Home Audio recommendations

[Lankin]

I have $5000 to spend.. Im looking at Paradigm for speakers, but what amps/pre amps, cables, etc? Of course a CD player as well.

Suggestions?

It will be mostly for music, maybe a DVD or two rarely. I was looking at the Paradigm Monitor 11's. Already decided on the Panasonic Tau 36" as my TV... But as I said this system will mainly be for music.

 

[Farbio]

so does 5000 include the tv? if so, and you're that set on that tv, give me a number that you're working with....look at b&w for sure on the speakers, they will compare very favorable w/ the paradigms

 

[Lankin]

The TV is on a seperate budget...

 

[Pennstate]

Infinity Interlude series IL50 (built in 250W subwoofer) or IL60 (500W built in Subwoofer)

 

[Dark54555]

Hmmm...$1500 and you could have 10 sets of Logitech z560s...which would total 4000 watts...and be 40.10 THX. But on a more realistic side, I am and will always be a fan of Bose. Check out the corner towers they have in addition to the regular old jewel cubes. Oh, and DON'T get a Sony DVD or CD player, the new ones won't read anything burned. I'd go pioneer or yamaha instead.

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

Yes, spend $1000 on your system, and invest the other $4000 and assuming a 12% annual return you will have 372,203.81 in 40 years. Think about it this way............will the higher end eqipment you may spend the additional $4000 on be worth the 372k down the road? Just something to think about.

 

[jeffrey]

Denon AVR-5800

 

[ace31216]

Recievers, I would suggest Onkyo, Harmon Kardon or Yahamhas. Monster cables will be fine. CD players, just pick any of the big brand names you heard from. CD's players are basically all the same these days.

 

[Madcowz]

OMG, at that kinda budget I'd get the Paradigm Active Studio series. They are powered so no need for a receiver. I'd compliment them with an Outlaw 950 pre-amp which will be coming out soon. Otherwise I'd look at Swan Diva's or Norh's.

 

[glen]

Definately get the Paradgm Active speakers.

 

[Sepen]

<< I have $5000 to spend.. Im looking at Paradigm for speakers, but what amps/pre amps, cables, etc? Of course a CD player as well.

Suggestions?

It will be mostly for music, maybe a DVD or two rarely. I was looking at the Paradigm Monitor 11's. Already decided on the Panasonic Tau 36" as my TV... But as I said this system will mainly be for music. >>



Ahh, I have Paradigm's. How about Denon?

 

[Blieb]

One word: BOSE.

Bose 902's will last you for 20 years with no quality distortion.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Check some of these speakers before you make your final decision.

 

[Draco]

<< One word: BOSE.

Bose 902's will last you for 20 years with no quality distortion. >>




*sigh*

Don't buy Bose.

As far as what you should get. Receivers: Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha. Speakers: Energy, Paradigm, Klipsch, Polk. Cabling: Bettercables.com - skip Monster. DVD Player.... really depends on what kind of capability you want. Best Progressive scan player would probably be the Sony 9000ES (I think)

checkout Home Theater Forum for good discussion and www.audioreview.com for lots of good reviews on everything under the sun.

 

[Bulldog7000]

BOSE is the biggest crock on the planet... ABSOLUT CRAP

Polk Blows too.

Go Denon/Paradigm/NAD/ARCAM/Yamaha/Marantz/Def Tech/B&W/Mission/etc

Yes the Denon 5800 receiver is the bomb, but he's got 5 Gs and the 5800 is over three-quarters that. Go for the AVR-2800 or 3800

Arcam CD Decks ROCK! Alpha Series (BurrBrown 24bit DACs!!!) is relatively affordable for your price bracket and they Sound AWESOME
www.arcam.co.uk

If you decide to... **Go Progressive Scan DVD!** (Denon/Marantz/Mitsubishi)

Go with AudioQuest or Terra Labs Cables and interconnects(Sidewinders, etc) Monsters are overrated.
www.audioquest.com

Paradigm Studio 20s (2way book shelf size Front Mains) are around $700 and they sound really good!

