Audio gurus, little help in choosing a basic setup?

[Zenmervolt]

~$500 budget.

Looking for something that is mainly for music, so a nicer 2 channel setup would be perfectly fine and even preferred over a mid-pack 5.1 or similar setup.

Need receiver and speakers. I plan on picking up an old Nakamichi RX-303 or RX-505 cassette deck, and I can use my existing DVD player for CD's. In time, I'll add a turntable too, but that's sitting in my old room back home right now. So I need either three RCA inputs or two RCA and one Digital input on the receiver.

I'm back and forth between a Yamaha HT-450 or something from Onkyo simply for ease of setup and having everything in one box. Any other ideas or suggestions for me?

Thanks!

ZV

 

[deejayshakur]

what i have

what i recommend

for the price (under $400 for the f2's i believe), they are amazing.

i will let others comment on the other components.

 

[suse920]

Originally posted by: deejayshakur
what i have

what i recommend

for the price (under $400 for the f2's i believe), they are amazing.

i will let others comment on the other components.

just to let you know the first link just says "http:///"

 

[Viper GTS]

Know anybody with tools?

http://gr-research.com/ for speakers

$500 is a really, really low budget for quality audio but you can do something decent.

Your best bet is probably a dedicated soundcard (AV710 is decent) plus a good quality used amp (something 20-30 years old).

I would forget about receivers if your goal is audio, also most DVD players won't do well at all for use as a source.

Decide now whether you're going for audio or HT, that will dictate much of what you purchase.

Viper GTS

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Know anybody with tools?

http://gr-research.com/ for speakers

I'd start with a Parts Express kit (Link) if he's a beginner...or Madisound (Link) if he wants a better selection

But it looks like he's trying to find a receiver...

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Know anybody with tools?

http://gr-research.com/ for speakers

I'd start with a Parts Express kit (Link) if he's a beginner...or Madisound (Link) if he wants a better selection

But it looks like he's trying to find a receiver...

He said receiver and speakers...

And I already gave my opinion of using a receiver for audio purposes.

:thumbsdown:

Viper GTS

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Know anybody with tools?

http://gr-research.com/ for speakers

$500 is a really, really low budget for quality audio but you can do something decent.

Your best bet is probably a dedicated soundcard (AV710 is decent) plus a good quality used amp (something 20-30 years old).

I would forget about receivers if your goal is audio, also most DVD players won't do well at all for use as a source.

Decide now whether you're going for audio or HT, that will dictate much of what you purchase.

Viper GTS

The goal: Sound better than the twin 5 watt speakers in my TV and better than the 5 year old, $35 2.1 Altec Lansing system I'm using on my computer.

I fully realise that I'm not going to find something amazing (or possibly even "good") from an audiophile's perspective. I'm just out to get the best bang for my buck here.

I would be perfectly happy to truck my old 1970's Sony receiver/turntable or my Marantz receiver and Bic Venturis ou here, but the shipping is more than their worth and I don't have the space to bring the LPs along with them at this point.

ZV

EDIT: FM/AM radio reception is non-negotiable. That's why I was looking at receivers and not simply amps.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Know anybody with tools?

http://gr-research.com/ for speakers

I'd start with a Parts Express kit (Link) if he's a beginner...or Madisound (Link) if he wants a better selection

But it looks like he's trying to find a receiver...

He said receiver and speakers...

And I already gave my opinion of using a receiver for audio purposes.

:thumbsdown:

Viper GTS

Ah, my mistake

 

[Zenmervolt]

And no, I'm not going to build the bloody things on my own. When I want to wrench on something, I have my car.

ZV

 

[calyco]

Check out the clearance section at audioadvisor.com, they have some really good deals sometimes. Also check out the new Cambridge Audio Azur amps, they are around your price range and for the price they sound amazing.

 

[Viper GTS]

My personal solution to the conflicting needs of HT & good audio (well, conflicting at my budget level) is high end headphones.

It is possible to do both HT and high end audio in the same system, but you'll be spending a TON of money.

$500 in HT gear is enough for the vast majority of people (far, far better than what you have now) but you'd have to spend significantly more than that to match even a $75 pair of headphones matched to a quality source.

Viper GTS

 

[nsafreak]

Personally I would recommend a Harman Kardon AVR-235 and a set of Polk RT-30 speakers. Might be slightly over budget but it'll be a nice startup unit. Plus if you ever do decide to expand into surround sound you'll have the capability right there.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
And no, I'm not going to build the bloody things on my own. When I want to wrench on something, I have my car.

