Newbie needing help

[rubberdougie]

I want to educate myself to begin building a new system, component by component, mostly for listening to music. I absolutely love music. I only watch an occasional movie, and I'm really not into television - cable, analog, or satellite. Should I therefore be searching for a home "theater"? Where can I find more information to begin my quest? I would like to set up a single system that I can use throughout my house - switching on and off different combinations of speakers. I would like this system to support connectivity of my PC. I listen to everything - FM, satellite, LPs, cassettes, CDs, MP3s. Can anyone offer any advice as to where to begin?

 

[Red]

Where to begin?

You are already there. If you found your way here you are officially on the path. My suggestion - take some time and weave your way through all the information Audioholics has to offer.

This site is very well laid out and there are a ton of product reviews, opinions (good and bad), links etc.

It looks as if you have determined what you want re: music vs home theater and perhaps a whole house, mulit zone enviroment.

Look through the amps/receivers sections, loudspeakers, cabling, accoustics etc. Before you know it your head will be spinning, but if you are serious it will be a lot of fun learning.

When you start undertanding various aspects based on your research, come back and post questions as there usually is no shortage of opinions about which receiver or speakers etc kick the s**t out of competing receivers or speakers.

Good luck and have fun with it

 

[Dan]

Again I agree with Red. This site was very helpful when I was first shopping three years ago. I feel the same way about music vs. video but you will be surprised how much you wind up watching. You can always collect concert videos and great old rock movies if you like that stuff. Nowadays every performer has a 5.1 channel concert video for sale.

There are a number of ways to configure the system as you wish. I would suggest a good preamp/processsor or one of the excellent receivers reviewed here that has an easy to use Zone B. This can be connected to a separate amplifier. I have seen some models that have twelve pairs of identical outputs allowing up to twelve rooms to be wired for two channel stereo.

 

[miklorsmith]

Forums

I would also encourage you to look at other forums. There's nothing wrong with this one AT ALL. However, the population here tends to be of a certain bent, as do all the sites. By branching out, you can get a more balanced set of views.

Also, as correctly pointed out here on Many occasions, often directed at yours truly, what you read is somebody's opinion. There is no "zero point" or benchmark to gauge against when you read someone's impressions of a piece of gear. There are so many variables that even a seasoned listener's view of something in THEIR system may be way off in yours.

Go to shops, talk to the salespeople. Try different shops. Ask the salespeople if they're on commission. Nothing wrong with being on commission, but you need to know. Go to the big box stores and the small, local hi-fi shop, as both have something to offer. Listen to their wares and bring your own music that you know well. Ask them if they have trial periods, in home. Your other electronics and acoustics cannot be duplicated in the showroom.

DO NOT BE IN A HURRY FOR ANYTHING. You've lived this long without having item X that is now "crucial". It is rare to get the "best" piece at a "great" price when you're rushing. A great sale price on something you don't like in a month did not save you money.

Internet purchases are not a bad thing, but do more research for them than you would for a B&M buy, as you won't be able to get any first-hand impressions. Overall mark-up for manufacturer-direct merchandise is significantly less than when a dealer is involved. Make sure you know what their return policies are. Example: My buddy and I ordered speakers. He didn't like his and sent them back. This maker had a $75 crating/shipping fee to you, a 5% return/restock fee, and he had to pay the return shipping. His total cost for return was $280. I didn't send mine back, but the maker covered shipping my way and no return fee. I would have been out the return shipping only - less than $100.

Have fun. This is a great hobby and whichever way you go, you'll probably always be happy but searching. It's what keeps us all coming back, like golf.

 

[tbewick]

Look at some books on hi-fi, since they'll probably be the most reliable sources of information.

You really should spend most of your money on a good set of stereo speakers. An excellent set of speakers needn't be very expensive. I bought a pair of Bowers & Wilkins DM601's for ~£70 on eBay and they are superb value for money. At the other end of the scale, you could buy a set of Tannoy studio monitors for £3k.

One thing I had problems with when I first got my system set up was harsh sound. I think the reason for this was that I wasn't listening to my music/DVDs at a loud enough volume. Our hearing responds differently at louder volumes so unless you listen to your music at the same level the music was mastered at (probably on v. high end equipment), it won't sound so good. For this reason I recommend using a treble boost at moderate volume levels for music. For DVDs, my B&Ws seem able to get up to loud enough volumes, so this correction isn't necessary.

 

[zipper]

I concur with others.................get out there & LISTEN! From top to bottom, check out everything you can. Even stuff that may be way out of your price range. Stick a couple of your fav CD's in your car so you always have them with you. This is so you always have a point of reference when listening to different gear as it will all sound a little different.

Have fun, take your time, & don't go dirt cheap.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I would also encourage you to look at other forums. There's nothing wrong with this one AT ALL. However, the population here tends to be of a certain bent, as do all the sites. By branching out, you can get a more balanced set of views..

You mean if he was interested in evolution, your'd recommend other points of views?

 

[miklorsmith]

Evolve, Darn you!

I mean simply that there are many ways to skin the cat. A shockingly large number.

I disagree about hearing and music volume. The volume something was mastered at is not the object of playback. Different systems find their schwerve at different volumes and most need a little juice to fill in. Not all though. Some can be quite special at very low volumes.

 

[tbewick]

On the hearing/volume level point, I've just found that tonal adjustment improves the sound at lowish volumes - for example, cymbals sound less splashy (does require further mid-range adjustment) and vocals are clearer on rock music. Also violins/horns sound more life-like. It does make quieter passages sound thinner though.

Without adjustment, some music can sound very mushy at low volumes (no high-end at all).

 

[redcouch]

Newbie

Newbie, you need to buy a Audio Rack from Red Couch Design first!!