Looking for advice for 2.1 Channel Stereo System

[fattyboombah85]

I am looking to purchase a complete stereo system. There is so much information on these sites that it is very hard to comprehend it all when you do not have anything to base it off of. I will spend up to 1500$ I don't know exactly how all this works or the options, but I figure I need a source, an amp or reciever, a pair of speakers.... the room would be medium size at most, and perhaps a sub unless i get floorstanders?

So onto what I have heard good things about and don't understand.

What is the difference between an amplifier and a reciever? And what is the difference between a tube amplifier versus otherwise?

Some things I was thinking about getting were the HK 3480 reciever as this would be a 2 channel system. I perhaps would connect this system to my TV/DVD but I have no need to worry about HD or surround sound atm.

I'm looking for a deal. I just want a quality stereo system for a medium sized room. I was looking at axiom and av123 as my key contenders for the speakers, perhaps the m22i or the reference 1's on bstock or something. They also have a deal for the tube amp and a pair of ref's 1's for 1200 when it should be msrp of like 2200. I don't know what a tube amp is.

As for a source, I normally listen to Cd's. I don't know how this will play into my options, or what makes a good CD player. The CD player could be a DVD player, however I do like the ability to put multiple cd's into the player.... like a carosel. If CD's aren't the best way to listen to it and it has gone digital in lossless format or something then I would look into that.

Really I am inexperienced and uneducated in these matters and I would like some advice on some good possible systems and perhaps a little lesson in these things I don't quite understand. Price Mark $1500, I thank you for anytime you set aside to help me out.

 

[markw]

Are you saying you want a stereo system, possibly with a subwoofer?

That' s a little different than what's commonly called a "2.1" system, which implies a computer speaker with built in amplification.

It looks like you're headed in the right diredtion, though, sticking to two channel receivers. The key here is choosing your subwoofer carefully.

Some receivers have a "subwoofer out" on them. I've heard the H/K units do, which is good. But, even if the receiver you choose doesn't have this, tain't no big thang if you choose your subwoofer carefully.

Most subwoofers offer two ways to feed them. One has two speaker inputs, which allows it to be connected to the speaker outs of your receiver. this allows it to be used with virtually any receiver.

The other method uses either one or two RCA jacks so it can accept a "line level" signal from either a subwoofer out, like the H/K has, or a two channel preamp output. These generally offer more flexibility in making adjustments beeded to mate the sub with your mains.

Some, not all, receivers have "preamp outs" and you would feed both channels (R/L) to both line level inputs (R/l) on the subwoofer. If , like the H/K does, you DO have only a "sub out" on your revceiver, you can feed it into either channel or, for an additionnal $4.00 or so, you can get a "Y" connector and connect it to both channels. Many subs also offer another pair of RCA jacks that allow you to return tos siline level signal (sans deep bass) back to the receiver so that it's power amp doesn't have to handle the deep bass. This can lower the power demands on it and clean up the signal.

Some subwoofers have only one line level input. This can be troublesome if you're not careful. This will work fine if the receiver has a "sub out" like the H/K. This is what it was made for. But, if your receiver has only a pair of preamp outs (R/L), you can't use this configuration. You simply cannot combine the left and right preamp outputs into one input without a separate piece of gear. IOW, try to avoid these unless you know fer sure you can use it.

This leaves the lowest common denominator, the speaker level connections. If your chosen receiver han neither of the line level outs, this is your only route. Their use is self explanitory. Most subs offer speaker outputs as well so you can connect your main speakers to subwoofer, the sub will extract the bass and send the rest of the signal out to your main speakers. This relieves the mains from trying to reproduce the deep bass and generally cleans up the sound. The downside to this is that the subwoofers hard coded crossover points may not be optimum for your system but many people are happy as a clam at high tide with this setup. I'd give it a try before simply writing it off. It helps more than it hurts.

If your mains can handle a full range signal with having a nervous breakdown on deep bass, you can simply run it "in parallel" with your mains. IOW, the sub signal is a one way trip. The rest of the system still deal with the deep bass like it always has. In the case of speaker level inputs, simply connect it in parallel to your main speakers. I'd recommend connecting it to the same outputs as your speakers. Likewise, if you use the preamp outs, simply connect them to the subs inputs.

Ignore any outputs from the sub. In both cases, the signal, in it's original form, will still be going through the system as if there is no sub attached, with all the deep bass demands it always had. The sub will be acting independently.

Pwersonally, If you look at my system, when I had my sub in my two channel systsm, ran my sub from my preamp outs in parallel with the rest of the system. I was lucky in that my speakers were polite enough to simply any deep bass it couldn't handle.

