Speaker/Receiver Recommendations

[vausa99]

Ok...so I'm just finding the time and the money to get back in to my music. I'm looking for recommendations on equipment, etc. All advice will be greatly appreciated, believe me.

I have nothing now, but a Denon 1940 DVD player. It is running through a vintage Marantz SR5100 receiver. Nice receiver, but with teenagers and a non-technical wife, I would like to get something that I can hook everything up to and have a remote. I'll probably sell the Marantz if anyone is interested or can give me an idea of the price. It is in great shape and everything works on it.

I have a relatively small room right now...18x24 or so. I do not yet have an HD TV, but I'm sure I'll upgrade in a year or two.

In terms of speakers, I'm I better off getting a couple of good floors and forgoing the rest? My primary purpose is music, but it would be nice to eventually use them for a HT as well.

How about receiver and how it will match with the speakers?

I have about $1,500 to spend.

Thanks much in advance.

 

[mazersteven]

For $1500 bucks IMO I would get a nice pair of bookshelf speakers, and a receiver to drive them. Then as time goes on you can add to the system if your able to do that.

What music do you listen to most?

 

[vausa99]

Thanks, Mazersteven.

Mostly I listen to classical, jazz, and old rock. However, my wife listens to lots of country.

Might you make some recommendations on bookshelfs and receivers? I know everyone has an opinion, but yours would be useful.

Thanks...

 

[mazersteven]

Audio Insider
HiVi D2.1SE
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_23&products_id=69

SVS
MTS
http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-mts01.cfm

Ascend Acoustics
SIERRA-1
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/SRM1/srm1.html

Audio Insider
Dana 630
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_25&products_id=32

Polk Audio (look for pre/owner on E-bay Audiogon $500 a pair)
LSi9
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/lsi9/

B&W
CM1
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=816&sc=ht

 

[mazersteven]

For a receiver it all depends if you want to future proof a little for a new HD television. Or any other features you think you might need.

Onkyo TX-SR805 (not saying this is the place to purchase this. I just couldn't access the Onkyo web-site)
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=10420&i=580TXS805B&search=Onkyo+VENDORID580&searchdisplay=Onkyo&tp=179

Yamaha RX-V661
http://store.audioholics.com/product/1092/69/yamaha-rx-v661-7-1-channel-digital-home-theater-receiver

http://www.ubid.com/Yamaha_RX-V661_910W_7.1_Ch._A/V_Home_Theater_Receiver/a11227813.html

Yamaha RX-V1700
http://www.ubid.com/Yamaha_RX-V1700_910_Watts_7.1_Ch._A/V_Home_Theater/a11227810.html

Yamaha RX-V2700
http://www.ubid.com/Yamaha_RX-V2700_980Watts_7.1Ch._Home_Theater_Receiver/a11227812.html

 

[John Bailey]

I tend to like standmounts so I would go that route. I buy 100% for music. My favourite, in your price range, are the Focal JM-Labs 807V (list $999). Buy a receiver with a 5.1 100 wpc and you're good to go for now and in the foreseeable future.

John

 

[mazersteven]

For speaker cables, and interconnect cables.

www.monoprice.com

www.bluejeanscable.com

Audio/Video racks, stands, mounts

www.standsandmounts.com

www.racksandstands.com

 

[Frugal]

Harmony remote

Ok... with teenagers and a non-technical wife, I would like to get something that I can hook everything up to and have a remote.

If you get a Harmony remote it won't matter what equipment you buy, it'll be easy for everyone to control. Check Costco.

 

[Antus]

from my experience, if you listen to music most of the time, get a good 2 channel usually better than having many speakers around you.

i agree with above reply that it is a good idea to have a 2 speakers and a receiver. if you want, u can use 2.1 setup, which is 2 speakers, a sub, and a receiver.

my setup would be a a pair of B&W 686 (or 685) and a 610 sub. the speakers will cost around $800 to $1000. u will have around $600 for a receiver.

as for receiver, poeple had gave many wonder choices already, u can choose from Onkyo, Pioneer, Denon, Sony, Marantz. etc. (make sure u get the latest model with HDMI 1.3, u may not need it now, but good for future proof. and Pre-Out, in case u want to upgrade an external amp and use receiver as pre-processer)

for music setup, sub should be placed in between front speakers.

 

[rnatalli]

Give B&W and Monitor Audio a listen. Audition as many as possible as speakers are a very important part of your system. There are tons to choose from and all are very different.

 

[mazersteven]

for music setup, sub should be placed in between front speakers.

Why does the sub have to be placed in between the front speakers?

 

[Antus]

for movie, a sub is for the room filled effect, it doesn't matter where the source is from, as long as the room is filled.

for music, image is more important. placing sub in between front speakers will have better image. u won't feel the low frequency is coming from somewhere else, other than coming from front.

and ideal setup would be 2 sub, place right next to the small front left right speakers. in this setup, it's more like 2 full size left/right channel instead of left/right and a sub.

for example, when u listen to a ochstra, the low frequency may come from bass or drum on left or right side of the ochstra. if u place sub on the side of the room, it will sounds a little strange. however, with that said, low frequency are not as directional as high frequency, though.

