Talked my wife into letting me build a 2ch system..

[ImcLoud]

OK, so I just finished my home theater which my wife was totally against, but now loves... She tried to play it off like she didnt like it, but I tricked her into admitting she liked it, I simply unplugged the power strip after we used it for a week and let her listen to the led tv's speakers for an entire day instead of the theater system and she couldn't wait for me to fix the imaginary problem I created...
So anyway, I convinced her to let me build a music only system...

We have a sitting room in the front of my house, with 22ft cathedral ceiling that is around 300 sq ft, with 3 large openings to other parts of the house {and a balcony to the upstairs bedrooms}... There is no tv or stereo in the room, although my whole house multi room system has 2 speakers on the upper level that fire into the room {but they are only 40 watts each just for ambiance/atmosphere}...

So she agreed to a stereo but she has a few rules... which she took the initiative to write down for me...
1-NO BLACK SPEAKERS
2-NO HUGE TOWER OF COMPONENTS
3-NO WIRES EVERYWHERE
4-NO SPEAKERS LARGER THAN THE TOWERS IN OUR THEATER
5-NO MORE THAN 2 SPEAKERS
6-NOTHING HANGING FROM THE CEILING OR WALLS
7-AND NO MORE THAN $2000 {same budget I had for the theater system which I almost doubled }

My buddy just built a 2 channel system with Warfedale evo2-40's which I think I am going to do the same, his sound way better than any other $800 towers I have heard... I love my 340se's in the theater, but I can never get in there to listen to music {family of 4}, and rule #1 on her list is NO BLACK SPEAKERS, I would love to get the Ascend Sierra towers but they are $2000 alone...

I am also going to go with 2 subs, since the room is so large and for music everyone has told me sealed subs sound better , I think 2 sealed -12"/200-400 watt subs will do nicely.. I know rule #5 is "NO MORE THAN 2 SPEAKERS", but she didnt say how many subs I could put...

I already ordered the amp from Emotiva a XPA-2, 300 watts per channel... $700 , and I am going to use my XDA1 as a preamp.
So I have $1300 left, if I spend $800 on the evo-40's I will only have $500 for 2 subs... this is going to be tough...

 

[Irvrobinson]

Has your wife read this post? I wonder if she realizes how domineering and condescending she comes off. I know that I'm completely spoiled by a spouse who thinks a $35K audio system (with huge black tower speakers) is an important and welcome addition to the house, but even a middle ground should involve mutual respect. I know that if I were acting like her, and discovered that I was being unreasonable and suppressing my spouse, I would want to change my tone, be more supportive, and compromise.

That said, in your price range I always recommend taking a look at the used speaker market. Let someone else pay the depreciation on new stuff.

 

[ImcLoud]

Has your wife read this post? I wonder if she realizes how domineering and condescending she comes off. I know that I'm completely spoiled by a spouse who thinks a $35K audio system (with huge black tower speakers) is an important and welcome addition to the house, but even a middle ground should involve mutual respect. I know that if I were acting like her, and discovered that I was being unreasonable and suppressing my spouse, I would want to change my tone, be more supportive, and compromise.

That said, in your price range I always recommend taking a look at the used speaker market. Let someone else pay the depreciation on new stuff.

I am looking at used stuff too, but it doesnt seem to be much cheaper, I see Emotiva amps on ebay selling for $10 more than you can buy them in Bstock!!!

In my wifes defence, the house is supposed to be her haven from my garages {yes multiple}, and she has put up with my multiple hobbies {firearms {have a couple safes full}, motorcycles, I have 4 {almost done with my 5th chopper, but cant count it till shes running}, and my hotrods {39 ford and 70 Suberbee}.... Ooh and lets not forget my tool addiction, I am not a professional mechanic and have more Miller welding equipment and Snap On tools than most 2 door mechanic shops could dream of...

 

[Steve81]

I'd still opine you're still going about it backwards. The loudspeaker (and room) ultimately determines the sound of the system, so that's what I'd want to nail down first. The speaker coupled with your volume requirements also determines how much amplifier you need, so there's not much point in buying a high powered amplifier unless you're buying a speaker that needs it.

 

[ImcLoud]

I'd still opine you're still going about it backwards. The loudspeaker (and room) ultimately determines the sound of the system, so that's what I'd want to nail down first. The speaker coupled with your volume requirements also determines how much amplifier you need, so there's not much point in buying a high powered amplifier unless you're buying a speaker that needs it.

I see where you are coming from but I wanted a 2 channel Emotiva amp {match my other stuff}, and the XPA-2 at 600watts for $600 is a steal... I may change the speakers a bunch of times before I buy another amplifier...

