|   Help with 1st Audio System | Ian95628
Jul 30, 2002 12:02 PM | | This is my first post so i first want to say what an invaluable resource of information this site has been.
So as the topic states I'm putting together my first audio system. I'll be using the system about 40% for watching DVDs, 30% Games (Xbox, PS2, PC), and 30% for CDs.
I'd like to stay around $1500-$2000 including 5 speakers, 1 sub, and the reciever. I started at frys gathering information and I was thinking about a polk audio system
2 X R50 $399
1 X CSi20 $149
2 X RT128 $279
1 X PSW350 10" Sub $349
Harmon Kardon AVR225 $479
Then a started reading some good things Klipsch speakers and Denon recievers and i priced out system that seemed pretty well balanced.
2 X Klipsch RF-5 $599
1 X Klipsch RC-3II $239
2 X Klipsch RS-3II $299
1 X Klipsch RSW-10 $660
Denon AVR-1082 $385
The first prices are from circuit city, and the second are from brandnamez.com. I'd just looking for some more suggestions and critizism since i'm really just learning right now. And if anyone knows any places cheaper for the Klipsch Speakers or a substitution that wouldn't effect the quality of the sytem alot and would save some $. Please let me know.
Thanks, Ian. |
| re: Help with 1st Audio System | RUSSIA
Jul 30, 2002 4:32 PM | | The denon and the HK are both good receivers. However, I would go for the Harman Kardon. Better for music. Better for movies. Dont go with the polk. Audition some other speakers too. JBL's lower lines would be great to look into since you arent looking for a trophy system. The northridge line is more of a rock, rap, loud, speaker line. The studio series is more of a refined speaker line. If the dough permits, go for the HK AVR520. You will never regret it. The remote control is a pain with the AVR225 and AVR320. Happy Hunting, i hope I helped.
--Michael |
| re: Help with 1st Audio System | _Luke_
Jul 31, 2002 6:52 AM | | I don't like to give advice on specific brands, because buying a system is very personal. What I like, you may not and vice versa. A good buying strategy is to visit a couple of audio stores with a couple of recordings you are familiar with and listen to some systems. Go in with a price in mind (which you already have) and listen to systems in that range. You'll often find the usual suspects, Klipsch, B&W, Paradigm, Definitive Tech, and some others whose names escape me at the moment. If (I really should say when) you run into something you haven't heard of, you can always ask here about the company. By visiting an audio store, you will find brands whose companies make much higher end equipment, whose technologies will often trickle down to their less expensive models.
In your price range, you might consider bookshelf speakers. These can be mounted on stands to get them to proper listening height. The advantage to bookshelves is you might get a higher end speaker for the money and allow the sub to fill in the lower end that you lose on the smaller speaks. I sometimes listen to my system that way just because of where the speaks are in relation to the computer(with the rear speaks only along with the sub) which gives me a great sound.
It will really depend on what you want out of the system. I've heard some phenomenal systems with bookshelf speaks.
As far as a sub, I will give a suggestion. For $400 you can get an Adire Audio Rava (it's internet only) which is a good sounding sub for the cash. Have I heard better? Sure. But for (easily) double and triple the cost. It may also allow you to spend a bit more on the speaks.
I know this is getting long, but a couple more things. Check out sites such as E-bay, Audiogon, and the classifieds here. Most adults take care of their speakers so you can find some very good speaks in great condition for alot less than you might on a showroom floor. Also, there are internet brands which may be a bit more bang for the buck since they don't have some of the overhead.
Also, Denon is bringing out their new line of receivers now. That can mean two things. First, you might find an intro model now has some of the features of last years more expensive models (such as DPLII and DTS). Or to see it differently, you may now be able to get last years higher end models at significant discounts. I don't know about the other models because I have a Denon and pay more attention there.
One more thing. Don't be afraid to do a bit of dealing. Most audio stores will knock the price down a bit if you ask, especially if you are buying a whole system at one shot. |
| re: Help with 1st Audio System | Denon_man
Jul 31, 2002 9:49 AM | | Hi,
$2000 goes quite far these days. I love Denon over all receivers. I bought a 2802 after a lot of research. Stick with the Denons. I have B&W 602 S2s as mains, if you look around, you can get these babies used for $550 or so. I love them, for movies and music. You can go with the CC6 used for around $180. New, they would cost $1000-$1200. For rears, you can go with anything bipolar. For a sub, I would go with a Velodyne, B&W or the Klipsch. These are all good choices for HT and music. Contrary to what many believe, I think that good cable makes a big diference. Biwire the mains, I use Monster M-series. Use normal M wire for the CC. Use Monster XP for the rears and Monster Sub cable for the sub. Hope this helps. Tell us how it turns out.
