Hi all

I am contemplating getting an n-Vi to update my embryonic Home Theatre set up. Currently I have an Arcam DV79 DVD player and Arcam AVR250 receiver. These are connected to an old set of Monitor Audio MA20SEs as fronts an MA centre with smallest MA Radius speakers on rear duties. Ideally I would like the new system to integrate with my Naim stereo system. Previously I had a Denon 2105 connected via preouts to my 252 but this caused a really horrible earth hum. (Not an uncommon problem apparently http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/78019385/m/2502945607). I changed to the Arcam and as this doesn’t have preouts there is no problem as it is a completely separate system. I am under pressure from my good lady to reduce my black box count and ideally my speaker count.

I presume there are no earthing problems connecting my now 552 to the n-Vi. What I would like to know:
I) is the sound quality of the stereo likely to drop off with the n-Vi connected?
ii) Am I likely to get earthing issues if I connect the Telewest cable box or the kids Xbox to the n-Vi?
iii) What is the best way to connect things up to avoid such problems?
iv) If I do change to n-Vi then I would, over time, get speakers to match my current Neat MF9s. How important is to have “matching” surround speakers? The cost of Neat Ultimatum Centre is £2500+ and the MFS’ are £3500+. In terms of hi-fi source first system this would seem a bit of a “mullet”. Any suggestions as to speakers that would match the MF9s at a more sensible price

On the whole I don’t watch television or films much so am happy with my current arrangement, but my wife feels the front room is looking like a hi-fi shop. I am prepared to cut down the box count but not at the expense on sound quality in my main stereo set up. Anybody with any thoughts or experiences?

Cheers

Richard

quote:

I) is the sound quality of the stereo likely to drop off with the n-Vi connected?

Only as much as it would if you were connecting any other source - back to that old "I have loads of inputs, but only have one source" conundrum.

quote:

ii) Am I likely to get earthing issues if I connect the Telewest cable box or the kids Xbox to the n-Vi?

Very unlikely.
The nVi doesn't deal with pictures from external sources, only sound. All you'll be feeding it from a TVDrive is an optical cable... you don't get earthing probs with these
The nVi only has one optical input though, and both XBOX & TVDrive are optical out only. Converters can be bought to turn one of these into a Coax (the other two digital inputs), so I'd use this on the least used source.

quote:

iii) What is the best way to connect things up to avoid such problems?

Connect the nVi to your 552 via the unity gain input. Connect the nVi to your centre, rears and sub. Connect it to mains too(!) and pick the best of its' video outputs that your screen can handle to connect it to that.
Optically connect it to your TVDrive (which will still be feeding picture direct to your screen).

Robert's your father's brother!


Matching speakers is a good idea - anything less is a compromise - as you own a 552 that seems like a concept you're unhappy with.

Regards

Mike

Coax input (from dish or cableTV) to the set-top box should be ground isolated. These cables are the main source of hum, their shield is generally poorly grounded.
You will prefer using an optical link from these set-top boxes. A coax output is available for the X-Box.
You will want to use a separeted main socket for these units as they uses a switch mode power supply and can polute your stereo mains. Experiment.

Hi Mike and Manu

Thanks for the advice.

Richard

Hi Manu

Have searched on internet but I can't find a Xbox 360 lead with coaxial output. Any ideas where I can get one?
I see that the optical to coaxial converters are powered how much of a problem is this? In terms of sound quality for X box I'm not too bothered, its just I don't want to degrade the sound of my stereo system too much. Are the analogue connections that bad?

Cheers

Richard

Oups Richard, i was talking about the old Xbox.

The sooner you retrieve the signal from the Box, the best the quality will be...

Hi Manu

In essence I'm not too bothered by the quality of the sound from the Xbox I would like to make sure interference is kept to a minimum. As I see it options are:
1. Use Scart directly Xbox-TV and eliminate n-Vi completely
2. Connect via analogue RCAs to Xbox-n-Vi. How much interference involved?
3. Connect digitally optically. Satellite box connected also. This will use n-Vi optical connection. Therefore options are i) connect via switching box (satellite and Xbox will never be used together) or ii) connect via optical-coaxial converter. Which do you think will be best and provide least problems with main 2 channel system?

Regards

Richard

If it was me I'd whack the x-box through an optical-coax converter into D2 or D3, and the sky optically into D1.

I've seen optical switchers, but they're either crudely mechanical or expensively over-engineered.

I'm not an x-box gamer, but I believe certain games carry 5.1 soundtracks, and I'd rather spend the cost of another game on the coverter to access that. Going analogue into an nVi will only get you analogue stereo out, and won't even get the subwoofer going.

In getting the HD x-box lead you also (as I understand it) get component video out... this'll look far better than scart as long as your screen has a set of component RCA's available.