Reddit mentions: The best audio/video receivers & amplifiers

Someone yesterday asked about $200 speakers. I'll just copy and paste that here, but I'll change one thing. I recommend the fluance signature series if you're spending that much money. Also, save up and get a Dayton sub 1000. Enjoy:

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I'll make a list of stuff you need. For the best "bang for your buck" in the $200ish price range.

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Speaker wire. Amazon Basics makes great stuff. If you want, you can get 100 feet of it for an extra $2 I think. You can get those monoprice banana plugs if you want. They just help if you're going to be switching speakers around a lot.

Simple wire stripper. Should work just fine.

Cable to plug it in. That'll just plug the amp into a computer. And that cable is amazing quality. For real. I don't know what it is about it, but the moment I touched that cable I knew it was special. This isn't a joke either. You'll understand when you get one. Trust me.

50 watt per channel amp. This thing will be more than enough. I just like it because it is open box, so cheap. The same one new on amazon is $65. If you want to order from amazon, you can just get the smsl sa-36a. Same amp, just 20 watts per channel. Which, again, is plenty.

[Here's that cheaper smsl amp] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017W13OR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_U2NSBbTRHGFS5). I've got a few of them. They're great. This is what I'd go for if the other one is sold out.

Cheap but good little amp. I don't have one of these because I'm not a fan of the looks, but they get great reviews and a lot of people really like them.

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Speakers:

Miccas. These things are nice for that price. In this price range, you really won't be getting anything better unless you go DIY.

Fluance SX6. These guys are big, but they throw a good amount of sound and some pretty deep bass for a pair of bookshelf speakers. Careful, they're pretty big.

Pioneer. These things are decent, but I think the Fluances would be better for this price. The SX6s throw more bass, which is good if you're not getting a sub. However, these are smaller.

Fluance signature series. I know, you said your budget is only $200, but you said if you need to spend more, then you will. These will sound better than all of the other speakers linked, however, that's not why they're here. I put them here for two reasons. The first is that they're front ported. Most people that are new to speakers might put them up against a wall or close to it, not understanding that the port needs some room to breathe. These have front ports so that's not a problem. The second reason, just look at them. If you really care about looks, these ones are the ones. They're beautiful. (My opinion obviously).

Oof almost forgot. Pleaae don't place the speakers directly on your desk.

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That's a lot. I'll sum it up with my opinion and why.

Amp: smsl sa36a. For close range, you don't need anything with more power. This thing will do whatever you need for bookshelf speakers.

Speakers: micca mb42x. Why? Here's why: for this price range, you won't notice a huge difference in any speakers, unless you get some bad ones. So, get the cheapest ones you can. Later on, if you can afford to upgrade them, you'll probably want to do that. Then you'll have a pair of $80 speakers that you don't need rather than a pair of 130 speakers that you don't need. Another reason I would pick the miccas is because they punch above their price range. Most people say they sound more like a pair of $125 speakers rather than a pair of $80 speakers. So, for real, they're good. Also, they're the smallest of the bunch.

Or, build a pair of C Notes and get something way better than any of these.

Hope this helps!

Prepare for an incredibly long post!!

First off, your receiver, though undoubtedly very nice, is incredibly overpriced. I'd check out the Sony STR-DH740. It supports 3D/4K and cost roughly 1/3 the price. For what you've described this fits the bill much better.

The speakers are fine.

Now for the PC build.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Type|Item|Price

----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD FX-8150 3.6GHz 8-Core Processor | $159.98 @ SuperBiiz
CPU Cooler | Cooler Master GeminII M4 58.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler | $34.98 @ OutletPC
Motherboard | Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard | $64.99 @ Microcenter
Memory | Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory | $69.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk | $89.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Hitachi Ultrastar 7K3000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $84.62 @ Amazon
Case | Silverstone ML03B HTPC Case | $59.99 @ Amazon
Power Supply | Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply | $49.96 @ Amazon
Optical Drive | LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer | $59.99 @ Microcenter
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) | $89.98 @ OutletPC
Other| Galaxy GeForce GTX 750 Ti (Low Profile)| $159.99
| | Total
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available. | $924.46
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-11 17:04 EDT-0400 |

This represents a computer that will be able to effectively act as both a home server and a great HTPC/living room gaming machine.

CPU: 8-Core AMD CPU, great for multi-threaded tasks and multitasking. Excellent if you plan on using this to encode movies on the fly with something like Plex.

CPU Cooler: The case in this build is not very tall, this fan is super low profile, and will effectively cool your beast of a CPU, even under heavy load.

Motherboard: Inexpensive mobo with enough HDD ports to serve the purpose of a server easily. Also has an optical output for audio if you arent satisfied with the HDMI audio on the video card.

Memory: 8GB of memory with the possibility of upgrading to 16 later on.

Storage: SSD + large HDD for serving up large files!

Case: Small case made to fit in a TV cabinet. Looks pretty spiffy too, especially for the price!!

PSU: Nice PSU with plenty of power for your CPU/GPU. Modular so you only have to install the cables that you need, great in a smaller case!

Optical Drive: Blu-Ray Writer! WOOHOO

OS: Windows 8.1, future versions of DirectX11 wont be made for Windows 7, so might as well go for 8(.1)!

Video Card: GTX 750 Ti is an awesome card for medium/high graphics gaming settings at 1080p. Plenty for 3D content, steam big picture, and even 4k (video watching, not gaming) later on. Note that this will also be outputting your surround sound audio via the HDMI output as well, I've not had any issues with nvidia's audio via HDMI before, it should work without issue! Will handle any emulation needs (up to PS2) easily.


Again, that setup is meant for a combined HTPC/Server, it could be smarter to divide up your HTPC and Server needs into two machines, however. A strictly streaming device doesn't need to cost much or be very powerful, a large-storage home server similarly doesn't need to be too powerful or expensive. It'd probably end up costing roughly the same as combining however, as we have in this build.


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You mentioned before that you'd like a solution for torrent automated and content management, so I'll share with you my setup! Here it goes.

1) Torrenting System: Deluge, awesome system that you can use as a private seedbox of sorts. I have a system where my server has the "deluge daemon" installed, my computer has the deluge client installed, and when I wish to torrent something, I simply click "download" and the client sends the necessary information to the server, which then downloads and stores the torrents. I can also queue up a torrent from my phone using Transdroid on my Android Phone. When downloading a torrent, I give it a label within deluge "TV, Movies, Music" which instructs deluge to store it in a specific folder.

2) Content Management: I have Plex set up to automatically crawl my torrent folders (TV, Movies, Music) for content, it automatically finds the tags needed based upon the file names and makes it all look awesome, renames them properly, etc. Check out my TV library for instance. Needless to say, it's badass and free, I can stream the results to any device in my house, the PS3 in the "game room", the blu-ray player in the living room, any computer in the house, and my phone/tablet. If you don't take any of my other advice, take this, Plex is fucking awesome.

3) Get a solid router: I personally use the ASUS RT-AC66U it's been awesome! A great router goes a long way, especially when streaming from multiple devices at once on the local network in uncompressed 1080p.

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Now my hands hurt (easily my longest comment), if you have any questions, then please feel free to ask on here or on our IRC webchat(ask for vidplace7).

As a rule of thumb, you should dump your money into the end points of the audio chain - in other words, have quality speakers and quality source material. The stuff in the middle of the chain - amplifier, CD player, cables, etc. - doesn't have as much of an effect on the audio quality, but you certainly don't want to cheap out.

Source material isn't as much of a concern as it was in years past, since so much of our music is delivered digitally - provided you stay away from low-bitrate MP3s and such. We don't have to deal with scratched records and worn-out cassette tapes anymore. I kind of feel like people sometimes mis-apply this guideline and sink crazy money into DACs, when they would of been better served with a speaker upgrade. You speakers, provided you're starting with high-fidelity music to begin with, have the most profound effect on audio quality.

I'd recommend a set of Pioneer BSR-22s for speakers and a decent Sony receiver.

I have the Pioneer speakers and love them. I bought them as a temporary solution while I was renting for a while, but enjoyed them so much that I never replaced them. They're wonderful, accurate yet kind of warm-sounding speakers. If you have the opportunity, listen to a variety of speaker and choose the ones that sound best to you. Sadly, this can be a bit of a chore since online shopping has shut down many hi fi shops. People really like those Micca and Dayton speakers, too, but I only have experience with these Pioneers.

I have the 7.1 version of that Sony in my home theater. Personally, I prefer Yamaha receivers that have a Burr-Brown DAC in them, but I needed a 4K switching receiver on a budget and ended up with the Sony. The one I linked to is a 5.1 receiver, so if you ever wanted to upgrade to surround sound, the possibility is there. Also it will do 4K video switching. A good stereo setup is fine for movies, however. If you know that stereo is all you'll ever need, you could find a good stereo receiver for a few bucks less.

Grab whatever budget Blu-ray player that suits your aesthetic.

Most importantly, have fun and don't stress out about your choices. Part of the fun of this hobby is enjoying the music while knob-dicking around with the equipment. You'll enjoy whatever you end up with.

Here is part of the write up u/zeos did. If you want to read more go to r/zeos.

Pick a budget (usually above $500) and assemble your perfect system. If you don't think you can afford a good system right away consider starting with a 5.1 receiver and only two decent speakers. That basic 2.0 can have a sub added in the future making it a 2.1 and as funds become available you can add rears or move the initial speakers to the rear, get better fronts and then add a center. There is no harm in building a system up over time.

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NOTES

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{5.1 vs 7.1 Note:} Your room makes this determination. If the room you are in doesn't have ~6 feet behind your seating positions you are likely not going to fit a 7.1 and should stick to 5.1

{.1 and .2} This simply means a subwoofer(s). Since it isn't a full range channel they just indicate it as an addon. Don't worry about having a .1 and wanting two subs. A simple RCA SPLITTER can give that to you.

{MultiEQ, Audyssey, Room Correction} These are features/programs that receivers come with to automatically "fix" room acoustics. It uses a supplied microphone to try and detect speaker response range, distance, reverb delay, etc etc etc.. It can help oddly shaped or echoy rooms OR with mis-matched/bad speakers. You aren't required to run it but I recommend it if you hear any issues you don't like. (results vary)

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Surround Receivers-------

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Look for the cheapest unit that fits ALL your needs (# of HDMI inputs, 5.1 or 7.1, Legacy inputs (S-Video, RCA-Video for old game consoles), Airplay, etc) Remember to mostly Ignore wattage (more than 90wpc is enough for 99% of speakers) and stick to the brands listed below or message me if you find a good deal. Don't be afraid to look at last years models, most times very few changes occur and only a few "smart" features or HDMI ports are added.

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-#-|Item------------------|Description - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -|Cheapest|

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1 | Denon| This is my most preferred brand. They are very clean looking, have amazing sound quality and some little features I like. Preset buttons and 1/2db volume increments make me happy. Affordability for beginners. | 5.1--7.1
2 | Marantz| Featuring the only "slim" line of receivers on the market and absolutely state of the art UI and remote features. Amazing reliability and great support. BUT you will be paying extra for these features. | 5.1--7.1
3 | Yamaha| Sporting a remarkable amount of different receivers you will have to do some sorting. They have good sound quality and TONS of inputs including legacy but tend to have a confusing setup and remote layout. | 5.1--7.1
4 | Onkyo| Normally higher on my recommended lists some Onkyo AVR's have been plagued with recent design flaws and overheating issues. Still I can't fault everything they make so read reviews and choose wisely. | 5.1--7.1
5 | Pioneer| The Polk of receivers. They work and can be found at a bargain but since the Pioneer Elite line exists they tend to leave a ton of features off these entry level AVR's. That just means you can get them cheap.| 5.1--7.1
6 | Harmon/Kardon| Stylish but I can't find anything to love about H/K. They "work" but don't DO anything better than anybody else. You can usually find these at brick and Mortar Stores which means price matching heaven. | 5.1--7.1
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I need a help with the setup of my new home theater + Audio speakers.

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I have a TV with multiple input devices "PS4/ Sattellite reciever/ Laptop/ Chromecast" the TV only supports 2 inputs but this not the only issue but one with ARC "still not very sure how thats work".

