Custom Hi-Fi help

[Pat123]

I don't know if this is the best place but i'm looking to spec myself a new hi-fi for music as i'm finding my z-5500's a little muddy. I'll be keeping the z-5500's for movies and games.

My budget is around £500 give or take £100. I'll be needing an amp and a pair of bookshelf/floorstanding speakers. At the moment i've been looking towards the Monitor Audio BX2 speakers and the Yamaha AS500 amp, but this is only because they match my budget exactly, but i wouldn't mind spending more should the quality hike be worth it. My room isn't HUGE but it's a decent size and i'd like the sound to fill it.

Thanks in advance!

[sibeer]

If you have a decent budget then I would seriously suggest taking some music you like out to some of your local specialist HiFi shops and auditioning options around your budget. Discussion of Newcastle retailers here:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/av-amplifiers-receivers/972939-hifi-dealers-newcastle.html

I would also consider selling the z-5500 and getting an AV-Receiver to offer a better stab at both options

[Pat123]

So would the AV receiver replace the amp i was planning on purchasing?

The only thing with selling the Z-5500 is i won't make enough money to replace all 5 speakers and the sub with good enough satellites. What sort of receiver should i be looking for? There are loads out there.

Sorry for all the questions i'm new to this whole audio sector.

[sibeer]

So would the AV receiver replace the amp i was planning on purchasing?

The only thing with selling the Z-5500 is i won't make enough money to replace all 5 speakers and the sub with good enough satellites. What sort of receiver should i be looking for? There are loads out there.

Sorry for all the questions i'm new to this whole audio sector.

The receiver is an amp so can be used to power as many or as few speakers as you like. Which one depends on the type of sound you like which is why I would always suggest going for a listen. Personally I like Arcam or Yamaha for music, Arcam tend to have what I would describe as a warm sound, the Yamaha is very neutral or natural. My fave home cinema sound is from Onkyo (combined with M&K Speakers), very direct and aggressive but not suited to much music. Denon kit I have had have been somewhere in the middle and I did not like the Pioneer receiver I had one bit. As to budget, say £600 would get some very decent kit on the 2nd hand market. For instance this recent thread shows someone selling some very musical Key kit, a cheap sub and an amp for approx £400 total:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/speaker-subwoofer-classified-adverts/1570124-sale-kef-q-series-speaker-yamaha-dsp-ax759se.html

Those Kef's were around a grand on their own new. Deals like that are common on the forums, best bet is always to search the model names for reviews.