Beginner looking for very cheap sound system

[sludgemeister]

I am 16 and I never bought a sound system before. I'm not familiar with them at all either. I have $300. I am not looking for an audiophile's system, just the best I can get with that amount of money, and I figured you guys would know how to help me the best. It would be used solely for playing music in my room, not a home theater or anything like that. Thanks in advance to anyone who decides to give me a hand with this.

 

[slipperybidness]

Gonna be tough. Do you have anything? What will be your source of material (CD, ipod, computer, etc)?

 

[Cliff_is]

You need to ask yourself if you want to buy a complete entry level system at one time, or slowly build a quality system.

You could start with a pair of bookshelf speakers and a receiver for about 300, and then add to the system as funds come available. If you go this route, you have the opportunity to buy used, refurb, and clearance gear as it pops up. I think that most of us would recommend this route.


If you decide to buy everything at once, your best bet is a HTIB (home theater in a box), from the likes of Yamaha or Onkyo. Don't be afraid to get something a year or two old in order to meet your price point. Avoid anything with a built in DVD/Blu-ray player. One system you should consider is the Onlyo HT-S340, it retails for $380.

 

[Scumfrog]

What is going to be your source. An ipod? Let us know. I love a good challenge and as a high school teacher I love helping teens make good financial decisions.
Mike

 

[sludgemeister]

Yes, the source will be an ipod. Thanks for the insight, Cliff_is, I'll look into that. Speaking of HTIBs, what do you think of the Sony HT-SS380?
I really only have the $300 so the Onlyo HT-S340 is kind of out of reach, but thank you for the tip.
And if I do buy the receiver and the speakers separately, how much money should I allot to purchasing the receiver and how much to purchasing the speakers? I have $300 for the whole thing so I don't want to spend too much on a receiver and not have enough left for decent speakers, and vice-versa.

 

[clostoyo]

Welcome to.the forums, if I were you id buy used . A decent setup.of receiver and 2 bookshelves can.be found on Craigslist for your price range. The older Yamaha receivers can be found on Craigslist for dirt cheap, find you a pair of klipsch bookshelves and there you have it on your price range. What atate do you live in?

 

[zieglj01]

I would seriously consider the Pioneer speakers.
Newegg.com - Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Loudspeakers Pair

And, the Denon 1312 receiver - with a free i-POD dock
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1312/DENON-AVR-1312-5.1-Channel-A/V-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

If you can swing it - then get the Denon 1612, and free i-POD dock
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1612/DENON-AVR-1612-5.1-Channel-A/V-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

As you save money, you can build around this system.

 

[Bryceo]

You need to ask yourself if you want to buy a complete entry level system at one time, or slowly build a quality system.

You could start with a pair of bookshelf speakers and a receiver for about 300, and then add to the system as funds come available. If you go this route, you have the opportunity to buy used, refurb, and clearance gear as it pops up. I think that most of us would recommend this route.


If you decide to buy everything at once, your best bet is a HTIB (home theater in a box), from the likes of Yamaha or Onkyo. Don't be afraid to get something a year or two old in order to meet your price point. Avoid anything with a built in DVD/Blu-ray player. One system you should consider is the Onlyo HT-S340, it retails for $380.

I couldn't have sead it any better my self,

 

[sholling]

I'm not a pod-person but if you have an 3.5mm earphone jack you may be able to use an adapter from Radio Shack and plug in a pair of Behringer B1031A ($150ea) powered studio monitors which you could also use as computer speakers. Behringer reliability can be flaky but they are great bang for the buck in a small room. I'm not sure what connector the B1031A uses but I'm sure someone else here can help. On the other hand if you can swing it zieglj01's suggestion is a good start on a full system.

I'd avoid most HTIB solutions just because all but a couple of brands (Onkyo and Denon) are proprietary and not upgradeable. If you want HTIB then this refurbished Onkyo might be an option if shipping doesn't kill the deal. Onkyo uses real receivers in their HTIBs.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

+1 sholling post,
with tiny adjustment - this is a better deal for b1030a:
Behringer B1030A 5.25" 75W Active 2-Way Studio B1030A B&H

Keep in mind - pro monitors usually sold as each. They are fully independent and each have it's own volume control
For connector - this shouldn't be too had - just use any basic ipod dock with rca line-out (not the earphone port)

That said Onkyo's HTS will give you even more bang for a buck, but ultimately will not sound as great as these monitors (for music)

 

[slipperybidness]

I would seriously consider the Pioneer speakers.
Newegg.com - Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Loudspeakers Pair

And, the Denon 1312 receiver - with a free i-POD dock
DENON AVR-1312 5.1 Channel A/V Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less

If you can swing it - then get the Denon 1612, and free i-POD dock
DENON AVR-1612 5.1 Channel A/V Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less

As you save money, you can build around this system.

