PLEASE HELP: +/- $300 SPEAKER TYPE, SELECTION, LAYOUT, ETC.
Hello, I’m new to this forum and would really appreciate some basic advice on setting up a budget stereo system. It has been about 20 years since I have bought anything and I am feeling overwhelmed after researching here and on the AVS and AudioKarma forums and the internet in general. So much has changed since then….
I have read several relevant threads here but am still quite unclear. Sorry for another newb thread!
My wife is a part-time opera singer, so it is important that the set-up be geared for her to listen to her practices and other works, as well as a range of music from classical to jazz and blues. We have a nice television but have never looked into home theater, etc. That would only be a by-product, not a major criterion at all. We do have several Sonos pieces throughout the house. The only stereo components we use now (these are old and I don’t know if they are worth keeping…but if possible we would like to in order to contain costs) are a Philips FR 920 A/V Surround receiver; a Sony C77ES CD player; and a DVD player. The no-name speakers are trashed and that is our primary need.
If it helps, I have attached a plan of the living area, which is a bit complex perhaps. The space is quite long (37’) but is divided into 2 sections in terms of height. The shaded area that has red dots over (where the stereo/TV are) is about 12’ x 14’ with a flat ceiling about 8.5’ high, while the area not dotted rises from 8.5’ at the windows to about 16’ high at the curved dashed line. The floors are terrazzo except for 3 rugs; the walls are plaster over brick; the ceilings are drywall, so a lot of hard surfaces.
(Oops, can't post images until have 5 posts...will attach later.)
I realize that it is best to listen to speakers before buying, but I’m not even sure what to ask a salesman although I will go to some stores with the same questions listed here; I would just feel better with a bit more knowledge before running that gauntlet….
Despite my wife’s avocation, we are not really audiophiles, not tech geeks and are on a very tight budget. Basically, new speakers at $300-$400 are the first necessity, and this is where it gets confusing. I have read all the “best speakers under $300” etc. threads here and elsewhere, but I’m feeling information overload because I don’t know how to set my criteria.
Other than budget, I don’t know if I should look at bookshelf or floor (bookshelf would be better for space; the usual Cambridge S30; KEF Iq30; Axiom M3v3; Monitor BR-2; Wharfedale 9.2; Energy; BW 685; Ascend; HTD; HSU; PSB; Paradigm; NHT SuperOne (can’t afford the Absolutes or Classics (which look nice) new); etc. suspects );
at full-range or 2 speakers + subwoofer;
or at a 5.1 setup such as some NHT SuperZeros + subwoofer.
The more I read the more lost I feel!
We are definitely very open to increasing the quality of the speakers by buying used, and will be looking to do that.
Any advice as to what speaker type, as well as on components (mainly receiver if we need a new one), will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I am cross-posting this on a couple of other forums also, so apologies to those who read the same thread twice.
