Beginner Audio System

[slipperybidness]

Okay, now i'm pretty sure my suggestions are all you need.

1X This - $25 (Don't get this first though. Your laptop's analog outputs may be better than you think)
1X This - $4
1X This - $75
1X These - $125
and some of this

You know more about it than me, but why not the overnight sensations kit from Parts Express instead? Is it just the tweeter upgrade? But the PE kit comes with knock down cabinets for the same price.

 

[itspb]

Just be sure they have room to breath behind them. The pioneers are rear ported.

Ummm, thats gonna be a problem. How much room do you reckon do i need?

Okay, now i'm pretty sure my suggestions are all you need.

1X This - $25 (Don't get this first though. Your laptop's analog outputs may be better than you think)
1X This - $4
1X This - $75
1X These - $125
and some of this

Sound Card/DAC will be bought later on. How tough is the assembling of these speakers? T - Amp or Lepai 2020A+? $800 worth cables?

 

[slipperybidness]

Ummm, thats gonna be a problem. How much room do you reckon do i need?



Sound Card/DAC will be bought later on. How tough is the assembling of these speakers? T - Amp or Lepai 2020A+? $800 worth cables?

He was making a joke on the cables, obviously.

Somebody else can give you a better answer to the breathing room question than me. I'm guessing minimum 8"

 

[zieglj01]

Ummm, thats gonna be a problem. How much room do you reckon do i need?

3 inches can work.

 

[GranteedEV]

You know more about it than me, but why not the overnight sensations kit from Parts Express instead? Is it just the tweeter upgrade? But the PE kit comes with knock down cabinets for the same price.

The PE kit will be just fine.

Sound Card/DAC will be bought later on. How tough is the assembling of these speakers? T - Amp or Lepai 2020A+?

The Lepai is 6W at .1 % distortion. The SA-50 realistically will have three to four times as much power on tap - I'd imagine 20W.

Assembly for the box probably won't be an issue and you'll have plenty of fun. The crossover will take a bit of thought and you'll probably need to make a thread here asking for input but again, nothing difficult.

 

[GranteedEV]

He was making a joke on the cables, obviously.

Somebody else can give you a better answer to the breathing room question than me. I'm guessing minimum 8"

breathing room behind a port should be about equal to or greater than the diameter of the port. The tuning of course matters. If the box has a shallow rolloff before its tuning, then you probably won't have problems. if the box is flat to tuning or worse, has a peak at tuning, then you've got issues.

 

[itspb]

3 inches can work.

Do-able.

The PE kit will be just fine.

The Lepai is 6W at .1 % distortion. The SA-50 realistically will have three to four times as much power on tap - I'd imagine 20W.

Assembly for the box probably won't be an issue and you'll have plenty of fun. The crossover will take a bit of thought and you'll probably need to make a thread here asking for input but again, nothing difficult.

Sure it will be fun but I prefer pre-assembled speakers. I'm really messy with assembling stuff so probably wont do a good job.

 

[ahblaza]

An amp needs a preamp to drive it, two different components, a receiver has both the preamp and amp on the same chassis, in other words you get two components (amp and pre) in one case= receiver. Attach speakers, use a line level source into any analog input on your receiver, done. I like this which gives a little more flexibility including digital inputs, you then have your DAC too...........

Onkyo TX-8050 2-Channel Network Stereo Receiver | Accessories4less

 

[GranteedEV]

Do-able.



Sure it will be fun but I prefer pre-assembled speakers. I'm really messy with assembling stuff so probably wont do a good job.

Then purchase these:

EMP Tek E41 Bookshelf Speaker

No assembly required. They are speakers you can live with for the rest of your life, so it's not just a temporary investment.

 

[markw]

3 inches can work.

That's what she said.

 

[zieglj01]

I was under the impression that receiver and the amp did the same job. And yeah, that was stupid of me. So what is the difference between the two?

A short take

A stereo amplifier, is designed to take a line level audio signal produced by audio source components
like CD players and other componets, and will amplify the power and keep the frequency.

A receiver is, a stereo component that combines an amplifier, preamplifier and processing >>> plus the
radio tuner. It will be cheaper and budget friendly, when you need to combine componets.

 

[ahblaza]

Check these out, front ported also
Newegg.com - Polk Audio Monitor50 Series II Floorstanding Loudspeaker (Black) Each

 

[itspb]

Then purchase these:

EMP Tek E41 Bookshelf Speaker

No assembly required. They are speakers you can live with for the rest of your life, so it's not just a temporary investment.

Out of budget. I don't live in USA and will be moving back after 4 years so everything I buy is a temporary investment.

A short take

A stereo amplifier, is designed to take a line level audio signal produced by audio source components
like CD players and other componets, and will amplify the power and keep the frequency.

A receiver is, a stereo component that combines an amplifier, preamplifier and processing >>> plus the
radio tuner. It will be cheaper and budget friendly, when you need to combine componets.

Alright, so Pioneer FS51 combined with Sherwood receiver or Audioengines A2?

Check these out, front ported also
Newegg.com - Polk Audio Monitor50 Series II Floorstanding Loudspeaker (Black) Each

They do seem good. But won't floorstanding speakers be too big and loud for my room?

 

[zieglj01]

Alright, so Pioneer FS51 combined with Sherwood receiver or Audioengines A2?

