Suggestions for a desktop system?

[ClassyMama]

Our behemoth stereo system from the mid-90's has bitten the dust, and I would like to replace it with something smaller as a Christmas gift to my husband. I'm ashamed to say my husband and I are techno peasants of the first order. We have a decent collection of CD's of classical, folk, bluegrass, and rock music. We do not own an MP3 player.

My priorities:
1. Good sound quality
2. CD changer (4-5 CD's will do)
3. Small footprint (we have 7 people living in a 1500 sq. ft. house)
4. Good value for the money (I don't want to spend a fortune. In fact, under $500 would be great)

A friend suggested the Cambridge Soundworks i765, but considering that we listen to CD's rather than MP3's, that seems a silly choice. From reading the reviews, it sounds like the CS system has some problems with faulty CD players. Plus, we like to put in multiple CD's, not just one at a time.

Then I looked at the Bose Wave with multi-CD changer, but I read a review that led me to believe the Bose system is more hype than substance, and you pay extra for the hype. Plus, I don't like that the Bose CD changer doesn't have a shuffle feature that will shuffle between tracks on the various disks.

Any other suggestions? A dock for an MP3 player would be fine, but it's not a priority. Our oldest children are moving into their teenage years, and I'm sure they will eventually drag their antiquated parents into this century. They have the time to figure those things out. Their parents don't.

One other thing: is it possible to send music from a desktop system to wireless speakers around the house? Do wireless speakers deliver a good sound?

 

[ClassyMama]

Please

Surely someone has some advice. I know it's not a very exciting question, and I apologize for that. But can't someone just take a moment to steer me in the right direction?

What if you were buying a desktop system for your grandma or your older parent? You'd want it to sound good because you'll have to listen to it while you are visiting her, but you don't want to spend a ton of money because you know she wouldn't appreciate it. You know all she's going to do is listen to CD's on it, although she'll probably let you hook up your iPod while you are there. What would you buy her?

 

[Bassbinotoko]

I'm tempted to suggest something like the Grace Digital Bookshelf Micro System, which has internet and network media player abilities. If you need CDs, pick up a CD changer from a thrift store and plug it into the line input They're bulky, but it's a risk having a built-in changer since if/when it breaks, you pretty much have to toss the whole system. I haven't seen any reviews of this system, but it looks reasonable, and much better value than B*se.
Bookshelf Micro System [GDI-IRMS300] :
I haven't ever touched one of these or read a review. I don't know if it's a bad sign that they have refurbished ones to sell for $100 off.

Wireless speakers? Take a look at the Grace site. Plain wireless speakers would be the way to go if you want to listen to the same content that's playing on the mini system (like the CD changer). But, a portable "internet radio" could play whatever you wanted form internet radio, AM/FM, or local content streamed from a PC via WiFi (including the CD changer). Figuring out how to do that may be more complication than you want. An old-school option would be to hook the output of the CD changer or micros system to a low-power FM transmitter. Then you could listen using any FM radio. Some of the FM transmitters sold for playing iPods through car radios are pathetic out of the box, but can be modified for much longer range. There's higher power FM transmitters on ebay, which may not be legal everywhere.

 

[ClassyMama]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check it out.

 

[sholling]

I'll jump in and toss out some ideas. I don't think many people here use micro system or "executive audio systems". The problems that you're going to run into are budget and size requirements. Micro/executive audio systems tend to come in two flavors: crap or expensive. Really the only $500 options are home theater in a box (HTIB) systems and most are total crap. The exceptions are Denon and Onkyo HTIB systems and that's only because the bundled receivers are decent. The speakers and especially the subwoofer are going to be overwhelmed in anything but a tiny room.

An Onkyo HT-S7409 should be a pretty decent choice and Amazon has a great price.

A Denon DHT-391XP might be another good choice.

Honestly I haven't heard either of these two models but they do ship with pretty decent receivers which is rare in a HTIB. Neither comes with a CD player much less a changer but a cheap DVD or Blu-Ray player will play them one at a time and allow you to use it for movies. If you must have changer then Accessories For Less has a refurbished Denon Changer for $99.

If it were me I'd bump up the budget. A re-certified Onkyo TX-NR708 driving a pair of Ascend Sierra-1 bookshelf speakers would rock but it will also cost you $1100.