Getting an AV123 Mini-Stratas system for a friend.

[spacemanspliff]

My older friend needs a complete system capable of 15hz-15khz.

We need 2 Mains capable of say 25hz-15khz or a 2.1 setup that mates well.

Need something to input digital sources to output into the amps.

Needs to be d'uh simple. Volume and channel, source select only really lol.

Room size is medium 16x12x12 w/ open adjoining kitchen and about 12' ceiling.

Seating will be pretty damn close lol. He wants to sit as close as possible to the 54" Sony Bravia. 6' at most, more like 3'. I know, I know but....

[spacemanspliff]

Oh and hybrid speakers? Electrostat w/ sub? Or am I off? Something like the AV123 Strata Mini.

[spacemanspliff]

nobody?

[Ooztuncer]

well, I am in a similar situation (financially) but will audition my shortlist first. I recommend you/your friend doing the same.

Here are some speakers around $1500 (used) that I am seriously thinking:

totem hawk or forest
dali ikon 6
monitor audio RS8

and anthony gallo 3.1 (around $2.2k)

please update this thread as I am curious about your thought/experience process...

[spacemanspliff]

Today I spent several hazey hours with my friend. The idea is to be able to accurately reproduce a symphony such as Beethoven's 9th cohesively. Pretty tough to do. His room SUCKS. Reflections out of the ying yang and his view is amazing but is also a solid wall of windows. Problem is that you can't put drapes over them. The view is spectacular. His budget is really $3-4K but so far I have built an almost a complete system so far for $3644.

I think that we have now agreed to

Av123 Strata Mini ( he is EXTEMELY demanding of the mains, I selected what I think to be the best in class for $2K)

AV123.com - Strata Mini Loudspeaker

Emotiva XPA-5

Emotiva Audio XPA-5 5 Channel Audio Power Amplifier

X-LS monitor and center (he does not want to spend the $$ for the strata for surrounds, 5.1 is to be rarely used.)

Surround Processor to be determined still but I think that there are a few on audiogon which will serve fine and be less than $400. Also, considering trying my vista laptop and soon to receive a trends audio usb to coax, optical, balanced converter lol.

Anyway, it will sound groovy enpugh. What he wants takes another house to start lol.

[spacemanspliff]

He also has a pair of Hafler(real ones) mono-blocks that do 300 watt per. They need to be recabled imo b/c they have a really thin, two pronged power cord. I would like at least a grounded, magnet clamped copper thick bastard. He is a master electrician/aerospace engineer/commercial airline pilot and trainer but retired b/c his hands shake now. Too much good living lol.

The haflers used to power some sweet Kef towers that his dumbass ex-friend let get rained on for 3 months!!! *******! the haflers survived the same treatment lol. tough bastards.

[thread]

I've been loving the Strata Minis for nearly 6 months now. I had an Onix SP3 tube amp, but decided I liked the crispy sound of the SS Emotiva RPA-1 better. So the current rig looks like this:

Stello DA100 -> RudiStor RPX-33 -> Emotiva RPA-1 -> Minis

These speakers sound great even with the woofers turned off. I'm about to move into a house where I can really stretch these floorstanders out, though... That is going to be nice.

And OP, I think you've made a good choice with these speakers. They are very accurate sounding and should do very well with classical. But yeah, your friend might need to work on room treatments a bit.

[spacemanspliff]

Cool with the Emotiva! I would rather he got an RPA too but he wants what he wants...Glad they do well with classical. Beethoven's 9th is especially dear to him.

[thread]

That XPA-5 is very interesting, though... Will it not perform to the same level as the RPA-1?

I'm probably going to be adding some rears and a center to make my Stratas part of a 5.1 setup. I don't want to downgrade my 2-channel setup, though... Is XPA-5 a downgrade in terms of 2-channel? Would I be better off getting a separate, 3-channel amp?

I hope we're not minding the slight thread hijacking here... I'm going to need to start asking these questions, though.

[spacemanspliff]

Hey how are these wired anyway? Plug in the subs to the wall and send rcas to that and power the mids and highs with 1 or 2 channels from the amp?

no worries about threadjacking lol. emotiva discussion is welcome.