New music only stereo setup for under 3K

[morvuhs]

Hello,
Trying to put together a system for listening to music in my living room and upgrade from my Bose and Energy home theater setups.
Room is 25x18 feet, hard wood, with some carpeting and drapery. I listen to mostly instrumentals, right from classical to electronica. Not looking for thumping bass and video and volume preference is normal. Most music will be streamed via an Airport Express from iTunes (192/320kbps) running on a desktop in the basement. Rest will be CDs.
Need suggestions on the following. My total budget is $3k.
What speakers to consider? Has to be floor standing.
What integrated amp to consider? Should I forget about receivers?
Do I need a dedicated DAC (itunes -> airport -> dac -> amp)? What should I consider?
What CD player should I use?
What cables should I use?
Do I need a separate sub?
Is it possible to build a system like this under 3k that will sound better than my Bose AM15 and Energy V5.2? Have to get the business case approved by the wife!

Please help!

 

[j_garcia]

The Veritas speakers were decent. The Bose can be put up on ebay and probably pull in decent cash for Bose-ites, or the trash bin. What do you like and not like about the current setup? Yes, $3K will likely yield a definite upgrade. For a solid stereo receiver with a lot of desirable options based on the setup you are talking about, I'd look at the Outlaw Audio RR-2150 as the anchor, but choose speakers first, then build the rest of the system around them IMO. For music only, I'd probably choose a better quality speaker and no sub, but if you DO want a sub (and with electronica you probably will), there's no reason why a bookshelf and a good sub wouldn't work. They don't take up more or less floor space when stand mounted.

 

[morvuhs]

I stopped caring about the Bose a long time ago, banished it to the basement and listen mostly to the Energys. I want to build a separate dedicated music only system and not use my home theater for music. Bookshelves won't work, I need floorstandings to add that furniture feel. I know how bad that sounds but that's the only way wifey is going to let me do this :-(
I am looking for recommendations on how to split by budget on the various components.
Thanks for your reply!

 

[Pyrrho]

How does your wife feel about thin panels? Here are some speakers I would look at:

http://www.magnepan.com/model_MG_16

Cables should be inexpensive. Here is why:

Speaker Wire History - Roger Russell and McIntosh

I would go with an inexpensive CD player. Either that, or use the Oppo 103 as both CD player and preamp, and add a power amp; perhaps:

XPA-200 Stereo Power Amplifier | Emotiva Audio | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo ampli

I know, I am very slightly over budget (because all of that adds up to $3k, and so the shipping and cheap wires and tax on the Maggies will take you about $150 over budget). So instead of that, you could use a pro power amp, such as:

Amazon.com: Crown XLS1500 Power Amplifier: Musical Instruments


In any case, you should go out into the world and audition speakers, of as many types as you can (e.g., ribbon, horn, dome, whatever), of as many different brands as you can stand to audition, with music with which you are familiar, of all types of music to which you listen (making a CDR for this is a good idea), and then select the ones you like best. The speakers will affect the sound more than anything else, so plan on spending more than half of your budget on them.

With my home theater, I had a receiver that retailed for about $600 that I was using with speakers that retail for over $6000. It sounded great (as it should). I decided I wanted more (and newer) features, and so I replaced the receiver with one that retails for about $1700. Unless I engage a feature that affects the sound, it sounds the same as before. The new receiver is capable of putting out about twice as much power as the old one, but the old one would drive my speakers to levels I found painful with crystal clarity, so the extra power, in my case, is useless.

The thing to remember from this is that it is the speakers that matter the most. By far. So put your money into them, and then buy decent other gear to go with it. That is how you will get the best sound for your money. Most people, in my opinion, spend far too much on electronics, and far too little on speakers, if actual sound quality is the goal.

 

[j_garcia]

To get the most out of the funds, I'd spend a good chunk of the total on the towers then. Does that mean they need to look nice too? These would be worth a look:

OPEN BOX Verus Forte Tower Speaker - Gloss Cherry - Open Box / Closeout - speakers by type - Aperion Audio

 

[shadyJ]

There is a terrific deal on some JBL Studio 570s at the moment, you might give those a look. I would definitely use a sub with those or almost any other speakers, even full range speaker. Very few speakers can handle bass as well as a dedicated subwoofer. Some sub companies to look at are Hsu, Rythmik, SVS. Supposedly the SVS Ultra Tower speakers have very good bass on their own, so if you can't swing WAF factor on a beefy sub, those are ones to look at. For an AVR or receiver, I would look at maybe the Denon AVR-X3000 for the room correction equalization it has. Also take a look at the Onkyo TX-NR818. For a CD player, just get something that has a digital audio output. Almost anything will work, consider using any extra DVD players or Blu Ray players you might have laying around for this purpose.

 

[ImcLoud]

$3000 is an excellent budget, that's actually about my limit for a system, I try not to spend over $3000 each system........

For floorstanders I would be between these two in your budget...

