(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best home theater audio products

We found 8,434 Reddit comments discussing the best home theater audio products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 969 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.

37. Lepy LP-2020A Power Amplifier Stereo HiFi Digital Audio Car Auto Motor Amp

Lepy LP-2020A Power Amplifier Stereo HiFi Digital Audio Car Auto Motor Amp
Specs:
Height4.7 Inches
Length5.8 Inches
Weight0.88 Pounds
Width1.7 Inches
▼ Read Reddit mentions

🎓 Reddit experts on home theater audio products

The comments and opinions expressed on this page are written exclusively by redditors. To provide you with the most relevant data, we sourced opinions from the most knowledgeable Reddit users based the total number of upvotes and downvotes received across comments on subreddits where home theater audio products are discussed. For your reference and for the sake of transparency, here are the specialists whose opinions mattered the most in our ranking.
Total score: 2,147
Number of comments: 1,262
Relevant subreddits: 7
Total score: 506
Number of comments: 358
Relevant subreddits: 2
Total score: 382
Number of comments: 188
Relevant subreddits: 6
Total score: 374
Number of comments: 201
Relevant subreddits: 7
Total score: 159
Number of comments: 164
Relevant subreddits: 3
Total score: 133
Number of comments: 74
Relevant subreddits: 9
Total score: 128
Number of comments: 78
Relevant subreddits: 4
Total score: 90
Number of comments: 62
Relevant subreddits: 1
Total score: 90
Number of comments: 54
Relevant subreddits: 5
Total score: 82
Number of comments: 66
Relevant subreddits: 2

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Top Reddit comments about Home Theater Audio:

u/polypeptide147 · 3 pointsr/audiophile

Okay cool! I think a pair of neutral to warm speakers combined with a nice sub and receiver would be a great way to go.

I've got three speakers that I think would work well for you.

The first is a pair of HSU Bookshelf speakers. Unlike some other horn speakers, these are very neutral sounding. They do have a bit of fun dynamics as well, making them easy yet fun to listen to.

Next would be a pair of Ascend Acoustics CBM-170. These are neutral, but just a tad on the bright side in my opinion. However, they have a silk dome tweeter, so while they may be bright, they aren't fatiguing at all. Great all-around speaker.

Finally, the Elac Debut B6.2. These are super easy to listen to. They are just a tad laid back, but have tons of clarity somehow. They are really an impressive speaker. Everyone has done a review on them, so feel free to look around for more info. The HSUs and Ascends are harder to find a ton of info on since they're internet direct rather than just something you can get on amazon, but they're still great.

I said 'finally' with the Elacs, but I'll throw one more in just for good measure. Wharfedale Diamond 225. They retailed originally at $450 and now are $350, which is awesome. They're a very warm speaker, so I don't think they'll be what you're looking for since you said 'warm to neutral', but I just thought I'd throw them out there. They have an extremely sweet midrange though.

Anyways, you'll want to add a sub to those.

Disclaimer, I haven't heard this sub, but it gets rave reviews. The HSU subwoofers are supposed to be absolutely fantastic subwoofers. Clean tight bass that digs deep.

I really like Rythmik subs. The servo technology is really awesome. They can get low and sound great while doing it as well.

In addition, you'll need a way to power everything. Depending on what you spent on those, you'll have like $200-$300 left.

You don't want a chip amp. Something like a SMSL AD18 will work, but it won't sound the best. Chip amps distort a lot when you start to turn them up a little, which isn't what you want. They also struggle with dynamics and slam.

Something like a home receiver would be the best option for under $200. That range is kind of no-mans-land. Chip amps go up to about $150, and integrated amps don't start until $350. (Integrated amps are just amps made specifically for 2 channel music basically, rather than a receiver that does everything).

This Yamaha is the cheapest integrated amp you can get, and it will be better than a receiver or a chip amp.

And if you need speaker cable, just buy some in bulk, but I think you've already got some.

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If you don't think you'll want a sub (which is very possible, especially with these options) you will have a few more options.

You can get that integrated amp and a pair of Ascend Acoustic Sierras which are absolutely phenomenal speakers. They're just a tad on the warm side of neutral. They might even be just neutral. It's close, but they're good. All around just a fantastic speaker. They get down to 44hz, which is pretty low, so you'd probably be fine without a sub. I really like these speakers.

