for around £250..you can buy a complete system..cdp, amp and.speakers. or get an amp with dac built in and use your Sony
I think you may be suffering from a cumulative effect of a few things:
1. Audio via HDMI is often detrimentally processed in ways that optical outs are not for CD playback (worst case is badly convert to 48Khz), even without sample rate conversion, I have often found AVRs applying digital processing to HDMI audio that they would not apply to the same via optical/coax input.
2. An AVR just isn't going to be as good for music as a stereo amp at a similar price point. Expect considerable improved bass control of a full range speaker, considerably improved depth and clarity.
For an existing AVR that has front pre-outs, then as suggested you have an opportunity to upgrade to a hybrid AV Hifi setup by adding an integrated amp to drive your front speakers for AV user and act as the sole pre-amp and amp for music use.
For that BD player, I guess you will also need a DAC that can accept a digital coax input (not sure it if also has optical).
The problem with HT bypass integrated amps is the feature tends to be almost exclusive the premium models and therefore such amps tend to be expensive new. About the cheapest such amp I can think of is (I think) music fidelity m3i. As it does not have a DAC, then you will also want a separate DAC probably with an associated cost of £100for something decent.
The M3i is I think are about 550 or so new, but maybe you can find one used for a lot less.
In your place rather than spending 100 new, I would save for a while and consider something similar to above.
Thanks for the advice guys.
So if I pick up an amp to run the 2 fronts, then what runs the 2 subs? Is it still the AVR?data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
if the sub can accept both high and low level at yhe same time, use the high level with the stereo amp. and the low level lfe with the avr
my rel sub is connected this way
The XXLS400's have high level inputs, but as there are 2 then that wouldn't work on a 2 channel amp right? Or do you just wire them in together as the sub amps do all work and only need a signal?
I presume I'd lose the XT32 EQ on the subs as well, running them via high level?
I need to have a proper think nowdata:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
A suitable sub will have both an RCA input and the high level speaker output.
So for AV use XT32 would still be active via the sub input, the high level input would make no contribution because the lower frequencies are already missing as a result of the AVR crossover.
If you then feed the speakers a full range signal (which could either be just the AVR set to pure direct mode or a separate stereo amp) the crossover on the sub gets involved, this obviously won't be involving XT32.
If you use the receiver alongside a stereo amp for driving the fronts then the sub will be connected to the receiver and you would run XT32 whilst the stereo amp is running. To use the sub with just the stereo amp running then it would be connected by Neutrik to the high level. REL and BK subs can run both types of connections simultaneously.
Hmm, I'll have a think!
We might move to a bigger place in a year or 2, so if I'm looking at amps etc, I might hang on and look at swapping the front L/R for something else as well, maybe some nice floorstanders.
I've always had a decent stereo setup but with some good speakers I was more than happy with music on my AV system in surround with Dolby music mode. It was a Denon DVD and AV amp using the coax output. You can get a decent player for £100, in fact I'm selling my Sony QS SACD/dvd player on another forum for £50 and I preferred it to the Denon. Ive never used hdmi for audio but if that's the issue you're better off with something like my Sony, and you can always play SACDs using the 5 or 6 direct coax connections if your amp still had those.