Audiophiles - need some recommendations

[Kaido]

I'm looking into getting a really nice 2-speaker setup for my wife's computer, soley to play music from iTunes. A local place has Paradigm Atoms and a NAD 320BEE stereo amp setup for around $600. That's pretty pricey, but that's like bottom of the barrel stuff at this store. Would it really offer a significant sound improvement over, say, Logitech z-2300s? The songs are just 128kbps AAC files running from iTunes. TIA.

 

[orangat]

Overkill for 128k mp3's. What sound card do you have?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: orangat
Overkill for 128k mp3's. What sound card do you have?

Whatever is stock on the new iMac Core Duos.

 

[Crashedout]

The sonic impact T-amp, google it, is very good especially for the price. All you need is some efficent mini-monitors and a powered sub. I am constantly impressed by the imaging and soundstage this little 30 dollar amp pushes out.

 

[randomlinh]

why in the world would you spend $600 on an audio system for itunes stuff? That is insanely overkill.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

useless.. i wont hear much difference between that and klipsch ultra's

 

[CrispyFried]

with that setup youll really notice how bad 128 kbs sound files are.

can you get better qaulity sound files? will you ever play anything like regular cds or dvds through it?

youll certainly be setup for the future though

 

[CrispyFried]

oops, double post

 

[doanster]

Originally posted by: Crashedout
The sonic impact T-amp, google it, is very good especially for the price. All you need is some efficent mini-monitors and a powered sub. I am constantly impressed by the imaging and soundstage this little 30 dollar amp pushes out.

Really???
Wow I'm gonna get one for myself lol

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: CrispyFried
with that setup youll really notice how bad 128 kbs sound files are.

can you get better qaulity sound files? will you ever play anything like regular cds or dvds through it?

youll certainly be setup for the future though

Yeah, CDs and DVDs occasionally, but the MP3/AAC music library consists of roughly 2,000 128kbps songs. That's why I asked; I figured it might be useless to spend that much on a nice speaker system. A Logitech system won't bring out the flaws of lossy music files

 

[dandano]

On my old PowerMac G4, I use a 2.1 Monsoon setup. They're mangnaplanar speakers. It's really great, but I'm not sure if they're still available

 

[CrispyFried]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: CrispyFried
with that setup youll really notice how bad 128 kbs sound files are.

can you get better qaulity sound files? will you ever play anything like regular cds or dvds through it?

youll certainly be setup for the future though

Yeah, CDs and DVDs occasionally, but the MP3/AAC music library consists of roughly 2,000 128kbps songs. That's why I asked; I figured it might be useless to spend that much on a nice speaker system. A Logitech system won't bring out the flaws of lossy music files

you wont really notice how bad mp3 and accs sound till you crank it up. but when playing cds and dvds youll be glad you have that setup. guess it all comes down to personal preference, Id rather go overboard then regret having crappy speakers when you do want to play a cd and actually enjoy it the way its mean to be heard.

 

[lytalbayre]

There are audio review forums out there, I suggest you drop by one for some recommendations. As others said, for the downloaded music, a nice set-up is surely overkill, however, if you listen to CDs or DVD audio, then you could take advantage of a nice system.

My first inclination is to tell you to shop around for a stereo amp and use your soundcard for analog out (just buy a minijack to RCA adapter). But, it might be more user friendly to just buy a decently rated stereo receiver and use your sound cards digital out to hook-up to the receiver.

As far as speakers go, Some nice bookshelves would do the trick for most music. I wouldn't worry about a sub since nice ones are way out of your budget. I've heard good things about Athena bookshelves (AS-B2) frequency from 50hz up and their very efficient and sound excellent for the price ($150-$200).

Good luck.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I'm looking into getting a really nice 2-speaker setup for my wife's computer, soley to play music from iTunes. A local place has Paradigm Atoms and a NAD 320BEE stereo amp setup for around $600. That's pretty pricey, but that's like bottom of the barrel stuff at this store. Would it really offer a significant sound improvement over, say, Logitech z-2300s? The songs are just 128kbps AAC files running from iTunes. TIA.

I used to use the atoms for my pc too. They have great highs, and good mids, but no bass at all. I much prefer the Logitech Z-560 that I have now, and they were $60. If you really want to spend the $600 though, there are better ways to go.

