Recommendations for 2 channel setup
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96tears
Posts: 3
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
I have been using smart speakers for the last few years and would just like to start with a better overall sound system.
Thanks
Comments
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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~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
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..
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If that is way too low let me know what I need to invest.
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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 -
@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
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
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. -
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
Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden -
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.Sonus Faber Liuto / Coda Continuum / Anthem STR Preamplifier / Oppo BDP-105D / Technics SP-15 w/SAEC WE-308SX & Ortofon AS-309 arms / Ikeda 9C2 & Dynavector XX2 Mk II carts
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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.Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
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.--Gary--
Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
