OK, I'm an idiot, or so I am told!! First post here.

[Seth=L]

THD is Total Harmonic Distortion. keyword being distortion, so you want as little of that as possible.

so a lower number is better.

edit: mazer beat me to it.

I wouldn't be overly concerned with THD factors, since not even 1% THD is audible. .09% or .15% it doesn't really matter.

 

[BMXTRIX]

There are a couple of others which really come up with the points that I consider matter the most...

Speakers are personal preference, they are not a 'budget' thing first, but are a budget thing SECOND. If you find speakers you like which are $2,000 total, then go with them, but don't listen to anyone else beyond your own ears. Best Buy, Myer Emco, The Gifted Listener (all localish), can provide many different levels of listening experiences combined with sales information that may or may not be totally worthless, but if you don't personally like what you see and hear, then it doesn't matter.

Always a possibility: www.axiomaudio.com

http://www.axiomaudio.com/epic80_600.html#

That's a lot of speakers for the money.

For receivers, I really lean towards Denon. I love my Yamaha, but I continually hear that Denon amplifiers are a cut above what almost anyone else delivers, and I've seen Pioneer's amps simply not cut it for some installations I've done. But, it's not a world of difference really. A decent A/V receiver comes down to features, and I don't think that you will be upset with about anything, yet I would be looking for some decent power and some decent features with your budget, and would likely consider the new Denon AVR-2809 right away with a fair bit of bells and whistles.

Remember, enjoy the process, and look for stores which will audition gear for you. The Bethesda Myer-Emco is a pretty good store with some more upper-end gear for listening. The Gifted Listener is all about audio, and may have been one of my best listening experiences even though I didn't buy from them.

Best Buy? Magnolia? Circuit City? You aren't going anywhere with them, but they should be considered as the most fun to just tool around in without thought. If you are here for more than 5 minutes, you likely know more than 50% of any BB/CC employee. Except for a key few, you won't be helped by those types of stores.

Speakers do always seem to fit a basic line IMO though... The more you pay, the more you get, from almost every reputable manufacturer. While some area fair bit pricier than others, and some are 'high end' models only, almost all brands, from Klipsch, to Def-Tech, to B&W, to Meridian ($$$!), offer a performance jump as you spend more cash.

Where I wouldn't slouch? Subwoofer.

You may also want to take a look at www.audiogon.com which I personally used to pick up a Velodyne HGS-18 speaker a few years back for $1,400. I could possibly sell that speaker today for what I paid for it. Good deals can be had if you look, but there is always a risk with used gear... but you can save 50% on MSRP as well.

Good luck!

 

[Highbar]

Wow it's been awhile since I posted here and one of the first topics I come across is from a guy in Bel Air where I grew up.

I'm not going to give you ideas how to break your money down, everyone else has. As for suggestions for receivers I'm a Denon and Rotel fan Rotel being more expensive, and Yamaha probably rounds out my top three. As for speakers I love my Paradigms and want to finish out a nice 5.1 with them when I get the money. I'm looking at the Panasonic Blu-Ray player.

As for local places to shop, it's not really local but AVS in Laurel is incredible and guys there know their stuff and are willing to help you out. I got turned on to them by a friend and every time I walk in I get incredible service and help even if it's just to audition speakers and not buy anything.

If you head down there just make sure you take a truck... good towers aren't going to fit in a hatchback

T

 

[Davemcc]

I just want to reiterate what some of the other members said with a little more explanation, at least from my point of view. Choose the speakers first. This is important because in the price range that you are looking, some of the best speakers may 4 ohm and/or have very low sensitivity. These speakers may be very hard for a receiver to drive, especially those in the $400 range. If your speaker choice is a hard to drive speaker, you may be required to use a separate amp with the budget receiver.

If you should choose a Paradigm or Klipsh or some other relatively easy to drive 8 ohm speaker (which most commercial brands are), then you will be fine with just about any receiver. But if you start looking at some of the higher end brands, like Dynaudio for one, you may find yourself with a 4 ohm 86 dB speaker that needs a better amp. In that case you have the choice of the budget receiver/separate amp combo or you could choose to get a higher end receiver that is 4 ohm capable and has the power you need. Financially, the combo or higher end receiver is probably the same and it's just a personal choice. The point is, whichever amp you choose should be based upon which speaker it's intended to drive, not the other way around.

 

[rsd22]

The notation that causes text to be quoted is in the brackets: []. You can delete portions of the text within the quoted sections if you want. You can also put in multiple quotes.

That might be too vague. If it is, just let us know.

Ok, I'm still lost as to how to post a reply and drop just a sentence or two in my reply (from original post I'm replying to). Do I use the 'Reply with Quote' button? I've been using the 'Quick Reply" button since my first post yesterday.

And can I reply to several people's posts in the same reply? Rather than reply to each post via seperate posts? Thx...

 

[Davemcc]

When you hit the "reply with quote button", you should see the post you are quoting in your own post. Simply edit and delete the parts you don't think are relevant.

If you want to multiquote, hit the button with the "+ in the bottom right corner on each posts you want to quote and it will change to "-, then hit the quote button on the last post you want to use (or something to that effect).

 

[mazersteven]

Ok, I'm still lost as to how to post a reply and drop just a sentence or two in my reply (from original post I'm replying to). Do I use the 'Reply with Quote' button? I've been using the 'Quick Reply" button since my first post yesterday.

And can I reply to several people's posts in the same reply? Rather than reply to each post via seperate posts? Thx...

