Newbie needs help with budget home stereo build

[ps814]

UPDATED ENTIRE POST:
Hello everyone!
I just moved and I am looking for a new home audio system (or start of one). I currently have no equipment other than a turntable listed below.
Looking for guidance into Bookshelf, Floor Standing, or Tower Speakers (which correct me if I am wrong if the two are the same) and my options as I know nothing really about brands, models, etc.

• Desired Setup:
  • 2 Speakers, 2 Speakers + Center Channel, or a 2.1 System (+ Receiver if necessary...) - Not opposed to building overtime into a full 5.1.
  • Which leads me to considering Active/Powered speakers if possible in budget to avoid needing a high end receiver.
  • whichever is possible or the best options for the money.
• The Space:
  • 800 sqft apartment, brand new, modern construction, 10 ft ceilings, on the bottom floor so no worries for neighbors below (Floor plan image below).
  • However within 6-12 months I will be in a 1000-1500 sqft home, maybe a loft with higher ceilings.
• The Use:
  • I work from home so music is played pretty much from sunup to sundown.
  • However I am a little bit of a cinephile so I watch a lot of movies/shows.
  • Typically I am the host for social gatherings.
• Sources:
  • 60% of the time, I am streaming using Google Audio which uses a Aux Connection & plays from Spotify or some other music app.
  • 20% my Turntable which also is very entry level.
  • 20% TV through Optical, HDMI, whatever is available or necessary at the time.
• BUDGET: Only $800 for now.

I am not opposed to buying used.- I just have NO idea what models to look for.

LASTLY: By all means make suggestions of makes & models.

Thank you for any and all help!

 

[lovinthehd]

1. going 5.1 can be done with bookshelf or floor standing, so not sure what that means. You don't seem to have a particularly large space, so imagine smaller might be preferred?
2. will be speaker dependent, there are some very good bookshelves and some poor floor standers....if the sub is sufficient and the room isn't too large then bookshelves should work just fine, tho.
3. you will need a full set of pre-outs on an avr to use active speakers, or use a pre-pro (generally pre-pros are more expensive than avrs, tho). Full set of pre-outs tends to only come on the higher priced avrs, too.

Is the $800 budget for everything or just speakers/sub? You had some decent gear, that's a pretty limited budget to replace it all with (or you could perhaps consider used). Holding out not so much, but maybe just starting with a simpler system until you can afford more....

 

[ps814]

1. going 5.1 can be done with bookshelf or floor standing, so not sure what that means. You don't seem to have a particularly large space, so imagine smaller might be preferred?
2. will be speaker dependent, there are some very good bookshelves and some poor floor standers....if the sub is sufficient and the room isn't too large then bookshelves should work just fine, tho.
3. you will need a full set of pre-outs on an avr to use active speakers, or use a pre-pro (generally pre-pros are more expensive than avrs, tho). Full set of pre-outs tends to only come on the higher priced avrs, too.

Is the $800 budget for everything or just speakers/sub? You had some decent gear, that's a pretty limited budget to replace it all with (or you could perhaps consider used). Holding out not so much, but maybe just starting with a simpler system until you can afford more....

Edited my original post to rephrase and add some info.
Yeah I know the system was originally like a $10k+ system in my parents house growing up, but it was 20+ years old and definitely had signs of fatigue.
Yes $800 is for everything.
I am not opposed to used or starting out with a simpler system - like you said maybe a pair of <insert type of speakers> to start and eventually building into a full 5.1

 

[ps814]

1. going 5.1 can be done with bookshelf or floor standing, so not sure what that means. You don't seem to have a particularly large space, so imagine smaller might be preferred?
2. will be speaker dependent, there are some very good bookshelves and some poor floor standers....if the sub is sufficient and the room isn't too large then bookshelves should work just fine, tho.
3. you will need a full set of pre-outs on an avr to use active speakers, or use a pre-pro (generally pre-pros are more expensive than avrs, tho). Full set of pre-outs tends to only come on the higher priced avrs, too.

Is the $800 budget for everything or just speakers/sub? You had some decent gear, that's a pretty limited budget to replace it all with (or you could perhaps consider used). Holding out not so much, but maybe just starting with a simpler system until you can afford more....

Also I guess I don't understand Active/Passive/etc. From what I thought I was reading, and some speaker examples in my research I thought Powered/Active meant built in amplification and only needed a music source and not a receiver? Or maybe I misunderstood what you were trying to say when mentioning connecting to an avr.

 

[lovinthehd]

Also I guess I don't understand Active/Passive/etc. From what I thought I was reading, and some speaker examples in my research I thought Powered/Active meant built in amplification and only needed a music source and not a receiver? Or maybe I misunderstood what you were trying to say when mentioning connecting to an avr.

Usually an avr or a pre-pro (pre-amp/processor, i.e. an avr without amps) is a switching center and can adjust signals as needed for the amplification. Active/self-powered speakers would have amps built in but you'd still want a source with a volume control (something like directly connecting an optical disc player wouldn't necessarily provide).

 

[ps814]

Usually an avr or a pre-pro (pre-amp/processor, i.e. an avr without amps) is a switching center and can adjust signals as needed for the amplification. Active/self-powered speakers would have amps built in but you'd still want a source with a volume control (something like directly connecting an optical disc player wouldn't necessarily provide).

Thank you for clarifying. so I have seen some powered speakers with wireless remotes, and built in controls, all inputs, etc. Is that not an option? Or is it more of a "if it has all of that they arent that good for the price" or "too good to be good" kind of thing?
Sorry not to take focus away from the overall discussion or focus only on active speakers.