I would go with the Pioneer Sherwood combo. Remember the FS51 are small tower
speakers. Also I do prefer, and will take Pioneer over Polk Monitor speakers.

 

[ahblaza]

I would go with the Pioneer Sherwood combo. Remember the FS51 are small tower
speakers. Also I do prefer, and will take Pioneer over Polk Monitor speakers.

+111111, the Pioneer FS51 with the Sherwood, $239 , this combo will have you smiling in no time, I just threw the Polks out there because of front port, FS51 , you may need to raise the 51's about 6-8" to get tweeter at ear level, the newer 52's have a taller cab, that really is the only complaint with the 51's, that really is a minor one
Cheers Jeff

 

[itspb]

+111111, the Pioneer FS51 with the Sherwood, $239 , this combo will have you smiling in no time, I just threw the Polks out there because of front port, FS51 , you may need to raise the 51's about 6-8" to get tweeter at ear level, the newer 52's have a taller cab, that really is the only complaint with the 51's, that really is a minor one
Cheers Jeff

I really doubt i will be able to get them higher.

So Pioneer FS51 and Sherwood RX 4105. Decided.

Do i need to get anything else? Cables? Stands?

And for future, Sound Card/DAC? Sub?

 

[ahblaza]

I really doubt i will be able to get them higher.

So Pioneer FS51 and Sherwood RX 4105. Decided.

Do i need to get anything else? Cables? Stands?

And for future, Sound Card/DAC? Sub?

Here is another reason to get the FS51's, $20 more off.
Newegg.com - Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Floorstanding Speakers Pair

You don't need stands, the FS51's are towers, speaker cables you do need:
HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!
you can get all your cables here and I would use bare wire connection on the speaker end and banana plugs on the receiver, or for convenience banana's all around. If you can't raise the 51's sit lower to keep tweets at ear level.
You can get the matching sub, I can't attest to how good it is, but for the price right now you can't go wrong.
Newegg.com - Pioneer SW-8 100W Powered Subwoofer Each
It will get you buy at that price until you can upgrade to better sub. With the 51's you may feel that you don't need a sub at this point.
As far as sound card/DAC, I'll let others chime in here, I still can't see why you would want these.
You could get this if you ever want to expand your setup and it has an optical digital input (DAC) and much better speaker binding posts than the Sherwood which I just noticed has spring clip terminals.
DENON AVR-1312 5.1 Channel A/V Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less
Hope this helps or did I just confuse you more.
Cheers Jeff

 

[itspb]

Here is another reason to get the FS51's, $20 more off.
Newegg.com - Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Floorstanding Speakers Pair

You don't need stands, the FS51's are towers, speaker cables you do need:
HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!
you can get all your cables here and I would use bare wire connection on the speaker end and banana plugs on the receiver, or for convenience banana's all around. If you can't raise the 51's sit lower to keep tweets at ear level.
You can get the matching sub, I can't attest to how good it is, but for the price right now you can't go wrong.
Newegg.com - Pioneer SW-8 100W Powered Subwoofer Each
It will get you buy at that price until you can upgrade to better sub. With the 51's you may feel that you don't need a sub at this point.
As far as sound card/DAC, I'll let others chime in here, I still can't see why you would want these.
You could get this if you ever want to expand your setup and it has an optical digital input (DAC) and much better speaker binding posts than the Sherwood which I just noticed has spring clip terminals.
DENON AVR-1312 5.1 Channel A/V Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less
Hope this helps or did I just confuse you more.
Cheers Jeff

That discount is the main reason why i'm going for these

Can you be more specific about the wires. There are so many of them that it gets really confusing. Thanks

SUB and DAC are for later on, if i need them that is.

I'm already on the edge here dude. Can't afford to spend more

I just noticed one thing, sherwood receiver says that minimum 8ohms connection but Pioneer is just 6ohms!

 

[ahblaza]

That discount is the main reason why i'm going for these

Can you be more specific about the wires. There are so many of them that it gets really confusing. Thanks

SUB and DAC are for later on, if i need them that is.

I'm already on the edge here dude. Can't afford to spend more

I just noticed one thing, sherwood receiver says that minimum 8ohms connection but Pioneer is just 6ohms!

Speaker cable and two pair of banana plugs or (4 pair if you go with the Denon) the plugs will go on the cable end to the speaker binding posts and bare wire to the Sherwood.
For only $1.23 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 1 PAIR OF High-Quality Copper Speaker Banana Plugs - Closed Screw Type [JX-74043] | Banana Plugs
For only $11.47 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 50ft 14AWG CL2 Rated 2-Conductor Loud Speaker Cable (For In-Wall Installation) | 14AWG Loud Speaker Cables
Or these wires, I don't know what size (gauge) bare wire the Sherwood's spring clips will accept, I think user reviews mentioned 16 AWG?
For only $9.14 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 50ft 16AWG Enhanced Loud Oxygen-Free Copper Speaker Wire Cable | 16AWG Loud Speaker Cables

I don't know if I missed something, what sources will you be using, CD player etc.? Let us know and we will let u know. My friend I would really consider the Denon as it has binding posts and digital input and you could use the better speaker cable and won't have to worry if it can accept the 14 AWG, the Denon or the Sherwood will drive the FS51's, you just have more options and versatility with the Denon and it's only $10 more. Think about it.


DENON AVR-1312 5.1 Channel A/V Home Theater Receiver | Accessories4less

Cheers Jeff