 

[Crashedout]

Originally posted by: doanster
Really???
Wow I'm gonna get one for myself lol

Check the reviews out there, all I know is my old speakers have never sounded that good. If my main speakers were efficent I would buy three of these for my home theater.

Check it out.

 

[Bozo Galora]

I have found these speakers absolutely perfect for mp3's, and consider them an extreme value for the money.......

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/products/alex/index.html

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
I have found these speakers absolutely perfect for mp3's, and consider them an extreme value for the money.......

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/products/alex/index.html

Stop playing with my emotions!! I would love to hear what they sound like.

 

[Bozo Galora]

Originally posted by: Muadib
Stop playing with my emotions!! I would love to hear what they sound like.

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/dealers/index.html

(literally a steal at $175,000, but you will need to rent a forklift as they do weigh over a ton in the crates)

 

[Zap Brannigan]

For a good time click here.

Of course shop around for the best price if you find some speakers you want.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: Kaido
I'm looking into getting a really nice 2-speaker setup for my wife's computer, soley to play music from iTunes. A local place has Paradigm Atoms and a NAD 320BEE stereo amp setup for around $600. That's pretty pricey, but that's like bottom of the barrel stuff at this store. Would it really offer a significant sound improvement over, say, Logitech z-2300s? The songs are just 128kbps AAC files running from iTunes. TIA.

I used to use the atoms for my pc too. They have great highs, and good mids, but no bass at all. I much prefer the Logitech Z-560 that I have now, and they were $60. If you really want to spend the $600 though, there are better ways to go.

Yeah, I figured. Logitech has a nice set of z-4i's the will match the computer anyway (white). I was pretty impressed by the z-3s, except for the cruddy connector that was always hanging loose in the back.

 

[dawnbug]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora

Originally posted by: Muadib
Stop playing with my emotions!! I would love to hear what they sound like.

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/dealers/index.html

(literally a steal at $175,000, but you will need to rent a forklift as they do weigh over a ton in the crates)

Only $82,900 used

 

[Kaido]

You know, I always wanted one of those giant 80's stereo systems like in the Brave Little Toaster cartoon. The ones with like 10 pieces of equipment on the rack with all the EQ LEDs and everything. Mmm BLT movie...

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: LadyBuggy

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora

Originally posted by: Muadib
Stop playing with my emotions!! I would love to hear what they sound like.

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/dealers/index.html

(literally a steal at $175,000, but you will need to rent a forklift as they do weigh over a ton in the crates)

Only $82,900 used

Have either of you heard them? Are they really worth that kind of dough, or are the more like Bang & Olufsen?

 

[Bozo Galora]

Originally posted by: LadyBuggy


Only $82,900 used

Dont forget a good set of speaker cabes
http://www.avguide.com/accessories/speaker_cables/tara_labs/omega/3415.jsp

 

[Bozo Galora]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: LadyBuggy

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora

Originally posted by: Muadib
Stop playing with my emotions!! I would love to hear what they sound like.

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/dealers/index.html

(literally a steal at $175,000, but you will need to rent a forklift as they do weigh over a ton in the crates)

Only $82,900 used

Have either of you heard them? Are they really worth that kind of dough, or are the more like Bang & Olufsen?

Yeah, Ive heard them, watched the movie Titanic with them as HT speakers.
Truly awesome - like the shuddeing sound when the ship hit the iceberg. These speakers are actually superior to what you would hear in a top end theater.
I'm not realy into big conventional speakers ( I prefer some nice Martin Logans), but I make an exception for the Wilsons - they convinced me.
But $175 Grand is just the opening shot.
You need something like the big Krell amps and maybe the Audio Research reference tube preamp etc. etc. Thats another $200,000 easy.
B&O is consumer crap, sold for its design primarily.
If you ever heard REAL bleeding edge hi-fi, your jaw would drop.
But less than .01% of market can afford this stuff.
Suprisingly, much of the market is in Asia - like Hong Kong, or it used to be before China took over.

Edit: Had I the inclination to spend $76,000 for a pair of speakers I would get the MBL Radialstrahler mbl 101 E
http://www.mbl-germany.de/english/referenz_line.html
I have heard these at virtually every Hi-Fi show i have ever attended for years now, and they are the most natural sounding speakers you can buy (spherical wavefront), but they wont push the air that the Wilsons do.