Need home audio system for music listening

[wtrimble]

Hi, I'm starting out a new home theater system that will be primarly used for playing music. I would be playing CDs and would like to stream SiriusXM from my computer and/or Android tablet if possible. I would also use it to hook up to a dvd player and tv (need HDMI connection) for movies, and maybe I'll get an xbox 360 for future time wasting. But I primarily want to jam out to a nice stereo system.

Are there stereo systems that are more preferable for music listening as opposed to watching movies and gaming?

I'm looking for recommendations for a:

CD/DVD player
Receiver (recomended # of watts/channel?)
Loudspeaker (# I should get, set up/orientation..)
subwoofer
Amp? (not sure if new receivers need seperate amps..)

I'm looking to spend about $1000 all together. I like to buy things used on craigslist, so I would probably take the recomendations and find things comparable as time goes on Craigslist as opposed to buy everything new today. I don't mind spending more, just I would piece it out over a couple months.

I found Polk RTi4 Bookshelf Speakers, 1 - Polk CSi3 Center speaker and 1 - POLK PSW10 powered subwoofer on Craigslist for about $250 all together. Good deal?

Also found a Yamaha RX-V371 on craigslist.. not sure what I can get it for but looks like under $150..

thanks for any help and advice!

[wtrimble]

I'm not sure what the size of the room it'll be in either because I'm moving shortly into a new apartment. This will go in the living room however.

[wtrimble]

Anyone? Is getting a 5.1 or 7.1 home theater set appropriate for music listening?

[j_garcia]

The RTi line was decent enough and $250 is probably just a bit more than those speakers would be worth to me used (maybe offer $200-225), especially with that sub. When it comes to subs, Polk's low end ones should be avoided.

Good speakers are good speakers, so not it does not really matter what you intend to do with them.

Starting with a 2.1 or 3.1 setup is probably ideal (so the Polks would fit that bill), just to get some sound going. You won't need an amp for now, just the receiver. Can't really recommend wattage, since wattage isn't really going to tell you what you need to know. Just look at model numbers from receivers on CL and we can give you an idea if it is good. I'd avoid used Sony receivers.

[ImcLoud]

Welcome to the forum..

As far as used it depends on what is out there, no real way to recomend anything to you... But for new If I was spending $1000 on a music system I would get...


$332 CBM-170 SE High Performance Bookshelf Loudspeaker
$170 DENON DRA-397 AM/FM Multi Source/Zone Stereo Receiver | Accessories4less {no hdmi, but great for music and has sub output, your tv dosnt have audio outputs? all of mine do...}

$372 STF-2 Subwoofer

all of which is on sale rite now......
that leaves you $100 or so for wires and a cd/dvd, not impossible someone here can give you the number for the panasonic everyone seems to like that is pretty affordable...
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...D-ready/1.html
if you want an ht avr there are pleanty to choose from for under $200

[zieglj01]

Anyone? Is getting a 5.1 or 7.1 home theater set appropriate for music listening?

I mainly listen to music in stereo > I would do multi-channel if it is
recorded multi-channel, and if the recording sounds good that way.

I will take this Denon over the Yamaha you listed
DENON AVR-591 5.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less

I will take this Cadence sub, over the sub you listed.
CSX12
http://www.cadencesound.com/products/CSX12-Mark-II.html

I will take the HTD Level Two bookshelves and center, over the ones you listed
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...shelf-Speakers
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...hannel-Speaker

You can play music off this Sony Bluray player
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158BDPS...90.html?tp=171

[wtrimble]

Thanks for the recomendation guys. Also thanks for filling me in on low-end Polk subwoofers. I'm checking out your recomendations now.

I see a pair of used Polk Lsi7's for $250. What you think about those? Would they be good main speakers? Or would they be used for side or background speakers.

[ImcLoud]

Thanks for the recomendation guys. Also thanks for filling me in on low-end Polk subwoofers. I'm checking out your recomendations now.

I see a pair of used Polk Lsi7's for $250. What you think about those? Would they be good main speakers? Or would they be used for side or background speakers.

I own a pair of lsi7s they are nice speakers but 4 ohm and you will need a 4ohm stable amplifier section to power them... but overall nice speakers...

[wtrimble]

I own a pair of lsi7s they are nice speakers but 4 ohm and you will need a 4ohm stable amplifier section to power them... but overall nice speakers...

Can you elaborate what you mean by 4 ohm stable amplifier. I believe most speakers are 8 ohms... does this mean the 4 ohm speakers require less power and don't get as loud? I read in a review somewhere that they are more for classical or jazz listening and not so much for rock 'n roll. Is this why?

[j_garcia]

I used to own the LSi-7s and they are a solid speaker. If you are only running 2 of them, they will be fine with a decent receiver.

ALL of the LSis are 4 Ohm and most of them are pretty demanding, but the 7's a bit less so than the rest of the line. 4 Ohm speakers will draw TWICE the power of a comparable 8 Ohm speaker, but it also depends on other factors such as what you are playing (impedance varies with frequency), how loud, the actual receiver chosen, room size, etc... I had three of them in a medium size room on a Marantz SR5000 (picked up for $200 use) and had no issues. When they are crossed over at 80Hz, they don't present too terrible of a load to the receiver, but that's a Marantz, not a Sony. A decent receiver should be able to handle them, especially with a sub.