A $1000 setup help

khanhhuynh4u
khanhhuynh4u Posts: 40
edited April 2005 in 2 Channel Audio
hey guys i got a thousand buck to spend on a new 2 channel setup just for music so i need opinions

what im liking so far

NAD C720BEE
EPOS ELS-3 or PSB B25
no CD player yet
monster cable xps

i hope the NAD wont break as fast as the onkyo 8211....and the EPOS will be more musical than the RTi4
Post edited by khanhhuynh4u on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited April 2005
    For more options, see this thread...
    http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27097

    Oh yeah, ditch the monster cables.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited April 2005
    I second the Monster ditching!
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited April 2005
    I'm breaking in my EPOS ELS-3 as I type this. Amazing little speakers. If you are going to use them as your main system, you might consider a sub-woofer. I think the bottom end is around 65 hz, so they don't dig very deep. Put on something like Natalie Merchant or Gordon Lightfoot and the vocals are fantastic. I'm planning to use them for my bedroom system. I also have the RTi4's, and I would rate the RTi4's better for HT. The ELS-3's are very much more musical, unless rap or heavy metal is your thing, then the 4's would be a better choice.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • khanhhuynh4u
    khanhhuynh4u Posts: 40
    edited April 2005
    i think im just using two speakers, no sub or anything because i dont like that much bass anyways. Im just looking for fantastic clear music, im all about good vocals and crisp sounds...

    is there a rule like you should spend twice as much for the speakers as the receiver? or vise versa?

    also what cables should i be looking at? as you know my budget is $1000 so i think anything more than $100 is too much i think and i only need about 10 or 15 foot.

    im going to put this in my room which is where i spend most of my time when im home..my room is about 12x15 so its pretty small, which i think the Epos would do me well...i did try the polk RTi4 but didnt really like it as much

    but thanks for your help so far guys
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited April 2005
    The ELS-3's might be a good choice under those parameters. For speaker cables I would suggest one of the options from Signal Cable (www.signalcable.com) or on the really cheap side, I am using Canare Star-quad cable from Blue Jeans Cable (www.bluejeanscable.com). I would go to AudioAdvisor (www.audioadvisor.com) and look at the Cambridge Audio integrated amps and CD players to drive the ELS-3's. That would make a nice system. I am currently using a Marantz 2270 receiver to drive my ELS-3's, which gives them a pretty warm, tube-like sound.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • khanhhuynh4u
    khanhhuynh4u Posts: 40
    edited April 2005
    thanks for the help dkg999 ill look into those things you mentions...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • khanhhuynh4u
    khanhhuynh4u Posts: 40
    edited April 2005
    can someone give me some quick facts on how a expensive cd player are better than the regular $100 kinds? like so much better sounding and is it worth it?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,821
    edited April 2005
    Find an AMC CD8B and don't look back...

    It sells for 100-150 on agon and the bay
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited April 2005
    Originally posted by khanhhuynh4u
    can someone give me some quick facts on how a expensive cd player are better than the regular $100 kinds? like so much better sounding and is it worth it?
    Higher quality DAC's, electronic components, transport, build, etc... To be sure there are diminishing returns beyond a certain price, but that price is not $100.

    And there is always one CDP or another out there that perform way beyond other similarly priced models...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited April 2005
    For that amount of money:

    I'd find the biggest SDA's I could bag for $500.00.

    I'd find the best used integrated amp that I could find that pushed roughly 100w for $350.00.

    I'd find the best new CD player that's offered for $150.00

    I'd use freebee interconnects and lamp cord for wire.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • khanhhuynh4u
    khanhhuynh4u Posts: 40
    edited April 2005
    how good are these SDA speaker? i never try it but i looks pretty big...how are they compared to these new speakers? such as epos or LSi7 and others?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • khanhhuynh4u
    khanhhuynh4u Posts: 40
    edited April 2005
    sorry for this last stupid question but whats the differents between an intergrated amp, powered amp, and stereo receiver?

    I know receiver has everything in it but it sound worst than a intergrated right? so intergrated will sound better but with no fm tuner and stuff right?

    aight thanks for all the help guys im also done with picking everything
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter