TimeOut

i'm moving house at the end of may and want to take the opportunity to get back into listening to music instead of always having the TV on, but i want a system that will be integrated with the TV's surround sound system for simplicity and clean lines. to add to the clean lines i will probably be buying a good quality 'virtual surround' sound bar as this avoids loads of wires and speakers everywhere. i realise that it wont be as good for films as a true surround sound system, but will be pretty good for audio.

the ideal scenario for me would be to have a nice TV stand with TV (32" Panasonic viera), Satellite box, sound bar and CD/music player all together without any other wires. i rarely watch DVD's, but there would be room for a blue ray player

my main question is about anyones experiences with CD/HDD players. i hate searching shelves for cd's and would like them all on one device (uncompressed for best quality). there are several devices available like the Brennan JB7 or the Imerge soundserver.

i like the sound of the Brennan as its small and compact with 500gb HDD and can rip in compressed or uncompressed formats. it has a clear display so you can use the remote to find anything within a few seconds.

the Imerge is pretty much the same, but can be used as a server for other rooms as well which is not something that interests me, but you can use a PDA as an advanced remote control which makes seeing the display that much easier.

to get disc info for the Brennan it comes loaded with the most up to date info and you can get an updated CD every 3 months for a few pounds wheras with the Imerge and others like it you need an internet connection to get the disc info just as you do with a pc.

i dont want to spend a huge amount of money on an audio system so if anyone knows of other devices like this or have experience with the 2 mentioned i would greatly appreciate it. also recommendations for sound bars would be helpful. i'm looking towards Yamaha at the moment.

thanks in advance

Graham

IMO, I wouldn't mind the wires at all because the wireless technology relating to hi-fidelity is still in an embryonic stage. I see it as a trade-off - the purer the wire (e.g. pure silver), the less you lose in transmission. But if you are hung up about the wires, there are indeed a couple of options.

My suggestions:

1. When you get the TV, please make sure the resolution is 1080p (and not 1080i or anything lower), otherwise you won't be able to enjoy blu-rays or hi-definition TVs, should that be available in the UK. I would also go for LED, rather than LCD or plasma (and price is coming down fast), but not 3-D. BTW, I love blu-rays and HDMIs - they make the audio-visual system so much neater and better.

2. If you don't watch DVDs, then there is perhaps no point in installing a full home theatre (5 speakers + sub-woofer). But if you want flexibility in the future, you should get a decent amplifier (e.g. Onkyo or Denon) and a set of wireless speakers. For the latter, I can suggest KEF (since it is a UK brand, but most products are made in China nowadays - as opposed to Kent, Maidstone, where the brand originates). Google it and visit the brand's web-site and you will know what I am talking about. I haven't checked out Bowers & Wilkinson (B & W, another UK brand) but I suppose they should have something similar, and B & W is a better-known brand.

Hope this helps.

Sam

Simply part with your cheapest watch and you can get a state-of-the-art sound system ...unless you wish to target at a pair of KEF Reference 207 or B&W Nautilus 801, and even then, they cost lest than a Datograph, 5396 or 5130

Best

Sam  

I have tried and didn't like the surround system, so my solution is only for 2 channel.  When well made, 2 channel does very 3-D sound - you might also need the room correction system.  Mine is based on the software and silent PC.

Anyway, Squeezebox and Professional DAC combo should be very reasonably priced.  Power amp can be had relatively cheaply - Class D by Channel Island, for example.  I have passive volume control.  With digital, pre-amp only adds noise.

My 2 yen after 10+ years of experience and many thousand dollars wasted...

Ken

.. I don't own an iPod or even iTunes in my PC....  What is it you want to accomplish again?

Ken

1. I am not much expert on it, but I, too, heard good things about Yamaha's product on it.  I agree.

2. I, too, have 300GB worth of music in my HDDs (main and back-up), which is about 1000 CDs or more.  It is the product of my long time accumulation and none of them are compressed quality wise.  I use FLAC and there is no sacrifice on quality, but the disk space is saved.  And Squeezebox is really easy to use.  With remote, as well as from your browser.

