My current stereo is a Sony shelf system that is currently adequate for my needs right now. Realistically, though, it's going to die at some point, and I'm going to want something with more capabilities.
To start with, I'll only be looking for a receiver, CD player, and speakers. Surround sound would be nice for the home theater experience. There seem to be a lot of "boxed sets" available on the market, consisting of a receiver, speakers, and sometimes a CD/DVD player. Their low prices make me wary, though.
Realizing a lot could change between now and when I'm actually looking to buy, I was looking for some recommendations.
Receivers: What brands? How many watts? How many channels? What other bells and whistles? I'm kind of partial to Pioneer, Technics, and Harman/Kardon, but will consider all recommendations. I also think 5.1 surround would be enough for me.
CD Players: What brands? Is it worth it to get a CD/DVD combo? Is SACD worth the price if I don't own any? Bells and whistles?
Speakers: Again, what brands? Is there any discernable difference between the smaller speakers that tend to come with home theater receivers, and larger "traditional" high-fi tower speakers? Does impedance matter so long as it matches my receiver? I'd love to be able to afford Infinity, Klipsch, or Bose. My parents had most recently bought Cerwin-Vega, but the subwoofer is dead after only 5 years.
When I am ready to buy, I'd like to steer away from places like Best Buy and Circuit City, and try to shop at a real audio/video store.
Is there more bang for the buck, so to speak, in buying the more accessible brands, or is it more worthwhile to buy high-end brands?
Thanks in advance.
Stereo Component Recommendations?
Stereo Component Recommendations?
"It's great how you can control 60 musicians with one just stick-- I can't control these fuckers with two!" -- Ian Paice
Ask a hundred people and you'll get a hundred different answers. Briefly:
A few months back I'd have recommended an SACD player. Only a few bucks more than a CD player, plus surround capabilities. Seems a moot point now, though. If you're talking cheap, get a CD/DVD player and think 5.1. It's the sound of the future.
Way too many options for amplification, in all price ranges. Again, unless you're only interested in stereo music, i'd get something that can handle 5.1.
Speakers will make the biggest difference in sound... by far. Personally I'd stay away from the "small speaker" packages that you'd get in a surround sound system. I'd also stay clear of Best Buy. CC and Good Guys carry Polk and Klipsch (which sound very different). I like Polks and think they're a good value, though some audiphiles sneer at them. The nice thing about the retail stores is that you can sometimes find great sales there which you won't get at the audiophile shops.
A good on-line shop is audioadvisor.com. Lots of info to read and they have a clearance area that can have some killer deals. Cambridge is a decent "cheap" audiophile brand.
A few months back I'd have recommended an SACD player. Only a few bucks more than a CD player, plus surround capabilities. Seems a moot point now, though. If you're talking cheap, get a CD/DVD player and think 5.1. It's the sound of the future.
Way too many options for amplification, in all price ranges. Again, unless you're only interested in stereo music, i'd get something that can handle 5.1.
Speakers will make the biggest difference in sound... by far. Personally I'd stay away from the "small speaker" packages that you'd get in a surround sound system. I'd also stay clear of Best Buy. CC and Good Guys carry Polk and Klipsch (which sound very different). I like Polks and think they're a good value, though some audiphiles sneer at them. The nice thing about the retail stores is that you can sometimes find great sales there which you won't get at the audiophile shops.
A good on-line shop is audioadvisor.com. Lots of info to read and they have a clearance area that can have some killer deals. Cambridge is a decent "cheap" audiophile brand.
ray
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Rspaight
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Wow, there are a lot of directions you could go there.
I'm sure others will have lots of good input, but here are a few thoughts.
- Decent home theater receivers are plentiful and cheap. The brands you list should all be fine (though I'm not partial to Technics myself). Other good ones are Onkyo, Yamaha and Denon. I used to be a big Sony receiver fan, but they've forgotten how to make good ones.
- Don't worry about SACD. The format is moribund. Get a good solid brand-name DVD/CD player. Home Theater Forum (hometheaterforum.com) is a good place to get a feel for which DVD players are "blessed" at any given time. I'd avoid the $49 "bargains" as they often behave oddly. Anything into three figures should have all the features you could ever desire. My own experience has been that Pioneer disc players are glitchy, so that's the only brand I'd avoid. Sony and Denon are tops in my book.
