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Introduction to hifi

T

timswim78

Diamond Member
I'm interested in putting together a good stereo (not surround sound) for listening to CD's and the Radio. However, I don't have too much of an idea of where to start.

Some questions that I have are:
- Is it necessary to have a preamp, tuner, and amp or is the combination of an integrated amp and a separate tuner OK?
- What do I want to look or listen for in a CD player?
- What about speakers? Will I need monstrosities with woofers, tweeters, and mid-range, or will smaller, two-way speakers be OK? Does having a separate subwoofer make a difference?
- Do tube amps, tuners, and preamps really sound better?
- Where do I go to buy this stuff? I went to my local Tweeter and all of the employees seemed to be only interested in pimping out their rice rockets with huge amps and woofers. There were so many radios playing loud rap music that I could not even hear some of the stereos that I wanted to listen to.


I started with some basic googling and found out that many "audiophiles" say that the mass marketed brands like Bose and CSW are overpriced, mediocre equipment. However, people seem to like the older KLH stuff. Adcom seems to be a pretty respected name.

I guess that it should be important to mention my musical tastes. I like a lot of vocal music, classic rock, and older music. Some of my favorites are Johnny Cash, Gillian Welch, Willie Nelson, Sting, Led Zeppelin.

Size and appearance are not really a concern. If the best sound is from an ugly 1978 amp, then that is fine with me.
 
I think a good portion of the answers are going to be based on how much you want to spend 🙂

Did you check out AVSforum or Hometheaterforum yet?

Anandtech is to computers as AVSforum is to sound equipment 😉
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think a good portion of the answers are going to be based on how much you want to spend 🙂

Did you check out AVSforum or Hometheaterforum yet?

Anandtech is to computers as AVSforum is to sound equipment 😉
Click to expand...

there are a few of us here though too who know stuff


he answered most questions we need to ask of u first though.

in order to get the MOST full frequency responses however, you will need a sub of some sort.

are you looking to play JUST music, or HT also? (5.1+)
 
Just beware of avsforum. They are geared more to HT and not necessarily good stereo.

Second, find a better store that tweeters to listen/audition.

It really does depend on how much you want to spend, but more importantly do you have a suitable room?

If so spend the most money on the speakers. Then the source and pre-amp. And lastly the amp.

A good CD player is going to start around 500.
Good pre will start around 600.
Speakers will start around 2500.
Good amp will start (used is the way to go) aroun 600.
LP for around 400.
 
I'm not saying he should use AVS as his only source, just saying that guys that know what they're talking about are more plentiful over there than over here.

(Logitech z-5500s are the best speakers evar!!! etc.) 😉

 
I am looking to spend less than a grand. I am in no hurry, so I am prepared to monitor craigslist, ebay, and other places for good deals on used stuff.

I am interested in stereo only. Not interested in HT as I don't even have a TV in my house. 🙂

The headphones are interesting, but I would prefer speakers.
 
AVSforum is a good starting area.

Depends what kind of equipment you are talking about.

You cannot go wrong with an integrated amp and a tuner. I wouldnt get a receiver with all of it in one box though. Personally, I have separate preamp, and amp.

You will have to audition equipment for yourself to get a feel of what you want. Just go to your local authorized dealer - ie, not BestBuy, Magnolia, Tweeter, Circuit City.
 
Originally posted by: Tiamat
AVSforum is a good starting area.

Depends what kind of equipment you are talking about.

You cannot go wrong with an integrated amp and a tuner. I wouldnt get a receiver with all of it in one box though. Personally, I have separate preamp, and amp.

You will have to audition equipment for yourself to get a feel of what you want. Just go to your local authorized dealer - ie, not BestBuy, Magnolia, Tweeter, Circuit City.
Click to expand...

How about gramophone? There is one about twenty miles from me.

I'm heading to avsforums now...
 
Originally posted by: timswim78
I am looking to spend less than a grand. I am in no hurry, so I am prepared to monitor craigslist, ebay, and other places for good deals on used stuff.

I am interested in stereo only. Not interested in HT as I don't even have a TV in my house. 🙂

The headphones are interesting, but I would prefer speakers.
Click to expand...

Older carver amps and a bigger set of Boston shelf speakers might do the trick.

New Carver amps suck compared to those of 10 years ago. Be warned! An older carver amp (60 watts is plenty) might be your solution.

You don't need big woofers for what you listen to. 10" would even be overkill. 8's probably would be perfect.

You'll also need a source.

But all the components add up if you have a $1,000 cap. You will be best off with a decent CD player, receiver, speakers set up.

You big advantage is that you don't need a 100 watt amp. 60 is plenty. Get some good bookshelfs ($400) and you are set.

I guess what I'm getting at:

$400 for a receiver
$400 for bokshelf speakers
$200 for your source (cd player or CD/DVD player)
-----------------------
profit

:beer:
 
Originally posted by: Tiamat
AVSforum is a good starting area.

Depends what kind of equipment you are talking about.

You cannot go wrong with an integrated amp and a tuner. I wouldnt get a receiver with all of it in one box though. Personally, I have separate preamp, and amp.

You will have to audition equipment for yourself to get a feel of what you want. Just go to your local authorized dealer - ie, not BestBuy, Magnolia, Tweeter, Circuit City.
Click to expand...

