trinity° Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Hi all, I've been out of the loop when it comes to home theatre so would really appreciate some suggestions with my equipment overhaul. Recently sold my trusty pioneer Kuro plasma, so will be looking to upgrade to an oled TV and thought it might be time to actually get a 4k compatible processor/AVR. Primary usage will be for movies with a little bit on gaming. I don't usually change my gears often, so now might be the time for a proper overhaul. I currently have a pair of Focal Electra speakers that are driven by Musical Fidelity A5 pre/power amps and active sub. Was initially planning on leveraging these and getting a processor/AVR and use HT bypass. Another option is that I could move the MF amps for another stereo setup in the bedroom and look into something new for the Focals. Question I have is would it make sense to get a non-hdmi 2.1 device since I'm replacing the tv? could potentially get something temporary to tide me over till HDMI2.1 devices are available if so. I'm happy to consider second hand (Just missed out on the Marantz Av7704 that was in the classifieds) or some of the runout models like the SR7013 otherwise. Also should I be leveraging my current setup in the first place or look into a new HT configuration altogether? In terms of budget, looking at up to $5k mark unless I really need to make drastic changes. Appreciate all opinions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 26 minutes ago, trinity1503563578 said: I currently have a pair of Focal Electra speakers that are driven by Musical Fidelity A5 pre/power amps and active sub. Was initially planning on leveraging these and getting a processor/AVR and use HT bypass. I am very familiar with these, run focal myself I would very much leverage these... the Electra deserve something like this driving them an AVR will just not do... definitely i wouldn't bother with hdmi 2.1 at the present even the AVRs that are coming have half implementations... things like not enough inputs... and ones that are there dont fully support... so will have to be replaced at some stage... definitely either AV7704 or 7013 would be perfectly good choices... dont forget the denon version... the 4500H https://www.zkelectronics.com/compare/denon-avr-x4500h/usa/marantz-sr7013/usa/ also look out for basically anything 2016 onwards... so in processors av8802a or av7702mk2 onwards... in avrs... anything like 4300h or marantz 7011 and above https://www.zkelectronics.com/compare/denon-avr-x4300h/usa/marantz-sr7011/usa/ thes will handle all media from all sources can throw at these... any differences to newer models are quite minor and can be worked around... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinity° Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 Thanks for the feedback @betty boop , that narrows down the thinking a bit. In terms of centre speakers, with your experience what would your suggestion be to power, say an Electra or Utopia ? I would think a centre speaker is key in HT and won't think an AVR would drive that channel. Saw that there's a pair of the MF M1 power blocks available, but doubt they'll be sufficient to drive that? What are some alternatives I could consider? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 1 minute ago, trinity1503563578 said: Thanks for the feedback @betty boop , that narrows down the thinking a bit. In terms of centre speakers, with your experience what would your suggestion be to power, say an Electra or Utopia ? I would think a centre speaker is key in HT and won't think an AVR would drive that channel. Saw that there's a pair of the MF M1 power blocks available, but doubt they'll be sufficient to drive that? What are some alternatives I could consider? hi trinity. I run utopia L&R and actually for my series the utopia centre of time was actually not as good a match to Electra CC1007be which his what I use. its an excellent centre and can heartedly recommend Yeah I wouldn't think the m1 would really suitable for something like the electra centre...its really quite high quality and with your A5cr pre power driving your mains ... would leave the centre quite undernourished I myself run a Elektra 7 channel multichannel power amp to feed my centre and surrounds... its actually voiced pretty close to the musical fidelity and works in a treat you can click on the "welcome to my lounge room" link in my signature to check out. the elektra are an excellent locally made power amp. very refined, with superb detail and clarity, plus huge power reserves and dynamic capability. also very well priced new or 2nd hand and if getting a marantz processor will worth that really well too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy8 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Would recommend getting something with either Anthem Room Correction or Dirac Live. (See Room Correction Software, old but relevant article). https://www.audiotrends.com.au/anthem-avm-60.html https://www.selby.com.au/brands/nad-electronics/nad-t-778-reference-av-receiver-nadt778.html Also a recently superseded Arcam