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I want some sort of device that it can accept multiple HDMI inputs "HDMI switch maybe?" and the same device will direct any active input device audio to chosen speaker, for example if I have chosen the 5.1 speakers, any device I turn on, ps4, laptop..etc directly it should play the audio through the 5.1.

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if I changed the audio output for example the TV or headphone output, again everything should moved seamlessly.

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I also need the device if possible to support Bluetooth, if I have a Bluetooth headphones and I do currently have the Sony MX2, it can stream all audio input to my Bluetooth headphones.

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and Also I want that device to accept Bluetooth streaming, in case I don't want to turn on the TV and I just want to play music from my phone. "I bought a dedicated smartphone just to make it as Bluetooth streamer"

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Now, I did find only one solution which is Sony

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078WG7HZY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

apparently it does all of that, but still unsure.

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So my question is, is this is bad idea to have a device does everything? and if its good idea, do you recommend any good solution maybe better than sony? because I did googled but couldn't find any better option then Sony other were Chinese with weird brands. maybe you have worked with better solution and could enlighten me.

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sorry for the long post, I appreciate all kind of help :)

I hope this is the right place to post this, but I'm looking to buy my first DAC/amp. I've only ever used desktop/laptop/phone outputs and want to upgrade. I wanted to buy a DAC/amp combo rather than a dedicated DAC and dedicated amp for a few reasons: (but I'm open to being convinced otherwise)

1. price; I'm on a relatively small budget and a combo DAC/amp seems to be more cost effective.
   
   
2. portability; I move my desktop often and having to only move one device would be much more convenient.
   
   
   Budget: ~$100 max, preferably less
   
   Source: Almost exclusively my desktop.
   
   Current Headphones: ATH M40x and SHP 9500s. I know that these are super easy to power, but I'm looking to gain some improvement while also future proofing for when I buy something more demanding.
   
   I'm currently looking at a few devices, but open to other suggestions:
   
   
3. SMSL M2 ($65 on amazon)
   
   I like that this one is small (and therefore easily transported). I became interested in it after watching a rave review by Zeos. The only negatives I see are a lack of output options (not currently an issue, but might be in the future) and the fact that it uses 3.5 mm headphone out (I much prefer 1/4").
   
   
4. Monoprice DAC/amp ($67 on sale with promo code)
   
   I've seen mixed reviews for this one, but it's currently on sale and seems like a great value. Not sure how great it would do with my current low impedance headphones. I like the design and output options.
   
   
5. Micca OriGen ($100 on amazon)
   
   
6. SMSL M3 ($84 on amazon)
   
   Like I said, I'm open to other suggestions in the $70-$100 range.
   
   
   

Right, you'd have to plug any atmos sources directly into the soundbar. The Soundbar's output would go to the TV.

As far as whether you should get a different TV or Soundbar... Well there's a lot to unpack there. Disclaimer: These are my opinions as an audio curmudgeon.

Let's talk about what Atmos is and what it isn't. It is a way to encode sound such that each channel can have what direction it is coming from built into the encoding. So you can have a number of virtual channels, and atmos will map this in the best way possible to your actual channels and where they are located. It is better because it doesn't depend on you having the same speaker positions that the content was designed for. However, atmos is not appreciably higher quality sound. I do not think it is worth going out of your way to support Atmos. Will a 5.1 Atmos system sound better than a properly positioned pre-atmos 5.1 system playing 5.1 content? Not necessarily. In fact, it is possible that the end result has the exact same sound coming out of each speaker. Will an atmos soundbar sound as good as a 5.1 system regardless of encoding? Generally no. Will an atmos soundbar playing atmos content sound better than playing 5.1 content on regular old stereo (2.0) speakers? Maybe you'll have positioning a little more "accurate" than the stereo speakers, but I really don't think this is always better. Since you blew so much of your budget just supporting atmos, the resulting quality of the speakers is probably lower. Quality speakers absolutely trumps atmos support. In a perfect world you could have both. (it just costs more)

another disclaimer: I hate soundbars. First of all, they're pretty universally overpriced. Yours is listed at $1000, and clearly has tiny drivers in it compared to a similarly priced component system. Soundbars are usually not physically long enough to have a very wide soundstage. I don't care how many side firing speakers they have. There is no replacement for the ability to arbitrarily position each speaker. Atmos can't change that. All it can do is make the positioning within the tiny soundstage more accurate. I just built my home theater system, and I am currently using 2.1 with future plans to upgrade to 5.1. I am not bothering with Atmos. If you value the sleek small footprint and appearance of a soundbar over sound fidelity; you can ignore this paragraph. If you want better sound; I would suggest returning the soundbar and buying some KEF Q150's and cheap amazon speaker stands. You can buy 2-3 of them and a nice subwoofer and do 2.1 or 3.1, or if you have the space for rear speakers, get five of them and do 5.1. You could buy this denon that is lower end but well regarded and has Atmos support.

As for TVs... I don't know how much of a videophile you are, but the way I look at it is it's OLED or it's nothing. OLED TVs are so much better than LCD/LED that I don't really think anyone should buy anything else. The difference might be less if you can't darken your room, but if you can, it's night and day. LG OLED is rolling out the new line right now. So it might be a great time to get a deal on the gen8 ones being cleared out.

So my response is: I don't like any of your stuff, return it all and get something else. Even if you don't do that, maybe you'll find some useful nuggets in my rant. Good luck!

Great gift, I wouldn't say the $300 gift certificate to U-Turn Audio is necessarily too limiting, though there are other better options for around $300.

U-Turn Orbit Custom

• Basic MDF platter, Ortofon OM5E, cue lever, $20 shipping, $275. Option to add the acrylic platter later for $90.
  
• Acrylic platter, Ortofon OM5E, cue lever, $20 shipping, $350.
  
  An alternative if you sell the gift certificate, is the Fluance RT82 with Ortofon OM 10 $300. Adds auto stop and an optical sensor speed controlled motor for lower wow and flutter and speed variation specs. Also adds adjustable anti-skate and a removable head shell. You can later optionally upgrade to the acrylic platter as seen on the $500 RT85 for around $90 when Fluance gets it in stock.
  
  Speakers and amplification:
  
  First look for everything used if you can find for less than refurb, new or sale prices below, or some parts used and what you can't find new.
  
  If you need a cheap setup to start out with, 6-1/2" Speakers and Am Bundle $50. Then you can later upgrade each part a time if you find a good deal on better used bookshelf speakers or a used stereo or AV receiver. With a Music Hall Mini phono stage/preamp $59 free shipping (open box audition). Add an RCA Switcher $11 to if you have more than one audio source.
  
  Receiver/Amp: Receivers are refurbished with a one year manufacturers warranty. The receiver options have built in phono stage/preamp phono input you can start out with and then upgrade to a better external later.
  
  
• Low budget mini amp: $52 SMSL SA-36A. With the phono preamp and optional RCA switcher from above.
  
• Stereo: ONKYO TX-8220 $135, or ONKYO TX-8140 $200 with WiFi.
  
• AV If also ever using with a TV even with just 2 speakers, 4K HDMI switching, high pass crossover for your speakers if ever adding a subwoofer. DENON AVR-S640H 5.2 $200, Audyssey Multi EQ room correction EQ speaker setup and HEOS wireless networking and smartphone app.
  
  Speakers: Speaker recommendations from AverageJoeAudiophile and r/HTBuyingGuide. On sale:
  
  
• 5.25" Infinity Reference 152 $140 refurbished, originally $350 MSRP or Boston A25 $150 bogo.
  
• 6.5" Infinity Reference 152 $175 refurbished. MSRP $450.
  
• 5.25" Wavecrest Audio HVL-1, and order on sale at Ascend $80 each + shipping, budget Ascends. Front ported. Neutral sound with a linear frequency response. Great mids which many speakers lack. To me, comparable to KEF Q100s. As with most bookshelf speakers, best with a subwoofer.
  
• 6.5" $200 a pair, JBL Studio 230 refurbished or Boston A26 bogo.
  
  Towers on sale: Pioneer FS52 $150 pair (note the long massdrop ship time) or Boston A250 $225 pair bogo.
  
  DIY speakers, build your own: Add around $50+ for tools and supplies. Kits includes pre-cut cabinets. Glue, solder, paint, assemble. Comparable to built speakers costing twice as much. C-Notes $100 are a great starter DIY speaker.
  
  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 or DFWCableConnection.
  
  Speaker stands: Dayton Audio SSMB24, Monoprice Glass or Monolith by Monoprice and Audio Advisor where most are also available at Amazon.
  
  Subwoofer:
  
  
• Infinity Reference SUB R12 12" 300 Watt Powered Subwoofer $200 refurbished.
  
• Dayton Audio SUB-1200 12" 120 Watt Powered Subwoofer $150.
  
  Guides:
  
  Home Audio: Intro to home stereo systems • Zeos Tutorials, Diagrams and Videos • Guide to Home Audio • AverageJoeAudiophile's Guides • r/BudgetAudiophile
  
  Speaker Positioning: Speaker Placement for Stereo Music Listening • How to position your speakers for great sound
  
  Also see r/BudgetAudiophile.

I was wrong on the speaker setup pricewise. It's about $150 which is quite a bit more than I mentioned. The setup would be MUSE M50 amp and Micca MB42XSpeakers. I love music and spent quite a bit more on my setup, but I feel most setups ignore peripherals so I made it a point to mention it :)

For keyboards, I like mechanicals. They tend to have a higher build quality and the clicky clack noise and feel they have is fantastic! I use the Corsair k95 as I play multiple MMO's as well as FPS, but would not reccomend at its current price ($130, I got mine for $90). The Razer keyboard I linked is one of the few products I like from them and would recommend. The Coolermaster Storm series are nice as well and anything Ducky or Das Keyboard are also good brands.

For a mouse, I actually don't mind the Razer Naga/Deathadder. They are pretty fairly priced and pretty durable. Their $100+ mice on the other hand, I don't like at all. Corsair, Coolermaster, Logitec, and Razer (within reason) are the brands I would suggest. I use a Corsair M95 mainly for the additional binds, and it's color matches my case.

I would budget, at the top end, $130 for a quality keyboard and $80 for a mouse.

well i was using some logitech 5.1 (surround sound) speakers which i sold for £40 on ebay to go towards my new speajkers. Richer sounds are a great shop imo and they always give you help and advice so i would look at the speakers there .

I got the Monitor Audio MR1s and there is so much difference between my old ones, crisper highs/treble and over all clearer sound, its very hard to explain how they sound better but trust me.

Types of speakers:
There are mainly 2 types, powered and non-powered.

Powered: They have a built in amp and plug into a wall socket for power and then go straight into your PC, they are easy to set up but some people like to have a separate amp (im also new to this so im not to sure why)

Non-Powered: They are just speakers and on there own cant produce sound as they dont have any power, which is where the amp/amplifier comes in. The amp just gives the speakers power so that they are able to produce sound and connect to a PC ect.

the bigger the speakers the bigger the amp needs to be to give it enough power.

I would go to richer sounds if you have one near you and ask for a demo for some speakers around £100 if you can and im sure you will notice a difference. Also watch some videos about audio and why some speakers are better than others.
Im also very new to this, i got my first pair 2 weeks ago.

These are some good powered speakers that will probs beat cheaper multimedia ones on the cheap:

M-Audio AV32

M-Audio AV42

Mackie CR4

These are some good non powered speakers and amps on the cheap:

MORDAUNT SHORT M20 AND SMSL SA-36A

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 AND SMSL SA-36A

BTW the amp ive chosen will power them on a desk but might not be great for a big room.

Hope this helps :)

I just got these speakers and this receiver. I knew absolutely nothing going into this but somehow managed to set everything up. If you have any amount of tech savvyness at all, you can figure it out. They are a great price and I've loved them so far! I played a few games of Halo with them turned up pretty high and it was the coolest thing ever! I would recommend these as they are a great entry level system and very affordable (compared to the others!).

I didn't know what I was doing at first and ended up getting the speakers and receiver at different times and places. This looks like a combo of my speakers and receiver, but it'll save you a hundred dollars or so. I would not go with a soundbar if I were you. Just go ahead and get a full system.

