[lcrim]

I recently bought a system for my girlfriend (God how I hate using that term), so I got a read on what real earth people and not audiophiles desire in a system.
The Panasonic XR50 is just a great deal for a number of reasons.  You don't need a DAC-just plug in the digital output.  It has a remote which is a necessity.  You could use the Squeezebox or a CDP.  The sound quality is better than it has any right to be.
As far as speakers, I found a pair of used Acoustic Energy bookshelfs but I have since become aware of the Athena AS-F2 a mini-tower that is nearly full range (no sub needed), looks decent and the sound quality is quite nice (search on it over @ AA-lots of positive buzz).  I froogled these and Abes of Maine had a special for just over $200 w/o shipping.
No stands, need speaker wire and a digital cable-just about $500 all up.

[Eric D]

For a girlfriend's mom, I'd think nice looking, simple, and forgiving but pleasing sound.

I'd probably suggest an Onix a-60 amp and their inexpensive Rocket bookshelfs - choice of a couple of wood veneers that should look very nice.  Or depending on the decor, look at the better ELTs.

good luck,

[doug s.]

How about selling the CD player and get the $75 Sharp and a pair of Moth Cicadas?

i second something like this; except keep the cdp & run it thru the sharp's one line input.

but, i'd definitely recommend the $75 sharp amp & some decent speakers to soak up the remaining funds.

doug s.

[gary]

I recently bought a system for my girlfriend (God how I hate using that term), so I got a read on what real earth people and not audiophiles desire in a system.
The Panasonic XR50 is just a great deal for a number of reasons. You don't need a DAC-just plug in the digital output. It has a remote which is a necessity. You could use the Squeezebox or a CDP. The sound quality is better than it has any right to be.
As far as speakers, I found a pair of used Acoustic Energy bookshelfs but I have since become aware of the Athena AS-F2 a mini-tower that is nearly full range (no sub needed), looks decent and the sound quality is quite nice (search on it over @ AA-lots of positive buzz). I froogled these and Abes of Maine had a special for just over $200 w/o shipping.
No stands, need speaker wire and a digital cable-just about $500 all up.

The more I think about it, the more I like this kind of suggestion. The system would be small and simple, just a cd player & amp with one cable to connect them, and it would have fully functional remote controls. For someone who's a non-audiophile and lives in NYC, these things are super important.

Gary

[sleepkyng]

here's what she's got now:

Rotel Disc Changer RCC-945
Denon DRA-755 Receiver
JBL LX-16 Studio Speakers (HUGE! from late 70s early 90s).


it's very fast, decent soundstage (cuz the speakers are freakin gigantic) but the highs are very muddy, the imaging is pretty bad, and it is very dull sounding. everything seems dead coming out of it from Calexico to Maria Callas.

She wants a speaker that looks nice (she really dug the totem arro and the maggie mmgw's)

the panasonic digital receivers are perfect, i think, but maybe too ugly?

any CDP reccomendations?

and i think she's willing to go over $1000 total.


thanks for all the suggestions so far, you guys are the best!

[Eric D]

She wants a speaker that looks nice (she really dug the totem arro and the maggie mmgw's)

...and i think she's willing to go over $1000 total.

Ah, I didn't mention the arros because of the price quoted earlier for an entire system.  I could see her going for wall-mounted maggies, but would not think of floorstanders for a woman's apartment.

You want a real catch of a system that would look cool, check out the SP3 tube amp and Rosewood Ref1 deal at AV123.  That's $1400, but should be a true hifi bookshelf system.

Personally, I have the SP3 and love it for both it's sound and it's retro styling, but am using it with some other speakers right now as the rosewood doesn't go with our decor.  It's too bad the deal isn't for the BEM speakers - that would have gotten me right away.

You could probably score the most points by suggesting several different type of good looking (and sounding!) systems and letting her help choose.

enjoy,

[sleepkyng]

sounds good

anyway you guys could link pics of these things?

i am 19 ya know... not much hifi experience, that's why i turn to you crazy nuts!

[Eric D]

sounds good

anyway you guys could link pics of these things?

Trying not to push a particular product here.  It looks like you've already shown her the Arro's and MMGs.  The SP3 (and Ref1 deal) is here:

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=processors&product=26.1

And back to my earlier suggestion, which is both less expensive and has a more forgiving sound, the A-60 integrated amp and the RS150s speakers.  If she's willing to go over $1,000 for the full set, I'd suggest the RS250s instead.  Just browse around the same website at the electronics and speakers.

You can find the other websites pretty easy.

good luck,  ya young whippersnapper.  (hey, that's what you get for reminding me how much time has past for me).  

[MaxCast]

Better find out if she listens to the radio.  An intigrated may have some performance benefits, but it won't play cozy 98 very well.

IMO, she will hate the MMGW's with out a sub.  The JBL's probably extend pretty low.  Remove the first first three octaves and they will sound thin.  I heard MMG's with a Denon and it just didn't have enough oomph.

If the Rotel and Denon are performing well I'd stick the the whole 1K into some nice speakers.  You can buy a lot of speaker new or used for 1K.  Be sure to check out the speaker manufacture's here at AC.  Mucho bango for the bucko.

[sleepkyng]

DOH!

Maxcast, i totally forgot she needs a tuna!

she listens to the radio every morning!

thanks for the quick save!

[doug s.]

DOH!

Maxcast, i totally forgot she needs a tuna!

she listens to the radio every morning!

thanks for the quick save!

the sharp has a built-in tuna; but i am sure you could do better sonically.  tho, a friend of mine who bought one of these on my recommendation said the tuna is better than what was in the 80's-vintage sony receiver he was using prior...

