seeking a little guidance...

[thedeadlyrhythm]

Hello all, just registered here on Audioholics, seems like a friendly and helpful community. I'm sure you get about a million of these threads, but if you have a moment there's another floob here seeking your help...

I've never associated myself much with home audio, as I've been living in the dorms my first two years here on campus (blah). I'm a musician of 17 years, and when it comes to audio...I know my stuff. Don't baby me, but I just don't know a damn thing about what names to trust in home theater.

I do not play video games, and I rarely watch movies...I'd say whatever setup I decide on will be relied on 90% for music and 10% for movies. I'm looking for multi-room sound (living room and kitchen) and my budget is pretty much non existent. No more than $400 for speakers, receivers, and wires as I just purchased a new drum kit and korg t1 workstation which completely broke the bank. I'm a broke college student who wants to get quality sound for a small dollar. Where do I start, can anyone suggest a fairly inexpensive DIY project?

 

[CraigA]

Let me begin by gaining some clarity on what you want to do. I would assume that you are using your living room as the main entertainment area and the the kitchen would essentially be a second zone...correct?

Are you looking for a nice 2-channel setup for the living room as most of your listening will be music, and another pair of speakers in the kitchen. Are you looking at towers for the living room? What type of speaker for the kitchen...book shelves, on-wall, in-wall, in-ceiling??? Do both sets of speakers play the same source or would you want to have an each set able to play something independent. I think I know the answer to most of these questions, but if you could clarify that would help.

 

[markw]

Have you, by any chance, explored what's out there for that price range?

You might want to.

If you're thiking a 5.1 setup and a pair of extra speakers, you're gonna have pretty poor sound.

With that budget, and assuming you want some sort of quality, I'd suggest a two channel receiver and four speakers. This affords several very workable options if you don't mind used.

Get back with some answers.

 

[avaserfi]

Since you are mainly going to be listening to music I would suggest just buying a 2 channel set up without a sub (most music does not dip into this realm). My main suggestion would be buy the nicest speakers you can with the money keeping what kind of power you would need out of the receiver.

If you plan on doing two seperate zones I (kitchen and living room) I don't know how feasible your price range would be. It might be worth while buying the speakers for the living room and the receiver than later buying something for the kitchen

Another suggestion would be buy the gear used on Audiogon. Bluejeans or monoprice for cables.

 

[thedeadlyrhythm]

thanks for taking the time to respond..

CraigA:
You are correct on pretty much all acounts. My living room contains 2 hammocks, a gigantic aquarium, and some pretty nifty walls...it is the place I go to really relax and listen. The kitchen would be my second zone, and I want both areas playing the same source. As far as speaker preference goes I'm open to any ideas. I really don't know what would be the best approach, as I said the whole aspect of home audio is rather new to me . My initial thought was towers in the living room and on-wall speakers in the kitchen. Let me know what you think Craig, thanks!

markw:
Hey Mark, you're probably right on the 5.1. Especially with the size of the living room, I think it's rather unnecessary. Used is where it's at, to be honest I've been trolling craigslist and eBay each day, and there are some (from what I can tell) rather impressive speakers available at dirt cheap prices. If you don't mind, I'm going to toss a few links out there and maybe let me know if any look intriguing...
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/345284450.html
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/344944922.html (I hear wonderful things about that 2 channel receiver, perhaps I'd be able to get this one fixed for a good price?)
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/344844212.html
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/340100852.html
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/340108990.html
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/340019767.html
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/338121378.html
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/338759543.html
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ele/339040751.html

avaserfi:
Thank you for your suggestions. Any specific speakers you'd like to suggest? I 'm entertaining your idea of getting the living room setup and later adding to the kitchen, but to be honest...I'm really not sure there is any reason to spend over $400 on this system. The place just isn't very big, and I'm not too difficult to please. A $400 system is gonna blow the socks off of that damn AIWA boombox that's down there right now

Keep those suggestions coming, I really appreciate it everyone!

Happy Tuesday,
Chris

 

[Davemcc]

Don't forget to check audiogon.com.

 

[highfihoney]

The last link you had in your post seems to be a no brainer to me,$300 for a complete 5.1 speaker system plus a receiver,to be honest the rest of the links are junk,especially the bose & bang & olufsen,bose is all plastic & sounds like a 6ft high pile of transistor radios with each radio tuned to a different station,stay away from it.

 

[thedeadlyrhythm]

Don't forget to check audiogon.com.

I'm unfamiliar with the site, but you're the second in this thread to bring it up. Registering now...thank you sir.

 

[thedeadlyrhythm]

The last link you had in your post seems to be a no brainer to me,$300 for a complete 5.1 speaker system plus a receiver,to be honest the rest of the links are junk,especially the bose & bang & olufsen,bose is all plastic & sounds like a 6ft high pile of transistor radios with each radio tuned to a different station,stay away from it.

Interesting that one of those links may actually be worthwhile, I had kind of thought they were all junk. I know nothing about Yamaha's ability to produce quality sound. However, is a 5.1 system really the best route? If I go 2.1 I'd be able to dump more money into speakers, and keep in mind I'm a music freak. I don't game, and finding the time to sit down and watch a good film is few and far between.

 

[thedeadlyrhythm]

giving this a little bump. sorry everyone, was just hoping to get a couple more responses to my recent replies.

love, peace, chicken grease

 

[highfihoney]

Interesting that one of those links may actually be worthwhile, I had kind of thought they were all junk. I know nothing about Yamaha's ability to produce quality sound. However, is a 5.1 system really the best route? If I go 2.1 I'd be able to dump more money into speakers, and keep in mind I'm a music freak. I don't game, and finding the time to sit down and watch a good film is few and far between.

First off Yamaha makes some very serious audiophile quality gear,they also make a bunch of cheap mass market gear but make no mistake the technology to make good sound is easy for Yamaha.

The deciding factor for you is going to be your budget,it is very small for an entire system,no matter the brand,is it possible to build a better sounding system than the Yamaha for your budget of $400???? More than likely yes but it wont be quick & it would require intimate knowledge of vintage gear & lots of different speakers.

Being that your starting from scratch with a very small budget i would reccomend that you buy a complete system used,if not the Yamaha system then one like it,maybee something like this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kenwood-home-stereo-w-5-disc-cd-tuner-amp-eq-dual-cass_W0QQitemZ280120455914QQihZ018QQcategoryZ67803QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem