So.. I need to downsize the hifi and have a couple of options that look like they'll suit.
Current setup is an Onkyo TX609 7.2 Amp plus Jamo 606 5.0 speakers in an odd setup:
two floorstanders doing the music and the 2 surrounds doing TV L+R duties. Center speaker is doing nothing - sat on a shelf in another room. Reasons for the odd set up are that the big speakers are on the wrong wall from the TV, so just do music facing a comfy chair that doesn't face the telly.
Reason for needing a change - removing the big speakers to free up room, and hiding the big ugly amp in a cupboard that's too small for it 🙂 Plus taking advantage of being able to bluetooth music from phone / laptop etc.
1 - Q Acoustics BT3 http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/q-acoustics-bt3-bluetooth-speakers.htm
Compact powered speaker pair - option to add a sub later if needed.
2 - Nad 3020d Amp + current Jamo 60s surround speakers. Amp can hide in the cupboard.
Anyone got the Q Acoustics who's had / has a more traditional setup before - thoughts?
The room is about 3m/3m but mostly open on one side (RHS from the telly)
Any thoughts on the Amp powering the surrounds? The tech spec says they only do 85-20,000 hertz..
Both options would set me back about the same amount. resale for the current speakers is a bit shit, so I can't really count on selling them for much. Although if anyone fancies a surround sound setup...?
Any other options worth looking at?
iPod and hifi docking station lol
I went from a 2 grand stack system 1.5 metres high to docking port with an amp to the same speakers I had.
The space and declutter was great.
Another option:
Topping amp from amazon £70-£100 - TP32, TP21, VX1, (some with USB DAC, some without)
Sony BM10 bluetooth receiver - £35? amazon
Q Acoustic 2010 £70, superfi (steal!)
Edit - forget most of that, you're a bit further up the budget scale.
Sony BM10 is still worth looking at to go with option 2, though. Or the Arcam Miniblink.
Are you interested in quality of sound, convenience, size? Do you want surround sound or just stereo? Do you just play music or do you want to stick the TV and possibly other sources through it?
Take your speakers into Sevenoaks (or wherever sells the amp) and ask to demo it on them. Then see if you can try out some other speakers with it, they'll be keen to show you how to spend your money. Then you'll know if your speakers sound ok with it.
I'd recommend giving Monitor Audio BX2's a shot with an amp like that, when I worked in hifi a few years ago they blew everything else under £300 out of the water.
Be prepared to miss the guts from your Onkyo 609 and floorstanders though.
Just got some BX2s myself. Along with a Gemini II sub for more guts. To go with an older TEAC Ref.300. Very happy so far. I'll be even happier when we've got some more furniture and a rug in the room and I've played with the sub positioning. Bit boomy in places at the moment.
Naim muso
Q Acoustics BT3 here - setup in my kitchen for airplay (via airport express + toslink) multiroom + bluetooth. Sound quality is good with airplay and aptx bluetooth, but noticeably poorer with 'vanilla' bluetooth. They're probably too good for a kitchen setup TBH.
Incidentally, my 'main' hifi is a Topping TP21mk2 + sabre DAC run from a mac mini, which sounds much better at lower volumes. THE BT3's sound best LOUD.
I can wholeheartedly recommend a Sonos system - small, high quality, expandable system offering anything from small all-in-one units to separate amplifiers and even possible to integrate into an existing hifi, all controlled from your smartphone - have music in as many rooms as you like all independently controlled - the original and still best networked hifi system.
If you want to stream music then perhaps an arcam miniblink Bluetooth mouse might help. Heard one, connected to their fmj19 amp and their dinky little speakers plus sub(forget name) and was mightily impressed!
