Reddit mentions: The best audio receivers

Tl;dr at the bottom because wow I wrote a lot here.

I don't know if there's a way to specify on an app by app basis, but you could potentially get around that by essentially telling Alexa to switch a Music Mode on or off. As a note, I personally have NOT tested this to see if it works, but I see no reason it wouldn't.

First of all, you're gonna want to buy a Harmony Hub (Or at least something like it). It's basically a big IR blaster that shoots out signals to your devices to turn them on or off, change their inputs, and other such stuff. You can create "activities" where it will turn on or off the devices you specify and change them to their correct inputs all at once. It also has direct Alexa integration so you can say something like "Alexa, turn on my TV," which could prompt Alexa to tell your Harmony Hub to run your "turn on TV" activity to turn on your TV and AV receiver, and set them to the right inputs.

This next step depends on whether or not your AV reciever has bluetooth. If it does, cool, you're already done. You just have to make sure that you make an activity in the Harmony Hub that will turn on the necessary stuff for listening to music, and make sure that when it turns on your AV reciever, it also turns on its bluetooth. Then just make sure it's paired with Alexa. This way, whenever your reciever's bluetooth is turned on, even if you have speakers plugged into the AUX port on the Dot, Alexa will still automatically connect to it and play through it instead. When it's off, Alexa's audio will play through her internal speaker or whatever speaker that's plugged into her AUX port.

If you don't have bluetooth built into your AV receiever, it gets a little more complicated. First off, you're gonna want to get this. That is a bluetooth receiver that requires power to function. Plug it's audio output into your AV receiver, and BAM, now your AV receiver has bluetooth. You're also going to want to get a smart plug to plug its power cable into. Because this bluetooth receiver needs power to function, this will allow you to turn the bluetooth on and off whenever you want from a distance, simply by powering the smart plug on or off. Pair that, and Alexa should automatically connect to it when you turn it on with the smart plug, and use her internal speakers or AUX connected speakers when it's off.

The main downside to the above is that you're still going to have to power the bluetooth on separately from you powering on your music mode with the Harmony Hub. From my understanding, you can fix this, but it requires getting a Smart Things Hub and a Smart Things Plug it will connect to. You can apparently integrate Smart Things into your Harmony Hub activities, meaning that you can power the Smart Things plug on at the same time that you activate your music mode on your Harmony Hub, or power it off when you turn that mode off. Frankly, this is a decently expensive solution to a minor annoyance of a problem, so I'll leave that up to you to decide if you want to go this extra mile.

As a note, the Smart Things integration with Harmony Hub is the thing that I'm most unsure about how it works. I believe I've seen it mentioned that it worked that way, but I cannot confirm, and honestly haven't researched into that as much as I'd like to have. If you go this route, I'd definitely recommend looking into it more for yourself. Also of note is that this was a setup I was planning for my particular situation. It may be that there's much cheaper options and alternatives to this whole mess that I don't know about or just simply overlooked because it didn't work for me. I encourage you to do more research into this on your own if you really want the best results.

And finally, if ALL of this is way too much over your head, you could just do what I decided to do that was ultimately so much cheaper and easier: Just buy a Roku Streaming Stick/Amazon Fire TV Stick and use that as your dedicated music streaming device to your AV receiver. Then just use your Dot for everything else.

 

Tl;dr: Buy a Logitech Harmony Hub. Have bluetooth on your AV receiver? Pair it with Alexa, and then just add turning on its bluetooth to your Harmony Hub's turn on music activity. You're done.

Don't have bluetooth on your AV receiver? Buy this and a smart plug compatible with Alexa to plug it into. Pair the bluetooth receiver with Alexa. Turn the plug and the receiver on when you want to listen to music through it. Turn them off when you don't.

Want to be able to turn that smart plug on at the same time as your music mode? Make sure you buy a Smart Things smart plug and a Smart Things hub, then integrate turning your plug on into your Harmony Hub's music mode.

Or just buy a Roku Streaming Stick/Amazon Fire TV Stick for music instead if you're a cheapass

I recommend spending most of your budget on speakers. Honestly, I would skip a subwoofer for now and add one later when you have some more money.

First, let's start out with an amplifier.

This Onkyo would be a fantastic option. However, if you want to save some money here, something like this Sony receiver would also do the trick. It won't sound as good, and only has spring clips (which is mildly annoying when setting it up, but then doesn't affect it after), but will be able to do everything you want.

Another option would be to get separates. This Cambridge Amplifier just got replaced by a newer model, so instead of $200 it is now $100. That with a Schiit Phono preamp would be nice.

I, personally, wouldn't get a subwoofer here. But that's just me. You could get a Dayton SUB1200 (wow also on sale. They're usually $150) but it won't exactly give you good bass. You also mentioned you'll be turning it up in a living room. I have that sub and it struggles quite a bit if you're turning it up. Going up from there, you're looking at an HSU sub for $400 (and it will definitely do what you want), but that's half your budget. Anyways, I would get the speakers first, and decide on the sub after. If you decide you really need it, you can go ahead and get the Dayton. If not, save up for that HSU.

Telling you what speakers to get is extremely hard. You should try to find somewhere to listen in person. They'll all sound different and I don't know what you'll like. I'll list some popular ones for you though, around $500-600ish bucks will probably work for now.

Klipsch R-620F. I had the bookshelf version of them for a while and I liked them quite a bit. They're on the bright side of neutral, meaning the top end will be a bit louder than the lows. They're really easy to drive (meaning they'll get loud easily) and they have quick and punchy bass, assuming they sound like the bookshelf speakers.

The Klipsch RP-4000F are the next line up in speakers from the ones I just listed, however they are a bit smaller with 4" woofers instead of 6.5" woofers. Again, I've only heard the bookshelf version, but they were much better than the bookshelf version of the others. More of a neutral sound, and just cleaner all around. You'll lose some volume, but it shouldn't be a problem.

Polk Signature towers. I've heard them and I thought they were a bit thin, but people seem to like them, so maybe I don't remember right or something.

Q Acoustics are popular. I haven't heard any so I can't help with these.

Elac towers are fantastic. Very neutral response, with a good amount of bass and a very good midrange. These are a bit harder to drive but will get loud if you give them power.

JBL Stage A170 are supposed to be good. Steve Guttenberg has a good video on them. I've never heard them so I can't help you out there either.

My personal choice would probably be these from Ascend. They're just big bookshelves that you can get some stands for. They're neutral, and actually don't have a ton of bass, but the midrange is extremely punchy and nice. All around a fantastic speaker.

One more that would be at the top of my list is the Tekton Mini Lore. I haven't heard them, but Tekton is doing great things. I'm sure they're great.

Also, you'll need speaker wire

That's a good place to start. Let me know if you have any questions!

> I think I would like them wall mounted but in the back 2 top corners of the room. That way they are minimal and out of the way. Is that possible? Is one way "better" than another?

Ideally, they are placed like this, with the tweeters of the speaker being 2ft-3ft above the listener. If you want to wall mount near the top corners of the rear wall, that's fine, just not ideal.

> I'll get a center channel. I hear it's better for dialogue?

90% of the time, the difference 2.0 vs 3.0 is inaudible if just 1-2 seats in front of the tv, if you have 4+ seating, then the people at the edge will hear a difference. Also, sometimes you get a movie or tv show that was mixed poorly, so the ability to alter the dialogue level is helpful. So I'll put together a L/C/R option.

Receiver: Denon X1300 normally $600 with usually going down to $500, but it just recently (last week) went down to $400. It features Audyssey's MultEQ XT and is also the lowest priced Denon model that will get Dolby Vision and HLG support. HLG is a royalty free HDR format and is very likely what the tv industry and cable companies will use.

Fronts: two options:

• Option #1: SVS Prime bookshelf + center for $850 (don't pay the extra $150 for the other color). Take note the price for bookshelves is for 1 speaker, so your order should be for 2 of them and 1 center.
  
  
• Option #2: HTD Level Three bookshelves + center for $565-$626 shipped. These are front ported, so they don't need to be >1ft away from a wall like the SVS. Also, I feel these will be better for home theater while the SVS is better for music, the flared ribbon tweeter of the HTD will spread the sound out more, where a soft dome like the SVS is very directional, so it won't be as good for a decent sized seating area.
  
  Subwoofer: will depend on which fronts you get.
  
  
• If Option #1: SVS PB-1000 for $500, if you want specs, here's the product page.
  
  
• If Option #2:
  
  • SVS PB-2000 for $800
    
  • Rythmik 15" servo for $1000, while it'll go over $2000 total if you get this, this is a monstrosity and is well worth it. Here is Zeos' review, if you have speakers (car, headphones, etc.) that have good bass, watch this part.
    
    Surrounds:
    
    
• Option A: Sound Appeal 6.5 for $70, also get the mounting bracket shown/labeled in the photos, it's like $15.
  
  
• Option B: Kanto Ben for $90-$100, they use a specific screw size and their mounting bracket is $20.
  
  Speaker Wire: Good speaker wire (<18 gauge and oxygen free) is cheap, here is 100ft.
  
  Banana plugs: While not needed, it makes things easier to connect the speaker wire to the speakers and receiver. I don't think the surrounds will be able to fit them when against the wall, so that is 8 pairs (5 pairs on receiver and 3 pairs for front speakers). For <$13, get two orders of these. If you don't know how they connect, like this.
  
  Subwoofer connection: You need an RCA cable, ideally one specified as a "subwoofer cable" as it is better shielded. Just search on Amazon and choose between the AmazonBasics and the MediaBridge ones and the length you want.

You'll need a record player, wether that is by means of free or purchase, you most likely need an amp also, and speakers.
I would recommend the Audio Technica AtLp60. It's cheap at 100 bucks but gets the job done. Next get an amp. For both of these, look to Amazon. Pick up a used or open box Sony Strdh190. If you don't have one, get an Amazon card, use the gift card to help defray the cost. You could get a beans new amp for less that 100. I recommend this one cause it has a phono input. The AT60 I recommend has a preamp I believe, so you'll actually want to hook it up to input 1. But, this allows you to upgrade your turntable if you come across something better at a thrift store or from a friend later. Not all turntables have preamps, if they don't, hook it to the phono input. If they do, line 1.
If you choose to get into cassettes or CD, you also have inputs for those decks as you come across them cheap.
Speakers. With this setup, you'll want speakers that can handle the newer power levels of a modern amp. 100watts. 6 or 8 ohms. Something like a pair of Klipsch bookshelf speakers. The RM 15 I believe is a affordable, new, good sounding speaker. Or some Polks of the same power.
All this, and your set. This isn't going to be everyone's setup, but it gets you started, listenable sound, and upgradable. All this can be had relatively affordable. 100 for the turntable, 125 for the speakers, and less than 150 for the amp if you buy it new. Until you understand more about turntables, avoid used is my suggestion, buy affordable new, nothing to do but follow the instructions.

Sony STRDH190 2-ch Stereo Receiver with Phono Inputs & Bluetooth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078WFDR8D/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hgWnDb8R2HGM2


Audio-Technica ATLP60 Fully Automatic Stereo Belt Drive Turntable - (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008872SIO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hhWnDbN5KDF61


Polk Audio TSi100 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00192KF12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CiWnDb6W6STNP


Klipsch R-15M Bookshelf Speaker (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMF41IY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WjWnDbS7BKBQS


These are all direct to Amazon links. Look in the used sections to get a deal on some of these and save a few bucks.
Someone mentioned it already also. Do this to love the music. Don't collect records to collect records, it's a rabbit hole of money. Just but the bands you like. Listen to an album online before you buy it to see if you'll like it if you don't know who they are. About the elusive 1dollar bin at the record store. Those records may or may not be in great shape, and do you REALLY care about polkas greatest hits from 1963? All your dad or uncles what they listen to and look for some of those records to rock out to.
Good luck. Hope this helps.

PS, my prices mentioned and names of equipment were approximate, go with what's in the links.

uBTR has aptX and having now used the ES100 a LOT in the last 24 hours, I honestly don't think LDAC is leaps and bounds better. For casual listening, I didn't even notice that it was outputting at aptX (my phone defaults to it) so I really don't think the bump up in quality will be that much better. If you are willing to spend a little extra for specifically bluetooth, then the BTR3may be a better option. It provides more power and has LDAC.

With that having been said, I think that at that price point a usb c dongle would be better. Just so you know, I haven't tried any and can't personally say, but from the reviews I've read, dongles like the DC01by iBasso create sound on par with dedicated DAPs (digital audio player) and based on that, it might be the better sounding option for the price. The linked one above has a 2.5 mm output as well, if that's something you would be interested in.

But, seriously don't discount the uBTR or other FiiO options, they are excellent and with your 1More's should sound fantastic. Oh and also, just a heads up, websites like Advanced MP3 have a clearance section where you can get IEMs for a greatly reduced price as they are refurbished. That's how I got my FiiO FH1 for £35 and when it arrived, I couldn't see any signs of previous use; everything was packaged perfectly and even the box was in pristine condition. I saw the IT01 on there for about £50 once, so take a look, you might just find something much better.

Happy headphone hunting :)

Brands to avoid:

• Pyle
  
• Pyramid
  
• Any low end BOSS stuff
  
  For example, Pyle has an 8000 watt 8 channel amp on amazon. I don't think most people realize the most you can pull out of a normal US home socket is 1800w and that's if literally nothing else is on that entire circuit. Generally the most you can pull is about 1200-1500w safely.
  
  The amp the other guy linked is the same as what I linked, just more expensive since it has a brand name on it. Parts Express is where I get all my stuff to build speakers and audio projects. I 100% trust them.
  
  Anyway, if you need a source selector, get this to start with: https://www.parts-express.com/audtek-electronics-ss4-speaker-selector-impedance-matching-1-in-4-out--300-970
  
  It's not fancy and doesn't do very much except literally change which speakers have audio sent to them but it'll show your wife the value of your pre-wired setup. For a stereo receiver to hook up to it, get this to start with: https://www.parts-express.com/yamaha-r-s202-stereo-receiver-with-bluetooth-100-watts-per-channel--312-220
  
  It has bluetooth and can power two separate sets of speakers by itself. This gives you more flexibility. Those two items together meet your $300 budget and allow you to utilize the entire speaker setup in your house (althought not all at once).
  
  Oh, I almost forgot... You still need a 5.1 receiver for the home theater in the great room. Get this one to start with: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XYD1RZ3/
  
  Again, this isn't going to have all the whizz bang features but it's a very good start to your setup and does allow some extra flexability. In particular it supports two subwoofers. I can't tell from your pic how big your great room is but sometimes a single subwoofer isn't enough. I also highly recommend Denon equipment. I've been using their receivers for years. This comes with a microphone to do in-room audio calibration (very important for best sound). You hook up the microphone to the receiver (it has a jack for it), run the audio setup and it will play a variety of sounds through your speakers and automatically adjust sound settings on the receiver to get the best possible sound out of your current setup.
  
  Total cost: ~$410
  
  Enjoy!

>Would this receiver work with my speakers?

It should work but it's power ratings are fudged a bit according to this review. Now your driving different speakers than he was but the overall advice given in this review is correct ( I still believe you have a receiver issue and not a power one but that's just an educated guess on my part:)

This review is for the R-S201, in order to avoid any confusion owing to the fact that all amps from this line are reviewed in the same place. PLEASE NOTE that specs on this particular model are fairly deceiving, which I hope will spare some prospective customers some trouble.

I bought this amp a while back because I was trying to create "the perfect budget HiFi" for under $250 using the famous Pioneer SB-BS22-LR speakers. These are pretty power-hungry, which is why I ran into problems with this amp. The specs according to Yamaha are "Maximum Power(8 ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD): 100W + 100W". This might sound like adequate power, but the "100W" rating is only possible (again, according to Yamaha's own site) under the condition of allowing for 10% Total Harmonic Distortion. Typical receivers usually like to give ratings at 0.10% THD or less, which is a more accurate picture of power. But basically, the higher the THD quoted, the less "usable" power an amp has. I can tell you the R-S201 does not have 100W of power. I would say it likely has less than half of that, because it couldn't drive the Pioneer's to any reasonable volume without distorting. And by reasonable, I mean loud enough to hear when classical music is playing.

