Providing some system recommendations sounds really helpful, but with some accompanying explanation. Just seeing a half dozen systems ranging from $1000 to $100,000 gives the impression that an entry system is probably about 1% as good as the best. Why pursue a hobby when for most people getting the best, or maybe near it, is an absurd proposition (at least for me)? And the best you can do is get a system that is 100 times or 10 times worse than what the hobby strives for. What isn't typically emphasized, is that a modest system can be enormously satisfying and convey the heart of the music. And, conversely, you can easily spend several thousand dollars and have sound as satisfying as a cat fight. I think the persistent underlying theme in many publications is that while a $1000 amplifier is OK, real excitement and satisfaction come from having that $10,000 amplifier. For one, I don't believe that is reallly true, and secondly I think that approach turns people off.
A simple manual would be helpful that provides a way to approach buying a stereo. What do you want to accomplish and what role does a source, preamp, amp, speaker, and room/treatments have to play in achieving that goal. What should be considered first, second, and so on. Most new entry people are not going to have detailed expectations for the various characteristics of a system, but want to feel they are getting a top notch system for the price that also provides for their needs. Knowing something about the person's desires could help; what they care about in playing music (loud but undistorted, intimate, sweet, etc.), the type of music that is preferred, and how various components cater to various goals. Different entry systems could be proposed for systems that need to be full range, or need to play at high dynamic levels, or are suitable for small groups, for instance. While too much complexity would be counterproductive, some explanation of the variables at play would be informative and helpful; computer vs CDP, tube vs solid state, single driver vs 2 way, high efficiency vs low efficiency speaker, etc. I think people would also appreciate some options at each price level. For example, two or three possibilties for each component could be provided for each system level.
This type of information would have helped me when I began looking into audio again 9 years ago after a 15 year hiatus. Instead, I started reading Stereophile and The Absolute Sound, became disgusted, and found internet sources of information.
SRC
