AV and 2-Channel : are we close and is Primare the answer?

gsrai

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Aug 18, 2005
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Hiya

I was getting a bit tired of all the MF threads (a bit rich coming from me I know) so I thought I'd see if anyone has tried the Primare stuff (especially the SPA21) as I would love to know if I could ever trade in my Arcam AVR250 and MF gear for a nice simple single amplifier - surely it cant be that hard for the manufacturers - can it :Not Sure:

 

Craig

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Jul 20, 2005
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Craig
gsrai wrote:

Nobody got any thoughts at all?
I think you're absolutely nuts, Gobind - does that count?
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Just loop your integrated into a decent AV amp and forget the 'best of both worlds'.....you'll be playing with that for years

 

gsrai

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Craig - that's a fair observation
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I wasn't thinking about me I was just intrigued as to whether an answer exists.

If you look at the MF site they allude to the fact that AV products are on the way (will anyone pay £2k for a DAB Radio
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)

 

audioboy

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well i posted something in the av forum about an option on densen amps which allows them to do something regarding surround sound but not quite sure what. the densen upgrade sounds interesting as your still using what are essentially stereo amplifiers to drive a surround sound set-up. i ain't quite sure how it all work, and i know it isn't the one box solution you suggested but it sound good, even though i have no idea what the whole surround sound upgrade does.
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:?
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:?
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anyone use densen?

 

meninblack

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audioboy wrote:

this topic shows everyone who like 2 channel stuff is scared that surround sound will take over, cause they don't want to talk about it:Not Sure:
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I thinks it's more that we just don't care about it, TBH.
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antonbhoy

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Jul 30, 2005
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Craig wrote:

Just loop your integrated into a decent AV amp and forget the 'best of both worlds'.....you'll be playing with that for years

How do you loop a 2ch amp into an av, and what will it do?
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gsrai

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FWIW I'm not scared of AV taking over its more the challenge of combining what's dearest to me (2 channel) into a rig that takes up less speakers - I am intrigued about looping the 2 channel stuff - how does that work then CRAIG :Not Sure:

 

Mr Perceptive

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Although not reducing the box count (due to power amplifiers), I use a Meridian 568.2 (effectively AV Processor, DAC and Digital Pre-amp all in one box, there are also two analogue inputs, but it converts these to digital, and back again). I find it great for both two channel and AV duties, but then its not exactly cheap (current model G68 approx £4k, 568.2 s/h approx £1500-1800)

Imainly use digital sources (DVD Player(s), Squeezebox), with the Analogue being used for the Sky box.

I find Meridian's processing superb and often listen tomusic in Trifield as opposed to regular stereo.

If using Meridian DSP speakers then you would have a single box solution, but in my case with regular speakers, I have a bundle of Power Amps

Mr Perceptive

 
G

Guest

Guest
In answer Gobind

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

gsrai

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Aug 18, 2005
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Duvet wrote:

In answer GobindNooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oh bugger!

 

cjr

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Aug 8, 2005
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audioboy wrote:

this topic shows everyone who like 2 channel stuff is scared that surround sound will take over, cause they don't want to talk about it:Not Sure:
71_71.gif.90e48c720ca56a2d2fa0532dd3380cc7.gif
Here is how the AV-centric crowd over on AVForums see high end fidelity :

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143693 http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286617

So 5.1 as a music source for audiophiles, I cant see it myself. Plenty of people are now happily using high quality stereo rigs for DVD-V use, ie listening to 5.1 movies from stereo systems. If you value music (stereo music) more than 5.1 surround that is the way.

gsrai, Guy Verbits uses that device, Ive not heard it but I have heard the P30/A30.5 and it was very nice to these ears into Pro-acs, I much prefer the A30.1 though sending audio out to a 2.1 setup, more music orinentated and can handle DVD-V soundtracks very well. Just finished watching "Crash" tonight, sounded great.

 
G

Guest

Guest
Mr Perceptive wrote:

Although not reducing the box count (due to power amplifiers), I use a Meridian 568.2 (effectively AV Processor, DAC and Digital Pre-amp all in one box, there are also two analogue inputs, but it converts these to digital, and back again). I find it great for both two channel and AV duties, but then its not exactly cheap (current model G68 approx £4k, 568.2 s/h approx £1500-1800)Imainly use digital sources (DVD Player(s), Squeezebox), with the Analogue being used for the Sky box.

I find Meridian's processing superb and often listen tomusic in Trifield as opposed to regular stereo.

If using Meridian DSP speakers then you would have a single box solution, but in my case with regular speakers, I have a bundle of Power Amps

Mr Perceptive
Reading that statement makes me chuckle but not in the way you'd think. Heard a stack load of MERIDIAN a/v kit with Kef Ref 207's for fronts and rears:shock:that blew me away but it would also blow my wallet away. The overhead projector was playing a pretty fine recording of Alison Krauss and the band on dvd and the sound was fantastic. Cost . Well i'd hate to think but i know the same sound quality can be had for less in good old fashioned two channel stereo and that's the catch twenty two. One box alternatives don't really cut the sonic mustard to my ears but i will definitely concede that they've closed the gap.

 

Mr Perceptive

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Sep 13, 2005
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The main reason for Meridian 568.2 was that in our living room 90% of the time its for AV duties (I am fortuante enough to have another couple of two channel systems in the house, though one of those uses Meridian DSP speakers!).

Having started with a Naim + Yamaha DSPE800, I tried the one box solution with an Arcam AVR200, which just didn't cut the mustard. So a couple of months later I chanced upon an ex-dealer demo 568.2MM being sold for about 40% of its new price with full 2 year warranty. Seemed rude not to get the credit card out!

I don't disgaree that a similar quality two channel system can be had for much less but for my requirements the Meridian fits the bill. This one's a keeper!

Mr Perceptive

 

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