My first sound system. Where to start?

[polm]

I live in a fairly small, one-bedroom, apartment. I'm looking to add an audio system to my HTPC setup.

I've got no idea where to start. I'm definitley looking for quality over volume. Being in such a small place, and with 3 other apartments in my building, I don't need a "booming" system that will drive my neighbors nutz.

My HTPC is using a simple Sound Blaster Live! Value card for audio output which connects to my TV directly.

I'm throwing 500$ out there as my initial limit.

Suggestions?

 

[jpeyton]

Dogg Digital Audio

 

[Canai]

Back in high school I dropped $250 on a Technics 5x100 watt receiver and $50 on some Yamaha bookshelf speakers. I managed to pick up a couple hand built studio monitors from a friend for another $50. System is still kicking and sounds great, despite the fact I dumped a cup of gatorade into the receiver while it was running, turning it into a simple 2 channel power amp (with no power switch or anything, just volume )

That said, YOyo will defiantly be able to give you a much better answer. He is the smarts.

 

[vi edit]

Are you looking for a component based setup (receiver, fronts, sub, ect)? Also will this be for both music and movies (so at least 5.1)? Or are you just looking for a set of computer speakers?

$500 *really* isn't going to get you far at all if you are going the component route.

 

[polm]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Are you looking for a component based setup (receiver, fronts, sub, ect)? Also will this be for both music and movies (so at least 5.1)? Or are you just looking for a set of computer speakers?

$500 *really* isn't going to get you far at all if you are going the component route.

Definitely a component setup.

What if I added another 500$ to the limit?

 

[MustISO]

$1000 would get you a pretty nice system. Picking out a receiver isn't nearly as hard as picking the speakers. Speakers will last you a really long time, other components you tend to change a lot over time.

I'd suggest spending some time at:

AVSFORUM

 

[Quasmo]

Que YOyoYO

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
$500 *really* isn't going to get you far at all if you are going the component route.

If you keep your eye open, it definitely will. Especially for a smaller apartment setup.

Best Buy had the highly-rated SLS Q-Line Gold system for $299 not too long back, but it's no longer available online. Reviewed here.

A set of Athena Micras plus a good receiver would set you back under $400 and would provide excellent sound in a small/medium sized room.

Not everyone needs to go balls-out on their first audio setup to appreciate good sound.

 

[snapper316]

just got a logitech z-5500 so i use it for my computer speakers as well as my optical sound system for movies, relatively inexpensive compared to some of the other receiver/etc units

 

[HaxorNubcake]

YoYo recommended me ascend acoustics when I had a 1k speaker budget. I have 2x 340 SE Mains, and a 340 SE Center. They're fantastic.

Once you throw in a sub and receiver, and maybe rears for surround it'll be quite a bit over your budget but I highly praise ascend acoustics.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You might think about starting with an incomplete but higher quality system initially and then adding to it later.

A decent receiver and one pair of bookshelf speakers could run you your initial $500 limit and then as time goes on, you could add to it.

If you were looking for an easy $500 or less system, I'd add Onkyo HTIB sets to the list of suggestions you got already. The 790 set can be had for about $400 and gives you a pretty good receiver and then a basic 7.1 set of speakers/sub to go with it.

If you're really looking for a quality system in the end though, I think doing it over time would be a good idea.

A great way to really pick out something that you'll enjoy is to make a demo CD for yourself and then go out and listen to some different options. You'll get an idea of what different pricepoints have to offer and what some different sound characteristics are that appeal to you.

I've had very good results ordering online brands after demo-ing them. Several of the more popular online brands have forums where you can try to set up a demo with a current owner to see if you like them. They'll also have very good policies for returns during their demo periods. Some have free shipping one or two ways during this demo period so you can decide if you really like them.

Ascend Acoustics, Axiom Audio, AV123, SVS, Aperion Audio, etc. all have some good options that would fit into this budget.

EDIT: maybe I'm not the best guy to talk to about what you should put in a one bedroom apartment though :laugh:

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: vi_edit
$500 *really* isn't going to get you far at all if you are going the component route.

If you keep your eye open, it definitely will. Especially for a smaller apartment setup.

Best Buy had the highly-rated SLS Q-Line Gold system for $299 not too long back, but it's no longer available online. Reviewed here.

A set of Athena Micras plus a good receiver would set you back under $400 and would provide excellent sound in a small/medium sized room.

Not everyone needs to go balls-out on their first audio setup to appreciate good sound.

"Balls out" is a pretty vague term when it comes to audio.

I'm just afraid that at a hard stop of $500 he'll get into something and then be itching for an upgrade immediately. Bumping it up to around $1000 puts things into a different price range that you might stick with for longer and ultimately end up saving money.

 

[Syrch]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You might think about starting with an incomplete but higher quality system initially and then adding to it later.

