Home Theatre for small rooms

[Chris Brown]

I'm currently at looking at upgrading my very dodgy surround setup to
something a little more up to date.

The problem i'm having is that the area this is to be used in is a
3.8x3.2m lounge, in a smallish villa/townhouse complex. As such, i
really don't need 90W/channel of power, however i still want the
features that only amps of this level have. (Being, 4+ digital inputs,
Svideo switching, and reasonable quality)

I'm also concerned how amps of this power level will perform at lower
levels. (Not stupidly low, but i don't want the neighbours to know
what i'm watching - I'm one of these people that uses the surround amp
for all tv watching, not just DVD's)

At the moment i'm stuck on the Denon AVR-1804 - However, i'm not really
sure whether this is overdoing it, and whether $3k is sufficent for that
and a full set of speakers that will do it justice. (Does anyone have
any comparable options - Keeping in mind that output power is not of
much concern?)

How many digital inputs is enough? So far i count Digital (FTA)TV, Digital
Foxtel, DVD, and a games console as things that are pushing for digital
connections.

Comments or suggestions from the experts?

Chris.

[Steve Batt]

"Chris Brown" <chrisb@iinet.net.au.ug> wrote in message
news:cgvsd1-h8g.ln1@remus.ii.net...
>
> I'm currently at looking at upgrading my very dodgy surround setup to
> something a little more up to date.
>
> The problem i'm having is that the area this is to be used in is a
> 3.8x3.2m lounge, in a smallish villa/townhouse complex. As such, i
> really don't need 90W/channel of power, however i still want the
> features that only amps of this level have. (Being, 4+ digital inputs,
> Svideo switching, and reasonable quality)
>
> I'm also concerned how amps of this power level will perform at lower
> levels. (Not stupidly low, but i don't want the neighbours to know
> what i'm watching - I'm one of these people that uses the surround amp
> for all tv watching, not just DVD's)
>
> At the moment i'm stuck on the Denon AVR-1804 - However, i'm not really
> sure whether this is overdoing it, and whether $3k is sufficent for that
> and a full set of speakers that will do it justice. (Does anyone have
> any comparable options - Keeping in mind that output power is not of
> much concern?)
>
> How many digital inputs is enough? So far i count Digital (FTA)TV,
**** If you have foxtel you wont need fta tv will you ?

Steve

Digital
> Foxtel, DVD, and a games console as things that are pushing for digital
> connections.
>
> Comments or suggestions from the experts?
>
> Chris.
>

[BenOne©]

Chris Brown wrote:
> I'm currently at looking at upgrading my very dodgy surround setup to
> something a little more up to date.
>
> The problem i'm having is that the area this is to be used in is a
> 3.8x3.2m lounge, in a smallish villa/townhouse complex. As such, i
> really don't need 90W/channel of power, however i still want the
> features that only amps of this level have. (Being, 4+ digital inputs,
> Svideo switching, and reasonable quality)
>
> I'm also concerned how amps of this power level will perform at lower
> levels. (Not stupidly low, but i don't want the neighbours to know
> what i'm watching - I'm one of these people that uses the surround amp
> for all tv watching, not just DVD's)

I do the same, although I have a room four times the size of yours.

> At the moment i'm stuck on the Denon AVR-1804 - However, i'm not really
> sure whether this is overdoing it, and whether $3k is sufficent for that
> and a full set of speakers that will do it justice. (Does anyone have
> any comparable options - Keeping in mind that output power is not of
> much concern?)
>
My amp is rated at 55w RMS per channel and I have the Whatmough Encore speaker
system which is a 250w sub and 5 100w mini bookshelf speakers.
Speakers and amp (Harmon kardon 4500) cost me nearly $4k. The Encore are the top
of the range, but the lower model can be had for $1500 I think. They would go
well with a Denon 1804.

I can send you a picture of the room so you can see what the speakers look like
in terms of size.

--
--
Ben Thomas
Melbourne, Australia

[David Sauer]

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 20:57:53 GMT, "Steve Batt"
<batt1steven@bloodyhotmail.com> wrote:

>> How many digital inputs is enough? So far i count Digital (FTA)TV,
>**** If you have foxtel you wont need fta tv will you ?

Digital FTA TV and the FTA signal on Foxtel are two different things.
One is great quility, the other can be quite shit.

Foxtel AFAIK doesn't yet have digital audio output or widescreen
options.

[Peter Dewildt]

He was talking Digital Foxtel not Analogue.

FTA on Foxtel Digital should be exactly the same as broadcast (unless they
compress it further, which I don't think they are allowed to do).

However, what you won't get on Foxtel Digital is High Definition FTA only
Standard Definition.

--
Peter
(remove "xxx" from email address to contact)

<David Sauer> wrote in message
news:416q005hsan0u9r7ol4dinkr9mgee52pur@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 20:57:53 GMT, "Steve Batt"
> <batt1steven@bloodyhotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> How many digital inputs is enough? So far i count Digital (FTA)TV,
> >**** If you have foxtel you wont need fta tv will you ?
>
> Digital FTA TV and the FTA signal on Foxtel are two different things.
> One is great quility, the other can be quite shit.
>
> Foxtel AFAIK doesn't yet have digital audio output or widescreen
> options.