Edit: Also, with this particular receiver you get a microphone that automatically calibrates all the speakers based on their position once you get it all plugged in. As I knew nothing about this kind of stuff, it made everything real nice and easy.

I hope you don't take this the wrong way but like a lot of NFL teams, you need help everywhere. Okay, so you have a basic 2.0 setup for a TT and bluetooth. There are several ways to go with this lets outline them and talk though them then you can decide. These are not in any kind of order just a list. I'm not an active guy so my recommendations will passive.

AMP

1. AVR - Sony STDH590 $180 - Ok it's over budget I get it but you're getting a new AVR for under two bills. This gets you more power, remote, auto setup, tone controls, digital inputs (expansion), xover for mains, sub out and multi-channel expandability. Whew...major upgrade over the little amp you currently have. Adjust the crap out of the tone controls to get the most out of the mains you have. This sets you up well for the future.
   
2. AMP - SMSL AD18 $120 - Anther amp upgrade that gets you many but not all of the features above. If you need a smaller form factor and don't want to expand into a surround/HT setup this could be your guy.
   
   Speakers
   
   
3. BIC DV62 $120 - These are about the same size as the speakers you have but will go much lower to get the bass that you're currently missing. If you're going to stay with a 2.0 then I would consider these.
   
4. Dayton T652 AIR $135 - Tower versions with an upgraded tweeter to the ones that you have. These reach down a good bit lower than the ones you have but not as low as the BIC ones above. They are also towers so there's there.
   
5. Polk T50 $80 ea/160 - Over budget but they do go the lowest of all the speakers, they are towers so again make sure you have room. The use of the radiators makes placement more forgiving vs a rear port that will need more room off the wall.
   
6. Sony SSCS5 $80 - Books that don't go as low as the BICs but they do get good reviews for being budget speakers. * You could pair these with the Sony sub on sale for $100 to get a 2.1 going for just more than you're budget.
   
7. Polk S15 $165 - Medium sized books that go lower than what you have currently have. These probably sound the best to me and look better than the rest.
   
   Subs - If you wanted to go to a 2.1 setup with your current speakers.
   
   
8. Sony SACS9 $100 - Ok it's not going to be great but it's in budget and has speaker level inputs. It would give you a low end that you're missing with the current speakers.
   
9. Dayton Sub 1000 $120 - This is the 10" version but any version will add to the low end that the current speakers are not giving you. Speaker level inputs will work for you current setup.
   
   Full upgrade - SMSL AD13 $75 and the Sony SSCS5 $75 puts you at budget but with a better amp (not as good as the above ones) and better speakers.

Yeah, it can be difficult (see username). I was gonna suggest a refurb receiver from A4L, but while it’s normally $9 shipping to the mainland US, it’s $80 for Honolulu.

However, right now the Denon X1400 is only $400 (normally $600) and still includes Prime shipping to Oahu, so get on that right now.

For the subwoofer, I’d go Rythmik. I know their L12 is $539 plus $60 shipping to Oahu ($85 for priority shipping), not sure on their LV12R model. So depending on sealed or ported, you may wanna contact them.

So, let’s just call that $1100.

Wireless is not a native option, there is an adaptor for $100 though.

Surrounds can be <$100, so focus only on the front speakers.

For front speakers, I’d go with Emotiva (B1 + C1, or better C2) or HSU (they ship to Hawaii, but you’d have to contact them).

____

You’d also need speaker wire, subwoofer cable, HDMI cables, and maybe speaker stands.

Speaker wire: Anything 18awg or lower really (lower is better, can be longer length with less signal loss). If you don’t want to be stripping wires and what not, I recommend and own GearIT’s braided and pre-terminated cables, but they are out of stock, but these look like a great alternative, you’d need 3 pairs for the fronts (use normal wire for surrounds). Now, since a roll of in-wall 100ft wire can be had for $50 or less, you can buy that if you want to save money and don’t mind the cheaper look and having to strip the wire (what I do in my cheaper setups, I splurged for my good setup). I also recommend Monoprice banana plugs (the semi-expensive cables I listed already have them).

Subwoofer cable: Amazon Basics or Mediabridge (on Amazon).

HDMI cable: I’d get these.

Speaker stands (if needed): I like this one (wire concealment and the top plate swivels to allow toe-in (so you have OCD-like tendencies like I do, it’s really cool).

I would say that the Klipsch is a lot better and worth the extra $216, but then again, you would also need an amp and that would cost you a lot more. You just need to really determine if you want to go the passive route and have the ability to upgrade more down the road or get a simple powered system that will work just fine for what you need and sounds great, but not have the ability to upgrade components.

​

Here a few good options in either category though that would fit your budget:

​

Passive Setup:

Speakers:

Fluance Signature - $269 CAD

Polk S20 - $350 CAD

Elac Debut B6.2 - $343 CAD

Elac Uni-Fi UB5 - $522 CAD (Considered to be just as good as the Klipsch RP-150M)

Klipsch RP-150M - $289 US (plus shipping and taxes to Canada [$unknown])

SVS Prime - $629 CAD (Can’t tell if this listing is for a pair)

Amps:

SMSL AD18 - $174 CAD

Yamaha RX-V385 - $279 CAD

Denon AVR-S540BT - $377 CAD

​

Powered Setup:

Fluance Ai40 - $225 CAD

Fluance Ai60 - $403 CAD

Edifier S2000 Pro - $500 CAD

Vanatoo Transparent Zero - $359 US (plus shipping and taxes to Canada [$unknown])

​

Studio Monitor Setup:

Monitors:

JBL 305P MKII - $440 CAD

Interfaces:

Behringer UMC202HD - $104 CAD

Focusrite Solo 3rd Gen - $159 CAD

Steinberg UR22MKII - $180 CAD

​

The studio monitor setup is one of my favorites. The JBL’s sound amazing on a desktop, but I would not get one without an audio interface with balanced inputs to help reduce noise.

Depending on your budget, we use a lot of these at work and they're super reliable and crazy cheap for the quality. No BT or Wifi, but you can get a BT adapter/dongle that uses RCA outputs separately (or use your Apple TV to airplay). It supports CEC which means if you have a relatively recent TV or game console, it should power everything on and switch inputs for you, which is kinda neat (when it works). I also like that all the speaker posts accept banana plugs and it can run two subwoofers. This upgrade has BT built in and more output if you wanna roll 7.2 and lastly this is the model I got my dad last year, it's packs in built in Airplay streaming, and supports spotify connect which is kinda awesome.

Don't get me wrong, I like Denon and Yamaha too. I personally have a Yamaha receiver from over 10 years ago that's still kicking (my TV has enough inputs and optical audio out that I don't need to replace it yet). My dad's old Sony before that new monster was about 20 years old and also still worked great.

Enjoy the new gear. You'll find tons of reviews on AVSforum.com and I would check Crutchfield or Amazon too. Like cars, bicycles, and TVs, AVRs get refreshed every year so "last year's" models are usually discounted despite having very few differences between them.

It really depends on your budget.
You can get a decent DAC like this one on a budget http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-M2-Portable-headphone-amplifier/dp/B00KL3SACQ/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1427350827&sr=1-18

But I'd recommend the the monoprice AMP/DAC brick http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-111567-Desktop-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00KVVX2QW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427350898&sr=8-1&keywords=monoprice+amp+dac

For the money, it's got everything you'll probably ever need and is actually pretty damn good.

The most expensive "desktop" DAC I'd recommend is JDS Labs ODAC http://www.jdslabs.com/products/46/standalone-odac/

It's basically as good as a DAC can get before you start getting into the receiver world.

As for what standalone DAC/AMPs actually "do," the best way to sum it up is that a good DAC will eliminate any sort of noise being generated by your PC and accurately translate your digital signal to an analog one. Better DACs will give you a more accurate signal to work with but there's only so much you can do before you're just wasting money.

AMPs on the other hand, vary wildly in what they do. Some amps, specifically tube amps, will "color" the signal to be warmer. Some people like this as it takes the "digital edge" off of music, but they're really nothing a good EQ couldn't replicate on a neutral AMP/DAC combo. Bad AMPs introduce tons of noise and distortion into your signal, good AMPs don't. Good amps also offer better separation between the left and right channels. The sky is really the limit on AMPs when it comes to price to performance but the bulk of that performance is going to be in raw power rather than in quality.

A good standalone AMP would be the Schiit Magni 2 http://schiit.com/products/magni-2

Their DAC the Modi 2 is also REALLY good, especially for the money. I have the Modi v1 on my desk right now and short of buying an ODAC, I don't think I could be happier with my setup.

Hope this helps!

Turntable:
A lot of people have differnet preferences between belt vs. direct drive vs. idler wheel (Yes, this is a thing). I personally used both belt and direct drive, and found that I enjoyed the direct drive TT a lot more for stability.

If I were you, you can find a good used Technics SL-1200 MK2 for around $300-$400 on Craigslist/Pawn Shops. This is the turntable the AT-120 is based off of, and is the best bang for your buck entry wise. It's direct driven, has both a counter-weight and anti-skate, and has the lowest wow and flutter compared to some of the other entry level turntables like Pro-Ject or Rega.

Pre-Amp:
If you really want to go with a tube amp, I recently bought the [YAQIN MS23B](http://www.amazon.com/YAQIN-upgraded-version-12AX7B-Stereo/dp/B00HQW4NYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1396718684&sr=1-1&keywords=yaqin+phono+amp
), and I've found it to be a fantastic tube amp, probably the best bang for your buck in terms of a tube amp.

Headphone Amp:
The MP-301 looks like a pretty good Headphone amp, but I would also consider the Little Dot MK III. It has a bit better frequency range, and is even a bit cheaper.

In regards to Tubes vs. Solid State, some people think the Tubes provide a, "Wamer" sound due to the tubes. The only major work on tubes you would have to do if you bought new, were to replace the tubes about every year or so worst case scenario. And yes, you can combine tube and solid state amps. My friend runs a solid state phono, and uses a tube headphone amp.

Hopefully that answered your questions!

Sorry this doesn't (directly) answer your question, but at your budget, I think you're better off starting off with a 2.0 system than 2.1. A decent pair of speakers will have better bass extension (goes lower frequency with better clarity) than a cheap subwoofer. It's kind of only worth getting a sub if you can spend more than ~$100 on it, which would put too much strain on your budget. Wait until you save up a little more and expand a 2.0 system to include a sub.

For equipment recommendations, I'll start with the amp, since that has the least amount of flexibility. The cheapest component worth recommending is the Muse M50, but it's not great and doesn't give you a lot of room to expand. The Audiosource AMP-100 is a very capable amp at around $100. A receiver would give you A/V control, but will cost significantly more. Fortunately, there are tons of decent receivers on Craiglist for ~$50 if you're interested in going the used route.

My recommendation to those on a budget is to buy a used receiver for the amplifier. A nice balance of Good Enough quality and low cost.

For speakers, you have a ton more options that really depends on how much budget you have left after the amp. Two suggestions to get started: Pioneer and BIC. The BIC's are more home theater speakers, rather than something for a desk. They get loud, but at a higher cost.

You could also go used again. I love older B&W stuff, and you can probably find some of their speakers used in your budget.

So, if you like the convenience of the Pill, but want more ooomph, I've gotta recommend the Logitech UE Boombox. It's been discontinued, but you can get new or practically new models on eBay for 70 bucks or so.

I've owned a lot of nice Bluetooth speakers, and some decent audio gear, and pound for pound nothing really touches the thing.

I would recommend heading up your local Goodwill or other thrift store for speakers and an old receiver. With a pretty minimal amount of footwork, you can grab something that probably cost $1000 back in the day for $100.

Skip Marantz as it's really over priced at this point, but brands like Realistic, Rotel, Sansui, and Pioneer are still affordable. They look cool as shit, and have a nice distinctive sound. You can probably get a low-end 20 or 30 W per channel Realistic off craigslist or at your local thrift shop for 30 bucks.

You can then get a nice set of Boston Acoustic or Polk audio speakers for another 50 bucks. Just make sure the foam around the subwoofers is fine, and that the tweeters aren't busted. Most people are happy to hook them up for you to listen to.

