First Post - Budget amplifier nedeed- Please help

Hello guys,

This is my first post.First, this is an awesome forum friends. I am a complete noob to elctronics & components but enthisiast as everyone else.

Coming to the question - I have a DVD player with coaxial & optical output and a pair of Tannoy Mx-1m's(75-100 rms). Got this as a gift. I want to connect my speakers to it and get input from DVD player's coaxial to a .......

This is what I do not know. Should I be looking/buying for a digital amplifier/receiever or something else is available.

Alright, then should I buy a 5.1(only needed) or 2, 2.1 since now this speakers only to boot. I shall surely upgrade but not in another year.

Budget could be ~10K to maybe if worthto 15K.

Local brand if something is good, which one or branded ones ?

I stay in Hyderabad and called up Cinebels Jamo and Sound & Vision.

Former quoted 29,900 for Marantz PM7001 and the latter a Yamaha set that outputs 110 RMS costing 17K.

Also, needed wire and Jamo tells me Rs118/m - donno the brand but asked me to come to showroom and chech it.He said three types of wire is available. I remember some good brand costing as low as Rs49/m - 16 gauge 2 years at the same place.

I have not been to these shops but need good guidance if can get a godd product within budget.

Hope I am not confusing. I will buy this soon as get a good siggestion and please remember guys I stay in Hyderabad.

If any local shops I could look into.

Kindly help.Thanks

Anooj:

First of all welcome to the forum.

I have a question. Are you speakers the Tannoy MX1 bookshelf speakers? I was not able to locate any MX-1M. Maybe I am missing something.

When I have this cleared, we can give you some advise.

Cheers.

Hi,
Couple of things that should help you:
1. If you want to connect your dvd player's coax or optical out, then you either need a DAC or a A/V receiver mostly. But, then for the speakers you have and the player you use, if you are intending on Music primarily, I don't think you need to use those coax and optical out. Instead you cam simply take the analogue RCA out and connect it to an amplifier.
2. Matching this speaker DVD player wouldn't need really costly amplifiers. I would say somebody in this forum was selling a NAD C320bee for about 10k and simply you can't beat this for that money. Marantz PM7001 is very good amp, but in my opinion not necessary and NAD should be better than the Yamaha you are talking about.
3. Don't bother about wires for now. Settle on the amp and then check that one.
4. I am also from Hyd and know these shops and can help you out on where to look for the deal. Ping me if you need any help.
5. In case you want to go for a good amount of Movies along with music, and also plan to go for a full fledged 5.1 system, then you can think of a receiver. But then any decent receiver will be above 20k. And by the time you upgrage the specs of the receiver will be outdated.
I would rather say get some good second hand stereo amp for around 10k. Later upgrade the speakers and then the source and then come back to the amp again later.

Hi Guys,

Wow. The response is really fast and helpful.

Yes, venkat, those are bookshelves and not floorstanding(hope that is
what you meant). Hey Gopi, I would prefer to buy a new one dude since some good monetary damages are there anyways.
Let me add some more of what I own;

My PC is connected with onboard spdif + audigy 4 card + logitech z 5500 speakers. Will buy a PS3 soon for my room.

My plan was to simly buy a hi fi system from sony - Rs 40k (6.2ch) but after listening understood, mistakes guillible poeple make with their buying decision, after I listened to Jamo and JBl (wow). Also the Onkyo full fledged system for 40K again, seemed oK. Then for the main room(I live ina 1600ft flat), I thought gradually make a good system out of separates.

Hyderabad is not good place to help make this ,based on what I read from
A/V max, Hi-Fi. I will have to charge over to other cities.

Anyways guys my speaker connections are into a screw upon which there is a lid. The lid when unscrewed shows the gold plated screw with a hole(both - ve & +ve separate)

I would use this system only to watch movies and nothing else. Music I do not know Gopi, how well I can and would want to distinguish between good and bad. Rather contend with movies and games.

So, what do you suggest.

Anooj,
The logitech and creative are rated pretty good. Its all about how much money you want to spend. If you are going the upgrade route, what will the total investment you are ready to put. Hyderabad does have quite a number of shops and models particularly entry level. I can help you out there. If its purely movies, then a A/V receiver would be the way to go. Since, you have already listened to Onkyo and found it just ok, if you can tell us what was good/bad about it, that can help us recommending better.
How, big is your room and how loud you want them to go. Is it more like action movies or the quiet drama/romance kinda movies. For receivers the choice will be from the following brands all ranging about 20 to 30k, in the range of my preference and thats because I prefer a more musical receiver than a full fledged action blaster.

Marantz SR4002 - 25k?
Cambridge 540D v2 - 32k
Denon 1909
Onkyo SR505

Also, one more thing you may have to think about is this. When making a 5.1 system, the timbre matching of these speakers are considered very very important. Thats why most of the cases, people only use the same company speakers for all 5 and mostly even from the same range of speakers. While you got a pair free, please check the cost and availability of the remaining speakers for future upgrade.

Anooj, Gopi is leading you the right way. Couple of points from my side.

At the outset don't worry about coaxial, digital and all that. That comes later.