 

[John Bailey]

Why does the sub have to be placed in between the front speakers?

I would agree that the sub should be placed between the two speakers for music listening. I would also tell you that everything I've read would suggest that it doesn't matter because the subs are non-directional. However, to my ears, it just sounded better to have the sub between the two mains. I've never been satisfied with the sound of a sub combined with standmounts, so I don't use one. Remember, my set-up is 100% music. I'm sure that makes a difference. Over the years, I've decided I didn't need the bass reinforcement. If I did, I think, for music, I would simply go to floor standers. If you are looking to spend around $1,000 for speakers, you can get some good floor models at that price also.

John

 

[mazersteven]

and ideal setup would be 2 sub, place right next to the small front left right speakers. in this setup, it's more like 2 full size left/right channel instead of left/right and a sub.

Explain how you set this up? Are you talking about stereo subs?

 

[3db]

for movie, a sub is for the room filled effect, it doesn't matter where the source is from, as long as the room is filled.

for music, image is more important. placing sub in between front speakers will have better image. u won't feel the low frequency is coming from somewhere else, other than coming from front.

and ideal setup would be 2 sub, place right next to the small front left right speakers. in this setup, it's more like 2 full size left/right channel instead of left/right and a sub.

for example, when u listen to a ochstra, the low frequency may come from bass or drum on left or right side of the ochstra. if u place sub on the side of the room, it will sounds a little strange. however, with that said, low frequency are not as directional as high frequency, though.

I would have to disagree with your statement on one but crucial caveat. As long as the sub plays bass below 80 Hz, (I think thats the point where bass is difficult to localize) you can stick the sub any where in the room where its gives the most even response. Imaging doesn't play in here at all. It will appear that the speakers are putting out the bass, not a sub. Now, if your main speakers can't go down to 80 Hz and the sub has to cover say up to a 100 Hz or so, then it would easier to audably locate the sub. Even if placed between the speakers, you may still find attention drawn to the sub and imaging is shot anyway. Your best bet is to place the sub that gives you the stongest AND most even response.

But if music is your prference, I would skip the stand mount sub configuration and go with a good pair of towers. To my ears, towers offer a better intergrated sound than standmount/sub configurations.

 

[vausa99]

Thank you...

...for all of your comments and input. I have found two local stores that carry the B&W and Polk LSis. I plan to "interview" them this weekend. I think I have narrowed the focus down to those two. For the B&W's I'll listen to both the CM1 as well as the 685. Once I hear those, I'll decide whether I want to go the route of the bookshelves with stands and possibly a sub, or better to get a couple of floors to begin with.

Again, can't thank you all enough for your time and input.

 

[mazersteven]

Make sure you audition those LSi9's too.

 

[vausa99]

LSi9s

I will indeed. They have great reviews. Unfortunately, I have to go to different stores to audition the B&Ws and LSi9s. I wish I could listen to them together, in the same room, on the same equipment. But alas...

Thanks for your advice, Steve. I noted that you only listed the Yamaha and Onkyo receivers as possibilities. Is that because that is what is in my price range or are you just so hot on Denon or the Pioneer Elite?

 

[vausa99]

Speaker Auditions

Mazersteven...I had a chance to audition the B&Ws and the Polk today. Very interesting. Unortunately, they were not at the same store and not in the same environment.

I listened to both the CM1 and the 685s from B&W. I enjoyed the warm and depth of the 685s more than the CM1s. I also found the B&Ws to be warmer than the Polk LSi9s. None of the speakers were biwired and all played through the Yamaha 1700.

A number of other considerations are in play here: 1) the LSi9s are $899 here, while the 685s are $649 and the CM1s about $900; 2) the B&Ws are sold through a very high end audio store. The advisor was extremely knowledgable. Moreover, the store offers a 1 year upgrade guarantee. That is, if the speakers are in good shape, I can return them within a year for full price if I upgrade to a more expensive speaker. The advisor at the store with the Polks new nothing. Very disappointing.

I also listened to the B&W 683s and I liked them very much as well. But at $1,500 it is a bit more than I have budget for right now.

Unfortunately, I can find no place that has the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1s for audition. I would have really liked to hear those as well.

So...all this means what? I guess I will go with the B&W 685s. But, locally I can also pick up a pair of Klipsch RF-3s for about $600 (used, but in perfect condition). Thoughts?

 

[mazersteven]

The Ascend Acoustic Sierra speakers are internet only. Ascend has a 30-DAY GUARANTEE if you want to audition in your home.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/support/30dayguar.html

You mentioned "Bi-Wiring". Just for your information Bi-Wiring does nothing. There is no sonic advantage to Bi-Wiring. Bi-Amping is a different story, but the speakers your looking at don't need to be B-Amp'd. IMO