starting a two channel system
dfledezma
Posts: 148
Hi everyone and happy holidays!
As I read in other post, I should keep myself away from this forum!!! hehehe
I just finished the first part of my audio system, I put together a humble system for HT and music, comprised of TSi300 at fronts, TSi100 for rear and a CS10 for center, a velodyne DLS400R, powered by a Denon AVR790, PS3, and a 46 in Panasonic plasma.
I plan to leave this system as it is now, or maybe adding two more speakers for 7.1 setup if I can move this to a bigger room. At the moment is an all purpose setup.
However, I would like to start a two channel system in a more "purist" way just for music and using separates. I'm not sure where to start, so I'm looking for some guidance. I don't have a defined budget now but I have some ideas of what I want. To begin with, I want to keep the cost reasonably low (who doesn't), I'm not planning to get the super high end system.
My first question is about the speakers. I would really want to get a pair of LSi25 or 15's. For what I've read in this forum these are more musical, and the RTia's are more suitable for HT. However these are a bit expensive. Maybe LSi9's. I'd like the 15's or 25's because I don't want to get a sub. What other speakers in this price range or less do you recommend for music?? I mostly listen to all types of rock music, and a bit of classical, jazz and blues.
About the amplifiers, I've learned that emotiva is a good brand offering reasonable price tags. Is the UPA-2 to low for what I want? Or is it better to get the XPA-2. I've also read that outlaw is another good start, am I wrong?
I still don't know to much about preamps yet....
Many thanks in advance, I really appreciate your advice.
As I read in other post, I should keep myself away from this forum!!! hehehe
I just finished the first part of my audio system, I put together a humble system for HT and music, comprised of TSi300 at fronts, TSi100 for rear and a CS10 for center, a velodyne DLS400R, powered by a Denon AVR790, PS3, and a 46 in Panasonic plasma.
I plan to leave this system as it is now, or maybe adding two more speakers for 7.1 setup if I can move this to a bigger room. At the moment is an all purpose setup.
However, I would like to start a two channel system in a more "purist" way just for music and using separates. I'm not sure where to start, so I'm looking for some guidance. I don't have a defined budget now but I have some ideas of what I want. To begin with, I want to keep the cost reasonably low (who doesn't), I'm not planning to get the super high end system.
My first question is about the speakers. I would really want to get a pair of LSi25 or 15's. For what I've read in this forum these are more musical, and the RTia's are more suitable for HT. However these are a bit expensive. Maybe LSi9's. I'd like the 15's or 25's because I don't want to get a sub. What other speakers in this price range or less do you recommend for music?? I mostly listen to all types of rock music, and a bit of classical, jazz and blues.
About the amplifiers, I've learned that emotiva is a good brand offering reasonable price tags. Is the UPA-2 to low for what I want? Or is it better to get the XPA-2. I've also read that outlaw is another good start, am I wrong?
I still don't know to much about preamps yet....
Many thanks in advance, I really appreciate your advice.
Post edited by dfledezma on
Comments
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You'd be making a good choice if you go with the LSi's. I just picked up a pair and actually had a chance to grab LSi9's (used at a hi-fi shop) for as much as 7's (new) but went with the 7's because I've read several threads about a mid-bass hump in the 9's and the fact that the 7's sounded a bit more balanced. Got them up on some nice stands and they sit perfectly at ear-level, paired with a micropro I'm in 2-channel heaven
Truck setup
Alpine 9856
Phoenix Gold RSD65CS
For Sale
Polk SR6500
Polk SR5250
Polk SR104Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec. -
so, correct me if I'm wrong. An integrated amplifier contains both pre and power amp? I didn't know about that but sounds like a good idea. I still have much to learn in this world.
BTW when I did my postgrad in UK, I remember they used a lot of Cambridge audio equipment. Well it was the sound and vibration research institute, so I suppose they're good. What do you think of Cambridge audio? -
There are probably a fair number of reasonably priced, high quality integrated amps from various manufacturers.
If you like the Paradigms, might want to check their website for local dealers and see what type of package deal they can offer you.
Decide upon an approximate budget for speakers and integrated (don't know if you are also looking for a cd player or dac), take some cds of music that you actually like to listen to, go see what they say and recommend, and listen with your music trying to approximate how you would use system at home.
Good luck. -
You'd want a sub with the Atoms...I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
Here is my suggestion for a nice starter system:
NAD Integrated amp
NAD CD Player
Polk Audio Vintage Monitors of your choice (maybe Monitor 7's or SDA-CRS+)
SignalCable speaker wires and RCA interconnects
Then you could upgrade in the future. Peace. -
LSi's are a good choice for your new system, but you will need a good amp to drive them. Some people in this forum will tell you that you need gobs of power to run them, but I have found that this is not necessarily the case all the time. I have had my LSi9's for about 3 years, and powered them from a variety of equipment (I do have some disposable income for this hobby). You just need a quality amp to do them justice. I have run them just fine with my Outlaw RR2150 & a HK 3480. Right now I am using an Emotiva USP-1 preamp and UPA-2 amp, and it all sounds great. I was very pleasantly surprised by the Emotiva equipment. I took the covers off of them to check things out. Build quality appears to be quite good, with thoughtful layouts and good quality components. Very respectable stuff, especially at the prices they fetch. Pretty hard to beat at those prices.