If you haven't already been there....
www.audioreview.com


BDOG

 

[Texmaster]

<< I have $5000 to spend.. Im looking at Paradigm for speakers, but what amps/pre amps, cables, etc? Of course a CD player as well.

Suggestions?

It will be mostly for music, maybe a DVD or two rarely. I was looking at the Paradigm Monitor 11's. Already decided on the Panasonic Tau 36" as my TV... But as I said this system will mainly be for music. >>



EXCELLENT CHOICE LANKIN

If you are buying Paradigm you obviously know your stuff. The reference series is really the only way to go.

As far as an amp, the best combo receivers are Yamaha hands down. I've gone with them twice with paradigm systems and they haven't let me down yet.

here is a comparison chart of Yamaha's receivers. Their top of the line bad boy at 2 grand with their third to the top coming in at around 800.


Yamaha Receivers


Paradigm Reference Series sounds like the way to go for you. I would suggest a pair of studio 40s in the front, studio center, and a pair of studio 20s in the back with a Servo-15 sub. Match that up with a RX-V3000 Yamaha receiver (1200) in the link with a Pioneer Elite 5 cd DVD and you are golden

Here is my gameroom setup with a lot of those components minus the sub.

Setup

 

[IndyJaws]

Tex, nice system

But why are you going with (what appears to be) digital cable, rather than satellite? Much better picture and sound for that excellent equipment!

 

[glen]

Amplified and EQed speakers, like the Paradigm Reference Active, are an order of magnitude more advanced than traditional non amplified speakers. They are much much closer to neutral than ANY other speaker ever made before. The really cool thing to do would be to use these speakers with a Lexicon surround processor like the Lexicon DC-2.

 

[glen]

LOL, Mort Kondracke, Liberal, on Tex's TV.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

May I suugest you listen to some klipsch reference series?

 

[urameatball]

lets see... I've always preferred denon amps.
so denon avr-4802 would be a nice choice... but if you're not willing to pay $350 for THX certification, stepping down to the 3802 would save you some money.
denon 3802 = ~$950

definitive technologies bi-polar speakers all around
these things are simply amazing compared to anything else I've heard. tad on the expensive side if you want the top of the line.

I'd suggest a pair of BP2002TL for fronts... the 2 built in 12" powered subs will draw up enough bass.
I think these are around $2500.

then choose your centre and surrounds (from definitive technologies of course) with the rest of the $1400.

now add $150 worth of cabling and connections.


I'm suggesting this because you said it's 99% music and 1% dvd listening ratio. btw, ignore my suggestion if you're a bass freak, cuz even though deftec speakers have built-in subs, there's nothing like the 20hz rumble for a quality 300lb standalone sub.

 

[yata]

Hi Lankin, 5k is a big budget. Have you gone to your local hifi shops yet? How big is your room?

Check out This site for more advice

There are a lot of good brands. Speakers brands noted well are Triangle(French), Sonus Faber(Italian), Dynaudio(Danish), JM Reynauld, Harbeth, Vandersteen, and Spendors.
These are cream of the crop. Do always audition.

What's really great is an all Linn system.

There are lots of great CD players in $500 dollar range. From audioadvisor.com.

Again, amp is one you should audition at a shop. Good luck

 

[auyong]

get B&W Nautilus speakers, someone mentioned Sonus Faber, they are great speakers too. These are really great for vocals. If you like to listen to classical music, get some magneplanars.
As for Amps, get separates, like pre and power combo...marantz has some good ones and do check out Meridian.
CD players, you can get Arcam cd players for between 500 - 2k I think. Also, you should check out the French Micromega stage cd players.

 

[Ameesh]

i'd get a pioneer elite reciever and Klipsch Towers

 

[Viperoni]

Nothing for the money could beat a pair of NorthCreekMusic Rhythm Signatures ($2200). NOTHING.
Or a nice line array using 12 6.5inchers and 4x silk dome tweet.
damm rogers giving me trouble so I can't link.
A tube amp and preamp would be nice.....but since you wanna stick with HT, the Outlaw 1050 receiver's pretty good for the money!