Seeking advice for buying home audio equipment

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Hi all,

Having ruled out a home theater system, I think what I'm looking for
is a receiver and some speakers.


I listen to lots of different music, but almost of it is at least
partially acoustic--maybe an upright bass, maybe piano, so one of my
top priorities is very real, realistic sound. Like, if the record is
good enough, I'd love to stand in the other room and almost think
that
the musicians are there in my living room.


Of course that's not my #1 priority. #1 is spending less that $400
on
everything--receiver (or should I be calling it an amp?) and
speakers. Think that's possible, considering this "realistic sound"
think I'm after?


The room where I want to put this stuff is about 185 square feet.


Other necessary conditions: this is primarily for music, not TV or
movies. I don't want any "surround" stuff; I consider that stuff
gimmicky. Nevertheless, should I get more than two stereo speakers?
Should I get one of these "center speakers," which is new to me,
since
I haven't really known anything about home audio since 1987. Also,
I'd like to at least have separate treble/bass controls, if not a 5
or
so band graphic equalizer. And nothing that boasts "bass boost." I
like to control the bass level myself.


So, any ideas? Is all this possible?


Thanks!

[Arny Krueger]

> wrote in message

> Hi all,
>
> Having ruled out a home theater system, I think what I'm
> looking for is a receiver and some speakers.
>
>
> I listen to lots of different music, but almost of it is
> at least partially acoustic--maybe an upright bass, maybe
> piano, so one of my top priorities is very real,
> realistic sound. Like, if the record is good enough, I'd
> love to stand in the other room and almost think that
> the musicians are there in my living room.

> Of course that's not my #1 priority. #1 is spending less
> that $400 on
> everything--receiver (or should I be calling it an amp?)
> and speakers. Think that's possible, considering this
> "realistic sound" think I'm after?

> The room where I want to put this stuff is about 185
> square feet.

Not a small room.

> Other necessary conditions: this is primarily for music,
> not TV or movies. I don't want any "surround" stuff; I
> consider that stuff gimmicky. Nevertheless, should I get
> more than two stereo speakers?

If you've only got $400 to spend, you're far better off trying to do 2
channels well, than 5 or 6 channels poorly.

> Should I get one of these
> "center speakers," which is new to me, since
> I haven't really known anything about home audio since
> 1987.

Center speakers are part of surround sound, which on your budget, you should
avoid.

> Also, I'd like to at least have separate
> treble/bass controls, if not a 5 or
> so band graphic equalizer. And nothing that boasts "bass
> boost." I like to control the bass level myself.

Not mission impossible.

> So, any ideas? Is all this possible?

Spend as little money as is practically possible on electronics, and spend
as much as possible on speakers.

You can get good sound of of a $40-60 optical disc player and an $80
receiver. That leaves $300 or so for the speakers. $300 a pair is where
speakers can start being interesting. Much below that and they become to
small and limited to really sound very good.

Speaker recommendations need to be tailored to the country where you live.

[Kalman Rubinson]

On Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:30:10 -0800 (PST), wrote:

>Other necessary conditions: this is primarily for music, not TV or
>movies. I don't want any "surround" stuff; I consider that stuff
>gimmicky. Nevertheless, should I get more than two stereo speakers?
No need.

>Should I get one of these "center speakers," which is new to me,
>since
>I haven't really known anything about home audio since 1987.
No need.

> Also,
>I'd like to at least have separate treble/bass controls, if not a 5
>or
>so band graphic equalizer. And nothing that boasts "bass boost." I
>like to control the bass level myself.
>So, any ideas? Is all this possible?
Considering your budget, just get a stereo receiver (used would be
your best route) and a pair of decent speakers (again used considering
your price limits).

Kal

[Rockinghorse Winner[_3_]]

In rec.audio.opinion, Arny Krueger had the audacity to say that:

> Spend as little money as is practically possible on electronics, and spend
> as much as possible on speakers.
>
> You can get good sound of of a $40-60 optical disc player and an $80
> receiver. That leaves $300 or so for the speakers. $300 a pair is where

Why would you want accurate reproduction of the crap that comes from an 80
dollar receiver? The devices closest to the source are of utmost importance.

For a little more than you want to spend:

A low end marantz or NAD or Denon receiver can be got for about 300. A set
of Epos mini monitors for about the same. That may not get you high-end
sounding audio, but it will be a good enough enticement, and then I would
upgrade the receiver with a decent amp when finances permit.

*R* *H*

Jolida JD-502B
Epos ES11
Marantz 2325
Sony ES CDP

--
"Look at Cuba's shape," I instructed her. "Talk about phallic. And what are
it's main products? Cigars. TR already had his Big Stick, and if there's one
thing one big stick hates, it's another. We could have spared ourselves
Castro, if Cuba had just been shaped like the Virgin Islands." -John Updike

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>
> Of course that's not my #1 priority. #1 is spending less that $400
> on
> So, any ideas? Is all this possible?
>
> Thanks!

My work system cost $160 and consists of a pair of JBL E20s (new,
clearance specials, $30) , a vintage Nikko TRM-210 amp and a
refurbished Creative Zen. If you search ebay or Craigslist you can
find a plethora of vintage amps/receivers for under $70 and loads of
old CD players for $20 to $50. Cheap good speakers may be more
problematic but there are loads of older KEF/Mission/JBL speakers and
suchlike on eBay.