Sierra Tower Bamboo Loudspeaker
or
SongTower speakers
$2000 on speakers {even the jbl 590's are an option but for $2000 I would have to hear them first, but with dual 8's they probably have some decent bass for stand alone 2.0...}

then for electronics there is a wide range, as already mentioned the rr2150 which is an all in one stereo receiver with 100wpc for $700
or
Emotiva USP1 with a UPA200 which is separates and gets you 125wpc for $780 for $80 you get a little more power, upgradability, sub control, ect...
UPA-200 | 125W x 2 | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo amplifiers, and monoblock amplifi and USP-1 Stereo Preamp | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel amplifiers, stereo amplifiers, and monoblock amplif if you are not going to use any analog inputs or a sub I would get the xda2 and use it as a preamp {I do this in my front parlor system} XDA-2 USB DAC/Digital Preamp/Headphone Amp | Emotiva Audio Corporation | Emotiva Audio | High-end audio components for audiophiles and videophiles, spanning 2-channel music systems, as well as 5.1 and 7.1 home theaters. Products include multichannel in place of the usp1

Then for wires and cd players there are a ton of options, you can get a decent cd/blu ray player with all the cables you would need for under $300 easily...

I personally would want a pair of bookshelfs and a pair of subs..
I would get a pair of sb12's Dual SB12-NSD $1249
A pair of outlaw 2220's Model 2200 Monoblock Power Amplifier $679
an Oppo 103 OPPO BDP-103 Blu-ray Disc Player use it as preamp and cd player $500
and a pair of carnegie CSB1's from gr research for $400 or any pair of bookshelfs you like the sound of, these impressed me, I built this system almost identically...
then cables would be just a pair of sub rca's, and a pair of speaker cables under $100 easy, leaving some budget left over for stands...

 

[zieglj01]

The JBL Studio 580 are on sale - they can handle all types of music,
even at moderate volume - The Studio series has a nice balanced
sound - clean, smooth, spacious - with good detail and definition
for all frequencies, low/mid/high > no slap in your face sound, and
no boomy/mushy, thumpy bass.
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio-580-Floorstanding-Loudspeaker/dp/B0060IG460/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1389055941&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=jbl+studio+580+towers

Marantz receiver will take care of business - and has built in DAC
http://www.amazon.com/Marantz-SR6007-Home-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0081N91BC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389056639&sr=8-2&keywords=marantz+receiver

Yamaha Bluray will play your CD's
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_022BDS473/Yamaha-BD-S473.html

The Studio 580 will have more bass than the 570 - if you do not feel
it is enough for you - then look at this SVS sub
http://www.svsound.com/subwoofers/sealed-box/SB12-NSD#.UstV3_RDspY

All around your budget range

 

[Jimz711]

I am currently running the Carnegie towers in a 2.0 system, and I am thoroughly enjoying them especially at 1,000 for the pair. I also am mainly interested in music but they do see home theater duty as well. The fit and finish on them is quite good, especially compared to many other speakers in their price range. I am not blown away with bass, but they certainly reach deep enough for my musical tastes.

 

[3db]

You should audition these. These have garnered rave reviews by all the audio rags out in print and online.

 

[ImcLoud]

I agree the psb t2's are shockingly good, BUT... they are over his budget before he buys an amp and source...

 

[johnnyfats]

If you have not decided yet look into the Focal Profile 918.Music direct for two grand matched with the Outlaw you will love this combo for sound and looks.You can get the cambridge 651c or to stay in budget 351c.I have had this system for about a month and it sounds great and is not brken in yet.

 

[bikemig]

Hello,
Trying to put together a system for listening to music in my living room and upgrade from my Bose and Energy home theater setups.
Room is 25x18 feet, hard wood, with some carpeting and drapery. I listen to mostly instrumentals, right from classical to electronica. Not looking for thumping bass and video and volume preference is normal. Most music will be streamed via an Airport Express from iTunes (192/320kbps) running on a desktop in the basement. Rest will be CDs.
Need suggestions on the following. My total budget is $3k.
What speakers to consider? Has to be floor standing.
What integrated amp to consider? Should I forget about receivers?
Do I need a dedicated DAC (itunes -> airport -> dac -> amp)? What should I consider?
What CD player should I use?
What cables should I use?
Do I need a separate sub?
Is it possible to build a system like this under 3k that will sound better than my Bose AM15 and Energy V5.2? Have to get the business case approved by the wife!

Please help!

I use apple airtunes a lot and it works very, very well but you will want to use the digital out from the airport express instead of the analog out. The difference in SQ is noticeable. You're best bet is probably to get an amp with digital inputs; they are becoming increasingly common. You can pick up the NAD356bee dac refurbished from spearit sound for $650. It has plenty of inputs (digital and analog) as well as plenty of power for any speakers you want. http://www.spearitsound.com/Integrated_Amplifiers-NAD_C_356DAC_refurbished.html

I use computer playback exclusively but I've been thinking of picking up a CD player. I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on a refurbished martanz cd6004 from accessories4less at $349 plus free shipping: MARANTZ CD6004 Compact Disc Player | Accessories4less

Besides getting excellent reviews, it also allows digital playback from an iPod which is a nice touch. Plus it has a pretty good quality headphone amp.

You're at $1k which leaves $2k for towers; for music only, I'd get a pair of towers and skip the sub particularly given your taste in music. I'm a big psb fan, so I'd get the PSB imagine Ts at $1099 each which puts you slightly above budget. You can save some money on the speakers by getting b stock from Saturday audio: PSB B-Stock Sale. That will run you $1759. They look beautiful and sound great and this will put you back under budget.

For cables, you could buy it cheap from monoprice. If you're worried about tweaking the placebos (and we all are to some extent), you could splurge on cables from blue jean cables: Blue Jeans Cable -- Quality Cables at Reasonable Prices.

They'll look prettier than the cables from monoprice but won't break your budget. There's a lot to be said for pretty looking cables as long as you realize that they don't really make much of a difference other than looks.