garmachi.com

meit · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 922 Location: Virginia Beach

Look here and here. That's probably as cheap as you're going to get a recommendation of here. Even then, I highly recommend the upgrade to the Cinema 90, unless you have a very small room with one seat in it. The dipole speakers make a huge difference in how wide the surround channels sound, especially if you're sitting off-center.

Indy · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:15 pm Post subject:

Meit:

2 Paradigm Studio 60 v.4 main speakers
1 Paradigm CC 590 v.4 center channel
2 Studio ADP-470 v.3 Surround Speakers

1 Acurus a125x5 5 channel amp (125 wpc @ 8 ohms, 175 wpc @ 4, Class A)
1 Oppo Digital BDP-83SE Blu Ray player (Stereo: ESS Technology ES9016 4 DACs per channel, Theatre: ESS Technology ES9006)

G$:

Vanch and Meit are exactly right. I would add that you can get enormous bang for your buck if you are willing to purchase used equipment. Vanch is not (understandably so as he has far less working equipment than non-functioning equipment), I am willing to, so my system is comprised of all used equipment. If I bought all of the pieces of my system new, I would have spent roughly $8000. Instead, I spent $3600. But, my equipment could die tomorrow. I bought smart which can hedge your bets, but there is no sure thing.

I think Vanch would agree with Meit's speaker recommendation as do I. I would not recommend a 7.1 channel system as much of the mixing on media today stretches to utilize 5.1 to the fullest extent (even some of the blu-ray releases). The system Meit recommends is a great place to start.

If you are interested in used equipment, I recommend audiogon.com exclusively. In the last two months, I have seen a used, top of the line Onkyo reciever that would have been a great pairing for those speakers. If you bought all used, you would have spent about $1100 (plus a blu ray player) and would be very close to your goal without going to any extremes.

I warn you to be careful! This hobby is addictive if you like music. Like most hobbys, this one is no exception to the "sky is the limit" rule on budgeting. Case in point, just this week I saw that I can have my brand new Blu-Ray player sent away to be hot-rodded for and additional $2200. I also recently saw a new, high end cd player (just CD, nothing fancy) that sold for $28,000. It is not unheard of for a classical music Audiophile to spend $100,000 on just the front two speakers (though I won't be one of them). Throughout my recent goings-on, a friend of mine caught the bug and is now hooked. In fact, he just bought an Onkyo reciever like the one Meit recommends just before being bitten by the bug. I think he's regretting it now. So if you are interested... =)

Vanch:

Good framing on budget.
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Pioneer broke my heart.
Denon broke my wallet.
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Garmachi · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:24 am Post subject:

I suppose you could say that I caught the bug, and then got over it about twelve years ago. I used to hang out at a high end audio shop run by a one-armed man, where I fell in love with a certain tube amp and a set of Snells. Looking back, I'm glad I didn't get these things, as I spent the next decade living in Marine barracks and/or small apartments. Now that I'm in a house, the idea is attractive to me again, but my priorities have shifted.

I'd still like to have a set of high end speakers, but I look at it like this: I don't spend enough time at home watching movies to justify the purchase from that perspective. Plus (and here's the biggie) 100% of my music collection consists of MP3s. Playing them on true audiophile equipment would be like putting cheap tires on a Ferrari. Without consciously deciding to do so, my tastes have gravitated toward convenience and portability. This might explain why I keep buying backpacks, compasses and walking sticks, while I've needed a new couch for several years.

I still appreciate fine audio equipment. It gives me a thrill to hear it. But, like fine paintings and sculptures, I don't feel the need to acquire them. Yet.
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sledge · Minister of Silly Walks Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 1744

Indy · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:07 pm Post subject:

Regarding mp3s, that's pretty good insight. You are exactly right. A system such as the one we speak of would actually make listening more annoying as it would reveal all of the shortcomings of a lossy format.

On a related note, I happen to have accumulated $65 of unused iTunes gift cards around Christmas. Would you be interested in buying them from me (or do you know someone who would)?
_________________
Pioneer broke my heart.
Denon broke my wallet.
Oppo broke my thinking.
- EWL5 (Power Member on forum.blu-ray.com)

Garmachi · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject:

That and my uncarpeted hardwood floors, paneled walls, and other general acoustic badness...
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My pants don't smell like sunshine anymore.

meit · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 922 Location: Virginia Beach

Indy · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:35 pm Post subject:

Na, I doubt it. I'm getting the iPad too. If I thought so, I'd use them myself. Most app store apps cost $1.
_________________
Pioneer broke my heart.
Denon broke my wallet.
Oppo broke my thinking.
- EWL5 (Power Member on forum.blu-ray.com)

meit · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 922 Location: Virginia Beach

http://gizmodo.com/5503249/the-ipad-app-price-pump
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Indy · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:07 pm Post subject:

OK so, according to the graph in your article iPad apps should cost somewhere around $2.25. I love graphs, you can make them say anything you want them to.
_________________
Pioneer broke my heart.
Denon broke my wallet.
Oppo broke my thinking.
- EWL5 (Power Member on forum.blu-ray.com)

sledge · Minister of Silly Walks Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 1744

Boogieman · Site Admin Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 1479

Garmachi · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:58 am Post subject:

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My pants don't smell like sunshine anymore.

sledge · Minister of Silly Walks Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 1744

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meit · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 922 Location: Virginia Beach

I'm not sure how often Big-J and Indy check this site, but I'm kinda curious about whether either of them are still playing STO. I just saw that they are already giving old players a chance to return to the game for free for a weekend.
Also, I've been considering what I need to do as far as a sound system for my computer. Before, I had it hooked up to my aforementioned receiver/speakers combo. Since I moved, I just have the sound running through my TV Speakers. I don't really want to get myself invested in another custom home theater build, but the HTIB systems pretty much all suck. The alternative is to get a dedicated set of 5.1 PC speakers, which Logitech seems to be the only company involved in anymore. They sell a $100 set, which is easy to find anywhere, and a $400 set, which my college roommate had and appeals to me much more, but only seems to be available via the internet. That set includes digital input, which my sound card supports, but only if I give up on having a microphone and surround sound gaming, because Creative sucks. I guess I could switch to my onboard sound, which would then be carried over my video card's HDMI port.
This post wound up being far longer than I intended it to be when I started writing it.
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Currently reading: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies