College Student Looking to Build First System - need help

[crblanz]

Hey, so I'm in charge of buying a speaker system for the living room for the apartment my friends and I have next year (it's around 12' by 20', but the ceilings are pretty high, possibly 20'). My bad if I'm posting in the wrong forum, i've been browsing this forum for a while and it seems like most threads here get deleted. Anyway, the speakers will be used mostly for music, probably 75% (many genres, but most with a pretty decent amount of bass), with the remaining 25% consisting of movies, tv, and video games.

Anyway, I've been doing research for the past few weeks, and realized that I pretty much opened a pandora's box on all this audio stuff; I had no idea how complicated it would end up being.

My first inclination was towards a HTiB for its convenience. I was looking at the Onkyo HT-S9300THX system, which for about $775 on amazon, I would consider my the far edge of my budget. But then I read more and heard that HTiBs, while not particularly good, were especially bad with music. (I had originally thought that playing music out of every speaker surrounding the room would be cool, but i've been told music doesn't work like that unfortunately)

So now I'm thinking about building a system, possibly just 2.0 right now with good stereo speakers, but really I have no idea, you all know much more about this than I do. I've been looking at either monitor or TSi polk floorstanding speakers (One of many options at amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Monitor-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B0002Z241Q/ref=sr_1_22?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1304728477&sr=1-22 ) (whats the difference between the monitor series and the TSi series? What about the different levels within each... would adding another woofer actually have a large effect?) or recently the pioneer SP-FS51-LR floorstanding speakers ( pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Speakers/Home+Theater+Speakers/SP-FS51-LR ) that have a perfect, 25/25 5 stars, review on best buy. But I am definitely open to suggestions.
And I have no idea about the receiver whatsoever, I know it has a pretty big effect on audio quality, but I really don't know the difference between each receiver. I just need to be able to connect an iPod (HIGH PRIORITY) all our video game equipment to it.

So sorry for the lengthy post, but I just have so many questions that I've been saving up for a while. This is all so confusing to someone first diving into this whole audio buying process. Thanks for any help you can give!

btw, my bad for the urls being a little odd. wont let me post links until i have 5 posts.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

So, What you are looking for is 2.0 system mostly for music , for pretty large room and on about $700-800 budget?

And currently you don't have anything? - Correct?

Yes, HTIB are worst possible choice for this setup.

Imho It's ether you start scavanging AudioGon and Craiglist for used but still good large towers, or get Frat boy Cervin Vega like these:
http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-Xls-12-12-Inch-3-Way-Speaker/dp/B002JGTO5K

These are very loud and have plenty of bass. You need somewhat competent amplifier to drive these bad boys..
like this one for example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SANSUI-AD-U11-/230615586265?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item35b1c295d9#ht_500wt_1156

Or even better inexpensive pre-amplifier and dedicated amp..
like this amp:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item25638f1207&item=160584110599&nma=true&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&si=%2FTa4C0AI4SVtOx0z9xFZGXKaHx0%3D#ht_720wt_1139
and this pre-amp
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item4cf6a3c0c0&item=330555441344&nma=true&pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&rt=nc&si=%2FTa4C0AI4SVtOx0z9xFZGXKaHx0%3D#ht_500wt_1156


Audio stuff could easy blow any budget... You'll see here A lot of people with serious case of upgraditis... very serious condition

 

[crblanz]

Yeah, I don't have anything yet. I was guessing a 2.0 system, but I'm not really sure since I don't know what's best.

As for the amps you suggested, they seem rather... old. I originally guessed that newer receivers would be better, but is that not necessarily true?

Also, I don't really know what a preamp is yet or what it actually does, I figure i should probably keep it simple for my first setup

 

[jnelson88]

Yeah, I don't have anything yet. I was guessing a 2.0 system, but I'm not really sure since I don't know what's best.

As for the amps you suggested, they seem rather... old. I originally guessed that newer receivers would be better, but is that not necessarily true?

Also, I don't really know what a preamp is yet or what it actually does, I figure i should probably keep it simple for my first setup

You know I used to think that newer was always better but when I found this forum I have seen a lot of people using the same speakers they have had since they were in their teens and (don't take this the wrong way guys) their are some old speakers on here. Newer receivers are good for their newer features (HDMI, Toslink,DolbyHD) So they can be better and they can be worse depends on where your looking.

If your looking to use your Ipod, I would recommend a receiver that has a Ipod dock port. Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer all have optional docks that can be purchased.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Going with some old hardware is way to save tons of money, If you want to go with new stuff you can, but i'll blow your budget out...

I'd also rec older speakers, but I'm not really expert there.
For simple 2.0 old stuff could as good and if not better than most new stuff.. These old hardware were built like tanks and made to last. They also used to priced thru the roof - as in ballpark $2000 in 1980....