 

[lovinthehd]

Thank you for clarifying. so I have seen some powered speakers with wireless remotes, and built in controls, all inputs, etc. Is that not an option? Or is it more of a "if it has all of that they arent that good for the price" or "too good to be good" kind of thing?
Sorry not to take focus away from the overall discussion or focus only on active speakers.

A few active speakers have features that may make connection of other sources directly work well enough, not all have remotes. What active speakers are you thinking about getting? Does your record player have a built-in phono stage (phono pre-amp)?

 

[ps814]

A few active speakers have features that may make connection of other sources directly work well enough, not all have remotes. What active speakers are you thinking about getting? Does your record player have a built-in phono stage (phono pre-amp)?

Yes it does have a built in pre-amp, 3.5mm RCA, and bluetooth.
I would need to look up the speakers again but maybe I read them wrong as it was before some prior knowledge.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Pair of Kali LP8s and an Emotiva BasX PT1 should do the trick for a solid 2.0. It doesn't leave a budget for a sub, but it's a fully sub-ready setup. So when you gather another $450 you could add a good sub.
I heard in some reviews LP-8 v2 has cracking issues, but the company is aware and released an updated version. If you happened to buy from a bad batch, contact the company for a free solution.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yes it does have a built in pre-amp, 3.5mm RCA, and bluetooth.
I would need to look up the speakers again but maybe I read them wrong as it was before some prior knowledge.

Then connecting that to a set of active speakers wouldn't be difficult, altho may limit what else you could use for input if the speakers only have a single analog input (not many will be BT, altho some are BT or wifi enabled).

Don't think there are active speakers with hdmi (yet?).

 

[ps814]

Then connecting that to a set of active speakers wouldn't be difficult, altho may limit what else you could use for input if the speakers only have a single analog input (not many will be BT, altho some are BT or wifi enabled).

Don't think there are active speakers with hdmi (yet?).

I did see one model with HDMI the other day. Had every input possible actually which was one of their main points. I gotta find them again.

 

[ps814]

Then connecting that to a set of active speakers wouldn't be difficult, altho may limit what else you could use for input if the speakers only have a single analog input (not many will be BT, altho some are BT or wifi enabled).

Don't think there are active speakers with hdmi (yet?).

Here they are

Debut ConneX DCB41 Powered Speakers -

Looking for more information on Debut ConneX DCB41 Powered Speakers? Click to learn more and shop now from ELAC!

www.elac.com

I found numerous others with hdmi(arc) but not in my budget but that was a quick search trying to find this specific example again. Maybe there are others.

 

[lovinthehd]

With those you don't even need your own phono stage! Definitely a nice connectivity/feature suite with that model! Elac is generally a good speaker company, altho many preferred the designs of Andrew Jones, who no longer works there (have no idea if he had a hand in these, tho). Pretty small drivers at 4.5 inches, tho for smaller rooms/lower listening levels may be adequate; I'd generally prefer larger drivers, tho. Curious what it has onboard to accommodate a sub other than a connection port (I didn't dig into the manual).

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Here they are

Debut ConneX DCB41 Powered Speakers -

Looking for more information on Debut ConneX DCB41 Powered Speakers? Click to learn more and shop now from ELAC!

www.elac.com

I found numerous others with hdmi(arc) but not in my budget but that was a quick search trying to find this specific example again. Maybe there are others.

Interesting system. Minor point - these are powered speakers, not active. In an active system, each driver has its own amp. They don't dig very deep but apparently designed by Oleg Bogdanov, formerly from Paradigm

 

[fmw]

The least expensive way to go, I think, would be to choose a budget 5.1 receiver (about $400 or so brand new) a pair of passive bookshelf speakers and a small subwoofer. Then you can add whichever input devices you want to use. FM radio would be included with the receiver if you use that.

I use a system like this in my bedroom. The sub is average size, though, not small. It performs very well for a budget system.

 

[ps814]

With those you don't even need your own phono stage! Definitely a nice connectivity/feature suite with that model! Elac is generally a good speaker company, altho many preferred the designs of Andrew Jones, who no longer works there (have no idea if he had a hand in these, tho). Pretty small drivers at 4.5 inches, tho for smaller rooms/lower listening levels may be adequate; I'd generally prefer larger drivers, tho. Curious what it has onboard to accommodate a sub other than a connection port (I didn't dig into the manual).

So let me ask you this, what size drivers should I be looking for? That being said - what other specs should I be looking for to help me get a baseline when doing my own research?

 

[ps814]

Interesting system. Minor point - these are powered speakers, not active. In an active system, each driver has its own amp. They don't dig very deep but apparently designed by Oleg Bogdanov, formerly from Paradigm

Thank you for the note. I thought they were one in the same so now that is great to know!

 

[ps814]

ok random - but Klipsch - everything on Amazon on their store is like 30%-60% off....their website isn't even as low priced. Whether this on purpose or error, would it be worth considering The Fives and a sub or center channel from them?

 

[lovinthehd]

So let me ask you this, what size drivers should I be looking for? That being said - what other specs should I be looking for to help me get a baseline when doing my own research?

For general purposes I'd want no less than 6.5" drivers for the mid-bass woofer in a bookshelf speaker, in really large rooms no less than 8". Particular design makes a difference so hard to generalize like that, but hard to beat physics of air movement to an extent....thus the old saying there's no replacement for displacement.

 

[rsharp]

ok random - but Klipsch - everything on Amazon on their store is like 30%-60% off....their website isn't even as low priced. Whether this on purpose or error, would it be worth considering The Fives and a sub or center channel from them?

Personally, I would avoid Amazon. But at least check out who (what store) is actually selling the items. It may not be Klipsch that would be the seller.

If you have access to home audio/video stores in your area, I'd go that route. If doing mail-order, see if Klipch (or whatever brand you're looking at) maintains a list of authorized resellers and then order from them.