I will be replacing the USP-1, but not because I am dissatisfied with it. I just really like the Parasound 2100, and want to give it a run. I'm going to pair it up with an Emotiva XPA-2 and see how that works. Hopefully the Parasound/Emotiva combo will work well together & I won't need to buy the much more expensive Parasound amp.
My next upgrade after that will be to replace the LSi9's with the LSi15's to see if I can lose the subwoofer.
Hope some of this helps, and good luck with your new system.2 Channel rig:
LSi9"s (modified xover's) & HSU Sub
Harman Kardon HK 990 Amp
Onkyo C-S5VL SACD
Music Hall MMF 5.1
Furman Elite 15
HT rig:
HK AVR-745 & Polk Monitor Series -
Thanks to all for the advices. I'm still new in the audio world.
I'm very tempted to get he Emo UPA-2, after reading from Audiofilet who uses it, indeed the price is more than reasonable. I'd like to get the USP-1 as well. Still considering the nad's too, I have some time to decide as I need to save up a little money first...
I have another question. Can I use the zone 2 preouts from my denon AVR790 to drive the UPA-2? I'm asking this because I want to get the amp and speakers first. Then save a bit for the preamp which is a bit more expensive.
Do you think the RTia series is good for music? I really like the LSi's but apparently there are good deals for the RTIa's. Anyway, I could wait to save more money for a pair of lsi's, just want to know what do you think. Of course I would like to get my hands on some vintage polks..I will be replacing the USP-1, but not because I am dissatisfied with it. I just really like the Parasound 2100, and want to give it a run. I'm going to pair it up with an Emotiva XPA-2 and see how that works. Hopefully the Parasound/Emotiva combo will work well together & I won't need to buy the much more expensive Parasound amp.
Do you have any plans for your USP-1. I travel more or less often to San Antonio, just in case you want to sell some of your equipment. -
I would not pair RTiA's with EMO gear for music, I would consider a NAD or Marantz amp/integrated or different speakers."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Conradicles wrote: »Here is my suggestion for a nice starter system:
NAD Integrated amp
NAD CD Player
Polk Audio Vintage Monitors of your choice (maybe Monitor 7's or SDA-CRS+)
SignalCable speaker wires and RCA interconnects
Then you could upgrade in the future. Peace.
+1, I did a fair amount of research before I bought my first 2 channel setup, and talked with a friend of mine, who has a very high-end 2 channel LP setup. He steered me right to NAD stuff (that's where he started too) and after auditioning it I was sold. Musicality and dynamic range are top notch in the price range, and they are built like tanks. They can be had for cheap if you shop around, and the quality is far beyond any mass-market stuff and excellent for the price. As you can see in my sig, all my components are NAD. I have yet to hear an integrated solid state amp that sounds as musical as mine in its price range (or even a bit higher than its price) and I only paid $240 new for it.
NAD makes great entry level integrated amps and CDP; shop around and you wont be disappointed! I also listened to Rotel, Marantz and a few others but none compared to NAD for musicality imo. My NAD integrated will be the last thing I upgrade in my setup.
As far as speakers go, the options are so far and wide a debate on the best could go all day. As cliche as it sounds, you really would just have to listen for yourself! Were you thinking bookshelves or towers? Check CL for speakers, you will be amazed at some of the things I've found there, people not knowing the value of what they're selling.- Jeremy
Amps: Jolida FX-10, NAD 3045, NAD C320BEE, Sansui G-9700
Speakers: Polk Monitor 7A's, KEF Reference 104aB
Sources: ProJect Debut Carbon, Sonos streaming FLAC -
I am glad to see someone else on this forum also likes NAD. I have found their cost/value relationship to be very good. Yea, There is better, but you have to spend many times more to get it. Personally, I cant afford $5000 monoblocks. If you dont really like the integrated amp idea and want seperates. Think of some of the older NAD. Such as a 1600 pre and a 2600 main amp. Easily picked up on Ebay for around $500 for both.Dave
In love with SDA since 1984
2CH: SDA SRS (new caps) with NAD 541I, NAD 917 and modded Phase 400 (soon to be NAD 208)
HT: SDA 1C (new caps, SL2500s, bass mod) with NAD T763 and Monitor 4 as surround
Other vintage stuff, Sansui G9000, Pioneer 1980 -
I would not pair RTiA's with EMO gear for music, I would consider a NAD or Marantz amp/integrated or different speakers.
