Speaker suggestions for a beginner 2 channel system

payneinthe

I recently wrapped up my 7.1 H/T install and am now looking at setting up a 2 channel system. The room is 13x17, carpeted (over a crawlspace) and filled to the brim with furniture. My budget is about $3k for speakers and amp. I tend to be rough on equipment, so I prefer to buy used and already scuffed up.

This room is my office, so I will primarily be listening to music while I work. I'll watch some TV/play some PlayStation but I see no need for anything but a 2.0 setup in here.

What are some speakers that I should be looking at? How much of my budget should go to speakers vs. amplification?

WLDock

There's a lot of good info in the history but I'm sure others will chime in with great ideas. Do leave more info about what sound you are after and what type of music and listener you are etc. Also, are you after a bookshelf speaker or floorstanding?

Anyway there's SO much nice stuff out these days. You really have to go out and listen to see what sound you are after. With $3K you can do a lot on the used market. If I were looking for something like this for speakers I would check out the Selah Audio Anniversario bookshelf with the SB Acoustics Satori driver woofer and ribbon tweeter that have gotten great feedback. Also, the Kef R300 are very nice. There's the Usher Usher Audio BE-718 Tiny Dancers, etc etc etc.....

http://www.selahaudio.com/anniversario/
http://www.kef.com/html/en/showroom/hi-fi_series/r_series/Overview/index.html
KEF R300 - http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649157299-kef-r300-speaker-pair-like-new-condition-rosewood-finish/
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-usher-audio-be-718-tiny-dancers-excellent-monitors-2014-11-08-speakers-10573-rye-brook-ny

For amps...do you already have a preamp? If not you could do a Musical Fidelity, Cambridge Audio Azure, etc integrated amplifier with built in DAC.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/products.asp?dept=419

Or you could go with a pre-amp that has a built in DAC like the Parasound Halo P5
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAHAP5

Then find a cheap but quality used amp like a Parasound, B&K, etc.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-K-COMPONENTS-ST-125-2-BK-AMPLIFIER-AMP-IN-EXCELLENT-CONDITION-/161471066100?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item25986ceff4
http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-K-Component-LTD-Power-Amplifier-ST-3030-with-Balanced-XLR-inputs-Rarely-/251699947952?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item3a9a7c69b0
Can even connect things balanced with this combo.

Check you local craigslist for gear, there's tons of stuff out there.

steveinaz

Hint: Good speakers can make most anything sound good. Crappy speakers can make the best down stream equipment sound like crap. Moral: Speakers first. Dedicate the largest percentage of your budget to the speakers. Took me over 38yrs to learn this lesson over & over again.

steveinaz

PC police; "Crappy" is OK, but "C-R-A-P" isn't? Get real.

marvda1

$2000 on speakers, $500 integrated amp, $500 source but i would get the speakers first. go out and listen, start with something way out of your budget to determine what type of sound you prefer, then listen to speakers in your budget for the one's that most closely approach the sound of the high end pair. once you have your basic system dialed in you can start playing with cables.

on source you have decide if you want to go the cdp route or pc based/dac route.
depending on your choice of speakers you can go ss or tube.

if you are just getting speakers and amp i would up my budget on speakers to $2500 and $500 integrated amp.

payneinthe

marvda1, I can't do that. My budget is somewhat arbitrary and if I go listen to $$$$ stuff, I'll end up buying $$$$ stuff.

WLDock, I think I'd like to have floorstanders, but I'm not sure if the room is big enough. I mostly listen to various flavors of rock. My top priorities are vocals and acoustic instruments. I don't care about warmth; I'd like as much realism as possible.

DSkip, I know you're right, but I really don't like to get out much (I spend too much time at work. When I get a day or two off, I don't leave the house).

F1nut

Warmth is realism.

What is your source going to be?

marvda1

while i have not heard these, this company has a good reputation and the price is right so you can add an amp and source.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-tannoy-precision-6-2-precision-dual-concentric-fantastic-soundstaging-musically-sati-2014-10-31-speakers-34787-winter-garden-fl

or these for more coin.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-focal-profile-918-diamond-black-drop-dead-gorgeous-pristine-incredible-speakers-hu-2014-11-12-speakers-94517-clayton-ca

Mystery

Have a buddy who has gone through c-r-a-p load of speakers and now settled on this with upgraded ribbon tweeters:
salksound.com/ht2%20-%20home.htm



But there are other models around $2k that have great review as well:
salksound.com/songtower%20pricing.htm




Have read great reviews on Polk LSI-15 as well:
crutchfield.com/S-AtBIA8lga38/p_700LSI15C/Polk-Audio-LSi15-Cherry-finish.html




Then there is Focal Chorus 836v with amazing reviews:
musicdirect.com/p-139685-focal-chorus-836v-tower-speakers-pr.aspx



Not to forget these Monitor Audio RX6 (or higher model):
monitoraudiousa.com/support/past-products/silver-rx/rx6/




And Vandersteen 2ce Signatures:
http://vandersteen.com/products/model-2ce-signature-ii



You'll need a very good power amplifier for the speakers above.
********************

I don't recommend bookshelf speakers unless they are going into the bookshelf cabinets.
If using stands, it's better to go with floor standing model.

ZLTFUL

I agree with pretty much most of Mystery's suggestions...except for the last comment...

If using stands, it's better to go with floor standing model.

As a Polk example, the LSi9s and LSiM703s sound fantastic.
Revel M106s, ProAc Response D-2s..both great sounding bookshelf speakers...

