I posted the following on AVforums.com:
"Ive looking to build up a home sound system for music only (not movies). I first started looking at home cinema because of affordability of all-in-ones. but for my purposes components seems to be the best option.
My current budget is very limiting, but this should increase as i save more each month. I'm not in a major hurry, so I'm prepared to look around but i'd like to have the basics sometime soon. Given my budget I though that buying the components second hand would be most economical. It also looks like I need to buy one quality second-hand component at a time.
I foresee myself hooking up some cd or dvd-mixing decks in the future, so the option of being able to add on more speakers and other hardware is desirable (but by that time i'd probably have enough cash to buy better components anyway).
I currently live in a flat with wooden floors (which limits the volume I will play the sytem at).
the space I want to install the sound is a room 4m x 6m and an adjoining room 2.m x 3.5m
basically i'm asking:
what components i need to start off getting;
how much scope there is to buy second hand components (receiver, speaker etc) - what i should never consider buying second-hand, what components would be best to buy second-hand, what i need to be aware of;
where i should look for second-hand stuff;
what i should look for
Seeing that I live in South Africa assitance will only proabably be limited to general guidelines. However if anyone knows of other resources to recommend me going to down here, I would be hugely appreciative.
thanks"
I got a reply telling me: "go for a AV/MC pre-amp and add either a 5 channel PAs or individual PAs for the channels you require."
Now I'm not afraid to come across as a total moron, so I think I get the gist of what a pre-amp/processor and PA is, but what is the difference between a 5 channel PA or "individuals for the channels you require"?
So as far as I can make out I need to buy:
a AV/MC pre-amp
PAs
some form of DVD player
speakers
Is this right? Am I missing anything out?
The reason why I feel the need to focus on second-hand gear is due to budget (my entire current budget in local currency matches the price of a new yamaha receiver here), but also because in South Africa we have so few importers of brands (even reasonable specialist audio ones) that I would think the price differential between new and used reasonable brands' components would be highly significant.
Is it advisable to go and but this stuff second-hand? If yes, what should I be looking out for and are there trustworthy brands in each category that I should look to buy second-hand that will still be affordable to the smallest of budgets.