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Don't know where to put this, here goes.

post #1 of 37
4/30/06 at 7:44pm
Thread Starter 
As I said, I don't know where I should put this, so mods please feel free to move it if it's in the wrong section. I am going to buy my parents a new stereo for their anniversary, because their current one really sucks and it's falling apart. It's just going to be a normal stereo, no surround sound or subwoofer or anything like that, just a normal 2.0 stereo.

Anyway, I need suggestions on what speakers to get, what receiver and what CD player. Now this isn't going to be a really high end $10k stereo or anything, keep that in mind. I can spend $3-400 on the speakers, up to $500 on the receiver, and I don't know how much a decent CD player goes for, so just give me some recommendations there. Nothing to outrageous. Thanks. I don't know much about speakers, so I will need help here!
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post #2 of 37
4/30/06 at 8:39pm
See this thread for good speaker recomendations:

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=176363

See post #25 for a good amp/speaker combo.
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post #3 of 37
4/30/06 at 9:27pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I'll check that thread out, but I forgot to mention, I don't want an external amp. I want speakers that can be wall mounted. And what about a receiver and a CD player? I really am brain-dead when it comes to home stereos. I really just want to make sure I get something better than bose, and please don't say something like "well thats easy, just get any other brand". Thats not what I want to hear, I really no nothing about this, and I need actual suggestions. Please keep my mentioned prices in mind.
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post #4 of 37
4/30/06 at 10:57pm
At that price, I can tell you I am really enjoying my Paradigm monitor minis. Great response overall and not too big, not too small.
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post #5 of 37
5/1/06 at 3:17am
The Denon DRA-295 is an amplifier which will work for general applications in the home. It is inexpensive, simple to operate, and the remote is easy to understand. This amplifier doesn't have megatons of power, but most people wouldn't use 50% of it anyway. It does not have many features, but, as you said, this is for a simple, 2.0 listening system. It truly is "just a normal, 2.0 stereo".
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post #6 of 37
5/1/06 at 9:21am
Thread Starter 
Hmm, that looks good, just one thing, I can get it for $200. This is not a problem, but as I said, I can spend up to $400 on the receiver, so is there anything better in that pricerange I could get?
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post #7 of 37
5/1/06 at 9:37pm
If you are set on getting a 2.0 receiver, there is also the DRA-395.

Most receivers in your price range are more expensive not so much because they are better, but because they have "surround sound" decoders. I have discovered that simple, 2.0 receivers are hard to find.
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post #8 of 37
5/1/06 at 9:48pm
Does it have to be a reciever? or can it be an integrated amp? I.E. do you need a tuner or no?

There's a ton of options for integrated amps at that price point, not so much with receivers.

I have a Pioneer Elite A35R that sounds pretty good to these ears and can be had for $150. I'd spend around that price and put the money saved on the receiver towards speakers.

If you can find some Monitor RS-6's used I would say go for those, an incredible speaker. They are $1,000 new so if you could find them used they might be 6-700?

Good Luck on your hunt.
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post #9 of 37
5/1/06 at 9:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordolindsay
Does it have to be a reciever? or can it be an integrated amp? I.E. do you need a tuner or no?
The word "receiver" has fallen into more general/common use these days.
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post #10 of 37
5/1/06 at 10:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordolindsay
Does it have to be a reciever? or can it be an integrated amp? I.E. do you need a tuner or no?
An integrated amp is an amp + preamp, correct? And a receiver is an amp + preamp + tuner, correct? And the tuner is only used for radio, correct? A tuner would be nice, how much does a stand alone tuner go for? An integrated amp + a seprate tuner would also be ok, plus speakers of course. Where should I look for used Monitor RS-6's? If I can't find them used they would be to expensive. How big are they? Can they be wall mounted? Also, don't forget about the CD player, I have no idea how much a decent one goes for.
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post #11 of 37
5/1/06 at 10:56pm
003,

Please allow me to make assumptions for your proposed stereo for your parents.....

Not likely cranking it to concert levels
Easy to operate
Decoration-friendly
Sound quality need not to be top-notch

If that's the case, I would suggest Denon's S-101 all-in-one system. I think it will sound quite good and most important of all, easy to operate. It's relatively small and if not pushed to its limits or required to fill a big room with sound, it should do fine. I think it would make a nice, simple system instead of all these black and silver boxes stacked one on top of another.
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post #12 of 37
5/1/06 at 11:35pm
Thread Starter 
I'm not so sure about that, it looks like a dvd player you hook up to a TV. That's not what I want. It needs to be a stand alone stereo, preferably as good as it can get with my prices in mind.
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post #13 of 37
5/2/06 at 12:30am
NAD C320Bee - $320 shipped from DMC electronics in CA
X-Series bookshelf speakers - $200 from AV123.com
Denon tuner - $150 from J&R.com
Sony DVD/SACD player - $150 from Best Buy
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post #14 of 37
5/2/06 at 1:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bundee1
NAD C320Bee - $320 shipped from DMC electronics in CA
X-Series bookshelf speakers - $200 from AV123.com
Denon tuner - $150 from J&R.com
Sony DVD/SACD player - $150 from Best Buy
You should add the av123 x-series subwoofer for $200 when it's ready. The speakers are already sold out and on backorder until june, I believe.
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post #15 of 37
5/2/06 at 2:24am
Are your parents asethetic conscious? If so, having full sized separates of different makes (i.e., different designs, colors, and size) might prove to be an ungainly sight.

Given that your parents are not audio enthusiasts, I would suggest getting the components of the same make, thereby ensuring consistency in design and color (which also has the added benefit of not having 3 remotes for each separate device). Also, look for models with simple straight forward functions.

NAD is generally simple to use, but the design can be a bit bland (also the grey color might not match rooms very well unless you pay more for the silver color). Denons and Marantz tend to have more luxurious colors (silver, gold), but the button layouts can be a bit complicated. Cambridge Audio designs as it closer to the NAD simplicity and looks quite good in silver. However, the Cambridge Audio may not have the NAD's reputation for consistency in product excellence (though the newer Azur series seems to be well received).
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