https://audioconnection.com.au/products/arcam-fmj-avr550-atmos-receiver-90wpc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinity° Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 11 minutes ago, betty boop said: I myself run a Elektra 7 channel multichannel power amp to feed my centre and surrounds... its actually voiced pretty close to the musical fidelity and works in a treat Hmmmm guess need to factor in something like the Elektra in the equation, and looking likely a processor makes more sense than an AVR then. Any reason why the Elektra can't power all channels if having a multichannel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinity° Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 19 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: Would recommend getting something with either Anthem Room Correction or Dirac Live. (See Room Correction Software, old but relevant article). https://www.audiotrends.com.au/anthem-avm-60.html https://www.selby.com.au/brands/nad-electronics/nad-t-778-reference-av-receiver-nadt778.html Also a recently superseded Arcam https://audioconnection.com.au/products/arcam-fmj-avr550-atmos-receiver-90wpc Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have any experience with Anthem, but do like the NAD sound profile. Guess might need to audition these in the next few weeks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 2 minutes ago, trinity1503563578 said: Hmmmm guess need to factor in something like the Elektra in the equation, and looking likely a processor makes more sense than an AVR then. Any reason why the Elektra can't power all channels if having a multichannel? you certainly can...but you already have the musical fidelity a5cr-pre-pwr. something i owned myself as will see in my signature . and they make a wonderful combination with your focals. also there is no ways you will find an av solution better than the a5 pre pwr. the beauty with the 7ch elektra partnered av pre pro, integrated with your A5cr-pre pwr will give you best of 2ch and ht. all at a click of the htbypass button without needing to compromise on either. the beauty also with the 7ch elektra is will leave you a couple of channels spare...meaning you can consider a couple of height speakers for 3D audio (atmos-dts-X and auro3D) which is well worth doing ! or you can also go wides ...if didnt have the a5cr pre pwr yo could consider the elektra 2ch pre pwr as well... but thats somethign in order of $8k combo ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinity° Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 Does sound like my $5k will be significantly blown at this rate Might focus on the processor, then look into the multichannel amps then. Btw any dealers in Sydney that I could potentially audition the Elektra amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 24 minutes ago, trinity° said: Does sound like my $5k will be significantly blown at this rate Might focus on the processor, then look into the multichannel amps then. Btw any dealers in Sydney that I could potentially audition the Elektra amp? seems to be mcleans and oztheatre screens both further north I Think, http://www.mcleans.info/shop/productSearch.do?keyword=elektra otherwise could bug some local stereo net member if keen to let you listen in their setup...if covid is permitting for that sort of thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinity° Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 9 hours ago, betty boop said: seems to be mcleans and oztheatre screens both further north I Think, http://www.mcleans.info/shop/productSearch.do?keyword=elektra otherwise could bug some local stereo net member if keen to let you listen in their setup...if covid is permitting for that sort of thing... Thank you, will see what I can do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinity° Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 So just an update, a friend who has a Elektra theatron HD amp is willing to loan it to me for test so will see how it performs. Still need to sort out the processor, but managed to source a Focal cc1008be center to go with my existing set. Budget is already blown at this stage 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irek Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 What's the full set of your speakers and sub? Top of the range AVRs are not really weak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinity° Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 6 minutes ago, Irek said: What's the full set of your speakers and sub? Top of the range AVRs are not really weak. Set of Focal Electra fronts and Seaton Submersive sub. I do have a pair of Paradigm bookshelves but think it'll be wasted as surrounds, that might be a separate expense in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irek Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 49 minutes ago, trinity° said: Set of Focal Electra fronts and Seaton Submersive sub. I do have a pair of Paradigm bookshelves but think it'll be wasted as surrounds, that might be a separate expense in the future. So 3 speakers + 1 subwoofer. Which model of electras and what is the room size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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