New to Audio Systems, Looking for an <$1,500 System for College

[boomersooner]

Hi,

i'm rather new to anything audio and frankly have no clue what I'm doing with it (headphones are the closest thing to speakers I have ever owned). That being said, if given the right information, I'm sure I'll be able to pick things up fast. Due to the size of the audio industry, however, you can imagine while I'm slightly lost.

Anyway, I'm looking to spend at most $1,500 (looking for the best value from around $1,000 - $1,500) to get a sound system which I will use for the last two years of college, and then into my post grad life.

This year, I will be living in a room that's about 250 sq. feet, and it will be used mostly for playing loud music. Next year will be much of the same. After graduation, I want to transform it's purpose into being an actual home theater system, as opposed to a party-system. I'm not sure if I will be able to do this, as I know that these are two completely different types of systems.

I went into Bestbuy the other day just to try to learn a little bit about speakers. Obviously I don't really trust the rep working at Bestbuy, but he lead me to a couple of Klipsch tower speakers (about $350 ea.) a Klipsch center speaker ($250) a Klipsch 10" sub ($350) a Sony DN840 ($450) and then said I would probably need a couple smaller speakers for surround sound.

I've come here to see if you all have other ideas that might fit my purposes better. Also, the price on this was a little closer to $2,000 than I would have liked.

Thanks for any ideas in advance!

 

[jinjuku]

In 250 Sq foot some bookshelf and a sub will do it.

Look at SVSound.com and get a 2.1 package. The Ultra book shelf for $1K a pair, The BIC F12 from Amazon for ~$200. And $300 on a receiver with sub out.

 

[boomersooner]

Thanks for the response.

At what size room would you typically recommend to move from book shelf speakers to tower speakers? If I were to place these book shelf speakers in, say, a 600 sq foot room what kind of loudness could I expect?

Also, quality wise I understand SVS is better than Klipsch (or similar brands). Are they typically more for music as opposed to a home theater?

Lastly, in deciding between getting a 7:2 or a 5:1 receiver, I have been told that the receiver is what will become outdated most quickly. Therefore, if I'm not going to be getting 7 speakers or 2 subs within 5 or so years, it's probably just best to get a 5:1 receiver. Is this true?

 

[zieglj01]

A lot of college people would like to have something like this, for a 2.1 beginner system

Ascend 340 speakers - 1 pair
CMT-340 SE Mini-Tower Loudspeaker

HSU VTF-2 Subwoofer
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-2mk4.html

Denon E300 receiver
Amazon.com: Denon AVR-E300 5.1 Channel 3D Pass Through and Networking Home Theater AV Receiver with AirPlay: Electronics

You can upgrade the receiver in the future - or move it to a second room

 

[ecologydoc]

Consider either of two systems from NHT, two Absolute Zeros and a B-10d 300w sub for $900 or two Classic Two's and the B-10d for $1100. When the time comes to upgrade, use the bookshelves as surrounds.

Not sure about the 600 sq ft room, sounds like you're more interested in quantity of music volume than quality of music volume. I've got my old vintage 1980 Marantz HD770's (10" woofer) and even slightly older Scott S186's (8" woofer) laying around doing nothing....

 

[boomersooner]

That makes sense to just move the bookshelves to surround if I get an upgrade.

What is the difference with going with the sub $650 speaker pair with the NHT's and a $600 subwoofer as opposed to the SVS ultra book shelves for a grand with a $300 speaker?

Why is no one recommending a center speaker or a couple of surround speakers?

Also, apart from size, slightly deeper base, and the possibility of needing a stand for the bookshelves (I don't think I'll need them), why would I want towers or bookshelves?

 

[zieglj01]

Why is no one recommending a center speaker or a couple of surround speakers?

Also, apart from size, slightly deeper base, and the possibility of needing a stand for the bookshelves (I don't think I'll need them), why would I want towers or bookshelves?

Because your focus seemed to be towards loud music.