*Summing up, if your budget demands you spend no more than what this amp costs, make sure you find speakers that:

1. Have high sensitivity (preferably over 88dB). This is essentially a measure of how loud a speaker will play at a given level of power, higher being louder. Klipsch and Polk Audio come to mind. Micca's (no matter how well reviewed) are not sensitive, so I doubt they'd be any better of a match than the Pioneers.
   
2. Have an 8ohm nominal impedance rating. This is basically a measure of how easy a speaker is for the amp to drive, lower ratings being more difficult. Again, Klipsch and Polk Audio would probably be better fits.
   
   I don't want this review to look like a hater wrote it. I'm sure it's a perfectly good amp under the right conditions. If you have, or can find, speakers that fit these recommendations, you might have better luck with this amp than I did. But if you're set on, or already have, low sensitivity and/or low impedance speakers, you should consider a more robust amp/receiver - one that hasn't so badly inflated its specs.*

1. Budget

I don't have a budget since I'll be saving for each individual necessity for the long run, though I would not spend more than $1,000 for speakers. That being said, you can make a decision on what are price points for each respective item.

2. What are you looking for?

I'm essentially looking for a living room audiophile set up. I would not mind recommendations other than floor standing speakers, but that is what I have now and I'm very pleased with the way it looks. I do not know what I'm looking for since I'm not sure what should be upgraded and what is missing.

3. How will you typically be using the gear?

Mid-Field

4. What gear do you own?

Specifics, I have a Yamaha RX-V381BL Receiver with a pair of Pioneer CS-N575 speakers. For headphones, I only use an Audio Technica's ATH-M40X, which I was recommended because I'm not to fond of having a mobile headphone amp with me.

5. What do you intend on using for a source?

I'll be using a laptop connected via HDMI to the receiver (unless someone thinks I should opt for a different source if I get a dedicated stereo receiver.)

6. What material will you be using your gear for?

Dedicated for music. I would like it to connect this system with a laptop and/or television, though I'm willing to not go through that route.

7. Are you willing to buy used?

Yes, I am willing to buy used, though craigslist, etc. is not preferred. Something like Amazon would be nice. Local: Los Angeles.

Thoughts:
I really like how my system sounds and how accessible it is at the moment to my needs, but I know I would really like to have a nicer set up with higher quality sound. I do not know anything about amplifiers, DACs, tubes. etc. so if you could inform me, that would be appreciated.

Note:

This was re-uploaded for further suggestions and aid. I'm not too new to audiophile but I never have owned my own full set up. Any information would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advanced.

Small space with a $320-350 budget? Here is what I would consider.

Package deal - Pioneer AVR and FS52 Floorstanders $310

• You'll get a Pioneer AVR (meh but should do fine for a 2.0/2.1 setup) and two FS52 floorstanders at a great price. This setup should not need a sub until you get a bigger place because you don't want to piss the neighbors off. Add in the some speaker wire $10 and HDMI cables $9 (see below) and you're good. This should should better than any bose setup or just about any setup for this price. This really is a good deal.
  
  Separates - if you know you're going to expand later consider a better AVR but it costs more and you step down to books vs floorstanders.
  
  AVR - Denon S510BT $230
  
  Speakers - Pioneer BS22 and wire bundle $100
  
  Misc - Speaker stands $40 and HDMI cables $10
  
  
• Skip the stands if you want but they will make a difference as you can get them wider than the TV stand and you can get them out from the wall a bit. Positioning really does help with the overall sound of a system.
  
  
• The BS22 are fairly large books so putting them on a TV stand can be tricky. I went with them because of the better bass response over the Miccas Destruct0 mentioned. If you know you're going to get a sub in the future consider the Miccas as I like them better with a system as the highs are better than the Pioneers. They just don't reach as deep which is an important factor if not using a sub.
  

The LP-60 is considered the very bottom of entry-level turntables. It's not murder on vinyl like the BSR tables (though some here might disagree), but it isn't a "hi-fi" turntable by any means. But if you do decide to go that route, you will need speakers and a way for the sound to be amplified to those speakers.

There are generally two types of speakers: passive and powered. Passive speakers will need an amplifier (in the form of a receiver, integrated amplifier or separate pre-amp/amplifier) to send sound out to the speakers. Powered speakers will have their own built in amplifier.

In addition to speakers and amplifier, turntables need a specialized phono preamp. The phono preamp converts the signal from the turntable into a line-level signal that most audio equipment can handle. It also add equalization called the RIAA Curve to compensate for some of the limitations of the vinyl medium.

The LP-60 has a built-in phono preamp, so that part is taken care of. What you will need next is to decide on what type of speakers you want. There are good powered speakers, like Audio Engine, but they can be fairly spendy. Some people use powered monitors designed for mixing music, but I find that they aren't "musical" and can be fatiguing over long listens. You can also get a cheap 2.1 system, but the sound quality will be lacking.

I would recommend going the passive speaker route. If you have a local craigslist, your best bet is to find a decent '90s era receiver. Equipment from the '90s, especially older home-theater units, are the best value in audio gear right now. They aren't desired by collectors because of their plain look, but they were manufactured at a time when quality and power output standards were high.

If you get one of those receivers, I would then recommend getting a pair of these Pioneer BS-22-LR speakers:

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Speakers/Home+Theater+Speakers/SP-BS22-LR

http://www.stereophile.com/content/pioneer-sp-bs22-lr-loudspeaker

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/a-great-bookshelf-speaker/

http://www.budgetphile.com/2013/10/budget-speaker-review-pioneer-sp-bs22-lr.html

They routinely go on sale for $99 (and sometimes $89). Keep an eye out at the big retailers and usually within a month one of them will have them on sale and the other will follow suite suit.

If you don't want to go used, then I would recommend the Sherwood RX-4105. It's inexpensive and proven:

http://www.amazon.com/RX-4105-2-Channel-Remote-Controlled-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B0002EPWC0

Both the speakers and receiver are available at most big box and online retailers (Walmart, Best Buy, New Egg, Amazon, Target, etc.).

If you thin you are fairly serious about vinyl as a hobby, I would step up the turntable to a U-Turn Orbit and get the Sherwood RX-4109 receiver (with built-in phono preamp) instead:

http://uturnaudio.com

http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-RX-4109-Stereo-Receiver-Black/dp/B000MBUSD6/

Well here is what I would do.

Turntable: something like this. Good deal with buy it now price of $270.

Cartridge: Sure 97xe can be had for $66 bucks here

Amp: Either spend some time perusing Ebay/ Craigslist for something vintage with phono inputs. If your having trouble with that you could go for one of these. On sale for $168 is a good deal and has built in phono inputs, no need for a preamp.

Speakers: A pair of these will do you well for $270. Don't have a pair myself but I hear great things and I personally love my Polk floor-standers.

Furniture: As always the r/vinyl approved Ikea Expedit Will hold everything nicely for $80.

This would all cost you roughly $850. Leaving you about $150 for the vinyl itself(which can go a pretty far way if you look around). Of course you could always go for a cheaper pair of speakers or shop around for a cheaper TT if you want more to spend on the actual music itself. Anywho, Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your setup and I hope I was helpful.

In your shoes i would suggest doing a 2.0 or a 2.1 if you can squeeze a little more juice out of your wallet. Explanation: a 2.0/ 2.1 will give you a far better sound quality with a dedicated amp/receiver and external speakers rather than in all in one sound bar type unit. although you don't crank your system sound quality is important and will be better out of this set up too. And lastly you then have the availability to upgrade and expand your system later on. I know these were posted once but here why.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-LR-Designed-standing-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4 great price point, great sound quality. I think the rest of this sub would agree these are a fantastic speaker for the price. They are rear ported, the closer to the wall the more low end you will get from them.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S500BT-Receiver-Capability-Bluetooth/dp/B00JR6GJLW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415645951&sr=8-1&keywords=AVR-S500BT Big fan of denon, they make great receivers starting from the bottom all the way to high end. built in bluetooth, powerful enough to handle a slightly bigger speaker if you want to upgrade later

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M If you have the money or the want, this is a great subwoofer for the money. Fairly clean, pretty crisp, not real muddy.

I'm not an expert on the matter but I know the basics, hopefully I can help -

First, your last question - yes, a LOT of good music is still released on vinyl. Most records come with a digital download of some sort so if you want to collect vinyl but still have your iTunes library you can do so for minimal cost on top of what you'd already be paying for the digital music anyway.

For a full setup - you don't have to pay as much as some enthusiasts would lead you to believe you also can't expect to get a halfway decent sound out of $60 unit from Target that has built in speakers. At the very least you are looking at $150, and that's if you can make some awesome garage sale scores. If you want brand new equipment you are looking at at least $300-$400.

You will need a turntable, a pre-amplifier, a stereo receiver, and speakers. A lot of stereo receivers like this one have a built in phonograph pre-amp so if you want to knock out 2 birds with one stone go that route. For a turntable, just find something that has a replaceable cartridge (needle), has a stylus counterweight (to keep weight off your record), and is fairly heavy (weight = no vibration). Speakers aren't really hard to figure out - just find some unpowered speakers on Amazon that have a good rating. You don't need some ridiculous setup with a subwoofer and surround sound...two basic floor speakers will sound great.

If you can't afford all of that you can always just get a cheap turntable with USB output like this and some USB speakers like this. It won't sound amazing but it's plenty good enough for most people.

Hey Zeos! I want to thank you so much for your guide. I just started looking at making a home theater setup yesterday for the very first time and it was pretty daunting at first. After reading through your posts and several others at /r/hometheater I have it narrowed down to a couple of options and would appreciate some advice on the selections I've made. I apologize for the long post but I want to make sure I make the most informed decisions for my first home theater purchase.

I just purchased the 65" Samsung JS8500 and I have an Xbox One that will be my main bluray player for now with a focus on movies / games.

Through my research last night and going through your suggestions at the top of this thread, I've chosen the Denon AVR-S510BT.

My question is in regards to speakers. Last night I had decided on the Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers with the accompanying Center since it's my first system and I was thinking of trying out something cheaper for an intro setup which would be better than just my TV speakers.

Whenever I get into a new hobby I tend to start thinking of an intro setup and get sucked into the nice expensive parts because I believe in "buy once cry once". I'd hate to get the Micca's and then a year later want to upgrade them to something nicer anyways when I could have just spent a bit more and got something that would have lasted me longer.

edit after more reading and watching your videos I see you recommending the Elacs quite a bit, I know you mentioned they would be great for music and I loved how they sounded, is this the case with movies and games as well? My budget is pretty open if it's for the right items and I can afford the Elac 6.5"s or something in that similar price range like the HTD Level3's (loved that sound demo too) if they would really make the whole setup shine and last me for years to come.

If I do end up choosing more expensive speakers and could only purchase one or the other to start with, would you recommend a Center speaker or a Subwoofer like the BIC America F12?

Thank you so much in advance, I appreciate all the time you've taken to write up these guides and answer questions.

> are there bluetooth headphones that actually sound good?

I've been on a quest for actually good sounding bluetooth headphones myself recently, and the conclusion I came to was - no...not without some help.

Get this: ES100. Clip it to something (it's incredibly tiny and lightweight) + whatever headphones you want (if the cables are swappable, then look for some short ones... Fiio makes some short MMCX cables for instance). Bam, any headphone you want is now bluetooth at basically its full potential. It drives everything I've tested it with amazingly well (quite a bit better than my Schiit Fulla, at any rate) and sounds amazing.

If you will also be using the headphones for gaming or movies/TV, then instead get the BTR3 ... the ES100 is slightly better (more gain, more firmware updates, more configurable options, etc) overall for AptX-HD music playback (or LDAC, or AAC), but it doesn't support AptX-LL (low latency) mode, which is important for anything interactive. BTR3 supports all of those including AptX-LL. In low latency mode, I can just barely perceive a slight delay in terms of lip synchronization, but only just barely if I'm doing my best to look for it, and I might just be imagining it. For any casual media consumption or gaming bluetooth via AptX-LL, at least with the transmitter I'm using and this receiver, is good enough.

I've tested both of these with my Fiio FH5 and Etymotic ER4XR IEMs (both of which are quite resolving IEMs), and in both cases it sounds 100.00% indistinguishable to my ears compared to just plugging them into my smartphone. On the other hand, when I connected them via SBC codec using a USB bluetooth dongle, I could easily tell. Though, actually, even via SBC things still sounded better than I figured they would....goes to show that the default SBC codec isn't the only problem with most bluetooth headphones. Decent headphones via SBC still sound fairly decent, if not at their absolute best.

Oh, and the ES100 has an optional "high gain" mode, but even with that disabled, it gets me significantly higher volume if I pump it up to painful max levels (as a test) compared to the BTR3. The BTR3 was never too quiet at max volume for me, but if I had headphones that were hard to drive then that might sometimes be an issue.

Does everything need to be from Amazon? What is the Amazon gift card balance? What is your total budget?

Consider getting a new turntable and used passive bookshelf speakers with a used stereo or AV receiver which are easier to find used.

New Turntable:

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120 is discontinued but still available. The new replacement version Audio-Technica LP-120"X"USB is $50 less at $250. It removes a few pro features like reverse play that the home user probably doesn't need.

A few good and popular belt drive turntable options:

• Orbit Custom Cue lever, Basic platter, Ortofon OM 5E cart, $275 shipped.
  
• Fluance RT82 Reference Turntable with Ortofon Super OM10 $300 free shipping. It has auto stop and an optical sensor speed controlled motor for lower wow and flutter and speed variation specs than the Orbit. No extra charge for the walnut finish. Skip the 80 and 81 without the optical sensor.
  
  Either paired with a phono stage/preamp if you get a receiver without a phono input: U-Turn Pluto $100, Pro-Ject Audio - Phono Box DC $115, NAD Electronics PP 2e refurbished $120 or Schitt Mani B-Stock sale $120 with shipping and taxes.
  
  New passive speakers:
  
  The 4" Edifier powered speakers are ok to start off with for a smallish room.
  
  Another option is passive speakers with a receiver or mini amp. Then you can later upgrade one part at a time.
  
  
• Stereo Receiver: Pioneer SX-10AE $150.
  
• AV receiver if also using the speaekrs with a TV for HDMI switching, Denon AVRS540BT $175.
  
• Mini amp: SMSL SA50 $50.
  
  Low budget passive speakers:
  
  
• Dayton Audio B652-AIR $50.
  
• 4" Pioneer SP-BS22-LR $100.
  
• Sony SSCS5 $120.
  
• BIC America DV62si $120.
  
• Fluance SX6W $130.
  
• Big 8" Yamaha NS-6490 $130.
  
  Speaker wire: Pure Copper Oxygen Free 16 Gauge Speaker Wire 50 ft. and self adjusting wire strippers, optional banana plugs to add. Or already with banana plugs Micca.
  
  Home Audio Guides: Intro to home stereo systems • Zeos Tutorials, Diagrams and Videos • Guide to Home Audio • AverageJoeAudiophile's Guides • How to position your speakers for great sound – U-Turn Audio • Speaker Placement for Stereo Music Listening
  
  Also check out r/BudgetAudiophile.

If you want to go the passive route, a decent setup would probably be around $150-200. If you want something with a tuner, a receiver would be a good choice over an amp.

Right now, you can get this Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver on Amazon or Best Buy for $119 which is an excellent deal. Usually this receiver costs $149 or more and Yamaha makes some of the best budget stereo receivers. Sometimes you can find this Insignia Stereo Receiver for about $99, but right now it costs higher than the Yamaha and is not worth it. Those are probably your best deals on receivers right now that won't break the bank. Most other receivers will cost you about $150 to start.

You can find a lot of good speakers under $150 and a few under $100. What you need to do is sign up for Fry's Electronics newsletter. Just this last week they sent a coupon code in my email to get the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR speakers for $58! Super good deal. Normally cost just over $100. They are sold out now, but this deal pops up quite often and they are well worth that price.

Here are more great speakers around $100 or less:

Micca MB42X speakers - $90.

Polk T15 - $100

Dayton Audio B652 - $30

Dayton Audio B652-AIR - $44

JBL Arena B15 - $79

Not really a "bad", because there some powered towers out there, but they tend to be of either really crappy quality, or REALLY expensive.