- Speakers are incredibly subjective, so you're best off listening to a bunch and deciding what *you* like. (FWIW, I like NHT. STAY AWAY from Bose -- they are overpriced and underperforming.) I would *highly* suggest not getting all five channels at once. Instead, spend the same amount of money on two *good* speakers (and, if those speakers don't go down low, a good sub). Then get the (matching!) surrounds and center later as you save up dough. You'll end up with *hugely* better sound than if you just got one of the "instant 5.1" packages at Best Buy or whatever.
- Esoteric audiophile brands aren't worth the bucks over stuff like Denon and Yamaha unless you *really* get off on owning it.
You mileage may vary, of course...
Ryan
I'm sure others will have lots of good input, but here are a few thoughts.
- Decent home theater receivers are plentiful and cheap. The brands you list should all be fine (though I'm not partial to Technics myself). Other good ones are Onkyo, Yamaha and Denon. I used to be a big Sony receiver fan, but they've forgotten how to make good ones.
- Don't worry about SACD. The format is moribund. Get a good solid brand-name DVD/CD player. Home Theater Forum (hometheaterforum.com) is a good place to get a feel for which DVD players are "blessed" at any given time. I'd avoid the $49 "bargains" as they often behave oddly. Anything into three figures should have all the features you could ever desire. My own experience has been that Pioneer disc players are glitchy, so that's the only brand I'd avoid. Sony and Denon are tops in my book.
- Speakers are incredibly subjective, so you're best off listening to a bunch and deciding what *you* like. (FWIW, I like NHT. STAY AWAY from Bose -- they are overpriced and underperforming.) I would *highly* suggest not getting all five channels at once. Instead, spend the same amount of money on two *good* speakers (and, if those speakers don't go down low, a good sub). Then get the (matching!) surrounds and center later as you save up dough. You'll end up with *hugely* better sound than if you just got one of the "instant 5.1" packages at Best Buy or whatever.
- Esoteric audiophile brands aren't worth the bucks over stuff like Denon and Yamaha unless you *really* get off on owning it.
You mileage may vary, of course...
Ryan
RQOTW: "I'll make sure that our future is defined not by the letters ACLU, but by the letters USA." -- Mitt Romney
Thanks. That was very helpful. Should have done a bit of research first. Heh.
- Decent home theater receivers are plentiful and cheap. The brands you list should all be fine (though I'm not partial to Technics myself). Other good ones are Onkyo, Yamaha and Denon. I used to be a big Sony receiver fan, but they've forgotten how to make good ones.
The thread Luke referred to had some high praise for Pioneer. I've also considered Yamaha and Denon. A friend of mine from college had an Onkyo, and it was good.
- Speakers are incredibly subjective, so you're best off listening to a bunch and deciding what *you* like. (FWIW, I like NHT. STAY AWAY from Bose -- they are overpriced and underperforming.) I would *highly* suggest not getting all five channels at once. Instead, spend the same amount of money on two *good* speakers (and, if those speakers don't go down low, a good sub). Then get the (matching!) surrounds and center later as you save up dough. You'll end up with *hugely* better sound than if you just got one of the "instant 5.1" packages at Best Buy or whatever.
I was leaning towards that anyway. At the prices they sell those packages, they can't be very good.
- Esoteric audiophile brands aren't worth the bucks over stuff like Denon and Yamaha unless you *really* get off on owning it.
I'm not trying to get into a pissing match for audio equipment. I just want something reliable with good sound, good features, and will last me a while.
Thanks for all the information.
"It's great how you can control 60 musicians with one just stick-- I can't control these fuckers with two!" -- Ian Paice
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lukpac
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balthazar wrote:The thread Luke referred to had some high praise for Pioneer. I've also considered Yamaha and Denon. A friend of mine from college had an Onkyo, and it was good.
Come and check out our new Yamaha. And Sony CD/DVD/SACD player.
"I know because it is impossible for a tape to hold the compression levels of these treble boosted MFSL's like Something/Anything. The metal particulate on the tape would shatter and all you'd hear is distortion if even that." - VD
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Ess Ay Cee Dee
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Balthazar,
As I mentioned in that thread (but deleted
), I have a Yamaha receiver very similar to the one that Luke bought. (Mine is the HTR-5740.) I also have the same Sony 5-disc changer. Both components are absolutely outstanding.
As others have mentioned, speakers are extremely subjective. I use Klipsch but their "forward" sound isn't to everyone's liking.
As I mentioned in that thread (but deleted
), I have a Yamaha receiver very similar to the one that Luke bought. (Mine is the HTR-5740.) I also have the same Sony 5-disc changer. Both components are absolutely outstanding.