If you don't want to mess with older stuff, grab one of these :

ttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B017W13OR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hg16xbX21C1NM

And a set of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Ih16xb227QN96

And two of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011LXUKE0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5j16xb4JV5NZ5

Alternatively, grab the amp and wires new, and then get the speakers used off eBay or Craigslist or whatever. Speakers lose value at an alarming rate, but at the sub-$100 price point you're not really risking much.

For reference, I got a set of B+W CM2 speakers for $90 off Craigslist. They were almost $1000 new 12 years ago.

Ok I think I'll hold off on the Bottlehead then. (My concern was that nothing else in the price range could compare, but if it's that close I definitely want to explore other non-DIY options.)

• Modi vs ODAC: I don't think I'll need to use optical (setup will just be for desktop music listening). With that in mind, what makes ODAC better than Modi?
  
  
• Can you elaborate a bit on the LDMk3 vs the Valhalla 2? I'm not sure if I like the idea of a totally neutral sound (which is why I'm going for the 650 over the 600 in the first place)
  
  Ultimately though I'm hoping that this new setup will be an improvement over my unamped M50s haha
  
  Edit (one more question!): What is the best way to order from Little Dot? Their forum shows a price of $189 + $45 shipping for the Mk3
  
  (http://www.littledot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=815&sid=cd329dcc74ac9c971f25ef4d1b2f1fba)
  
  while Amazon shows $289 + free shipping
  
  (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CHIKIDM/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=046WYFJT8RKP10BSQ0WV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846).
  
  Which one of these is more legit?

For your budget you will have to buy regular home stereo type equipment. I would go find your cheapest audio store and look for a couple pairs of speakers similar to these and an amp like this.

The reason for that speaker choice is the size. Anything smaller will sound weak and pointless. Those will probably sound pretty good. It doesn't have to be that exact speaker, but I would use it to compare. It is very important to listen to speakers before you buy them. They can look the same on paper but sound totally different in comparison. This is where you should spend most of your money if you want the best result.

The reason for that amplifier is that it is simple, fairly inexpensive, and MOST important, it is happy to run your speakers at 4Ω, so you can hook up all your speakers to the same amplifier. In this case make sure you are getting an amp that can either do that, or that has connections for 4 front speakers (NOT surround sound!).

You will also need to budget for speaker wire too.

If you don't like any of this then you might be more interested in something like this.

I would go to a local shop and listen to some systems in the price range you budget and see what you like. It is very hard to compare Watts alone since, as you pointed out, they are measured in different ways and advertisers like to make it confusing.

I'm in a similar position in that I'm just getting started building a system. I got this Sony receiver for Christmas and am using it with a Sony television as you are. I've just set it up for 2.0 for now and will build up to 5.2 and eventually go for a nicer receiver someday after I learn more and get speakers and wiring set up.

Anyway, it vastly improved my situation and my speakers aren't as nearly as those Micca's you want. It works really well with the Sony television since they're the same brand. It was very easy to set up, allows the cable box and blu ray to pass through the receiver so you can watch without the stereo surround, and you can control the television and stereo volume and a lot of functions with the same remote. It has a microphone you can set in your prime viewing spot and a menu option to let the receiver program itself to sound best in the room if you're a novice like me. It also shows the menus on the television screen so it's very easy to make adjustments and set up.

I'm sure it's not at the top of a true audiophiles list of receivers, but it's really improved my experience, was easy to set up, and cheap. I've learned a lot just from setting it up. It needs at least two HDMI cables if you want to watch TV. Add another each for blu ray, video games, laptop, etc. There are four HDMI's in and one out.

Good luck.

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH550-5-2-Channel-Receiver/dp/B00J30GXW2

Hey so I hate to shit in on everyone else's opinions, but they're not really recommending the best gear for your dollar. /r/audiophile has a sticky on this exact subject. Basically the lowest end system they are willing to recommend is a pair of Micca MB42s . If you can spring for the 42x's, they are more than worth the 10 extra dollars. You will need an amplifier to drive them. /r/audiophile reccomends the Muse m50, but I can tell you from personal experience, a lepai 2020a+ with a slightly beefier power supply will run them just fine for half the price. These are pretty chunky speakers, but they'll blow any "pc/gaming" speakers out of the water. If you decide you'd like to go for this, I have about 30 feet of speaker wire lying around that I'd be happy to mail to you to save you the 8 bucks or so. Hope this helps, and happy listening!

Good enough for me, especially for the price. Plenty loud enough for the bedroom, even the media room. Sounds good with music and movies/tv. Mounting brackets on the back of the satellites make it easy to hang on a screw on the wall if that's something you would do.

In my media room I have these bookshelfs for left/right/rear left/rear right, and then the center, and the two satellites for surround left/right. All hooked up to this guy with two of these thrown in because fuck the neighbors lol. I live in the country so no worries.

I thought about upgrading the center (since it does a good bit of the work), but when I mention it to my gf or friends they look at me like I'm full retard. So I guess it's plenty loud enough lol. My media room is definitely louder or as loud as any theater I've ever been to. I know it's far, far from the best sound but I personally am very happy with my setups.

Alright, I'm looking for another amp that will be more or less better than the FiiO E10K that I picked up along with my 250 Ohm DT770's. I was looking at some SMSL products on Amazon UK.

 
These in particular: (ranked from lowest to highest price)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B017W13OR0/ref=pd_sim_23_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6ESY4HYBBZ5V4NCKTVGE
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013HL9NVK/ref=s9_dcacsd_rdc_bw_c_x_1_w?th=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01C2OAANI/ref=s9_dcacsd_rdc_bw_c_x_3_w
 
Which one would be the best in driving my DT770's? I know my FiiO E10K is enough to drive it but let's pretend that I don't own an amp at the moment of time. Which one would you recommend for driving them?

 

Bear in mind,
-I will be using my computer as the main source of music (Spotify/iTunes to be exact.)
-I also have a Sharp XL-DAB151 speakers, I also want to connect that to my amp if possible to get the best sound from it.
-It has two RCA ports on the back (left and right, the 3.5mm jack is plugged into my on-board audio on my motherboard) so does that mean I need an amp with similar ports too? I noticed that SMSL M3 and the SMSL SD793II also has it, would that be the ideal amp?
-Is there any difference between a USB powered amp and a wall powered amp?

 

So basically,
-I need to drive my DT770's and hook up my speakers to it.

-I would like to be able to switch between the two audio devices, switching to the speaker when I'm not using my headphones.

-Want to keep it under £100 ($125). Preferably around the same price as the FiiO E10K or under £80 ($100)

 

Thanks a lot in advance,
Sean.

For HDMI there's HDMI switches. One output port (to the TV) with 2, 3, 4, etc inputs. Usually they can switch automatically based on whats powered on, sometimes they'll have a remote for you to select the device yourself, and there will be a button on the device itself to switch inputs. You can find them on Amazon, but it can be a real crapshoot since the vast majority are just generic Chinese things that any random "company" will just slap their name on and sell for whatever. I've never had a problem with the ones I've bought on Amazon (knock on wood), but you'll find most devices will have plenty of bad reviews. You can also find more name brand HDMI switches in stores like Best Buy, Fry's, etc, but they'll be WAY more expensive, like $40+ compared to like $12 for some chinese one on Amazon. I can't speak to the quality of those, since I've never bought them. They'll be easier to return and replace if there are any problems, so thats a plus.


For composite video (Yellow, White, Red cables) there's been switches for those for years. Just look for A/V Switch, Composite Switch, RCA Switch, etc. I bought one like 15 years ago so I can't really recommend anything today. There's also component ones (Green, Blue, Red, and Red and White audio).


If you want to get hardcore you can also get a home theater receiver (like this: https://smile.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V383BL-5-1-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B06XXR6JK3/ref=dp_ob_title_ce) which will have a few HDMI ports as well as basic composite inputs, though there are some that will do component. This is the most expensive option, but if you're serious about having a home theater with surround sound, it's pretty much the only option.

I recently purchased a town house, after renting a room for several years. Didn't have any furniture other than the bedroom essentials, so I had a pretty blank slate to work with.

I realize the layout isn't ideal, given the lighting and open floor layout (opens up to the dining room and kitchen), but I was more concerned with having a good hangout environment than having the prefect viewing experience. The only other option was an above ground basement, which would have had the same lighting issue, though better acoustics.

The lighting isn't as bad as it appears in the picture, imo. I've never really had a problem with it, though I do spend most of my time relaxing in the evenings when there is no direct sunlight coming from those windows. Even then, the Samsung seems to handle it well.


EDIT:
Additional pictures of the cable management.

https://i.imgur.com/iPxbpNz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6pkdjpH.jpg

For the wall I used some 1/4" shaped wiremold from Home Depot. Sanded and spray painted it to match the existing 1/4" Round. For the rest of the power cables and such, I modified the middle drawer of an Ikea cabinet to hide them away and give me easy access. I'm still not quite sure what to do about the remaining outlet wires, but other than that there aren't any other visible cables.


EDIT 2:
Since I've been asked about pretty much every piece short of the coffee table, I figured I would update this post to consolidate that info. Most of these items I bought used or on sale.

TV - Samsung KS8500 65"

Reciever - Denon AVR-S720W

Speakers - ELAC UB5/UC5/UB5, Surrounds - B4

Subwoofer - Bic Acoustech PL-200 12"

Entertainment Center - Modified BESTÅ from Ikea

Speaker Stands - Sanus SF30 Steel Series

Couch - Corey Sectional from Havertys

Art - Patent Collections from Displate

Rug - [Safavieh Glacier from Overstock](https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Glacier-Contemporary-Abstract-Blue-Multi-
Area-Rug-6-7-x-9-67-x-9/14248766/product.html)

Bookshelves - Parthenia Etagere Bookcase from Wayfair

Coffee Table - Baxton Studio Wood/Metal End Table

I appreciate the In depth review I'm glad you're enjoying them! I've heard these are the Planar equivalent to 600s and I absolutely love my 600s.

Totally just a suggestion but I've got a little dot mk3 running my 600s and I find it to be just great. Stock tubes re good but not great but for 20 bucks you can get some great tubes off ebay. It's fun to hear the sound change from tube to tube. It's much cheaper than the lyr but I have no opinion on the lyr because I haven't heard it.

Check this out: Little Dot MK III Headphone Tube Amplifier LittleDot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHIKIDM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_7vaxybVB4QD9T

Most people on a budget usually buy last year or older models, refurbished or new old stock versions of AVRs. You can look for discounts or sales for stock clearance for very cheap.

The AVR industry moves very slowly, and unless there are any new codecs or stuff launched, a 2016 AVR has the exact same capabilities as a 2019 model.

Like a 2017 Denon AVR-X1400h gets you 7.2 channels amp with Dolby Atmos support (5.1.2 setup), HEOS (wireless audio streaming), Bluetooth, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, Dolby Vision and HDR10 passthrough and 6 HDMI in ports. As for room correction it comes with "Audyssey Multeq XT", which is among the best room correction algorithms out there.

If you don't care about Dolby Vision passthrough you can even go older with the 2016 AVR-X1300W.

Last years 2018 AVR-X1500h goes for $300 on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Denon-Receivers-Component-Receiver-AVRX1500/dp/B07CVJ4Y3S so I'd expect the older ones to be even cheaper if you can get your hands on them.

Ask more on /r/hometheater they will surely offer you very good links to great deals.

PS: Though remember that with an AVR you can't use powered speakers or soundbars, must be passive speakers only.

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.

start with buying this. Very good avr. It is on sale : https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Channel-Theater-Receiver-STRDH770/dp/B01BV7SO8U : 200

Then get this subwoofer. https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YSTSW216BL-YST-SW216BL-Subwoofer/dp/B000FJ89UO/?tag=aboutcom02lifewire-20&ascsubtag=4066815%7Cencrypted.google.com%7C%7C%7C66%2C21%2C83%2C27%2C3%2C30%2C80%2C10%7C1%7C
Its cheap and good. I tried the Dayton sub and it sounded anemic : 200

This should leave you with about 500$ left. Now go on Craigslist and buy some rich dudes surround speakers for 400$. Make sure they are 2 floor standing speakers and 2 bookshelf for mounting on walls in the back. Not important but if they have a center speaker take that also. Buying new speakers are nice but you can get away with buying used speakers. Make sure you ask the seller if you can listen to them first before handing money over. Make sure all speakers are working by getting up close and listing to each speaker. : 400$

This should leave you with about 100 left to buy speaker wires and banana clips on amazon to hook up your speakers and subwoofer. You should have some money left over to buy any kind of cable management to hide cables snaking everywhere.

