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Re: help with stereo choice
#116136 11/15/05 11:57 PM
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Rick; when I first decided to purchase a decent stereo, I had 1K in mind (including a cd player!), and look where I am now. It all depends on how strong somebody is to stand the temptation of upgrading, but in order to avoid money losses from selling something to buy something better, I would really suggest to anyone to do it right from the first time.


Axiom M60s, QS4s, VP100 Onkyo TX-SR804 Oppo 970HD Rotel RB-1080/RCD-1072 REL Q150E sub, PS 3
Re: help with stereo choice
#116137 11/16/05 12:04 AM
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I understand the notion of buy the best you can afford.It very well might be that Cbee only has 1K to spend, not everyone can put thousands into a stereo system like we did.


Rick


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

Re: help with stereo choice
#116138 11/16/05 12:12 AM
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My understanding was that his $1000 budget was for a reciever/amp. I did read that he was shopping for speakers as well with that money.

Either way though. If his room isn't too big, grab an RA-1062 from audiogon, and a pair of M22ti's. Not sure anyone could complain about that combo for about $1000.



Re: help with stereo choice
#116139 11/16/05 12:33 AM
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I thought the 1k was for the whole system, give or take a few hundred.I still think one would be better served going with the better speaker.To me the speakers make the largest difference in any system


Rick


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

Re: help with stereo choice
#116140 11/16/05 12:49 AM
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Thanks for all the feedback! Yes, it is about $1000 total (except the sub, which I have), and no, right now I don't have much more to invest, but I may in the future, which is why I was considering buying a better amp. Still, I guess it works out the same, whether you upgrade you amp later or your speakers, you still have the old gear to deal with. Hmmm... So difficlut to choose, and yet still fun...

Re: help with stereo choice
#116141 11/16/05 12:54 AM
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Cbee-
I have to agree with some of the others that the speakers will make much more of a difference in your sound than an amp. Many would be very hard pressed to tell the difference between two receivers with a $400 difference in price, but for speakers in the sub-$1,000 price, that $400 difference (within a manufacturer's line) is liable to make a HUGE difference!

Personally, I'd spend almost the entire $1k on speakers alone and pick up a $250 B-stock receiver....


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: help with stereo choice
#116142 11/16/05 06:03 AM
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Spend a few bucks more and you can grab the B-stock 60's and a NAD C352 integrated.

Re: help with stereo choice
#116143 11/16/05 07:40 AM
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Hi cbee
I have a bunch of 2 channel systems, and the amps make a BIG difference. I think my best sounding system is built around a 5 watt per channel Antique Sound Labs MG SI 15DT SET tube amp. This amp was a magical match with a pair of M3s. For some reason, the M22s did not work so well with this amp, but the M22 like Michaura M55 speakers are a spectacular match up.

My second favorite system is driven by an old (but mint) Kenwood KA9100 amp (rated at 65 wpc I think).

Both these amps make for better sound quality in 2 channel than the big Onkyo M504, Yamaha M80, and far better sound quality than various receivers I've poked around with (Onkyo 797, Sony STRDB 1070, Harman Kardon AVR 65).

Anyway, for 2 channel, I'd go with a nice SET amp, a pair of M3s. The fancy CD player can come later. Some cheap and older CDPs are terrific like the JVC XL504. Some new and very inexpensive DVD players have terrific sound quality - for under $100 you can get a Toshiba SD-3960 or Sony DVP-NS575P (the Toshiba has even better sound quality but these are both great sounding players UNDER a $100.) What a world we live in!

M3s, an ASL MG S1 15DT (used) and the Toshiba would be a killer 2 channel system.

G'luck!


Enjoy the Music. Trust your ears. Laugh at Folks Who Claim to Know it All.
Re: help with stereo choice
#116144 11/16/05 02:13 PM
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The thought of a flea power tube amp driving some M3s is an interesting idea but I wouldn't recommend it.The thought of constantly having to be aware of the biasing and tube failure just dosen't appeal to most.Not to mention if he wants to really crank up some tunes the set amp will not provide ample power to say the least.There is the cost factor to be aware of too.

Remember there is budget concerns here.I have a Rotel RB1080,RC1070 with M80s I would never tell someone looking for a system within a 1k limit to throw the budget out the window and just get what I have.Recommending these types of systems ( well over the 1K ) to the op is rather silly imo.


Rick


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

Re: help with stereo choice
#116145 11/16/05 11:06 PM
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cbee Offline OP
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Hmmm... everyone has been so helpful I think I'm going to ask another question, though I'll start a new thread to do it. I still have a couple of months before I move and buy my system. It seems most think I should downgrade my amp and upgrade my speakers (M60 I guess). Research research research. Fun! (really)

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