which of these audio setups would be more enjoyable?

[gplanet]

Say I will spend $1200, and I start with no equipment.

I could get incredible headphones, a headphone amp, and a single disc CD player, a setup that might be considered audiophile for headphones.

Or, a pretty good 5 disc changer, good bookshelf speakers, a subwoofer, and a stereo receiver.


Having that headphone setup might be amazing and cool to own, but maybe the real stereo setup would have more use and be more enjoyable. I dunno

 

[CocaCola5]

No doubt the headphone and amp.


Well I guess a used bookshelf system could be made to sound good on $1200. For ex., maybe a Naim Nait(30W integrate amp)/Epos ES11. combo.

 

[d1abolic]

Well, you will get godly sound quality if you go with the headphone setup. No doubt better than any speakers you buy for that price. But do you like headphones? I have audiophile headphones and only use them when i have to, even though the sound quality kills my speakers. I can't imagine wearing them for a few hours at a time.

If you go with the speakers, you will still get great quality. You can skip the disk changer and hook the receiver up to your PC. Spend 2-300 on the receiver, as much on the sub, and you got enough money to buy a pair of great tower speakers.

 

[Mookow]

Speakers beat headphones. Especially for the $$$ that you'll be shelling out, might as well let your friends hear your music. Your neighbors might appreciate it, too...

then again, they might not.

 

[erikiksaz]

<<Speakers beat headphones. Especially for the $$$ that you'll be shelling out>>

Oh they do not. For the upper limit as 1200, high-end headphones are KNOWN to be THE route. Now if his limit was higher, then things would be different.

 

[gplanet]

i've never listened to a real good speaker or headphone system..the best i've listened to in terms of SQ would have to be my car which is just a nakamichi cd player and 6.5" diamond components...for headphones, it would just be sony mdr-v6 on my computer.

would i be startled at how good something like a $1200 headphone setup would sound?

 

[Gooberlx2]

IMHO you'd be best off getting a decent home system first. Wearing headphones, no matter how comfortable, is not as comfortable or less tiring on the ear cartilage as not wearing anything on your head at all.

Besides, yeah, then you can also have the ability for parties with music everyone can hear.

 

[gplanet]

bleh, you don't need good speakers for parties, cause everyone is really loud anyway and drunk they don't care what speakers you have and just about everything would be better than most ppl's AIWA all-in-one systems

 

[Gooberlx2]

well i was assuming you were starting from scratch with no speakers at all.

 

[d1abolic]

<< would i be startled at how good something like a $1200 headphone setup would sound? >>

I think you would be startled at how good an $500 headphone setup would sound. To say that you would be startled at how good an $1200 headphone setup would sound would be an understatement. You would sh1t in your pants

But like i said, you CAN get a good speaker system for $1200. There ARE speakers out there that give you one hell of a bang for your buck. Just do your homework. Read, read, read and then read some more. Then when you know what kind of stuff you want, go listen. As usual, i suggest you start at AVSForum and when people recommend stuff, look it up at AudioReview. Expect to spend a few weeks reading and a few days listening if you want to get a good deal.

 

[gplanet]

i already know what i'd get if i got speakers i looked into that pretty thoroughly. and yeah, you can get a good speaker setup for that much but since i'm talking about an entire system (that would require speakers, cd player, receiver, etc) the speaker setup would probably sound similar to my car except w/ better positioning and environment

edit: goober, nah i got computer speakers right now (and my car) that's it, the computer speakers are Diamond S2-4100. If I want to do some good listening I usually go for a drive

 

[d1abolic]

Have you considered connecting your audio system to your PC? Given that you have a good soundcard, the sound output quality of your PC is far superior to any standalone CD player that you can afford. That way, all you'll need are speakers and a receiver. Speaking of which, how many speakers are you looking for? 2.1, 5.1 or 6.1? And which ones do you want to get?

 

[erikiksaz]

Hmm, i found that i can't stand hooking up my headphone amp to the soundcard (Santa Cruz). It sounded great at first, but after plugging my amp into my Sony d25s portable, i was astounded by the improvement. Music (CDs, not mp3s) sounded lifeless on the soundcard.

 

[Goi]

Well, the experience of speakers and headphones is totally different, so I don't think it is a direct comparison.

 

[spidey07]

True, a good pair of headphone will make you quiver with ectasy.

Power amplifier=400 bucks
Good bookshelf speakers=700 bucks
CD Player=300 bucks.

well, went a little over budget but you get the picture. Forget about a receiver and just use a two channel power amplifier, you'll afford much more power without the price of the features. Also, you'd be surprised at how much bass a good set of bookshelfs can put out.

<edit> sp. somebody smack me. Good base - LOL.

 

[Goi]

You might be able to get by without the preamp, with spidey's suggestion, but then u'd have no volume control, so it'll either be too loud or too soft, unless you have a CD player with a built in volume control. Otherwise, I'd suggest an integrated amp rather than a power amp...

 

[spidey07]

<< unless you have a CD player with a built in volume control >>


Exactly, but if this guy wants a kick butt music system then an integrated or power amp is the way to go. no?

 

[Goi]

At his budget, he should be looking at integrated rather than power amps for a "kick butt" system.

 

[yata]

Go to an audiophile store and listen to some high-end gears. You can bring your favorite CD's too. Tell the store owner your budget, and he'll be more than happy to show you around.