Down the road, if you want to upgrade, go on CL and look for better speakers from rich people who just wants to dump their speakers after upgrading to some Kef's R500 series.

Hope this helps.

In order to have true surround sound, you will need an "audio receiver". A receiver takes in several different inputs (3.5 mm jack, RCA inputs, HDMI video and audio, bluetooth), and then you select which input is played over the speakers. The receiver will take care of amplification, so all you need are bare speakers and wire.

You should check out this Yamaha receiver

You can use a good receiver for decades, so I suggest investing in a good quality one. I own the predecessor to the linked receiver, and I really like it.

It looks like your subwoofer can actually amplify and power your speakers, but you won't get 5.1 surround sound. The best you can get is left, right and subwoofer. Also the input looks kinda tricky because it's bare wires. You'll need something like this to get the audio input to work.

If you can afford it, I recommend going for the receiver, or I can give you more detail on how to hook up the subwoofer-only amplifier. What device are you getting music from? Smart phone jack, DVD player, computer?

Thank you for your advice,

I think they had it in the cupboard to clear some space, but since the speakers go there, it is probably easier for me to attempt to recreate the previous owner's set up.

There are 5 speakers (3 front 2 back) excluding the larger one. I remember them telling us that they were taking the subwoofer with them however. If that is the case, would a new one be necessary or just improve quality of sound?

If the 3.5mm are for the IR, then I suppose it's to send the signal into the cupboard so that I can change my channels through the TV, right? At quick search it appears as though most HDMI baluns kit come with IR functionality, would this be for the purpose of the remote control? in which case, would I still need IR receiver or emitters?

Would this Surround Sound Receiver along side this HDMI Baluns do the job? (The HDMI Baluns are the same brand as they had, and so I suspect that I would be able to use the same IR repeater. Is there anything else I would need?

And again, thank you for the help, I appreciate it.

You need an amp. Lepai cheap but expect cheap ;). Don't get me wrong, the lepai will work for most people. Minimum /r/audiophile recommends is the muse a little above your price but worth it if you like good sound. Next you need something like this to hook your soundcard up to your amp. Then some speaker wire to wire the rest.

So it would go soundcard -> amp -> subwoofer (left and right) -> speakers (left and right).

Have fun!

For 250 my recommendation would be a pair of Philharmonic Affordable Accuracy Monitors paired with a suitable amplifier. They're easily the best speakers I've used. Great imaging, very clear and detailed, and amazing bass for a 2.0 setup.

I got along with a basic Lepai amplifier with an upgraded power supply which did better than I expected to. Otherwise you could probably get away with an SMSL-SA36 if you're not blasting them.

For the money though, I bet you could find a used receiver for a great deal off your local craigslist.

I currently run them with an SMSL SA-160 which does an amazing job of driving them but would push you out of your budget.

Alternatively, I've also used the Micca MB42Xs paired with the same Lepai as above and it's a fantastic budget-oriented setup which doesn't take up too much space.

My budget would be ~$250.

I saw that Yamaha 377, actually it was one of the 3 I saved on my Amazon wish list.

I also saved, Sony STRDH550 and Sony STR-DH740. I havent had much time to research and also not in a hurry to get one now, but if you know of any of these receivers, I would like some input so I can decide what I would like to buy.

Since you suggested that Yamaha 377, I am now leaning more towards it :) Thanks!

It looks like the Sony you're looking at has auto calibration, so that's a plus. But man, it's hard to steer you away from Denon. If I were you, I'd look into a different TV stand. I absolutely love my Denon. It has the Audyssey MultEQ XT calibration and sounds amazing.

That said, the AVR you're looking at seems solid, especially considering the smallish space you're going to use it in. I'm sure it'll sound great, and is an obvious improvement over having nothing.

Since the STR-DN1080 retails for $450, I'd see if you can get it down to close to $300.

​

I did a bit of googling on Sony's auto calibration "DCAC EX" https://hometheaterreview.com/room-correction-revisited/

The writer (who seems to really know their stuff) feels Sony's algorithm is hit or miss.

Or you could get an older model Denon with Audyssey MultEQ XT for $329 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVRX2400H-Receiver-wireless-technology/dp/B06XYD442J/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_23_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9GEN9FR1210SVJ7Y1QCJ

​

So I guess it's up to you--how much of an home theater nerd do you want to be?

Hey man you're the one who said cheapest.

You can't see it in my photos, but I have an E10 (not K) strapped under my desk, giving digital coax to the XDA-2 and used as a headphone amp when I need it. Totally adequate dac/amp, the dac in it definitely beats the one in the UCA202. The amp in it leaves a lot to be desired though.

The SMSL M2 sounded way better during my brief testing with a friend's, perhaps a better direction?

Any reason you're tied down to a powered 2.0 system? I loved my Promedia's and when I was finally looking to upgrade after 6 years with them, I was looking at other all in one systems. After further reading, I was convinced to get an AV receiver and a pair of bookshelf speakers. I highly recommend going a similar route. It really gives you a lot more flexibility and room to grow.

I ended up with a Yamaha RX-V381 and a pair of Sony SSCS5's for about $300.

Since then I've added a center and will soon add a sub without having to replace the whole system.

The Sony's just went on sale again and a pair is $75. I'd get those and shop around for a receiver that matches your budget. (consider refurbished/renewed)

Whereas with the promedia, you had a single auxilliary cord that had to be ru nth whatever you're listening to. Having a receiver allows hookup to all your devices and lokely will add bluetooth as well. Changing inputs is done via remote rather than manually dealing with cords.

If you want to go super low budget that will still blow the promedias away, you can grab a cheap Lepy/Laepai amp like this to run a pair of bookshelfs (ie. Sony CS5 <--GET these):

https://www.amazon.com/Lepai-LP-2020TI-Instruments-TPA3118-Amplifier/dp/B071FJF4FF/ref=sr_1_3?crid=M2WIJL2PC1PM&keywords=lepai+amplifier&qid=1563810359&s=gateway&sprefix=lepai+amp%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-3#customerReviews

​

If you are set on a powered AIO system, my recommendation is JBL LSR305 over the two you mentioned. I have not heard either of those, but I temporarily owned the LSR305 and they were absurdly good. I only didn't keep them, because I got a noise complaint from the neighbors on day one and they were a little complicated dealing with multiple inputs.

​

A few receiver options:

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S540BT-Bluetooth-Compatible-Streaming/dp/B07C49F2LD

​

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs540bt/denon-avr-s540bt-5.2-ch-x-70-watts-bluetooth-a/v-receiver/1.html

​

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs730h/denon-avr-s730h-7.2-ch-x-75-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html

​

Link to Sony Bookshelfs (also at best buy):

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SSCS5-3-Driver-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B00O8YLMVA

Budget: $100ish

Looking for: Amp or receiver

Used for: Music (Electronic, reggae, acoustic, country, vocal, chill, rap, and many more) in a small apartment, and movies too.

Just picked up: 4 Pinnacle AC 650 speakers for $40.
http://www.pinnaclespeakers.com/ac650.html

Any experience with these? Are they entry level audiophile acceptable?

Thinking about picking up: Fully functional Pioneer SA-6700 Amp off Craig's list for $100.

I only plan to use two of the speakers, and just sell the other two. What do you all think?

Should I save money and just get a more powerful amp like the recommended Muse M50?
http://www.amazon.com/Tripath-TPA3123-Stereo-Amplifier-Supply/dp/B008YBC172/

Or maybe this "MicroFidelity Mini Amp 200"?
http://www.amazon.com/microFidelity-Mini-Amplifier-Model-Silver/dp/B003PXSXEE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Thanks in advance for any help.

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.

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1

SMSL SA-36A

That's going to sound pretty great for the money. Since your on a faitly low budget, I'd highly recommend looking into second hand gear. £140 would go quite a long way. Check Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, plenty of great finds on there for next to nothing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Sony-STRDH590-Multi-Channel-Bluetooth-Component/dp/B078WG7HZY

Or


https://www.amazon.ca/Yamaha-RX-V485BL-5-1-Channel-Bluetooth-MusicCast/dp/B07CF9H3KW

Or

Denon AVR-X1500h But it’s High $ on Amazonca , Cheap on Amazon USA

https://www.amazon.ca/Denon-Receivers-Component-Receiver-AVRX1500/dp/B07CVJ4Y3S

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-Receivers-Component-Receiver-AVRX1500/dp/B07CVJ4Y3S

or Denon avr-x2400H (My Pick)

https://www.amazon.ca/Denon-AVR-X2400H-7-2-Channel-Network-Receiver/dp/B07QKMYNR8

But I can get Refurbed

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx2400h/denon-avr-x2400h-7.2-ch-x-95-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html

Speakers: (Fluance is Canadian and Nice Speakers)

If you wanted to get All Speakers now - I’d buy this Set personally

https://www.amazon.ca/SXHTBW-Definition-Surround-including-Floorstanding/dp/B01M62GRFA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRt0JNMOCa8&t=224s


Or

Their Better Towers

https://www.amazon.ca/XL7FBK-Performance-Three-way-Floorstanding-Loudspeakers/dp/B01J67V2EU

https://www.amazon.ca/Signature-Three-way-Floorstanding-Speakers-HFF/dp/B019YBHOOA

Sub

I’ve read Fluance subs Sound Good ?

https://www.amazon.ca/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1200-12-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B00669L3HS

Or

https://www.amazon.ca/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M

Or

https://www.amazon.ca/RTR-EV1200-Eviction-475-Watt-Front-Firing-Subwoofer/dp/B003H3G5D8

Jamo is another Good Choice for Speakers But read their subs have amp issues?

I Like the Pioneer Andrew Jones Towers -Sp-fs52 - don’t own them but seen many Good Reviews on them and listened to them in Frys Store. Some on Here say they Suck But I don’t know if they’ve actually had them or not.? A Few guys on Here got them and posted or pm’d they Really Like them......they have a matched center and bookshelfs available

8:42 mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcEOUF7Sodo&t=939s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oVljZGOJUE

https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-SP-FS52-Designed-Floorstanding-Speakers/dp/B00LFTQ1GW

https://www.amazon.ca/Pioneer-SP-C22-Designed-Channel-Speaker/dp/B008NCD2EI

Better Polk Audio Monitor or Signature wouldn't be a Bad Choice:

https://www.amazon.ca/Polk-Audio-Monitor-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B006QL0XXQ

https://www.amazon.ca/Polk-Audio-Signature-S55-American/dp/B01LWB2LIX

almost everyone here is gonna tell you to go for a receiver + passive speakers. Unless you have a hearth or a very open floor plan it's generally pretty easy to run the cables along the edges of the room and tack them to the wall or carpet. It's not invisible but it looks okay.

You can easily do it under $800. first of all cop one of these av receivers. The speakers are tough to recommend, I personally use these, they look and sound gorgeous, and they have enough bass to do fine without a sub, but cost $600 so you would be stuck with 2.0 if you were to buy them with that budget.

The Emotiva look sexy, got great review. I've always been a fan of Klispch and they're the same price as the R-28F. http://www.klipsch.com/products/reference-floorstanding-speakers?model=r-28f

Is Emotiva better? Is my Sony receiver doable? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J30GXW2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for your response!

Yes. I won't compare it between my laptop speakers and IEM headphones. It's just very big difference between those.

It seems that I don't hear any hiss around when I plug my IEM but noticeably lower sound quality. Hence I'll like to buy a DAC to upgrade it. An example of DAC that I'm talking about is this and this.

I don't mind w/ the sound quality that my laptop speakers provide. Since I'm watching movies at a dorm which have very thin wall and I'm afraid that my movie annoys other people between my room, I'm thinking of using IEM to enjoy the movie instead.

I appreciate with all of your help. I might use EQ or something like Viper4Android for Windows to settle it around.

About the speakers you recommend, is it an old product ? It seems I can't find it anywhere on my local e-shop websites.

