2 Channel Audio system

[scorpious]

Dear members.

I am going to ask a general question for which there may be too many answers, but i will try to add some constraints and additional info, that will help.

I am planning to buy 2 channel system, 2 speakers and preferably a IntAmp or Amp+PreAmp. All for $5200 max, but please try to keep it under 5K if you can.

I am perfectly OK with used equipment.

I will eventually use the 2 speakers as Fronts in a separate home theater some day, but for now i would restrict to a 2CH Amp/PreAm/IntAmp. I will not add a sub to this 2CH setup, but eventually in the home theater there will be one.

current Room size is 25ftX16ftX10ft at the moment(in a Apartment) will move to a larger apartment/Home eventually

I mainly listen to Classics/Orchestras/Instrumentals/Techno/POP. NO HEAVY METAL OR ROCK, I am not too crazy about DEEEEEEEP Bass, I want perfect mid range and highs and very good bass. so performance is important and speakers should look pleasing, wife's point of view (good looks like, Paradigms signatures, B&W 800 series, B&W 703 are the kind of looks she likes, Looks that she dosent like are .. B&W CM series, Wilson wattpuppy, Big standing towers over 4ft is a big no no )

when it comes to AMP/preAmp/IntAmp, looks/Comsetics are least of importance. Performance of a Pro Amp is important like Yamaha P3500s.
and a supporting preAmp both with balanced XLR in's and outs.

cables bluejeans will do.

i have a OppoDV970, a cable box, Ipod (wadia base), and pioneer 1140HD feeding the setup.

Please let me know if you need other input to come up with your recommendation, I need your expertise to help me decide what to buy.

Thank you

Ashish

 

[gus6464]

So you don't care to have a sub right?

 

[gus6464]

Here is a setup that would be pretty damn hard to beat for the money.

Dynaudio Confidence C1 $4450 used
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1231000206&/Dynaudio-Confidence-C1-high-gl

Parasound Halo P3 balanced preamp $800 new - $500 used if you can find it
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAHP3

Yamaha P3500S amp

If you find the Halo used which usually pops up every now and then on audiogon you will hit exactly your budget but you will have speakers that cost $2000 more than your budget alone.

 

[scorpious]

So you don't care to have a sub right?

Yes, I am not interested in a Sub, The front shud be capable of delivering good bass.

 

[gus6464]

Yes, I am not interested in a Sub, The front shud be capable of delivering good bass.

Well the C1's will give you good bass up to the high 30's.

 

[mazersteven]

For that kind of jack for a 2-channel system. You should definitely contact Jim Salk from Salk Sound about some custom Veracity HT3.

Veracity HT3
http://www.salksound.com/ht3.shtml

 

[gus6464]

For that kind of jack for a 2-channel system. You should definitely contact Jim Salk from Salk Sound about some custom Veracity HT3.

Veracity HT3
http://www.salksound.com/ht3.shtml

He said he needed something with WAF. No wife is allowing those coffers in a room she has to live with.

 

[Swerd]

You should consider the Salk SongTowers. They can be driven by any amp or receiver that delivers an honest 50 watts/channel. I've owned mine for over a year and I can't recommend them enough. The designer is an amateur violin and piano player, who has played in orchestras and smaller groups most of his life.

My SongTower Impressions

Boybee's Impressions

Enjoy The Music.com Review

Audioholics Review

 

[mazersteven]

He said he needed something with WAF. No wife is allowing those coffers in a room she has to live with.

That is between him and his wife to decide. No us.

 

[scorpious]

He said he needed something with WAF. No wife is allowing those coffers in a room she has to live with.

Thank you mazersteven , Those speakers are Indeed awesome, I read the review on it. But you see if I were single I wouldnt mind, I showed the Picture and She wasnt too happy with the looks, So you see I need to compromise at a few places, to keep everyone happy. I appreciate your effort, Please dont hesitate to advice me, Its the most valuable thing I can ask for. Keep them coming.