A good shop will be truthful. They weill not try to squeeze pennies out of you. Tell them everything and brign a CD with you to demo with and they should make you smile.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
go here:
http://www.headphone.com/products/

For $600, you can get REALLY GOOD SOUND with good headphones and an amp.

If curious, go here with questions:
http://www.headfi.org/
Click to expand...

yeah, but its SO not the same.
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised. Depends on your needs though.

A $3,000 headphone setup can compete with a $20,000 speaker setup in regard to sound quality.

You are right. It's not the same. But not everyone has $20,000 to toss at a speaker based set up.
 
Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
go here:
http://www.headphone.com/products/

For $600, you can get REALLY GOOD SOUND with good headphones and an amp.

If curious, go here with questions:
http://www.headfi.org/
Click to expand...

yeah, but its SO not the same.
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised. Depends on your needs though.

A $3,000 headphone setup can compete with a $20,000 speaker setup in regard to sound quality.
Click to expand...

yeah, just doesn't have the feel/presence to me. That "listening to the band" feel. Its all inside my head. Sure the sound quality is out of this world - but doesn't give me the "band playing in my home, for me" sound.
 
Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Originally posted by: timswim78
I am looking to spend less than a grand. I am in no hurry, so I am prepared to monitor craigslist, ebay, and other places for good deals on used stuff.

I am interested in stereo only. Not interested in HT as I don't even have a TV in my house. 🙂

The headphones are interesting, but I would prefer speakers.
Click to expand...

Older carver amps and a bigger set of Boston shelf speakers might do the trick.

New Carver amps suck compared to those of 10 years ago. Be warned! An older carver amp (60 watts is plenty) might be your solution.

You don't need big woofers for what you listen to. 10" would even be overkill. 8's probably would be perfect.

You'll also need a source.

But all the components add up if you have a $1,000 cap. You will be best off with a decent CD player, receiver, speakers set up.

You big advantage is that you don't need a 100 watt amp. 60 is plenty. Get some good bookshelfs ($400) and you are set.

I guess what I'm getting at:

$400 for a receiver
$400 for bokshelf speakers
$200 for your source (cd player or CD/DVD player)
-----------------------
profit

:beer:
Click to expand...


I don't have a hard cap of $1,000, but I would prefer to stay under that price. Basically, I want my music to sound good, but it doesn't have to be perfect or spectacular.

The guys over at AVS suggest shopping for speakers before anything else.

I'll look into the older carver amps and boston speakers.

What do you think of Adcom? Their stuff is always coming up on the craigslist postings in my area?
 
Originally posted by: timswim78
Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Originally posted by: timswim78
I am looking to spend less than a grand. I am in no hurry, so I am prepared to monitor craigslist, ebay, and other places for good deals on used stuff.

I am interested in stereo only. Not interested in HT as I don't even have a TV in my house. 🙂

The headphones are interesting, but I would prefer speakers.
Click to expand...

Older carver amps and a bigger set of Boston shelf speakers might do the trick.

New Carver amps suck compared to those of 10 years ago. Be warned! An older carver amp (60 watts is plenty) might be your solution.

You don't need big woofers for what you listen to. 10" would even be overkill. 8's probably would be perfect.

You'll also need a source.

But all the components add up if you have a $1,000 cap. You will be best off with a decent CD player, receiver, speakers set up.

You big advantage is that you don't need a 100 watt amp. 60 is plenty. Get some good bookshelfs ($400) and you are set.

I guess what I'm getting at:

$400 for a receiver
$400 for bokshelf speakers
$200 for your source (cd player or CD/DVD player)
-----------------------
profit

:beer:
Click to expand...


I don't have a hard cap of $1,000, but I would prefer to stay under that price. Basically, I want my music to sound good, but it doesn't have to be perfect or spectacular.

The guys over at AVS suggest shopping for speakers before anything else.

I'll look into the older carver amps and boston speakers.

What do you think of Adcom? Their stuff is always coming up on the craigslist postings in my area?
Click to expand...

Adcom was the "budget HiFI"

Good stuff. I believe they had an integrated that would be good for you. I still have one of their excellent CD players. Over 10 years old and still doing great.

The good thing about amps/integrated is they should be just as good as new. All solid state electronics. Many of my amps are over 10 years old since I bought them new. Still going strong.

I guess that's the first rule about audio gear - if you get the good stuff it will last decades.
 
I'd say head over to avsforum or hometheaterforum and ask questions there. Half the people here think their Logitech Z-5500's are high-end sound.....
 
Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
I'd say head over to avsforum or hometheaterforum and ask questions there. Half the people here think their Logitech Z-5500's are high-end sound.....
Click to expand...

only problem is those sites are more HT centric and generally don't know 2-channel/hi-fi.

They tend to be brand whores who hump rockets and other brands without even listening to them. More interested in boom-sizzle than music.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
I'd say head over to avsforum or hometheaterforum and ask questions there. Half the people here think their Logitech Z-5500's are high-end sound.....
Click to expand...

only problem is those sites are more HT centric and generally don't know 2-channel/hi-fi.

They tend to be brand whores who hump rockets and other brands without even listening to them. More interested in boom-sizzle than music.
Click to expand...

I've heard my own rockets quite a bit but wouldn't hump them for fear of knocking them over 😛

timswim78, if you want to look at rockets now that they've been brought up, check these b-stock Ref1's out 🙂
My own 550 MKIIs are also on sale.

Also, this thread may be helpful for you.
 
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