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Stereo/Home Theater systems

Discussion in 'Entertainment' started by Lespaulkid01, Nov 16, 2013.

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  1. Nov 16, 2013 at 6:31 PM
    #1
    Lespaulkid01

    Lespaulkid01 [OP] I prefer the term "beer researcher".

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    Is anyone here into stereo/Home theater systems? I'm not big into movies or anything but I have a huge music collection and am thinking about upgrading my stereo system soon. Got some general questions about some setups and receivers if anyone thinks they could help! (I'm on my phone now, so if anyone happens to be an audiophile or anything and would be able to help I'll type everything up on my computer when I get home.)
     
  2. Nov 16, 2013 at 6:55 PM
    #2
    Joe D

    Joe D .

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    There are for sure some guys that are way more into it than myself on TW. Can you give us a clue what you're thinking?

    I decided to go with a system that is decent for music and surround. Did the independent, mixed component, 7.2 system. Have Sony, Onkyo, Polk, Paradigm, Apple (just a dock) & Sharpe components.

    With two separate channels got the powered subs it produces decent base at low levels. For front, center, sorround & rears I went with full size, full range towers.

    Most decent quality components are pretty reasonable now in price so I tried to balance the mix of surround home theater with just music. I did all optic or gold HDMI depending on what the component could handle.

    I looked for plenty of HDMI hook ups and wanted to ensure lots of self tuning in terms of crossover level and level sound and frequency. There are systems that do the automatic set ups for speaker distance.

    I didn't opt for Bluetooth or other wireless products.
     
  3. Nov 16, 2013 at 7:18 PM
    #3
    Lespaulkid01

    Lespaulkid01 [OP] I prefer the term "beer researcher".

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    Basically, my current setup is way out of whack and I want to do something about it. haha my parents gave me a pair of Bose 201 bookshelf speakers a few years ago (I know they aren't the best in the world and for some reason a lot of people have a vendetta against Bose, but they're great for what I use them for.) and I have a pair of old shitty Magnavox speakers from an old stereo I had in elementary school that basically are oversized computer speakers. I've got a 4" Altec Lansing subwoofer that sounds horrible and bottoms out around 160-180 Hz, and everything is being run through an old Pioneer 4 channel 300W amp that used to be my grandfathers. It was top of the line when it was new, but it is also from 1973. haha

    I'm looking to upgrade the Magnovox speakers, the subwoofer, and the amp/receiver. My main questions though:

    -Is there anything wrong with having different brands of speakers? I'm not really planning on a center speaker at the moment so it would be sort of a makeshift 4.1 system. Reason being, I'm not getting rid of the Bose, but I found a pair of Polk's that I really like. I'm just not sure if it will sound strange with two different brands/speakers.

    -I dont know dick about receivers. I know I want HDMI inputs, and I'll need at least a 4.1, but I don't think that's an actual thing so make it 5.1. I don't know anything about what brands, quality, wattage, etc. to look for. I'd like to have an rca input too because I use it to plug into my laptop.

    -For a new subwoofer, is there anything really that I need to think about besides which I think sounds best for my application? I don't listen to a whole lot of super bass heavy music, but I'd like to have the capability if I need it. I found a nice Klipsch woofer that I like, but once again.. not really sure what to be looking for.

    -I'm also toying with the idea of a new cd player but thats not as pressing. There isn't really too much difference in any of them though is there?

    Basically, I need help and someone to teach me. haha I listen to enough music and tend to use high quality formats (I stay away from mp3, aac, etc.) that I know I need an upgrade, but I don't know anything about anything when it comes to the actual components. :confused:

    Oh, and as always I'm trying to do this on the cheap. haha I'm thinking like sub $500 for a receiver, the speakers and sub I'm looking at are in the $250 range each.
     
  4. Nov 16, 2013 at 7:23 PM
    #4
    t4daddy

    t4daddy Well-Known Member

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    Rocking a Harmon & Kardon AV amp/receiver tied to some J&M labs (Focal) speakers. Just 5.1, but that's all my small living room will allow... My neighbors seem to hate it...
     
  5. Nov 16, 2013 at 9:14 PM
    #5
    Joe D

    Joe D .

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    No man most modern day equipment will play very well with other brands. There's deff way more to it than I can hear with my ears but from the sound of what you got vs what you want to do I'd do the following.

    Keep the 201s (If memory is correct these are full range two cone box speakers). With a sub the full range is not as important but they can ad some depth if you move the crossover frequency around.

    Get the Klipsch sub I think they only make powered subs which is cool.

    Throw in a new receiver. 5.1 will be more than enough. You need to fit the power from the receiver to the speakers. Typical about half the output from the receiver per channel than each speaker can handle is more than okay. So lots of speakers will say peak and rms...rms is the amount of continuous power. So lets call the RMS 100 watts. That means you want each receiver channel to push 50 watts continuous.

    See how it sounds to you. Very important because you're pleasing you listening style.

    If your not happy then...

    Find 2 more decent speakers. I've got Polk full range tower. Polk (and many others) makes some decent stuff with a wide range of budget in mind.

