BIG Blu-Ray Audio drive from Universal Music in 2013

[fredblue]

Strangely enough Adam, I was thinking tonight, how I wish I had high end equipment, ( or better equipment ) to listen to these new discs ( or any others for that matter ! )
Unfortunately, my finances wouldn't cover any kind of an upgrade. I really am spending so much on discs ( and other things )
I need to try to save money, which for everyone on lower incomes like myself, is difficult. I can imagine how much better music would sound with an upgrade....I just need to win the lottery, or some amount of money !

PS Haven't tried the PLII on any of the discs I've received today....will try tomorrow.

you don't need "high end"! I haven't got "high end", I've got Low-end but carefully chosen to get 'good sound for your pound!' low-end! (now.. That's enough about my end!).

it's just I came to my own conclusion years ago through trial and error (this is "BTi.." BTW.! not B.T.E..! no! not Better Than Ezra.. but "Before The Internet"..!!) I played around with all sorts of bits of hi-fi I got in 2nd hand shops (you'd now call it eBay!) or hand me downs from older family members (now I'm an older member!) .. and I hit on a formula I liked, not rocket science, just warm-sounding yet fairly detailed speakers, nice and easy to listen to and a subtle but effective decent sized sub made from a proper non-plastic cabinet (!!) and so tiny speakers plus a bombastic plastic not-so-fantastic subwoofer just wouldn't cut it for me anymore!

(just as a bit of backgrd., my first AVR was a Sony satellite + receiver all-in-one thing and compared to my Rotel Amp and Mission speakers I had for stereo at the time, it was just terrible! I knew I had to save up and up the ante! not easy when you're 18 and not long left college! eek!)..

..and what do you know once I started reading around the subject and seeing what people who actually knew what they were talking about, it turned out a fair few people with more knowledge than myself had already thought of it all and come to some similar but mostly a lot better-informed conclusions than my own childish experiments! funny that! (and I thought I was so clever and thought of it first! that's youth for you eh!).

anyhoo.. I digress (uh oh..!) I'll stop cluttering up this thread now!
PM me and we can talk about how to try and make the most of your lovely Oppo BDP and all your lovely Hi-Rez/surround discs on a budget! nil desperandum and all that jazz! it can be done!

 

[GabeL]

I'm going to have to agree with Adam on this one. My setup is also fairly modest (by this and other forum standards), but I love the way it sounds...and so do many others I will readily admit that I lucked out on my main speakers (Totem Acoustic Forests) getting them at less than 1/2 price and very lightly used, but beyond that, I've slowly and carefully added basic components. At this point it is a a respectable and yet simple setup that I am very pleased with. Be patient and be sure to build it the way you want...like wine, the only important thing is that you enjoy it, not the variable opinions of others.

 

[fredblue]

I'm going to have to agree with Adam on this one. My setup is also fairly modest (by this and other forum standards), but I love the way it sounds...and so do many others I will readily admit that I lucked out on my main speakers (Totem Acoustic Forests) getting them at less than 1/2 price and very lightly used, but beyond that, I've slowly and carefully added basic components. At this point it is a a respectable and yet simple setup that I am very pleased with. Be patient and be sure to build it the way you want...like wine, the only important thing is that you enjoy it, not the variable opinions of others.

lovely speakers those Totem Forests! what finish did you get them in?

 

[GabeL]

lovely speakers those Totem Forests! what finish did you get them in?

In gorgeous Cherry.

 

[fredblue]

In gorgeous Cherry.

Yummy!! The nicest finish from what I can see!

 

[GabeL]

Yummy!! The nicest finish from what I can see!

In my opinion it is the nicest finish

 

[cupboy]

I'd have a hard time choosing between Cherry and Mahogany. The black is definitely not to be considered.

 

[GabeL]

I'd have a hard time choosing between Cherry and Mahogany. The black is definitely not to be considered.

In person, I really do think the Cherry looks much nicer...the price point on the Mahogany is a bit easier to swallow and they are easier to find used. Anyway, we should get back to the Blu-Ray stuff

 

[Dixie4]

anyhoo.. I digress (uh oh..!) I'll stop cluttering up this thread now!
PM me and we can talk about how to try and make the most of your lovely Oppo BDP and all your lovely Hi-Rez/surround discs on a budget! nil desperandum and all that jazz! it can be done!