Click on the "Quote" button

. Once the reply window opens up you'll see the post your replying to. Take the mouse and left click where you want to start to delete. Then go to the other end of the sentence or paragraph that you want to delete and when holding down the "SHIFT" key on your keyboard left click your mouse again. This should highlight what you want to delete in blue. Then hit your "BACKSPACE" key on your keyboard.

 

[bandphan]

Click on the "Qte" bton

. Oe te rpl idow pens up yo'll se the pst your lying to. Cake the mouse and left lick where you want to start to delete. Then go to the other end of the sentence or rag that you want to del and when ding down the "IF" key on your keyboard left lic your mouse again. This should highlight what you want to deete in lue. Then hit your "BACKSPACE" key on your keyboard.

your so computer savy

 

[rsd22]

As for local places to shop, it's not really local but AVS in Laurel is incredible and guys there know their stuff and are willing to help you out.

Much too far away. I commute 174 miles each day (round trip) so travelling another couple hundred miles on my day off just ain't gonna happen. Appreciate it just the same.

 

[rsd22]

I think I deleted too much of the post I wanted to reply to (as you can see above). The original post didn't come through in Italics.

 

[mazersteven]

Much too far away. I commute 174 miles each day (round trip) so travelling another couple hundred miles on my day off just ain't gonna happen. Appreciate it just the same.

Then just order the system I posted and linked for you in post #5

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Let me make this easy for you:

1.Speakers- look at the websites for Paradigm, Dynaudio and B&W, it will show you a dealer locator. Go listen to the different lines of all 3 and then buy the one you like the best.

2. AVR- Find a dealer that has some Yamaha 1800's and 3800's left and you can talk several hundred dollars off of them since the new models were just released.

3. Amp- Get an EMO amp if one is needed for the speakers you get. Heck, get one anyway if you want to be an Audioholic.

4. Sub- Get the SVS Ultra

5. Get all your cables and wires from Blue Jeans of MonoPrice

6. Hook it all up and enjoy it.

Wasn't that easy!!!!!

 

[Adam]

2. AVR- Find a dealer that has some Yamaha 1800's and 3800's left and you can talk several hundred dollars off of them since the new models were just released.

Just make sure that the small volume display doesn't bother you.

3. Amp- Get an EMO amp if one is needed for the speakers you get. Heck, get one anyway if you want to be an Audioholic.

Ehhh. I'd pass, and I own two of them. I say that only to give another viewpoint on them, not to bash them.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

What are you talking about, I have a 3900 and the volume is huge!

I may also pass on the EMO now that I think about it.

Just make sure that the small volume display doesn't bother you.



Ehhh. I'd pass, and I own two of them. I say that only to give another viewpoint on them, not to bash them.

 

[Adam]

What are you talking about, I have a 3900 and the volume is huge!

You mentioned the 3800, and you said the volume display was too small on that. Did you trade it in for a 3900?

Sorry for any threadjacking here, but I think this might apply...

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I seem to always jack everyone's thread...sorry.

I was just jacking with you, I have not been to my dealers yet to see if the new models addressed the volume display. In the long run the display will not matter as I will have all my gear in a closet so I wont see the display anyway but 400-500 bucks off of a top-line AVR is going to be hard to beat so I would consider this if I was the OP..

You mentioned the 3800, and you said the volume display was too small on that. Did you trade it in for a 3900?

Sorry for any threadjacking here, but I think this might apply...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What are you talking about, I have a 3900 and the volume is huge!

What?

When did this happen?

When everyone was at Home Depot getting prepared for the storm, you went and upgraded to the V3900?

 

[3db]

If you have a PSB dealer nearby, check these out to see if you think you would like them;

http://www.psbspeakers.com/news/New-Imagine-Series-of-Speakers

In general,

What I would do is to take a pad of paper with you, write down the make and
model of each speaker you audition and what you liked and disliked about the
speakers you were auditioning. Was the bass tight and deep or was it boomy and loose sounding? Were the mids life like or were they hollow or just too pronounced? Was the treble irritating and harsh or were they dark and not revealing or were they smooththat made you want to listen for more? How was the imaging?

Bring music with you that you are very familiar with and know quite well. To
make it easier to audition HT speaker systems, listen to the main speakers in 2
channel mode with music. Music is much harder to reproduce accurately then a movie soundtrack so if the speakers do well with music, then they will do wellwith HT. Speakers that do HT well may not do well with music. When auditioning the center channel of the same brand and series as the main speakers, pick a difficult source like an announcer that mumbles alot. If you can understand what the mumbling announcer is saying, then you have a good center channel.

I would go to speciality stores first and start auditioning speakers first
instead of going to the internet first. Once your likes are determined, you can
mention them here and fellow members can make internet brand recommendations based on your likes/dislikes. The specality stores are better setup acousticaly then the big box stores which will make auditioning a little easier. It will give you an idea of what you like in a speaker.


One thing to keep note off. When auditioning speakers, make sure the volume
levels are matched between the diiferent speaker pairs because the louder
speaker pair will always sound better. Listen to levels that you think you
would listen to most of the time because thats how you are going to be using
them most of the time.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Don't buy a damn thing until you have 3,000 posts to your name!

By then, you will have learned so much and be ready to graduate into a real Audioholic and be able to make "sound" decisions.

So for now, just ask away and open up all your thoughts and ideas.

 

[mazersteven]

Don't buy a damn thing until you have 3,000 posts to your name!

By then, you will have learned so much and be ready to graduate into a real Audioholic and be able to make "sound" decisions.

That advise didn't work for you. You purchased a Definitive system.