So, for $100 you are somewhat limited in your choices. You'll probably end up with something in a D or T class amp. Don't worry, those classes don't mean much outside of technical stuff. Nice thing is that both are digital amps, which are smaller and lighter.

Cheapest, and as far as I am concerned, best bang for the buck, is the Nobsound Mini BT. I like them because I have owned a couple. Chinese made itty bitty amps that deliver enough wattage to get pretty loud without breaking the bank at all.

https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Wireless-Receiver/dp/B06Y67PZB1/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517901026&sr=8-2&keywords=nobsound

They come with an internal DAC so you can connect straight to USB if using a computer. Also come with a 3.5 headphone jack to 3.5, or 3.5 to RCA so you can hook up a CD/BR player, a turntable if it's got it's own internal preamp, or most anything else like an Amazon Echo or Google Home. It has no remote, so if that's what you need you can get an add-on device.

https://www.amazon.com/MCM-CUSTOM-50-8394-CONTROL-IR/dp/B01CX82KH2

Or for nearly the same price you can get an all in one unit.

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SA-50-PLUS-Amplifier-TAS5766M/dp/B06XYKNRXJ

Another idea, if you have the room is a stereo receiver. Gives you more input and is pretty robust with a remote and all. This unit is higher quality than the mini-type amps and is about the cheapest full sized receiver you can get. I'd probably recommend this unless you are sure you want to go for surround sound in the future.

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH130-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B006U1VH2S/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1517901570&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+stereo+receiver

It doesn't have BT, but you can easily add a dongle for that in the future for like $15. This would also work just fine;

https://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-RX4208-Stereo-Receiver-Black/dp/B00OZ5851M/ref=pd_sbs_23_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00OZ5851M&pd_rd_r=AZ2ADFGCZRZEZWCRGKA3&pd_rd_w=P4geq&pd_rd_wg=11Ok6&psc=1&refRID=AZ2ADFGCZRZEZWCRGKA3

After that all you need is some speaker wire and you're ready to rock...or game, or whatever.

Ohhh, a newbie! This will be fun... 🙃

A standard record player/turntable (you can use them interchangeably) will output using stereo RCA. The signal needs to go through a Phono Preamp first. Some turntables have a preamp built-in, most do not (especially as you move up the quality scale).

Then you need an amplifier to power the speakers you get. Some speakers can be plugged directly into a “line-level” jack (think headphone port). Others need an amplifier. You can get a cheap one on Amazon like this, or a nicer one like this, or you could try your local thrift store; stereo amps don’t have to be particularly new, so it’s often easy to score one for cheap.

As for the actual record player, [Rega] and Pro-Ject are the two big brands, as well as U-Turn and the every level. What I would call the first fully “proper” turntable starts at around $400. A U-Turn Orbit can be had for around $200. You can get a black plastic Sony or AudioTechnica on Amazon for $100, but I would advise against it.

The tables you’ll want to look for are the Rega Planar 1 (or “P1”), the Pro-Ject Debut/Debut Carbon, or the U-Turn Orbit. Don’t buy from Amazon. Best Buy/Magnolia is a good source, as is your local Hi-Fi dealer (assuming you have one).

I’ve owned the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and the Regs P3, and liked them both. Please feel free to ask my anything, or PM me. I’m happy to help in any way that I can!

Great question! So many options.

Used:
I think I would see if I could score an SL-1200, a pair of Yamaha NS-1000s or Pioneer HPM-100s, and spend whatever's left on the best receiver I could find.

New:
TT--Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Esprit. Or, perhaps better yet (if you're willing to go over budget), a base Debut Carbon DC and upgrade the needle to 2M Blue--no cartridge swap required!

Speakers--SVS Prime Towers from the SVS outlet. These consistently appear on "best speakers under $x" lists and they sound phenomenal for the price. They can be used without a subwoofer, and the trial period + warranty that SVS offers makes it risk-free to audition them in the room where you'll actually be using them.

Receiver--Assuming you've gone the Esprit route, you'd have $50 to play with on a $1,500 budget, which means you're still going to have to go used on the amp. I'd hit up as many Goodwills as often as possible in search of a good receiver. I've found several really solid units for $20-80 at Goodwill and other thrift shops. If you get the base Debut Carbon DC but decide to upgrade to Blue down the road, for about $200 I like the Yamaha RX-V line. Affordable, decent power, sounds nice, digital friendly, and would allow you to expand your setup to home theater at some point if you wish. Of course, that will necessitate the use of a phono pre-amp, but the ART DJpre II can be had for under $50 and it's great.

Get a basic 5.0 system, then add a sub. This should be good value for music and movies. I'm partial to Denon/Marantz for their musical audio quality, but some other folks on this sub may know a cheaper receiver that still sounds good. The speakers are definitely the best bang for your buck, but you could get higher quality speakers for music if you did a 2.1 instead of surround sound. Based on the 4K TV, I'm assuming you're going to be watching movies/tv more than you listen to music.

• AV Receiver ($280): https://www.amazon.com/Denon-Audio-Component-Receiver-AVRS530BT/dp/B06XYD1RZ3/
  
  
• L, R, Surround L, Surround R (2 x $90): https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/
  
  
• Center Channel ($80): https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-C-Channel-Speaker-Tweeter/dp/B00HHFBEK6/
  
  
• Speaker Wire ($11): https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-16-Gauge-Speaker-Wire-Feet/dp/B006LW0W5Y/
  
  Boom! Slightly overbudget but you get a good 5.0 surround sound, 4K/HDR compatible receiver, and you can throw in a BIC F12 subwoofer for $200 or a Polk PSW10 for $100 when you save the cash

OK. Here we go.

At your price point and experience level we should stick with solid state. tubes are more expensive and potentially temperamental. your speakers are solid, vintage big box bangers. Your room may not be too huge, but you need to push a decent amount of air to get those speakers to sound good. So you need at least 50 watts per channel.

Vintage: when in doubt, go pioneer. they sound great, look awesome and are built like tanks. I would recommend either an SX-750 or SX-780. Anything lower on the food chain might not be able to get your speakers going, and anything higher is going to be out of your price range. The 780 is a slightly later model and might cost a little less, but with no real difference in performance (IMHO). Unfortunately, getting a specific model means looking on eBay. Some folks have gotten burned buying receivers on eBay, I myself have been very lucky. Just make sure the unit has been recently serviced, and that the seller has a positive feedback rating AND SELLS A LOT OF ELECTRONICS.

If you do not want to go eBay, that means thrifts/yard sales/flea markets. Just look for something clean that has the WPC you need (at least 50 as indicated above). Look for the usual suspects, Pioneer, Marantz, Sansui, Technics. Also keep an eye peeled for Sony, Harman Kardon, Kenwood, JVC, Aiwa, etc.

2 things to keep in mind when looking for a vintage receiver:

1. Is it silver faced? It seems silly to judge a receiver on looks, but remember that silver facing was the style in the 70s, which was the golden age of hi-fi. When the faces started to turn black was when shit started to go down hill with consumer audio. Is every silver receiver good and every black one lousy? Not at all. But is this a good way to quickly get an idea about a receiver? Definitely.
   
   
2. Is it heavy? This is another good method for quickly judging vintage audio gear. In general, light weight means bad.
   
   New: a great new receiver in your price range is the Onkyo TX-8255. Has the 50 WPC your speakers crave. Also has a built in phono preamp (which you need for spinning records) which most modern receivers lack. As it is new there is no sweating shady eBay sellers, or worrying about it dying 3 days after you hook it up. But most importantly, it has a decent, neutral sound. Amazon has it for around $200
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8255B-TX-8255-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B001AMSPQI/ref=zg_bs_667846011_15
   
   Another nice new receiver that might fit your needs is the Sherwood RX-4105. At 100 WPC you will be banging it nice and loud. It will require an external phono preamp, but at $120 you can afford one.
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Sherwood-RX-4105-Stereo-Receiver-Black/dp/B0002EPWC0/ref=sr_1_24?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1313428014&sr=1-24
   
   If you go with the Sherwood, get this phono-pre, the Artcessories ART DJPRE II . You will not do better for under $100.
   
   http://www.amazon.com/ART-II-Preamplifier-Outputs-Switchable/dp/B000AJR482/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1376331900&sr=1-2&keywords=artcessories

Yep. Which is why they are mostly used in a desk setup. The smsl Q5 (only 50 watts) has a remote, but for $140 I would just look for a receiver. Many more options like digital connections and room correction software. Upgrading to a receiver was the best audio upgrade I've done. Hardcore audiophiles might scoff at receivers for no good reason, but for someone starting out, they are awesome.

I scored a refurbished yamaha 375 for like $130 on amazon. Crazy good deal. The 377 is $170 from amazon warehouse.

The yamaha stereo receiver is also another option with a remote at just $150. Two pairs of 2 channel. Also much easier to connect a sub to a receiver than a 2 channel amp.

Hit up accessories4less for other refurb deals too. Yamaha, denon, onkyo are what I would look out for. Usually good amazon deals on those too.

Ok. So you don't need to push a ton of wattage through your mains and a decent, but not insane, sub will do.

My, personal opinion, recommendations.

Receiver(In no order. These are just brands I respect with good enough features and wattage):

1. Harmon Kardon. $329.00 . http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-AVR-1700-Network-Connected/dp/B009HB2USI/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1383147455&sr=1-5&keywords=harmon+kardon
   
   
2. Denon. $259.00. http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-1613-Channel-Receiver-Networking/dp/B007R8U5QW/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1383164105&sr=1-3&keywords=denon
   
   
3. Onkyo. $259.00. http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8050-Network-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B004UR486G/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1383163556&sr=1-9&keywords=onkyo
   
   I have always had good to great experiences with the above brands. If looking stylish is at all important, do the Harmon Kardon. Also, in my experience, HK power is very very clean. All of these include wireless networking and HDMI switching. I would buy the denon personally. But, I'm biased towards denon.
   
   Subs:
   
   
4. Velodyne. $399.00 http://www.amazon.com/Velodyne-Impact-10-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B001GON5AG/ref=sr_1_4?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1383163718&sr=1-4&keywords=subwoofer
   
   
5. Klipsch. $399.95. http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Synergy-Sub-10-Subwoofer-Black/dp/B00D65QYMO/ref=sr_1_23?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1383163849&sr=1-23&keywords=subwoofer
   
   When it comes to these two subs, it's a crap shoot deciding which to get. Velodyne and Klipsch subs are both fantastic. I'm leaning, personally, towards the Velodyne. But that's just me.
   
   So, in conclusion, you had a budget of $800 dollars. If you did the Denon or Onkyo and one of these subs that puts you at 650. As a bonus, here's a used KEF center channel for 150 bucks on Ebay. It would give you 3.1 channel.
   
   http://www.ebay.com/itm/KEF-HTS3001-Piano-gloss-Black-2-Way-Uni-Q-3000-Series-center-channel-Speaker-/281195898826?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item417894e7ca
   
   Also, do yourself a favor and get something similiar to this:
   http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Remote-Control-Silver/dp/B004OVECU0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383164516&sr=8-1&keywords=harmony+remote
   
   It will replace all the remotes in your system and make switching from TV->Games->DVD much easier with Macros.

I wish I knew more about those speakers, but it seems to me that for general overall improvement of your sound, you're going to need to buy a receiver. This can generally be done on the cheap, and to make sure you get what you need, make sure you purchase a receiver/amplifier combo. I personally prefer Denon, and these things tend to look like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8255B-TX-8255-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B001AMSPQI/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1345570208&sr=1-1&keywords=onkyo+stereo+receiver

(Chose an Onkyo to share another worth while brand)

You have another couple of options left. Do you see yourself wanting to install surround sound (for a television or a very limited amount of music) or would a typical left and right speaker set up work for you? If just stereo (left and right), the above receiver will do great for you. I don't recommend buying new or online, buying in person and used tends to be the best option. Just be sure to test. Test. Test. Test. I also encounter some of these units in thrift stores (another place to definitely test).

sorry i forgot to add, im canadian so getting deals from canada is pretty hard /:

i don't really have a budget, but i would prefer to not spend too much money. im looking for value, and i don't want to spend any more than 400 bucks(canadian), but preferable i would like to spend less than that. if you think value lies somewhere above 400, then i don't mind getting it if the sound quality is improved by a huge amount

i'm gonna be using this for a playstation 4 pro, so i kinda want the hdmi input rather than optical or whatever

i also don't want to wait until black friday, as i have alot of free time now and i wanna set it up now.

when i look at all of these on canadian amazon, its just below 1000 bucks

https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-SP-BS22-LR-Designed-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2LG
https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-SP-C22-Designed-Channel-Speaker/dp/B008NCD2EI
https://www.amazon.ca/Dayton-Audio-B652-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B002RMPHMU
https://www.amazon.ca/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1000-10-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B0063NU3AA
https://www.amazon.ca/Yamaha-RX-V377-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B00HZE2WW8

again, thanks for your help, its the first time in this sub, and my first time posting things on reddit haha (:

I'm not an audiophile person, but I'm hoping that the knowledge base here can help me find an amp/receiver.

Criteria:

• Phono input
  
  
• Stereo only (I don't want video inputs either)
  
  
• I don't have speakers right now (not for this purchase anyway), but I want this purchase to last a long time, like the rest of my life. So in terms of power, I'm looking for versatile, adequate for powering speakers for an apartment, or a large room. With that said, I don't really want lots of power nor need lots. Quality over loudness is my preference. But I do want to be able to turn it up at times without distorting the music.
  
  
• I plan to hookup a turntable, CD player, and some sort of streaming device (bluetooth DAC of some sort), and MAYBE my TV, but I don't won't surround.
  
  
• I know there is bluetooth receivers out there, but I think I would prefer an external device because it is one less thing that could go wrong with the receiver.
  
  
• A remote would be nice, but not mandatory.
  
  
• If it matters, I listen to virtually EVERYTHING. Very few genres are not in my collection.
  
  
• Most of the time, vinyl is my preferred way of listening while at home.
  
  
• Ideally a built in tuner.
  
  I have looked at amps like the Onyko TX-8050 which matches most of what I want, but I'm not entirely sold on it. I'm not too big on the built in network features. I'd rather just have an external BT device that I can stream stuff to from my tablets/phone/laptop/etc.
  
  To sum it up, I want a long lasting stereo amp with adequate inputs for my needs.
  
  My plan is to purchase a Pro-ject Carbon Debut turntable (no particular reason other than they are clean looking and get the job done) to go with this setup. Budget wise... I'm willing to spend within reason to get what I want; maybe up to 1K? Outside of the turntable which I don't think is a big factor, I'm building my system around this purchase.
  
  I'd also consider buying used/vintage equipment, but not looking forward to having to track it down. Options are limited where I live and I want to be able to test what I buy so shipping is not an option. In terms of buying new, as long as it can be shipped to me, no restrictions.
  
  Thanks in advance and I appreciate any input you can share.

Disclaimer: I've read through the sidebar threads, but I have probably missed something. I also know NOTHING about electronics.

I have purchased the following things:

turntable: Audio Technica AT-LP60 Fully Automatic Belt Driven Turntable

soundsticks: Harman Kardon Soundsticks III 2.1 Channel Multimedia Speaker System with Subwoofer

It seemed like if I hooked the soundsticks to the turntable I wouldn't be able to get stereo? I got this because it seemed like an easy setup. The turntable has a built-in preamp. I couldn't figure out how to connect these though.

So then I got:

receiver: Sony STRDH130 2 Channel Stereo Receiver

Here's the user manual for the Sony receiver.

Still couldn't figure out how to connect the soundsticks.

So. Sigh. I got these:

bookshelf speakers: Fluance AV5 Powerful & Dynamic Two-way Bookshelf Speakers for Home Theater & Music Systems

And now it looks like I need wires??! And "banana plugs"?? And why do the banana plugs come with so many pairs?? Do I need 12-pair? Why?

I am obviously not an audiophile, but I like the sound of vinyl, and I just want to listen to some records (jazz, classical, pop, folk, etc.).

What sound I do? Should I return some of these things? What do I need next to connect these things and play music?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Maybe I didn’t spell it out easy enough for you or explain it well enough for you, or maybe you simply didn’t actually read what I wrote. So, let’s try this again.