 

[jnelson88]

Going with some old hardware is way to save tons of money, If you want to go with new stuff you can, but i'll blow your budget out...

I'd also rec older speakers, but I'm not really expert there.
For simple 2.0 old stuff could as good and if not better than most new stuff.. These old hardware were built like tanks and made to last. They also used to priced thru the roof - as in ballpark $2000 in 1980....

I wonder what that price would be after inflation... I would not want to see.

 

[crblanz]

Going with some old hardware is way to save tons of money, If you want to go with new stuff you can, but i'll blow your budget out...

I'd also rec older speakers, but I'm not really expert there.
For simple 2.0 old stuff could as good and if not better than most new stuff.. These old hardware were built like tanks and made to last. They also used to priced thru the roof - as in ballpark $2000 in 1980....

I'd definitely be open to older speakers as long as they are just as good if not better, but I feel like I'll need a newer receiver, so that I can use recent technology like HDMI and video upscaling, as well as be able to use an ipod.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Why do you need HDMI and upscaling for 2.0 setup??
I can understand iPod, but getting ipod dock with rca out and plugging it should be easy, unless you want ipod control from avr...

hmmm: ok here are few older speakers I'd consider:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1309548120&/KEF-Q75
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1309896877&/Mission-782

for newer bells and whistles avr:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTXNR807/Onkyo/TX-NR807-THX-Select2-Plus-135-watts-Channel-7.2-Network-Receiver/1.html

 

[crblanz]

I'll need HDMI and upscaling because these speakers will essentially replace the tv speakers. The setup will be used for all tv, video games, and music, so I need to make sure that they can work with all of these in the most money-efficient way possible

Remember, my friends and I are all college students, so we're used to pretty bad stuff, like non-HD tv and $70 computer speakers. So anything I get will make them all go crazy. I'm not married to the 2.0 concept, but I guessed that it would be the best for our situation


HOWEVER, if you know a way that I can play the audio from all of these HDMI-based sources from a set of external speakers without having to buy a full home theater receiver, let me know

 

[norml4721]

First college system

Hi :

Lets try an answer some of your basic questions. There are two ways to look at the electronic portion of your system. One is going seperates. By seperates I mean you have seperate componets to receive your signal or source information. i.e. Pre-amp,power amp, tuner, or amp, tuner. Your pre amp receives info from various sources. i.e turntable, radio signal, cd, dvd, tv. etc then your power amp would magnify or increase the level of that signal so your speakers can give you sound.(I am simplifying what the electronics are doing so you get a basic uderstanding of what all this stuff is.) Going this route is more expensive and usually not what first time audio buyers do.

So all this equipment can be replaced with one piece the RECEIVER. Which has all this stuff combined in one box. This is what most people buy. It's cheaper and with the latest technology almost as good. So you buy a receiver. You mentioned video upscaling. This is a little expensive and I am not shure you need it for a college apt.(upscaling improves the quality of your picture ) The newer receivers have all kinds of bells and whistles most of which you never use or seldom use. Buying used on ebay or craigs list can save you a lot of money( most electronics if they have problems it happens in the first six months of use)

It sounds like you have a big space to fill (20 ft. ceilings) so you want something with a little power depending on the how efficent your speakers are. How much pwer is needed to drive them to a certain sound level. (again simplifying.) Lets say at least 75Watts per channel again depending on the speaker.
.
Now the big question SPEAKERS. You can go crazy here. but you want something a little robust or sturdy. With all that partying going on. Let me make a recomendation( not cast in stone, my opinion only) I think that Klipsch makes an Ideal speaker for your application almost anything in there line. They are not as smooth to listen to as I like but ideal for big spaces and you can find them everywhere.Also check out the best quality speakers in this forum thread( I have a 7.2 system all Focal speakers not on the best quality list but I love them and thats what counts)

I can't believe how long this post is. Just thoughts in my head. Anyway good luck in your choice.

Norm L

 

[CDogg]

The speakers are the main ingredient to any home audio. You can have the biggest, baddist receiver, but if you skimp on speakers and go cheap, you are doing you and your roommates a diservice. In the short time I have been here I have learned that when planning a home system, you start with speakers first. Audition as many as you can so you will know what soinds best to you. Good luck in your search.

 

[Grador]

Thread's almost a year old guys....

 

[fuzz092888]

Now is one of those times when the old AVS forum you must check here to acknowledge this thread is old boxes would come in handy.

 

[its phillip]

blame norml - this is the second old thread he's brought back from the dead...although this one isn't anywhere near as old as the decade-old thread he bumped the other day.