Help an audio-noob out, please?!

[ryanananaykroyd]

I've been scouring the internet for hours for a setup to suit my needs and I'm still as clueless as when I started. My query is probably very simple for you guys, but I don't really know specifically what I'm looking for.

I'd like a surround sound system (also open to the idea of a soundbar as my room is small, but read very mixed reviews on them) which would be compatible with my Xbox One and ideally also able to play music from my laptop via bluetooth/any wireless method.

I had a crappy Logitech 5.1 setup last year which sounded good at first, but the sound hollowed out after a few months and eventually the speakers just broke one by one so I'm happy to pay more for higher quality this time round. Maybe up to £300?

I'm also fairly clueless as to what sort of audio input cables HDMI/optical I'd need?

Any help would be appreciated! Dankje.

 

[nsafreak]

Do you have any websites where you might be purchasing this equipment from? Normally I'd recommend the Energy Take 5 speakers along with a Denon receiver but I'm not sure if that's within your budget where you'll be purchasing your equipment from.

 

[sdifox]

define small room and some examples of websites in UK. Most people here are in North America. The Pioneer speaker designed by Andrew Jones of TAD fame are good budget speakers

http://www.analogplanet.com/content...signs-superb-sounding-budget-speakers-pioneer

 

[ryanananaykroyd]

The room is a square and just over the length of a single bed in either direction... verrry small. So for that reason a soundbar appeals but thinking long term when I move out to my own place a 5.1 system might be better. I think the Pioneer ones are probably a bit big to fit in my room (it really is pretty much a box-room).

I had http://www.richersounds.com/ recommended to me as a good site on another forum and coincidentally it's in my city, so would be pretty ideal!

Thanks for the advice so far!

 

[nsafreak]

With that small of a room I'm not so sure that 5.1 is a good idea, you won't get good separation of channel sources and it could easily become a muddled sounding mess. I would recommend going with a 2.1 or 2.0 system (not even sure about a subwoofer in a room that small) and then expand it later when you have a larger room available. Based on what's available at the site you gave I would recommend looking into a pair of Tannoy Mercury V1 speakers and pair them with an Onkyo TXN414 receiver. That way when you move into a larger space you can move the Tannoy speakers to the rear and get a new set of fronts with a subwoofer and a center.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

With that small of a room I'm not so sure that 5.1 is a good idea, you won't get good separation of channel sources and it could easily become a muddled sounding mess. I would recommend going with a 2.1 or 2.0 system (not even sure about a subwoofer in a room that small) and then expand it later when you have a larger room available. Based on what's available at the site you gave I would recommend looking into a pair of Tannoy Mercury V1 speakers and pair them with an Onkyo TXN414 receiver. That way when you move into a larger space you can move the Tannoy speakers to the rear and get a new set of fronts with a subwoofer and a center.

:thumbsup: I agree, this will be a good system within your budget, and you can re-use the components later when you move. 5.1 in that small of a room would be a little crazy.

 

[ryanananaykroyd]

Okay, I agree with what you guys are saying with the 'muddled sounding mess' I'd be orchestrating! This setup is sounding ideal with it being up-gradable in the future and good reviews online. So just before I commit to buying it can you clarify that this would allow me to stream music from my laptop as well as acting as my TV/Xbox One speakers? And would I need to buy anymore cables to get this setup?

I'm embarrassed with my ignorance on the matter as I'm usually good with technology... but I just cannot seem to get my head around audio. I have literally 0 experience of amplifiers so the whole thing is alien to me >.<

Thanks so much for the help again.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Okay, I agree with what you guys are saying with the 'muddled sounding mess' I'd be orchestrating! This setup is sounding ideal with it being up-gradable in the future and good reviews online. So just before I commit to buying it can you clarify that this would allow me to stream music from my laptop as well as acting as my TV/Xbox One speakers? And would I need to buy anymore cables to get this setup?

I'm embarrassed with my ignorance on the matter as I'm usually good with technology... but I just cannot seem to get my head around audio. I have literally 0 experience of amplifiers so the whole thing is alien to me >.<

Thanks so much for the help again.

It will hook up with no problems to your TV and Xbox. Exactly which cables you need, will depend on your exact TV. If it has HDMI, you'll need 1 HDMI cable from your Xbox to the receiver, and 1 HDMI cable from the receiver to the TV.

As far as music from your laptop.... this receiver has an ethernet port that will allow it to plug into your home network and stream music from Pandora and other sources. If your laptop is setup as a DLNA server, then it can stream from it as well. But really IMO the easiest solution is to buy a cable like this:

In the US these can be found for under $5. This cable will allow you to plug in any device with a headphone jack.

(All of this discussion is assuming that there's not huge differences between the UK and US models of the receiver.)

Oh and also you will need some speaker wire. 18 gauge or 16 gauge is good. This will run from the receiver to each speaker.

 

[biostud]

Go for 2.0 or 2.1 I've had 5.1, but switched to higher quality equipment and 2.1 for a small room. You'll get much better sound from a 2.0 or 2.1 system for the same price as a 5.1 system.

 

[ryanananaykroyd]

Okay, I think I'm set then. Thanks so much again guys!

You're all a credit to your e-community! Cheers!