A decent receiver and one pair of bookshelf speakers could run you your initial $500 limit and then as time goes on, you could add to it.

If you were looking for an easy $500 or less system, I'd add Onkyo HTIB sets to the list of suggestions you got already. The 790 set can be had for about $400 and gives you a pretty good receiver and then a basic 7.1 set of speakers/sub to go with it.

If you're really looking for a quality system in the end though, I think doing it over time would be a good idea.

A great way to really pick out something that you'll enjoy is to make a demo CD for yourself and then go out and listen to some different options. You'll get an idea of what different pricepoints have to offer and what some different sound characteristics are that appeal to you.

I've had very good results ordering online brands after demo-ing them. Several of the more popular online brands have forums where you can try to set up a demo with a current owner to see if you like them. They'll also have very good policies for returns during their demo periods. Some have free shipping one or two ways during this demo period so you can decide if you really like them.

Ascend Acoustics, Axiom Audio, AV123, SVS, Aperion Audio, etc. all have some good options that would fit into this budget.

EDIT: maybe I'm not the best guy to talk to about what you should put in a one bedroom apartment though :laugh:

Yoyo and I share many common thoughts in this feild and i agree with everything he has said.

I would like to suggest http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/stor...y.cgi?category=ht_studio&item=k1sd25zz for speakers if you want to go with 5.1 right off the bat. Cambridge makes really good home audio speakers. Of course you can spend MUCH more than $500 on speakers but right now you are in a one bedroom apartment and you have to consider your neighbors (sucks i know i do too and my system is way over kill for what i can actually play it at). Yoyo has a great suggestion on the receiver. i am a big fan of the Onkyo line of receivers. Sony is also getting pretty good reviews for their Higher End receivers but im not sure about their lower end. With the speakers I pointed out and an Onkyo receiver you can walk awake at $800 np. I would put this up against ANY HTIB.

As yoyo said. If you go sampling products at your local stores take a CD with HIGH quality tracks to test them out. If they sound good to you thats all that really matters (unless they have the bose name on them...then they dont' sound good even if you think they do ). One thing to also remember. The little things will add up, speaker wire, component cables if you need them, speaker stands, etc.

As far as sound in a one bedroom you need to try to find out what the walls in the complex are made of. I had a 1/1 apartment in IL and there was nothing but sheetrock between me and my neighbors. I could hear EVERYTHING from all my neighbors and could barely use my dell PC speakers let alone the bass. If you have some sort of stucko (SP?) on the walls you'll be alright at moderate levels. If you have concrete walls keep testing the waters until the cops show up

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You might think about starting with an incomplete but higher quality system initially and then adding to it later.

A decent receiver and one pair of bookshelf speakers could run you your initial $500 limit and then as time goes on, you could add to it.

If you were looking for an easy $500 or less system, I'd add Onkyo HTIB sets to the list of suggestions you got already. The 790 set can be had for about $400 and gives you a pretty good receiver and then a basic 7.1 set of speakers/sub to go with it.

If you're really looking for a quality system in the end though, I think doing it over time would be a good idea.

A great way to really pick out something that you'll enjoy is to make a demo CD for yourself and then go out and listen to some different options. You'll get an idea of what different pricepoints have to offer and what some different sound characteristics are that appeal to you.

I've had very good results ordering online brands after demo-ing them. Several of the more popular online brands have forums where you can try to set up a demo with a current owner to see if you like them. They'll also have very good policies for returns during their demo periods. Some have free shipping one or two ways during this demo period so you can decide if you really like them.

Ascend Acoustics, Axiom Audio, AV123, SVS, Aperion Audio, etc. all have some good options that would fit into this budget.

EDIT: maybe I'm not the best guy to talk to about what you should put in a one bedroom apartment though :laugh:

I'd grab a pair of speakers and a receiver to start with, expand on that. If you have $1000 to spend, get a nice receiver ($400), pair of speakers ($300), and a subwoofer with the remaining amount. If you keep it to $500 total for 2 speakers and a receiver, give preference to the receiver - if you'll be powering 5 speakers from it in the future, it needs to be able to handle that so you don't have to upgrade the receiver too.

I'd look at a little above $300 for the receiver and something around $200 for the speakers.

 

[vi edit]

For HT purposes I suggest you look at the following receivers in the $400-$500 range...

Onkyo 605(soon to be released). This was on sale pre-order at J&R for $399. Incredible amount of features.

Yahama RX-661. Around $400-$450. Great all around receiver.

H/K 247. I just bought this from Best Buy for $420 after a 12% coupon and the sale price. Very nice looking, excellent sounding receiver with a decent amount of digital inputs/features. There are some bugs to be worked out though with some firmware updates. Remote is a little on the crappy side too, but that will be fixed when I get a Harmony remote.