There is NO quality loss with the es100 or any of the FiiO Bluetooth receivers. Quite the opposite. They have a built in AMP(this AMPLIFIES the sound and outputs more power to drive the headphones better), and on the es100 a DAC chip(Digital to Analog Converters that increases the sound quality). So it takes the Bluetooth signal and enhances it greatly. It sounds significantly and noticeably better and louder, than if you were to take the same set of headphones and plug them directly into the phone with the provided lightning to 3.5 headphone jack dongle. It also sounds way better than a set of Bluetooth headphones. Believe me, I have 4-5 different high-end Bluetooth sets, and have tried out all these different situations. Some of them sound ok, but don’t really get loud enough, and you lose a lot of detail in the music. There is no comparison to the es100 or Fiio Bluetooth receivers. They sound amazing! And you still have your phone wire free. The only thing that is wired is your headphones to the tiny Bluetooth receiver which you can just clip to your shirt or put in pocket.

Plugging directly into most phones sounds like shit. Phones don’t output enough power to really drive a decent set of headphones. So they also does not get loud enough for me personally.

If your someone that is content listening to music with the set of pods that come with the iPhone, then these devices are probably not for you. I myself have quite a few sets of headphones that require a cable, and I was pissed that I was basically being forced to use one of these dongles to keep plugging them directly into the phone, or use Bluetooth headphones. The dongles I kept losing/misplacing because they are so damn small and they are expensive to keep replacing, and I didn’t want to use Bluetooth headphones as the sound quality isn’t the best. Especially since Apple uses only the AAC codec and not better ones like aptx, aptx hd, or LDAC. So it forced me to look at different options and the es100 was the answer. I didn’t know how much I didn’t like plugging directly into the phone via dongle until I used this thing for a few weeks. Music that I have been listening to for years, all of the sudden sounded better, more alive. I was hearing micro details and sounds that you just usually couldn’t hear. It’s amazing!

Best $100 I ever spent. I know that that could be too much money for some folks, but it’s about the cost of a few of the Apple dongles! If $100 is too steep, the FiiO options uBTR is $28, the BTR1K is $50, and the BTR3 is $70. They can all be found here:

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-BTR3-Bluetooth-Receiver-Portable/dp/B07FVN14FH/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549717742&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=fiio+btr&dpPl=1&dpID=31GuLdGu5jL&ref=plSrch

Es100:

https://www.amazon.com/EarStudio-ES100-24bit-High-Resolution-Bluetooth-Unbalanced/dp/B078H4YD2L/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1549717742&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=fiio+btr&dpPl=1&dpID=31e1njGDDpL&ref=plSrch


Just so people know, I have no affiliation at all with either of these companies. Just products that have helped me get over the lack of a headphone jack on iPhones. And not having your phone connected to any wires is amazing. But you still get amazing audio quality which is important to me. Hope this helps some and clarified what I was trying to get across in my first post. Or not...

I would probably stick with 5.1.

Avoid "home theater in a box" or built-in bluray player / home theater.
Usually the speakers in those package are pretty bad.

I personnally have a Yamaha RXV-377 AMP(http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V377-5-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B00HZE2WW8) coupled with POLK speakers that i picked up on sale.

My room was already all wired up by the previous owner so i only had to plug everything and i was ready to go.

Here's a couple of things to look for on the AMP :
Number of HDMI port (i would not consider anything with less that 4-5 port).

Do you need features like AIRPLAY or spotify integration?
I personnaly have a Chromecast that covers all of that, therefore i did not need to go to a higher range amp.

As far as wired or not, you will lose some sound quality without wires, therefore it is up to you to hear how much you are willing to sacrifice for the conveniance.

Here's my opinion on a couple of brand :

Onkyo : Used to have problems with faulty HDMI boards. Not too sure if it is still the case but overall, good products.

Pioneer : Quality took a MASSIVE drop. I would not consider them for a while.

Yamaha, Denon : Good product, not much complains on those as far as i know.

Bose : Overpriced....probably the beat by dre equivalent of the Home Theater world.

The other brands, i do not have much experience with them, therefore you should research a bit before doing a move.

Speaker wise : Without ANY doubt, the best bang for your buck would be the Monoprice Premium 5.1 CH Speakers. It is a 700 watt kit... it should be enough and the sound quality is great for the money.http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=109&cp_id=10906&cs_id=1090601&p_id=10565&seq=1&format=2

Let me know if you have any questions, i'll try to help you out...i know this home theater world can be pretty confusing...

TL:DR - I think that list looks good, maybe consider a vintage receiver. I hope this is helpful.

Most people around here are probably more knowledgable than I am, but I thought I'd chime in because I was looking at doing the same thing a few months ago. I looked at everything on that list when I was shopping around and they all seem like good options. I ended up buying

Audio-Technica AT-LP120 It was on sale for closer to $200 at the time, but it's about as much as a u-turn. I've been super happy with it and the wirecutter gave it a great review.

I ended up going maybe a bit overboard with my speakers and got KEF Q150's. I'm really pleased with how they sound, and they are a massive upgrade from my cheap old bookshelf speakers, but I think I would have been totally fine with the Q Acoustics, which were my second pick.

My main regret was that I bought a Sony STRDH190. It didn't sound bad or anything, but I just didn't really love the sound, and I felt it looked kind of ugly. I ended up going down the vintage receiver rabbit hole and bought a Sansui 4000. I love how it sounds, and I was able to pick one up for $150 on ebay after waiting a bit for a good option. I spent another $80 bucks getting it serviced. A warning: This is a slippery slope. I now have 2 Sansui receivers, a Kenwoood amp, the original Sony I bought, and one disgruntled girlfriend all living in a 2 bedroom apartment.

The drawback of a vintage receiver is the lack of bluetooth playing your Spotify playists. I bought a Chromecast Audio to handle that. I use Google Play music, but I think it integrates with Spotify as well.

​

​

Strictly speaking, wattages and THD are a good guide for figuring out quality, but are certainly not a hard-and-fast rule. Knowing your brands and trusted opinions are better, listening to it yourself is best.

The link in the sidebar has some good ones.

I'm actually in exactly the same position as you at the moment, I'm considering this one as it's the cheapest (50w per channel, ~au$80 delivered), but apparently this one is much better even though it's only 30w per channel and is $20 more.

Or then again I could anticipate future upgrades and just go for this yammy amp which is 100w per channel for ~$190.

I really like that Denon one you've posted, though. Decisions, decisions.

Woo! That's a large space. And it's going to reverberate like mad, and there's basically nothing you can do about it. It's not the worst thing in the world though, it could have an enjoyable "arena" feel to it.

I would focus on durability and power for that installation. Since the room isn't acoustically good in any way, subtle differences in speakers or amps simply won't be heard. Good range and volume will be.

Get a durable and powerful power amp (perhaps Behringer or Pyle, something over 200W per channel). Could run you around $150-200, but will last and handle the conditions of the large room and work environment. Hook it up to a mixer (Might be too complicated, but if you set it up and leave it it could work well) or preamp such as this to control inputs and volume, and you can hook up your CD player, mp3 player, or whatever else you want.

We're up to about $300 here, which doesn't leave much for speakers, but speakers aren't that important for this space, you're looking for durability, good range, and power handling once again. Go with PA or DJ speakers with solid cabinets and durable drivers. Something like this, or this. They'll withstand the weather and open-air conditions of that place well, and will be easily mountable on the girders or walls.

Cheap speaker and RCA cables can be found at Monoprice. Probably worth getting outdoor-rated ones. That should do you well, I think.

If you're really looking for something simpler, go with a simple Stereo Receiver and some simple but durable speakers, such as these. You could even do 2 pairs of those speakers for even better coverage in the building, and hook them up to the A and B channels of the amp. You might not be able to turn the volume up as high on that system, but it will still sound pretty good.

Are you specifically looking for something super cool looking, like a lil' work of art on its own, or something that's just unobtrusive and not actively ugly?

A lot of affordable audio gear falls into the latter category. For example, there's this Yamaha which is the Bluetooth enabled version of the Yamaha receiver from the recommended list in the sidebar. Nobody will look at it and say "wow!" but it's fairly sleek and minimal & is not going to call attention to itself.

If you can live without FM radio you can use a tiny (paperback book) sized amp like this: https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SA-60-black-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B00PA3ECGK?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

A lot of bookshelf speakers are similarly inoffensive - they're just plain rectangles and many are quite compact.

The gorgeous speakers that actually sound great tend to be pretty pricy: https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=12097486011

Orrrrr...... put together your own set of DIY speakers and paint them or finish them however you like, Mr. Visual Artist. (It's my new hobby actually)
http://www.parts-express.com/cat/speaker-kits/286?N=19888+4294967118+4294963911+4294962514&Ne=10166&Nrs=collection%28%29%2Frecord%5Bendeca%3Amatches%28.%2C%22P_PortalID%22%2C%221%22%29+and+endeca%3Amatches%28.%2C%22P_Searchable%22%2C%221%22%29%5D&PortalID=1
http://www.diysoundgroup.com/speaker-kits/overnight-sensation.html

Hi!

A friend of mine recently bought the Dayton B652-AIR, which sound phenomenal for the price. They're on sale right now for $50 from Parts Express. I haven't heard the basic B652, but the reviews seem to indicate that the AIR models are worth the extra money. They have a better crossover (internal circuitry) and an upgraded tweeter that's supposed to provide smoother treble and more clarity.

Second, you're going to need an amplifier to drive those speakers. Your previous system had a built-in amp. I recommend this little guy which is a barebones amplifier that produces nice clean sound and has a very small footprint and a reasonable price.

It won't amplify your headphones, though.

Something like this receiver would cover all your bases-- provide power to your speakers and your headphones as well.

If I were you, I'd just use an analog cable to attach my source (computer?) to the receiver.

Oh, and you'll need some speaker cable to connect the speakers to the receiver.

So, I have a roomate and I'm planning to play this game on midnight release alllll freaking night long. My roomate has work the next day so I already thought about this and looked what my options are so I'll tell you in most simplest terms:

Option 1: If you have a smart TV with bluetooth capabilities BAM problem solved you can pair your wireless headphones (In which case I have Sony Over Ear Extra Bass Wireless Headphones


Option 2: If you're like me and don't have a smart TV, but you want to use wireless bluetooth headphones you're going to have to get a wireless bluetooth adapter which is this one here. You plug it in to your TV headphone jack OR your RCA red and white cable and pair your wireless headphones like that. Great thing about this adapter is you can charge while using!

Option 3: Get good ol' wired headphones and plug it into your tv.... most gaming wired headphones have long enough wires for you to plug and play comfortably.... but nothing beats those extra bass wireless headphones :)


Cheers! 29 more days!

Looks like it's currently $299 new at Amazon, vs. $249 at A4L. Either way, it is a pretty good deal; but for me, the 3-year warranty was worth spending a bit more.

If you go new, the dealer matters WRT the warranty. Since there are multiple dealers behind the listing on Amazon, it's worth double-checking that your particular seller is on the D+M authorized dealer list.

It's November; so you could also wait for sales around Black Friday, if you want to save a bit more. Use CCC (or your favorite price checker) to get alerts. I hope you enjoy it, OP.

Why not both?? I collect CDs and records with my own personal sound system.

Get yourself a receiver. This is what I own. You can plug your PC or use bluetooth to connect devices to it, so stream, CD, or anything. And your turntable can plug in directly if you have a built-in pre-amp (see below for options/suggestions).

Get some bookself speakers. I own these and are good for their price, but BE CAREFUL. The receiver is pretty powerful and you risk blowing out your speakers, so don't blast it at 100 for like 48 hrs straight. These are the tower versions.

Turntable time!! Most people bash on the Audio Technica LP-60 for it's tracking force, lack of counter-weight, and speed and such but it's a decently priced TT with a built-in pre-amp for starters. Willing to spend more? Audio Technica LP-120 is fantastic. I own one.

Lastly, just buy an artists music, and support them, and that is what satisfies me.

I paired my carbon with this amp and these speakers. I bought my girlfriend the same set up but got [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8050-Network-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B004UR486G/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1395520405&sr=8-6&keywords=Onkyo+tx) amp instead. They both sound pretty awesome. The only time I wish I'd bought full range speakers is when I'm listening to something like aphex twin with crazy deep bass and even most of those tracks sound pretty good. Their are some audiophile forums for buying used gear where you might be able to find some stuff cheap like Audiogon.

Alright, your TV has RCA outputs and the option of fixed or variable output through there. If you wanted you could just grab two JBL LSR305 and connect them with RCA to TRS cables. Probably $450 total but would sound much better than the miccas. Go into your TV audio settings and select variable audio out. This way you can change volume through your TV remote. Just set the amp on the back of the JBL speakers to 8 or so and never touch them again.

If you want to go the passive speaker route for upgradability then you can grab a stereo receiver like this Yamaha for $200. Just plug your TV in with RCA cables. This allows you to spend an extra $100 on speakers. You'll save even more money if you look through your local listings for a used receiver. If you like the Klipsch sound you can go for these. Otherwise look through your local listing for a good tower speaker that you can afford. I was going to recommend the Pioneer FS52 but a pair of those would go over your budget. You can try pairing them with a cheap SMSL amp, but I would be worried they would distort a tad early.

The best sounding setup out of the box would be the JBL LSR305, but it's also the least upgradeable setup.

For beginning, I always just recommend an entry-level Denon AVR and 2 Polk speakers. It's good enough that it will be a million miles ahead of a truly cheap setup, and if you ever want to upgrade to nicer thing you'll have no problems just swapping things out. Polk is pretty mainstream and budget friendly, and Denon is also pretty mainstream and has a nice room-correction/calibration thing that they do called Audyssey.

AVR could be anything basically like this: https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVRS530BT-Channel-Ultra-Receiver/dp/B06XYD1RZ3

And for speakers: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-TSi200-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B0018QROCC/

And for subwoofer: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-Single/dp/B0002KVQBA

For an AVR you'll be spending around or just north of $200. And for a pair of front speakers, I think you'd spend around or just north of $200 for the pair, too. You can also get some kind of really cheap nightstand tables to hold the speakers up, or go more expensive and get taller floor standing speakers. Just like how you want a TV to be roughly eye level, it's good to heave the tweeters of your speakers at roughly ear level.

You can go WAY nicer than all of this, but I am assuming you're pretty budget conscious and would rather just get something that sounds massively great compared to just using TV speakers or a soundbar, and you're not ready to spend a grand or more on audio to approach the really fancy levels.

Active speakers have separate audio and power inputs. They each have a power cable going to the wall in addition to a cable going to the media device. They do not require an external amplifier.

Passive speakers only have one combined audio/power input. Most speakers are passive and require an external amplifier.

For a home theater setup, I have been recommending a 3.0 + receiver setup for years to my friends. My friend finally purchased a center channel and wishes he would have done it years ago.

Home theater receivers like this one are 4k HDR HDMI switches and amplifiers built into one. You would plug your media devices into your receiver and switch between them using the receiver instead of the TV. I do not recommend using an analog stereo amplifier in a home theater setup - buy a good current generation 5.1 receiver and you won't have to replace it unless it breaks or until HDMI goes away.

After picking up a receiver, you would need some speaker wire and then some passive speakers to pair with it (like OP). Connecting the speakers to your receiver is as simple as connecting red to red and connecting black to black.

Post script: Most media now is produced primarily with 5.1 mixing, meaning that the dialogue is engineered with the assumption that a dedicated center channel speaker is present. Your sound will be way more clear if you were to buy a receiver and stereo speakers compared to built-in TV speakers, but there is a massive massive difference once you are able to listen to the proper 5.1 sound mix when using stereo + center channel setup. Ever felt like you needed to turn up the sound to hear the talking and then turn it down once a chase/shooting scene started? That ends when the characters can talk through a center channel speaker.

As others have suggested, /r/zeos is a fantastic audio resource. I've been extremely happy with all the gear I've purchased from his recommendations.

Looks like your turn table has a built in Phono amp meaning all you need is a good set of speakers, wire and a stereo/integrated amp.

The speakers you mentioned are rated at 6ohms meaning they are going to need a little more power to drive than a typical 8ohm speaker.

I don’t know much about the amp you are looking at but I see it’s rated for 50watts @ 8ohm and your floor standing speaker is wanting up to 100 Watts.

