| Mocking-DX |
HI guys
I'm trying to build my home audio/video within the next 8 months and i have to ask a few reccomendations on amps/speakers. My budget is around $5K
AMPS
at least 200 watts/channel @ 8 ohms
for now I'm looking at e-bay for B & K 2 and 3 channel amps for music and movies. Krell looks impressive but a bit much for my budget.
how about Carver? I keep seeing this affordable magnetic field amplifier at e bay-what are they?
Rotel and Aragon are my other choices but budget is a constraint again.
PRE/PROCESSOR
I would be my Marantz SR7000 which have a 6-channel pre amp output. Will get a real pre/pro later
SPEAKERS
I will use my old bose twin cubes for the surround temporarlily.
I prefer floor stading for the fronts, 3 way
Looking at Infinity IL5 for the fronts (less $1K at e bay).
NExt choice is Klipsch 3-ways aoround $1200
MOnitor Audio sounds good too. Out of budget again.
SO guys, any input on any type of amps/speakers would be greatly appreciated.
:2: |
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| Warzau |
| Ask Tim he's a expert!!! |
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| paul123 |
quote:
Originally posted by Mocking-DX
HI guys
I'm trying to build my home audio/video within the next 8 months and i have to ask a few reccomendations on amps/speakers. My budget is around $5K
AMPS
at least 200 watts/channel @ 8 ohms
for now I'm looking at e-bay for B & K 2 and 3 channel amps for music and movies. Krell looks impressive but a bit much for my budget.
how about Carver? I keep seeing this affordable magnetic field amplifier at e bay-what are they?
Rotel and Aragon are my other choices but budget is a constraint again.
PRE/PROCESSOR
I would be my Marantz SR7000 which have a 6-channel pre amp output. Will get a real pre/pro later
SPEAKERS
I will use my old bose twin cubes for the surround temporarlily.
I prefer floor stading for the fronts, 3 way
Looking at Infinity IL5 for the fronts (less $1K at e bay).
NExt choice is Klipsch 3-ways aoround $1200
MOnitor Audio sounds good too. Out of budget again.
SO guys, any input on any type of amps/speakers would be greatly appreciated.
:2:
I'm in the market for a Home Theatre/Home audio system also. I finally decided to go with the Denon AVR-1602 6.1 channel 90 watss into all 6 channels $719.99, the Klipsch RF-5 Towers for my two fronts $559.99 each, and the Klipsch Center Channel RC-3II $263.99. I already have set of rear speakers by JBL which were about $80 for the pair, and a 150 watt Yahama Subwoofer $250. I've heard the Denon with the Klipsch speaker and it's sounds awesome! Very chrisp, clean, and accurate. I probably don't even need the sub-woofer at all. I will never have to upgrade again!!!!!
http://www.klipsch.com/
http://www.del.denon.com/catalog/products.asp?l=1&c=2 |
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| DaleB |
I've got a real hybrid. Decided to keep it 5.1 for now. Not into 6 or 7 channel for the time being.
Have NAD T751 receiver as a processor plus feeding both rear channels.
I have a 3 channel B&K amp (Ref. series 3220) feeding the 3 front speakers.
Speakers are the M&K 750THX series system which includes a self-powered 12" sub. Did some relatively mild room tuning, and 2 channel stereo is spot on.
Critical listening shows excellent imaging and instrument location. This will do me for some time. Music or movies I am very happy, so is the wife as it is not a 'large' system in the physical sense. Blends in nicely. |
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| Mocking-DX |
Pual123-how's the midrange on the klipsch?
I really do like denon too. I originally wanted the denon 4802 but instead i'll just get more power by using amps.
DaleB-how much watts does your B &K 3220 pushing(220wx3 at 8 ohms?) Nice set up.
I'm also trying build my system one at a time starting with 3-channel amp for the front then a 2 channel amp for the rears later on.
where did you score the M & K Speakers?
Thanks |
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| mikel51 |
I am a big fan of Magnepan speakers. They are not for everybody, because they sound best when positioned about 3 feet from the back wall, and they are rather large (5 feet tall, 2 feet wide and 2 inches thick)--they would blend well with a plasma tv. You could find a pair of used 3.3R or 3.5R speakers for below 1,500. Tremendous soundstage, voices and reasonable bass. For earth shattering bass, you would want a subwoofer (which I decided I didn't need).
I think that the amplification is less important than the speakers. I had a denon receiver when I purchased these speakers and the upgrade in sound was unbelieveable when compared to ordinary speakers. I have upgraded to tube preamp and CD and a conrad johnson power amplifier and this made much less difference than simply upgrading the speakers. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by Mocking-DX
Pual123-how's the midrange on the klipsch?
