52 replies to this topic

[NickA]

Does your decoder support front high speakers? Could put points in for them instead so you don't waste the other two channels?

[TheHood]

Is your amp configurable for bi-amping? Using A and B speakers isn't the same thing....

[elwill]

Never sat down and listened to high fronts but given how unimpressed I was with 7.1 over 5.1 I can't see me being sold. Also high fronts will be ugly I reckon. Hood: yep it's a 9.2 amp with zone 2. Pretty versatile, can biamp the front three, or run zone 2 and 3.

[elwill]

Right so a weekend of research later: Speaker plates are out. Realised it's a waste of time and money and it means I won't be able to reuse the cable if we move. I also realise I may have to eat some humble pie over this one. System setup will be: 1 AV amp with 2 HDMI outputs running to 2 tvs, with preamp outputs from the first amp to multichannel inputs on the second. This will allow me to have duplicated picture and sound in both rooms. I also want to be able to use the media centre PC independently in either room. To achieve this there will 2 HDMI cables and 6 phono cables running between the 2 rooms. One option was to buy custom wall plates to connect them to (~£160 for a pair), the other option is to buy 2 brush plates (£9.99 each). I'm going for the second option. Also going to run Cat5 to both rooms. Sound proofing is going to be acoustic plaster board, and 30mm high density insulation. Will then use acoustic sealant on the gaps. Going to try to have it totally separate from the masonry wall so that I can easily feed cables behind it and to increase sound proofing. First need to get the windows replaced (anyone an expert on such things?), then can start with the wall, then decorating. Once the living room is finished, the RSJ holding up the extension is getting changed so that we can rip down the wall between living and dining room, then new kitchen, then finished. I'm almost convincing myself it's going to be easy.

[slindborg]

We had a decent job done by shop4windows in stansted.

[TheHood]

If the HDMI cables are going to be longer than about 7 meters you really shouldn't scrimp. When I used to spec this sort of system the only long HDMI cables I ever found to be 100% reliable were Wireworld. Even then depending on the exact AV amp HDCP handshaking can be "fun" when running to 2 displays.

[elwill]

If the HDMI cables are going to be longer than about 7 meters you really shouldn't scrimp. When I used to spec this sort of system the only long HDMI cables I ever found to be 100% reliable were Wireworld. Even then depending on the exact AV amp HDCP handshaking can be "fun" when running to 2 displays.

PHEW!

Had a look at their website. No chance I'm paying what they're asking, even for their cheapest cable. Their reference 9.0m HDMI cable costs £3899.95! And their 20m cable is £7999.95?!

I reckon I need 7.5m cables. I may go for 10m so I have a bit of wriggle room if required.

Also I'm very much in the "it's just 1s & 0s" camp so I won't buy into all the picture quality nonsense of HDMI. I'll buy the cables and if they work, great, if not then they go back.

Don't want to sound ungrateful for your input it is genuinely appreciated but I don't believe their prices for an HDMI cable represent value for money.

Had From Russia With Love running on two screens this morning, with the sound running over phono to the second amp from the Pioneer's preamp outputs, so reeeeeasonably happy the handshaking should work.

[elwill]

We had a decent job done by shop4windows in stansted.

Will take a look.

[slindborg]

toolstation do HDMI cables that you will enjoy the pricing of

[TheHood]

There

If the HDMI cables are going to be longer than about 7 meters you really shouldn't scrimp. When I used to spec this sort of system the only long HDMI cables I ever found to be 100% reliable were Wireworld. Even then depending on the exact AV amp HDCP handshaking can be "fun" when running to 2 displays.

PHEW!

Had a look at their website. No chance I'm paying what they're asking, even for their cheapest cable. Their reference 9.0m HDMI cable costs £3899.95! And their 20m cable is £7999.95?!

I reckon I need 7.5m cables. I may go for 10m so I have a bit of wriggle room if required.

Also I'm very much in the "it's just 1s & 0s" camp so I won't buy into all the picture quality nonsense of HDMI. I'll buy the cables and if they work, great, if not then they go back.

Don't want to sound ungrateful for your input it is genuinely appreciated but I don't believe their prices for an HDMI cable represent value for money.

Had From Russia With Love running on two screens this morning, with the sound running over phono to the second amp from the Pioneer's preamp outputs, so reeeeeasonably happy the handshaking should work.

As long as it's possible to replace the cables when if they don't work without having to dig them out of the wall you'll be fine

You're right about the silly priced cables - they're just a mugs eyeful. The chroma 6 they do is still a lot of money, but when we used to spec generic cables we often ended up going back for numerous service calls because the picture went blank and usually the only solution was either expensive active equalizer hardware or a hammer and chisel.

[elwill]

Yeah it's a tricky one. I think if I planned on living in this house for the rest of my life then I may be inclined to spend more. As is I think I'll try and just channel out behind the skirting boards so that if it all goes wrong then I can get at it a little more easily. Thinking I may go with Lindy. Cables2U are the cheapest but I have a bit of a thing about not trusting companies with numbers or text speak in their titles (I'm blaming you Phones4U).

[KurtVerbose]

I'm lucky enough to live in a detached house, but I looked into sound insulation for my garage so I can work in it late/sundays, and so I can take up the drums again.

From the research I did pretty much all the material that had 'acoustic' before it was expensive and not much different from regular materials.

jules_s hit the nail on the head with: -

Noise source------> something dense----->something absorbant----->airspace----->something absorbant---->something dense---->recipient

Something dense - fermacel
Something absorbant - rock wool

Unless you're going for really exotic material - e.g. lead, I think you're just paying extra for having 'acoustic' in the name.

[elwill]

Space is a commodity though, have set myself a figure of 5cm that I don't want to go over. I'm hoping thats: My room -> 12.5mm acoustic boards -> 30mm high density insulation ->slight gap between batons and wall (~10mm). Optimistic, but we shall see.