To the OP, it will be hard to do better than this for the price! Remember that you may also need some budget for cables and wires. Check out monoprice.com for those

Also, these may end up being better and a little cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882117403

 

[sholling]

+1 sholling post,
with tiny adjustment - this is a better deal for b1030a:
Behringer B1030A 5.25" 75W Active 2-Way Studio B1030A B&H

The 8" 1031As were recommended because he does not have a subwoofer.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The 8" 1031As were recommended because he does not have a subwoofer.

Ahh, I missed the 1 - it's was during my first coffee
Yea, without sub - 8" woofer will help

 

[sludgemeister]

I might actually get the Denon 1612 receiver and the Behringer B1031A speakers. Seems to be the best I can get for the price. Other suggestions are welcome, and a big thank you to everyone that helped.

 

[zieglj01]

I might actually get the Denon 1612 receiver and the Behringer B1031A speakers. Seems to be the best I can get for the price. Other suggestions are welcome, and a big thank you to everyone that helped.

You do not need to buy a receiver, for active speakers.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I might actually get the Denon 1612 receiver and the Behringer B1031A speakers. Seems to be the best I can get for the price. Other suggestions are welcome, and a big thank you to everyone that helped.

If you want/need full receiver get these speakers instead - Pioneer SP-FS51-LR
Behringers are active - not need for receiver and can't connect to 1612 anyhow

 

[sludgemeister]

Oh, god. Good thing I asked you guys about it. I am guessing that getting the Denon 1612 and the Pioneer SP-FS51-LR speakers would be better than getting just the Behringer B1031As?

 

[zieglj01]

Oh, god. Good thing I asked you guys about it. I am guessing that getting the Denon 1612 and the Pioneer SP-FS51-LR speakers would be better than getting just the Behringer B1031As?

Your choice - however, you can build around a receiver. The Pioneer
bookshelf speakers were on sale - now the towers are really a good
deal, and have some nice bass.

 

[sholling]

I might actually get the Denon 1612 receiver and the Behringer B1031A speakers. Seems to be the best I can get for the price. Other suggestions are welcome, and a big thank you to everyone that helped.

As others have said the $150 EACH Behringer B1031A are "active" which means that the amplifiers are built in to the speakers and I doubt that there is any way to connect them to a low cost receiver. You would either plug them into your computer's audio out jack (might need a $5 Radio Shack "Y" adapter) or into a similar adapter for your iPod's headphone jack.

If you want to go with a receiver, which is a much more flexible option, then I'd go with the Pioneer speakers and start saving up for a subwoofer.

I'm going to toss out one more idea that wasn't really asked for simply because I was 16 once (when dinosaurs roamed) and remember how tight money was. Klipsch's Promedia 2.1 computer speakers don't suck. They aren't in the same league as the Behringer B1031A but they don't sound like cheap computer speakers either. They're also half the money and can be used with a computer and also be used with a portable's headphone jack. The bass is a bit boomy but they play loud and clear and don't take up too much room. I had a set of these hooked up to my computer for years.

Edit: You may be able to listen to the Behringer's at your local Guitar Center and listen to the Klipsch at your local Best Buy. That way you'll know if you like them before spending any money.

 

[ahblaza]

Your choice - however, you can build around a receiver. The Pioneer
bookshelf speakers were on sale - now the towers are really a good
deal, and have some nice bass.

I agree with this choice, the Pioneer SP-BS41-LR's are a very good deal at the current price of $149 but at the sale price of $99 they are a steal, Newegg will have them again at the sale price of $99. I got them for a small end section of my computer area and use them with an older Onkyo surround receiver and they fill that space nicely. The FS51's are also a steal at $129 the pair, you can get these with the 1612 and down the road add the BS41's for surrounds as funds become available, this choice gives you options to expand, I think you will be pleased with this combo of speakers and receiver.
I think the Newegg sale on the 51's ends today.
Jeff