Design my stereo system

[KvHagedorn]

Actually, I was momentarily ticked off about what he said in this thread, Dave.. http://forums.murc.ws/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29038

I know there are some nutcases in the audiophile world, but you made it sound like we are all that way, Rob. That's alright, I could say some nasty things about IA64 and what a joke it is, but I will refrain.

My suggestion was to go with the new Yamaha RXV420 at $299, and to get only the front pair and center speakers right now, to stay within budget. A pair of Phase Technology Teatro 4.5s at $260 and a 6.5 center speaker at $225 would put you at $785. These are the best speakers I have heard in their price range. You could get their 8" woofer and another pair of 4.5s later to complete the system. Your budget is really somewhat restrictive if you want a decent home theater system, though. I would probably spend at least $400-$500 on the receiver alone, and the speakers are at least as important. It is also important not to scrimp on the rear speakers.. a matched system of full range speakers is really essential to get the full impact of film soundtracks. (This immediately excludes such things as Bose cubes)
Here are the Links for you..

http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/gAVR00010

http://www.phasetech.com/

[Wombat]

Hey, I've decided to dredge this back up.
With my tax refund coming back, I'm probably in the $1,000 to $1,500 range now. Also, I've decided I don't care about home theater. Life without television is too sweet.

This is just a music box now.

[KvHagedorn]

Hey, Wombat, if you are just looking for really good stereo, check out www.headphone.com These guys build and sell their own brand of headphone amps which are really excellent. I got a Max last year for half price when they were clearing them out. Also got a pair of Sennheiser HD600 headphones and am using my old 20bit Nakamichi CDPlayer2 as a source. This little system sitting here on my desk sounds better than a pair of B&W 801s with Krells running them, and the price was just about where you are talking about. Then again, they are headphones.

If you want a nice sounding stereo system in that price range, I would check out the B&W DM602 series 3 or the Paradigm Monitor5 speakers with one of the better stereo receivers out there in the $4-500 range. Throw in a CD/DVD audio player and you've hit your price target.

[isochar]

I too can vouch for the HD600s, they truly are a masterpiece.

[Wombat]

KvH,
Thanks, but I already know the site. It's where I got my DT231's from.

I'm looking for something for the apartment now.

One of my big things is that I don't know <I>what</I> receiver to look at.

[yepitsme]

how about Cambridge Audio :
preamplifier C500 :

http://www.audioreview.com/Preamplifiers/Cambridge+Audio+C500/PRD_118205_1591crx.aspx

amplifier P500 :

http://www.audioreview.com/Amplifiers/Cambridge+Audio+P500/PRD_125391_1583crx.aspx

( separated because if you want to upgrade later )

speakers B&W DM602.5 S3

http://www.audioreview.com/Main+Speaker/B&W+DM602.5+S3/PRD_130194_1594crx.aspx

price all together should be around $1100

good luck

[KvHagedorn]

I would look at the Yamaha RX-777 or the Denon DRA-685 in the price range you suggested. If you want some seriously good sound, I would move up to the B&W CDM1NT speakers and a Rotel RX1050 Receiver and maybe a Rotel RCD-961 CD player. These three compnoents would be around $2500, but definitely worth the upgrade. The CDM1NTs will especially please you with their sound.

[Wombat]

I went to the audio store today. Briefly listened to both the 777 and the 685. I really couldn't tell much of a difference (They were on Boston VR-M80s or M90s). The Yamaha may have sounded a touch warmer.

Overall, what am I looking for when I listen to them? How do I discern one over the other?

[Chucky Cheese]

WOW Greebe!!!!

...that is some deep stuff!!!

cc

[Greebe]

To percieve an open broad soundstage which articulates every nuance equally with ease to the point the speakers themselves are unheard.

[Chucky Cheese]

Greebe,

questions...

been doing some reading on A/V stuff(...for the moment i have decided to go recieverless and speakerless and just use my periphials and TV speakers), it is tolerable...anyways..

from reading it looks as though if i use componet video then i lose the on screen setup menus? i was wondering if s-video and componet can run concurrently?, or is it one or the other. the manual on the TV doesn't spell this out, or is it a dumb question?

cc

[Liquid Snake]

Why would the menus stop working with component video output? What DVD player are you using (assuming that's what we're talking about)? S-Video and component video out can most likely be used at the same time, but you of course you can't view them normally at the same time on your TV.

[Chucky Cheese]

never mind...i misread it!!

cc

[KvHagedorn]

Many receivers and pre-pros do not use on screen graphics with the component output, since it detracts from the purity of the image. Any monitor that's worth a damn will have several inputs, though. I usually set up systems so that the viewer can choose a pure HDTV input (direct from HD satellite or cable receiver), component input (direct from DVD) pure S-video input (from normal DTV satellite dish or Dcable box) and then yet another input for composite video, with all inputs run through the preamp-processor or receiver, so you can view all sources switched by the pre-pro/receiver plus see the on screen graphics.

Wombat, both receivers are good ones. Your own personal preference should rule the day there. If you want to put them to the test, use less sensitive speakers and source material with some good tight deep bass, and then something with acoustic bass that's demanding and well recorded. For the latter, I'd recommend YoYo Ma's more recent recording of Bach's Cello Suites. Listen to this first with a receiver and then (if you're brave) listen with a good amp/preamp set. You will understand immediately the benefits of high current amplification. Bass is fuller, tighter, and better defined, and the rest of the music is cleaned up considerably as a result. If you stick with a receiver, the one that powers these demanding passages better should be your choice.

[Wombat]

So I went shopping today.

Checked out everything, and came home with a pair of 602.5s3 speakers. The CM4 and even the 603 had audible differences, but I couldn't justify it with my wallet. Then, just for grins, we went into the really expensive room, and listened to the Nautilus 800s.

So far, I have just the speakers. I went to the other store and listened to the 777 and the 685 again, and decided that I like the 685 better, but I'm waiting on buying it until I choose a CD player.

Which brings me to:

The Denon DCM-370. It wouldn't play my burned CDs. The dealer couldn't get it to go after 4 tries. I have a lot of CDs that I only use copies of because my originals are irreplacable. Has anyone else heard of this? This was during the speaker demo, and we did the rest of the demo on a Rotel CD player.

As an alternative to the 370, does anybody have something to say about the Sony CDP-CA70ES? It sounded good, and didn't have any trouble with my CDs. I'm usually wary of Sony, but the ES line seems to maintain a good reputation, and there is a long warranty to support it.


And, if you guys would be so kind...interconnect? Depending on who I go through, my choices seem to be Monster, AudioQuest, and some other company (can't remember the name, but their high-end stuff has a 3rd connector that keeps the shield at 30V, says the dealer). I've always thought of Monster as the Bose of the wire world (and their website has a lot of stuff that's physically impossible, such as wire specs that translate to a signal travelling faster than light). Is it actually decent stuff?

P.S. I appreciate all the help in my choices. Thanks guys.