$6,000 Recommended Two-Channel Stereo System

[admin]

For many people, listening to music on a great two-channel system for the first time is like rediscovering their music collection. There are innumerable combinations of equipment that one could choose and it can be a very daunting task for anyone to sift through the options and put together a well rounded system. In our recommendations, we decided to focus on proven brands and equipment that most people can find or order at a local HiFi shop. We also wanted to allow you to play all of the music you can find, so we included SACD and USB functionality. Each piece in this system is matched in quality with the other components, and a couple of alternatives for each piece of equipment are provided. This is certainly not a budget system, but rather a system that will allow someone to take a leap into high-end audio with confidence that the end result will be sonic bliss.


Discuss "$6,000 Recommended Two-Channel Stereo System" here. Read the article.

[BoredSysAdmin]

Speakers: Philharmonic 3 -3500
AVR: Onkyo TX-8050 - $280 (optional XPA-2)
Source: BDP-103 - $500
Cables: Monoprice or if fancy BJC - well under $100

I could live with same Panamax filter.
Total: under 5k and have better result

[gene]

Speakers: Philharmonic 3 -3500
AVR: Onkyo TX-8050 - $280 (optional XPA-2)
Source: BDP-103 - $500
Cables: Monoprice or if fancy BJC - well under $100

I could live with same Panamax filter.
Total: under 5k and have better result

I bet Cliff it would take about a day or two till someone came in this thread and recommended alternatives but it seems I underestimated

[ImcLoud]

Looks pretty impressive, although I like separate subs, but the martins seem to be good down to 42hz.. I tryed my stsem with just a set of towers but ended up adding the subs to help fill the space with sound...

[templemaners]

Looks pretty impressive, although I like separate subs, but the martins seem to be good down to 42hz.. I tryed my stsem with just a set of towers but ended up adding the subs to help fill the space with sound...

Agreed. I think any 2 channel system I would put together would still have a subwoofer in it, preferably multiples. It's not like the rules for getting quality bass response all of the sudden changed because it's a dedicated 2 channel.

Holding on to the old rules of what makes a 2 channel system seems backwards thinking to me.

[gene]

Agreed. I think any 2 channel system I would put together would still have a subwoofer in it, preferably multiples. It's not like the rules for getting quality bass response all of the sudden changed because it's a dedicated 2 channel.

Holding on to the old rules of what makes a 2 channel system seems backwards thinking to me.

A powered sub could always be added but there is something to be said about having just a pair of very bass capable speakers without using external subs. I wrestle this in my own system which features $50k/pair speakers. The bass integration is so good and deep on my speakers that turning on my additional 2 subs is either no needed or sometimes a tad overpowering.

For 2CH systems with powered subs, I like to have the subs very close to the main speakers and configured in stereo even if it doesn't always produce the best measurable results. I enjoy having stereo bass and crossing the subs over a bit higher than 80Hz in these cases.

[shadyJ]

If I were to go two channel on that budget, I would definitely have subs, but that's because of the music I listen to. I'm not sure what speakers I would go with exactly, but they would be bookshelf speakers. I would certainly give some higher end KEF speakers an audition, and I would also like to hear those JBL LSR6332 speakers. I wouldn't need a fancy amp or source, I would go for a H/K 3490 receiver and keep things simple. Subs would likely be dual Hsus or Rythmiks, or a single Submersive. That would be a killer system.

[BoredSysAdmin]

H/K 3490 receiver and keep things simple.

Forgot about 3490. Yes its a better choice over Onkyo I listed above.

[Subwoofernut]

Back the CD drive down to a Marantz 5004 or the Emotiva ERC-2. Replace the pricey Yamaha with an Onkyo A-9070 with pre-out jacks, and add the sub of your choice: Paradigm, SVS, HSU, Rythmik...Those 8" woofers in the Martin's are going to satisfy only the smallest rooms. Get Some Bass.

[ImcLoud]

A powered sub could always be added but there is something to be said about having just a pair of very bass capable speakers without using external subs. I wrestle this in my own system which features $50k/pair speakers. The bass integration is so good and deep on my speakers that turning on my additional 2 subs is either no needed or sometimes a tad overpowering.

For 2CH systems with powered subs, I like to have the subs very close to the main speakers and configured in stereo even if it doesn't always produce the best measurable results. I enjoy having stereo bass and crossing the subs over a bit higher than 80Hz in these cases.

I agree, I put my subs right next to my towers and I run them stereo, I change the cross over depending on what I'm listening to usually between 65-85hz, that's why I like the Wharfedale subs they have remotes so I can change the level and crossover with out getting out of my seat...

I also prefer sealed subs for music, not HUGE subs either, and I found a lot of the HT subs aren't music friendly. I tried sb and pb 12's, and a couple HSU's the sealed Wharfedales sounded so much more musical vs rumbly {yes rumbly like winnie the pooh}...

Edit- I don't know why in this pic my walls look pink and carpet looks filthy, damn htc cam, I just built this house and it looks like it needs floors... But you can tell my ceilings are high, this room is about 400 sq feet with 24' ceilings, that go up to my upstairs loft and is also ipen to my office dining room and staircase, essentially a hard room to fill with music, and these small towers with 2 subs are more than enough... And yes I know- my speaker wires are on the carpet, I haven't made the stands yet...

I would have loved a set of Opus2-3's in here but my wife put her foot down and said no speakers larger than the towers in our theater which are only 340se's on the aa stands... But I would put my system against the above system, and I only spent $2200 total {all new nothing used}.
$6K you can build a heck of a system.. Opus 2-3's with dual sw380's thats 2 15's, 4-10's, 2 tweets, and 2 mids with an xpa2 {cost about $5000}...