Those are some good suggestions too. Personally I favor new DACs because USB DAC technology continues to develop rapidly along with decoding of higher sampling rates available at lower prices.
$800 to spend on speakers, $1500 on whole system
I am new to community and am seeking advice on my first good sound system. I am looking to spend $500-800 on a used set of two speakers for my living room, which is not very large. I cannot decide between bookshelf speakers or a floor speaker. I will be listening mostly to digital music, and I could use recommendations on a DAC and receiver. I would like the receiver to be bluetooth if high quality receivers come with this feature, but that's not a deal breaker for me.
My Ideal system would have two speakers at $500-800 and with receiver, DAC, cables, and anything else I would need totaling around $1200, but $1500 maximum. I figured I would start with speakers and go from there.
I like to listen to most music, except rap. Heavy metal, funk, jazz. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks
My Ideal system would have two speakers at $500-800 and with receiver, DAC, cables, and anything else I would need totaling around $1200, but $1500 maximum. I figured I would start with speakers and go from there.
I like to listen to most music, except rap. Heavy metal, funk, jazz. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks
Showing 4 responses by johnnyb53
There are a couple of overachieving floorstanding speakers that have hit the market recently, which could leave you more money for the amp, DAC (or amp/DAC) and cabling. The two speakers are the new Elac Debut F5, available for $560/pair (also available at Amazon) and the Infinity Primus P363, currently available for $300/pair. The Elac Debut F5 review here. Infinity Primus P363 review here. You'd have $940 to $1200 left over for electronics and cabling. This would translate into better D/A conversion, more musical electronics, dynamic range, and more complete signal transfer. There are several integrated amps these days with a built-in DAC. I nominate the Peachtree Nova 65SE. Peachtree has been making DAC-based integrated amps longer than just about anybody. I have heard their products and they are clean, fast, and musical. The Nova puts out 65 wpc into 8 ohms and 95 watts into 4 ohms. The unit weighs over 20 lbs., indicating a heftier power supply which generally translates into a fuller, more robust sound. List price is $999, but Amazon currently has it for $799. The integrated DAC/amp also saves you cabling money. You can get a Belkin Gold USB cable, which is a value leader at a very low price, and then treat yourself to some nicer speaker cables, making sure more of that upstream goodness makes its way to the speakers. |
While most of us can put together a really satisfying system with a budget price to performance ratio, a beginner seldom does this on his first try. For that reason, an integrated USB-capable DAC/integrated amp is a good start. It eliminates cables between the DAC and line stage, and between the line stage and the power stage. There is also less clutter and more integrated operation. And this is at no sacrifice (and possible gain) in sound considering the budget. The OP seems to lean toward small floorstanders, and I think that’s a good idea. Floorstanders don’t need stands, which add substantially to the cost at this budget. Floorstanders are also more efficient, fill a space more easily, have more dynamic range, and bass extension This is the OP’s first stab at a quality audio system. I think getting new equipment with a warranty and return period is preferable to a distance purchase of used equipment of unknown age and condition. Sure, many of us know how to put together a used or pawnshop system for a low price, but most of us learned by doing. My first stereo was a new store-bought Altec-Lansing compact, with a receiver and turntable in a single enclosure and a pair of matching speakers. I got a lot of enjoyment out of that system, but within 3-4 years I’d moved up to a Tandberg reel-to-reel with excellent phono stage, SAE line stage and amp, direct drive turntable with top-line Grado cartridge, and time-aligned floorstanding speakers. I got 11 years of good times out of that second system. |
There are a couple of excellent stand-mount speakers that are a stretch on your budget ($798/pair for one model, $998 for the other), which sound like (I've heard 'em) small floorstanders. During demonstrations listeners start looking around for a subwoofer. They're the GoldenEar Aon 2 and Aon 3. They use a folded ribbon tweeter for very smooth and extended treble, excellent quality mid/woofers (with cast baskets and phase plugs for more even distribution throughout the room), passive radiators that extend the bass and dynamics, and non-parallel sides to reduce cabinet resonances. They are very easy to listen to on a wide variety of music, would mate well with your PeachTree, and fill your listening space without straining. Best of all, they're well-distributed. If you can get to a Best Buy/Magnolia, you can probably audition them live. I'm not sure who all their authorized dealers are, but here's their Dealer Locator. Comprehensive Stereophile review of the Aon 2 here. Let's not forget, however, that the Andrew Jones-designed Elac Debut F5 Floorstanders are available within your original budget. OTOH, either Aon will give you 4-5 dB more loudness for the same power input according to both mfrs' stated specs. |