need recomdetion for floor standing speakers and amplifier/reciver

[pelo911]

budget around 2500$,

i want to connect my computer for 1080P movie and media player music.
this is my tv:
http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/tv-video/televisions/led-tv/UN55B7000WFUZA/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&returnurl=

now the computer connect to the tv with HDMI (HD4870 1GB)
on the board there is COAX and OPTIC out.


the purpose is 40% movies and 60% music.

and i want reciver or amplifier that i could also connect SUB+center+suround in the future.

thanks for your help :up:
and sorry for my bad english.

[STEvil]

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/index.php?showtopic=2845


I'd put Maelstrom 21's instead of the Fi's though.

[pcwhisperer]

I'm very pleased with my http://www.axiomaudio.com/m80.html

[jason str]

What kind of music do you mostly listen to ?

Any size requirements ?

[Telo]

budget around 2500$,

i want to connect my computer for 1080P movie and media player music.
this is my tv:
http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/tv-video/televisions/led-tv/UN55B7000WFUZA/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&returnurl=

now the computer connect to the tv with HDMI (HD4870 1GB)
on the board there is COAX and OPTIC out.


the purpose is 40% movies and 60% music.

and i want reciver or amplifier that i could also connect SUB+center+suround in the future.

thanks for your help :up:
and sorry for my bad english.

Check out www.emotiva.com I recently got an amp from them and their stuff is high end but decently priced.

[RoadconeTuning]

im still happy with my Klipsch F-3's and Onkyo 805, got the 805 as a refurb from onkyo for 450...

My setup consists of Onkyo 805, Klipsch F-3's, Klipsch B-3's, Klipsch C-3 and a Klipsch Sub-12 i've got less than 2100 in my whole surround sound setup... then again most of that was on clearance or something...

*side note*
didnt realize i had that much freaking money in my stereo... wow.

[EniGmA1987]

If you want great sound quality, you cant really get any normal receiver. THey just dont have it. What you need is a pre-amplifier and a surround sound amp.

I would get this for your processor (Integra DHC-9.9, or the slightly older and cheaper 9.8):
http://www.integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?class=Preamplifier&m=DHC-9.9&p=i
Or the Onkyo equivilent (exact same thing, Onkyo PR-SC885P or PR-SC886P):
http://www.onkyopro.com/model.cfm?m=PR-SC886P&class=Preamplifier&p=i
^^^^^^^^^^
Found one online, they generally go for under $1000 now days:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homeproc&1269440370


Next your amp, an Emotiva UPA-5:
http://emotiva.com/upa5.shtm

You should be around $1600 now. So on to speakers:


Speakers are very much personal preference. No one can really recommend you a set that you woul like best out of any speakers in the world. Axiom audio makes some nice stuff, Paradigm makes really nice stuff too, or you can go with other brands. I currently have 2 Cerwin Vega CLS-0215s and two CLS-15s. If you spend the time to EQ the speakers you get then pretty much anything can sound amazing.
http://www.cerwinvega.com/CLS.php
http://www.paradigm.com/
http://www.axiomaudio.com/



I know everyone who knows what they are talking about says you should follow the 30/70 rule, 30% on electronics and 70% of the budget on speakers. And while that is a pretty good rule, you have to remember that you will need good processing and power if you want your speakers to really come alive. So even though you would be reversing the 30/70 rule now, after you expand your system to be surround sound, you will end up spending a total of 70% on the spakers in the long run. If you dont have the really good processing now, you are just going to want it later. So why not have a really nice system now with top notch electronics and still some really good speakers, and then expand later to super amazing speakers to finish off the system to complement your awesome electronics?

[Peen]

Energy RC-70's!

