Tweet
I would not say new to this game, but this is the first time I’ve ever had enough money to buy a decent system. I'm using the THX certified Logitech z-5500 computer speakers in my dorm, which I like, but I know it can be better. And at home I have a pretty basic 6.1 channel 300 dollar Pioneer receiver from about 2002, a pair of older Bose bookshelf speakers (3 series I think) from 1990ish, a matching pair of Bose center and rear channels and 2 of the dual Bose cube speakers with a passive sub (I think that’s the right term, since it is in series with the cubes with no separate amp). Which I do actually enjoy when listening to 2 channel music from an old RCA cd player.
I have friend with a pair of new Klipsch Synergy F-3's tower speakers, the ones with the dual 8 inch woofers, a new top-model Pioneer Elite receiver, the 12 inch Synergy sub. I think it sounds pretty good, but I have never really heard anything better then what he has...I can only dream how 1500 dollar speakers sound if his 650 dollar ones sound good…to me anyway.
I go to school in a very small town but my parents live in a slightly larger one that has a dealer who sells some higher-end stuff. Ill post a link at the end to their site, just to show what he has. I've never actually been in there, so I suppose that’s a good place to start.
I will be using the system in a 12x14ish dorm room, however it will be dedicated to the system (its kind of a suite type thing separate from the bedrooms). I like to listen to music fairly loudly, to the dismay of my neighbors of course...And I know this doesn't seem to be a fairly common thing around here but, I listen to mostly rap and rock but dabble in a little of everything. I really like loud low bass, although I haven’t really gotten to the point where I’ve seen what my room does as far as a flat curve and all that stuff. I watch alot of movies too...both from a basic prog scan Sony from a few years ago and I have a couple Bluerays that I play through my PS3. I have a 42 inch Westinghouse 1080p LCD, so HDMI is a must for the receiver.
So ill start listing what I want for each component.
SUB - About $1500-$2000
The Logitech system boasts a 288 RMS/500 Max THX certified 10 inch sub. I would like a 15, but would settle for a 12. I had been looking at the MKV-15 from earthquake because it says its very loud and low(about 1500 shipped new on eBay or 1000 used, hesitant to buy a used sub) , also the DD-12 from Velodyne (about 1600+shipping used audiogon, again used). I really like the IDEA of the 15, but im gonna assume the Velodyne is probably better, mostly because it costs probably 300 dollars more, would it be worth it?. Ive looked at the SVS and HSU, but really like the idea of an Earthquake in my room...
Towers - about $1000-1500
I was really looking at the Axiom M80's. I like the look and like what I’ve read. They say the low bass isn’t good, but I will be using a big sub, so i'm thinkin that would be OK? Other then that, B&W gets alot of compliments here, but im not really sure what to look at, as far as in my price range, because I don’t know much about them and they don't list prices. So im open to suggestions there. Really between the sub and towers I would like to spend about $3000…
Pre/Pro- $2000-3500?
Since HDMI is a must, I really liked the Parasound Halo C2. It doesn’t have HDMI built in but you can buy that Z-HD add-on through the RS-232 port. It also boasts a lot of cool stuff like the 7.4 possibility, maybe a few years down the road. Does anyone know if that RS-232 thing works well? I do realize together those two pieces will probably cost around $3500 but I would be willing to spend that. I was also looking at the Sunfire TPG-5, which has 2 HDMI, which should be enough. And the NAD-M15, which also has 2 HDMI. The NAD doesn’t have balanced outputs, but from what I read that may or may not matter, im still unsure of that, having both would give me an opportunity to try it though. I realize it may not be fair to compare the Parasound vs. the other too. But is it worth the extra 1500 dollars?
Amp/Amps- $500-$1000
This depends on the speaker, but I was looking at the Outlaw Audio mono amps@ about $300 each new, one for each speaker, giving me the ability to add more and more speakers later…when I have the money. Or the Rotel Rb-1080 for about 700 used and then adding a 5 channel eventually for 7.1, which will probably end up costing more then Outlaw, but from what I’ve read are maybe a little better? I’m open to suggestions here, because I was really unsure of what to look for, especially if there are some that match B&W speakers better. Remember loud is good!
Wires-???
For a system like this, how much would I be expecting to pay for wires?
My friend has monster z2 bi wire, which were expensive but seem good. I really don’t know much about them. What quality should I expect to use based on the system I layed out, I was thinking for a pair of 1 meter XLR from the pre/pro to the amps, pair of 2 meter bi wires for the amps to speakers, and 3 HDMI cables (upconvert DVD, PS3, and cable box). Using the sponsors cables how much would i need to spend based on the quality i would need...Maybe around 500 bucks?
I won’t be making all these purchases at once but will probably start here in about a couple weeks. The receiver will be last, just so I can make sure I get the newest one possible. The HDMI 1.3 receiver, can’t think of the name of it off the top of my head, is a possibility but not much is really known about it and no one has heard it, so I may be asking this question again in a few weeks I guess. The top priority right now is the Speakers and amps, because ill be buying them first.
