how would you spend 2k?

[cstpeter]

You make good points hijon. I hear ya. And I hope this guy has fun with whatever he chooses, cuz this is what this hobby's all about.

But dude! I went through a few AVR's before I realized they are only good for one thing: HT. For music they degrade everything they touch, unless we're talking B&K or Sunfire or something like that.

If he wants 2-channel, then my first advice is buy used. If he can't, then do something like this:

--Revel Concerta F12 ($1298): Floorstanders with all the bass you'll need for music.
--Outlaw RR2150 2-channel receiver ($599): Very well reviewed, and looks cool as hell
--Cambridge Audio 540C ($439): Very decent source; and there are many options he could go with here, including a OPPO universal player with a Musical Fidelity tube buffer, or if he can swing it, a Rotel 1072...

that's a sweet musical system, and upgradeable!

 

[Joe Schmoe]

IMO stay away from the 602.5. It's really a 601 in tower configuration. In my listening tests, I found the stand mount 602 had a much fuller dynamic sound. It should, it has the bigger driver found in the larger tower. At $600 I think it's a bargin. However, let your ears decide, not mine.

Nick

I second the 602s. They are great speakers. They are very versatile, and sound good with all types of music. Also, they put out enough bass that you could do without a sub in a moderate-sized room.

 

[a__thekevlar__2]

what about the NHT Classic Three and the Yamaha RX-V1700, any comments on these?

 

[jonnythan]

The Classic Three is very, very cool. I heard them a week or two ago. I hear you need to have a very good source and amplification for them though, as they're extremely transparent.

 

[a__thekevlar__2]

does that mean i need to buy a amp as well or will a receiver take care of it? if i buy the classic three for 800 will i have to go out of my budget?, i think i can get the classic three for 600 on ebay as well. The main thing I don't want to do is buy too nice of bookshelf speakers and not have enough power behind them.

 

[jonnythan]

The Yamaha will have enough power, but I have no idea whether it's "good enough" or whatever.

The 2-channel Outlaw receiver that cstpeter keeps talking about might fit the bill though. I'm just guessing here though. All I know is that I listened to the Classic Threes and they were indeed awesome. I've always liked NHT sound.

 

[JackT]

pair of Ascend CMT-340 ($568)

HSU VTF 3.3- $649

Yamaha RX-V659 $500

 

[zumbo]

So much can happen while I am at work.

There is a budget here. Did some of y'all forget?

A 2-channel receiver will limit the future of the system.

A Yamaha receiver from an unauthorized dealer is not worth saving a few bucks. By the time you add shipping, it isn't that big-of-a-deal.

Crutchfield has been around for years. Nothing-at-all wrong with them.

None of the other speakers mentioned in this thread, other than Monitor Audio, can hold a candle to B&W. NHT's are good, but in no way $200 better. I would get the 602's if the NHT's were the same price.

IMO, don't even think about the Outlaw or ebay. Get piece-of-mind. And, get proven quality.

Everyone should take notes from JackT. The OP gave a budget, and asked for a complete suggested system. So, you should post your ideas with the cost to back it up.

 

[a__thekevlar__2]

i cant find the B&W 602s, listenup.com doesnt mail order these, i found a few listings on ebay but i dont really like buying used electronics from ebay, if you know where i can find a pair, please let me know

 

[abboudc]

Or....

a pair of Paradigm Studio 100's ($1920) and Yamaha 2500 or 659 ($500)

or if you want bookshelves
Mordaunt Short 914 ($269)
SVS PC+ 20-39 ($900)
Receiver of your choice.
You could even get two PC+20-39's and still be in budget. You'll probably get kicked out of school for the bass though

Honestly though, i'd probably lower your budget and pick up something cheaper. Don't spend the money until you know what you're getting for it. If you can't hear/appreciate the difference between a $300 speaker and a $600 speaker, why spend the money? Not that you're not getting good advice, they're all great speakers being recommended.

Something like a pair of Onix X-LS's with an SVS cylinder sub would kick butt as a dorm room setup, be great for parties, and best of all you wouldn't lose sleep when your buddy puts his Heineken bottle on the top of one of your speakers.

 

[zumbo]

and best of all you wouldn't lose sleep when your buddy puts his Heineken bottle on the top of one of your speakers.

My buddy wouldn't get much sleep with a broken jaw!

 

[Nick250]

IMO stay away from the 602.5. It's really a 601 in tower configuration. In my listening tests, I found the stand mount 602 had a much fuller dynamic sound. It should, it has the bigger driver found in the larger tower. At $600 I think it's a bargin. However, let your ears decide, not mine.
Nick

What is missing from this thread is that the very first thing you do when are in the market for new speakers is to grab your favorite CD and audition every damned speaker in withing 25 miles of where you live (except Wyoming and Montana, then it's 300 miles) your price range. Listen to all of them, the very first thing! Then one can come to a forum like Audioholics and discuss speakers with a solid understanding of what one likes and dislikes and the forum members can make valid comparisons to ID speakers will be much more in tune with the kind of sound you like. Often the speakers you thought you would like, you don't like and visa versa.