    If you're just doing music don't sweat having more than 4 speakers and two might be fine. Typical CD music is a two channel operation anyway.

    Lots of combinations can work depending on room size, acoustics, you listening preference, speaker efficiency ect...

    For me, speakers are the most important part of the system... Try the Bose (they aren't a bad speaker to my ear) if you don't like them with your new receiver then get another set of speakers you've listened to in the show room.

    As far as the receiver. The distortion ect is low on new units I doubt most people can tell the difference so it comes to what features you like and how much power you want.

    With your user name I would have guessed you be all over this stuff... I'm a Martin Drednot D-15 guy.
     
  6. Nov 16, 2013 at 9:16 PM
    #6
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    I have a Sony ES2400 7.1 with Klipsch speakers and sub

    I am happy
     
  7. Nov 16, 2013 at 9:30 PM
    #7
    t4daddy

    t4daddy Well-Known Member

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    Sony, LOL...
     
  8. Nov 16, 2013 at 9:30 PM
    #8
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    I like it , why you no like
     
  9. Nov 16, 2013 at 9:46 PM
    #9
    Lespaulkid01

    Lespaulkid01 [OP] I prefer the term "beer researcher".

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    Alright cool, thanks for the info so far man.

    I'm more making a wishlist for now and will slowly start gathering everything together.. not really going to go out next weekend and buy everything all at once. haha but yea, I think I'll go with the Polk 2-way speakers, the Klipsch sub, and I was between a Harmon/Kardon and Sony receiver. The H/K has more channels, HDMI inputs, outputs, etc and is cheaper so i'm still leaning towards that.

    One more question about the speakers/receiver though. When you say that you want about half the line rms per channel from the receiver, does that mean that I need to make sure all four have the same rms, or would I just base it off of whichever pair has the lower rating?

    I really just want to get rid of these shitty Magnovox things. My receiver now actually sounds decent, but its old so the left channel cuts out every once in a while and if I move any knobs while its on there is a lot of static.

    And I know really.. haha I can do a lot of instruments with strings (I actually bought a new Dobro today..), microphones, and amps but for some reason speakers and large component systems have always been super confusing to me. No idea why.
     
  10. Nov 16, 2013 at 9:55 PM
    #10
    Joe D

    Joe D .

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    Ya, if you're gonna run 4 speakers plus the sub just for music (doesn't matter as much for surround because you could use smaller rear/surround) you're going to want to match the power output (RMS) and the ohms (speaker resistance) pretty close.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2013
  11. Nov 16, 2013 at 10:05 PM
    #11
    Joe D

    Joe D .

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    $500 for a receiver should be plenty man.

    One of my family members has a full MacIntosh system. To me it's a very high end system (dollar wise) BUT I wouldn't be honest if I told you I could tell the difference between it and my system. It looks really really cool but really man I can't tell the difference in the sound. So don't think you even need to drop $500 on your receiver.
     
  12. Nov 16, 2013 at 10:14 PM
    #12
    t4daddy

    t4daddy Well-Known Member

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    As long as you're happy... At least you're crowing about Blows (Bose).
     
  13. Nov 16, 2013 at 10:43 PM
    #13
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    Wut
     
  14. Nov 16, 2013 at 11:00 PM
    #14
    t4daddy

    t4daddy Well-Known Member

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    Sorry, not crowing... I should be the grammar dick that you are and ask, what is "wut". But, I digress..
     
  15. Nov 16, 2013 at 11:03 PM
    #15
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    OK , then what do you not like about the Sony ES2400 ?
     
  16. Nov 16, 2013 at 11:09 PM
    #16
    t4daddy

    t4daddy Well-Known Member

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    Sony is not a name that's respected in audiophile circles. Again, if your happy, rock on...
     
  17. Nov 16, 2013 at 11:15 PM
    #17
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher Well-Known Member

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    I have an Axiom speaker system with 11.2 speakers . Sound is out of this world with 1080 p . All my speakers are made by axiom and I run two SVS PC 13 Ultra subs for bass .
    Most of you have probably never heard of this stuff . I will throw you a couple links .

    Here is the subs http://www.svsound.com/subwoofers/cylinder


    and here is the company that made the speakers http://www.axiomaudio.com/

    Its not high end equipment , but sounds just as good if not better .
    Works great with my home theatre in the basement . You can pick and choose according to room size
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2013
  18. Nov 16, 2013 at 11:24 PM
    #18
    t4daddy

    t4daddy Well-Known Member

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    What does picture quality (1080p) have to do with sound quality? And I'm pretty sure it's bass, not base...
     
  19. Nov 16, 2013 at 11:33 PM
    #19
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

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    So , you don't know what you don't like about it just that you know you shouldn't like it , gotcha
     
  20. Nov 16, 2013 at 11:41 PM
    #20
    gearcruncher

    gearcruncher Well-Known Member

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    Sorry dude . edit my spellin mistake for ya . :confused:
    Was just trying to help out the thread . Maybe i just delete my post cuz you know it all ?
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2013
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