Q. What would you suggest for a 5.1-channel surround-sound system utilizing very small, wall-mountable speakers and a receiver? I would love to spend up to $1,000 and a very powerful issue is to get one of the best sound high quality I can for the cash.
— D.D., Bonsal, Calif.
A. You can get superb sound along with your funds, although extraordinarily small speakers do have sound high quality limitations. This is as a result of their very small woofers can not transfer sufficient air to produce the midrange fullness and depth you hear in bigger speakers. It is most noticeable once you pay attention to music.
If you need very tiny speakers, a mix that has by no means failed to please me or Sound Advice readers is the $499 Definitive Technology ProCinema 400 speaker system paired with a Marantz 5.1-channel receiver. I’ve seen the Marantz NR1504 on clearance on Amazon for $299 and the NR1506 is $499. The sound high quality is equivalent and the distinction is primarily in wi-fi options. I’d get the NR1504 for $299 and add a $20 Bluetooth module, saving $180 within the course of. The ProCinema 400 features a subwoofer, so all you want is speaker wire and a subwoofer cable and you’re good to go.
If you possibly can stretch your funds a bit, get the Marantz and improve the speakers to the $999 SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 system. This will take efficiency up a number of orders of magnitude for each films and music. The Prime Satellite system has met widespread, common acclaim and I’ve been impressed each time I’ve heard it. The speakers use a Four-inch woofer that has a a lot larger, fuller sound than any teacup-sized speaker. SVS additionally has a few of the greatest guarantee and satisfaction insurance policies within the enterprise. For instance, you possibly can attempt the system in your house and if you’re not happy, you possibly can return it for a refund and they’ll even pay for return delivery. That is as threat free because it will get, although I can’t think about many individuals would really return the system. SVS additionally has an internet outlet retailer if you need to avoid wasting cash and get nearer to your steered $1,000 funds. As earlier than, all you want is speaker wire and a subwoofer cable.
Q. You lately advisable the Onkyo DX-C390 CD changer. What is the distinction between the DX-C390 and the DX-C390B?
— Okay.P., Martinez, Calif.
A. The B is for the colour, on this case black. Many elements can be found in each black and silver end, although as we speak the development is generally black. It appears to swing backwards and forwards each ten years or so, the place black is in fashion, then silver, then again once more. When you see a B or S on the finish of a mannequin or product quantity, it virtually at all times means black or silver end.
CES 2017: I simply returned from the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It was fairly fascinating and I noticed a number of noteworthy merchandise that promote from below $50 to over $50,000. The three issues that caught my consideration? Mid-century trendy styling all over the place, turntables on show round each nook and Amazon’s Alexa voice management spreading throughout many alternative merchandise in many alternative classes. There had been additionally some nice new digital cameras too, and an extremely lovely OLED TV that’s so skinny it seems to be like a patch of wallpaper caught on the wall. Look ahead to a number of neat stuff in my column and on my web site within the weeks to come.
