Audio[phile] Discussion

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by bousozoku
It's great to see people talking about using sense when buying audio equipment rather than buying the most expensive.

The one thing that I think requires more money would be a turntable, although most people don't want those things anymore. Most of those I've seen lately look like works of art.

I would love to have a decent turntable but find they are just to pricey at the moment. I love the fullness of the sound they provide. I haven't heard SACD or DVD Audio and I hope that that richness returns with those formats. CDs are so thin and tinny.

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Bose is overpriced

I have to agree with you guys about the Bose AM series.

My main "home theater" room is terrible for accustics - the TV is in a corner and there's no back wall to speak of (open floorplan kitchen/dining area type house) and the ceiling is vaulted going all the way up to an open loft area. I call it the bass sucker. I didn't want to spend too much for that room so I've ended up with a Sony 110x5 receiver (STR-DE945 I think - not sure about the "4" in that number) and then I started looking at speakers.

My wife was spoiled for the small, out of site sat/sub types ever since I brought home a set of Cambridge Soundworks Ensembles II's.

I had purchased them a while ago as an open box special for 50% off at Best Buy right before they stopped selling CS - They're not perfect, but they beat the hell out of any of the comperable Bose sat/sub setups for 1/2 the price (before the 50% discount) in my opinion.

The day I bought the E II's I had listened to them and the current top-o-the-line Acustimass set and it was like night and day. (Albiet the Best Buy sound room is far from a perfect venue, but then again, neither is my house) The Bose not only seemed far less effecient (lower volumes at same power) but, like someone else here said, they had no distinct high or low end, not at least compared to the other speakers their. (Not just the Cambridge ones either)

That sealed it against the Bose for me. I couldn't believe how much money they wanted for them! So, after pricing and listening a few other brands, I decided to just keep the E II's and, to keep everything balanced, went with a complete Camb' Soundworks set:

• Ensemble II Sat's/Woofer
• Center Channel II
• and a pair of The Surround 5.1's

Later, my brother-in-law bought one of the first editions of the Bose Lifestyle systems. The tiny cube speakers and all in one design is nice and (at least in his house) the base is pretty good, but it seemed to distort the mid-low's a lot.

FWIW, a couple of years later, I got a powered sub - it was like aI had a whole new system! To get wife approval it had to either be small or hidden behind something - I brought home a few different ones and settled on a Sunfire True Subwoofer Jr. Man, I cannot believe how powerfull it is and how low that little sucker goes!

If we ever move I'll probably relegate this system to a master bedroom setup and go all out for a real HT, but that'll be years from now. (I'll probably go with a Sunfire Signature True Sub as I almost drooled on one when I felt it putting out 10Hz at 2000+ watts!)

 

[Gidman]

Stereo Setup

I just recently went throught the arduos task of setting up a stereo system from scratch. I think I spent a really reasonabled amount of money and got great value. Here it is, for what its worth:

Harman Kardon 3470 Reciever (100 Watts X Channel refurb from HK Online for $200.00)
Yamahha 5 Disc CD Changer (150 from Best Buy)
Closeout deal on some Boston Acoustics CR-9's from 2002 (The biggest "bookshelves" I have ever seen. They are lilke a foot tall and have awesome bass response and very live acouustics. When you play Dave Matthews crash on them it sounds as if Dave in the freakin room) $250.00
A run of 14 gauge bulk blue cable from the high end stereo retailer (.39/foot).

I love this setup and it cost a minimal amount of money (in comparison to my PB)

Its all a matter of what you are happiest with, i think.

Gid

 

[petercw2]

another option

For those that want to shoot for the small speaker setup, but are turned off by the Bose systems, I have an alternative for you.

Gallo Accoustics Micros.

www.roundsound.com

These are a true audiophile quality speaker with world class audio reproduction abilities. Yes, they are more expensive than Bose or other systems, but they are a speaker that an audiophile can be very happy with.

I have them in a five speaker (+ sub) set up for my home theater. In both two channel stereo or full surround Gallos will kill you will an amazing soundstage with depth, width and detail.

They are a very stylish speaker, come in all kinds of colors, can sit on a shelf or on stands, appear in movies and TV all the time and are a great compromise between size and sound.

Fully recommended.

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Re: Stereo Setup

Originally posted by Gidman
Its all a matter of what you are happiest with, i think.

Gid

Yep.

One of the nice things with the higher end shops, at least with speakers, is that they generally will let you take the floor model home to test it out in your listening room with no hassles. (A credit card deposit or authorization is needed, of course)
I'm so glad I did so with that subwoofer - it completely takes the guesswork out of such a (somewhat) high-dollar transaction.

 

[MacBandit]

Re: Bose is overpriced

Originally posted by eric_n_dfw
FWIW, a couple of years later, I got a powered sub - it was like aI had a whole new system! To get wife approval it had to either be small or hidden behind something - I brought home a few different ones and settled on a Sunfire True Subwoofer Jr. Man, I cannot believe how powerfull it is and how low that little sucker goes!

If we ever move I'll probably relegate this system to a master bedroom setup and go all out for a real HT, but that'll be years from now. (I'll probably go with a Sunfire Signature True Sub as I almost drooled on one when I felt it putting out 10Hz at 2000+ watts!)

Nice sub. I looked at those a while back but due to the fact no one carries them in my town I didn't get one. I do envie you but I can't say that I am dissapointed in my sub. I got a JBL 12" PRO. The thing thumps hard. We were watching the new Harry Potter movie the other night with the kids and the volume was fairly low but there was this one scene where the base started at a low volume and then slowly built up never reaching what I know the sub is capable of. What started to happen was incredible the frequency had to be just right at first the front door of the house started shaking and vibrating and then slowly everything else in the room started rattling and shaking including books on the shelves. It was like a damn earthquake (I've been through a few I know what there like). This all lasted for about a minute and a half and we were all just looking at eachother like damn that's incredible.

I have to say one thing you have a really nice sub but I don't think it accoustically matches the rest of your speakers all that well. With that said you can never have too much sub when it comes to a home theater. Well at least until the foundation cracks.