If your looking to rock these 6ohm towers I would suggest something a little more robust like this 100watt stereo amp:
Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMQI2CU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G9ycBbTJ03SEX

Also a good place to grab great and affordable interconnects you will need check out Monoprice. You will need an RCA audio cable to plug your turn table into the amp:(just get the correct length)
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5346

And speaker wire to plug the amp into the speakers:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=14915

That should keep you well under your budget.

If your not set on your speaker selection I can’t think of a better budget speaker than Elac’s B6.2. I own the previous model B6. All the same recommendations above apply in regards to amp and interconnects.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07B4Q5587/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527354185&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=elac+b6.2&dpPl=1&dpID=41xPo8h5y6L&ref=plSrch

1. What is your budget?
   $500
   
   
2. What are you looking for?
   Looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers, a 2-channel stereo receiver that can be used as a home theater setup with my speakers, playstation, and tv.
   
   
3. How will you typically be using the gear?
   I will use the gear for music (indie rock, hiphop - no EDM), gaming, and sound for my TV (sports, movies, shows)
   
   
4. What gear do you own?
   The only gear I own are my TV (60" Samsung LED 1080p Smart TV), and my playstation 4. I could probably figure out some stands for the speakers too. Other than that, I have nothing.
   
   
5. What do you intend on using for a source?
   Right now, I want to play music off my phone and/or laptop. Sound also playing through my TV/playstation. Down the road, I want to get a turntable and start collecting records.
   
   
6. What material will you be using your gear for?
   Gaming, music, movies, sports, shows. Music - indie rock, hip-hop, ambient, punk rock, post-rock, etc. No EDM business here.
   
   
7. Are you willing to buy used?
   Would rather not.
   
   Someone kindly gave me a few suggestions before, but I'm afraid the stereo receiver isn't what I need. I'm a bit of a newb to hi-fi audio - but would the receiver suggested below satisfy my needs? I feel that the stereo receiver would need some HDMI inputs for the playstation and an output to the TV? Hopefully someone can help me with this. Here were the suggestions that were given by a previous individual (which, thanks for the previous suggestion! Just want to make sure I am getting everything I need before making a $500 purchase.)
   
   Bookshelf Speakers - Elac B6, $279
   
   Stereo Receiver - Yamaha R-S201BL, $129
   
   Wifi Addition - Airport Express, $49
   
   Thanks!

The simplest thing is probably to just get a regular old receiver without Bluetooth, then get a Bluetooth adapter that plugs into one of the receiver's inputs.

There are some receivers that have built-in Bluetooth. For example, the Denon AVR-S500BT has it, but this review says it does not have aptX support, so personally I would avoid that if Bluetooth is important to you. Apparently there are some Sony models with built-in aptX, but they get so-so reviews.

A quick aside about aptX, Bluetooth audio was originally meant for phones and voice, so it is really not that high quality. There is an extension called aptX which allows much higher quality. It's not quite CD quality (though they advertise it as that...) but pretty close. If you're going to use Bluetooth for music, I'd say aptX is pretty essential. (Of course, your phone or whatever needs to support it as well.)

So, since there don't appear to be many receivers with built-in Bluetooth that get high ratings and have aptX, I'd go with a separate Bluetooth adapter.

Luckily, several manufacturers offer this. From a quick glance at amazon.com, it appears the Yamaha RX-V377 receiver ($250) and the Yamaha YBA-11 ($50) are compatible with each other, both get good reviews, are in your price range, and support aptX. (The RX-V377 is an AV receiver, so it does video and stuff, but it looks like their regular audio-only receivers aren't really much cheaper.) Disclaimer: I've never used this receiver or anything, I just did some reading and found that it seems to meet your criteria.

Congrats on the turntable! I got a 120 for Christmas, too; I'm really enjoying it!

I like your setup. You may find that people have very passionate feelings about Bose speakers, or pretty much anything in the audio chain, really, but ultimately what matters is how you feel when you're sitting there listening to them.

That receiver would be a good match. Here's an alternative for $50 more, with what I think are nicer aesthetics. I've had good luck with Yamaha amps in the past.

First of all.... Your a saint!! I never expected someone to actually go on craigslist for me!!! Just one question though. The reason I spent so long on craigslist before was that I kept finding deals i thought were good, but finding the same product cheaper online. For example I found the wharfedale for 125$
https://www.ebay.com/p/Wharfedale-Sapphire-Sp-87-Floor-Standing-Speakers/1576240027

kEF for 111$
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KEF-Q35-FLOOR-STANDING-SPEAKERS-MAHOGANY-FINISH-VERY-GOOD-ORDER-/273044768350

Is ebay still generally cheaper than craigslist? Or is there a reason I should use craigslist instead of ebay. BTW I think the klipsch look like best bang for buck I think....

Edit:
Also I have narrowed it down to between the Sony and Yamaha receiver. Both have used options for 78$ for sony
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B006U1VH2S/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

and also 125$ for yamaha.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01EMQI2CU/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

In your infinite wisdom is yamaha worth the extra 45$? Once again thanks for your first response.

Hey! I'd like to purchase a receiver, new or used, for under $200. There are two highly rated models on Amazon:

Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Receiver R-S201

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00F0H88SY?pc_redir=1411312586&robot_redir=1



Onkyo TX-8020 Stereo Receiver

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EE18O7W?pc_redir=1411220328&robot_redir=1



So far I just have a set of Pioneer Andrew Jones bookshelf speakers. I'd like to purchase this receiver in order to play FLAC files from my laptop. In the future I'd like to add a turntable to the setup. I'm okay with not having surround sound.

Also, I'd be comfortable buying vintage if you feel that's a better option. Here's my local Craigslist:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/ela?query=receiver




Thanks for your help!

I have been putting together a 5.1 system, and was wondering if you would be able to take a look at it! Maybe something you would recommend other than what is here. This set up is a little more than I wanted to spend, but from what I have read about each piece, it seems to be worth it. Any advice is appreciated!


Denon S500BT


BIC America F12


Micca MB42X Center


Micca MB42X BookShelf


Fluance AVBP2 Surround


A few questions I have:

• Are the Fluance dedicated rear speakers worth the extra 50 bucks over 4 of the Micca bookshelf speakers?
  
  
• Is the Micca center speaker a recommended speaker? I didn't see it listed in the OP, but I found it while searching through amazon, and figured that matching the front two speakers was a good idea.
  
  
• I was also looking into the Denon E300, but I don't see any advantages over the S500BT - any advice?
  
  
• What other things will I need to complete this system? Some speaker cable for sure, do I need a sub cord or any banana plugs? It doesn't look the S500 uses plugs, but I figured I would ask.

$149 -

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Bluetooth-Component-Receiver-SX-10AE/dp/B075SY52NL

Mulitiple ins, A & B speaker outs, an actual reciever with bluetooth and FM, tone controls, better power supply, better amp, better everything.

Amazon is selling the open box for $134.10 if you hit

["Used & new (5) from $134.10 & FREE shipping. Details"](
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B075SY52NL/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all
)...

Amazon warehouse's "Used - Like New" deals are perfect. I've bought a couple like that from Amazon... no issues, perfect condition. Prime one day shipping, backed by their same return policy.

-------

If you need optical ins - you're just around the $200 mark - and you get A LOT more including networking options.

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/onktx8140/onkyo-tx-8140-2-ch-x-80-watts-network-stereo-receiver/1.html

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrn303bl/yamaha-r-n303-2-ch-x-100-watts-networking-stereo-receiver/1.html

I dont claim to be an expert in audio, but this sony and this yamaha are popular new receivers. If you want a deal, try craigslist or FB marketplace. They aren't the worst spots to look but it takes patience.

There are also lower end amps if you dont want to spend a crap load of money, something like this would also get the job done. It wouldn't be the most amazing amp ever made but it wouldn't be the worst.

As for the preamp, it depends. Some people have no problem using a table's built in pre, others think they're garbage and even cut them out of the table. Using the built in pre saves some money but the sound quality won't be 100%. Might be more in the range of like 90% but that's not acceptable for some.

It's really what you are ok with. I personally run through my lp120's pre into an active speaker right now, but i'm getting a cheaper amp and passive speakers to free up my active speaker cause it's more portable and has other uses for me. I'm sure someone will tell you how I'm using a terrible setup, but it's what I'm ok with.

I am going to be using this article plus my own personal experiences in the 7 years I have been collecting: https://www.techradar.com/news/best-turntables


Turntable: Audio-Technica ATLP120USB Direct Drive Professional USB Turntable Price $229.00 (On Sale at the time of this writing) it comes with a built in Pre-Amp so you are good to go. This is one I have been eyeballing myself.


Amplifier: Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver Price $149.95 (On sale at the time I am writing this). This is the one I personally use and I love it. It has multiple channels so you can allow for growth. For example I got a stereo cd player at the local thrift store I am trying to upgrade. I just need RCA Cables to hook it up which I do.


Speakers: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-T15-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Price $49.98 (Sale at the time I am writing this)


Wire from speakers to Amp: AmazonBasics 100ft 16-Gauge Audio Stereo Speaker Wire Cable - 100 Feet Price $13.49


Headphone Adapter (Trust me you'll need this if you want to listen to music via headphones) Adapter Price: $7.99


Subtotal: $450.41‬ plus taxes. I think you have wiggle room on the speakers, but I searched for high rated ones. If you need help setting up your Turntable and Stereo please feel free to reach out and I can help! :D

That player should have a preamp if I remember correctly. So all you would really need from there is a receiver and speakers. If you get a receiver with a phono input, turn the preamp off on the record player and make sure to use that input in the back. If it doesn't, you'll need to turn the preamp on.

Here's what I mean, this receiver has a phono input while this one doesn't (at least it doesn't list one and the back inputs don't say). I'm not saying buy either of these or that they're great cause I really don't know, I'm just using them as examples.

You'll hear from a lot of people around here to look for vintage equipment. I would agree with that. In that case you'll want to scour craigslist, ebay, garage sales, etc.. You can probably get a great vintage receiver for ~$50 (not sure what that is in pounds) if you do some looking. Just don't expect HDMI inputs and the like.

For speakers there are a lot of options. Don't cheap out and use crappy speakers. Buy some nice bookshelf speakers; I say bookshelf speakers instead of floorstanding speakers because those seem to be the most used for a 2 speaker set up. I'm not sure what brand most people use around here. I have some Yamaha's from the 90's that I absolutely love. Vintage speakers can also be found for less than new speakers.

But what receiver and speakers you should buy really comes down to what sound and usage YOU want. A 2/3/4/5 speaker set up? Subwoofer? Do you also want to use your receiver for your computer's and/or TV's sound?

I got my first TT about a year ago. It's an AT-LP-120. After a year of loving it I'm ready to upgrade my sound. I am planning on removing the built in pre-amp, and getting new speakers.

I've picked out the Polk Audio RTI A1's for my new speakers but now I need help finding an amp and a pre-amp to go with it. I have seen people recommend receivers and amps but I don't know what I should go for. I was looking at the Yamaha RS-201 for a receiver. I don't really know where to start for pre-amps, as I've seen tons of different things recommended.

I want to keep my amp+pre-amp solution around the $200 mark, but if you think that's not possible then let me know. If you guys have any suggestions on how to proceed that would be great.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S202BL-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B01EMQI2CU nice, I cant wait to get a reslly nice pair. Gonna put $200-300 in and see how it sounds. These super cheap entry level ones I got sound awesome haha, check my recent post Im in my hunt trying to get best sound setup.

Here are ny shitty speakers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N8265I8/?coliid=I22UAKVWQSK1N7&colid=4CPRNO6Q8AA7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it still sound great compared to tv

I don't think there is any other way to get audio into the unit. The best option might be keeping a Bluetooth transmitter in the car. Something like this. There are a ton of Chinese rebrand variants on Amazon, but that one seems to be the most popular. You will need to arrange power to micro-USB port as well. Maybe mount it somewhere and use a 3.5mm extension cable.

Another option is to save your pennies and wait to see how the Alpine iLX-107 turns out.


I haven't recorded a memo or anything to see how the mic quality is, but noone I've called has commented either way. It seems to work well enough--"Hey Siri" works even with music going at a comfortable volume.

HSU Hybrid 1 Package is what I got ($709). http://hsuresearch.com/products/hybrid1pkg.html

One of the best subs you'll find under $500 and it compliments the HB-1 MK2s great. The bookshelves have 6.5" woofers and solid mid-range reproduction. The satin finish is sublime, none of that vinyl crap.

Yamaha V381 ($210) from accessories4less but buy from their Amazon storefront for better return policy https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V381BL-Receiver-Black/dp/B01BY7YOAY. If you don't have a 4k set or aren't worried about it, you can get a better receiver for cheaper.

The receiver is good, but it'd be worth spending more on it to either an Aventage line or Marantz, either one from accessories4less.

EDIT: Get your ofc speaker wire, subwoofer cable, and banana plugs from monoprice.com. Shouldn't be more than $30 shipped.

I use an AmazonBasics Bluetooth adapter with a nice set of 2.1 Creative PC speakers.

The adapter has the quirk of always reconnected to Echo Dot's Bluetooth if it's turned on. The speakers never go to sleep. The sound is excellent, and there's a subwoofer with adjustable bass so that my Amazon Music Unlimited account is put to good use.

It's about $45 for a set of those speakers used, and $20 for the Bluetooth Adapter. Alternately, Creative updated that model of speakers with Bluetooth built in, so you could go for that-- But I already had the previous model, and I can't vouch for how the Bluetooth works in the newer model.

Either way, the $20 adapter is great if you already have good speakers that you know don't go to sleep.

Hey Guys, I'm trying to create a some-what cheap and MODERN set up for myself with multiple use (but limited channels in the receiver, so I found a receiver with Bluetooth option) and high convenience... Am I missing anything? Or is there anything I should add?

Cheap Bluetooth w/ Limited Channels Receiver

Turntable, and I really love this one.... Really Jacks Up Price

Speakers that come with wire, but adding a spool from amazon anyways...

Wire and Plugs

Do I need anything else? Hi-Fi amp or something? The turntable comes with a phono-preamp and the speakers look decent and are at my price range. Any tips on how to set this up as well? Including the best way to use the plugs or if I should get different plugs.

With the current prices of this post, the overall price is... $462.88 USD and W/O the turntable, it is $213.88 XD

Replacement Turntable that is affordable which puts the new price at $298.88

To give some different perspective as someone who worked with a budget much like yours, what I ended up going with was:

• Receiver: Denon S510BT, $230***
  
• L/R: Micca MB42X, $80/pair
  
• Center: Micca MB42X-C, $80
  
• Rears: Sound Appeal SA-VF6.5S, $60
  
  That comes out to $450, so you can spend the remaining $50 on a mounting solution for your rears, if necessary. I did all my research on Zeos' subreddit.
  
  It's got a center for dialogue, it's 5.0 (so I guess the one clear downside is no subwoofer within budget for you), and it's not a HTiB.
  
  Full disclosure, I did end up upgrading my L/R MB42X's to a pair of MB42X-C's, just because I could then take the MB42X's and put them elsewhere in the house, but that doesn't really change my recommendation of the base setup at all.
  
  ***The only caveat I would offer with regards to the setup is to look at the various receivers at this price point to make sure you get the features you would want. For example, from my perspective, a receiver with support ARC would be better and the ability to use banana plugs would be a nice to have (both of which the S510BT doesn't support). They aren't major gripes because you can get around ARC by using optical out from your source, and regular wiring isn't that big a deal, but it's things I didn't realize had to be considered when I started this journey, so I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it here.

My recommendation is do NOT get a sound bar! You can get much better sound for the money and bars are notoriously bad, even the higher end versions. If you can spend up to $500, I would get a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 2's. For $200 less, you can pick up some KEFQ100s (I use the Q500s for gaming personally). These are both passive speakers meaning you will need an audio visual receiver to power them, but you can pick one of those up very cheap on craigslist. If you do not have an amp/avr to power these, I would get these:

Speakers: https://www.amazon.com/KEF-Q100-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers-Black/dp/B0047K3X1M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511213706&sr=8-1&keywords=q100

AVR:https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V381BL-Receiver-Black/dp/B01BY7YOAY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1511213787&sr=1-1&keywords=rx-v381

If you already have an amp/avr *or can get one for free/cheap on craigslist, I would get these:https://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Audio-Bronze-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B002LPTH92/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1511213758&sr=1-3&keywords=bronze+2


Both of these options are highly regarded in the audiophile world and receive great reviews by reputable audiophile groups like WhatHiFi. The best part is if you decide to upgrade your sound system or want to use them for something else, they will be great stereo speakers that you can use somewhere else in your house. If you buy a soundbar it's use is limited and it provides very low quality imaging.

