Total Noob - help me

[algae65]

I have a long history in car audio, but I have no experience in home audio at all, not even a HTIB. I know that audio has many variables, and the only one that I care about right now is money(how much does it cost). The speakers in my TV went out and I want to buy 2.0 or 2.1 to replace them. So I'm ideally thinking 2 3-way floor standing towers w/ tweet, mid, sub in each tower and a 2 channel receiver putting out some juice. So the question is what can I get for $500-700? This price range is limiting, so please suggest used options as well. I have looked at the following but have no reference for their quality:

Cerwin-VE-12-3-Way-Tower-Speaker
BIC-RTR-EV15-Eviction
A6 - 5T5 MTM Pair

I have no idea what brand of receiver is good. If this were car decks, I'd be looking for Panasonic instead of Nakamichi. For car subs, I'd be looking for Fi, Ascendant, DD, Audioque . . . can someone recommend some options in the home audio that are equivalent. I will appreciate all advice, research it, and actually buy something. I went through the classified section and it was like reading Greek, so if anyone is selling a good deal please let me know.

 

[jostenmeat]

At such a limited budget, I advise you stick with 2way only. Possibly 2.5 way, but I don't think it's possible even as used for anything worthwhile, when your budget includes the electronics. Even if you were willing to go DIY on speakers, would I still recommend 2way. Forget "subs".

If I were in your shoes, I'd build a pair of ER18s for $550 in parts, and scrounge up whatever receiver I could with whatever is left. It will likely be a well superceded HT receiver, generations old, without any modern features. I would use the amplifier/PS as the #1 consideration. You will have to learn about how to find 3rd party measurements, and then correlate that to the value of a used market item.

If you want to buy new, you will have to settle for less power. If you are unwilling to build speakers, you pretty much have to settle for bookshelves without much bass response if you want anything worth writing home about. These are my opinions.

If bookshelves are ok, then there are the looks. If ugly is fine, I'd look at studio monitors, and possibly Ascend 170SE, maybe some PSB Images as superceded and used.

 

[algae65]

I don't want to build anything. I really want something that I don't have to over think. I want either 2 towers/bookshelves that include a subwoofer or I'll buy the self powered subwoofer separately and a receiver with the amp built in. I don't want to be an expert in this stuff. Been there with the car stereo, and I just don't care anymore. if anyone comes to me and says I have $1000, what's the best setup that you can suggest that includes all components(deck, components, subs, amps, sound deadening, cables/wires, etc.) I could have something for them in 10 minutes. I'm asking for some ideas(without getting too technical) for either a 2.0 or 2.1 system including receiver that is under $1000.

 

[mortonconst]

depending where you live, i would suggest going to your local Best Buy. they always have great deals on "open box" items. in your first post you said that you were looking to spend around $500.00. that would cover a decent pair of "open box" towers at best buy. later in your post, you said under $1000. if that is the cast, you can pick-up a nice open box receiver (kenwood, yamaha, onkyo, denon) and 3 speakers (front left and right and a center channel) and you would be in good shape for a beginner system. don't sell yourself short on the receiver though. you never know when the bug is going to bite you and before you know it....you will want to upgrade. with that said, i would suggest that at a minimum, you buy a receiver that has a minimum of 5.1 "pre-outs" so that way...when the time comes you can add an external amp....

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

eD's are probably best speakers of the bunch you mentioned, but they been discontinued..
I remember AH did review them and found to be good, but not great.
I don't know anything about their new t speakers line

If I were you - I look at: Infinity Primus P362
here or here

and this AVR:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKHTRC260/Onkyo/HT-RC260-7.2-channel-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

or if AC4L runs out of stock on these - a good alternative:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ONKTX8555/Onkyo/TX-8555-100-watts-2-channel-Stereo-Receiver/1.html

 

[algae65]

solid

Thanks bro! Can you help me out with the sub too. So far I've been looking at the BIC PL-200 or ED A2 - 250. Any other ideas. it's for my family room about 20x8

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks bro! Can you help me out with the sub too. So far I've been looking at the BIC PL-200 or ED A2 - 250. Any other ideas. it's for my family room about 20x8

Out of these two I'd pick eD sub over BIC anyday, but I think you owe to yourself to bump the budget a bit and get Emotive Ultra sub 12
http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub12.shtm

 

[mortonconst]

i agree with the emotiva recommendation...i have 2 ultra 10's are they are great....

 

[algae65]

soundbar?

I hate to do this, but I'm going to be that guy who gets great advice from passionate people, and then proves his noobness lol. So I've been looking into sounbdbar(just found out that they existed). And they seem like an even cheaper options. Is this like putting a prefab box in your car? Can you guys recommend any good options for this. I'd rather buy the soundbar/reciever combination, but I'm not opposed to buying them separately. Is this feasible or do they universally sound like crap.

 

[farscaper]

Have a look at Aperion Audio. They sell Internet direct. They have a few soundbar & sub packages.

 

[GranteedEV]

They aren't floorstanders, but if you can find some cheap stools to put them on (ghetto >_>;; but at least I didn't say cinder blocks) I recommend a pair of these:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR2328P/

They're powered, so you should be able to plug a single source directly into them, and by the measurements their SQ should be excellent. I believe they have bass down to the mid 40s so you won't necessarily need a subwoofer for most source material.

If you need to switch sources(without getting off the couch LOL), you will need a receiver with pre-out jacks. Otherwise a receiver would not be necessary if it's just your DVD player or TV RCA-out.

If you're intent on towers, then the tried and tested recommendation would be a pair of Infinity Primus P363 towers and a cheap reciever like this one:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARSR5004/Marantz/SR5004-90w-X-7ch-Home-Theater-Surround-Receiver/1.html

So I've been looking into sounbdbar(just found out that they existed). And they seem like an even cheaper options. Is this like putting a prefab box in your car? Can you guys recommend any good options for this. I'd rather buy the soundbar/reciever combination, but I'm not opposed to buying them separately. Is this feasible or do they universally sound like crap.

The goal of most sound bars is to simulate a surround field. Fidelity is usually not a concern with em. There might be some decent ones out there, but if you want good fidelity you can do better with your money. I would never buy a sound bar personally. I think a good 2.0 set is enough for most setups, and a sub can be added when you personally feel like it.