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=1004979


doug s.

[SET Man]

Ahhh... Like I said simpler is better for her and other seem agreed. Anyway, I still think reciever from Rotel or NAD or even the JVC digi would be a good start.

As for the spekaer. I've have heard the Totem Arro at the show in NYC early last year and they sound every good. I remeber they were driven by a Rega integrated amp about 37w/ch I think. They small, sound great and seem to work well near the wall. This way you could put them closer to the wall than other speaker. But I think they cost $1000 a pair.

Anyway, good luck.

Buddy  

[Eric D]

DOH!

Maxcast, i totally forgot she needs a tuna!

she listens to the radio every morning!

thanks for the quick save!

Double Doh!  

Well, looks like you've got lots of good options.  I also agree with going to a full stereo receiver.  I think you're going to score max points for the speaker options anyway.  Especially if she can pick something that fits in her decor.  All of them will sound pretty durn good.

enjoy,

[KT]

I thowing in my vote for the Sharp EX-111 for $75. I love it because it sounds great, is compact, has a built-in CD player and tuner, and is convenient as hell. Very cool and good sounding all-in-one unit with remote. Inexpensive, too.

Unless your GF's mom is a gearhead, I think she would be happy with this and good pair of speakers.

I also have a JVC ES1sl. This unit is very nice, but unless she has room for a full-size component footprint, the Sharp will fit into a non-gearhead's lifestyle better.

Just so you have some perspective, I have five tube amps including Audio Note and Sun Audio 300B  amps, have owned a Moth 2A3, Chord solid state stuff, 47 Labs Gaincard, Cary, Sonic Impact, etc. etc. plus worked at a "high-end" store, and I strongly recommend the Sharp for anyone who wants good sound, convenience, compactness, and simplicity. I own two of them and have recommended them to my brothers and a couple of friends who are not into the audio hobby.

I don't think you can beat it for the kind of system you're setting up.

Good luck,
KT

[mcgsxr]

Being a Teac guy, I also own the small, lifestyle "executive" JVC system with the hybrid chipset - 30wpc, single driver speakers, tuner, cd etc, all for $115 off eBay.

Sure, the speakers could be upgraded, and from what Dmason suggests, the little unit is worthy of better speakers - my wife laughs at how small this system is, and I am happy with the sound, as our family room system - great for a disc or two, and radio background on the weekends.

Worth a look - I think it is called the FS-X1...

[Eric D]

I thowing in my vote for the Sharp EX-111 for $75. I love it because it sounds great, is compact, has a built-in CD player and tuner, and is convenient as hell. Very cool and good sounding all-in-one unit with remote. Inexpensive, too. ...

Just looked that up - neat choice!  Now I'm interested for my wife who also kinda wants an all-in-one for herself.  Any tips on what kind of speakers it goes well with.  Does the unit tend to sound bright or warm?

Thanks,

[doug s.]

I thowing in my vote for the Sharp EX-111 for $75. I love it because it sounds great, is compact, has a built-in CD player and tuner, and is convenient as hell. Very cool and good sounding all-in-one unit with remote. Inexpensive, too. ...

Just looked that up - neat choice!  Now I'm interested for my wife who also kinda wants an all-in-one for herself.  Any tips on what kind of speakers it goes well with.  Does the unit tend to sound bright or warm?

Thanks,

i'd suggest relatively efficient 4 ohm-rated speakers.  this amp's 20wpc rating is into 4 ohms.  expect 10wpc w/8 ohm iterations.  

i can't comment on the sonics, tho i *do* know that my brother-in-law really likes his swan m1.2's w/a similar (but older - only 2.8mhz upsamplng) sharp unit.  the 4 ohm 90db-efficient swans are wery warm, (mid-bass hump), w/an extremely detailed, extended treble.  i had the swans in my room for a coupla months; never heard the sharp, but i may nab one for kicks.  the distributor, btw, has yust raised the price to $85...  

doug s.

[Bemopti123]

Eric the Red, I have the Sharp in question and I paired it with two type of speakers, a horn loaded Fostex 208 Sigma and a pair of EPOS ES11s, that are old, around 1990-1996 production.  The Epos which are bookshelves at 89 db rating kicked some really, I mean, really mean sound out of the available 10 watts per channel at 8 ohm.  It did not sound distorted, it was very rhythmic, quick and sounded uncanningly similar to the 47 Labs Shigaraki integrated I once owned and thought was the best cross between a SS design with the soul and sound of a 300B tube amp.  Now, if you can come across a pair of ES11s, that would be something very special indeed.  

The nearest similar sound speakers that are efficient enough are the Reference 3A DeCapos, I heard at a sound bash in NYC recently.

[eric the red]

This is the last time I'll say this: If you want a great sounding small rig for everywhere, get the Sharp off Overstock and a pair of KEF Coda 70s off Ebay where a guy is selling them for @160.00 NIB. The speakers are very very well built and good looking, sound excellent and go down to 45hz. For 235.00 you get great sound , a remote, a tuner, auxillary out, loudness control, and speakers that won't need to go away if you decide to upgrade. I'm using the Sharp as my main amp hooked up to my Jupiter while awaiting delivery of an integrated and it is no slouch with my P3s. IMO 235.00 (the price of a decent power cord) for this kind of sound is nuts. Adding a used Paradigm sub for 250.00 would only add to it's greatness. Thank you for shopping at Overstock.com

[dave_c]

The Sharp is a great unit.  I'm using them with NHT SuperZero's and a sub and its really nice.  Very smooth and silky, no harshness at all.  Getting power off of an Powervar Isolation transformer which is probably helping some too.