[EniGmA1987]

Also, I highly recommend a pair of JBL JRX215 speakers. You can get two new for $800. I am not a fan of JBL at all, in fact I hate most of their stuff. But I got a pair of these for $300 used and I used them as computer speakers. On is on the left side of my chair and another on the right, facing inward (ya I know, crazy). Anyway, for the price and being very low end JBL I have to say I am VERY impressed with how good they sound. If you got that preamplifier and power amp, and a pair of these JBLs you would have a killer setup with some of the best equipment you can get for future upgrades to surround sound. These speakers are wonderful for music, and still really nice for movies as well because of how low they can go.


http://www.amazon.com/JBL-JRX125-PA-Speaker/dp/B0002GJTO0
http://www.zzounds.com/item--JBLJRX125
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/JBL-JRX125-Dual-15-2Way-Speaker-Cabinet-Pair?sku=600348

[kadozer]

My top 3 for $1500-2k floor standing speakers.
-Energy RC 70 http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/542145304/energy-rc70?v_c=GoogleBase&ne_ppc_id=914&ne_key_id=6206896
-Paradigm Studio 60 http://www.paradigm.com/en/reference/fronts-studio-studio60-model-2-13-1-28.paradigm.
Higher model paradigm studio 100 check for used at Audiogon.com. They sell these at authorized dealers only not online.
-PSB Imagine T http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PBIMGT%20%20%20%20EBLK

Obviously there's tons more great options out there.
Its always better to allocate more money for speakers/subwoofer than your receiver/amp. That's the main consensus in the mid range and below. Check any audiophile forum like AVS or audioholics to corroborate this. Any decent $500-600 receiver will do. Yamaha 765, Denon 2310, Onkyo 180 Pioneer 1019


You will have alot of fun researching with that budget since it gives you alot of headroom. A word of advice: People will recommend whatever speakers they're a fan of so try to research the 'tone' of each speaker company. They range from Bright - Wall in front of the singer with high treble which is good for Home theater not so much music... to laid back to warm, and so forth. So apply that to what music you like.
You mentioned 40% movies then you shouldn't skip on a center channel. Imo for what you mentioned you should look for a front 3: floorstanding speakers + center channel then build on that to 5.1 or 7.1 later.
Happy hunting.

[EniGmA1987]

Any decent $500-600 receiver will do. Yamaha 765, Denon 2310, Onkyo 180 Pioneer 1019

I dissagree with this. Normal receivers just have really sucky power sections and dont have the real driving capability and control of a quality power amp. Plus the electrical noise you can often hear in cheap units cause everything is so crammed together.

[coyotetu]

I dissagree with this. Normal receivers just have really sucky power sections and dont have the real driving capability and control of a quality power amp. Plus the electrical noise you can often hear in cheap units cause everything is so crammed together.
While generally true, receivers with analog pre-outs generally come in at a lower price point than comparable A/V pre-processors, it just makes more sense to buy the receiver anyways, even if you intend to buy separate power amplifiers (provided the receiver has the analog pre-outs). You even get the bonus of redundancy for if you decide to add surround channels beyond how many channels of separate amplification you have, since the receiver isn't driving all the speakers it can more capably drive those surrounds, and finally you have a bit of redundancy in case you decide to sell your separate amplifier and upgrade/try out another amp (and want to continue using your system in the meantime).

In this capacity I see no problem with getting say: a Yamaha RX-V665 (their current entry-level receiver with pre-outs) and whatever separate amp you prefer (I have owned Emotiva previously, they are excellent). Also, Yamaha has a Pure Direct mode in which it turns off all processing and unnecessary circuitry in the receiver to reduce/eliminate whatever "electrical noise" that would've been introduced.

[kadozer]

Ya I think getting a cheap receiver like a 665 with an Emotiva 2channel amp to drive your floorstanders and let the receivers do the rest of the setup would be a good way to do it for the budget minded.

The whole external amp vs receiver debate comes up every day on avsforums. To each his own but I think its marginal sound quality improvement at best.

[coyotetu]

Ya I think getting a cheap receiver like a 665 with an Emotiva 2channel amp to drive your floorstanders and let the receivers do the rest of the setup would be a good way to do it for the budget minded.