A pair of Wharfedale Dentons if you like the retro look. I haven't heard these, but they're supposed to have a very nice smooth presentation, a bit on the warm side. I'm not sure though.

Monitor Audio Bronze bookshelves. Again, I haven't heard these, but they're supposed to be pretty neutral. If you go up to the Silver series they apparently get better. Makes sense to me haha.

I'm a huge fan of these Wharfedale Reva towers. That being said, I haven't heard the bookshelf version of them, but I imagine they are fantastic. And, in my opinion, they're some of the prettiest speakers out there. Absolutely beautiful finishing on that wood. The towers are very neutral sounding. The bass is clean and tight. Vocals sound very natural.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I threw a lot at you. Now, what would I get, personally.

I would go with a 2.0 setup for now, and save for a pair of subs in the future (yes, I said pair).

However, seeing as you currently already have a receiver, I might spend my whole budget on a pair of speakers and plan to buy a receiver in the near future when budget allows. If I did this, I would go with one of two things:

The Wharfedale Reva Towers would probably be my first choice.

Close to that would be a pair of Quad S-2 bookshelf speakers. Very close. The ribbon tweeter there is a lot of fun. It has the detail that a metal tweeter would have, but without the sharpness.

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Alright, let's say you want the whole system now. I would get the Yamaha Integrated, the HSU subwoofer, and a pair of HSU bookshelf speakers. They're just a lot of fun to listen to.

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If you wanted to go without the sub for now, it would be one of two options again.

The Yamaha integrated, of course with both.

For speakers, I would pick either the Ascend Sierras or the Wharfedale Reva 2 bookshelves. Like I said, I've only heard the tower Revas, but I can't imagine that the bookshelves would be bad after hearing the towers.

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Sorry for the wall of text.

How does this all look? Any questions?

u/DethFiesta · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

Well, if you are hearing some noise from the output then a DAC may be worthwhile depending on the amount of noise. The differences between DACs are quite small, like -60 dB or more unless you are comparing a toy DAC to something super high end. What that means is that yes, there is a measurable difference but the difference isn't audible. Don't trust what people say: the Placebo Effect is very strong in audio circles.

The human brain is not a reliable arbitrator of sound quality when it comes to tiny differences like you hear between DACs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYTlN6wjcvQ

Your mobo DAC is of adequate quality overall, but the fact that you hear some noise means that the signal is being degraded after it is converted to analog. Given that, you might benefit from an outboard DAC.

Given that you also need an amp and want to use both headphones and speakers, why not pick up one of these sweet new Onkyo amps?

It includes a high quality DAC and there won't be any added noise after the conversion to analog like on your PC. Just run optical cable from your PC to it and boom -- noise free sound from the PC. It has tons of inputs, even including a phono input if you want to go even more audiophile and start rocking vinyl. It also has a sub-woofer preamp out which is super handy for 2.1. Depending on how efficient your speakers are, the 75WPC on offer should get plenty loud to rock a party.

Of course, this amp eats up a good chunk of your budget, but it will get you in a great place as far as DAC and Amp. I'd get this and then your speakers of choice. Live without a sub for a while and save your pennies for the sub once you can afford it.

Here's my other best piece of advice: buy used. It's just past the holidays and people are unloading old gear like crazy on craigslist. You can probably find speakers/headphones/amp that would normally be beyond your budget for sale super cheap. Most audio gear is quite reliable (especially the higher end stuff) and I've always found used to be a MUCH better option in terms of price to performance than buying new.

Good luck and have fun. Feel free to ask anything else. I'm sure other folks will have advice for you too -- these are just my $.02

u/BuddTX · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

These have been getting some good user reviews lately and a nice price too, and a pretty small cabinet for a 6.5 inch woofer, 79.99 / pair: 2 Pack 6.5" Bookshelf Home Theater Speakers 100W RMS TP160S-CH DCM by MTX Audio

As for amp's I have two of these (on two different computer systems), Dayton Audio APA 150. This is a serious Class A/B design topology, but no frills, just a well built, serious, "old school" heavy amp. No remote, no DAC, no Bluetooth, but WOW, a really nice, serious, amp! Lots of good user reviews and recommendations all over the net.

A often recommended smaller digital amp S.M.S.L AD18. This one DOES have it all, remote, DAC, bluetooth, relatively small, great reviews all over the net.

