center speaker £51

That alone will shit on any HTIB. Cheaper too. Only £320.

The subwoofer you can add later as bookshelf speakers tend to have quite good low frequency response already. Check Ebay you'll find a used subwoofer for £40 easily.


http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/onkyo/txsr309/onky-txsr309-blk
http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-3432-yama...kers-pair.aspx
http://www.overstock.com/Electronic...annel-Speaker/5108553/product.html?cid=133635

Don't forget to factor in speaker brackets into that, specially for the rear ones at least.

i don't use my active studio monitors no more as the quality from my current setup sounds fine, and with the sub it does not matter about the satellites ability to handle bass.

Its up to you Cheesy,

 

[BumbleBee]

the Onkyo TX-SR309 doesn't have a lot of driving power and no Audyssey.

 

[Dent1]

the Onkyo TX-SR309 doesn't have a lot of driving power and no Audyssey.

Not really a big deal. We are talking low end to low-mid range components here. The type of budget we are working the Onkyo TX-SR309 is the best you'll get under £200.

Those HTIB speakers just make me cringe, it's a justified compromise lol

 

[BumbleBee]

the lesser receiver and better speaker option is a poor choice if he wants to upgrade because not only will he have to buy new speakers but a receiver as well.

buy the Onkyo TX-NR509 receiver/speaker bundle. you will still get something better than Logitech and it will give you a chance to upgrade.

I can't imagine living without Audyssey.

Audyssey calibration guide: http://forum.blu-ray.com/audio-theo...ssey-auto-calibration-other-technologies.html

 

[Dent1]

To be fair, the TX-SR309 does have some configurations needed for manual calibration.

I'd say if the OP has his heart on the Onkyo TX-NR509, get it and only two bookshelf speakers.

Then buy the other two bookshelf speakers + center after.

 

[cheesy999]

To be fair, the TX-SR309 does have some configurations needed for manual calibration.

I'd say if the OP has his heart on the Onkyo TX-NR509, get it and only two bookshelf speakers.

Then buy the other two bookshelf speakers + center after.

do the sourounds have to be the same speakers as the fronts

 

[BumbleBee]

Audyssey is more than that and if he wants to spend $50 on a SPL meter with no way of confirming his readings be my guest.

how good could a set of $70 Yamaha bookshelves really be..

 

[BumbleBee]

do the sourounds have to be the same speakers as the fronts

no

 

[cheesy999]

no

so I could use some speakers I already have for the front speakers in order to increase quality and keep the rest of the onkyo's for the sorround effect

 

[Neuromancer]

Checkout clubonkyo.com you can buy refurbed amps directly from them for supercheap and earn points towards future upgrades, they might have a european version of the site as well. Worth looking into

The 509 looks like a good receiver DLNA and HDMI connections (although the HDMI portion can be tricky, most do not support 1.4 or bitstream..), and I love my cheap onkyo receiver, BUT the speakers are total crap, I paired mine up with Polk monitor 40s. Would like to get 2 more for 4 channel surround action Or even better a nice pair of towers and use the monitor40s as rears.

so I could use some speakers I already have for the front speakers in order to increase quality and keep the rest of the onkyo's for the sorround effect

yes but match impedance

 

[twicksisted]

The Onkyo 509 is a fantastic amp and it features audessy speaker calibration with a mic.
Those speakers are going to be a bit crap though specially with that nice amp... I would get the amp seperate and go for a set of the Boston Soundware XS speakers, they have won a lot of awards and sound fantastic!

http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/boston-/soundware-xs/bost-acous-sw-xs-blk

if thats too expensive then get the Onkyo 309 amp which is also great but much cheaper and get those bostons

I wanted to buy the 509 & bostons but found someone local selling the 309 with a set of Tannoy 5.1's 2nd hand for £180 so I got that... sounds fantastic in my cinema room specially for only £180!!

(although the HDMI portion can be tricky, most do not support 1.4 or bitstream

Both the 309 & 509 support hdmi 1.4 aswell as pass through 3D signals

 

[BumbleBee]

rear channels is another subject all together: http://forum.blu-ray.com/speakers/6...iating-monopole-surround-speakers-part-i.html

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Here's a nice cheap setup, in lincoln(uk) Comes with a half descent amp too.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/bose-acoustimass-16-series-ii-61-with-matching-amp/91793210

Or this-
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/yamaha-dsp-ax761-av-amplifier-tannoy-sub-5-phillips-speakers/88952723

both come with good amps, and they will deliver too usually.

 

[twilyth]

Here's a nice cheap setup, in lincoln(uk) Comes with a half descent amp too.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/bose-acoustimass-16-series-ii-61-with-matching-amp/91793210

Or this-
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/yamaha-dsp-ax761-av-amplifier-tannoy-sub-5-phillips-speakers/88952723

both come with good amps, and they will deliver too usually.

I have 2 yamaha receivers and both are tight. Once is a VX765. I have 2 NHT 3-ways and a 3-way center channel that have very good freq resp and are extremely crisp and I hear everything with the yamaha receiver. Also, their DSP programs are fantastic for simulating 7.1 sound from a stereo source.

I'd stay away from the bose system. Everyone I talk to says they are basically cruising on their 40 year old reputation.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Imo yamaha receivers are up there with the best of them. Personally I really like yamaha receivers.

 

[BumbleBee]

YPAO will equalize LFE but once you get a receiver with Audyssey MultEQ or above there is no contest. I think Yamaha is cheap and doesn't license a lot of technologies so they make their own that do the same but not quite..

 

[twilyth]

Try to remember this is a budget build that will have decent speakers but is not going to be at the level of requiring lab accurate calibration.

I do my calibration so it sounds the way I like it, not the way someone tells me it's supposed to sound. If you can trust your own ears, you can do the process manually. There were still audiophiles around before these calibration tools came out.

 

[BumbleBee]

if you want the most out of your british space buck do not buy the Yamaha.. the Onkyo is great.