The whole external amp vs receiver debate comes up every day on avsforums. To each his own but I think its marginal sound quality improvement at best.
There's a case to be made if one were talking about a receiver versus separates for 100% stereo music listening, as there are a multitude of relatively inexpensive stereo preamps that are quite well built to their purpose, but in the interests of multi-purpose HDMI-equipped devices, it depends on the situation and budget. It makes more sense to buy a receiver with pre-outs for the processing in this case/budget, otherwise too much money goes to buying a comparably equipped pre-processor such as enigma suggested earlier.

I also believe, contrary to enigma's opinion, that the difference in audio quality is negligible, particularly at these prices. Even in comparing the Integra to the Yamaha I wouldn't anticipate a qualitative difference, the DACs in the Integra are only incrementally better than standard stock such as Yamaha uses, as the Integra's main focus is movie playback, which frankly doesn't require that much fidelity.

I will reiterate my recommendations:
Receiver:
Yamaha RX-V665
Amp:
Emotiva UPA-2 (XPA-2 if you're power hungry)

Speakers should be more of a subjective choice, go with what sounds good to you, but a fairly well-received commercial floor-stander is:
Monitor Audio RS6

If you're at all inclined towards hands-on work, there is a major value to be had in DIY (do it yourself) speakers, of which a pair of DIY speakers costing ~$1000 to build have a sound quality rivaling boutique speakers costing many times more than that.

[NKrader]

2 words :

Bowers & Wilkins

[RoadconeTuning]

im guessing most of you talking about specific preamps and seperate amps are also the guys who think they can tell a difference between the 5234587 dollar a foot moster cable and lamp cord...

i will bow out from this thread now...

[NKrader]

im guessing most of you talking about specific preamps and seperate amps are also the guys who think they can tell a difference between the 5234587 dollar a foot moster cable and lamp cord...

i will bow out from this thread now...

i like monstercable because they accually care what their product looks like lol. i will pay more for that in itself.. everyone knows that their claims are nonsence but they still make some good lookin stuff.

[coyotetu]

im guessing most of you talking about specific preamps and seperate amps are also the guys who think they can tell a difference between the 5234587 dollar a foot moster cable and lamp cord...

i will bow out from this thread now...
Nice red herring, but what people buy and believe is their own business. There is a vast difference between advocating separate amplification and the negative connotations of audiophilia.

[kadozer]

+1 for Monitor Audio as well, great prices below 1k I might grab a pair myself.

[EniGmA1987]

im guessing most of you talking about specific preamps and seperate amps are also the guys who think they can tell a difference between the 5234587 dollar a foot moster cable and lamp cord...

i will bow out from this thread now...

Wow what a great way to start a flame war.


I simply recommended a preamp and separate amp because I used to use just a receiver and then changed over to all separate professional amplifiers because I got them all so cheap. So yes I have heard the difference between the two I am not just saying things cause others have said them. My biggest concern as to why I changed over to separates was that I didn't have enough power from the receiver. When I played music at about 100dB I could hear the distortion in the speakers. I really shouldn't have been able too since my Pioneer Elite receiver is supposed to put out 110w per channel, and my speakers have 97db efficiency, so that means at 100db I should only use 2 watts of power per speaker. When I switched my front speakers to a separate stereo power amp (QSC RMX2450) I could immediately hear the difference because there was no distortion. Most people probably wouldn't notice the distortion (which was especially propellant at 4kHz) but I do since I was an actual professional sound engineer for a living at that time. So I know exactly what I was hearing. Now with these new power amps I don't have any more distortion in the speakers, and the low end seems to sound a bit tighter. Believe me or not I don't really care cause I don't even know you, but I know what I hear in my home theater.

But for the OP, you don't have to get a separate power amp if you don't want to spend the money on it. You can probably be fine with whatever the receiver can do. But a separate amp really does make a difference in many circumstances. I would do what someone else recommended a couple posts back and maybe just get a separate stereo amp for your front left and right only, if they sound significantly different then later on you can upgrade your other ones.