Stereo Options

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,250
I would like a stereo for the house. I haven't had one in years. I have a couple hundred cd's I'd like to be able to listen to, and I have an iPhone and my wife has an iPod.

I'm not really interested in taking the time to learn to convert all the cd's into some kind of computer or iPhone saved file so I'd like something that can play cd's as well as playing radio and iPhone.

I'm not an audiophile. Just looking for decent sound and VERY simple operation. Maybe wireless speakers so I don't have to run wires around the living room like I used to.

I don't like to put in a budget, because everybody immediately tells me I need to spend more, but maybe around $500, preferably less.
 
I would get a good set of active speakers that accept input over 3.5 mm jack and call it a day. They will work with computers, smartphones and mp3 players. You can rip your cd's with windows media player if needs be. The audio quality you get is a function of the sound card in your computer/smartphone/mp3 player, your speakers and the quality of the audio file. The sound card needs to be accurate (most are these days) and the audio files need to not be compressed beyond about 190 kbit/s. Those two components are easy to pick since it is a yes/no answer. Having active speakers means they match the amp and speakers at the factory (=much better deal for the consumer).

Just google "active speakers" or "powered speakers" and see what you can get locally that gets good reviews online.

Don't believe anything audiophiles tell you. Do not buy expensive cables.
 
I mostly play CDs through the DVD player and home theater speakers.
My computer speakers kick butt too (Logitech Z5500), but I probably wouldn't run the computer just to play a music CD.

Maybe a simple bookshelf-type CD player that you can also plug in an iPod? The kid has one like this, and it sounds really nice. It cost about $200, as I recall.
1_MHCEC69I.jpg
 
Alnamvet68 said:
You may "not be an audiophile", but I'm sure you would like sound that is crisp, clean, accurate, realistic, and audiophile like, given your budget, then there's really only one choice, the Bose Wave Sound-Touch

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=...s/wave_soundtouch/index.jsp&intcmp=solowright
Click to expand...

Looks pretty good but why do I need a computer and wifi? I'd just like to be able to dock my iPhone and play podcasts and songs that I may download or stream radio.
 
A $200 bookshelf "boombox" from a Big Box store will serve you well. Wal-Mart has a couple of good ones that will dock your Apple stuff for $150~$200.
 
Sid Post said:
A $200 bookshelf "boombox" from a Big Box store will serve you well. Wal-Mart has a couple of good ones that will dock your Apple stuff for $150~$200.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

Visit BestBuy, take your favorite CD with you, and try out the models in your price range.
 
Shann said:
Looks pretty good but why do I need a computer and wifi? I'd just like to be able to dock my iPhone and play podcasts and songs that I may download or stream radio.
Click to expand...

You don't...it depends on your pocket book and what convenience features you you think you might want or need; that's why they offer less expensive models.;)
 
Build a component system that you can add on to later to further improve sound. Start off with a Denon amplifier, a standard CD player like Sony's 5 CD changer and a good pair of speakers. Later you could buy a decent subwoofer to pump up the bass.
 
Shann,

This is something you might like, it has the features you're looking for and Sony makes decent speakers that will be good on your ears and well within your budget brother. The unit will iPod / iPhone dock up nicely, has a CD player that you'll be able to manage and be easy enough to play what you need, when you want.

If you want a more room filling sound, Bufford presents a straight forward way to start a build and get it accomplished. As I think we are close in age, I'll go out on a limb here, a diamond needle, turntable with an album pressed in vinyl, popping and scratching, some of the best stuff ever recorded. The CD does not contain those analog, beautiful and straight from heaven must have virtues that must be heard and felt.
 
Steps, that Sony looks crazy for the price- makes me wish I needed one! They also have a model that includes a sub-woofer for another $50 (still less than half the OP's budget). I'm also of the vinyl + expensive turntable + reel-to-reel generation. Man, the money we used to pump into music systems!
 
Alnamvet68 said:
You may "not be an audiophile", but I'm sure you would like sound that is crisp, clean, accurate, realistic, and audiophile like, given your budget, then there's really only one choice, the Bose Wave Sound-Touch

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=...s/wave_soundtouch/index.jsp&intcmp=solowright
Click to expand...

HAHAHA...I have heard one of these in person and I will give them credit, they are better than many other cheap players. However, they are a joke at the price they ask for them. For that kind of $$ you can buy a very respectable receiver and a quality pair of bookshelf speakers. If you are really set on that form-factor of a small all in one unit, there are plenty of other quality options for less money with better performance. I suggest doing a little reading here... http://www.avsforum.com/ I'm not an audiophile (at least not full blown like I am with knives) but, wandering around there did help me pick up a very respectable component system for a good price.
 
Rubicon_Joey said:
HAHAHA...I have heard one of these in person and I will give them credit, they are better than many other cheap players. However, they are a joke at the price they ask for them. For that kind of $$ you can buy a very respectable receiver and a quality pair of bookshelf speakers.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Even the Sony models posted above sound just as good to me.

And for $90 you can get some surround-sound computer speakers that sound way better. Just plug them into a Windows XP computer that has a real sound card and CD/DVD drive. Those old computers are being tossed left and right into landfills and recycling bins. In fact I'll hook you up with one for free, but you gotta pick up in person.
:thumbup:
 
For a 2.1 stereo setup, I would go with:

Yamaha 2 channel receiver, a pair of bookshelf speakers, and a powered sub.

I have some Pinnacle speakers and they sound very good. My office setup consists of a 50 watt / channel stereo receiver going to a pair of 5.25 inch speakers and a Pinnacle sub. It will stand head and shoulders above any overpriced Bose gimmick out there. Please don't waste your money, it's physically not possible to generate depth and clarity from tiny drivers and amps.

In the literature for the Bose speakers, please note the lack of any measured specifications, the size of the drivers, how many watts RMS (not just peak) the amp produces, frequency response range, impedance, etc. Why are they so secretive about these vital specs? I know numbers don't tell you the entire story but it's a good reference point.

How do we react when a knife maker doesn't disclose the blade steel? It's the same thing. ;)
 
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