Audio retard looking for advice (did some homework)

[MarcVenice]

You can ask me pretty much anything about computerhardware, but when it comes to audio, I suck. But I listen music pretty much all day long, and I watch quite a bit of movies, so I want to upgrade my current receiver/speakers.

I'm looking for a receiver that will just take the audio signal from both my television, and my pc. My pc has s/pdif out, both coaxial as optical (if I sound dumb, it's because I am regarding audio). Gigabyte x48 ds4 if anyone wants to know. My tv is a regular LCD tv. This part should be easy enough.

I want to spend something like 500 dollars/euro's. Is it possible to get some decent speakers/sub/receiver for that money? I hope so 😛

As for speakers, I don't really care wether they are bookshelf speakers, or floorstanding speakers. I just want decent ones. I've been looking up some speakers (want black ones) on a dutch website, and came up with a small list:

Infinity Primus 150 (book) / Infinity Primus 250 (floor) (like these, but not in black!?)

Klipsch B-2 (book)

Pioneer S-H240-W (floor)

Pioneer CS-7070 (book)

KEF C1 (book)

Prices vary from 80 to 125 euro's or so, per speaker.

On to a sub: I really don't know what to look for. I see prices start at 100 euro's. Let's say I get speakers for 200 euro's, a 125 euro sub, leaves 175 euro's for a receiver? Which brings me to my biggest question: what receiver? I know the speakers have to be 4/8ohm depending on which receiver. Besides that, I don't think I have a lot of demands.

Some receivers in the 150-200 euro pricerange:

Sony STR-DH500, Kenwood KRF-V5300D, Pioneer VSX-417 and Onkyo TX-SR307

If someone could point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. I'm not looking for a cheap 5.1-set. I'd rather keep saving a little longer if 500 euro's won't cut it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I have no clue on what's readily available in Europe or what prices are like over there. Does anybody know of a good site for MarcVenice to look at for deals on audio stuff?

My general advice would be to go out and listen to some different speakers if possible.

It's a good idea to start with a 2.0 or 2.1 system as you have planned. Otherwise, you'd probably end up getting a "Home Theater in a Box" set on that budget, which is probably going to have very poor speakers.

Your budget looks like a good balance overall with the most going into the speakers.

Sorry I don't have a more specific suggestion for you. Is there a place near you where you could bring in a demo CD and test out Infinity vs. Klipsch, vs. KEF etc?

 

[mshan]

You could try e-mailing one of the audio reviewers based in Europe and see what they can recommend (reviewer bios at bottom of page) or what websites they recommend: http://6moons.com/audioreviews/audioreviews.html

Marja and Henk appear based in the Netherlands; Martin Merterms, Jorge Dams, and Ralph Werner in Germany; and Wojciech Pacula in Poland.

 

[s44]

I always thought 6 moons was one of those crazy-expensive "audiophile" (in all the negative ways) sites. 😉

What you really want is the European equivalent of AVSforum... If there is one.

 

[mshan]

Yeah, I always viewed 6Moons as a glorified advertisement.

Don't expect any serious criticisms of anything they review, but seems well done for what they do: get basic description of features, some pics, and general idea of what product sounds like.

 

[MarcVenice]

Hey Yoyo,

Thanks for popping in. It's not so much the problem that I want to know how speakers sound, because even if I would go to a audio-shop, I'd probably not be very good at hearing the difference between a decent speaker, and something high-end 😛

The problem is, I don't know what's decent, and what's just crap. There's almost to much choice.

As for 6moons, they only seem to review exotic stuff. I just want something decent, that isn't overpriced.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well the only way to find out if you do hear a difference is to go out and try 😉

 

[Noubourne]

Wouldn't it be great if you couldn't hear a difference? Then you could just get the cheapest speakers you hear and save all kinds of cash!!