Hey all,

I am looking to set up an AVR system and I am in need of a set of speakers to go with it. I haven't decided if I want a 2.1 system or a 5.1 system yet.

This will be the AVR system that I will be getting: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V5VJ3TM/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I listen to a lot of electronic music and alternative music, and then I would also use the system for movies and my PS4. I would prefer if the system be tailored for the music over the movies/gaming. I would like to spend no more than $500 on the speakers overall, but preferably around $300 would be great too.

The speakers would be centered about my TV, with my desk close by (back corner of the room).

I would love some advice as to what kind of speakers to get to create a good system for around this budget. Thank you in advance!

So my parents gave me some pretty devastating news... They wanted a bose system. "How could they!?" I asked myself whilst attempting to console my emotions with my bookshelf speakers and a giant 90's receiver...
Okay, so it didn't go quite like that but my parents are looking to purchase an all-in-one sound system from Bose, that is 5.1 with a receiver and some other random thing I can't tell what it is. So my budget, $1500 needs some solid (preferably floor standing) L and R speakers, a nice center, two in-ceiling speakers for the rear, a subwoofer, and a receiver... I'm thinking this Denon AVR-S500BT for a receiver, and this Dayton Audio SUB-1000 for a subwoofer, and maybe these Polk Audio RC80i's for the rears; they are two-way speakers so you can't distinguish where the sound is from behind you.
As for left, right, and center, I'm at a loss... any ideas? With all the above stuff my budget left for L, C, and R is about $970. Help me /r/audiophile, you're my only hope!

Budget:

About $500 total, could go up to $600 for a receiver and a pair of speakers. Will add sub woofer and anything else wished for later. Located in US.

Looking for:

Receiver and 2 floor standing speakers as a budget starter kit for music listening and movies.

Usage space:

In a 20 x 25 room, speakers near one wall (will have clearance behind them) on either side of 54" TV.

Owned now:

I currently have nothing. A nice big TV (and a few input devices such as PS4 and Apple TV) but that's it. Small Logitechs in the kitchen for iPod music playing. I want to bring it all together in a nicer package in the living room for music to start.

Source:

iPhones, PC, PS4, Apple TV. I can play music, etc.. wireless through the Apple TV, so wireless would not be a sticking point in receiver options.

Source material type:

A wide range. From Mozart to Metallica, and from gaming to movies.

Buy used?

I generally wouldn't, but I am open to all arguments otherwise.

To give you an idea, this is what I had in my Amazon cart before I stopped myself and came here:

Receiver
Yamaha RX-V379BL

Speakers
BIC America Venturi DV64

Help! I like to help in the PC building department, but audio is dark magic to me. Thank you so much for any assistance!

I'm not sure about listening to both through the TV itself, but you can output your TV's audio as well as your phone's audio through an audio mixer or an A/V receiver and into a speaker system. A mixer like this or a reciever/amplifier like this would work just fine.

There are benefits for using both. A/V receivers are optimized for home theatre systems (processing both audio and video signals from separate devices, hence "A/V") and can output audio to a surround sound system, whereas mixers are usually used to process audio only (used in music studios/concert venues/home recording.)

For the simple purpose of playing two audio sources at the same time I'd go with a cheap mixer, but if you are looking to upgrade your home theatre system in the future, then maybe consider investing in a receiver. You'll need a set of speakers for either one, and probably adapter cables if using a mixer.

You can totally get both high quality TV and music audio over wireless for a reasonable price. Check out the Chromecast Audio or Apple Airport Express. Both will stream audio over wifi to any speaker setup you go with.

I only have experience with Apple's Airplay, but if you have a couple Apple devices, it's super simple to use and works really well. You can pick up and Airport Express for ~$20 used.

For example, a pair of Micca MB42x (I'd recommend the PB42x instead, but they seem to be out of stock), an SMSL SA-50 amp, and an airport/chromecast would be about the same as the lowest-end sonos setup, and sound a lot better. For your TV, you can use a receiver instead of the amp to switch between the Airport/Chromecast input and the TV input.

If your budget is bigger than that, then swap in a better pair of speakers. Your speakers determine 90% of the quality of your system, so spend the most on them, not expensive wireless solutions.

(this is very similar to how my house is set up, so let me know if you have any questions)

I've had older Sony receivers do this, along with losing surround output, and other anomalies. To be fair, my latest one purchased about 5 years ago didn't end up having issues.

I think repairs will probably be more than it's worth but you could look into it if you have a local shop.

Otherwise maybe go for the Denon X1300 - a popular recommendation around here:

$250 refurb:
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx1300w/denon-avr-x1300w-7.2-ch-x-80-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html

$300 new:
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X1300W-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B01EHWFE3O

Or grab any other receiver that you prefer, just do your research and make sure it has HDCP 2.2 which will future proof you for 4K/HDR over HDMI.

Good luck :)

Hello! I'm in the process of furnishing my recently finished basement. I just got a new 75" TV (Samsung Q80) set up and a place for my gaming consoles to go. Now I'm looking to add a decent speaker system, but I'm quite uneducated in this area and was hoping someone could advise! Here is how things look currently: https://imgur.com/f3ETe65

The space will be used mostly for gaming and watching sports or movies. Budget is undecided, maybe around $1k? Could go higher if needed. I was thinking the middle speaker could go on the shelf right below the tv (so it would need to be somewhat thin), and the receiver to go on the shelf next to the middle speaker. Then not sure about the left and right speakers - either ones that would sit on the ground on either side of the shelf, and the subwoofer right next to one of the speakers, or mount smaller ones to the left and right of the TV and just have the subwoofer on the ground to the right of the shelf. The surround speakers I would mount smaller ones to the wall in between the windows seen in the TV's reflection.

I have a receiver I bought like 5 years ago (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HZE2WW8/), but not sure if I can or should use it here. Would greatly appreciate any advice on setup or specific products that would work well for me. Hoping to buy sometime this week for Black Friday sales. Thanks!!

What's your budget? The simplest solution is this:

Bluetooth Audio Device -> Amplifier -> Wall-mounted speaker inputs

To do this, you will need to buy the bluetooth device plus an amplifier which can drive all of the speakers (how many are there? do you know the impedance of a single driver or how they are wired?) The wires/cables shouldn't cost much, the big spend here is the amp.

If you want to add in the TV, you will need a mixer/auto-input selector and a cable long enough to go from your TV to the amp:

Bluetooth Audio + TV -> Stereo Mixer -> Amplifier -> Wall-mounted speaker inputs

With this solution, the TV will always play downstairs.

If you want the TV to only play upstairs, you will need two amps and a Y-splitter for the bluetooth audio:

Bluetooth Audio (Y-splitter out 1) and TV -> Stereo Mixer -> Upstairs Amplifier -> Upstairs wall-mounted speaker inputs

plus

Bluetooth Audio (Y-splitter out 2) -> Downstairs Amplifier -> Downstairs wall-mounted speaker inputs

If you are using cheap amplifiers such as the ones made by Topping/Pyle/SMSL then this doesn't have to break the bank.

The other option:

If it's not that far from the TV to the wall-mounted inputs, you could just put an AV receiver under your TV and run speaker cables to the wall around the corner. Some AV receivers even come with built-in bluetooth. That way, you could use the AV receivers remote control to choose between sources. You could also use the receiver's remote to choose between normal stereo output (connect the "front" speaker outputs on the receiver to the upstairs speakers) when watching the TV and "all channel stereo" mode (as before but the downstairs speakers will also be connected to the "rear" speaker outputs on the receiver).

Thinking about it, as long as you don't mind using a remote to switch sources, this is the better option. You can choose between having sound upstairs and downstairs (or both) and you can choose between multiple inputs. The AV receiver will also be better suited to driving the speakers because it will have multiple amplifier channels. Just make sure that it is one that has an "all channel stereo" option (sometimes called party mode).

EDIT: More info

For example, this Denon AVR-S510BT receiver will do what I have described above. See pages 55/56 of the owners manual where it talks about "Stereo" and "Multi Ch Stereo" playback.

Ok cool. No need for me to drag this out too much more but here in Denver we have amazing deals such as this one:

https://denver.craigslist.org/ele/6107718293.html

Anyways - what I'd do is this - grab a Yamaha RX-V379bl or similar for around $230.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00V5VJ3TM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494299813&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=yamaha+2.2+4k&dpPl=1&dpID=31pVrlfIHSL&ref=plSrch

Then I'd grab something like these tannoy towers for $280.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01AT33J6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1494300026&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tannoy+speaker&dpPl=1&dpID=41s1xNU9wbL&ref=plSrch

This center for $200

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LYSQXK4/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1494300530&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tannoy+eclipse&dpPl=1&dpID=41ulOt6tZhL&ref=plSrch

And a few of these for the rears.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MF7Z6WZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1494300662&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tannoy+eclipse&dpPl=1&dpID=414LYZKE-6L&ref=plSrch

For a budget subwoofer you are hard pressed to beat the Parts Express lineup such as this one.

https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1000-10-100-watt-powered-subwoofer--300-628

This is just a sample as there are a ton of options out there --- good luck!!

Sorry to say you will need an integrated amplifier, like this.

The input- your ipod or computer- would plug into the amp, and you use the amp to control the speakers.

Those speakers do not have volume or tone controls. The "integrated" part means this unit integrates the amplification- the part that gets your sound up to a signal level that can drive your speakers- plus things like volume and tone control and input selection (you can plug more than one input in at a time).

You may be tempted by small, cheaper desktop amps like this Lepai Tripath amp.
it's your money, so feel free to experiment, but those are pretty hefty speakers. They are going to need more power than that little Lepai amp can provide unless you're content with low sound levels. Otherwise you'll be overdriving the amp all the time, sending distortion to the speakers which could blow the drivers.

An alternative to an integrated amplifier would be a receiver like this Onkyo model, if you are among those who still listen to radio.

if you want to save money and don't mind a little risk, there are many classic integrated amps and receivers on ebay available for good prices.

So basically, what you'd recommend would be the HTD Level Three Bookshelf speakers, and the Denon X1300, and then add a sub later on when I have the budget for it? (The two above already put me around 700$).

I've trying to keep my purchases on Amazon due to having a ton of Amazon gift card credit right now. Would there be an equivalently good speaker to the HTD Level Three's that is available on Amazon, or is the HTD Level Three the best bang for my buck?

Ok, so these would be my recommendations for that price range:

Amplifier ($64) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003OELGGG/

This is a very reasonable amp for the price. It is pretty good sound quality for this price range. It also has three RCA inputs in the back, and a 3.5 aux input in the front. This allows you to connect up to 4 different audio sources to it. It seems like you want to have several difference sources, so that's good.

This amp provides 120W per channel @ 4ohms. That means for a typical 8ohm bookshelf speaker, you're looking at 60W per channel. That means it can get really fucking loud.

Speakers ($65) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RMPHMU/

These are actually excellent bookshelf speakers for the price and several times better sound quality than the ones you originally linked to. These come with speaker cable, so you don't need to buy that separately.

USB Charger ($11) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LCDJ7LG/

You wanted USB charging for an iPhone/iPad. This Anker charger is very high quality and provides 2.4 amps to each of its two USB ports. That means it will charge two iPads at full speed, and charge an iPhone significantly faster than the cube charger that it comes with.

Bluetooth Receiver ($23) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KXYXXK2/

Pretty self explanatory. It receives bluetooth audio from a phone/tablet/laptop and sends it to the amp. It can be connected to the amp through a 3.5mm to RCA cable. It is also NFC enabled so it can pair with Android phones super easily.

CD Player ($35) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007F9XHBI/

With was actually pretty tough. No one seems to sell stand alone CD players anymore. There is no market for them. You might as well plug in a portable CD player. The next best option is to plug in a DVD player through RCA audio cables (the red and white ones). It might seem silly, but it works just fine. You don't need to plug into a TV at all, since there are playback controls on the DVD player itself, and the small screen on it will tell you track info. Honestly, there is no point in buying a new one. If you have an old DVD/CD player laying around the house or can buy one on Craigslist for $10, go for it.

Record Player ($99) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008872SIO/

Recored playback seemed to be kinda optional for you, so this will take you over budget a little. However, I already mentioned, all-in-one systems with a record player built-in sound terrible and ruin your records. The record player I'm suggesting really is the cheapest decent one you can buy new. It's the one to get if you care about good sound quality and not ruining your records.

This nice thing about this set-up is that it's completely modular. Over the years, you can upgrade or replace individual components without trashing the whole thing.

Let me know if you have any questions about these components or anything else.

Over the weekend I grabbed the above amp from Goodwill for $30. There wasn't a lot about it online - so I posted on this sub asking about quality, reputation, etc. One user suggested that I post my impressions on here to serve as a reference for people who have the same question in the future - so here it is.

I had originally intended to use this amp in my garage or somewhere else as part of a second system. Yesterday I swapped out my other amp with this one to see how well it paired with my speakers - a set of Akai SW-a70s. The amp I've been using is a Sony STRDH190. When I posted about it on here I got both positive and negative answers about the quality of the amp - but it absolutely blows the new Sony out of the water. Everything about it is significantly better. Highs, lows, clarity....everything. Now, I'm not saying that it would compare to higher end stuff - but IMO it was $30 VERY well spent and anyone who is on a budget and looking for an amp for a starter setup will not be disappointed. The thing will rattle my windows. When using the Sony there came a point where the volume still allegedly has 20% or more to go but it seemed to have maxed out. In fact, I had never seen my woofers even move with the Sony amp. Even at full volume. With this amp they are absolutely pumping. I could dry my hair with the port holes.

So, long story short - it was exactly what I needed it to be and more - and for $30 I think it's an absolute bargain. Some audiophiles may turn their noses up at it - and maybe I will too at some point - but I think most people would be thrilled to have something like this for so little.

Some say that $500 isn't enough but I think it's plenty.

You can get a Yamaha 385 for $279 at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V385-5-1-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B07BNXXJKB) and then just look for 2.1 speaker set. I'm sure you can get something entry level for another $220. Just plan it properly. Get "small" front speakers for now, that you can move to the back when you want to upgrade. In this case you don't need to sell and rebuy everything.

My first ever system that I got was a Yamaha 371 amp and it is still going strong with every day use.

​

Edit: I see the other guy suggested a refurb Denon for way cheaper which is good, but it's also out of stock :)

This one seems to have thhe 4K hdr features and gets decent reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YHT-3920UBL-5-1-Channel-Theater-Bluetooth/dp/B00V9Z2WZG/

Obviously you can spend thousands on speakers, but for your budget you are looking at a package like this or something similar.

If you wanted to step up a bit on the speakers you could go with something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CMVY7Q

You would need to add an AVR, though, which woul put you a little over budget. Something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG

That would likely be a pretty nice setup for not too much over your budget.

A 2.1 system made of individual components (not a theater-in-a-box) will still knock your socks off if you're used to a soundbar. I think high quality audio is more immersive over mediocre surround sound anyways.

I went for maximum bang for the buck with my setup, sound quality improves drastically with every dollar spent up to a point. The return gets marginal once you soend more than $300 on a receiver, $150 on bookshelf speakers, and $200 on a subwoofer.

I'd recommend the following parts for a good setup and I listed some budget options you could substitute without losing too much quality:

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V377 or RX-V375 (what I have). They're $250 and $220 respectively (the 375 is usually $200) and they both have enough HDMI inputs for any normal person. The 377 supports 4K passthrough so it may be more future proof but I don't think 4K will catch on (just like 3D) since the benefits are marginal at typical viewing distances.

Speakers: Pioneer SP-BS22-LR's (what I have) or Micca MB42X's. Both are frequently on sale for $80-100 and they both sound awesome. If you're on a budget, the Dayton B652's are legendary for the the price ($40). They changed (cheapened) the design and ruined it last year but quickly brought the original design back. They fixed their mistake but they could ruin it again at any time.