If you are really on a budget, try something similar to Lepai LP-2020TI Digital Hi-Fi Audio Mini Class D Stereo Amplifier. Do some searches for tweaking this amp, a very simple way to improve this amp, is to buy a more powerful power brick. There are many versions of this type of amp, amazon, ebay, parts-express, look around.

The other two, often recommended, "great value" speakers that work well with a computer (but you will need an amp), are the Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speaker System (Pair). I have seen these on sale for well under 100/pair, from memory, in the 60's and 70's.

Another great value is the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers(7-1/8” x 12-9/16” x 8-7/16” & weighs 9 lbs 2 oz). Again, search around, these do go on sale for well under 100.00.

I have both the Pioneer and the Sony, and I currently am using the Sony SSCS5 with the Dayton Audio Amp. Was temped to buy the DCM, but I have to stop buying "great value" speakers. If I ever want to upgrade my computer speakers, I should save up and buy the Ascend Audio Luna Reference Ribbon Mini-Monitor.

Good luck, have fun, and Enjoy!

u/WittenMittens · 1 pointr/brandnew

Thanks man, I really appreciate you giving it a listen.

I do all my recording on a PC I built a few years back. I purposely went overboard on RAM when I did, because prior to that I'd had nothing but trouble with laggy, crashing audio software during marathon sessions. Beyond that, mine is a "budget" setup to the max, but it works for what I do.

The DAW I use is Reaper - I've experimented with several over the years but this is the most responsive one I've found yet, and even the "vanilla" plug-ins are awesome. I think it cost me $60, but in reality it's a Winrar type deal where you could use the free "trial" forever. In the end I really wanted to support the dev though, because it's a great tool for the price tag.

When I'm just looking to bang out a quick recording before an idea escapes me (most of the time), I literally just use a $50 Blue Snowball wired directly into the PC via USB. I never intend for those to be the final versions of my songs, but sometimes I just kind of fall in love with random happy accidents and can't bring myself to toss out tracks with "real" moments in them. Hence the poor quality on a lot of my stuff.

When I want to record something "for real," I use this six-channel USB mixer, this standalone compressor/gate (I'm a bit old school about that), and some combination of a Shure SM58, an MXL 990 and an MXL991 depending on the situation. I was gifted a pair of Sennheiser HD280 cans many years ago, and they have been my faithful monitoring headphones ever since. When I want to play back what I've recorded so far at unreasonable volumes, which I consider a mandatory part of the process, I use the time-honored pair of Dayton B652 bookshelf speakers with a Lepai LP-2020A digital amplifier.

The only thing I somewhat regret is the mixer. It's fine for what it is, but I wish I'd spent a little more money on something that had more channels and enough juice to support the unpowered speakers I use for live performances. Other than that, my setup won't hold a candle to a $5000 or $10,000 rig, but it gets the job done and it's something I'm proud to have built one piece at a time. I paid for all of it using money I've made on gigs at local bars and coffee shops over the years, so it has some sentimental value as well. One day when I have the money for a serious upgrade, I hope I get the chance to pass this stuff down to a random kid who's just getting started and make his fucking year. :)

u/IesaAR117 · 2 pointsr/headphones

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

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

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

Happy headphone hunting :)

u/sharkamino · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

JBL LSR305 are good studio monitors for pro recording and mixing however you will need to also add a studio monitor controller.

The C-notes are said to compare well to the JBLs but are tuned more for home audio and also go a bit lower.

A bit quicker DIY build with pre-built and painted cabinets is the Dayton Audio BR-1 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Monitor Speaker Kit Pair $199 which have a good low end if definitely not adding a subwoofer. A later upgrade is a better DIY crossover.

If you don't want to DIY, but still want a neutral sounding speaker with a flat frequency response tuned for home audio, get the Wavecrest Audio HVL-1s for around $190 shipped for the pair on sale. Then add a subwoofer when you can.

Or the larger Ascend CBM-170 SE which I have in my living room and are great for music. I have the smaller Ascend HTM-200 on my small desk with a subwoofer underneath my desk.

The Infinity Reference will be a bit brighter which can be better for home theater or if you have a hard time hearing high frequencies. Same for the JBL Studio 230 $199 $399 MSRP. They are also both good for music for the price but don't have as good of a mid-range that the Ascends or even the Wavecrests do.

Or the 5.25" Wharfedale Diamond 220 $249 or 6.5" Wharfedale Diamond 225 $349 have a good warm sound for mostly music. Same for the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 $229 which are said to have a good low end if definitely not adding a subwoofer.