~DeNoN_MaN |
| re: Help with 1st Audio System | BK
Jul 31, 2002 10:45 AM | | Hi.
Nothing wrong with Polk or Klipsch, but check out Ebay as there are authorized dealers of many other speakers on there. For instance, I don't know if you're familiar with PSB, buth they are very good speakers and you can probably get a package consisiting of their Image 5T, 9C, 2B and the Subsonic 6. A very nice system for both music and movies. I've seen this system selling on Ebay for under $1300, brand new. Retail on this system is somewhere around $1900. Check out this link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1369428123
Also I like the B&W and Definitive Technology and Paradigm suggestions as well.
I'm not knocking Polk or Klipsch, but do listen to a few other brands before deciding.
Have fun!
BK |
| re: Help with 1st Audio System | Ian95628
Jul 31, 2002 3:46 PM | | You guys are a ton of help, I'm headed to a local home audio shop in sacramento, ca with a friend and some cds. Gonna have me eyes out for the Denon and Harmon Kardon Recievers and I'll keep an open mind as far as speakers go. Do any others agree that i should buy an internet brand sub like the Adire Audio Rava to save some $? Is that a 10" speaker?
Again thanks alot. |
| Rava...an excellent idea!!! | Keith from Canada
Aug 1, 2002 7:18 AM | | Going with anything from Adire is a good idea. I've never bought anything from them yet (although a 15" Tempest package will be bought in September) but I have heard their subs and I've dealt with their 'customer relations' people (who happens to be the owner of the company). This is a first rate company that doesn't hide anything. They offer their specs up front and, if you e-mail them, they will give you honest answers to your questions.
My father enquired about speaker cabinets for his old mains and a new center channel to match and the owner of the site sent him custom dimension for building his own boxes for the mains and gave him a list of center speakers to match them (none were from his company!). What blew me away was that my father didn't even buy anything from him and the owner of the company seemed genuinely pleased that he helped him out!!!
The Rava is a 12" sub that's best known for it's ability to play fast and is good with music. That being said, it's also plenty of sub for a good HT and the price is great...especially if you're willing to build the enclosure yourself!
Like I said...a first rate company that I will recommmend until the cows come home. It's a rare thing to find a company that builds based on pride and is willing to give honest recommendations to their customers. |
| Denon | boomin_nova
Jul 31, 2002 9:17 PM | | I think the Denon is a superb performer. My Denon powers my two B&W 602 s3 perfectly. And its only 60wpc. This is conservative. Harmon Kardon seems to be dropping in performance in my opinion. One of my friends got a HK reciever and the voulme knob didnt work right at all, the balance was off and all of the ones we saw had backround hiss. He returned it and got a 2ch NAD. Speaker wise look into some of paradigms offerings nd you'll be very happy. Their small speakers are pretty awesome for the size and/or the price. Youu could stay well withen your budget, even if you went with Full range towers for mains. Ask anyone on these boards and Paradigm is well recomended. |
| Denon | Ian95628
Aug 1, 2002 2:02 AM | | Well the strictly audio shop i was planing on visiting was closed when i got there so i was stuck with goodguys for my gathering of information. I did have a chance to see why Bose doesnt have the greatest reviews here, I also desided that the Klipsch Speakers are alitle bright but still better than the majority of the Bose.
I also had a chance to lissen to most of the Energy Lineup. The C-5 towers and C-3 bookshelves where very nice and they seem to be well liked here too.
I've been looking alot at the most popular items on the site and I the JBLS310's caught my eyes, They're alittle big but they sound like a great buy. That would mean I would have to probably get JBL bookshelf speakers like the JBL S38 to match? The Yamaha YST-SW800 looks very nice too. Now i just have to find somewhere to audition them, Anyways let me know what you think.
Ian |
| Denon | Denon_man
Aug 1, 2002 5:10 AM | | JBLs are nice, though, you should definitely listen to upper end speakers, to see what you are missing. Whenever I audition, I hear the best system they have and then I decide. Speakers are personal preference, for instance, I was at Tweeter the other day and I heard their Klipsch RP-5 ($2000/pr) and thought they sounded like !@#$ compared to my B&Ws. You might think the total opposite. Have Fun.
~DeNoN_MaN |
| Denon | boomin_nova
Aug 18, 2002 10:19 AM | | Those klipsch souned bad to you cause you probably have Nautilus tweeters on your B&W's. Going to those Klipsch Horns is very harsh coming from the smoothness i know as B&W |
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