[firedog]

No source needed. Amp or receiver and speakers. Can be 2.0 or 2.1. Will be in his pretty good size living room (not a small room) and will be used as multimedia speakers.  They'd be connected to tv, video game consoles, and ipod.

Lives in an apt., so can't play really loud. Does want them to be able to be heard decently well if he has a party. In other words, room-filling but not really loud.

Values accuracy over dramatic (cheap HT type) presentation.

[MaxCast]

This, plus an AV receiver to handle all the switching.  Have to add a sub later.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=108236.0

[thunderbrick]

I have a Sony STR-DA555ES AVR I'd sell very reasonable.   
At least I THINK that's the model #.   

[mix4fix]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=94204.0

Pair of Sapphire SBLs

$60 plus shipping

[cujobob]

Used Gr research speakers, ascend acoustics and use a Pioneer receiver which can be had cheap and offer some eq plus sub out.

[Norman Tracy]

Dynaudio Acoustics BM6A MKII 6.9 Two-Way Active Monitor
$600-$750 online street price





Emotiva USP-1
$382 on sale
http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/usp1?gclid=CLPt_pGuprECFWROTAodbS69fA




15 foot RCA to XLR cables for pre-amp to powered speaker connection:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10244&cs_id=1024404&p_id=4779&seq=1&format=2


For the thinking behind this see:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=100696.msg1032519#msg1032519

[srb]

Dynaudio Acoustics BM6A MKII 6.9 Two-Way Active Monitor
$600-$750 online street price

The BM6A MKII price of $600-$750 is for each monitor, not a pair.

Steve

[Rclark]

 Emotiva UPA-200 amp  200 watts *2 @ 4ohm



 $349 - $314 right now on sale.

 Emotiva X-Ref 6.2

"When I dropped the needle on “Rhythm-A-Ning,” from side 3 of the Trio Music double LP by Chick Corea, Miroslav Vitous, and Roy Haynes, I simply couldn’t believe what I heard from the X-Refs. The sound was better than most of what I heard at the recent Rocky Mountain Audio Fest — and of course almost all of RMAF’s demos used vastly more expensive gear."

 -Sound and Vision.



 $999 (629 right now on sale)

 5 years warrantee on both.


 That's under a grand for all that, shipped. He'd better act quick, the sale was supposed to end a few days ago, but hasn't.

[srb]

Emotiva UPA-200 amp  200 watts *2 @ 4ohm
 $349 - $314 right now on sale.

Emotiva X-Ref 6.2
 $999 (629 right now on sale)

That's under a grand for all that, shipped. He'd better act quick, the sale was supposed to end a few days ago, but hasn't.

And that leaves $57 to buy a preamp.

Steve

[Rclark]

Well, he said, amp or reciever. No source required.

[srb]

Well, he said, amp or reciever. No source required.

Right, the sources are an iPod, a game console and a TV.  Amp or Receiver implies an integrated amplifier or a preamp/power amp, something that can switch between the inputs and all within the budget.

Steve

[Rclark]

I'm sure if he added $40 to that $57, he could find a used receiver and still come close to a grand. Hell, if he wanted to go crazy, he could add another $100 and be into decent used range. Either way, I'd get the amp and speakers if I was on low budget and wanted new with a warrantee.

[JLM]

What's the inputs from a gaming counsel?

If USB, here's my vote:

NuForce Icon-2, $350:
- mini (3.5 mm) RCA stereo, RCA analog left/right, USB 1.1/2.0 inputs
- headphone, sub, left/right speaker outputs
- 2 m R245 (eithernet) to banana speaker cables
- 24 wpc/8 ohms
- 6 inches x 4.5 inches x 1 inch

Tekton M-Lore, $650:
- 38-20,000 Hz, 95 dB/w/m, 8 ohms
- 34 inches x 9 inches x 10 inches, no stands required
- Maximum Stereo Mojo award, http://www.stereomojo.com/TEKTON%20MLORE%20SPEAKER%20REVIEW/TektonM-loreSpeakerReview.htm

[SteveFord]

Magnepan MMGs and I'll leave the rest to others.

[Rclark]

Oooh the m-lore. Nice one.

Stock mmg's would be tough as a living room speaker that doubles for parties. The stock mmg is more of a one man, one seat sort of deal, and not a lot of bass. Modded is a lot different.

Either way you need a living room that works with Maggie's pulled out into it. I'd go box speaker all the way.

[Doublej]

Does he have access to wheels to pick up a pair of used speakers? I would peruse the net for a pair of used speakers in his local area. Lots of great bargains, pick your brand.

[S Clark]

This, plus an AV receiver to handle all the switching.  Have to add a sub later.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=108236.0

+1  The X-Statiks are about as good as you can get at that price point.

[Ericus Rex]

 $999 (629 right now on sale)

 5 years warrantee on both.

Stick with these speakers (or get the model just below them for ~$520/pair) and get these Emotiva amp:

http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/amplifiers/products/a100


50 watts is plenty and you won't need a preamp.

Otherwise, you could get a passive pre for real cheap on ebay and use a larger Emotiva amp.

[Norman Tracy]

SRB is correct the DM6A is over budget.  Sorry, I'm an audiophile so if you want to spend $1k its my duty to work on you until its $1k per component. 

If we go to the DM5A they can be found for $698 a pair here:
http://www.proaudiostar.com/dynaudio-bm5a-mkii.html?gclid=CMvM7KvqprECFXPDtgodKAwAFA

Or go all Emotive and get bi-amping and exotic AMT tweeter here:
http://shop.emotivapro.com/category_s/12.htm



Some in budget Yamaha stuff looks nice:
http://www.sweetwater.com/c405--Yamaha--Active_Monitors/params=eyJkaW1lbnNpb24iOnsiQnJhbmQiOiI0Mjk0OTY3MjM0In19

Among the Yamaha offerings the HS80M with 8" woofer looks sweet and the added cone area will move more air for lower distortion bass than is typical in this price class.

[JLM]

Another thought...

Hawthorne Silver Iris ($405-425 with their "My First Baffle" kits).  These are really easy kits:
- 41-18,000 Hz, 95 db/w/m, 6 ohms
- Off axis "gap" in frequency response for the 15 inchers but a bit more depth of bass
- These are dipoles, but very small
- I've heard them several times, more musical (pleasant) than detailed

Cambridge Azur 350A (hard to find an quality/low powered integrated for cheap but this one ain't bad) $500:
- 45 wpc, 8 ohms, 5 pairs of RCA inputs
- review: http://www.goodsound.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=215:cambridge-audio-azur-350a-integrated-amplifier&catid=56:equipment-reviews&Itemid=37