Thank you for reading all this…I realize it’s a lot, but I wanted to be sure I included everything. I tried to do some research, but this is a lot of money, for me anyway, and I wanted to be sure it all works and looks good. And i realize if i add all those up they equal more then $5000, buuuuuut who really sticks to a budget anyway right...
http://www.hawkeyeaudio.com/OurProdu...8/Default.aspx - link to local dealer options.
I have friend with a pair of new Klipsch Synergy F-3's tower speakers, the ones with the dual 8 inch woofers, a new top-model Pioneer Elite receiver, the 12 inch Synergy sub. I think it sounds pretty good, but I have never really heard anything better then what he has...I can only dream how 1500 dollar speakers sound if his 650 dollar ones sound good…to me anyway.
I go to school in a very small town but my parents live in a slightly larger one that has a dealer who sells some higher-end stuff. Ill post a link at the end to their site, just to show what he has. I've never actually been in there, so I suppose that’s a good place to start.
I will be using the system in a 12x14ish dorm room, however it will be dedicated to the system (its kind of a suite type thing separate from the bedrooms). I like to listen to music fairly loudly, to the dismay of my neighbors of course...And I know this doesn't seem to be a fairly common thing around here but, I listen to mostly rap and rock but dabble in a little of everything. I really like loud low bass, although I haven’t really gotten to the point where I’ve seen what my room does as far as a flat curve and all that stuff. I watch alot of movies too...both from a basic prog scan Sony from a few years ago and I have a couple Bluerays that I play through my PS3. I have a 42 inch Westinghouse 1080p LCD, so HDMI is a must for the receiver.
So ill start listing what I want for each component.
SUB - About $1500-$2000
The Logitech system boasts a 288 RMS/500 Max THX certified 10 inch sub. I would like a 15, but would settle for a 12. I had been looking at the MKV-15 from earthquake because it says its very loud and low(about 1500 shipped new on eBay or 1000 used, hesitant to buy a used sub) , also the DD-12 from Velodyne (about 1600+shipping used audiogon, again used). I really like the IDEA of the 15, but im gonna assume the Velodyne is probably better, mostly because it costs probably 300 dollars more, would it be worth it?. Ive looked at the SVS and HSU, but really like the idea of an Earthquake in my room...
Towers - about $1000-1500
I was really looking at the Axiom M80's. I like the look and like what I’ve read. They say the low bass isn’t good, but I will be using a big sub, so i'm thinkin that would be OK? Other then that, B&W gets alot of compliments here, but im not really sure what to look at, as far as in my price range, because I don’t know much about them and they don't list prices. So im open to suggestions there. Really between the sub and towers I would like to spend about $3000…
Pre/Pro- $2000-3500?
Since HDMI is a must, I really liked the Parasound Halo C2. It doesn’t have HDMI built in but you can buy that Z-HD add-on through the RS-232 port. It also boasts a lot of cool stuff like the 7.4 possibility, maybe a few years down the road. Does anyone know if that RS-232 thing works well? I do realize together those two pieces will probably cost around $3500 but I would be willing to spend that. I was also looking at the Sunfire TPG-5, which has 2 HDMI, which should be enough. And the NAD-M15, which also has 2 HDMI. The NAD doesn’t have balanced outputs, but from what I read that may or may not matter, im still unsure of that, having both would give me an opportunity to try it though. I realize it may not be fair to compare the Parasound vs. the other too. But is it worth the extra 1500 dollars?
Amp/Amps- $500-$1000
This depends on the speaker, but I was looking at the Outlaw Audio mono amps@ about $300 each new, one for each speaker, giving me the ability to add more and more speakers later…when I have the money. Or the Rotel Rb-1080 for about 700 used and then adding a 5 channel eventually for 7.1, which will probably end up costing more then Outlaw, but from what I’ve read are maybe a little better? I’m open to suggestions here, because I was really unsure of what to look for, especially if there are some that match B&W speakers better. Remember loud is good!
Wires-???
For a system like this, how much would I be expecting to pay for wires?
My friend has monster z2 bi wire, which were expensive but seem good. I really don’t know much about them. What quality should I expect to use based on the system I layed out, I was thinking for a pair of 1 meter XLR from the pre/pro to the amps, pair of 2 meter bi wires for the amps to speakers, and 3 HDMI cables (upconvert DVD, PS3, and cable box). Using the sponsors cables how much would i need to spend based on the quality i would need...Maybe around 500 bucks?
I won’t be making all these purchases at once but will probably start here in about a couple weeks. The receiver will be last, just so I can make sure I get the newest one possible. The HDMI 1.3 receiver, can’t think of the name of it off the top of my head, is a possibility but not much is really known about it and no one has heard it, so I may be asking this question again in a few weeks I guess. The top priority right now is the Speakers and amps, because ill be buying them first.
Thank you for reading all this…I realize it’s a lot, but I wanted to be sure I included everything. I tried to do some research, but this is a lot of money, for me anyway, and I wanted to be sure it all works and looks good. And i realize if i add all those up they equal more then $5000, buuuuuut who really sticks to a budget anyway right...
http://www.hawkeyeaudio.com/OurProdu...8/Default.aspx - link to local dealer options.
Comment