AVR + 5.1 speakers for Clarity at low volumes

[gman]

Dear all,

Here is the layout of my living room.
The right side of the room is open.
The place shown with TV and a sofa opposite that is the listening area.



My priorities are crystal clear dialogues and surround effects even at low volumes. Very unlikely to play it loud - more of generic volume you would notice in a typical evening family TV viewing.

But i would like to have an immersing feeling - as if you are in a theater.

Usage is 100% movies, mostly hollywood, and mostly (99%) using Airtel HD and occasionally thru DVDs. I am totally new to torrents and hopefully there are legal channels through which we can 'purchase' downloads..and if that is true I will be keen on BD rips as well.

Please suggest the best 1-2 combos for my set up. Budget can be starting at 50K but can stretch upwards depending what best serves my above mentioned needs.

 

[rajudhs]

Audio quality through Airtel HD will not be upto mark, highly compromised low bandwidth compression, though they claim DoblyDigital

DVD/Bluray is the way to go.

Any AVR like, Onkyo/Denon etc support modes for night listening or low volume listening, which are pretty good in my experience and provide good quality at low volumes.

 

[gman]

Audio quality through Airtel HD will not be upto mark, highly compromised low bandwidth compression, though they claim DoblyDigital

DVD/Bluray is the way to go.

Any AVR like, Onkyo/Denon etc support modes for night listening or low volume listening, which are pretty good in my experience and provide good quality at low volumes.

Thanks for your quick response. Can you please suggest the models for AVR and also speakers?

 

[gman]

Also, can experts suggest sources of blue ray movies? I have also asked multiple times on this forum about legality of torrents but no response so far...

 

[rajudhs]

torrents are illegal no other answer

 

[rajudhs]

AVR + Speakers - you need to buy depending on your budget. 50K to even few lakhs

i think below speakers are cheap and best right now
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1

you can check out on above website or in htstore.in

 

[denom]

Getting all details at low volumes, the Amphion Helium 410's are hard to beat. Suggest you go for:

410 Fronts & Rears
520 Centre
Sub can be of your choice

The Amphion Helium 410's go well with Denon/Marantz/Pioneer, as have heard them with all of the above.

Yes, the cost of the above package will be much higher than your intended budget, but rest assured you will be satisfied for a much longer period of time.

Also, pls note that source is always the key, so never scrimp on quality of the content. Bluray & their rips are the way to go.

 

[gman]

torrents are illegal no other answer

Thanks. That rules out the media players for me then

AVR + Speakers - you need to buy depending on your budget. 50K to even few lakhs

i think below speakers are cheap and best right now
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1

you can check out on above website or in htstore.in

Thanks for the recommendation. Which AVR would best suit these?
Can someone suggest as to what difference would a listener feel between (a) XS 5.1, (b) XS 5.1 SE and (c) S 5.1? Not the technical differences but what the difference is in the impact to the listener.

Getting all details at low volumes, the Amphion Helium 410's are hard to beat. Suggest you go for:

410 Fronts & Rears
520 Centre
Sub can be of your choice

.....

Thanks! I sent a request for quote to the vendor in Mumbai...
Btw, the 520 is a FS, it might not work for me as a center, since it has to be be in front of TV which is only at 2 feet above the floor. I have asked for quote for 510 as well..

 

[denom]

Am talking about centre only, pls check the link below:

Helium520C | Amphion

Which dealer have you asked in mumbai???

 

[gman]

Am talking about centre only, pls check the link below:

Helium520C | Amphion

Which dealer have you asked in mumbai???

Thanks. I looked up at 520 earlier (instead of 520C).
KJ Audio was the name of the only dealer in India that showed up on Amphion's website..
Found in another thread that 410 costs around 80K!! Too high for me at this stage and I might give it a pass.

Also, how do Boston XS 5.1 + Pioneer 323K sound? Couldn't notice any difference except 100W vs 125W between 323K and 523K....anything else differentiates them?

 

[gman]

Which would be better suited for my needs? Yamaha V377 + Wharfedale MS100 or Pioneer 323K + Boston XS 5.1?

 

[aakashr]

Boston XS might be better than the wharfs.

 

[gman]

Which AVR best complements Boston XS 5.1?

 

[gman]

How is JBL CINEMA 510/230 5.1 in comparison with Boston XS 5.1? or Wharf MS100?

 

[aakashr]

How is JBL CINEMA 510/230 5.1 in comparison with Boston XS 5.1? or Wharf MS100?

Boston XS 5.1 better than JBL Cinema!!! Please demo

 

[spirovious]

Boston will give clear sound at low volumes better than wharfedale.

 

[gman]

Boston XS 5.1 better than JBL Cinema!!! Please demo

Boston will give clear sound at low volumes better than wharfedale.

Thanks Aakash and Spirovious !! Appreciate your quick responses! Found one place where i can audition Boston, quite far away though. Will keep posted as and when i go there.

In your opinion, is Yamaya 375 the best matching AVR for these? any other suggestions in that price range?

Also, would these pioneer speakers be good for the same requirements of clarity at low volumes? or would they be too overwhelming for my 12x12 area?
http://www.hifimart.com/pioneer-andrew-jones-aj-5235xt-5-1-channel-speaker-package-483
When i listened to these at Reliance Digital, all i could hear was the blast and not the subtle sounds.. not sure if their tracks had those elements or if those were suppressed by the bass. It's time for me to carry a few BR discs along i guess!