Ashish

 

[neburu]

i don't see why people focus too much time, energy, and money into their preamp. really, the most important tool in your system is the speakers. you can spend $900,000 on a solid gold preamp and have it paired up to some crappy speakers and it will still sound like hell.


dude, match your amps and preamps around your speakers. go listen to what sounds good to you, then go from there. when you find the spekers you like come back and holler at us. good luck

 

[mazersteven]

Thank you mazersteven , Those speakers are Indeed awesome, I read the review on it. But you see if I were single I wouldnt mind, I showed the Picture and She wasnt too happy with the looks, So you see I need to compromise at a few places,

Replace the wife is my next recommendation.

 

[scorpious]

Replace the wife is my next recommendation.

hehhehehehe. LOL

 

[mike c]

IMO, concentrate on a super bookshelf, but add a subwoofer or two

 

[scorpious]

i don't see why people focus too much time, energy, and money into their preamp. really, the most important tool in your system is the speakers. you can spend $900,000 on a solid gold preamp and have it paired up to some crappy speakers and it will still sound like hell.

dude, match your amps and preamps around your speakers. go listen to what sounds good to you, then go from there. when you find the spekers you like come back and holler at us. good luck

thanks for your Input. well there are thousands of speakers and Amp combinations to choose from. I need a base to start, some initial advice on a speaker amp combo that suits well with what i asked for, so that i dont pick up a $900K amp and a crappy speaker at a local dealer and audition them. All i am asking for is some input from your experience, with the kind of music i listen to and what future requirements and other constraints are.


I like the advice i recieved so far. from what I recieved, Dynaaudio sounds very good, and i would definitely try them at a local dealer.
I think the parasounds will match the Yamaha very well. the balanced XLR out voltage of the preAMp is more than the Input volt of the Amp and the 1:10 ratio on the impedence works out too. at least form the math point of view, So i will definitely try this combo and see if i like it.

Ashish

 

[mazersteven]

Also research Usher Dancer Be-718.
http://www.usheraudiousa.com/products/loudspeakers/dancer-series/Be-718

 

[EJ1]

MF A5 Integrated $1500
Salk V-series V3 $3500

 

[gus6464]

Since the OP has a $5000 budget why is everyone recommending speakers that are less than $3k? He already stated that he is going with a pro amp so cheapest speaker should be in the $4k range. Plus since he doesn't care about buying used his money can be a lot better spent.

How about a pair of Dali Helicon 800 MKII?
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1233254904&/DALI-helicon-800-mk-ii-look

 

[scorpious]

Since the OP has a $5000 budget why is everyone recommending speakers that are less than $3k? He already stated that he is going with a pro amp so cheapest speaker should be in the $4k range. Plus since he doesn't care about buying used his money can be a lot better spent.

How about a pair of Dali Helicon 800 MKII?
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1233254904&/DALI-helicon-800-mk-ii-look

Those are some really cool looking speaker, looks and performance ... nice one, its on the list to audition.

 

[neburu]

thanks for your Input. well there are thousands of speakers and Amp combinations to choose from. I need a base to start, some initial advice on a speaker amp combo that suits well with what i asked for, so that i dont pick up a $900K amp and a crappy speaker at a local dealer and audition them. All i am asking for is some input from your experience, with the kind of music i listen to and what future requirements and other constraints are.


I like the advice i recieved so far. from what I recieved, Dynaaudio sounds very good, and i would definitely try them at a local dealer.
I think the parasounds will match the Yamaha very well. the balanced XLR out voltage of the preAMp is more than the Input volt of the Amp and the 1:10 ratio on the impedence works out too. at least form the math point of view, So i will definitely try this combo and see if i like it.

Ashish

dynaudio's have killer midbass and mirange... the tweeter, to me, is a little too laid back. for the music you listen to you need a composite driver.... not paper cones or soft tweeter. i would look into a ribbon horn and a magnesium driver for your mids. also a speaker that has a low db efficiency that needs alot of power sooo you don't lack in detail. stay away from from paper cone mids and soft dome tweets, just my 2 cents...