The other option is to buy all the various ID speakers at once and then send back the loser's.

End of rant.

PS, auditioning can be a lot of fun too.

Nick

 

[Joe Schmoe]

i cant find the B&W 602s, listenup.com doesnt mail order these, i found a few listings on ebay but i dont really like buying used electronics from ebay, if you know where i can find a pair, please let me know

B&W are only sold in brick and mortar stores. Unlike many other brands, however, such stores are very widespread and easy to find. (Maybe not quite "one in every city", but close to it.)

 

[zumbo]

B&W are only sold in brick and mortar stores. Unlike many other brands, however, such stores are very widespread and easy to find. (Maybe not quite "one in every city", but close to it.)

I found him a B&W dealer 86 miles away, along with a local Monitor Audio dealer. I sent in a PM.

Monitor Audio is a great option. And, with the dealer being local, it just may be the best option.

 

[Matt34]

So much can happen while I am at work.

There is a budget here. Did some of y'all forget?

None of the other speakers mentioned in this thread, other than Monitor Audio, can hold a candle to B&W. NHT's are good, but in no way $200 better. I would get the 602's if the NHT's were the same price.



Everyone should take notes from JackT. The OP gave a budget, and asked for a complete suggested system. So, you should post your ideas with the cost to back it up.

Why is it you come off as condescending more times than not?

Choosing speakers are a very personal thing. Just because you think nothing listed is better than the B&W is YOUR opinion, not fact...try not to confuse that. There are plenty of people that don't care for the 600/700 series B&W.

Other people listed their preferences here the least you could do is not insult them.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I found him a B&W dealer 86 miles away, along with a local Monitor Audio dealer. I sent in a PM.

Monitor Audio is a great option. And, with the dealer being local, it just may be the best option.

Monitor Audio and B&W have a lot of similarities, sound quality wise.

 

[a__thekevlar__2]

What is missing from this thread is that the very first thing you do when are in the market for new speakers is to grab your favorite CD and audition every damned speaker in withing 25 miles of where you live (except Wyoming and Montana, then it's 300 miles) your price range. Listen to all of them, the very first thing! Then one can come to a forum like Audioholics and discuss speakers with a solid understanding of what one likes and dislikes and the forum members can make valid comparisons to ID speakers will be much more in tune with the kind of sound you like. Often the speakers you thought you would like, you don't like and visa versa.

The other option is to buy all the various ID speakers at once and then send back the loser's.

End of rant.

PS, auditioning can be a lot of fun too.

Nick

As much as I would like to do this, I simply don't have the time between being a full time student and also making my living as a professional online poker player. The reason I came to this was because I figured you guys love this stuff and you would be able to point me in the right direction, and save me the time of listening to every speaker and also prevent me from buying absolute crap as I love to buy quality in everything I buy. Thus far your responses have been phenomenal and I've learned quite a bit about speakers and I thank you guys for your help.

 

[zumbo]

You classify Cerwin Vegas as premium?

I seconded the Klipsch RF-82 with a HSU VTF3 MK III sub. Great dynamics for movies and party music.

Why is it you come off as condescending more times than not?

Choosing speakers are a very personal thing. Just because you think nothing listed is better than the B&W is YOUR opinion, not fact...try not to confuse that. There are plenty of people that don't care for the 600/700 series B&W.

Other people listed their preferences here the least you could do is not insult them.

Sorry to ruffle your feathers there friend. But, as you can see, you have already mis-quoted me in this thread. I never said CV was premium.

Second, all replies are opinion. Do you think OP is not aware of that. I never attacked anyone. I gave an opinion. Your reply was rude.EDIT: Removed rude comment from this post.

EDIT: Added new one.
BTW, Klipsch sound like crap. Opinion? Yes. Fact? To me it is.

 

[jaxvon]

Sorry to ruffle your feathers there friend. But, as you can see, you have already mis-quoted me in this thread. I never said CV was premium.

Second, all replies are opinion. Do you think OP is not aware of that. I never attacked anyone. I gave an opinion. Your reply was rude.EDIT: Removed rude comment from this post.

EDIT: Added new one.
BTW, Klipsch sound like crap. Opinion? Yes. Fact? To me it is.

You could easily measure some Klipsch speakers and prove them to be crap (which they are).

 

[jonnythan]

Guys, the OP is not doing critical listening to classical music here. He's mostly going to be listening to hip hop and techno at loud volume levels and playing video games.

I wouldn't want to listen to Iron Maiden and Judas Priest on some NHT bookshelf speakers, you know? We're not looking for absolute sonic accuracy here. We're looking for party speakers that will thump and rock.