The thing is Adam, at this present moment in time, I have NO BUDGET ! ( not even for low end ) I got in a financial pickle, because I bought a very expensive bookcase ( to put all those discs in ! ) and a very expensive pair of headphones ( when I've already got two pairs ! ) I need to get my priorities in order, i.e. to try and cut down on my spending ( of little treats !!....but unfortunately, these treats add up !! )

Don't want to go off topic....but here's my equipment....

I can't even afford to change the carpet. ( that was here, when I moved in 8 years ago ) but saying that...I can keep buying discs !!

 

[Dixie4]

Anyway, we should get back to the Blu-Ray stuff

Yes, i'll post more thoughts on said subject later ! ( My cabinets sort of Cherryish.....well actually, it is ! )

 

[fredblue]

In person, I really do think the Cherry looks much nicer...the price point on the Mahogany is a bit easier to swallow and they are easier to find used. Anyway, we should get back to the Blu-Ray stuff

wood in generals not easy to swallow but blacks the hardest! :yikes

 

[Dixie4]

wood in generals not easy to swallow but blacks the hardest! :yikes

You are terrible !!!

 

[fredblue]

The thing is Adam, at this present moment in time, I have NO BUDGET ! ( not even for low end ) I got in a financial pickle, because I bought a very expensive bookcase ( to put all those discs in ! ) and a very expensive pair of headphones ( when I've already got two pairs ! ) I need to get my priorities in order, i.e. to try and cut down on my spending ( of little treats !!....but unfortunately, these treats add up !! )

Don't want to go off topic....but here's my equipment....View attachment 10564View attachment 10565

I can't even afford to change the carpet. ( that was here, when I moved in 8 years ago ) but saying that...I can keep buying discs !!

joking aside Rob, if I were you (and I appreciate the budget, we're all on one!) I would keep the Sony AVR & Sub as is and just get a pair of front speakers this month. then get a centre speaker next month and a pair of speakers for the rears to match the fronts the following month.

by August you'd have spent just £3-500 in total (I know that's a lot of discs but you've got a load already you're not getting the most out of) and the improvement would be dramatic!

I'm not exaggerating when I say it'd be like you bought a whole load of new discs! Speakers are probably the most important thing to noticeably changing/improving/worsening sound in a system.

I've tried loads of different spkr manufacturers in my short time playing this game, owning speakers from KEF to JBL to Mordaunt-Short to Bang & Olufsen to Sony to Mission to Tannoy to Jamo and still I go back to my 12-year old Acoustic Energy's.

why!? because I love their warm rich sound. The B&O's, for example, cost 3 times as much (and they're great) but they aren't as "musical" as my AE's. what's my point? speakers are mega important yet I've tried to upgrade them a good few times over the years without success. once you find speakers with a sound that works for you, you can be set for donkeys years so long as you don't drive them too hard!

so you can find some cheap (but better sounding than those satellite) speakers now and enjoy the benefits and in a couple of years get something a bit better and probably end up sticking with it for years and years (practically as I did, though there were a good few other frogs to kiss before I got my prince, speaker-wise, so to speak..!).

 

[fredblue]

You are terrible !!!

"..but you like me!" (as the late great Dick Emery used to say!)

well, actually I'm hideously paraphrasing his catchphrase but hey it works! ..I hope!? bah!

 

[Dixie4]

joking aside Rob, if I were you (and I appreciate the budget, we're all on one!) I would keep the Sony AVR & Sub as is and just get a pair of front speakers this month. then get a centre speaker next month and a pair of speakers for the rears to match the fronts the following month.

by August you'd have spent just £3-500 in total (I know that's a lot of discs but you've got a load already you're not getting the most out of) and the improvement would be dramatic!

Oh my dear !!....London's another world !!! ( Tony's relative's live and work in London, four of them recently paid £120 + for fish & chips....oh !....they had a drink for that too !! )
£500 top figure is more than three quarters of my monthly income !! ( My only chance of ever upgrading, is to try and cut back on buying " goodies " ! )
I do appreciate your advice & tips though....hopefully one day, i'll be able to upgrade ?

( Sorry my dear, just re read, thought you were saying, £500 per month !! :yikes.....still need to save a bit though ! )

Thinking about it, UMG, had better postpone any 5.1 thoughts !....because i'll be bankrupt !!

 

[fredblue]

Oh my dear !!....London's another world !!! ( Tony's relative's live and work in London, four of them recently paid £120 + for fish & chips....oh !....they had a drink for that too !! )
£500 top figure is more than three quarters of my monthly income !! ( My only chance of ever upgrading, is to try and cut back on buying " goodies " ! )
I do appreciate your advice & tips though....hopefully one day, i'll be able to upgrade ?