I've been looking for a good receiver that can handle a lot of my video game devices as well as bluetooth/streaming services, has 7.1 (at least) and can do multiple zones in my house.


I've basically got it down to 2 options:

1. The cheaper: https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVRS730H-Receiver-wireless-technology/dp/B06XYHTQTH/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
   
   
   
2. The more robust: https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVRX2400H-Receiver-wireless-technology/dp/B06XYD442J
   
   
   Anyone have any advice between the 2? I like the more robust because it has A/V input/output options which would be great for my vintage video game systems but certainly saving 200 bucks would rule. Any advice is appreciated.

Following some advice I got in here a while back, I held off for a while, but am now ready to start building a good beginner system. Currently, from reading reviews I'm looking at this set-up:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PRO-JECT-13205-Essential-Turntable-Black/dp/B00DKSUHO8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acoustics-2020i-loudspeakers-bookshelf-Universal/dp/B006SYZEBW/ref=cm_rdp_product

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007Y3OBF6/ref=twister_B008UT5O6S?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

My questions really:

Is this everything I need to get started (minus things like speaker cables obviously)?

Will this all work together? I know they're 4/6ohm speakers and an 8ohm amp that can also put out 4.

This setup isn't set in stone, but it is definitely around the price I am looking to pay unless I am actually missing a necessary component. Other gear suggestions of a similar price could also be considered.

Thanks

I hate to be the debbie-downer, but a big part of the Bose sound is some very clever wizardry inside the box that no longer works --

They build their tiny speakers optimized for A) power handling, and B) minimal distortion, and usually end up with something that has quite odd frequency response.

Then they measure the transfer function of their little screech-box, and have their engineers build signal-processing to apply the inverse of the transfer function just before the amplifier stage in the central brain.

Along with some clever use of multiband compression using psychoacoustic tricks so that we hear impressive bass even though the actual electrical bass power to the speaker is limited, the end result is a speaker that measures and sounds like it has flat frequency response between say 50Hz and 18kHz, but only if the special brain is in the circuit in front of it.

r/audio has lots of people suggesting various low-cost "class-d" amplifiers, so if you want to try this anyway with something inexpensive you could get a bluetooth class-d or class-d amp with line-in and a cable to connect your phone to it -- just connect the stripped wires of the two leftish speakers to the "left" black and red "speaker" terminals and likewise with those on the right.

Super basic Audio technica. I gradually built the system over time, but started with this stereo (used) and these speakers. Later I added some small surround speakers (system doubles as my tv speakers, too) as well as this sub. Granted I don't have a super trained ear, but all together it does sound awesome.

My recommendation is to not go cheap on the stereo side of things. Definitely don't get a record player with speakers built in. If it sounds shitty, you'll never end up using it. If you do want to start cheap with the record player, have it sound decent, but not have to get all the bells and whistles, Audio Technica sells this bundle that has the turntable and two speakers. If you start with that, eventually you can add the stereo receiver, better speakers, sub, etc.

Sorry, I'm trying to keep up.

I just decided on a slightly better receiver. I don't know if it'll make much of a difference


Anyways, I don't like the idea of going cheaper on the selector, because I want to keep the impedance protection. It sounds like that's important to make sure everything runs correctly and doesn't hurt the equipment?

I don't know if it matters that I'll lose power each time I turn on a new speaker, because I only plan to run 1 room at a time. I was planning to only use this from 1 source, like bluetooth over my smartphone, but now I'm thinking it'll be nice to hook this up to my TV via the HDMI port. Will that be possible with the actual speaker ports are connected to the house sound?

Thanks for the help. I know me reply is hard to grasp.

I'll start off with the a basic setup and expand from there. All speakers require power which is supplied to them by an Amplifier. The Amplifier (Amp) takes signal from your source (Computer, Phone, Turntable, etc) and boosts it. You'll come across two different kinds of speakers, Active and Passive. Active speakers simply have an amplifier built into the speaker like so, while passives like so require an external amplifier.

A DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) takes the 1's and 0's from your computer and convert it into something the amplifier can understand. Basically all devices have one built in, but external ones exist that may be better. For simplicity and/or budget, I'd skip this as your computer already has one built in and this generally improves the sound the least.

So let's build a simple 2.0 system with the speakers I linked above. If you chose to buy the passive version (MB42X), you'll need an external amplifier like this. To set that up you'll go:

• PC -> Amplifier -> Speakers
  
  If you chose to buy the active variant, setup is a bit simpler though keep in mind you'll lose a volume knob. Often times powered speakers don't have build in volume knobs or they're in a hard to reach location. This is where a preamp comes in, which generally allows for volume control and multiple inputs. The one I linked adds a volume knob and allows you to connect two sources at once then switch between them. So you can go:
  
  
• PC -> Speaker (With no knob, you'll have to control volume through windows0
  
• PC -> Preamp -> Speaker
  
  Headphones add another layer to this whole thing. I'd probably just leave them plugged into the computer, but volume might get wonky.
  
  Lastly, subwoofers often end up being harder to integrate than you'd think. If you're on a budget, I'd honestly skip it.

If you have / can find a 17-22V laptop power supply you could try this ($40, no power supply included):
https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-TPA3116-Channel-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B00WTOAC1M/

It's a 5.5* 2.1mm connector, looks exactly like the one on my Dell laptop 19V power supply. (To get the full power from the amp, use something closer to the high end of the voltage. See the "Product Description" for specs on how the power supply voltage affects the amplifier power. People do use 12V, because there are lots of them around, but the watts per channel will be reduced.)

The power also depends on the amps - you'd need a 4-5 amp power supply. (Total watts = volts x amps, with some efficiency loss as it runs though the amp; that will be the constraint on the total output power in both channels, total. Eg, a power supply with 19 volts x 4 amps / 2 channels = 38 watts per channel at 100% efficiency, a little less in the real world.)

Don't know anything about it other than what's on the web, but AFAICT they use decent components. The TPA3116D2 chip is a good one.

The Amazon page above has some alternatives in the comparison section.

And buying through Amazon has some advantages, if you find it's not as advertised.

IMO, this is the latest/greatest stereo for your budget:

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-Receivers-Component-Receiver-AVRX1500/dp/B07CVJ4Y3S/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

https://www.amazon.com/KEF-Q350-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B071VYGRML/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1526850200&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=kef+q350&psc=1

Total $1250. I think you will be happy with the bass performance. It won't shake the walls-but thats not what your looking for.

Speaker placement explained here with pictures:https://www.dolby.com/us/en/guide/surround-sound-speaker-setup/5-1-setup.html

KEF makes custom speaker stands, but you can buy from other manufactures like Sanus for cheaper. Monoprice and Bluejeanscable make good cheap cables. Lots of people like Amazonbasics or Mediabridge cables as well.

Don't listen to people telling you that you can't get anything for that budget. It won't be perfect and you won't get a dedicated sub for that price, but if you start small you can start with a very good base to upgrade from. Get a simple amp such as this 2 channel SMSL amp for £43 from Amazon, and pair it with these Tannoy Eclipse Mini bookshelves from Richer Sounds. (You'll also need some speaker wire which you can order from Richer Sounds too.) It won't replicate a full 5.1 system but for the money the quality will be hard to beat, and when the time comes you can upgrade at your own pace to a much better setup. From there you can upgrade first to a cheap 5.1 receiver, then some towers and move the Tannoy's to rears, and eventually a centre and a sub and you'll have a decent system while minimising waste.

Starting to jump down this rabbit hole of audiophilism (is that even a word?) Looking to replace my AIWA CX-NA202 from the 90s.

​

Was going to just settle for an edifier r1850db but with many hours of research it seems that a passive set up may be the way to go?

​

The first passive setup I was going to attempt to try was the -

Nobsound Mini TPA3116

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WTOAC1M/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=ADPE7GPX91ORE&psc=1

Micca MB42X

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E7H8GG2/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=AFKH6OU9WWNFS&psc=1

Which puts me under ~$150

​

But I have been hearing people just recommending an AVR, which I have landed on the Denon x1400 or x2400 which I may be able to pick up used for ~$200. Should I pair this with a Micca MB42X? Or are their other speakers that would work better with this?

​

Budget and currency - Under $300, USD
In which country are you located - USA
Where can you buy from - Amazon.com
What you want to use it for (music, movies, games, all of the above, etc) - All of the above, this will be a setup for my computer.
On a desk or in a room (or both) - On a desk in my room
How big of a space and how loud - Approximately a 12 feet x 12 feet room, not too loud and don't need much bass for now (still want the path to add a sub thou).

Thanks all in advance!

i would go with this package deal at just over $1,000

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SC-1223-Andrew-Theater-Package/dp/B00R2HQG02/ref=sr_1_20?

i have these on one of my tvs and they are great for the price. they perform far above their price point in my opinion.


you could also just get the fronts/center/rears for just under $500 then pick the receiver & sub you want.
$480: https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-5-0-Theater-Speaker/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=sr_1_3?

if i were going that route i would try to spend a little more on the sub (that is one of most important parts to me) and get a basic receiver to start.

so this sub
$330: https://www.amazon.com/Bic-Acoustech-PL-200-Subwoofer-Black/dp/B00OFXV5IO/ref=sr_1_4?

and this receiver
$160 used, $250ish new: https://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH550-5-2-Channel-Receiver/dp/B00J30GXW2/ref=sr_1_2?


that comes in either just under $1k or $50 over for new receiver.

either of those packages should perform very well for the price.

edit: saw this receiver from a similar thread and would be good fit to start with too http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamhtr3067bl/yamaha-htr-3067-5.1-ch-x-70-watts-a/v-receiver-same-as-rx-v377/1.html

Yamaha R-S300BL Stereo Receiver (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044779H2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_NbpkxbE8HXM4H

EDIT: Use the HDMI inputs on your TV.

If you must have an HDMI AV receiver, it will be at least 5.1., and you will need an external phono preamp. My recommendation would be Marantz NR1504 Slim Line 5.1 Channel Home Theater Network AV Receiver with AirPlay https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BLZDKX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_9epkxb1GRQX11

The Yamaha will sound better for vinyl. The Marantz will likely sound better for everything else.

SECOND EDIT: if you need digital inputs then you'll have to up your budget to $550. That will get you 2.1 with digital inputs and a built-in phono stage (will only accept LPCM 2 channel, won't down mix 5.1). This thing would be great. Yamaha A-S501SL Natural Sound Integrated Stereo Amplifier (Silver) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MXUCMWO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_WhpkxbY9HE6YG

Speaker quality scales with your budget. Much more so than any other part of your system.

Adding a $100 power amp to $400 speakers is reasonable. But looking at the rest of your setup, you may want to visit an audio showroom (if there's one local to you) and audition some speakers, to get an idea how $400 speakers compare to more expensive speakers.

That said, I personally have Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers ($300) and KEF Q100 speakers ($550 reduced to $250 on clearance) and I like the KEFs best.

The KEFs are paired with a Yamaha AV receiver ($220), and the Wharfedales are paired with an SMSL SA-50 ($62) amp.

I also have a pair of Edifier R1280T powered speakers, and they aren't in the same class, at all. There are definitely better choices for powered speakers.

Your guide is awesome, but I have kind of a special use case that I need advice on. I want a 5.1 setup, that uses my PC as a reciever (my motherboard has outputs for a full 7.1 setup), and is good for both gaming at my desk and listening to music/watching movies across the room on my bed.

The issue with my PC as a reciever is that it doesn't output enough power for some speakers. Right now, my GF's parents gifted a Sony 5.1 setup, but the reciever sounded terrible in my opinion, which is why I want to use my PC. L/R output loud enough for now with these speakers, but center/sub and RL/RR are super quiet. I have a Lepai 2024 as a stop-gap to get use out of my center/sub, which works ok, except that the bass sounds muddy, which I've read (I don't know) is an issue with the cheap amp.

I want to upgrade all around. I'm not an audiophile, so I don't want to spend crazy amounts, but I notice if it sounds like trash. I was thinking Micca MB24X for L/R, mounted on the wall above my monitor, and matching center placed underneath my monitor, the Dayton 800 or 1000 for the sub, and the $70 Sound Appeal for rears. To power it all, I was going to use amps. Somewhere on Reddit, someone was recommending this $40 amp, that supposedly has much better bass the the current Lepai I have and is cheaper than the SMSL 36 that's currently at $51.99 on amazon. Am I being stupid? Should I just get a reciever? I just don't want to drop $200 right now, I could buy one piece at a time doing it this way, but it does seem like a waste.

