[spirit_of_the_air]

Hello everyone,

    This if my first post here in this forum, I came from head-fi and there were recomendations to seek you guys. I tried to post it in the "Home Theater and Video" section of the forum and a guy there recomended that I tried to repost here. I'll shortly assign that I have done that and ask to delete the other post.

    I'm a bit new in this audio stuff, and although I have been almost 2 years floating around headphones, I have been wanting to buy some quality speakers for quite some time now.

    What I'm seeking is to build a stereo system for my parents as a cristmass present, since both love music but never had the pacience nor the guidelines to seek and buy for themselves and so they asked my help. The idea is to use it for both music, and movies but since their experience with "surround" systems was not the best with those 5.1 systems with 5 speakers that were smaller than a hand, they have been seeking something simpler in number but with better quality. An uncle showed us the stereo system that he has and they liked it very much.

    Overall, we wanted to keep up to US$ 700-800 in the speakers and US$ 350-400 in the integrated amplifier, the source would be right now an HTPC headphone out, but latter would probably be an Xonar STX or an dedicated DAC fed through an digital out from the HTPC, and, I'm not sure but who knows, also an separated cd-player. There would be no need for and AV-receiver I think since there would be only one video input for the TV. They would be used for both music and films, although the main use would be for music, in more a 60%-40% division.

    My first question is if this is the right section of the forum to ask this questions, and if it's not, which is.

    The second question is that I was thinking in buying a pair of JBL Studio 180 floorstander speakers using an Yamaha R-S500 as an amplifier. Other ideas that I saw in random searches on google was Yamaha A-S500 and also Marantz PM6004. There were also other brands mentioned as NAD and Harman Kardon, but I'm a bit lost right now. I heard the studio 180 in a store and was very well impressed, although with a denon ingrated amp, but the seller said the yamaha r-s500 would be even better sounding.

    They listen mainly to classical and jazz, both instrumental and vocal, a bit classical rock but not much, and also most films aren't action films, but a good blend between action, thriller, comedy, and other genders.

    Do you people think that those would be good choices? Would there better things for the price?

Thanks in advance,

spirit_of_the_air

[persisting1]

What size is the room they'll be used in?

[Phil A]

You can get a good deal on things at the below site (such as the examples) and do an extended warranty.


http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFQ500CHY/KEF-Q500-Q-Series-5-1/4-inch-Cherry-Floorstanding-Speaker-Each/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENDRA697CIHD/DENON-DRA-697CIHD-AM/FM-Multi-Zone-Stereo-Receiver-with-HD-Radio/1.html

[jarcher]

My previous post didn't make it to you for some reason - so here's a shorter version. 

If home theater is not really the priority (based on what you said about a receiver / TV hook-up), I'd suggest putting together a 2 channel system that's "parent friendly" - i.e they typically don't like things that are too complicated or button-laden.

In my opinion it's harder & much more expensive to put together a high end home theater system because the preamplifier sections in most but the highest end receivers & pre/pros are not that great, and you have an investment in a lot more speakers. If music is your primary thing, spend the $ there & just get a panasonic home theater in a box system for movies - e.g SC-BTT270 ($260 from amazon).  I own ones of these for the bedroom & it's perfectly adequate.

If you're willing to do used, a decent integrated amp, probably something english like Rega, Creek, Cambridge Audio, NAD etc will sound good & be simple to use. Some of these have "home theater bypass" or "amp in" modes, so they have functionality in the future if you want to use them as external amps for home theater pre-amps / processors.

On the speaker front would probably go english or canadian as well, such as PSB, Paradigm, and I think the sleeper is Mordaunt Short.  MS I've heard that sound good are from the Carnival & Aviano series, and are a great value used or new.  A lot of the older PSB & Paradigms go for very little money used. I really think you & your folks will like these a lot more than most any JBL.

I'd leave a few hundred left for a good / easy source, like any squeezebox, new or used.  I got a Duet for $100 used (ebay usually $150).  Touches maybe easier to use & have a better sound.  The headphone out of a pc is not going to sound very good - trust me. 