I know I didn't offer any specific recommendations but I've always believed that a little theory on what's going on might help guide your future decisions.

good luck.

 

[jcPanny]

Stereo setup

I have the ref 1's and would recommend them for your new setup. You might also find some Ref 1.5s or Ref 2's on the classified page for a reasonable price. Their tube amp is great entry level audiophile gear, but it requires a bit more TLC than your typical solid state receiver. Also, the SP3 only has two sets of analog inputs so the quality of the A/D converter on your CD player is more critical.

If you go with the Ref 1's, check out the Onix X-sub to fill in the low end. It has the speaker level inputs you would need for use with the SP3.

If you want to totally blow your budget, check out the combo of the Strata Mini's and the SP3 amp for $2k, good through the end of the year. This is a true audiophile setup and the powered woofers mean you will not need a sub.

 

[Nick250]

Fattyboom, reading some of topics here might fill in soom of the blanks.

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/setup/index.php

Nick

 

[wire]

I have the ref 1's and would recommend them for your new setup. You might also find some Ref 1.5s or Ref 2's on the classified page for a reasonable price. Their tube amp is great entry level audiophile gear, but it requires a bit more TLC than your typical solid state receiver. Also, the SP3 only has two sets of analog inputs so the quality of the A/D converter on your CD player is more critical.

If you go with the Ref 1's, check out the Onix X-sub to fill in the low end. It has the speaker level inputs you would need for use with the SP3.

If you want to totally blow your budget, check out the combo of the Strata Mini's and the SP3 amp for $2k, good through the end of the year. This is a true audiophile setup and the powered woofers mean you will not need a sub.

I run the SP3 , with sonic hologram in my bedroom (very largeroom , I dont need a Sub for 2 channel . Also i run a Bryston 4b in my living room with a Carver pre and polk 2bs and dont need a sub . But my HT setup needs a sub .
I like the idea of the SP3 combo ( givin above ) , that wouldbe my 1st choice .

 

[Pianoman84d]

I'd recommend the Onix Ref 1 + SP3 combo for 1200 and then a Squeezebox for 299.

 

[fattyboombah85]

Yeah,Okay, So Sp3 + REF1 or Mini Strats + Sp3 and either one seems like a squeezebox is pretty dope. However, With REF1 I'd need a sub and stands and that puts it closer to the 2k range anyway, or well quite near.

Whats everyones take on the Squeezebox, I had actually never heard of it before. It seems very interesting as long as the audio quality is as good. I mean if it is the same as a disc read. I don't know what kind of drive it has on it or what capacity, however it would seem to need to be immense.

My last 2 thoughts are that compared to the two options above... I think I am not sure I would necessarily get the necessary benefit out of the strat mini's as they would probably be in a medium sized room. Obviously I could always keep the volume down, but I am also a little wary of the Sp3 as it takes a little more fiddling with to work just right and while learning would be the minutest detail, I know absolutely nothing about tubes.

So give me some more input, and once again, thanks!

 

[fattyboombah85]

bump*********

 

[wire]

Yeah,Okay, So Sp3 + REF1 or Mini Strats + Sp3 and either one seems like a squeezebox is pretty dope. However, With REF1 I'd need a sub and stands and that puts it closer to the 2k range anyway, or well quite near.

Whats everyones take on the Squeezebox, I had actually never heard of it before. It seems very interesting as long as the audio quality is as good. I mean if it is the same as a disc read. I don't know what kind of drive it has on it or what capacity, however it would seem to need to be immense.

My last 2 thoughts are that compared to the two options above... I think I am not sure I would necessarily get the necessary benefit out of the strat mini's as they would probably be in a medium sized room. Obviously I could always keep the volume down, but I am also a little wary of the Sp3 as it takes a little more fiddling with to work just right and while learning would be the minutest detail, I know absolutely nothing about tubes.

So give me some more input, and once again, thanks!

Humm
Wary of the SP3 , i have one and i dont fiddle with it . It came new in the box , setup is easy and already to go .

 

[jcPanny]

SqueezeBox

Fatty,
The SqueezeBox 3 allows you to stream audio from any wired or wireless network. It has audiophile quality D/A converters which you can connect to the analog inputs on the SP3. You could store all your media in losless files like FLAC on a PC. If this type of interface is not for you than you could get a CD player with a good analog output stage instead of the squeezebox.

Keep in mind that the deal on the mini's and SP3 is only good through the end of the year. Next year, the price on the Mini's along with be about $2k.

As I understand it, tube amps require a bias adjustment periodically to sound their best. This is done with a simple measurement with a multimeter/voltmeter and adjusting a potentiometer on the side of the tube amp.