Stereo or home theater?
May 8, 2003
Congratulations on a great site. You guys seem to be the
only ones offering any meaningful advice, so I have come to you with my dilemma.
I am trying to put together a good sound system capable of
delivering a decent movie experience too. I am a little confused about whether to go for a
stereo amp or a receiver with 5.1 capabilities. I certainly don't want to compromise on
sound, but I need basic movie capability. Should I go for a stereo amp or an A/V receiver?
Will watching DTS and Dolby formats in stereo be a problem? You should also know that my
room size is pretty compact (14' x 10'). I have a feeling 5.1 sound might be a little too
overwhelming. Unfortunately I can't get anyone to give me a demo where I stay. So should I
just stick to a stereo amp? Will it deliver good enough sound for a movie? My options are
an NAD C320BE (hugely recommended in spite of 40Wpc output) versus Denon AVR-1603 (80W x
5).
Venu
It sounds like you're leaning towards stereo, and
that'll certainly be a huge improvement over TV sound. There are some other considerations
though. The Denon receiver would give you the ability to expand easily from stereo to 5.1
sound, and that could be a factor if you think that surround sound is in your future. The
NAD would be a great choice if you're going to stick to stereo, but only you know what
direction you may go in the future. I would likely opt for the flexibility of a receiver,
which would also give you processing capabilities, even if you only buy a pair of stereo
speakers now. One other option may be an NAD receiver, if that brand appeals to you. That
might give you the best of both worlds.
Lookin' good
May 6, 2003
Maybe this is a silly question, but for myself and many of
my friends, a component's cosmetics are almost as important as the sound quality. Do
manufacturers really pay enough attention to how a component looks? After all, it does
have to fit into a living room and be seen in many cases.
Jennifer Ruben
I agree that boring or unattractive cosmetics can
immediately turn a consumer off to a particular component. Having a component be pleasing
to the eye would seem to be a given, but often isn't. Many times you can special order
various finishes such as gold or pewter, on items such as DVD players and receivers, and
most speakers come in at least a couple of different finishes. Often you'll have to
special order these, though, as many dealers will carry only black, as they figure it will
appeal to most customers. Many manufacturers do pay attention to cosmetics, but you'll
likely have to search out the ones that do and make an extra effort to see just what the
cosmetic options are.
Paradigm versus Mirage
May 3, 2003
I am looking to upgrade my 1986 DCM QED1A front speakers
with a quality pair of bookshelves, and I would like your opinion on the Paradigm Mini
Monitor versus the Mirage OMNI 50. I am looking to put them in a brand-new extension
approximately 17' x 15', powered by a Denon AV-1082 receiver. Even though they will be
part of a home-theater setup, I want quality speakers for music.
I know that these are two different types of speakers -- I
think the Paradigms are more musical, but the 360-degree non-directional sound of the
Mirages is inviting. Thanks for any advice.
John
You'll be happy to know that we have a full review of
the Mirage OMNI 50 coming up very soon. Look for it to be online on June 15th. We'll see
if we can work in a comparison to a Paradigm speaker, too.
Used equipment
May 2, 2003
Do you know which companies make the most reliable
equipment? I'm looking for some deals on the used market, but I don't want to buy junk.
What should I look for?
Elliot Harris
I'd stay away from source players (DVD, CD, et
cetera) because digital technology moves so fast that buying used may just get you
yesterday's news, not the bargain you're looking for. I'd also stay away from used A/V
receivers if you need good home-theater processing, for the same reason -- you can buy a
better receiver with less money today than ever before. Speakers, if they have been taken
care of, and amplifiers especially, can make excellent used purchases. Both technologies
are fairly mature and these components are readily available on the used market. As for
brands, if a company made good new equipment, it should be good when used, too. A good
source of information is older equipment reviews. Have a look at www.audiovideoreviews.com for
a great research tool.
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