Home Audio < $1000

P

Pyromancer

Joined
Oct 30, 2005
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343
Hi,

I'm looking for a home audio setup for an apartment lounge room (TV, music, small parties). Something with longevity. Space is fairly limited, budget can be a little flexible. Suggestions would be appreciated.

D
 
I have a Yamaha receiver, Klipsch Icon series speakers and a pair of 10inch loud speakers. They work great for movies, music and dances. Normally I'll either use a laptop or my desktop (plenty of inputs and digital out) as the sound source at dances.

Heber
 
My Harmon Kardon stereo receiver has a great amp and is a steal especially if you go to their site and buy a reconditioned one.
 
Where are you located? If you are near a Frys, or don't mind shopping online, they have killer deals on nice components around every holiday. I cobbled together $1K worth of stuff for about $300 by watching their sales and buying when each part was available. You can also check out Best Buy's returns and clearances, which can be another great source. I have a couple of 7.1 Klipsch sets bought at 30% of retail price thanks to Best Buy clearances. Ebay and Craigslist are good sources for used stuff, once you do a bit of research.

Also, you might want to consider that most sources are not made for surround sound. Super CD or whatever it was called never really caught on, so most music is still stereo, meaning the best sound will come from two speakers, plus maybe a sub. Add more than that with music and you are messing with the intended sound.

Same goes with TV, movies, etc. Consider the source of what most of your stuff is, and go from there. If you do watch a lot of DVD/BluRay/premium channels, surround can be pretty awesome, especially if you position and calibrate the speakers properly.

The biggest difference for me is with video games, when enemies coming up from behind make sounds behind you. That's pretty neat and adds a whole new level to the experience.

For specific recommendations, I personally would get a Klipsch Quintet set plus a sub (or one of their other similar sets) for an apartment. They have a very small footprint and sound phenomenal. For a receiver, Onkyo and Pioneer make some pretty solid low priced units that would go well with the speakers.
 
I've got a Harmon Kardon receiver and Polk Audio speakers and subwoofer. Bare in mind that the cables and wire, Monster, are a considerable percentage of the expense. I spent almost as much on cables and wire as I did on my receiver. These days with HDMI, could be you'll spend more.
 
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My thoughts for simple and flexible.

Audioengine 5 you can hook up TV, DVD player, ipod, etc into these powered speakers.

Oppo 83 would be a good source to play movies and audio from.

Later you could add a preamp, dac, more sources if desired.
 
If you're living in an apartment with limited space have you considers the yamaha sound projector bars?
 
Onkyo TX-8255 is the cheapest receiver I know of designed to work with 4 OHM speakers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882120128&cm_re=onkyo_tx-8255-_-82-120-128-_-Product

The link is not a plug for the merchant, but that is also the best price I could find.

Good sounding bookshelf speakers tend to be 4, 5 or 6 OHMs. It sounds like you're looking for bookshelf speakers. Buy the receiver, get out your test CD collection, and go audition little speakers until you find some that you like.
 
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Keep an eye on slickdeals.net

Here's a deal going on right now (the links aren't going to work here but they do at slickdeals.net)

Newegg has Klipsch HD 500 5.1 Speaker Set + Onkyo TX-SR308 5.1 Home Theater Receiver for $550 when you enter code FREEGFT413 at checkout. Shipping is free. Thanks Selma

Click Here
Add Klipsch HD 500 to cart
Enter promo code FREEGFT413
Onkyo TX-SR308 will automatically be added for free
Total should be $550
 
I'll throw my preference in for Yamaha a/v receivers. If you don't want surround sound capabilities, Yamaha still makes "stereo" receivers as well. I install Yamaha pro audio equipment as well and its a very reliable brand.

One thing to look for in speakers is efficiency....the higher the efficiency rating, the less work the amplifier has to perform to produce the same sound. The most efficient doesn't mean the best sound....but usually a good compromise with a trend towards more efficient than not. I install for a Bose Pro authorize dealer, they have some decent sounding products but their speakers aren't as efficient as others. Polk Audio used to make some really good products, have a set of their monitor series speakers from the early '90s and they still sound great.