Pioneer 1016. Around $400 with a very robust set of features.

The miserable part about audio is that you can infinitely continue to bump up your budget. You just absolutely have to figure out a max you want to spend and then pull the trigger. Get the most features/best sounding (to you!) one in your budget.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Syrch
If you have concrete walls keep testing the waters until the cops show up

It also helps if you live above a bar on a busy street and the pipes clank all night long.

Neighbors have yet to talk to me about these

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Oh, and are you willing to go used? That's another way you can stretch your dollar.

I found a pretty good 3.1 system for my parents off craigslist for $750.

Axiom VP150
Axiom M22s + stands
Onkyo 602 (traded my old Pioneer 1014 for that since it matched my pre-pro and amp better)
Onix ULW-10

Now all they need is an actual TV
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/Parents%20setup.JPG">https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughlin/web/Random/Parents%20setup.JPG</a>

 

[FeuerFrei]

It's hard to keep the subwoofer toned down enough when you're in an apartment. Trust me, I've been there. You'd probably be better off (if you are patient) holding off on the subwoofer purchase for now. Besides if you wait on the purchase you'll no doubt be able to afford a better sub when the time comes.

I can't really weigh in on the hardware, other than to say that I'm quite happy with my Onkyo TX-SR501 receiver. It was a notch or so above entry level at the time I bought it. Cost $280 new at CC back in '03.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
It's hard to keep the subwoofer toned down enough when you're in an apartment. Trust me, I've been there. You'd probably be better off (if you are patient) holding off on the subwoofer purchase for now. Besides if you wait on the purchase you'll no doubt be able to afford a better sub when the time comes.

I can't really weigh in on the hardware, other than to say that I'm quite happy with my Onkyo TX-SR501 receiver. It was a notch or so above entry level at the time I bought it. Cost $280 new at CC back in '03.

Just an idea along those lines - it's certainly not a subwoofer replacement, but I've been using bass shakers for a couple years now and it really adds a lot of effect that tends to not annoy the neighbors. I'm using a couple Aura non-pro shakers on my seating now and there are a lot of other transducer options out there that fit different budgets. My setup including a POS stereo receiver to power them ran a little over $100 to get everything running.

I can adjust the rumbling independent of the main system volume to get the amount I want and since the vibrations are mostly isolated to the seating itself, it's not going to get the cops called. I don't enjoy it for music, but I have a hard time watching an action movie without them now.

 

[polm]

Man y'all ROCK!! Thanks for all the great advice so far. I've got a lot to consider, and I'll be burning my "Test CD" tonight. Probably hit up some local vendors this week/weekend.

 

[spangenberg]

Onix Rocket FTW!!!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: polm
Man y'all ROCK!! Thanks for all the great advice so far. I've got a lot to consider, and I'll be burning my "Test CD" tonight. Probably hit up some local vendors this week/weekend.

Try to find some places locally that are a step above Best Buy / Circuit City / etc.

Looking for authorized dealers on some well known manufacturers could be a good way of finding stores that carry decent stuff.

Paradigm / Klipsch / B&W / Def Tech / etc.

Even if you don't really find something you like, you might get an idea of what you don't like. This could help guide you to find some online options that could appeal to what you prefer.

 

[soulcougher73]

I have a Onkyo HTIB from when i worked at Circuit City. For under $500 for the reciever and 5.1 speakers i think it sounds great. I too am in a one bedroom apartment and my sub is unplugged all the time as to not add TOO much bass. But it still gets rather bassy even without it. I recommoned Onkyo fora HTIB set up.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
It's hard to keep the subwoofer toned down enough when you're in an apartment. Trust me, I've been there. You'd probably be better off (if you are patient) holding off on the subwoofer purchase for now. Besides if you wait on the purchase you'll no doubt be able to afford a better sub when the time comes.

I can't really weigh in on the hardware, other than to say that I'm quite happy with my Onkyo TX-SR501 receiver. It was a notch or so above entry level at the time I bought it. Cost $280 new at CC back in '03.

Just an idea along those lines - it's certainly not a subwoofer replacement, but I've been using bass shakers for a couple years now and it really adds a lot of effect that tends to not annoy the neighbors. I'm using a couple Aura non-pro shakers on my seating now and there are a lot of other transducer options out there that fit different budgets. My setup including a POS stereo receiver to power them ran a little over $100 to get everything running.

I can adjust the rumbling independent of the main system volume to get the amount I want and since the vibrations are mostly isolated to the seating itself, it's not going to get the cops called. I don't enjoy it for music, but I have a hard time watching an action movie without them now.

THE absolute A1 best piece of advice for THE SMALL APT. question.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Look at them go (sorry, old camera at the time)
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/spmclaughli...kers/06%20-%20They%27re%20Alive%21.AVI