( Sorry my dear, just re read, thought you were saying, £500 per month !! :yikes.....still need to save a bit though ! )

Thinking about it, UMG, had better postpone any 5.1 thoughts !....because i'll be bankrupt !!

haha! Tony's folks could've got lovely fish & chips for about a fiver round the corner from me!

now speaking of cheap as chips.. how about these?

2 pairs of these (on offer @ £119 a pair = £238)

http://www.richersounds.com/product/standmount-speakers/tannoy/mercury-v1/tann-mercury-v1-oak

and the matching centre (on offer at £104.95)

http://www.richersounds.com/product/centre-speakers/tannoy/mercury-vc/tann-mercury-vc-dkwa

if you use your sub for now, having spent only £342.95 in total, you'll have speakers that absolutely wipe the floor with any bog-standard satellites!

a good friend of mine recently bought these very same speakers to team up with a £300-ish Yamaha AVR (same standard & spec as your Sony AVR) and he absolutely loves them! I went over to give them a listen and honestly for the money they're superb! (he's still using his old "all-in-one" in a box jobby that came with his old satellites and he's very happy with it, for both movies and music).

in time you'd benefit from sticking those speakers on stands but they're fine on shelves etc to save you a few quid. plus you could use all the cabling you've got already..
unless its really horrible bellwire that's been hard-wired to the satellite speakers already!? in which case as many metres of basic 79-strand speaker cable as you need to run round the room and you'll be made up!

I absolutely guarantee if you're impressed with DVD-A/SACD/blu-ray's now, you'll be blown away just by upgrading from satellites to budget bookshelf/standmounters.

 

[Dixie4]

Thanks for the info Adam ( I think you'd shown me those, when looking for Tony ) That cabinet is in a recess, to the right of a bay window, ideally needs to be in the bay, but due to damp, reluctant to move anything there !! Presume I could use the speaker wire from the Sony's ??? Which physically for me would be a huge help ! I couldn't manage setting up new speaker wire, e.t.c. ( Something to think about !! ?? ) Sats, positioned on bay window sill, rear stats of course other side of room.

Anyway, given Layla another spin....it's ok, I suppose it's what it is, a 1970's production....musically a bit bored with it....kind of wishing i'd have tried Serge Gainsbourg in 5.1, even though, I don't know if I could have coped with a French man ( no disrespect to the French ! ) basically talking !!

 

[inquadwetrust]

Thanks for the info Adam ( I think you'd shown me those, when looking for Tony ) That cabinet is in a recess, to the right of a bay window, ideally needs to be in the bay, but due to damp, reluctant to move anything there !! Presume I could use the speaker wire from the Sony's ??? Which physically for me would be a huge help ! I couldn't manage setting up new speaker wire, e.t.c. ( Something to think about !! ?? ) Sats, positioned on bay window sill, rear stats of course other side of room.

Anyway, given Layla another spin....it's ok, I suppose it's what it is, a 1970's production....musically a bit bored with it....kind of wishing i'd have tried Serge Gainsbourg in 5.1, even though, I don't know if I could have coped with a French man ( no disrespect to the French ! ) basically talking !!

You two remind me of Julian and Sandy! (it's meant to be a complement - they're huge comedy heroes of mine) Bona Audio anyone?

But if you don't like the idea of Gainsbourg perving into your living room via the centre speaker then I'd probably avoid it, even despite how lovely the whole mix is, as it really has him at the centre. Worth a go maybe?

Anyway, back to our friends at Bona Audio where Fredblue is helping Dixie4 get it up - his new speaker wire that is. (just realised this makes me Kenneth Horne right?)

 

[Dixie4]

(just realised this makes me Kenneth Horne right?)

LUCKY YOU !!! ( We're more like, Hinge & Bracket ! )

I'm fearful we're going to get removed from the forum, at some point ! ?

 

[inquadwetrust]

LUCKY YOU !!! ( We're more like, Hinge & Bracket ! )

I'm fearful we're going to get removed from the forum, at some point ! ?

I think a Hinge and Bracket thread hi-jack would be the straw that broke the camels back

Insight and humour and are a fine blend but obscure English camp comedy stumps most non-UK folk other than the Germans. Having said that, and in an attempt to at least set the thread back on to surround music, the Q4 of Highway One by The Mystic Moods Orchestra does feature a weird English camp humour moment when one of the soundscape tracks brings in the sound of a distant radio in the rear right (if my memory serves me well) playing George Formby!