Best sound quality that's upgradeable later will be something like this....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/ol/B017W13OR0/ref=mw_dp_olp?ie=UTF8&condition=all

Used, very good condition from Amazon warehouse deals powering a pair of these...

https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-DV62si-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00006JPDI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494877348&sr=8-1&keywords=bic+venturi+dv62si


The speakers are good enough to add to later and the amp is cheap enough to replace at some point.

I got these with an open box discount which totaled out to be $34.00 with free shipping which came in looking brand new with no chips or scratches. Here's a review on them. I'm only a beginner when it comes to this but so far they sound pretty solid to me however they will need a subwoofer.
If you get lucky, I got this which came with a 12V power supply instead of the described 24V power supply, contacted Amazon about the misinformation and they gave me a $25.00 gift card back.

2 weeks ago I asked for recommendations for a passive 2.1 setup for my PC for under $300.

I would like a recommendation for a swap on the sub for something that's Amazon prime-able rather than purchased through a 3rd party website for shipping reasons, and would also like a second opinion on the speaker setup if you think there are better speakers for the same budget and available through Amazon prime

I was recommended

[Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NCD2LG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PxrzCbRECT5Q2)

Dayton Audio Sub 1000 10" powered sub

(That sub is what I want replaced)

SMSL SA-36A Pro 20WPC TPA3118D2 Digital Amplifier AMP 12V Power Supply

(for that AMP, it doesn't allow headphones to pass through it. I wanted to ask if I needed a seperate DAC amp thing the /r/headphones guys are always talking about or if I could just use an AMP for my speakers that allows the headphones to be plugged in

Separate question from my other comment, as they are different projects and in no way related.

I recently came across a nice collection of old B&W speakers. https://imgur.com/a/qYgmf4f
I am not knowledgeable at all about the topic, but as far as I understand I need at least a 3.1 receiver to work with them. I was recommended Denon by a friend, but I would like some outside sources on this.

Let's compare the $200 Denon AVR-S540BT Receiver and the $400 Denon AVR-S650H

Looking at the specs, it seems the only difference is one is newer, and has an antenna in the back. Is it justified in having twice the price, for only 10W more per channel, and some other oddball features?

Sub $300 dollar range would be great. My current room is small, maybe 15-20 square feet, but I'm planning to move into an apartment soon, and I will have this set up in a (hopefully) larger living room. I'm generally sitting 12 feet back. Right now I'm looking at this receiver, but I can't seem to find if it supports LPCM 5.1 anywhere. Thanks for your help!

My husband is decluttering and selling some things. If you don't have facebook you can PM me and I can give you his cell number to text if interested!

Complete 7.1 Surround Sound System for $325 OBO.

Description: For sale is a complete 7.1 surround sound system that we don’t have space for anymore. Everything works fine and served us well in our previous home. The items that are included are listed below with links to the Amazon products page for each.


Sony STR-DH740 7.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver (Currently $299 on Amazon)

Onkyo SKS-HT870 Home Theater Speaker System (Currently $270 on Amazon)

Sanus Adjustable Height Speaker Stand (Currently $39.99 on Amazon)

****

iPad Mini 4 64gb Cellular for $300 OBO

For sale is an iPad Mini 4 with 64gb storage and cellular capability. It is in excellent condition. Selling because I don’t use it anymore.

Also have a sleeve for it, a tempered glass screen protector still in the box, a rugged case, and a Dbrand skin I never installed that you can have with it if you want.

****

iPhone 6s Plus 128gb Verizon Silver for $275 OBO

Selling my iPhone 6s Plus 128gb for Verizon. I believe Verizon phones are unlocked by default, but I’m no expert on such things. It is in good condition. There are a few super tiny scratches you can only see if you are really looking for them.

Yea those speakers are perfect for what you want. A Bic f12 is a good start for a home theater subwoofer. I think Sony has a solid 5.2 receiver on sale on Amazon right now too. After cables and stands, you should end up with money left in your budget too, which is a good thing. IMO diminishing return is huge for home theater speakers, so there's no upside in paying for more than this setup.
link for the receiver:
Sony STRDH590 5.2 multi-channel 4k HDR AV Receiver with Bluetooth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078WG7HZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Rt19BbR11DA1A

Repost:

I'm looking to upgrade my current system. I have a Denon DP300F turntable. It has a built in phono stage (not sure how great it is). I am looking to buy KEF Q300 speakers. No sub for the time being. Looking for a receiver and maybe a pre-amp?

Looking at the Denon AVR-X1000 maybe the new model that comes out tomorrow? Maybe the Denon AVR-E200.

or...a phono preamp and this guy? http://www.amazon.com/Tripath-TPA3123-Stereo-Amplifier-Supply/dp/B008YBC172/

Anywho. Any advice would be great. I'm pretty lost. Would like to spend $250 or less on receiver if i can.

Looking to replace my 4 channel integrated amp used for music and home theater.

My Rotel RA971 is on its last legs, though it performs wonderfully otherwise. I use the two extra channels to power two rear speakers for "surround sound". With that in mind, would it be better to get a receiver, which is meant for surround sound? Does a receiver do surround sound better than a 4 channel amp?

These are the two I'm comparing right now, suggestions are welcome:
http://www.amazon.com/Marantz-NR1504-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B00BLZDKX2
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-9050-Integrated-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B009JBZFVK

Alright awesome! Thanks for your help with this. Only two more questions:
What do you mean by high level inputs?
And will this work for me? Is 20w enough?
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SA-36A-TPA3118D2-Amplifier-Black/dp/B017W13OR0/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=smsl+sa36&qid=1555675258&s=gateway&sr=8-2

All mini amplifiers with a given power rating will perform just about identically.

So it's mostly a matter of which convenience features (multiple inputs? digital inputs? remote control?) you want and how much power you want.

In a dorm room, with those speakers you could probably get by with the tiniest of $20 Lepai/Lepy amps, especially if you just want some polite listening levels and aren't trying to rock a party

I always recommend this as kind of a minimum: https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC

That gets you into some party speaker territory for $65. There are an assload of mini amps with similar power output. Some are a little cheaper, and some are more expensive and add various inputs and remote controls and such. They will generally perform more or less identically when it comes to sound.

For just a little more money something like this or this one will give you even more power. With their volume cranked high enough they will actually put out more power than the Daytons can handle. So, don't do that.

Converting your analogue motherboard output to digital and then back again would make zero sense. Also that DAC doesn't have a built in headphone amp so you'd need to add that as well. You should return it if you can and get a DAC that acts as its own soundcard with USB in.

Edit: These 2 are probably your best bet

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KL3SACQ/

http://www.amazon.com/Fulla-USB-Dongle-DAC-Amp/dp/B00UB5GK4O


Check out /r/zeos for more optios as well as great headphones options.

I went with 4 of these speakers, wired in parallel, 2 for each channel. You could get by with smaller/less speakers depending on the space you are trying to fill with music.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LGYOU7S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1



Went with this amp and power supply.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WTOAC1M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLIYOYK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1


And then this cable for the CCA to amp


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JTOLH8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1



and then some speaker wire to connect it all.



The speakers blend nicely into the ceiling and the sound fills the open area of my kitchen/living/dining room area. And that tiny amp can push those speakers louder than you would want to listen.


That is only a single zone for now. I wanted a multi-zone receiver, but even the cheapest ones are relatively expensive. These small chip amps are pretty cheap and you could get by with an old laptop charger for a power supply. This allows you to build a zone at a time as budget permits. My next zone will be the back patio to enjoy in the spring.

Looks like a fairly limited budget and your choices look like you have to go with some of the least expensive options. I think your speakers are the best set for doing this. My only change would be to go with a 7.2 capable receiver just in case you'd like to add Atmos or DTS:X height speakers in the future instead of needing to replace the receiver.

Refurbished AVR-X1400H for $290:
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx1400h/denon-avr-x1400h-7.2-ch-x-80-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html

New AVR-X1500H for $300:
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-Receivers-Component-Receiver-AVRX1500/dp/B07CVJ4Y3S/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=avr-1400h&qid=1571759643&sr=8-2

I have the original one of these, gray. I have an old nook color tablet running pandora hooked up to it with a couple of pioneer bookshelf speakers and an old sony active sub. Not very loud but pretty good quality. Here's an 40usd 50+50W one based on the tpa3116: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WTOAC1M

They are the speakers labeled SR and SL in this photo. I dont know who gave you those, but call them stupid for it! Since you cant use them on their own without an amplifier, and even worse since they only gave you surround channel speakers (which dont really function on their own)!!! (ok dont actually call them stupid. after all its a gift)

If you want to use them, I would suggest getting two fluance fronts. If you want fulfill the 5.1 surround channel, you could also pick up matching fluance center and a cheap sub like this.

Oh and you'll need speaker wire. And a receiver like this. Overall, if you expect to use these speakers in their intended position, expect to spend minimum of $250 (New). If you wanna save some bucks, go on craiglist or ebay and look for some used receivers. they are dime a dozen and a great bang for the buck.

Thanks for the response. Could I use this receiver with harmony hub and voice command from my Dot? I read a past post that harmony hub 'Activities' automates on/off devices and switching outputs/sources. Is this your method? My cousin has an August lock and it's flippin sweet.

Any way you slice it you will need a AV Receiver or Stereo Amplifier for those floor standing speakers you bought.

Honestly, the simplest setup would be to just buy a cheap AV Receiver rather than run audio through an active subwoofer (filtering out the low end) to the speakers.

You can grab something like this on Amazon for not too much.

Although, personally I would just suggest picking up a used 5.1 AV Receiver on your local Craigslist for ~$100 or even less. Plenty of people are looking to get rid of their old 1080p AV Receiver as they upgrade to 4K. However, their receivers still work excellently as amplifiers for speakers

Some people think the THX logo is a tweeter. (The THX is not a tweeter)

Here's a review http://noaudiophile.com/Logitech_z623/

I don't like the z623 personally, the satellites sound thin and the subwoofer plays too much midrange.

If you think soundbars sound awesome then get a z623. $70 is cheap for audio with bass.

But if you're after better audio then we run into problems.

Some say the Edifier bookshelf speakers are good, The Edifier R1280T No bluetooth is currently on sale. I can't vouch for it for long term listening but I did hear one in person briefly in a store, sounded decent but unsure which model it was.

You can try a Voll 50 Passive speaker and hook it up with a SMSL Audio SA-36A or SMSL AD18 amp. You will need your own speaker wire if you go that route and it obviously all these audio components aren't cheap.

If you want to add a subwoofer in the future then the SMSL AD18 is the way to go, as it has sub-out.

TL;DR
Keep it simple with the Logitech and enjoy the bass or get serious and spend some more money.

For the DAC I recommend the SMSL M2 it has a built in amp, is about the size of a credit card, has line-out, and sounds great.

EDIT: Amazon.co.uk link

For the mic, I wholeheartedly endorse the ModMic.

Currently I'm using this which is overkill for these speakers, but I got it for a good price and I wanted something that could comfortably power beefier speakers down the line.

The old recommendation was to get a Lepai 2020a, but since those no-longer use the Tripath chips, I'd go with something like the SMSL SA36 or SA50.

First of all, lets get some terminology straight. DAC, Digital-Analog Converter.What you are referring to is a surround sound receiver, not a DAC.

With that out of the way., I would not recommend a complete package by either Onkyo or Denon as neither of those make good speakers. Their expertise lies with electronics.Better to buy seperate.

Denon makes some good cheap AV recievers like the AVR-S540, S740 and X-series.

Dayton Audio makes decent speakers. Their new Transmission line floor speaker seems nice.Fluance and pioneer also makes good speakers, Pioneer with their series of speakers designed by Andrew Jones (and nothing else by them)

https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-mk442t-51-home-theater-speaker-bundle-with-12-powered-subwoofer--300-707

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

https://www.fluance.com/elite-series-surround-sound-home-theater-5-1-channel-speaker-system-sx51br

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-Receivers-Component-Receiver-AVRX1500/dp/B07CVJ4Y3S/


r/hometheater is a better subreddit for this sort of stuff. I suggest you take this conversation over there.

