Stereo equipment recommendations

[topane]

Hi all. I'm looking to replace my antiquated (older than many folks here) stereo with new stuff. Since I haven't bought or even looked at anything in a long time, I'm not really sure what to get. I have a decent TV, VCR, CD player, and DVD player and I have two fairly good speakers. I would eventually like to have a full surround system but I probably won't be able to purchase the speakers anytime soon. What does everyone here have? Any recommendations?

[dbax791]

I have a Sony STR-DE845 Receiver. I really like it. 100Watts, and TONS of inputs/outputs. I run S-Video from my DirectTV receiver and from my DVD. For speakers I have Energy rear satellites/center, an Energy subwoofer, and Bose bookshelf speakers for the Front L/R channels.

If you can't afford decent speakers, it is well worth it to get some el-cheapos to at least set up the surround effect until you can get the speakers you want. Often stereo stores will throw in some junkers when you buy the receiver.

[topane]

Thanks for the advice, any good places to shop?

[LPMiller]

Originally posted by topane
Thanks for the advice, any good places to shop?

Oh Leon??? Paging Leon, to the front desk please, Leon, to the front desk.

[mcdanelz]

I like the DB or bridge series sony recievers. I like www.etronics.com or www.abtelectronics.com but you probably should go to a B&M store to do the shopping and listening.

[dbax791]

Originally posted by mcdanelz
I like the DB or bridge series sony recievers. I like www.etronics.com or www.abtelectronics.com but you probably should go to a B&M store to do the shopping and listening.

That's good advice. Try the stuff out at a B&M store, and see if they'll throw in some surround speaks. Make sure that it is a fairly newer model that supports DTS, and that it has S-Video, and RCA jacks for each input. I think my Sony was only $279 or so and I've been very happy. I bought mine online from someplace in New York, but I got raped on the shipping so it ended up costing about as much.

[topane]

What do you folks think of Harman Kardon's stuff? I can get a good deal on their receivers from a friend.

[dbax791]

Originally posted by topane
What do you folks think of Harman Kardon's stuff? I can get a good deal on their receivers from a friend.

I don't know but the epinions reviews seem very positive.

http://www.epinions.com/elec-Audio-Components-Receivers-All-Harman_Kardon

I wouldn't agonize over the receiver too much. For me it's the speakers that make the real difference. If you can get a good deal on a HK that has Dolby Pro-Logic, enough wattage for your room, multiple sound fields, a subwoofer out, S-Video and RCA ins/outs for all the components I'd say go for it.

I originally got 4 of the Energy Take 5 satellites, but I found that the front speakers weren't "ballsy" enough, so I use my regular home speakers in the front and the Energy's in the rear and center. It takes a lot of time to choose the right sound field and appropriate speaker balance, but it's kind of fun experimenting.

Again, if you go for it, definately get some cheap surround speakers to start, and then you can upgrade later once you get a feel for it.

[nomoney]

Originally posted by dbax791


If you can get a good deal on a HK that has Dolby Pro-Logic

I would not buy a new receiver w/o 5.1 and DTS. Also the harman kardon products are good but not great like all of the "all in one" receiver/preamp/amp boxes. I would recommend em to anyone. Somethimes they lack all the neeto features of the sonys/pioneers ets but they do what they need to do. I have a harmann factory outlet right by me...muhahahaha. They have last years flagship for like over 60% off :)

[bissond]

I'm using a sound blaster Audigy Platinum ($166) for everything. It is my reciever. It does THX 5.1 Dolby Digital, DTS, EAX HD (gaming)... etc. All kinds of good stuff.:thumb:

For 5.1 Surround sound speakers I have Klipsch 5.1 Promeadia ($399)

I bought the two together and got $20 knocked off. They really are the perfect pair.

Now I have a Toshiba 57" Widescreen 16:9 HDTV hooked into all of it too! Man the sound is wonderful. (Games, movies, tv..everything).


-Evil Lord Drewcifer:angry:

[ArkiStan]

Originally posted by DarkFury
BTW, no matter how good your Klipsh Promedias are... a decent "full sized" home theater system is gonna whup its arse.

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Did he say WHUP??? :eek:

[bissond]

Fury, I believe you, but give me some examples...

What would be a good "full sized" home theater 5.1 setup that would be as good or better for around $539.00?

