Audio Hunt.

Well, my audio hunt is almost ended.

Last Friday, I went back to the Yupangco Building in Buendia and came home the proud owner of a set of Tannoy Mercury Speakers. For my 5.1 setup, I went for a pair of MX4 speakers for my main Front Speakers, a pair of MX1 for my rear speakers. For the Center speakers i bought the MXC center speakers. ( intend to later get another MXC center speaker for use as my Center Rear speakers in a 6.1 set up. I did not get the Tannoy MXsub10 subwoofers which is the matched subwoofers for the set. I am looking for either a Velodyne CHT 12 subwoofer or a B&W Subwoofer. The Velodyne subwoofers particulary is well recommended in the audiophile forums i have visited as part of my research before buying my system.

As important as the speakers in any system is the amplifier. I went for the Yamaha RX-V740 which provides 100 watts for each of 6 channels. It provides the usual surround formats--Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, and DTS Neo:6 and these are further augmented with 24 proprietary synthesized-surround programs.

Connectivity includes HDTV-compatible component-video switching, a 5.1 SACD/DVD-Audio input, 6.1 preamp outputs that can feed an outboard power amplifier, A/B speaker connections, stereo outputs for a two-zone system, lots of A/V and digital-audio ins and outs, and a full set of front-panel-mounted audio/video/digital inputs. The designers even remembered to accommodate a turntable with a phono input--cool! Yamahah amplifiers are currently right there at the top of medium budget amplifiers. Yamaha speakers suck though. That is why i did not get any yamaha speaker.

Caveat: The Yamaha RXV450, 550, 650, and 750 amplifiers will soon be coming out according to the audiophile grapevine.
But i can't wait for them. If I did wait for newer models to arrive i may not be able to buy any amplifier at all at the rate new models and improvements get introduced.

Then, I proceeded to the Listening room in megamall and purchased there a Pioneer DVD 566k. The k in the model number is important because it is one of the few DVD players that comes with an input for two microphones. This is good for Karaoke use. I got coaxial cables and connectors and conventional gold plated video jacks and svideo jacks with cables to connect the DVD Player to the Amplifier and Television Set.

Finally, I went down to Western Appliances and got from them a pair of black low budget speaker stands that I intend to use for my two Rear Surround speakers. Instead of using the MXR Rear Surround speakers, i have decided to get the larger MX1 speakers for use as surround speakers. I didnt want to install them on the wall and preferrers to have them at ear level near my bed. Besides, the only other place where i found speaker stands on sale was on at the listening in Style store in Shangrila Plaza. (side story, i viewed there the Yamaha HE speakers which came in glossy piano finish black varnish. I almost shifted to these good looking speakers but finally decided on the Tannoys after i learned that the materials for these speakers were asian made aside from being asian assembled. Most speakers now are asian assembled but the parts are manufactured in Europe or the US. The old speakers made in the US and Europe are better constructed and sturdy. )

It was getting late so I was't able to buy anymore the speaker cable. I was advised that gauge 14 speaker wires will do but i intend to get gauge 12. In any case, i still have the old speaker wire set up in the house and intend to use it initially. I'll just replace the wires with the newer better gauged wires later.

I am still looking for a velodyne or B&W speaker so have decided to use the old Daichi subwoofer i have in the meantime.

:: Bing Saturday, February 28, 2004 [+] ::
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