A good bookshelf with a subwoofer, can out-perform lower quailty towers - a good design bookshelf
can have good quality imaging and soudstage presentation - compared to more resonant sounding
tower speakers > also you room is small, and the towers could/maybe over-whelm you.

OK, a recommendation for more speakers

JBL Studio 230 bookshelf
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-230-Bookshelf-Loudspeaker/dp/B00GJXSWZW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1406910828&sr=8-5&keywords=jbl+studio+2+series

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/A1J7_1_20131108286821037.jpg

JBL Studio 235 center
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-235C-6-5-Inch-Loudspeaker/dp/B00GJYRWK2/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1406911192&sr=8-9&keywords=jbl+studio+2+series

http://www.hideflifestyle.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/t/studio235c-1.jpg

NXG Pro 4.1 surrounds - sold each
Amazon.com: Nxg Pro 4.1 Satellite Speaker (Discontinued by Manufacturer): Electronics

SVS PB-1000 SUB
SVS PB-1000 - 300 Watt DSP Controlled, 10" Ported Subwoofer

Tascam PAR-100 receiver - new in the box - a good Ebay seller
Tascam PAR100 5 2 Channel Surround Receiver RS232 New 0043774021208 | eBay

Product: PA-R100 | TASCAM

You can always hold off on the surrounds - if money is tight.

 

[ImcLoud]

What is your source going to be?

I picture a nice dorm system with a pair of black horn tweetered bookshelfs {horns are resistant to drunk people touching them, and they dont need a ton of power to get loud, plus they will play loud for long periods of time with ease, some other tweets don't like that}...

Something simple for an amp, either a integrated or a stereo receiver, even though you want to upgrade to ht later, I would buy a stereo receiver now, avr's are hard to use {harder than a stereo receiver or i amp, just take a peak at their remotes}, they dont like playing loud level s for long periods of time, and it will be outdated in 2 years anyway, at least you can sell your stereo receiver or iamp..

Definitely get a sub...

I personally would be thinking along the lines of...
Hybrid 2 Packages the hybrid2 system in 2.1 around $925, the speakers are horn loaded the sub is on the bottom, so the chances someones destroys your system is less likely...

For an amp I would grab an audio engine d1 dac $170, then plug that into a mini dsp $105 MiniDSP 2x4 | MiniDSP , then plug that into a UPA 200 $315 https://emotiva.com/products/amplifiers/upa-200 That would cost you around $600 for electronics, but resale value would be high when and if you wanted to sell it all... I seen them items add up to $550 used, lol...

DENON DRA-697CI AM/FM Multi-Source/Zone Stereo AV Receiver | Accessories4less is another good choice, a little harder to get rid of later though and I don't think it will sound as good as the d1 dac plugged into your pc and the mini dsp crossing your highs and lows...


AND THAT WILL BE LOUD, you will have 250 watts pushing just mids and highs to a set of 92db sens bookshelfs and 250/1000 watts of bass to help it along... You need louder than that you will need a pro system lol..

 

[markw]

Fair question. Here's my take on the answers.

Why is no one recommending a center speaker or a couple of surround speakers?

Tou say in your posts thatthis is a "first"step" towards a full-blown HT system. You also say this is going to be in a very small space. And, you also specify that your main interest for now is music which, I hope, means two channel stereo.

This all makes great sense.

As such, a pair of GOOD bookshelves and a kick-ash subwoofer will make a really fine music system that will blow your windows out in that small room. You can "get by" without surrounds for now and most likely a center channel for now. If you really want one, go for one that matches your mains but personally, I'd hold off and save your $$.

A multi-channel receiver should provide all the power and flexibility you need for your requirements, both now and for the forseeble future.

Now, when you get into that bigger space you're looking forwars to, move your current speakers to surround duty and start looking for a pair of big boy towers for your mains and thair matching center speaker.

Violia! A ready made quality HT system!

 

[boomersooner]

Alright, thanks for all the help guys. Two bookshelf speakers, a nice subwoofer, and a receiver.

I think I might pull the trigger on that Tascam receiver, unless I read here or elsewhere a bad review of it or a reason not to.