Seriously, I am really new to the home theater stuff, I'm coming from the computer nerd realm. =)

-Evil Lord Drewcifer:angry:

[DeepFreeze]

i recommend using a complete set of drivers. when i say this, i mean speakers that are timbre matched.

mixing brands does not maintain a balanced and tonally equal sound stage/ surround field.

buy all one brand as far as center channel and fronts, surrounds, ....
subwoofer is not an issue, because vocals dont come from subs.

now as far as sound goes. to be honest, and ive used some exp sht.

there are three kinds of speakers money can buy.
1. each speaker is < $100
2. $600 < x < $1000
3. x > $1500.

i say this because the craftsmanship and technology in speakers is directly related to price. you do get what you pay for.

[Leon]

Originally posted by bissond
Fury, I believe you, but give me some examples...

What would be a good "full sized" home theater 5.1 setup that would be as good or better for around $539.00?

Seriously, I am really new to the home theater stuff, I'm coming from the computer nerd realm. =)

-Evil Lord Drewcifer:angry:

Perhaps I can be of assistance.

Anyhow, I don't think it's fair to compare a Klipsch ProMedia with a $539 setup. This is because you have to calculate other things. Here is a more fair comparison.

Klipsch 5.1 Promedia + Computer
vs.
5 speakers + subwoofer + receiver

Simply put, the Promedias cannot function without a computer and the HT setup cannot function without a receiver. But a computer is (most of the time) more expensive than a receiver.

Give us a number of what you think the ProMedia + Computer would cost and we'll try and see if there is a HT system that will be better.

[ArkiStan]

I think it's really pointless and impossible to compare then. How can you compare a receiver and computer?? A computer may be a lot more expensive, but you're getting a lot more than just a DVD player. If you have nothing at the point and want a setup for only watching movies, then it would only make sense to go with the 5Speaker+Receiver+Woofer combo. You'll probably spend half the money for twice the entertainment. But if you already have a decent computer available and are under a tight budget, then the Klipsch's might be ok.

[bissond]

Just for kicks, lets say leave out the reciever.

Just Speakers.
What kind of deal can you get on 5.1 speaker setup
1xcenter
2xfront
2xsurround
1 Sub

Price/Performance to beat is the 5.1 Klipsch Promedia 500watt $399.

With $399 to work with, what speaker setup would you get, and do you think it would be WAY better than the Klipsch?


-Evil Lord Drewcifer:angry:

Geez, I thought I had made a pretty good purchase. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Leon]

Leave out the receiver? Can we leave out the computer too? That makes the comparison completely useless because neither systems can function. That's like saying let's compare car A and car B... Except car A has no engine and car B has no computer chip. Neither one is going to go anywhere. That is why you have to compare it the way I suggested. It's still not the most accurate way to compare them but it's a lot closer.

On a side note, you should know that Klipsch's rating for the ProMedias are a little generous. The 500 watts is not RMS, but MBO (mean burst output). I think most sound professionals would rate them at 35 watts/satellite and ~100 watts for the subwoofer. That being said, the ProMedias are still the best computer speakers on the market. However, they won't compare to something like the Quintets and Take 5 system. The Energy satellites are rated at 15-100 watts RMS. The S8.2 Energy sub that goes with the Take 5s is rated at 100 watts RMS/400 watts peak.

Computer speakers are never going to outperform dedicated home theater systems. Sound systems really embody the saying, "you get what you paid for." (Well, except for Bose). It's simple economics. Computer speakers need to be inexpensive, so for $399, you get $399 worth of sound. If you get a nice receiver and the Energy system, you will get $1,000 worth of sound.

I'm not dissing the ProMedias, but people should just know these differences. Also, the $399 price comparison is not a fair amount. We're comparing apples to oranges in that price range, but up that amount and maybe we can start comparing them like tangerines to oranges.

[TheCorp]

Cant resist but to chime in here guys. I just recently bought this system (minus the DVD player so its cheaper).

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=kenhtb504dv

500ish bucks gets you reciever, sub, 4 speakers, hook up to TV or computer or whatever and get AMAZING sound. I mean I know the highs on this arent the best, not too clear, but the sub on this system is truly amazing, powered on its own with its own preamp. The speakers all work excellently together, so really you coulda saved yourself a lotta dough and gotten a real hometheater system.

I cant wait till I get my new TV for next semester and hook it up to this and the DVD player thats coming with the TV, its going to be delicious. =)