[sm4r2d2]

Bad luck and hard times have me thinking about "Cheap and Cheerful" equipment. I have had to sell off most of my equip. and only have a pair of B&W 805N left to be sold. Will probably keep the Sony NS999ES (SACD/DVD/CD). Liked alot about the speakers w/Rotel amps . However the reality is that I listen to 80-85% Classic Rock & Roll. I"ll be 60 soon and make no apologies. (lol)                   What I would like out of a system is Good Electric Guitar along with a live sound stage presentation. Accoustical is as important.  I am not talking about rolled off high or introduced hiss. Lack of Fatigue is equally important. Is it doable? ---Thanks for your thoughts

[sm4r2d2]

Maybe a warm sounding tube componet (with tubes that don't cost much) ? Where in the chain? Open baffle speakers ? used magnepans but never heard them ? I am pretty much at home all the time and it's hard to travel to another city to hear equipment so I am asking for thoughts about what you may have heard.               Thanks ---

[eclein]

                  What I would like out of a system is Good Electric Guitar along with a live sound stage presentation. Accoustical is as important.  I am not talking about rolled off high or introduced hiss. Lack of Fatigue is equally important. Is it doable? ---Thanks for your thoughts

Absolutely!!!! I'm 54 and listen to mostly classic rock and jazz fusion, I'm disabled so I'm home all-day and music plays 24/7.
   I used information from reading everything here that interested me starting with this circle. My system has changed a lot over the past year or so and the majority of those changes directly effected sound quality and were merely tweaks from info gathered here, equipment Beta tests that sometimes occur, and luck.
 My main resources were Craigs List where I gathered up a gaggle of vintage JBL's and other equipment for less then $200. Then I added a few new pieces after reading reviews here and elsewhere, total system value was under $1500 when I flipped the switch. I wouldn't be embarrassed in the least to have any member here enjoy the sound I get and have had members in for listens. Anything is possible.

[JLM]

For classic rock on the cheap, why not look into used PA speakers?  Many are active which is far cheaper than buying pre/power or integrated amp separately.  If you want something that's classier (more audiophile like) look into studio monitors.  Again active is cheaper.  JBL sells active 2-way standmounts with sub new for $800 total (2300 series) that are recommended for studio use yet "audiophile mellow" enough to be enjoyed for long sessions at home.

[Doublej]

What's your upper price limit. Danny Richie has a pair of floor standing omnis from the AV123 mess for under $300/pair. Hideous grills but supposed sound great.

I have the HSU HB-1's. They go for around $300. I like them a lot.

As JLM states there are plenty of choices in biamped studio monitors for under $500. Emotiva Pro has a pair lists for $400/pair.

Pi, PSB, Monitor Audio and probably a couple of others have floorstanders for around $500 list.

Check out Audio Advisor. They carry a number of the latest highly rated models at all price points.

[Letitroll98]

In addition to the above, I would add Maggie MMG, $650 new, but many examples in pristine condition used for about $350.  "Good Electric Guitar along with a live sound stage presentation. Accoustical is as important" is just about the desciption of the MMG sound.  Then again, Axioms would be closer to the B&W sound you're leaving, M3 or M22 at $350 and $500.  And a real dark horse C&C speaker that no one will take seriously, the Polk RTi series.  The older RTi6 is better than the newer model and can be had for less than $200/pr used (or closeout if you could find them).  Nicely resolving and extraordinarily musical at the price point.

[wushuliu]

I have the HSU HB-1's. They go for around $300. I like them a lot.

I was just reading about these. Had never heard of them until today but they have crazy good reviews. Not often reviews that unanimous and ecstatic for a budget speaker. But very few mentione here. Axiom speakers are similar - high praise, but don't seem to penetrate audiphile base for some reason. Tempted to get them just because.

[sm4r2d2]

Some good ideas om speakers. I don't think I want powered speakers 'cause I'm thinking of tubes somewhere to get a warmer liquidy sound, if that makes any sense. Never had or even heard tubed home equipment. I'm hesitant about what tube types and how much replacement tubes cost.

[JLM]

Most think that the best place in a system to try tubes is in the pre-amp.  The tubes are cheaper, last longer, and don't invoke problems with low damping factors (that produce flabby bass).  So active speakers would still work. 

But keep in mind that most tube pre-amps don't have separate subwoofer outputs (as they've been mentioned) so you'd be feeding the main speakers via the sub which is a non-purist solution and result in extra wiring (actives do have to be plugged into the power receptacles after all).  Staying with the same brand, series, family of main/sub speakers should help with sonics.

[Barry_NJ]

Most think that the best place in a system to try tubes is in the pre-amp.  The tubes are cheaper, last longer, and don't invoke problems with low damping factors (that produce flabby bass).  So active speakers would still work. 

Agreed.

But keep in mind that most tube pre-amps don't have separate subwoofer outputs (as they've been mentioned) so you'd be feeding the main speakers via the sub which is a non-purist solution and result in extra wiring (actives do have to be plugged into the power receptacles after all).  Staying with the same brand, series, family of main/sub speakers should help with sonics.

Not necessarily, the sub and speakers, since both are powered could be fed the same signal off a spliter, and even many tube pre-amps have 2 outputs, so they don't need to be in series. This would mean that a full signal would be fed to the monitors, but their natural roll-off could be accounted for via the subs internal crossover, so that a bump-up in frequency response at the point where they might over-lap can be accounted for.