I really do like denon too. I originally wanted the denon 4802 but instead i'll just get more power by using amps.
DaleB-how much watts does your B &K 3220 pushing(220wx3 at 8 ohms?) Nice set up.
I'm also trying build my system one at a time starting with 3-channel amp for the front then a 2 channel amp for the rears later on.
where did you score the M & K Speakers?
Thanks
Yup, you got the power right. I love these amps but use good sounding speakers with them because these amps will not lie!
I got the M&Ks at Magnolia HIFI. Lots of auditioning all over. They are 'lively' so you need a good room to hear them in, and they are alignment critical, but once you hit the sweet spot they do sing so nicely. I have the sub behind the listening area couples in a corner at the supporting wall. I can stand by the 3 front speakers and the bass sounds the same as when I am seated in the listening area. Magnolia was very helpful to the point of giving me a consultation with one of their installers for any questions I had on speaker placement, even after the sale.
You can not get these online unless they are some kind of overstock or used, and then you better forget a factory warranty. Speakers are a very personal thing, and like I said need to matched to everything else, especially your room. I always read Home Theater Mag, but many of their highest rated speakers did not do it for me. But they did rate the 750 system, after I bought them and gave them a great review. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by mikel51
I am a big fan of Magnepan speakers. They are not for everybody, because they sound best when positioned about 3 feet from the back wall, and they are rather large (5 feet tall, 2 feet wide and 2 inches thick)--they would blend well with a plasma tv. You could find a pair of used 3.3R or 3.5R speakers for below 1,500. Tremendous soundstage, voices and reasonable bass. For earth shattering bass, you would want a subwoofer (which I decided I didn't need).
I think that the amplification is less important than the speakers. I had a denon receiver when I purchased these speakers and the upgrade in sound was unbelieveable when compared to ordinary speakers. I have upgraded to tube preamp and CD and a conrad johnson power amplifier and this made much less difference than simply upgrading the speakers.
Mike, you sound like a high end kind of guy. It takes some planning an patience to set up Magnepans, but the results can be quite stunning. You are a tube guy too! A rare but revered breed!
:6: |
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| mikel51 |
| Actually, I have solid state amplification which seems to work best with the Maggies. I do have tube stuff feeding the signal to the amplifier. |
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| paul123 |
quote:
Originally posted by Mocking-DX
Pual123-how's the midrange on the klipsch?
I really do like denon too. I originally wanted the denon 4802 but instead i'll just get more power by using amps.
DaleB-how much watts does your B &K 3220 pushing(220wx3 at 8 ohms?) Nice set up.
I'm also trying build my system one at a time starting with 3-channel amp for the front then a 2 channel amp for the rears later on.
where did you score the M & K Speakers?
Thanks
The mid-range is very good especially with the new material they are using on the reference series. It sure will improve the pro-logic which is built into my present television. It has a 100 watt system with Dolby Pro-logic decoding, but they always sound much better when go the component system. The sound will be a nice match to my Sony 65" widescreen XBR Television. |
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| Maik |
This is going to be unpopular, but I have a Bose Lifestyle 35 paired up with a Pioneer Elite 64 inch projection TV. Unlike our Touring Bose in the MDX, we are really very happy with the home system. It makes watching movies at home a real pleasure. My wife and I have not been to movie theater in the year since we bought the TV. The surround sound and the picture quality from a DVD is truly amazing.
The other thing that I love about the Bose system, is that it takes up little or no space, yet some movies can vibrate the whole house.
It may not be as sophistocated as some other systems, but we are very happy with it. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by mikel51
Actually, I have solid state amplification which seems to work best with the Maggies. I do have tube stuff feeding the signal to the amplifier.
There are great tube preamps. ..can give a high sense of realism to voice and some instruments... |
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| Mocking-DX |
Thanks for all the inputs. Like i said I have 9 months to build my system coz the house won't be done in 9 months. These discussion is giving insights that i usually not get from audio/video magazines.
sorry for the ignorance but what's the difference between tube and solid state amps? |
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| paul123 |
quote:
Originally posted by Maik
This is going to be unpopular, but I have a Bose Lifestyle 35 paired up with a Pioneer Elite 64 inch projection TV. Unlike our Touring Bose in the MDX, we are really very happy with the home system. It makes watching movies at home a real pleasure. My wife and I have not been to movie theater in the year since we bought the TV. The surround sound and the picture quality from a DVD is truly amazing.
The other thing that I love about the Bose system, is that it takes up little or no space, yet some movies can vibrate the whole house.