Ken

Nicely integrates with my satellite service (DirecTV). Sound on the Sony HT-CT150 is excellent for the price.

...easy to please if total package works well enough to my level of expectation (value vs. quality).

My satellite provider provides me with very decent interconnected DVR with plenty of disk space..

There's wireless solutions that sound good that you can look into, especially for subwoofers.  If the room is not big, then the sound bar might work fine.  Have you demo'd the Yamaha, Brennan, or Imerge at your place yet?

-MW

I've been looking to operate subwoofer and speakers remotely from my receiver.

Can't beat it for the price and comes highly touted by those more audio intense than myself..

audioengineusa.com

I have the Outlaw Audio version of this, it works great and you change the configuration to hook up a sub or send sound from your computer to receiver.

-MW

Hi Graham,

I read your post n entire thread. I hope u dont mind an input from a female

I totally agree with u over space area n budget n clean lines. More than a year ago my husband n I changed TV  n to create clutter free look, we decided on the Yamaha sound bar n do without the existing complete surround system we had for 12 years.

What we have is: - Yamaha YSP-4000 Digital Sound Projector

                          - Yamaha YST-FSW150 Subwoofer System

Since your TV is 32' probably u can consider the shorter model. Ours is longer to match our TV size

We both love the Yamaha for all the reasons u mentioned. The subwoofer is so compact! I like it. Our TV is wall mounted so the sound bar is wall mounted, too.  According to the manual, there are few ways of installation: - metal wall bracket

                                                                                                                      - put on top of your TV

                                                                                                                      - put under your TV if u are using a rack

Like u said, it is pretty good audio. It has built-in 2 woofers n 40 full range small speakers. It creates true-to-life 5.1-channel surround sound that makes u feel there are actual speakers around the room even in a small listening area. The features it has:

- Digital Sound Projector; control n steer multiple channels of sound

- My Surround; allow enjoyment in small listening area

- Cinema DSP; allow movie experience with the original dramatic impact

- HDMI interface

- Versatile Remote Control; can preset your DVD player, VCR, cable TV tuner, digital satellite tuner

- Auto Setup Intellibeam; auto sound beam n acoustic optimization in accurate n adjusted way to match listening environment

- FM Tuner; for 40stations, auto preset tuning , Radio Data System capability (applicable to Europe)

What I like about the subwoofer is it can be placed vertically or horizontally.

Hope u have a clearer idea about this sound bar

 

Cheers,Linda

and I'm not 100% sure I understand what you want. Having said that have you looked at the Sonos system?

www.sonos.com

Does this meet your needs? It feeds off the music stored on your computer, in my case my Mac with Itunes. It does have one other
very cool feature which is that it now supports Spotify, although you have to be a premier memeber (about a tenner a month). It is also
very expandable and totally wireless.

No message body

Graham, I have the exact sentiment about having all the cds in one device without compromising the quality of the sound. From what u have explained, u have quite clear idea of the options. I dont have experience in those 2 products u mentioned but I do have one similar product with the same purpose. U most probably know it since it is a product from UK the name is Meridian Sooloos system. It is heavenly perfect for me. U can get better infos n details from its website.

It is a touch-screen tv with a cd slot  to rip  songs. Another storage  unit is needed to keep all the songs. Plus a cd player . Its added value to me other than whole arrays of what it has is the ability  to let me use my iphone or ipad as the remote control. I only need to dowload the application (free) into my iphone n ipad Of course it has a remote control, too but it is very practical to use iphone or ipad as I will be able to see the screen of  the Sooloos as it is without having to  see the screen face to face. The Sooloos integrated remote control is able to control TV, CD player , radio, cable, satellite, VCR from what I know, except for me, it is only used for the Sooloos unit alone.

Periodically, the UK side will send message to my unit for any updates in software or others and  I could just touch it on the screen n follow easy instruction to download. The only thing is Sooloos will need internet connection for those updates connection n cd infos. So it really depends on your peferences.

I hope this info gives u another insight of other brand with similar functions Happy hunting , Graham!

Cheers,Linda

 

... tells me i don't hear well when she talks to me, so i don't think i can give you any advice my friend.



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