Hi Anooj,
Senior guys like me, you said. Hey. I am a novice in this field. I just had a lilttle money I thought I'd spend on a good Home Theater setup that suits both music and movies. My original budget was abt 20k for the receiver and 30k for the speakers. I haven't even heard abt most of the good brands like KEF, Quad, Dali, Tannoy, Wharfedale, Focal, Boston Accoustics, Polk, Monitor Audio etc etc until I have joined this forum. All I knew was Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer. My main passion is Photography and I can claim some knowledge in it. However, I have this habit buying things after I read reviews - both expert and user - about the product and try to personally try it out before I finally buy anything.
I just stumbled onto this website during my quest for info on Home Theaters. It was only on the good advice of people like Venkatcr, Gopi and others that I came to know abt these brands and more importantly that I coud audition most of them at Hyderabad itself. It came as a pleasant surprise for me and I went to a couple of shops and had the pleasure of listening to them. Believe me, initially everything sounded gr8 to me. Even now, I really don't know much abt these things.
I have even had a very unplesant experience at Sound & Vision where I went to have a look at Quad L-ite speakers as suggested by Gopi on this forum. The man who gives demos there mistook me for someone he had had an arguement with a few months ago. He was very cold and almost looked down on me as I was not even worth a demo. I walked out. Of course, I lost nothing and they lost a client.
All I can tell you is that, I have had the opportunity to listen to some of these brands. KEF KHT 3005. Its a truly gr8 set of speakers. But there were only 2 satellite, 1 center and the subwoofer at PRo FX in Babukhan Mall, Hyderabad. In spite of that, I was just fascinated by the sound. It was so clear and melodious. Only thing was that I felt that the subwoofer could give a little more bass. Moreover, they cost 95k which at the time was beyond my budget. I then auditioned the Monitor series and found them giving better sound (???) because of the Tower speakers. Mr. Chandrasekhar of ProFx was very helpful.
Next, I auditoned quite a few Towers including Jamo - I don't remember the model - and Boston Accoustics at Pune while on a visit there. No. I haven't had the chance to audition Definitive.
I finally read some reviews on Whafredale Diamond 9.6. I found info on this site abt the Distributor for Wharfedale in Mumbai, Mr. Kshitij. He was real courteous and directed me to Mr. Sesha Reddy at Vector, Hyderabad. It was yet another surprise for me. I called him up and went to their shop at Nagarjuna Circle where I was given a demo by the very efficient Mr. Srinivas. It didn't take me very long to decide that I should go in for the Wharfedale 9.6 Tower speakers, 9CM center, 9DFS surrounds for the sides and rear and the PC 12+ subwoofer. I got the 7.1 set for 80k after some discount. Getting the Denon AVR 1909 for 28k here was another pleasant surprise.
So, that's my journey. I am eagerly awaiting delivery.
My quest for a good Home Theater setup has finally ended. I really don't know if some of the audiophiles on the forum would approve of my choice but I feel I have found what I need.
Good luck to you. But let me warn you. Its not going to be easy. Try to loosen your purse strings a little. I had to literally split open my wallet, doubling my budget. Hahaha. Happy hunting.
Eswar.