Any other input on amps? Do they have a use beyond what I will be doing in college? And then as far as the difference between the different types of subs, is it mainly preference and price?

 

[zieglj01]

Alright, thanks for all the help guys. Two bookshelf speakers, a nice subwoofer, and a receiver.

I think I might pull the trigger on that Tascam receiver, unless I read here or elsewhere a bad review of it or a reason not to.

Any other input on amps? Do they have a use beyond what I will be doing in college? And then as far as the difference between the different types of subs, is it mainly preference and price?

I own a Tascam - it is a nice receiver, not hard to use for playing 2 channel stereo music.
With the price on the Tascam, it can easily become a second room receiver in the future.
The price is a serious good one.

A lot of speakers in your room and even bigger, can get real loud, and the sub will take
some stress off the speakers and the receiver. I have experience in rooms around your
college room size and bigger.

The better subs for the money, tend to come from the ID brand makers - like HSU, SVS, Outlaw,
Power Sound Audio, etc; now as far as them ID brand subs - it mainly comes down to preference
and some nit-picking > as they tend to go real low.

I would see how things go with a receiver, speakers and sub - and worry about amps and such later.

Your call

 

[boomersooner]

Alright, here's what I have now

Between receivers...

Denon AVR E300 - $250


Tascam PAR100 - $150 (on ebay)


Between bookshelves

The HSU HB-1 MK2 - $320/pair ($809 for the pair and the VTF-2 MK4 sub)

Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 Mini Towers

Honestly, I think the package HSU Hybrid 2 - 2:1 package might be the best deal. The sub seems great, on par with the SVS PB1000. I guess the SVS Ultra Bookshelves would be ideal, but from $1,500 for the SVS package to $809 with the HSU package, I don't think it's worth the extra $700.

As far as the receivers go, just the price of the Tascam makes me want to just buy that; however, does anyone have a reason why I should buy another, nicer receiver?

 

[zieglj01]

For a college dorm room - the HSU 2.1 is a good option.

When you move out of the dorm and decide to upgrade to a full surround deal, >>
then you can get the L/C/R speakers from SVS, or some other higher-up speakers.
The HSU will make nice surround speakers for a home theater and music system.
Or, move the HSU bookshelves to a separate room for 2.0 channel music.

 

[boomersooner]

Great, thanks so much zieglj and others!

Are promo codes for HSU actually a thing? Or do they just come around randomly?

 

[ImcLoud]

Seems the prices are already on sale, I never seen a coupon code for them...

 

[boomersooner]

Alright, I just went ahead and made an order for the Hybrid 2 - 2:1 package.

I still just wanted another opinion on the Tascam receiver. Will that work well for the 2:1 package? Or will another receiver be able to optimize the speakers and sub more? The Tascam puts 80 watts/ch, whereas the Denon puts 175 watts/ch

 

[shadyJ]

The Tascam will work well for a 2.1 setup. Can other receivers optimize your speakers better, sure they can, but they cost a lot more. The Denon is probably only rated for 175 watts at one channel, maybe 90 for 2 channels, and 40 for 5 channels, and so on. The Tascam is rated for 80 watts at two channels. Either will have more than enough juice for the sensitive Hsu speakers, at least for any sane loudness levels. You will have a system that can break 105 dB with no sweat.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

At what size room would you typically recommend to move from book shelf speakers to tower speakers?

A 15' x 17' room is about 250 SF and is typical of many rooms. You could use either tower or bookshelf for your main speakers in this room.

Everyone has a different view. When I hear you say "loud music + college parties", my opinion is to just get 2 JBL JRX212 pro speakers for now for $219 each.

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-JRX212-Live-Sound-Monitor/dp/B00CYNTFB6/ref=sr_1_7?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1407027321&sr=1-7&keywords=JBL+pro+speakers

They are heavy duty and sturdy and are meant for live amplified music and commercial use.

Otherwise I'm afraid you or someone else (probably inebriated ) may end up blowing your speakers.