99.9% of soundbars are hot garbage and waaay overpriced. I suggest a 3.1 setup with one center channel, left and right speakers and a subwoofer. Pick a receiver of your choice, wich can support this setup.

If you really want a soundbar, check out theses soundbars that do not suck: https://www.klipsch.com/products/heritage-theater-bar, https://www.nubert.de/soundbars/567/ (german site)

All the linked products are only recommendations, there are tons of great passive speakers.

Hello Proxpi! Thank you for responding.

I have updated some images to show the potential location of the TV.

https://imgur.com/a/uFRWDYf

1: Yes I would like to have all devices (Surround Sound system & Xbox one) in the AV Closet.

I have attached some more pictures. You can see in the image where the TV mount is. The Cabinet (in the second picture) is just to the left of the TV. The speaker wires from the cabinet (You can see in the top right hand corner) run about 15 feet to two exposed wires behind the location where the picture was taken and two run to the two {top right and top left of the tv area).

For video... I think I did something foolish... I wanted to "Future Proof" my video, so instead of running HDMI thought the walls, I fished 4 Cat6 E wires and had to buy a $50 dollar converter.

For the AUDIO I currently have a SONY 5.1 surround sound system that was 300 bucks about 4 years ago. It has a build in DVD/BlueRay player. I was planning on wiring that up to the speaker outlets in the cabinet, but I don't think it can handle all 12 speakers... what do yo think?

I was thinking I may need to purchase something like this. What do you think?

My dad also gave me this pre amplifier Rotel RC 972.... do you think I can use it at all? I tried hooking it up but it was really quiet.

I have the 225's too and I like my [Sony STRDH770] (https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Channel-Theater-Receiver-STRDH770/dp/B01BV7SO8U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511967553&sr=8-1&keywords=sony+770+receiver). It's okay for the price. But you might be able to get something better for similar price if there are any black friday deals still floating around.

It's okay to get a 5.1/ 7.1 surround receiver for stereo speakers for now. It's good to have the option of adding surround speakers and a subwoofer in the future.

I am new to this as well. I just bought this pioneer receiver. It is one of the recommended receivers in the buying guide on the sidebar. I received it yesterday, set it up and it seems great as a starter. My only real "complaint" is that i can only use banana connectors for the L/R speakers when connecting on the back of the receiver. The other speakers are done via those flip clips (idk the name for them).

But for $180, I think its a great starting point and allowed me to divert more of my budget to quality speakers.

How do I go about buying an amplifier-receiver?

I currently have a TT (Pro-Ject Debut Carbon), Preamp (Schiit Mani) and Powered Speakers (Audioengine A5 from 2010).

Holiday Season is coming up and I'm really thinking, also by seeing people's setups on here, to get passive speakers, which I would then need a receiver for.

My budget is at most $200, since I'm looking into buying brand new passive speakers. (Currently looking into Klipsch RP-150m)

My questions are...

1. Adding a receiver/amplifier, would that make my Schiit Mani Preamp useless? Or could it still be plugged into the receiver and be used?

>I've heard before TT --Preamp--Amplifier--Speakers as a setup...just confirming if that's true for my Schiit Mani.

2. Are these the types of reciever/amplifier I'm looking for? And if so, what is different among these? Maybe there isn't any?

Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMQI2CU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wK3pybEF46Y9A2.

Sony STRDH550 5.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J30GXW2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gR3pybT6VC60Y

Onkyo TX-8020 Stereo Receiver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EE18O7W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BR3pybMBYKDFP

3. If I'm being honest, I still don't know exactly what reciever/amplifiers do...I just know that I need it if I want to purchase passive speakers...could someone ELI5?

This should work. https://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH550-5-2-Channel-Receiver/dp/B00J30GXW2/ref=sr_1_20?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1480480457&sr=1-20&keywords
You could save up a few more bucks and grab a Denon but it's not needed. This setup lacks a subwoofer but will still put out better base than the Harmon Kit you wanted. A sub is an easy addition next year. With this you will be much closer to high end audio. I think you will really hear the difference with quality speakers.

I've got a new Sony 5.2 receiver (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J30GXW2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0SWIAbWY9R0SD) and 2 Klipsch r-15m's. I was hoping to make a decent and low budget system, possibly adding a center channel and a subwoofer.

So currently

Sony digital receiver

2x Klipsch r-15m's.

Considering adding:

Polk audio psw10 subwoofer

Micca mb42-cx center channel.

Do you guys think this would be an okay basic setup or do you think the Klipsch and micca would clash? Any suggestions? I could also get floor standing speakers and either sell the Klipsch or put them as rear speakers and start over on the front speakers and subwoofer?

The receiver was a gift, and the speakers were new at a pawn shop for $70 so I'm only using what I have. I really like the Klipsch but I'd like your opinions on wether they a worth it in a quality setup.

You probably won't be able to do much for $250, unfortunately. If you want a 4k capable receiver that can support UHD Blu-rays in the future, you'll need one with HDCP 2.2 compliance, and this is the cheapest one I could find, and it's $250 by itself: Pioneer VSX-530-K As for speakers, most people would recommend spending at least $100 on your first pair of fronts. I personally was able to find an Energy RC-Micro 5.1 speaker set unused on eBay for $220, but that's not always possible. I'd say at least allow for spending $300-400 for a good stereo system before upgrading later.

Hello everyone! I'm trying to move forward on buying a surround sound system for my living room. have done a little research but I'm still unsure of what to buy. I have roughly 1000$ limit and I'm looking for a setup for my 4k 55'' tv which is about 10feet from the couch.

I was looking at these speakers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK8I9K2

and this receiver: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRYWWFC

My only concern is that my roomlayout will be a little rough to wire everything(I live in a stone house and can't run cables in outer facing walls). So I was thinking I should go bluetooth, but was recommended not to. Is this setup good? Should I look into bluetooth? Or I could go an alternate route and go with a soundbar and subwoofer. Any help would be much appreciated!

Room layout

http://imgur.com/l5PsLjW

Yes, you will need a separate amplifier, as well as speaker wire and banana plugs (banana plugs optional, gives a cleaner look). One like this would work well:

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Audio-R-S202BL-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B01EMQI2CU

Budget Options:

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter-Silver/dp/B00F0H8TOC?th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SA-36A-TPA3118D2-Amplifier-Black/dp/B017W13OR0

Extreme Budget Option:

https://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2020A-Digital-Amplifier-Stereo/dp/B00C2P61FO

Speaker wire and banana plugs:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023904&p_id=14915&seq=1&format=2

https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2801&seq=1&format=2

Seriously check out /r/hometheater

But be warned, that place can be dangerous.

Here is my current set up:

AVR : Sony 7.2

Center : Klipsch RP-250C

Fronts : Klipsch R-14M

Rears : Klipsch R-14S

Sub : Bic America 12

I deff spent less than $1000 and I love my set up. One thing that saved me a lot of money was buying open box on Ebay from an authorized seller. The other nice thing about piecing it together like this is that you can very easily upgrade one set of speakers over time.

Turntable is Technics SL1200 MKII with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. It's fed into a Schiit Mani preamp. I used to use an Art DJPre II and to be honest I kind of miss it. The sound is pretty similar and sometimes the Mani will bring in this muffled sound and I'll have to restart it. But the Mani looks better and doesn't have a blinding blue LED, at least. The preamp is fed into a Sony home theatre receiver which outputs into a pair of KEF Q100s which sound good enough for my ears.

Honestly that's a whole rabbit-hole that you can fall down.
To start with I would say you need to know a few things:

1. What do you want it to be able to do (have 3,4,7 HDMI ports for later expansion, pass 4k video, convert stereo to 7.1 digital surround, etc - sorry, there are so many possibilities)
   
   
2. What's the budget * This one's important =)
   
   
3. What connections are available on your TV (Whatever the highest quality connections are on your TV, you want the receiver to be able to accept these - or you need a new TV)
   
   
4. What connections do your speakers have (Basically the same as #3 but now you are looking at the output side of the receiver)
   
   
   If you just need basic 5.1 I would say to look at a deal site (slickdeals, fatwallet, etc) and see what is running on sale somewhere from a reputable brand. Do some research on that model to make sure it's not a dud and buy with confidence.....at a discount!
   
   Potential example (and it's a Sony if you happen to want to match components)
   https://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH550-5-2-Channel-Receiver/dp/B00J30GXW2

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F174060660626

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S540BT-Bluetooth-Compatible-Streaming/dp/B07C49F2LD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=denon&qid=1574484822&sr=8-3

Get speaker wire and stands with the leftover $. If you ever decide to get a subwoofer, save up for a quality one. Don't buy something cheap just to get it in there. With your budget and your limited time for research, this is your best bang for your buck and all in stock ready to ship.

Hey everyone, I am looking for a new amp for my set up. My current set up involves a set of Pioneer bookshelf speakers and an SMSL SA-36Pro amp.
I recently got a pair of AKG K7XX's from massdrop and now need a new amp to drive the speakers and headphones by allowing me to alternate the output. Can anyone suggest me an amp that'll do that? I would prefer not to spend more than a $100 but will if I have to. Thanks for the help everyone!

Well I was planing on using Digital optical cable to hook up the tv. Is it possible to use and the ARC HDMI instead? that will pass the audio to my receiver even though I'm using different inputs?

This is pretty much what I had in mind of how it would be set up.

Also what would be the difference between the Yamaha receiver in your post and this Pioneer other than some missing features like the extra bass stuff?

Thanks for the recommendations, sorry for the late response, work has been keeping me busy.

I bought the Covo S for my wife and paired it to a SMSL Mini5, mostly so she could also have a headphone out without getting a separate unit.
 
If you are getting the Covo because of budget constraints, pair it with a Lepy 2020:

https://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2020A-Stereo-Amplifier-Supply/dp/B00C2P61FO

If you can swing a higher budget, or dont mind buying used, get either the MB42X or the MB42 and a crossover upgrade kit:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E7H8GG2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009IUIV4A
http://www.miccastore.com/crossover-upgrade-for-micca-mb42-bookshelf-speakers-mkiii-p-114.html
And pair either of those with an SMSL SA36:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017W13OR0

Buying the covo and lepy is like buying a used beater car from the corner lot; it will get the job done but it won't be very good at it. if you can, its better to save up and reach the next tier.

The need for an amp depends on the speakers. If you got powered(active) speakers then you do not need an amp. This is a very cheap amp to get you started if you have passive speakers. If you want to listen to the radio/switch between sources then a receiver(has radio tuner) like the Onkyo 8020 or any integrated amplifier(no radio tuner) like the yamaha A-S300 will do nicely.

Thanks for all the help! So, I guess just to give a quick and dirty rundown. I'll be running USB into my E07k which has two outs for headphones. I'd have my headphones in one, and one of those RCA cables you linked out of the other into whichever amp I buy, probably https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Component-Amplifier-Black-SA-36A/dp/B017W13OR0/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1466891255&sr=1-5&keywords=SMSL

Which I'll have connected to two Pioneer Andrew Jones bookshelf speakers. Would that be acceptable? The DAC serving as kind of a pre amp for the speakers as well I'm guessing? I know very little about this stuff, sorry for the dumb questions. This way it just seems like it will be easier because my computer's audio source stays constant as the USB source for the FIIO

I'm looking to get a receiver and 5.1 speaker set. This will primarily be for movies/netflix on chromecast and playing switch. Turns out my projector only does a stereo output, no surround sound. Never had one before though. I still need to pick out some speakers too. Don't really know what I'm doing.

I was going to buy this Yamaha receiver, which is billed as a high quality entry receiver:
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V383BL-5-1-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B06XXR6JK3/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1505393656&sr=1-5&keywords=receiver&refinements=p_36%3A10000-99999999

Then today I came across this Pioneer bundle that seems pretty popular, but it's cheap to the point that I worry about the quality:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JOBIFP2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

And then there's also this Yamaha bundle that's a little more expensive:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071JY862G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Thoughts on these, or something better in a similar price range? Thanks!