Small Room Speaker System Suggestions for $350-$600

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePhoenix924S 

I've been trying to do some research on a speaker system that I would use in a small room setting.  I have a pair of Sennheiser HD650s and Audinst HUD-mx1 amp/ DAC with a Woo Audio WA6-SE on the way.  However, while this setup is sublime (and should only get better when the WA6-SE arrives), there are times where I would like a speaker set-up for when more people than myself are listening.  I am a student, so I have a relatively small budget with a preferred limit of $600, but could potentially stretch if necessary.

 

I would like the system to be used mainly with my laptop for music, but also with a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for video games, films, and television shows.  I would prefer to have the system be easily upgradeable to 5.1 (or even 7.1) for the future, but at the moment I see myself only needing a 2.0 or 2.1 system.  I know that if you have enough funds the system goes Source -> Processor -> Pre-amplifier -> Amplifier -> Speakers, so if I can afford a system like this I see this as being preferable, but I have used my fathers system that uses an integrated amplifier, and that seems to be pretty good as well.  (Sony STR-DA5300ES -> Energy RC-50 (x2), RC-10 (x4), RC-LCR, and S-10.3)

 

For those of you who have heard them, I would like a system with some "warmth", but probably a bit more forward/ engadging than my HD650s.

 

Thank you very much for any assistance you can provide.

For what your looking for and your budget, I think the best route is a used integrated amplifier and a used pair of two-way monitors. A quality used integrated for a few hundred bucks will absolutely blow away a mediocre Japanese surround sound receiver, and when it comes to maximum sound quality for the dollar, nothing beats a two-way monitor.

There's a couple of interesting integrateds (heh) on Audiogon right now, an Acurus DIA 100, and a Myryad T40. I don't know that much about the Myryad, but the Acurus in its day was a serious player. My only concern would be that its no spring chicken, and if the caps and whatnot are all original, they should probably be replaced.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1324238631&/Acurus-DIA-100-integrated-ampl

As for mates there are several good choices:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1324317437&/PSB-Image-B2-clean

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1324224999&/Wharfedale-9.1%28Pair%29-anniversa

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1323652306&/ERA-Design-4-Bookshelf-Speaker

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1323202196&/Quad-11L-Birdseye-Maple

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1322774754&/Era-Design-4-bookshelf-speaker

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1322373773&/Paradigm-SE1-Reduced

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1322032868&/Alon-Petite-bookshelf-speakers
 

With your budget, you can get a good quality pair of bookshelf speakers like the PSB Alpha B1s for $300: http://www.crutchfield.com/s_760ALPB1B/PSB-Alpha-B1.html?tp=186.%C2%A0.  PSB makes fine speakers and these are their entry level bookshelf speakers.  You could match those with the Onkyo TX 8050 stereo receiver which has digital inputs (cool feature) plus can be connected to a network via ethernet (another cool feature) and you can play an ipod (or an external hard disc) via usb input: http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8050-Network-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B004UR486G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319420336&sr=8-1.  That will run you around $600 plus any cables (I'd get them cheap from monoprice).  If you want to save some money, get the HK 3390 stereo receiver which will run around $100 less than the Onkyo: http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-HK-3390-Performance/dp/B00198BOAM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1319420427&sr=1-1.  Both are good receivers and the PSBs are excellent speakers.

I agree 100% with  Dave - if you want best SQ for the $$ then the bulk should go to the best speakers u can nab - if you dump on an AVR that would cost ya that would mean you have to cut corners/compromise on the speakers in order to stick to budget

Agree that the bulk of the money should go to speakers but there are some pretty good bookshelf speakers to be had for $300 to $350; the PSB Alpha B1, for example, or Wharfedale diamond 10.1.  You can get a competent AV receiver for around $300 if you are willing to buy one refurbished with a full manufacturer's warranty from accessories4less like this cambridge av receiver: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/CAMB540RV2B/CAMBRIDGE-AUDIO-Azur-540R-Ver.2-6.1-A/V-Receiver-Black/1.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexsj 

Agree that the bulk of the money should go to speakers but there are some pretty good bookshelf speakers to be had for $300 to $350; the PSB Alpha B1, for example, or Wharfedale diamond 10.1.  You can get a competent AV receiver for around $300 if you are willing to buy one refurbished with a full manufacturer's warranty from accessories4less like this cambridge av receiver: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/CAMB540RV2B/CAMBRIDGE-AUDIO-Azur-540R-Ver.2-6.1-A/V-Receiver-Black/1.html

I don't see any reason to buy a new pair or speakers for $300, not when for the same money you can get a very nice condition used pair that originally sold for $750-1000. I also wouldn't skimp on the amp. Stereo receivers are ok, but that old Acurus will blow them into the weeds. If the OP can stretch his budget another few hundred bucks, there's an Exposure 2010 and Audio Analogue Puccini, both are really nice. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePhoenix924S 

Hmmm... Thank you very much.  I suppose I should make it clear that I'm not necessarily in the financial position to make a purchase immediately, but I like what I'm seeing.  I am slightly confused at what I'm being told as to look for.  Should I be looking for only a pair of bookshelf speakers or a pair of powered monitors with a subwoofer (or some combination thereof)?

I think those little ERA D4s or the Paradigm or Wharfedale will get you better sound than you could out of the equivalent powered monitor. (When I said get a two-way monitor, I meant "bookshelf"). What you want to drive them with is up to you. One possibility would be to blow almost all of your budget on a used pair of two-ways in the $500-700 range, and then just get some really cheap like an old NAD as a temporary amp until you can afford something a bit better.