Mmmmm...... forward in your face speakers paired with forward in your face gear.I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
I really like the idea of an integrated amp, is just that they have moderate power ratings, and whilst they surely be enough for what I want, I would like to have some headroom if for example I get a more power hungry speakers..
Anyway, I'm researching more about NAD and seems like a good option, still have much time to think.
What I will need for sure at some point is a DAC since I listen to CD's and my macbook pro using the optical out. Any suggestion on these? -
There's nothing wrong with using the RT line for music. I like my RT1000's for 2ch just as much as my LSi9.
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Personally when I had the LSi15's and LSi7's and LSi9's and compared the three I found the LSi7 with a good quality high powered amp the most enjoyable for 2 channel listening. The amplifier I used was a 350wpc Soundcraftsmen amp but there are many high powered choices out there. Of course a decent source is a requirement for any good 2 channel setup. In case you are worrying about high power any of the LSi's mate well with clean ultra high power. The danger comes in when the power is too low which in my estimate is below 200wpc where you could possibly clip the signal and cause damage trying to make louder. Sorry, more info than you asked for.
madmaxVinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... -
There's nothing wrong with using the RT line for music. I like my RT1000's for 2ch just as much as my LSi9.
Those are a bit different from the modern RTiA series.
I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
I would not pair RTiA's with EMO gear for music, I would consider a NAD or Marantz amp/integrated or different speakers.
Ok, I know that emotiva discussions could be dangerous, and I don´t want to start a storm, and forgive me because I´m still a newbie. But what exactly do you mean? that RtIa´s are to good for emotiva? or the opposite?? Or just that the combination would not be good for music but for HT, for example?
At the moment I´m very tempted to get a pair of RTi A9 or polk direct, the price is very good. What amplifier do you recommend? I want to stay at about 500 USD new if possible. The only way I would buy used is from someone with good reputation.
please don´t shoot me if this budget is to small for a decent amp, I might upgrade it later. -
I'm not bashing either. They're both known to be forward, so depending on the rest of your associated gear, they may not be a good match for two channel listening. That's all. "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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If you are going to go with the LSi's I would go with a used Sunfire or Adcom. There are a lot of used amps that will power them well. IMO the more power the better. You might even want to think about a 5 channel amp and bi amp them. Just a thought.Sunfire TGP, Sunfire Cinema Grand, Sunfire 300~2 (2), Sunfire True Sub (2),Carver ALS Platinum, Carver AL III, TFM-55, C-19, C-9, TX-8, SDA-490t, SDA-390t
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I would not pair RTiA's with EMO gear for music, I would consider a NAD or Marantz amp/integrated or different speakers.
Why is this? would like to hear specifics as im running rti12s and am 2-3 weeks from purchasing emo gear,prob a xpa-2......fronts=rti12s(cherry)
center=csi3(cherry)
sub=psw125(cherry)
emotiva xpa-2
harmon kardon 354
sony cdp
ipod 8gb
audioquest diamondback 1m
"Maesto" straightwire cables
pangea ac-9
playstation3/120gb=blu-ray/media server
monitor=lg 55inch lcd(1080p)
TT Set-up=Pro-Ject RM 1.3
Kenwood Phono
bren1 Clamp
Herbies Slipmat
"It doesnt mean that much to me,to mean that much to you" -
Why is this? would like to hear specifics as im running rti12s and am 2-3 weeks from purchasing emo gear,prob a xpa-2......
That's a little different. The RTiA series are pretty bright and forward. Pair bright and forward speakers with very bright and very forward gear, and you end up with ear-splitting very fatiguing sound. At least to my personal ears. YMMV.I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
delete
Polk RTi A9, Polk CSi A6
Paradigm Sub, Side, Rears
Emotiva XPA-2, Pioneer Elite VSX-01TXH A/V 7.1
LG BD390C BR, LG 60PG60 Plasma
Hotaudio DAC Extacy
XPA-2/RTiA9 in Action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rtxxb2RIws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgWk-fCAooo
--vintage--
Sansui G-7500 Pure Power DC receiver
Sansui SP-X8000 4way/6driver speaker
Sansui SR-535 Turntable
Cerwin Vega AT-12 < Bud Beer -
thanks again for your advice.
Another question came to my mind.
I was thinking in getting a more powerful amp, or maybe two monoblocks, since I read that Emotiva is launching a UPA-1 model, and get a pair of TSi500 instead of the Rti A9.
What do you think is better for a start? To have better speakers or a better amp. I mean, I now I can upgrade later, though I don´t think I´ll upgrade in a year or so.
The LSi´s are a bit out of my budget, I´d need the 15´s or 25´s because I don´t want to add a sub. -
Better speakers without a doubt.
