What would you change?

[ImcLoud]

A decent music system for my office managers home, she asked me if I had anything I could sell her, and I would rather she just bought something brand new... Her Budget is $3000 she said she doesn't want to spend more than that. She listens to that "new" country/rap crap, and some girly hip hop r&b stuff, so she likes strong lows, and she knows the difference a super bright high end that impresses you for 45 seconds vs a defined detailed high end you can listen to all day...

She wants high gloss black and she wants a pile of electronics {she wants it to look expensive, lol, her words, not mine...}... She is into vinyl, she has a decent collection and a really nice vpi traveler turntable, that she has hooked into her HTIB system with a preamp... and she uses her ipad for everything including music...
She can sell her phono preamp for $400 to my brother so she wants something with a phono input...

Heres what I am thinking... I haven't showed her yet... I want to get others thoughts..

$560 Amazon.com : Parasound - Classic 2100 Stereo Preamp : Audio Component Preamplifiers : Electronics

a pair of these in bstock for $550 shipped Model 2200 Monoblock Power Amplifier

a pair of sierra 1's for in black for $900

a pair of https://www.svsound.com/dual-subwoofers/dual-sb12-nsd#.UjDoD8ZJMz4 in black for $1200

then a pair of some thick extravagant looking cables, maybe the choseals they are inexpensive and impressive looking, the preamp should handle crossing the subs and bookshelfs well enough, no balanced outputs but RCA's will do fine... I am going to give her a set of glass stands I have and a glass amp stand I have, the mono blocks should give her good volume and sonud {I own a couple, I like them}, and the svs subs come with a nice gloss finish and sound really good too...

So what would you change? Keep in mind $3000 budget{plus the 400 for her preamp so $3400 toal} she likes the 2.2 idea, and needs a preamp with phono and sub outs is a plus...
PS she loves listening to my sierra 1's she prefers the base models to the nrt, I own both versions...

 

[lsiberian]

I think you are spending too much on the pre-amp and amp section. Just get an HK-3490 it's a fantastic stereo receiver that works great with my father-in-laws vinyl and streaming.
Now you have 2900 to spend on speakers and a sub if you wish.

A pair of Salk Songtowers is 2k and certainly will fill the bill.

900 is left for a sub. A single PB12-NSD is around 800 and will more than fulfill her needs.

IOTW put your money in the speakers not the amp

 

[ImcLoud]

I think you are spending too much on the pre-amp and amp section. Just get an HK-3490 it's a fantastic stereo receiver that works great with my father-in-laws vinyl and streaming.
Now you have 2900 to spend on speakers and a sub if you wish.

A pair of Salk Songtowers is 2k and certainly will fill the bill.

900 is left for a sub. A single PB12-NSD is around 800 and will more than fulfill her needs.

IOTW put your money in the speakers not the amp

I am not an HK fan at all... I would rather see her get the outlaw stereo receiver for a little more... I didn't think $1100 was a lot for electronics, especially since it will handle the sub, she is a techy, and I should have stated she really wants a 2.2, keep in mind she hears me talk about dual subs, and mono blocks, ect when ever we talk about systems. Plus her "new" boy friend has a b&w {best buy} 3.1 system for music and movies and she wants to outdo him.... I told her to get a decent home theater system but she said for movies her htib {yammy} is fine we went through all of this before she had a really nice HT system but when she moved to her condo it was stolen off the back of the moving van, so they gave her a $3000 insurance payment {from the moving company}...

Do you really think the HK will perform as well as the pre and mono blocks? I have a Yammy r-s700 and it sounds really good and has tons of features {actually comes with 2 remotes, one for z2}, but I don't think it sounds good as my dayton apa150s, I just started using the 2200 mono blocks with the pre1 {just got it} and IMO for music pre with mono blocks sounds best...

good point though, a lot can be saved with a receiver...

 

[big2bird]

Good luck choosing a sound system for a chick based on looks.

 

[ImcLoud]

Good luck choosing a sound system for a chick based on looks.

Shes pretty easy to please, not your typical "chick", 38 years old, MBA degree, I watched this women rent a $535 per month apartment for her self so she could buy 3 pieces of property, rfix and fluff them up {herself, with minimal help, she was smart enough to buy properties that needed HVAC, lol} to make enough profit after taxes to purchase a very swanky condo, in cash as in "NO MORTGAGE"!!!
But anyway, she was just on the phone with my wife and I emailed her the links to the monoblocks and preamp, she likes the "looks" of that, she said the subs look a little small but she likes the gloss black,,,, She linked me to a set of Super MMG's, I havent heard them as of yet, soooooo.. Maybe gonna have to take a road trip for a listen...

