Rookie Needs help buying Whole-House Speakers and Receiver

[scottie2787]

I am a beginner and I am looking for some whole house speakers and receiver to go into my master suite. They will primarily be used for listening to an iPod or stereo. I looking for something pretty inexpensive but something that is decent, I won't be able to tell if the speaker is perfect I just don't want it to sound like it has been blown. To some, inexpensive means $200 per speaker but I was hoping for even less. So please suggest products with your opinions, and give me advice like spending money on the receiver it worth it compared to the speakers or vice versa. Thanks

 

[adk highlander]

I am a beginner and I am looking for some whole house speakers and receiver to go into my master suite. They will primarily be used for listening to an iPod or stereo. I looking for something pretty inexpensive but something that is decent, I won't be able to tell if the speaker is perfect I just don't want it to sound like it has been blown. To some, inexpensive means $200 per speaker but I was hoping for even less. So please suggest products with your opinions, and give me advice like spending money on the receiver it worth it compared to the speakers or vice versa. Thanks

How many separate zones are you looking to do? (I'm only asking because you use the term whole house and then you say your master suite. Did you just mean in-ceiling?)

How do you want to control the system? (Remote controls, key pads, iPhone)

What is your total budget?

 

[scottie2787]

I am looking to control two zones (one in the bathroom/closet, one for the remainder of the master suite) Using a iPhone would be great to control the system. After what I read about my options for different receivers, I was planning on buying a Denon DRA-697CI or Marantz SR4023, but if you would like to suggest something else I would love to hear.

I was expected to put in in-wall speakers but I can do wall mounts if I need to.

I would like to keep the entire system under $1000 bucks, including the receiver, but I could increase the budget if it is really necessary.

I'll need 8 speakers so they could get expensive, pretty quickly.

Thanks for your help.

 

[markw]

If you're talking eight speakers, you're gonna need more than a single receiver. You'll need additional amplification as well.

 

[scottie2787]

So does that just mean I should buy an amp to connect to the receiver or what?

 

[markw]

You should be able to handle four speakers, or two zones, fairly easily and, depending on your receiver and it's implementation, one receiver.

A lot of the rest of the answer depends on your expectations of the other four speakers.