wrote:
OK, I'm reading posting after posting, web page after web page,
regarding what's the best equipment for music, what's best for home
theater, what's best for surround. Everyone has a different opinion or
a favorite brand -- most recommend going to a hifi dealer and trying
out different speakers and amps.
All I want is to hear music as if the musicians were standing in front
of me playing their instruments. I want a recording of a symphony
orchestra to sound like I'm seated in the theater. I want a recording
of a jazz combo to sound like I'm seated in the front row of the
nightclub. I want a Norah Jones CD to sound like she's sitting across
the room and singing to me. I want a recording of me playing the
trombone to sound like me playing the trombone. I want live music to
sound like live music. I know that a lot depends on the recording
technique, but let's set that aside for now and assume as perfect a
recording as possible.
IMO, with modern equipment, 90% of all sound "quality"
and "accuracy" comes from the speakers. I suggest that
the original poster take a look at planar or electrostatic
speakers.
All I want to know is, with my measly $500-$750 (or less?), isn't there
a specific receiver/speaker combination that will produce what I want
to hear? Or am I just searching in vain at this price point?
Magnepan makes their MMGs, but they lack bass below 50-60hz
and need a subwoofer. Their larger models are superb, though.
Almost any modern receiver will power a pair in stereo mode.
$550 a pair, though, makes it defiantely in your price range.
Surround is a whole other ball of wax and requires at least
$4000-$5000 to do correctly.(about $1500 for the receiver,
about $1000 for the sub and the rest for 6-7 speakers)
Magnepan also makes a surround setup of smaller speakers,
but they require two small subs mated with the front speakers
as they only go down to 100hz. These sound superb, though,
and are only $299 a pair.($2000 total - $900 for a 5.1 setup
plus $1100 for two small subs)
http://www.magnepan.com/index.php
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1111247138
Of course, used, there are great deals to be had. This is
essentially a full range speaker. It would knock your socks off
and into the neighbor's kitchen.
So, no, you don't have to spend $100,000 to get good sound -
for stereo, $2000 will get you 95-98% of the sound quality.