Recommendations for 2 channel setup

96tears

I am needing recommendations for a two channel setup to play with a turntable and streaming audio. What amp, tuner and speakers do you recommend that will give good sound for playing in a living room.
I have been using smart speakers for the last few years and would just like to start with a better overall sound system.

Thanks

treitz3

Welcome to Club Polk. Budgets are very important. What kind of budget (all in) are you looking at here?

Can you repurpose any PC's, IC's or any other type of cables?

Tom

96tears

My budget would be around $800.00 to $1100.00. I have not had any regular set up in forever so I don't believe I will have any cables etc..

96tears

If that is way too low let me know what I need to invest.

mhardy6647

Do you really want a tuner (of the FM stereo kind), @96tears?
I mean -- I like 'em, and still use one (who am I kidding? one or two...) -- but it is the 21st century, you know?

So, with no rationale or expertise other than being a Polk & Yamaha fanboy from way back -- I'll, ahem, suggest that you consider one of the current crop of Yamaha integrated amplifiers. Pick your price point; they've got plenty to choose from.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/index.html#d366099

treitz3

@96tears - I take it at that price point, you are okay with buying used? I'm just taking a shot in the dark with this setup but here goes.

Dual TT - $184 - https://reverb.com/item/61450006-dual-1245-turntable?gspk=SGlmaXNoYXJrLVJldmVyYg==&utm_campaign=Hifishark-Reverb&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=partnerstack-legacy

KEF speakers - $120 - https://www.ebay.com/itm/195660028104?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=87eb1040-ec01-11ed-b805-623161363362

Donner amp/tuner/ integrated - $135 - https://www.ebay.com/itm/354396009523?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20201210111314&meid=d2380ae76b9943d5a68cc79f7d6c191c&pid=101195&rk=2&rkt=12&sd=264851926511&itm=354396009523&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&algv=SimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuWithLambda85KnnRecallV1V4V6ItemNrtInQueryAndCassiniVisualRankerAndBertRecall&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum:354396009523d2380ae76b9943d5a68cc79f7d6c191c|enc:AQAIAAABQA2rugFlOq3qu1cLac%2F%2Fk6Vp0Oa0HaJIqoXKeIiOR%2BTUgsSvHaeyPxKYu6UqHqq7GaGyKVqHQnjeiiXcQpMGw2t3aB%2BssGfjtIWOBj8wExc7oYYP7xGMyQCrHDyDaSaWjB1CueI3A94n0yxXX5dx5gDrad3tXAUqcWQl2YLPXW%2FZSt%2FasRsEXr7TB7zwDfKLWLArqbgTzjLMk92cIoJn8lpl8KHhJj3sPKZmh9UQnGs4evA7KlHzLe6ieJv0%2B10H1aFy5usoBR%2FLanPI%2Bg7xPxK4fokexcBSNrnQ9MqlwHjesPww1HxdgXuhMXjLQbv%2BGJmmMbh2h29%2FxWm0NFPHTquR36SRemYgcV%2FqkBXO3maw2j73AHxzJw4v77o7ZP9dl3XdtDFMSiFiua5FVHg3SUR8h5v4ptBdtsEmUHggyb16|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675

BS Node (Streamer) - $225 - https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisb46e2-bluesound-node-2-music-servers-docks?refsource=hifishark

That's a total of $664 BEFORE SHIPPING for all of the aforementioned. The rest of the funds would pay for cables, shipping and misc. items you will need to set it all up.

If you can scrape up more $$$, you may want to look at buying a better integrated amp/tuner that will have the needed inputs. This one is an off brand and I know nothing about it, other than it checks the boxes at your price point and allows for a cushion for the unforeseen.

One word of note. The bookies are a 4 ohm speaker. That pretty much means that they are poser hungry. Getting an integrated with at least 200 watts (recommended) or a high current configuration that is stable down to 4 ohms would be needed.

Tom

Emlyn

If looking for new, and since this is a Polk/Sound United forum:

Speakers: https://www.crutchfield.com/p_107ES15BK/Polk-Audio-Signature-Elite-ES15-Black.html?tp=186 (currently on sale, step up to the ES20 for a bit more)

Integrated amp: https://www.crutchfield.com/p_033PMA600/Denon-PMA-600NE.html?tp=34948

Total: around $750 (before tax)

Look for some Blue Jeans Cable Ten White speaker cables if you need some. Around $100 for an 8 foot pair.

Build with better stuff over time. The Denon integrated has a built in phono stage and DAC. It also has a pre-out for a subwoofer which would be my recommendation for a later purchase. This assumes you already have a turntable and source component or computer for digital music.

PSOVLSK

Where are you located?

If by the ultra slim chance you’re somewhat local to me, I think I could hook you up with a pretty decent system from my closet. I’d be well under budget. The reason I say local is the the AVR’s and speakers wouldn’t be cost effective to ship.

H/K 7200 AVR: this was the TOTL. The good and bad of it is that it’s a beast. Great power for an AVR, but it’s huge.
OR
Sherwood RX-4105 stereo receiver: Surprisingly good, especially for the cost.

Polk R50 speakers. Not great, but they sound better than they should with the H/K.

NAD C-440 tuner: This one is small enough that I could ship if you’re not local. I’d have research pricing, but I’d be fairly cheap

Also have a Monster HTS-3550 power conditioner.

AND, possibly all the cables you’d need to get started

engie490

Some good recommendations above, but shipping is very pricey nowadays, so I’m partial to Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Especially true given your budget. If you let us know your location, then we can see if there’s decent gear within your budget that you can hear before you buy.

rooftop59

96tears wrote: »

My budget would be around $800.00 to $1100.00. I have not had any regular set up in forever so I don't believe I will have any cables etc..

Tree hat is definitely a tight budget, but depending on location and patience, you can put together a very decent system for that coin,

But! We really need to know more, like the size of your room, are you interested in a sub, are you willing to buy used, etc.

halo71

96tears wrote: »

If that is way too low let me know what I need to invest.

Where are you located? I have a few AVR's I am not ever gonna use again. And many different pairs of speakers I need to move.