It may not be as sophistocated as some other systems, but we are very happy with it.
The Bose Lifestyle line is very impressive. I especially like the size is so small and the sound is enormous. Fills the whole room and can't tell where it's even comming from! |
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| mikel51 |
Sound quality can be affected by the electronics used to drive your speakers. A sweeping generalization is that tubes can have a sweeter, lusher fuller sound, while solid state equipment can have a harsher sound with more power, drive and slam. Of course these are generalizations and great solid state equipment can be far superior to poor tube equipment. Also some speakers such as the Magnepans that I use require high current and control that tube equipment doesn't deliver. Thus I use a tube CD player and a tube preamplifier feeding signal to the solid state amplifier. More efficient speakers might sing better with tube amps. Many people like to use solid state amplification for bass and tube amplification for midranges and highs.
The west stopped manufacturing tubesby the 1970s. Currently most tubes are manufactured in eastern europe, China and Russia. Many tube afficionados like older US and Western tubes manufactured in the 1970s or earlier, and there is a thriving market in these new old stock tubes. With the resurgence of tube equipment in the last decade, the eastern european and Russian manufacturers have started to improve their quality. You can switch to different types of tubes to modify the sound to tune your stereo system to your tastes, your combination of equipment, and your room. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by mikel51
Sound quality can be affected by the electronics used to drive your speakers. A sweeping generalization is that tubes can have a sweeter, lusher fuller sound, while solid state equipment can have a harsher sound with more power, drive and slam. Of course these are generalizations and great solid state equipment can be far superior to poor tube equipment. Also some speakers such as the Magnepans that I use require high current and control that tube equipment doesn't deliver. Thus I use a tube CD player and a tube preamplifier feeding signal to the solid state amplifier. More efficient speakers might sing better with tube amps. Many people like to use solid state amplification for bass and tube amplification for midranges and highs.
The west stopped manufacturing tubesby the 1970s. Currently most tubes are manufactured in eastern europe, China and Russia. Many tube afficionados like older US and Western tubes manufactured in the 1970s or earlier, and there is a thriving market in these new old stock tubes. With the resurgence of tube equipment in the last decade, the eastern european and Russian manufacturers have started to improve their quality. You can switch to different types of tubes to modify the sound to tune your stereo system to your tastes, your combination of equipment, and your room.
Some excellent points, Mike. I can remember it took a while before solid-state amps came on their own and could deliver a neutral sound, vs. a 'transistor sound'.
Among the first to reach that level were Nakamichi and Yamaha. But now many receivers and amps share such similar technology, one would be pressed to hear differences anymore. But it does take a better amp to get something very neutral sounding. More and more money in solid state amps (Theta, Mark Levinson, etc.) seems to result in more power reserve, and another level of audio quality that I am not sure my old ears can appreciate. Of course you also get exotic looking aluminum chassis too. |
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| frostyra |
I can't speak for home theater applications since they don't interest me, but for listening to music, a cardinal rule has been "if the first watt doesn't sound good, don't bother with the amplifier." Why? Because most of your listening is done at far less than 1 watt being output from the amplifier, you want to make sure that the amp sounds natural at those lower levels. They don't get better as you crank 'em up, they just get louder!
FYI, the way most ears are calibrated, an amp has to put out 10 watts to sound "twice as loud" as when it's putting out 1 watt -- and 100 watts sounds twice as loud as 10 watts -- and 1000 watts sounds twice as loud as 100 watts (that's 8 times as loud as 1 watt!). So the difference between a 60 watt and a 120 watt amp, while it may seem like a lot, in reality isn't diddly. Power is a lot more about bragging rights than it is about sound!
Your room has the most effect on your sound, with the speakers being next, and the amplifiers being next. The differences between other components is very, very subtle (doesn't mean you can't hear the differences, it just makes you wonder if the differences are worth the $).
Keep the music coming.... |
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| MDXLuvr |
DON'T BUY A KRELL OR A B&k!!
check out odysseyaudio.com This amp. is an absolute work of art. 20 yr. warranty! all the reviews from the magazines have been astounding. I didn't buy it yet, but i am serious looking at upgrading to it.
regarding speakers- well that is a complex topic. check out audioreview.com, check the links to the speakers- at soundandvisiononline.com, stereophile.com
My HT system on a budget($7500).
1. Mitsu 65" projection t.v.
2. Denon 3801 - receiver.
3. Axiom HT-80 speaker package.
4. Pioneer - 101 cd- changer.
5. Toshiba DVD player.
6. component cables, and custom install(don't know the details).
good luck. |
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