Subwoofer: Bic F12 America (what I have). It's $190 but it will ruin your perception of every subwoofer you've ever owned. Once you experience crisp, clear bass you can never go back to over amplified 6" "woofers" like you get with a soundbars or the plastic junk that comes in boxed 5.1 kits. If you're on a budget, the Monoprice 12" sub is $108 and is supposed to be the absolute minimum you can spend to get something acceptable.

Ancilliaries: Buy your cables from Amazon (Amazon Basics brand) or Monoprice but I highly recommend this $9, paintable cable management kit and an afternoon of patience. Your wires will be invisible and your sound system will make your friends jealous.

I just meant that the functionality isn't built in natively, not that it can't be done. You could always use something like this bluetooth transmitter. It looks like it has to be charged, but if you aren't using it all the time, that shouldn't be a problem.

If you aren't opposed to buying refurbished with a warranty, there are a lot of great deals on receivers at Accessories4Less. If you really want monitor 2 output to avoid the HDMI splitter, some good choices might be the Denon AVR-x2200W or this Denon AVR-S910W. The benefit of the x2200 over the s910 would be having Audyssey Silver rather than Bronze for room EQ.

And don't be fooled by the 170 Wpc figure given by Pioneer for the power rating of the VSX-1131. That's 1 channel driven into 6 ohms at 1 kHz with 1% THD and is just a way to inflate the number for marketing. Both receivers I mentioned are at that level, just marketed in a more conventional way. I'd rather have a Denon or Yamaha over a Pioneer unit anyway. Just my 2 cents.

Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01EMQI2CU/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1519841814&sr=8-2-fkmr1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=yahama+stereo+receiver


Audio Technica AT-LP60B Turntable
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008872SIO/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519841897&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=turntable&dpPl=1&dpID=41r7Qsa8SUL&ref=plSrch


Polk Audio TSi100 Bookshelf Speakers
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00192KF12/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519841960&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=polk+bookshelf+speaker&dpPl=1&dpID=410nZ6jqYQL&ref=plSrch



Sorry for the late response. This is definitely a budget setup but honestly it sounds awesome. I couldn’t be happier with this setup.

Hey Zeo, could you go over my first set-up and see if everything would work together? Here's what I got so far:

Behringer UAC202 DAC

Sherwood RX-4109 105 Watt Stereo Receiver - Any opinion on this? It seems really good for the price but seems like a gamble from what I read.

Pioneer BS22 - I've heard the BS22s are very power hungry which is why I decided the above receiver would be a good match for it.

From my understanding it would go something like this:

Laptop <--DAC <--RCA--> Sherwood Receiver --> BS22

Is that correct? And would I benefit significantly from purchasing a subwoofer?

Yes. Do this.

Right now I've got that exact lepai driving these $125 speakers (set). They were designed by Andrew Jones, who is one of the more successful speaker "engineers" whos last speakers retailed for over $40,000. They sound fantastic. They rival speakers that I've heard at almost 5x the price.

I added Bluetooth fuctionality with one of [these receivers] ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GX71GNO/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?qid=1427739222&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=bluetooth+audio+receiver&dpPl=1&dpID=41ATezzg6pL&ref=plSrch )

The cool thing about getting a real set of bookshelves and starting receiver like the lepai is its cheap enough to upgrade later when your budget allows. You can go ahead at some point and get a real 5.1 or 7.1 receiver and the other speakers (matching or not). Many, if not most modern receivers come with Bluetooth and or apple airplay built in. Even something like the [Yamaha 375] ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HZE2WW8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1427741141&sr=8-2&keywords=yamaha+receiver&dpPl=1&dpID=31Cl2ylwH0L&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SX200_QL40 ) has more than enough horsepower.

Razer is not know for bifl.

I suspect that you wouldn't notice a significant upgrade in sound. I'd upgrade your amp to a better one.

Edit:

If you are looking for better, louder, cleaner sound, and are looking to spend about $150 to do it (price of the Edifiers), then consider replacing your class D mini-amp with this Pioneer stereo receiver. Its class A/B amplification, and will provide a lot more clean power for your speakers. It also makes future upgrades easier, as it has a sub out on the rear.

Oh, and most important for you, it has bluetooth.

EDIT

I cannot confirm that it is class A/B. It might be Class D. This isn't the worst thing in the world... it might still be better than than miniamps... but it might not be, too. It does give you a few more connectivity options and does have bluetooth, but it might not be the best bang for the buck.

If it is class D, hopefully it's a better class D amp. It should be better than the Kintner, I'd think, though.

I'm a fan of a Yamaha with Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers, great value all around, this is what I recommend to people who are starting out:

• https://smile.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V379BL-5-1-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00V5VJ3TM
  
• https://smile.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IK8I9K2
  
  Depending on other recommendations you might want to get a 5.0 set and go with another sub. Stay safe out there!
  
  EDIT: For the DJ bits you could go with a 1/4" to RCA so people could just plug their phones in, using bluetooth for that would probably suck. Maybe a chromecast audio if you want people to just be able to cast to it to have a jukebox like effect.
  
  EDIT 2: The Pioneers also come in all bookshelf too, which might make more sense to save space: https://smile.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00LBI88IQ?th=1

Going solid state would open a lot more options. In this case what I would recommend is looking at a Harman Kardon HK3390. You can find them for $170 used on amazon. The benefit of this is that it has a lot more power and a built in phono stage. This opens up more options for speakers, though the Energy ones are still not a bad choice, and could help your analog problems.

To pair speakers with this I would get the SVS MBS-02. These are a great deal right now at $400 and will provide a bit more bass extension to the Energy speakers. One thing to note though is that these are quite large speakers. I don't know what you were using for stands, but you want to be aware that they might not be up to the task of holding them. Do not try to pair these with the tube amp, though as they are quite inefficient.

If the above is too far over budget, you have a couple options. You can stick to the Energy speakers I recommend before or you could go for a cheaper receiver like this Sherwood, which still has a phono input.

Fellow Panasonic plasma owner here.


You're gonna need a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) to change the digital signal from the TV (over the Toslink cable) into an analog audio signal over red and white RCA cables. The way I see it you have 2 options.




Powered Speaker Option - $428

• Fiio D3 DAC - $28
  
  Digital conversion is a pretty mature technology. You don't need to spend any more than this on a DAC.
  
  
  
• Audioengine A5+ $400
  
  
  If you don't want a receiver, these are the #1 most recommended and well-reviewed powered speaker pair around.
  
  
  Passive Speaker Option - $268
  
  
  
• Fiio D3 DAC - $28
  
  
  See above.
  
  
  
• Yamaha stereo receiver - $150
  
  
  Not a home theater receiver just two nice big amplifiers and some basic switching capability. You can control the volume with your cable box remote or buy a cheap Harmony universal remote they're really fantastic.
  
  
  
• Pioneer bookshelf speakers - $90
  
  
  One of the most highly recommended bookshelf speaker pairs to come around in a long time.

Couple questions.

First you say you are looking for speakers, then you say it has to have an AUX jack. So are you looking for recommends on a whole setup? i.e. speakers, amp, source?

You mention ability to add more speakers in the future, so i assume you don't mean a standalone bluetooth speaker.

Also, budget. In the audio world, for what I think you are looking for, you could spend from a few hundred bucks, to a few thousand, probably even more.

For starters, I would recommend:

AMP:

If you want to add more speakers later, but have a budget, get a stereo (2.1) receiver, such as - Yamaha - Has A, B, and A+B, which is two zones. meaning two sets of two speakers. Can play either, or both. This receiver also has bluetooth. No aux jack though.

Speakers:

Micca MB42X - these are very decent. Z has reviewed them. Should be a good shop speaker.

Don't forget the little stuff, speaker wire at the minimum (16 gauge or bigger), banana plugs are helpful.

He would be covered for FM radio, and bluetooth with the above. If you want him to be able to stream from a laptop he would need a DAC, to convert the USB output to an analog signal. Let me know if you need a recommend for one of those.

Ok, so you asked about a lot of things, but we need to start with your budget.

You said you wanted at least 5.1 surround, with fairly tall front speakers, a subwoofer, and a rumble chair. This isn't really going to happen for less than $500.

I think, if you're into rumble, focus the bulk of your budget on quality subwoofers and forget about the rumble chair.
You're also probably going to have to focus on 2.1(two speakers + subwoofer) instead of 5.1 for now. A nice 2 speaker setup will always best a mediocre 5.1 setup.

Here's the cheapest, decent 5.1 receiver:
Denon AVR S510BT
Here's a cheap, powerful subwoofer:
BIC F12 subwoofer
And here is a cheap pair of crystal clear satellite speakers
Klipsch R-14m

Totalling about $570, and you can add more speakers later for 5.1 surround.

I decided to buy some speakers off of an old friend. Less than a hundred hours of use, the Infinity Primus P363 towers pair, and an Infinity Primus PC351 center for a grand total of 270 bucks. Pretty sweet deal IMO.

Anyways, I live in an apartment, room size is probably 12' by 14'. I'll be playing music probably thirty percent of the time, and the other seventy percent will consist of a pretty even split of gaming and movies. Going to connect my Polk audio 10 sub (I think, still debating) to the system. All connected to a Yamaha stereo. Will be using a projector for my TV, and that will complete my home theater.

I want to rotate those speakers 45° but I'm sure you know your own setup.

Nice looking TT, I love the wood plinth.

You can easily add a Bluetooth receiver to your Pioneer amp if you wanted to get rid of the Insignia.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I59VBH4/ref=asc_df_B00I59VBH45258766

Thanks for the response!

​

There wont be too big of a gap between now and the sub, probably about 3 months.

​

Good call on the banana plugs, didn't know they existed!

​

Would this receiver be applicable? I assume how the setup will go is, I plug the right and left speakers into the FR and FL in the back (I assume there's a negative and positive wire for both which i'll insert into the banana plugs)... Then I plug the subwoofer into the "pre out subwoofer" using the subwoofer cable. Lastly, a optical cable going from the reciever to my motherboard in the "Audio 1" at the top left....

​

I hope I'm right with the above....

​

I only seem to be missing the 14 gauge or thicker wire, what would that be used for?

​

Thanks again for the awesome reply.

​

Edit: Also I know this is for a 5.1 channel system, which may or may not happen in the future, just want to have it available.

For a receiver, you could look at the Yamaha R-S202:

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S202BL-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B01EMQI2CU?th=1

Bluetooth built-in. Plenty of RCA inputs for other things. Can drive four speakers (zone A and zone B simultaneously). Brand new for $130.

Yamaha has a decent reputation for building good receivers. It's a simple stereo receiver without a lot of bells and whistles. Interface is pretty simple also. I just bought one of these to drive 4 speakers (Yamaha NS-6490) in a small/medium sized gym for a friend. Affordable, easy to use, does what's needed and nothing more. There are other options (of course), but this was a good solution to what I was looking for. Might work for you also.

Could have gone with a small integrated Chinese DAC+amp (e.g., SMSL AD18), but I was worried about sufficient output power and the overall robustness of the system. It will be used by various people, some of whom are not particularly tech savvy (you should have seen they way they tried to connect up the speaker wire to the receiver when I accidentally left them unconnected after some maintenance, oy!). So I wanted all of the robustness and niceties (e.g., solid big remote, instruction manual, tech support, warranty I can trust, etc.) of buying a "real" receiver from an established company.

I'm assuming you only need stereo and aren't intending to setup some kind of outdoor home theater with a 5.1/7.1 speaker setup.

Here are the basics things that are part of a home theater. Speakers, Subwoofer, Reciever, TV, and all your other consoles and such.

Typical setup would involve connecting your PS4, DVD players, etc into the inputs in your Receiver. Then you connect your Receiver output into your TV. TV always stays on the same input and you use the Receiver to switch between activities.

Next you connect your audio out on the Receiver to your speakers and subwoofer. If you are doing 5.1, then that means 5 speakers + the sub woofer. The 5 usual speakers are placed at the LEFT, RIGHT, and CENTER of your TV, somewhere near the front of the room. Then the SURROUND Left and Right speakers are placed behind wherever you sit in your living room.

When you say your house was wired, I am guessing this means that you have the speaker wire running to at least those 5 locations. Hopefully this also means you already have built in speakers. If not you will need to buy the appropriate speakers and install them wherever the speaker wire was run to. Once you have your speakers in place, if the set up was done properly there will be some central location in your living room where you will place your Receiver as well as your PS4, and other equipment.

If you are looking to get a good sound system, as you say for $200-300, it is possible if all you need is the receiver. If "sound system" includes the set of speakers you will be pushing it to meet that budget, and in my opinion it wouldn't be worth it. Better to wait until you can afford a decent set up. If all you need is a receiver for 200-300, I would recommend a basic one like this to start: http://amzn.com/B00HZE2WW8. (You will notice that on that page you can get a bundle that includes a speaker set, but that bumps the price to $425). Other people may have their own opinions, but I have always had good success with Yamaha receivers. The one I linked has 4 HDMI inputs and 5.1 sound.

Gave these a try at my Best Buy. They sound pretty amazing given the size.

Is the Sony receiver I'm looking at good or should I reconsider that as well? Also thinking about the Yamaha-RX-V379 or the Denon-AVR-S510 as other options.

Hey, good link. That Yahama looks legit and 100 watts is good but...

The link you provided says:

• no phono input — to connect a turntable you'll need to add a phono preamp.
  
  This Amazon link explains of your Yamaha better than what I'm talking about.
  
  You will need to get a turntable WITH a preamp. The AT LP120 has one BUILT into the deck. You just switch a button on the back.
  
  If you get a turntable WITHOUT a preamp, you will need something like this:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Phono-Turntable-Preamp-Preamplifier/dp/B00025742A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527625753&sr=8-4&keywords=phono+preamp
  
  Most NEW turntables being built have a preamp built into it. So if you got the Yamaha and the AT LP120 you'd be good to go. The speakers you have will work with the inputs on the back. What's cool is you can also buy powered speakers and use the AV jacks as well.
  
  Do NOT get a Crosley.
  
  
  

Thanks, after looking at the speakers you linked I decided on the SX6 with the MartinLogan Sub! =) For the receiver I am doing a Denon with bluetooth. I am grateful for your input! No wonder they call you the Home Theater Guru!

One last question, for speaker wire what type of guage do I need to get the best sound? Thanks in advance!

Hello all,

So I'm currently running this receiver: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMQI2CU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VIMGybE5P73FE

With no DAC. A friend of mine said the best upgrade for me would be to buy a better receiver with an integrated DAC, "better quality sound". How true/necessary is this? I was considering upgrading my bookshelves before my receiver.

I normally run music from my desktop or through Bluetooth. I have a great processor, so from what I understand a sound card wouldn't change much. Should I consider buying a separate DAC?

for that budget, i would go with something like this. it will suit regular TV and dialog just fine, but you might find it lacking when it comes to music, but then again, that depends on what your used to, for many people who have basic Ipod boomboxes and tv speakers its fantastic. its definetly going to be a nice sounding setup.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OG88KY

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MBUSD6

depending on where your tv sits and if you have room for it, you may need some speaker stands or wall brackets.

This is good for now. dont worry about other stuff untill you have more money. use the Audio output of your TV to feed the reciever.

I was planning on using an active subwoofer with it, yes. I was also thinking that having the extra channels would be good in case I wanted to add surround speakers in the future. The garage is HUGE and I really like my music loud and with a punch.

I ended up getting this pioneer instead.. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075SY52NL?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=YS1884CJJSDNH26RF5Q9

Maybe you two can educate me as to WHY you feel it wouldnt "turn out too good" instead of being condescending?

OK - if you don't mind...

He's holding the Sansui but has a Harmon/Kardon 330b for a bit more. I'm definitely loving the vintage idea, but not sure if that's something I should go for, or spend the money on a modern unit and do this Yamaha that I frequently see recommended. any advice?

edit: both are out of my budget - i'd like to stay $100 or under, especially with something used on CL, but I'm also very impatient and miss listening to my records lol.

L/R: ELAC B6

Center: ELAC C5

Sub: BIC F12

Receiver: Denon S510BT

Speaker placement can be hard to figure out, but that all depends on the space. 3.1 is fairly easy even in small areas. I had a small living room and this worked out great for me.