Lastly, if you want some other ideas, check out the stereophile 2012 recommended list at their website.  Most of the stuff is super pricey, but in the lowest / entry level category there's a lot of decent priced stuff.

Audio Advisor & Accessories For Less mentioned previously are good places to buy new & refurb gear. I've bought from them before.  Used, the listing's here & classified on audiogon & usaudiomart.

If you want me to suggest a budget system with your budget just PM or send me an email.  Don't work for any hi-fi co, just would like to help someone out from repeating the costly mistakes I've made.

[JLM]

Check out Harmon-Kardon factory refirbs (1/2 price, full warrantee).  HK receivers have beefy power supplies/good sound.  Big/bulky but that shouldn't turn off old schoolers and a 2-channel will come in under budget.

Ascend Acoustics makes affordable, great sounding standmount speakers.  The Sierra's are in your budget and reach 40 Hz on their own.  With the savings from the receiver you can pick up the matching stands.

Can't help much on disc spinners on a tight budget.  Oppo 93 is killer quality but $500.  Avoid used mechanicals.

If all digital inputs definitely look at the New NuForce DDA-100 ($550, pure digital DAC/50 wpc amp).  Tekton Mini Lore are $650 smallish floorstandings, search for reviews.

[Tubo]

A great buy in speakers are the low-end Pioneers designed by Andrew Jones (who also designs the high-end $50,000+ TAD speakers). See this long thread at AVS Forum:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1278774/pioneers-speaker-genius-hits-low-price-point/2790#post_22288712

Post #2807 is from somebody who bought a set of the Pioneer speakers for $469 shipped from Tiger Direct. The set is two FS52 mini-towers, a C22 center channel, two BS22 bookshelfs, and an 8-inch subwoofer 8MK2. The weak part of the system is the subwoofer, which only goes down to about 30 Hz, but it does an adequate job.

[randytsuch]

Hi
You said they liked your uncle's system, can you list what he has?

IMHO, when you build a system for both movies and music you need to make compromises.  As others have stated, 5 speakers cost more money, so you either need a higher budget or buy cheaper speakers.  You obviously can just buy two speakers, but I don't think 2 speakers cut it for movies, at least I don't like to watch movies anymore with just stereo sound.

One other thing is a subwoofer, which I think is mandatory for HT, but not required for music.  A sub would eat up a pretty good chunk of your speaker budget, but it could also be added later.  You might be able to find one cheap on craigslist to get by with for now.

The other compromise is that HT receivers have a lot of "stuff" in there, and IMO a good stereo system should have a short simple signal path.

I hope this does not sound too discouraging, because I think you should be able to build something reasonable.

I also like Ascend audio, as someone else mentioned, I use Sierras for the fronts and HTM-200's for the surrounds in my HT system.  5 HTM-200's would eat up your speaker budget, but they also sell 2nd's if you call them, for a slight discount.

One place you might be able to save money is on the receiver, if you (and your parents) can live with "old technology".  All current receivers support audio over HDMI (and HDMI itself ), a ton of audio modes and other bells and whistles.

If you are willing to buy used, and can live without HDMI, then you can pick up a good sounding receiver cheap.  This will have limitations, again it comes down to tradeoffs.

Last thing I wanted to mention is remotes.  If your parents aren't too technical, a good remote might be required.  I use an older logitech remote.  I like it because you push one button if you want to watch a movie, or another if you want to listen to music, etc, and then it sends the commands to the TV, Reciever, DVD player, etc, to set them up with all the correct settings for what you want to do. 

It does take some work to set everything up the first time, but they have some good software that helps with this, and there are forums and tech support of you have trouble.  Once setup, it's pretty much idiot proof.

Good luck with you search.

Randy

[MaxCast]

Be sure to check this thread
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=106334.0
as well as other stickies in the GR circle.  Lots of speaker for the money.

[roscoeiii]

To be clear, are you looking for a 2-channel system that will be good for movies and music?