If you have a better idea for a 2 channel amp for $600 or under let me know what it is, because I dont think you can ever have too much power... In my experience all the power sitting there dormant gives you better sound... a 125 watt amp pushing a 125 watts, will not sound as good as a 300 watt amp pushing 125 watts... And the other 2 channel amp emotiva sells is the UPA200 which is 125w x2 for $350 that is $140 per watt, the XPA-2 is under $1.00 per watt... the best deal is really the xpa-5 which has a bstock price of $799 making it under .80 per watt!!! I was thinking about getting one of them, but since Im never adding more speakers to this I opted for the 2 channel......

 

[Irvrobinson]

I am looking at used stuff too, but it doesnt seem to be much cheaper, I see Emotiva amps on ebay selling for $10 more than you can buy them in Bstock!!!

Oh yeah? How about these speakers?

KEF 104/2 for $350

With used stuff you have to patient and keep your eyes open, but if you're willing to take some risk the rewards can be surprising.

 

[Irvrobinson]

In my wifes defence, the house is supposed to be her haven from my garages {yes multiple}, and she has put up with my multiple hobbies {firearms {have a couple safes full}, motorcycles, I have 4 {almost done with my 5th chopper, but cant count it till shes running}, and my hotrods {39 ford and 70 Suberbee}.... Ooh and lets not forget my tool addiction, I am not a professional mechanic and have more Miller welding equipment and Snap On tools than most 2 door mechanic shops could dream of...

OK, she's forgiven. I'd trade a chopper for a decent audio system, but that's just me.

 

[ImcLoud]

OK, she's forgiven. I'd trade a chopper for a decent audio system, but that's just me.

Im not quite that serious about this hobby yet, I put blood sweat and tears into the 3 bikes I built myself {I was offered $28K for my second build}... Im not particularly talented when it comes to wood so I dont see myself building speakers anytime in the near future, I'm more of a metal and gas guy...
As for the Kefs Im no where near Utah lol... but they look nice for sure...

 

[Steve81]

I see where you are coming from but I wanted a 2 channel Emotiva amp {match my other stuff}, and the XPA-2 at 600watts for $600 is a steal... I may change the speakers a bunch of times before I buy another amplifier...

Well, a man's gotta have his priorities I suppose. The XPA-2 is a bargain for that much power, and it ought to drive just about any speaker you pick out without a hiccup.

The only other advice I'll give is just to listen to as much as you can, and don't necessarily write off things like the Sierra Tower and Salk Song Tower just yet. Budgets are made to be broken after all, and there's not much point in arbitrarily limiting yourself to what you believe is a good $2000 system if you can comfortably afford what your ears tell you is a great $2600 system.

My 2 cents. Good luck.

 

[markw]

Just a comment from personal experience.

I tend to be more picky (a LOT mpre picky) about the quality of sound coming from my music only two channel system than I am from that of my 5.1 system.

Creating second two channel system that's doomed from the start to be "less than" what you already have in a 5.1 system seems to be throwing good money after bad.

But, if you go in knowing that, then more power to ya. My man cave is like that, but I never expected otherwise

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

How about custom Philamonitors or Salk SongSurround II (both optional with with custom finish)
Or Ascend Sierra-1 with NrT upgrade

 

[JohnA]

For speakers are you up for some simple DIY? Then you can cover the speakers with anything that she might like:

These are great speakers:

TriTrix MTM TL Speaker Components And Cabinet Kit Pair 300-702

 

[GranteedEV]

Speakers - Soundfield Audio M1 - 1300/pr

 

[bikemig]

PSB makes really good bookshelf speakers at different price points. I love my imagine B speakers which I use in our living room for a 2 channel system. Plus they come in colors other than black, . It's too bad you can't go with towers though.

 

[ImcLoud]

JohnA, I would love to build my own, but there is 2 problems with that, 1 I am terrible when it comes to touching anything wood and 2 I wouldnt have the time, I have so many prjects going on that it would just never get done... That setup looks sick though, and pretty easy, the videos make me think even I can do it, its a good thing I know better....

I did pull the trigger on the Hwarfedale EVO 40's, like I mentioned earlier my friend just bought a pair and they sound really nice especially for the price.. I know they were $2000 originally {and honestly wouldnt pay that for them, I would get the ascend towers for that price} but for $800 they are a good deal.. I was shocked at the build quality, I thought since they were made over seas the wood work would be sub par ,but its the opposite, the fit and finish are flawless...

I also scored a set of Wharfedale subs, a pair of brand new Sealed enclosure 12" 300 watt'ers in the same color as the towers... for $600!!! The original MSRP says $1400 each!!!, I hooked them to my ipod to hear their rumble and they definetly have some punchy music base to them, the sealed cabinet really makes them bouncy vs. my HSU's viscous rumble effects...

2-wharfedale Subs - $600-picked up
2-Wharfedale evo2-40s -$880 shipped
1 Emotiva XPA2- $600 shipped
Total spent $2080 {the $80 over was shipping so does that really count???}

So thats the system, I have the subs here, and the XDA1 here with the XPA2 amp, and I just got an email with tracking info for the towers, they are due in Monday!!!! Im excited, Im going to try and get some time to make the speaker wires tonight....