Help me choose Bookshelf

[Snake]

Current Setup - X-fi Xtrememusic sound card with Beyerdynamic DTX700 headphone.

Usage - 80% Movies + 10% Games + 10% Music.

Now I'm thinking of getting a new setup. Planning to get a Asus Xonar Essence ST/X and add a pair bookshelf first and than center, sub woofer and eventually rare along with AVR.

In this regard after going through hifivision forum I have shortlisted following bookshelf speakers:

1) M-Audio AV40
2) Wharfedale Diamond 9.1
3) Mission Mx1
4) Q Acoustics 2020

So guys which bookshelf will be good for me?
I'm looking for best bang for bucks hyeah:

And do I need amp right away??

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

You need amp for any passive speaker, for active, u don't need. Your main usage is 80% movies so IMO u should go for 5.1 with AV receiver.

 

[Snake]

@ abhi Thanks for your reply.

I know I should go for 5.1 with AVR but due to budget constraints I can't buy the whole setup in one go i.e planning to buy them one by one.

Anyway Asus Xonar onborad amp is not enough to drive bookshelf??
And if I buy M-audio active speakers will they compatible with my future purchases to complete my 5.1 setup??

 

[spirovious]

Now I'm thinking of getting a new setup. Planning to get a Asus Xonar Essence ST/X and add a pair bookshelf first and than center, sub woofer and eventually rare along with AVR.

How can you you connect Center too STX?(unless you have AVR with digital connection)

 

[Snake]

@ spirovious that's a good point but I plan to buy a amp or avr when I will purchase center.

Will Norge 2060 do the job for me till I buy avr??


I noticed you are Asus XonarD2x user. On a side note I would like to ask you which is better card for me Asus Xonar ST or STX for my usage??

 

[spirovious]

@ spirovious

I plan to buy a amp or avr when I will purchase center.

Will Norge 2060 do the job for me till I buy avr??

Well you did not get my point.You need to consider all things 1st,them get them one by one.
Now due to budget if you need only fronts,not bad,you can get stereo amp.But if plan to get you get a centre ch(5.1 in future)then you should think of AVR now.There few other ways to upgrade.

AVR has digital & analoge in.It is not the best for stereo listening,but for HT you need it.Once you get STX,only connection you can do to get 5.1 is digital out of sound card which can be connected to AVR which will decode 5.1 sound.
Now you cant get sound from a centre unless it is connected to amp & amp should get decoded signal.
Now if you get ST(not stx),you can get 7.1 analoge out where you get centre ch output from soundcard.Now you need another amp to drive it.

So I can suggest you 2 things-
1.Get a soundcard & add HTib like philips(with digital in)for 15k around OR better one like Onkyo 3300 for 25k.Connect it digitally

2.Get soundcard & connect a speaker set like logitech Z5500 which can be connenected digitally OR analoge way.

 

[Snake]

hmmm....I don't want to buy Z-5500.
I will use Sennheiser HD555 headphones with Asus Xonar Essence till I complete my setup.

I visited Vector System yesterday and they suggested me to go for Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 bookshelf speakers with 9.cs for center, 9.DFS for rare and Sw-150 subwoofer with Denon AVR 1311. Total setup cost Rs.80,900/-

1) How good is this setup for vfm point of view?
2) Do I need Xonar sound card if I go with this setup?

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

@ abhi Thanks for your reply.

I know I should go for 5.1 with AVR but due to budget constraints I can't buy the whole setup in one go i.e planning to buy them one by one.

Anyway Asus Xonar onborad amp is not enough to drive bookshelf??
And if I buy M-audio active speakers will they compatible with my future purchases to complete my 5.1 setup??

Yes I can understand that any gud HT set-up cannot be built in a day or night. Take ur full time and I won't recommend u to buy MAudio active speakers for the HT Purpose.

Look for the brands like PSB, Mordaunt-Short, MonitorAudio, Wharfedale, Usher, Quad, Definitive Technology etc.. in speakers. Then luk for AV Receiver and there are many many brands in AV Receivers.

Do not make any hurried decision. Take ur time.

 

[Snake]

Yea I'm not in hurry. I will do my thorough research and than take a decision.
Do I really need Xonar card if I go with AVR setup??

 

[Kittu]

A good sound card or an external dac is good source from PC to AVR or PC to amp. There will be good improvement in quality.

 

[naren2512]

Yea I'm not in hurry. I will do my thorough research and than take a decision.
Do I really need Xonar card if I go with AVR setup??

As Kittu mentioned, the sound card will give you better sound for music if you are wanting to play it using your comp.

However you mentioned in first post that your will use this proposed system only 10% of times for Music so if you are not going to be using it much then may be you can drop the idea of getting a sound card ..

One suggestion - Decide on your budge first n then decide on whether you want to go with bookshelves or HTIB, IF bookshelves - whether you want to buy only fronts first n then upgrade gradually etc and then act.. buy AVR only after speakers and make sure the min impedance of speakers comes in the range of speaker imedance supported by your AVR. ( i did the mistake of buying AVR first )


Regards,
Naren

 

[RAAGA]

Paradigm Atom Monitor....litte wonders...unbelievable sound from such small boxes

 

[spirovious]

If your interest is only movie,then can try cheaper 5.1 setup,add AVR & a HD graphiccard-
http://www.hifivision.com/speakers/17691-boston-acoustics-soundware-xs-5-1-16-5k.html

 

[Snake]

I will be using my PC (GC - ATI Radeon 5750) and PS3 to play BD Rips & BD's. So do I still need to buy Asus Xonar Essence card or my exisiting X-fi xtrememusic will be enough??

My budget is around 40-45k. I can stretch it a bit if required.

Now I'm thinking of buying a Denon 1311 / 1611 or similar Yamaha AVR and pair it with either Polk Audio or Boston Acoustic.

 

[spirovious]

You can get entry level HD AVR for 20-25k around,add a speaker system from 37-57k.
now you can enjoy true HT.No need of soundcard in that case.You can get Pioneer AVR for less in grey.Even go for good fronts 1st & add rest later as you planned.

 

[Snake]

You can get entry level HD AVR for 20-25k around,add a speaker system from 37-57k.
now you can enjoy true HT.No need of soundcard in that case.You can get Pioneer AVR for less in grey.Even go for good fronts 1st & add rest later as you planned.

Can you tell me few good entry level HD AVR and speaker system to enjoy movies and games and occasional music.

 

[spirovious]

One of the members got Pioneer 520 for 16.5k in grey.Cheapest 5.1 speakers from mission are MVDS(37k).Q-acoustic pack can come for 60k around.
now you can go step by step.
Even Yamaha 467 is available for good price (around 25k).

 

[Snake]

I would like to update gradually that way I can buy better speakers.

For the time being I will go for AVR + Bookshelf and maybe center.

Getting confused between Denon 1311 and 1611. Any suggestion guys???

 

[Calvin]

Getting confused between Denon 1311 and 1611. Any suggestion guys???

If you want Audessey EQ (auto calibration) and up-conversion of component to HDMI, go for 1611. Or else 1311 should be fine.

 

[Snake]

If you want Audessey EQ (auto calibration) and up-conversion of component to HDMI, go for 1611. Or else 1311 should be fine.

I don't want upscaling. Is Audessey worth spending 6k extra??
But I want to make sure my AVR is future proof.