The Magico Q1s (WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY out of your budget hehe) will go toe to to with some solid floor standing options.

All I am saying is for a 2 channel system, don't discount bookshelf options. Bookshelf speakers, in general, tend to also be easier to drive than floorstanders. (There are exceptions like everything)

Mystery

I'm not saying not to get bookshelf on stands because they sound bad but because they use the same space.

WLDock

You pretty much have to decide how much warmth you like and how YOU want to spend your money. Some like a super detailed clinical dry bass shy type of sound. While other like a warm and cozy like a cotton quilt with midbass and bottom that you can feel! So you have to find your own sound....some can guide you but only YOUR ears can decide.

Anyway, I think you would make a mistake to not take advantage of where you are in L.A.! Craigslist is your friend! Get out ask for demos...some will and some won't. Look at some of the nice stuff in your area.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/eld/4754900828.html - Integrated Amplifier BEC-225 by Hyperion Sound

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/ele/4751295684.html - Monitor Audio Silver 6
http://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/574

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/ele/4766974014.html - Marantz UD 7007


I'm sure all types of cool stuff pops up there all the time....

skrol

Something to consider with speakers is where you can place the speakers. Some are more finicky than others, requiring more distance from back and side walls. The LSi15 is a good example of a finicky speaker with its side firing woofer and rear firing port. If you have a lot of placement constraints, you may want to consider some bookshelf speakers and a good musical sub.

payneinthe

Anyone know anything about Canton Ergo Passiv? What little I can find online is overwhelmingly positive, but it'd be nice to get your opinion.

ZLTFUL

I have heard several Canton speakers but not that specific model. Can't say I didn't like them but not enough to replace anything I already own.

payneinthe

Also considering a set of vandersteen 3As that are for sale locally.

Going to be driving 'em with an Odyssey Kismet and a Parasound P5.

French_guy

marvda1 wrote: »

$2000 on speakers, $500 integrated amp, $500 source but i would get the speakers first. go out and listen, start with something way out of your budget to determine what type of sound you prefer, then listen to speakers in your budget for the one's that most closely approach the sound of the high end pair. once you have your basic system dialed in you can start playing with cables.

on source you have decide if you want to go the cdp route or pc based/dac route.
depending on your choice of speakers you can go ss or tube.

if you are just getting speakers and amp i would up my budget on speakers to $2500 and $500 integrated amp.

What is exactly the cdp route and the pc base/dac route? (I know what dac means though)

tonyb

payneinthe wrote: »

Also considering a set of vandersteen 3As that are for sale locally.

Going to be driving 'em with an Odyssey Kismet and a Parasound P5.

Nice speakers....and nice playmates you have there for them too. Your room is fairly small for big floorstanders though, especially since you said it's crammed with furniture. Big speaks need room to breath to sound good and a fairly good distance to listen at.

That said though, if the 3a's are local, in good working order, for a good price, what the heck....give it a shot....you never know until you try.

payneinthe

If I get creative with the furniture, I think I can get my listening point on the opposite wall from the speakers (so, about 15' away). Not sure what more I can do. It's the largest spare bedroom in the house and WAF will not allow using either of the living rooms. I already caught a ton of crapp for hanging the LSi-9s on the wall in the HT system.

tonyb

DSkip wrote: »

I don't know that I'd consider the Vandersteen's that big given the pictures I've seen, but I also haven't heard them. They can't be as painful to place as my Ushers are, and those are sounding good in a smaller 14x12 room. I actually think those Vandy's might be the right size speaker for that room.

Eh...maybe Skip. Considering he says the rooms full of furniture though kinda cuts down on the space.

12 feet plus is a good enough distance to listen to floorstanders. I say go for it, and invest in some decent cables for your gear too....if you haven't already that is.

marvda1

French_guy wrote: »

marvda1 wrote: »

$2000 on speakers, $500 integrated amp, $500 source but i would get the speakers first. go out and listen, start with something way out of your budget to determine what type of sound you prefer, then listen to speakers in your budget for the one's that most closely approach the sound of the high end pair. once you have your basic system dialed in you can start playing with cables.

on source you have decide if you want to go the cdp route or pc based/dac route.
depending on your choice of speakers you can go ss or tube.

if you are just getting speakers and amp i would up my budget on speakers to $2500 and $500 integrated amp.

What is exactly the cdp route and the pc base/dac route? (I know what dac means though)

the cdp route is with a standalone cd player and the dac/pc route is have computer based(hard drive) music storage and playing it through a dac.

French_guy

OK, I understand.....
Now, for the PC route: is it better to use the internal DAC of the sound card ang go analog to the AVR or preamp, or exit digital from the sound card and use the digital input of the AVR or external DAC?

payneinthe

For me, it'll be a mix of vinyl and digital. My PC won't be very close to the P5, so I'll either need an extra long run of digital coax or will need some sort of streaming device in the setup.

voltz

That is not a problem these days, as most have a unit that hooks to your stereo so you can stream to it. So you can listen using your 2 channel system.

payneinthe

I spent the day getting the furniture rearranged to something less unworkable. This is taken from what will be the listening position:



Short of "get rid of the exercise equipment nobody ever uses", I'm open to any suggestions to alterations to the room layout.

As you can see, there's a doorway between the PC and where the system will be, so I'm not yet sure how I'm going to make the digital part work. Maybe a long coax run through the attic.

Luckily, my headphones have ultra long cables, so hooking up to the P5's headphone amp should be no problem for when I need to be quiet.

payneinthe