 

[shadyJ]

I would go with the H/K 3490. Great amplifier, 4 ohm stable, digital inputs and outputs, phono stage, and can do stereo subwoofers. It also has a cool looking volume knob. Only go with separate amps if she likes it really loud. And if she likes it really loud, the best thing would be to get high sensitivity speakers anyway. For a $3k gloss black 2.2 system, look at either a pair of NHT Classic Two speakers or Aperion Verus Grande bookshelf speakers and two Rythmik D15SE subs. You could also go with a pair of Aperion Bravus 12d subs if the Rythmiks just eat up too much of the budget. Their performance isn't bad according to data-bass.com.

 

[ImcLoud]

How does that rythmic compare to an uls15?

 

[lsiberian]

I am not an HK fan at all... I would rather see her get the outlaw stereo receiver for a little more... I didn't think $1100 was a lot for electronics, especially since it will handle the sub, she is a techy, and I should have stated she really wants a 2.2, keep in mind she hears me talk about dual subs, and mono blocks, ect when ever we talk about systems. Plus her "new" boy friend has a b&w {best buy} 3.1 system for music and movies and she wants to outdo him.... I told her to get a decent home theater system but she said for movies her htib {yammy} is fine we went through all of this before she had a really nice HT system but when she moved to her condo it was stolen off the back of the moving van, so they gave her a $3000 insurance payment {from the moving company}...

Do you really think the HK will perform as well as the pre and mono blocks? I have a Yammy r-s700 and it sounds really good and has tons of features {actually comes with 2 remotes, one for z2}, but I don't think it sounds good as my dayton apa150s, I just started using the 2200 mono blocks with the pre1 {just got it} and IMO for music pre with mono blocks sounds best...

good point though, a lot can be saved with a receiver...

The most important component in music is the speaker not the sub. Ideally you'd want a speaker that hits the 20s with accuracy like the Phil 3s. But those are above the budget so I move down the line to a speaker that hits into the 40s, the Salk Songtower. at around 2k it's a logical fit and for those rare notes she hits below the 40s a good corner loaded ported sub can fill the bill. After that we are left with enough to buy the receiver you like. The Songtowers have 88db sensitivity so you won't have any trouble driving them with the solid amps that HK makes. HK shines in stereo. They stink at home theater, but in stereo they still make great receivers. Obviously it's ultimately your choice, but I think the Salks will be a better investment than the electronics. If you are willing to go used for electronics you have even more options.

 

[lsiberian]

Shes pretty easy to please, not your typical "chick", 38 years old, MBA degree, I watched this women rent a $535 per month apartment for her self so she could buy 3 pieces of property, rfix and fluff them up {herself, with minimal help, she was smart enough to buy properties that needed HVAC, lol} to make enough profit after taxes to purchase a very swanky condo, in cash as in "NO MORTGAGE"!!!
But anyway, she was just on the phone with my wife and I emailed her the links to the monoblocks and preamp, she likes the "looks" of that, she said the subs look a little small but she likes the gloss black,,,, She linked me to a set of Super MMG's, I havent heard them as of yet, soooooo.. Maybe gonna have to take a road trip for a listen...

You should take a road trip with her to demo some Salk Songtowers too.

 

[shadyJ]

How does that rythmic compare to an uls15?

I believe that sub is using the DS1501 drivers, which is Rythmiks lowest end 15". Since the driver is lower end and the amplifier is less powerful, I wouldn't expect it to be as punchy as the ULS. I think you might need to step up to the HPs to get something comparable in output.

 

[jcl]

Just wanted to point out, if she is set on gloss black the Philharmonitors appear to only come in walnut. Also, not sure if it's a typo, but the Salk sound site lists the Piano Gloss black option for the song towers as $1800!?

If they must be gloss black then I think NHT or SVS might be your best options in the price range.

 

[ImcLoud]

OK, so she kind of made up her mind, just got off the phone with her, she called to remind me she had tomorrow off, and make sure I didn't really need her, lol... She is going to start with...
Carnegie CSB1's $399
SVS dual sb12's in piano $1200
pair of Outlaw 2200's $550 {bstock}
and a Parasound 2100 preamp $500
She has cables and stand so she doesn't need any of that stuff.. So it looks like the cost will be $2650, she is ordering the subs tonight and is going to wait until I get my csb1 to see how she likes them before she orders a set, or maybe she will take my set and if I like them Ill reorder a new set for me... Ill have to call my "friend" at outlaw to see if I can get the next pair of 2200 bstocks and when they will be available...

 

[Swerd]

OK, so she kind of made up her mind, just got off the phone with her, she called to remind me she had tomorrow off, and make sure I didn't really need her, lol... She is going to start with...
Carnegie CSB1's $399
SVS dual sb12's in piano $1200
pair of Outlaw 2200's $550 {bstock}
and a Parasound 2100 preamp $500
She has cables and stand so she doesn't need any of that stuff.. So it looks like the cost will be $2650, she is ordering the subs tonight and is going to wait until I get my csb1 to see how she likes them before she orders a set, or maybe she will take my set and if I like them Ill reorder a new set for me... Ill have to call my "friend" at outlaw to see if I can get the next pair of 2200 bstocks and when they will be available...