As others have mentioned, speakers are extremely subjective. I use Klipsch but their "forward" sound isn't to everyone's liking.
- Speakers are incredibly subjective, so you're best off listening to a bunch and deciding what *you* like. (FWIW, I like NHT. STAY AWAY from Bose -- they are overpriced and underperforming.) I would *highly* suggest not getting all five channels at once. Instead, spend the same amount of money on two *good* speakers (and, if those speakers don't go down low, a good sub). Then get the (matching!) surrounds and center later as you save up dough. You'll end up with *hugely* better sound than if you just got one of the "instant 5.1" packages at Best Buy or whatever.
Taking that a step further.... Since there seem to be a lot more 6.1 and 7.1 receivers available than 5.1, would it be wise to start with a good pair of speakers, add a subwoofer, and then add enough speakers to get to 5.1 before going to 7.1?
What's the possibility of 5.1 become obsolete and no one making a 5.1 receiver anymore?
"It's great how you can control 60 musicians with one just stick-- I can't control these fuckers with two!" -- Ian Paice
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Rspaight
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What's the possibility of 5.1 become obsolete and no one making a 5.1 receiver anymore?
I doubt that will happen anytime soon. 5.1 is pretty much the standard. 6.1 (5.1 plus rear center) is kind of a hack on top of that (DTS-ES, DD-EX). Anything else (second pair of surrounds, etc) is done through processing voodoo in the receiver and isn't actually in the source material.
That said (and to answer your first question) there's no harm in getting a 6.1/7.1 receiver if that's what fits your needs and then not using the extra channels at first, if ever. (That's exactly my setup now, actually -- a 7.1 receiver with a 5.1 speaker config. I've got no burning desire to try to find a place (and wire) for two more speakers.)
Ryan
RQOTW: "I'll make sure that our future is defined not by the letters ACLU, but by the letters USA." -- Mitt Romney
Harman Kardon are notable for giving *honest* power specs -- if they say they can do 100watts into five channels, they really can do that -- or more. That's NOT always true of other brands, unfortunately.
Buy the best set of speakers + subwoofer you can find, and then spend most of the rest on the most powerful, feature-laden receiver you can buy. Use the remainder for a DVD player. Do all that, and' you;re set for when you move up to bigger rooms. Simple!
NB -- try to buy a matched set of speakers, and beware of 'center speakers' -- by that I mean those horizontal jobbies sold as center speakers. It's actually sonically more sensible to use the same speaker for a center as you used for left and right -- particularly if you plan to listen with other people occasionally. That's because a normal 'vertical' array will give better off-axis response than a horizontal one -- meanign sound won't be degraded as much when you move from the 'sweet spot'. Mathcing the speakers also prevents the center from 'sticking out' tonally compared to the others.
Buy the best set of speakers + subwoofer you can find, and then spend most of the rest on the most powerful, feature-laden receiver you can buy. Use the remainder for a DVD player. Do all that, and' you;re set for when you move up to bigger rooms. Simple!
NB -- try to buy a matched set of speakers, and beware of 'center speakers' -- by that I mean those horizontal jobbies sold as center speakers. It's actually sonically more sensible to use the same speaker for a center as you used for left and right -- particularly if you plan to listen with other people occasionally. That's because a normal 'vertical' array will give better off-axis response than a horizontal one -- meanign sound won't be degraded as much when you move from the 'sweet spot'. Mathcing the speakers also prevents the center from 'sticking out' tonally compared to the others.
"I recommend that you delete the Rancid Snakepit" - Grant
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lukpac
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krabapple wrote:NB -- try to buy a matched set of speakers, and beware of 'center speakers' -- by that I mean those horizontal jobbies sold as center speakers. It's actually sonically more sensible to use the same speaker for a center as you used for left and right -- particularly if you plan to listen with other people occasionally. That's because a normal 'vertical' array will give better off-axis response than a horizontal one -- meanign sound won't be degraded as much when you move from the 'sweet spot'. Mathcing the speakers also prevents the center from 'sticking out' tonally compared to the others.
Of course, that assumes you aren't using full-range freestanding speakers on the sides. Might be a bit much above or below your TV!
Yeah, my receiver is 7.1, and you can actually hook up an *additional* two "presence" speakers. I'm only at 5.1 (sort of) now, though.
"I know because it is impossible for a tape to hold the compression levels of these treble boosted MFSL's like Something/Anything. The metal particulate on the tape would shatter and all you'd hear is distortion if even that." - VD