[Glenn C]

Chris

I have two systems at home one in a dedicated H\T and the other in my family
room.
The configuration of the one in my family room would suite your need
perfectly.
Denon 1803
Denon DVD
Klipsch ST2
Klipsch Center
Klipsch Bi-Pol rears
and Klipsch SW12 sub

I did this con for for $3800 but if you shop around and haggle a little i am
sure you could do well.

I auditioned the Whatmough Encore and found them a little tinny but that is
only my opinion
"Chris Brown" <chrisb@iinet.net.au.ug> wrote in message
news:cgvsd1-h8g.ln1@remus.ii.net...
>
> I'm currently at looking at upgrading my very dodgy surround setup to
> something a little more up to date.
>
> The problem i'm having is that the area this is to be used in is a
> 3.8x3.2m lounge, in a smallish villa/townhouse complex. As such, i
> really don't need 90W/channel of power, however i still want the
> features that only amps of this level have. (Being, 4+ digital inputs,
> Svideo switching, and reasonable quality)
>
> I'm also concerned how amps of this power level will perform at lower
> levels. (Not stupidly low, but i don't want the neighbours to know
> what i'm watching - I'm one of these people that uses the surround amp
> for all tv watching, not just DVD's)
>
> At the moment i'm stuck on the Denon AVR-1804 - However, i'm not really
> sure whether this is overdoing it, and whether $3k is sufficent for that
> and a full set of speakers that will do it justice. (Does anyone have
> any comparable options - Keeping in mind that output power is not of
> much concern?)
>
> How many digital inputs is enough? So far i count Digital (FTA)TV, Digital
> Foxtel, DVD, and a games console as things that are pushing for digital
> connections.
>
> Comments or suggestions from the experts?
>
> Chris.
>

[BenOne©]

Glenn C wrote:
> Chris
>
> I have two systems at home one in a dedicated H\T and the other in my family
> room.
> The configuration of the one in my family room would suite your need
> perfectly.
> Denon 1803
> Denon DVD
> Klipsch ST2
> Klipsch Center
> Klipsch Bi-Pol rears
> and Klipsch SW12 sub
>
> I did this con for for $3800 but if you shop around and haggle a little i am
> sure you could do well.
>
> I auditioned the Whatmough Encore and found them a little tinny but that is
> only my opinion

What amp was driving the Encore's?

I found the H/K amps to be quite pleasant with Whatmough speakers, but Marantz
were definitely too harsh.

I didn't audition any other brands, being a rather impulsive person, so I'm sure
there are other options for a similar price.



--
--
Ben Thomas
Melbourne, Australia

[Glenn C]

Sorry to say dude but it was a HK


"BenOne©" <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
news:7t9nub.1vo.ln@192.168.11.2...
> Glenn C wrote:
> > Chris
> >
> > I have two systems at home one in a dedicated H\T and the other in my
family
> > room.
> > The configuration of the one in my family room would suite your need
> > perfectly.
> > Denon 1803
> > Denon DVD
> > Klipsch ST2
> > Klipsch Center
> > Klipsch Bi-Pol rears
> > and Klipsch SW12 sub
> >
> > I did this con for for $3800 but if you shop around and haggle a little
i am
> > sure you could do well.
> >
> > I auditioned the Whatmough Encore and found them a little tinny but that
is
> > only my opinion
>
> What amp was driving the Encore's?
>
> I found the H/K amps to be quite pleasant with Whatmough speakers, but
Marantz
> were definitely too harsh.
>
> I didn't audition any other brands, being a rather impulsive person, so
I'm sure
> there are other options for a similar price.
>
>
>
> --
> --
> Ben Thomas
> Melbourne, Australia
>

[BenOne©]

Glenn C wrote:
> Sorry to say dude but it was a HK


No need to be sorry.

So how much was the Klipsch setup?


--
--
Ben Thomas
Melbourne, Australia

[Glenn C]

It was around the $2400 for the Speakers including Sub
"BenOne©" <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
news:5ktnub.24t.ln@192.168.11.2...
> Glenn C wrote:
> > Sorry to say dude but it was a HK
>
>
> No need to be sorry.
>
> So how much was the Klipsch setup?
>
>
> --
> --
> Ben Thomas
> Melbourne, Australia
>

[Glenn C]

This was a great setup for small to medium size rooms.
I needed the second setup as i did not want to fire up my main system each
time i wanted to watch things like Sopranos on DVD or to play Xbox
"BenOne©" <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
news:5ktnub.24t.ln@192.168.11.2...
> Glenn C wrote:
> > Sorry to say dude but it was a HK
>
>
> No need to be sorry.
>
> So how much was the Klipsch setup?
>
>
> --
> --
> Ben Thomas
> Melbourne, Australia
>