The Tannoy MX1 does not seem to be current in their website, and you may not get matching speakers. At the same time you can use the MX1s to listen to music in 2 channel. Remember, the Tannoys are passive speakers. They need external amplification. You cannot connect them to the DVD player directly.

Since you are content with movies and games, let us focus on that. You already have a system for games.

Movies - movies can be watched with basically three sound systems - 2.1, 5.1, and 7.1.

If you choose a 2.1 you can use your MX1s. What you need to purchase is a two channel amp and a sub woofer. You will get only sound from your front and of course some low frequency sounds such as explosions, etc., and the dialogues. You need not install a center channel. The front left and right can also render the dialogues. This is an easy setting in the DVD Player.

For your budget, an Indian amplifier will cost you around 7 or 8K, and a sub woofer around the same price. If you look at international brands, you budget will more than triple.

A 5.1 system can be had in two ways. One; to buy an AVR and speakers separately. This will cost you between 50,000 to 100,000 depending upon your choice of AVR and speakers.

Two, to buy what is called a Home Theater in a Box (HTIB). This will be a simple 6 channel amplifier with matching speakers that come along. These speakers will generally be a sub-woofer and satellite system. HTIBs are made by a number of companies including Samsung, LG, Sony, Onkyo, Yamaha, Denon to name a few. Some of these may come with a DVD player, but you can use your existing DVD player also.

This will cost you around 25,000.

Forget about the 7.1 for now, excepting the fact that if you choose a 5.1 with separates, you can upgrade to a 7.1 later.

Now choose what you want.

Cheers

Hi Venkat and Gopi,

Thanks guys, you were really helpful. I should go in for a stereo amplifier 2.0/2.1 and buy a subwoofer if the latter.

If I would want to go for a amp + subwoofer with Indian , which would be that and where in Hyderabad can I buy this. Gopi, I've stiil not decided, so I would not ask for any help from you right now. I would want to check out Infinity at Prasad IMAX , Jamo again and Sound Vision before deciding on one. Maybe budget could be increased to max 18K.

Also, please suggest a sub hat shall complement the outdated Tannoy speakers but thum has to be real tight.

Venkat, I would rather put on hold the 5.1 and be contended with the Logitech, trust me, personally it sucks with its bass booming and spoiling the whole experience. But it rocks for games, forget music(I guess).

I shall read this whole forum, every nook and corner and come back to you in some time for a complete package, until then the 5.1/7.1 part is stalled.

Thanks so much guys.

regards,
Anooj Mangalam

Hi guys,

I just returned after a tour of showrroms in Hyderabad(donno how good). Here are the details:

1. Visited Cinebels jamo. The main guy was not there. i had to talk to him on phone. he suggested methe following:

marantz 4002 - 45000
Sherwood newcastle - <30000

For amp he said marantz PM7001 - 29000

2. Since someone in other thread spoke about the ELAC at E-zone for *k - two floorstanding, I checked its not thre in city centre mall.

He rather showed me another brand Sensei

Front centre and surround costs 19990, Subwoofer - 9990(they give for 8490), No receiver but they were using ONKYO that comes with 40K product recently.

They put in master & Commander and sounded really good, theatre like effect. he said if its ina closed room, then it would be much awesome. ratings were written only in PMPO and I did not ask RMS ones.

3. Visited Sound & Vision - Airport road and met Mr Uday. Since i asked for an Amp he showed mw two within my budget(20000 - yes guys increased to the much and that it)

NAD C315bee - 21990 with taxes , he said if I buy by monday 20000.

Yamaha RX 497 - 189990 with taxes and will get me within 48 hours and comparably as good as NAD and has more features.

Seeing my interest he just played Shakti CD ina 'Music Hall' CD- + Integrated amp and connected to Tisson(hope that the name) speakers and sounded really good.

That combo is 50000(my god) and speakers, apair of big bookshelves costing 18000.

that's it. i want to now your opinion guys. Venkat, Gopi. Guys please. i want something by Monday.

Gopi, the reason I did not go for the second hand 320bee is that I only can use my credit card now. Salary is far away- 15 more days and zero savings. HEhehe.

Awaiting your comments

I am getting confused. What is your budget and what exactly are you looking for. In one of your previous post you seem to have decided on a 2.1 and a max budget of 18K. Now you are looking at AVRs and at equipment worth 20,000 t0 40,000.

Can you clarify?

Cheers

Hi venkat,

Hey dude, dont get angry. Its just the excitement on getting an new equipment, that's all.

I am looking for 2.1 only and max budget is 18K onlybut 2K for cables too. Gopi had suggested looking for wires later , then I thought I got 2K to spare, so.... ahem.

Venkat I heard and read about Norge too. What is your suggestion about getting NORGE 2060 and a subwoofer within 18K. Also, if this is ok, which subwoofer. Someone in this forum was telling they had Norge 2060 for 7-8K. Then I shall have 11 to spare.

I can have these connected and enjoy for sometime.

Within 6 months I shall come back to you guys for a complete new 5.1 system with AVR and highbudget for speakers, maybe coming Jan, Feb.

Also, rather than buying a Norge, if you think I go for the above mentiones yamaha or NAD, which to go? Cables I am buying for sure or what do you suggest.

thx guys.