Overall, I think that system is pretty good. There always will be a debate whether an integrated receiver sounds better than separate preamp and and amps. I'm an agnostic on that issue. As long as there is enough power to drive the speakers cleanly, I'm happy.

FWIW, I did hear a pair of SongTowers driven by an Outlaw RR2150 stereo receiver and it was excellent. It left nothing to be desired. The owner used a turntable with a lower priced Ortofon moving magnet pickup, and the Outlaw with it's internal phono preamp.

If you hear those Carnegie speakers, I'd like to know what you think of them. About 3 years ago, I heard the MTM tower version made with what looks like the same drivers and I thought they were pretty good. I think the Sierra-1s might sound better, but you can't beat that price. Is that $399 for a pair?

… Also, not sure if it's a typo, but the Salk sound site lists the Piano Gloss black option for the song towers as $1800!?

That price is $1999. And Salk calls that finish Satin Black. It's shiny and somewhat reflective, but is not a high gloss finish that shows every fingerprint.

 

[noahl]

… Also, not sure if it's a typo, but the Salk sound site lists the Piano Gloss black option for the song towers as $1800!?

That price is $1999. And Salk calls that finish Satin Black. It's shiny and somewhat reflective, but is not a high gloss finish that shows every fingerprint.

Base price is $1999. Look at the upgrades section on the pricing screen. piano black = $1800. So total cost of base ST in piano black =$3799.

 

[Swerd]

Base price is $1999. Look at the upgrades section on the pricing screen. piano black = $1800. So total cost of base ST in piano black =$3799.

Doh! I see the source of confusion, and my mistake.

The "Hand-rubbed, high-gloss piano lacquer finish" is what costs $1800 extra. I generally think of that with speakers with a premium veneer.

If someone wants black paint with a glossy finish, that can be done at the standard price. It's the hand rubbing that drives up the cost.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

It's the hand rubbing that drives up the cost.

Yes, indeed - it usually does that. Hand rubbing is a premium service after all

 

[Lulimet]

Wow, she spent $2900 on the whole system and her speakers only cost $400. I will never understand that line of thinking but to each their own.

 

[panteragstk]

Yes, indeed - it usually does that. Hand rubbing is a premium service after all

Are we still talking about speakers?

 

[ImcLoud]

Wow, she spent $2900 on the whole system and her speakers only cost $400. I will never understand that line of thinking but to each their own.

Well the speakers are normally $850, but the issue is she needs everything, and its a stepping stone, so now she probably will never upgrade her amps, preamp, and subs, but the speakers will be upgraded in the future.. She wanted 2.2 with mono blocks? How else are you going to accomplish that? She is the type of person that will upgrade her bookshelfs in 2-3 years for something that costs as much as she just spent on everything...

I guess she could have bought a pair of say sierra towers for $2000, then some apa150's for monoblocks, a d1 as a preamp, and then 1 sealed sub, but the problem is she had an idea of what she wanted... Piano black, mono blocks with a preamp {not dac because she has a turntable}, and it had to be a bookshelf 2.2 system... I don't think she did that bad... I have experience with dual svs sb's and they are more than enough for a 2.2 in even the largest of residential rooms, they are fast and articulate, granted I like the uls15 dual drive better, BUT the 12's have their strong points... Then for mono blocks, I own outlaw 2200's and with emotivas prices, they make the most sence, 200x2@8 is plenty for almost all bookshelfs on the market, as for a preamp, she got a deal on it, and I personally like the usp1 better, but I own one and use it with the 2200s and its a good combo, they sound really nice together and can power pretty much any speaker combo...

I was on the fence of telling her to go all out on the speakers and getting cheaper electronics, but she wants it to look Audiophile'y and have that high end expensive feel, I think this gear will accomplish that... Believe me if she doesn't like it I will hear it, she will send them subs rite back to svs with out a second thought... She likes very bassy music, she comes to my house and plays my system, the first thing she does is turn my dual sw300's up to 99 with the remote control, it shakes the entire house and she wants more than that!!!!

 

[slipperybidness]

I'm glad you like the USP-1 over the 2100. When I had to make a decision b/w the 2 I ended up getting the USP. It is a pretty good for sure.

Personally, I think monos are over-rated. Sure they're nice but not really necessary and the crosstalk numbers are great on most modern quality amps. And they are bulkier.

I think a nice integrated would have been my personal choice here. One with good power and phono inputs.

Whats the word on that Sherbourn Pre? Pretty much the same as USP? I almost picked one up at that price but really no need for it now.