When a better idea of the space you have, I could give you a build on what I'd do based on your budget.

Instead of throwing out part numbers I'll throw out some advice on what you can do to get the most out of what you're looking at.

For now I'd start with good pair of speakers and an amplifier that can handle what you want to do long-term (5.1, 7.1, inputs, etc.). Put everything you can into these for now, then expand in the long-term. Reason being, for $400-500 you can a fairly solid 2.0 system together, but for that range with surround sound you'll be looking at home-theater-in-a-box junk that you'll outgrow pretty quickly if you're really interested in sound quality.

A receiver/Amp that I see mentioned a lot that I've personally used is this Yamaha. It's a fairly simple 5.1 setup, but will likely suffice for your future expansion.

As for speakers.. what is the room size like that you're using? Do you want small bookshelf speakers? Big towers? Used or new? Anything you've seen/heard that caught your attention?

If you don't mind a single cable, I love the MEE M6B buds. Fantastic battery life (8+ hours), bluetooth 5.0, and sound great. IPX5. $30 USD

If you don't mind using a set of cables, You can use any 3.5mm headphone with the Fiio BTR3 bluetooth receiver. Built in AK Dac, Can be used as a USB Dac from any computer, 11 hours of playtime (can use while charging), and works with any normal impedance headphone (i can use with 300 ohm headphones, but they aren't that loud.). $70 USD.

There is a less expensive model uBTR that comes without the DAC/9 hours battery life. $30 USD.

​

I haven't had too much experience in this price range, but these products I own myself and use them both for difference reasons. Good luck hunting!

For that budget (more or less) I would choose:

-Turntable: Pro-ject ESSENTIAL PHONO. Includes a very decent cartridge. 299$. It is worth it spending the extra 30 bucks.

-Amp:Sherwood RX-4109 99$. That is only if you want a new one, and from amazon. For that price you could find something better but used, or you could search a bit more for sales. But for the price it is a solid choice.

-Speakers:Sony SS-B3000. 75$ Those look decent. There is a lot of choice in budget speakers, but those are good bang for the buck from those offered at Amazon.

Total 475$ instead of your 433$ (cables excluded). The amp I suggested has a phono stage too, so for 500$ you are ready to go. Whatever you choose, don't try to save money on the TT. If 300 is too much for you, you could get a used one that would be still better and cheaper that the Audiotechnica.

You said "used", but didn't provide any Craigslist or local links, so can't provide info on used gear, but here's something that ought to keep you happy:

• Elac B6, $279
  
• Yamaha R-S201BL, $129
  
• If you're an Android guy: Chromecast Audio, $35
  
• If you're an Apple guy, Factory Refurbished Airport Express, $49.
  
• If you have a bit of free floor space, you'd ideally want the speakers floor standing. Dayton Audio SSMB24 ($52 looks like decent 24-inch option. Fill them with aquarium sand from a pet store (don't use building sand or other sand intended for outdoor use, as it eventually starts stinking).
  
  Total: $495 or $510, depending on whether you're an Android or iPhone guy. Your next purchase after you have a couple of hundred bucks extra would be a DAC (see below).
  
  Since you have no gear currently: Ignore a turntable completely. For an actual pleasing experience, you'd blow through over half of your budget on it.
  
  You're not saying whether you own a usable DAC, or what your TV is, but as long as your PC or TV doesn't sound terribly noisy with headphones today, I'd ignore a DAC for now. If not, you'd get good returns by stretching your budget a bit.
  
  > Found this on groupon
  
  It has seven more channels of pre-amplifcation than you need, and five channels of power amplification you don't need

You can get a bluetooth transmitter and a receiver that will allow you to use any headphones you want.

There are some that are both in a single package (don't buy that one though, its garbage. Doesnt support apt-x codec and doesnt say if its bluetooth 4.0, which means it probably isnt).

You'd have to buy two of them though, which can get pricey.

Another option is to add bluetooth to your PC using something like this and then using a bluetooth receiver like this that you plug your headphones into.

Note that I've never used any of these devices except for the kinivo usb dongle. It works pretty well, and I believe that the video on my phone synced up pretty well with the audio that was being sent to my PC. But, like I said, you should try before you buy if at all possible.

I don't know tons about receivers but one thing that will help people help you is to let them know if you only want new or are willing to go used. If you are willing to go used, post your local craigslist or equivalent. You can find a lot of vintage receivers for around $100 on many craigslists, but they can be hit or miss. Also, do you have preamp? It doesn't sound like it so you will need a dedicated phono input on any receiver unless you buy a separate preamp.

I can't comment on the quality but I've seen one or two people post this Onkyo TX8020 Receiver on here before as a very cheap starter unit with a dedicated phono input. Also, seen people post this Yahama R-201 Receiver as a cheaper intro unit, but you need a preamp.

For a $100 budget you're pretty limited as far as a custom installed setup. Have you considered a bluetooth speaker that you could hard wire power to?

If you're dead set on an installed system you'd have to scour the used market, find a pair of outdoor weatherized speakers, run wire to them from a cheap amp/receiver, and use a bluetooth A2DP dongle receiver, probably best to purchase off amazon.

This being said, I honestly wouldn't recommend it. I think you'll save yourself a huge amount of time and energy just getting the best portable bluetooth speaker you can afford.

Wireless speakers are not going to be cost effective and you'd still need a power source. Below is a setup for around $200 that would sound great. All you'd need to add is some speaker wire and either some wall mounts or shelves. (You might be able to find better deals with some shopping around.) Good Luck.

I've seen these as low as $49 a pair.
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS21-LR-80-Watts-2-Way-Speakers/dp/B004MEWZE4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1413466468&sr=8-6&keywords=pioneer+andrew+jones+speakers

OR
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=109&cp_id=10906&cs_id=1090603&p_id=10800&seq=1&format=2

Receiver
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH130-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B006U1VH2S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1413466553&sr=8-4&keywords=2ch+receiver

As everyone mentioned, buy a used TT. Typically, you can find stuff used, in good working order, and much higher quality than anything new in the price of $75-150. I personally like the Pioneer line of direct-drive turntables from the late 70s and early 80s. Something like the PL-518.

What are you planning to buy for speakers and amplification? Whereas there haven't been advances in turntable technology because there hasn't been a market for 20+ years, there actually have been some great advances in speakers and amplification during that time. So I'd recommend you buy new for these pieces. Be aware, the mass market products are generally crap these days (think HTiB stuff--the mass market just doesn't care anymore).

For ~$100, one could pickup a a pair of Micca MB42s or a pair of DA B652s and power them off something like an Indeed TA2021.

Of course you'd still need a phono pre-amp (look at the Art DJ Pre II) and bear in mind, you won't have any input switching with that setup. If want to switch in different inputs, Yamaha has an affordable line of stereo receivers. The R-S201 for $150 will still need a phono pre-amp.

Hi, first time poster here. I'm about to pull the trigger on my first turntable setup, but I feel I need to check in with the helpful people on this sub with the equipment I'm thinking of buying and whether or not its all compatible. Other things like isolation pads for the speakers, better record sleeves, a cork matt, a record brush, gram scale, and a cleaning kit are accounted for. Are any of those things unnecessary?

The following is strictly the hardware. I've been torn between two different set-ups however.

SET-UP 1: Audio Technica AT-LP120 ($299) & the Micca PB42X Powered Bookshelf Speakers ($120). TOTAL: About $419

SET-UP 2: Audio Technica AT-LP120 ($299), Micca MB42 Passive Speakers ($60), and the Yamaha R-S201BL 2-Channel Stereo Receiver ($130) TOTAL: About $489

I'm also unsure about adding a subwoofer for I don't know if one is essential or just a nice thing to include for the complete package. My eye is on this one: Pioneer SW-8MK2 100-Watt Powered Subwoofer ($160)

Any and all advice is much appreciated.

You definitely can get excellent sound for $350, or less. It's just a matter of whether they integrate "smart features" or not. I'll take a pair of bookshelf speakers with Bluetooth over a smart speaker that sounds good but isn't smart at all. Here's an example for less than $350. Yes, I'm aware it's not a compact package, but are you taking your homepod somewhere?

Yamaha Stereo Bluetooth Receiver:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMQI2CU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_g.DEAbBSNWZQM

Polk (Total $250):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RJLHB8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_K9DEAbANX73G8

Klipsch (Total $350): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MGQAH2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZvFEAbVA0SGCQ

Bonus: Chromecast Audio
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/google-chromecast-audio-black/4532100.p?skuId=4532100&ref=212&loc=1&ksid=6465e409-54ed-4859-8101-a7005b7edd1e&ksprof_id=16&ksaffcode=pg265795&ksdevice=m&lsft=ref:212,loc:2

You want one of these.

Haven't used one myself, but I have had good experiences with TaoTronics products and their support is great.

These general consensus is these are going to be a better bang for your buck.

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-Designed-standing-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676180&sr=1-1&keywords=denon+receiver

As far as sub goes. These cheaper reccomended are:

https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1000-10-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B0063NU3AA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676249&sr=1-1&keywords=dayton+audio+sub-1000

https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676267&sr=1-1&keywords=bic+america+f12

or my personal favorite:

https://www.outlawaudio.com/products/m8.html


There are other brand like Chane and HSU that get great reviews as well for speaker/subs.

Hi /r/audiophile!

I'm in San Francisco. Budget is flexible. Totally willing to buy used from craigslist/letgo.

I have a pair of NHT ST4s that I've had for a few years. I love their sound, but unfortunately have them paired with a pretty cheap/tin-y receiver, a Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver.

The receiver has done fine so far, but I'm revamping my set up and think it would be nice to upgrade them. Any recommendations?

The ST4 specs can be found here.

Specs:

System Type: 3-way system, upper chamber-acoustic suspension, subwoofer chamber vented

Drivers: 1' Fluid cooled neodymium magnet structure tweeter with NHT's proprietary aluminum heat sink. Mid-Woofer 6.5" polypropylene, high excursion. Woofer 8" polypropylene, long throw.

Magnetically Shielded: Yes, except 8" woofer.

Frequency Response: 31Hz- 22kHz +/- 3dB

Crossover Frequency: 2.6kHz, 135Hz

Sensitivity: 86dB (2.83V at 1M)

Impedance: 8 ohms nominal

Inputs: 5-way binding posts

Recommended Amplifier Power: Minimum 15 watts/ch Maximum 200 watts/ch

It will probably sound great.

You could probly add a Bluetooth dongle like this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I59VBH4/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Those speakers are pretty good. Check the woofers on them to see if the foam bit that connects the paper cone the edge is rotted out, this will be really obvious just from looking at it. The foam can be replaced fairly easily.

For such a small space it seems your budget of $1500 for sound is way overkill, unless your planning to keep the gear when you move to a bigger place.

For a room that size, get a receiver like this

some bookshelve speakers like these

a subwoofer like this

rear bipole speakers like this

and finally some speaker wire and banana cables.

This set up is beautiful in my small apartment living room. All in all that comes out to ~$520 and you can use the rest of your money on a TV upgrade.

Sony has stayed at the top of the portable audio industry for like the past 40 years.
They still make some of the best Hi-Res portable media players with super high quality DACs/headphone amps that range from $180 all the way up to $3k+.

They also recently developed LDAC to go along with their portable players, which is arguably the highest quality Bluetooth codec available right now. It actually allows all but the highest tier lossless audio formats to playback via bluetooth without quality loss. Very few headphones can actually receive LDAC yet (most of those that can are made by Sony of course) but you can get pretty affordable bluetooth receivers, like the FiiO BTR3, that will give any wired pair of headphones the capability to use ultra high bandwidth/low latency bluetooth.

Well, if you were looking for two channel I would do something like either this Yamaha or this onkyo. For speakers that would leave you 150 ea, for something like these wharfdale diamond speakers, which are a part of a larger series so you could expand them in the future to use these for surrounds and get a larger set like the Wharfdale 230's

If you want a surround sound system, you could always just pick a receiver like this Yamaha RX-V379BL or Denon AVR-S510BT

I use a Technics built in the 80s, which I love. It's 100 watts per channel with 2 channels and sounds spectacular. Admittedly, it's better with digital input than audio, and I'm looking to upgrade to a tube amp this year. It is, however, more than sufficient for a full, beautiful sound.

This one is okay, but doesn't have a phono input so you'd have to use a pre-amp for one of the inputs. This would reduce your sound quality noticeably. It is, however, inexpensive.

Sony STRDH130 2 Channel Stereo Receiver (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006U1VH2S/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_hrY2wbYF5NEST

In further research, I found this one, which seems very decent. It's in your price range and has 4 channels at 100 watts each. There is a phono input with a built-in pre-amp, which is nice. I'd do some more research first, but on first glance, this one looks promising:

Sherwood RX5502 100 Watt x 4 RMS Dual-Zone Stereo Receiver (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RGR50U/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_exY2wbS5GXTWE

That's actually a pretty big pavilion. I'd go rent some PA speakers and a real amp. Five little wifi speakers aren't going to work for a pavilion like that with more than a dozen people in it.

As far as connecting an iPod to the amplifier, I'd go with a dock that has an unamplified stereo output (something like this). If you want to go wireless, use a bluetooth receiver instead. Either option will work with any standard amplifier that you can rent.

FWIW I used to DJ in clubs and did a couple of weddings as well. It's easy to underestimate how loud those events get and how much power you actually need for a sound system. Better to have too much than not enough.

Purchase List:

Optoma HD27 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector - amazing image quality and extremely bright - can almost watch the screen with all the lights on: https://www.amazon.com/Optoma-HD27-1080p-Theater-Projector/dp/B01JR7G672

Homegear 100” HD Motorized 16:9 Projector Screen W/ Remote Control - works very well, packaged and arrived in great condition: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J22TNRI

Yamaha RX-V379BL 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver with Bluetooth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V5VJ3TM

2 ELAC B6 Debut Series 6.5" L & R Speakers by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQ06

1 ELAC C5 Debut Series 5.25" Center Speaker by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQWE

AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014I8TC4E

Monoprice Affinity Premium 14AWG Braided Speaker Wire: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015YN6G9G

VideoSecu 2 Heavy duty PA DJ Club Adjustable Height Satellite Speaker Stand Mount: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VRREPG

Projector Mount - VideoSecu LCD/DLP Projector Ceiling Mount Bracket: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IDC0K2

2x LED Lighting for Bar/Couch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V27VX7E

I’ve used Fiio BTR3 and it works good and delivers great sound actually (much better than original sound). the battery life is 10 hours. the only trick is that mic on bose is not working and the mic on the dongle works instead.
I think you may also use other models from fiio too, the differ by battery life and quality.

edit: buttons in the bose are not working at all. you have to use buttons in the dongle instead or use volume your phone (if you play from the phone).

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-BTR3-Bluetooth-Receiver-Portable/dp/B07FVN14FH

The answer is maybe. First, "Smart TV" is more or less irrelevant, as that typically just speaks to the TV having built-in capabilities for streaming apps, it doesn't as much impact what you're plugging into it, or how the signals get routed.

If you're asking whether it's possible to use a Chromecast to watch TV and have it send the audio elsewhere, then yes, with the right tools that's possible. However, bluetooth and wireless on your receiver don't matter in this case.

As far as the Chromecast is concerned, it just needs to be powered (via USB) and then provides video/audio over the HDMI connector. You'd want to find a way to split the audio signal from the video signal, so it can be routed elsewhere. One option is to use the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC), if your TV has that, and your hi-fi receiver supports that as well.

Second option, if your receiver allows for multiple HDMI inputs (something like this thing), plug the Chromecast into one of the HDMI inputs, connect your speakers, and run the HDMI out to your TV.

Another option is to use a device to split the signal, like an Audio Extractor.

Two KEF Q500s and a stereo receiver. If you're planning to ever add a subwoofer or surround speakers an AV receiver would be the better choice. This one would keep you below $1000 total, but if you can add $100, pick this one. Even if you don't want to add any more speakers (which is perfectly legitimate, I think two towers are fine for everything), the AV receivers has a few features that make it more desirable in terms of convenience, such as HDMI inputs, room correction and smartphone control (on the higher end model).