ZV

But they're kits...Plop, plop, screw, and wire.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
My personal solution to the conflicting needs of HT & good audio (well, conflicting at my budget level) is high end headphones.

It is possible to do both HT and high end audio in the same system, but you'll be spending a TON of money.

$500 in HT gear is enough for the vast majority of people (far, far better than what you have now) but you'd have to spend significantly more than that to match even a $75 pair of headphones matched to a quality source.

Viper GTS

Thing is, I don't have the quality source to drive the headphones and I'd rather have speakers since I don't do much (read: any) stationary listening. I'm usually moving about the apartment even while watching a movie.

From what you've said, I would imagine that an HT setup should be fine for me. In that case, can you recommend something, or am I on a half-decent track given my price range with the Yamaha and Onkyo choices?

ZV

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
And no, I'm not going to build the bloody things on my own. When I want to wrench on something, I have my car.

ZV

But they're kits...Plop, plop, screw, and wire.

Yup, very very easy. Especially if you buy pre-built (or cut at least) enclosures.

The more you can do yourself the bigger the bargain, but even if you don't have everything to do it all you can still get an excellent speaker at a very good price.

Viper GTS

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
My personal solution to the conflicting needs of HT & good audio (well, conflicting at my budget level) is high end headphones.

It is possible to do both HT and high end audio in the same system, but you'll be spending a TON of money.

$500 in HT gear is enough for the vast majority of people (far, far better than what you have now) but you'd have to spend significantly more than that to match even a $75 pair of headphones matched to a quality source.

Viper GTS

Thing is, I don't have the quality source to drive the headphones and I'd rather have speakers since I don't do much (read: any) stationary listening. I'm usually moving about the apartment even while watching a movie.

From what you've said, I would imagine that an HT setup should be fine for me. In that case, can you recommend something, or am I on a half-decent track given my price range with the Yamaha and Onkyo choices?

ZV

I'm actually a huge fan of HTIB systems. For the vast majority of people it's more than they will ever need/want. Onkyo has an excellent boxed set, I'm not familiar with any of Yamaha's offerings.

There are two schools of thought to this, some advocate buying a better quality 2.1 system now & expanding later. If you think you'll eventually want better quality that's probably the best route to go.

I'm of the opinion that 99.99% of the population will be MORE than satisified with a boxed set & will never feel the need to upgrade.

Viper GTS

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you like the HTIB idea, I agree with viper GTS on the onkyo suggestion.

Something like the 770 set will be very decent for the money.

There is a lot of discussion about other HTIB sets at the HTIB area of AVSforum.

 

[DaveSimmons]

PM sent for if your profile address is current.

For what you're doing a HTIB is not really any easier, since connecting the speakers and your components is just as much work.

Polk makes some good bookshelf speakers, Infinity makes some decent ones (about as good if you spend as much money), Paradigm quality is better but harder to find and you might pay retail.

I'd probably buy a cheap Pioneer or Onkyo receiver and a pair of good bookshelf speakers rather than a HTIB package.

 

[calyco]

If you dont mind refurbished you can go with something like a Marantz SR4500 receiver from www.ac4l.com for $350, Marantz receivers do great both in music and HT. As for speakers (2 channel) Ive seen some deals floating around for Polk and Infinity Primus for $100-$200. Thats the best I could do with your budget, leaving room for you to upgrade to 5.1 if you want to in the future. Or go with the Onkyo HTIB Viper suggested.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you like the HTIB idea, I agree with viper GTS on the onkyo suggestion.

Something like the 770 set will be very decent for the money.

There is a lot of discussion about other HTIB sets at the HTIB area of AVSforum.

Damn, it's been a while since I've looked at boxed sets.

Component switching in a $420 boxed set?

Any idea if it does component upconversion (ie use only component to connect to your TV but switch sources that use s-video and composite)?

Viper GTS

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you like the HTIB idea, I agree with viper GTS on the onkyo suggestion.

Something like the 770 set will be very decent for the money.

There is a lot of discussion about other HTIB sets at the HTIB area of AVSforum.

Damn, it's been a while since I've looked at boxed sets.

Component switching in a $420 boxed set?

Any idea if it does component upconversion (ie use only component to connect to your TV but switch sources that use s-video and composite)?

Viper GTS

I don't think it has it.

Nobody mentioned it in the onkyo reviews and it wasn't listed as a feature...

I sure with my HK AVR-325 did upconversion... but I didn't know I was going to really want it at the time I got it