For everybody, here is a good source for a/v cables and anything else related. My personal opinion is that Monster Cable and other brands like that are way overprice, their stuff is made in same chicom factories as everybody else most likely. For speaker cables, 12 guage zip cord does fine....you can get by with lighter guage speaker cable but I personally prefer 12....especially for low frequency response. I've compared cheap 12 ga zip/lamp cord to Monster, I can't hear a difference....if you are gonna be that picky about sound, use headphones :D

http://www.firefold.com/

I've used many of their a/v cables....they work...no gimicks!

John
 
jchaney said:
I'll throw my preference in for Yamaha a/v receivers. If you don't want surround sound capabilities, Yamaha still makes "stereo" receivers as well.
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+1:thumbup: if you want something big that drives 4 OHM speakers. If Yamaha is out of your budget, look at Onkyo TX-8255.

jchaney said:
One thing to look for in speakers is efficiency....the higher the efficiency rating, the less work the amplifier has to perform to produce the same sound. The most efficient doesn't mean the best sound....but usually a good compromise with a trend towards more efficient than not.
Click to expand...

The most efficient doesn't mean the best sound....but it tends to mean a honking big speaker cabinet. Good sounding bookshelf speakers tend to be 4, 5 or 6 OHMs.
 
http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-sbs01.cfm
Get the 5.0 Probally don't need a Sub for apt.? Or you can get one later
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580TXS607B/Onkyo-TX-SR607.html?tp=179
an shop around for a better price. What ever you do put the $$ on the speakers for your budget. The sound will only be as good as the speakers. Killer receiver $800 is gonna sound like crap on $200 speakers. $300 receiver is gonna sound alot better with $700 speakers. As long as you don't clip to much. Get my point??
 
ironmike86 said:
http://www.svsound.com/products-spks-sbs01.cfm
Get the 5.0 Probally don't need a Sub for apt.? Or you can get one later
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580TXS607B/Onkyo-TX-SR607.html?tp=179
an shop around for a better price. What ever you do put the $$ on the speakers for your budget. The sound will only be as good as the speakers. Killer receiver $800 is gonna sound like crap on $200 speakers. $300 receiver is gonna sound alot better with $700 speakers. As long as you don't clip to much. Get my point??
Click to expand...

I second this guy.

I have an Onkyo receiver and it's great.

The speakers are where it's at, though.

The best speakers are from brands you never heard of. I have a pair of bookshelf speakers from www.av123.com and they blow away pretty much anything you can get from Fry's or Best Buy. That system from svsound.com looks good too. That's a well respected brand.

Unless you're a big movie watching freak and you NEED surround sound, consider getting a 2.1 system. Two good bookshelf speakers and a powered subwoofer. You can always add the rest of the speakers later.

http://www.avsforum.com/ is the forum to get more knowledgeable info on this stuff.
 
I own a SVS 7.1 system powered by a yamaha receiver. I am happy and I can be a very picky person. Also SVS customer service is top.
 
Thanks for the info.
Somehow I knew a bunch of knife-nuts would have some good press on home-audio. I can already tell the sheer amount of info is comparable to whats available on knives...
A decent 2.1 is probably where I'll start. Especially considering apartment space, and not wanting to have guests trips over speakers/accessories. Currently looking at the SVS stuff. Never even heard of the company till now. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music: everything from 40's music to newer electronic stuff, so a well balanced system is a priority.
I'm surprised noone has chimed in with Bose? I thought their advertising had brainwashed everyone?

Thanks
D
 
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Pyromancer said:
I'm surprised noone has chimed in with Bose? I thought their advertising had brainwashed everyone?
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I work for an authorized Bose pro dealer....I wouldn't waste my time with their stuff...it takes a lot of effort to make their pro speakers sound as good as another manufacturer...takes some serious DSP or you can buy their "controller" and not have capability of making any adjustments on it :D
 
Wildewinds said:
They kinda do. You'll be hard-pressed to notice the difference between good cables vs. crappy ones. Whatever you do, don't get Monster Cables.

www.monoprice.com is the place to get any type of cable you need.
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Why no monster cables? All the ones I've used have been very high quality. Of course, the price is a lot more then Belkin which is almost as good if not the same quality. Mostly I've used their RCA, S-Video and Component cables, compaired both and stick with Belkin do to price.

Dynex cables have also worked okay for me, I have not had them for very long but dont forsee any problems.
 
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