Advice on Pioneer Andrew Jones Home HiFi Solution?

uniqualz on 19/12/2016 - 11:53
Last edited 19/12/2016 - 12:41 by 1 other user

Hi All,

Would a home theatre expert out there be able to give me some advice on a surround sound system, or whatever else might suit my quite large tv room?

I own a PS3 with a Sony PlayTV tuner attached, and I bought these two excellent Pioneer Andrew Jones bookshelf speakers a few years ago when they were OzBargained (what a great deal!), but I didn't realise they'd need an amp to run them, or that they weren't a surround system: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/172047

So I have them, unused, sitting there doing jack-all, and just putting up with the sound from the rubbish tv speakers. Maybe I just need an amp? Can someone please let me know what a good solution might be to sort some good audio.. I don't care if it's 5.1, 12.1, 200.1 surround whatevz.. I just want to either use these speakers or flog em on Ebay! But from what I've heard, surround would be good - it doesn't have to be loud - just clear! :-D

I found this Andrew Jones combo setup on Amazon, which seems to be a full surround solution (they're more of my speaker range), but is going this far necessary? And doesn't that system still need an amp too?: https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK22BS-Theater-Speaker-Pac…

Thanks very much,
UniQualz

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  spackbace on 19/12/2016 - 12:39

  Order the centre speaker at least, and the probably wait for the next eBay sale and jump on a decent Pioneer amp through Kogan/Dick Smith (who normally end up cheaper than local, though their Pioneer stuff is local)

  You'll still need rear speakers and a sub though

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  apple2016 on 19/12/2016 - 14:42

  You would need a AV receiver at minimum to go for a 5.1 or higher. You will not be able to use your PS3 in this setup as the receiver will introduce a delay. If you just have 2 speakers and need to get them to work you can pick up a used amp or receiver from gumtree/ebay for cheap.

  the second system ( Andrew Jones combo setup on Amazon) also need a receiver/amp to work. They are just a bunch of speakers bundled together. Only the sub woofer has a built in amp.

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  Mumbles on 19/12/2016 - 15:10

  Since you are already interested in a surround sound system and own a set of quality stereo speaks I recommend to shop for a 5.1 surround sound amplifier that has the feature to control both 5.1 speakers as well as stereo speakers. ie. can control two separate speaker circuits.

  Use budget 5.1 speakers for PS3 + movies. Use the stereo speakers for music listening.

  If you are really good at research you can pick up a second hand, 10 year old, class D amplifier (ie. low THD) that have inputs for 5.1 and stereo speakers for as cheap as $100 on Gumtree.

  It would be a pain to try to turn your Pioneer monitor speakers into a good surround sound setup. It means constantly buying and selling centre speaker + surround speakers till you find a combination that will match with your stereo speakers.