Amplification:

I use a Denon stereo receiver or a Pioneer Dolby Pro Logic AV receiver both of which I found for free, placed on an 18" end table either under or off to the side of my desk. Should be easy to find a used stereo or AV receiver for under $100. Look for one with SUB out if you want to add the R12. If not, you will need a subwoofer with speaker level speaker wire inputs or use a speaker level to RCA adapter. Speaker Wire Only Sub Hookup.

For compact class A/B power, Emotiva A-100 $249. Or the Dayton Audio APA150 $135 is a clone of the discontinued Emotiva BPA-1 that the Emotiva A-100 replaced. Then speaker wire to a sub with speaker level inputs or use a speaker level to RCA adapter with with the R12.

Or a PSA Sprout, NAD 3020, or DENON PMA60 are over $400.

Or down a step to a digital class T/D mini amp, Topping MX3 $129 has a subwoofer out jack to use with the R12.

u/avnerd33 · 1 pointr/hometheater

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

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

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

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

u/Thirty_Seventh · 1 pointr/buildapcforme
PCPartPicker Part List

Type|Item|Price
----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor | $329.00 @ B&H
CPU Cooler | FSP Group Windale 6 60 CFM CPU Cooler | $46.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard | MSI B450 TOMAHAWK ATX AM4 Motherboard | $114.89 @ OutletPC
Memory | G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory | $67.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Western Digital Blue SN500 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive | $64.99 @ Amazon
Storage | Seagate Barracuda Compute 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $54.99 @ Amazon
Video Card | Sapphire Radeon RX 5700 XT 8 GB Video Card | $399.99 @ SuperBiiz
Case | NZXT H500 ATX Mid Tower Case | $69.99 @ Best Buy
Power Supply | SeaSonic 520 W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply | $41.98 @ Newegg
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit | $99.99 @ Best Buy
| Prices include shipping, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $1330.80
| Mail-in rebates | -$40.00
| Total | $1290.80
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-08-04 21:19 EDT-0400 |

CPU: Good CPU for gaming and streaming.
CPU Cooler: Performs extremely well for its price. Also has blue LEDs!
Motherboard: You must update the BIOS on this before you can use a Ryzen 3000 CPU with it. Micro Center offers BIOS updates as a free service in-store.
RAM: 3200Mhz, CL16. Nothing too fancy, but should do well with this CPU.
Storage: This SSD is well worth the $5 price increase over the Intel 660p/Crucial P1. The HDD is 7200RPM and not a used/repackaged drive, so it's good enough.
GPU: Easily the best GPU that fits your budget, but if you wait until a little later this month, you can get a 5700 XT with an aftermarket cooler that's much quieter than the stock one. You might want to check with Micro Center for bundle deals with this GPU. A little while ago, they were offering $50 off when bought with an AMD CPU; I'm not sure if that deal is still active.
Case: Nice case with a side window. The one with blue highlights is $20 more.
PSU: Tier C on the PSU tier list, so it's fine if you don't overload it - you won't with this build. (It's an M12II)
* OS: You can contact Microsoft support to see if your old OS can be transferred to a new computer. If you didn't buy a Retail version, it's unlikely.

Monitor - The Dell S2419HGF (1080p, 144Hz, $160) and Dell S2719DGF (1440p, 155Hz, $300) are both really good deals. A 5700 XT should power either one well for less demanding games, but you may need to lower some settings for new titles on the 1440p one. Both monitors work with G-sync in case you switch to an Nvidia card in the future.

Speakers - I know very little about speakers, but /r/BudgetAudiophile recommends a Lepy LP-2020A ($20) amp along with Micca MB42 ($60) or Micca MB42X ($80) speakers as a low-end system.
u/gj80 · 6 pointsr/headphones

> are there bluetooth headphones that actually sound good?

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

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

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

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

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

u/shadyinternets · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

i dont know a ton about turntables other than if it doesnt have the phono preamp built in you need an external one, which can be a standalone device or integrated into another device like a preamp or integrated amp. it looks like your u-turn can come either with or without one, but if you are running rca directly to the m10's im assuming it has one... so you should be able to skip a separate device there.

if all you want is an easier way to switch between the TV and turntables, this simple thing from schitt makes that happen with the push of a button. just run the RCAs from both the tv and the turntable into the 2 input sets then run 1 pair of RCAs from the output that go to the m10's input. http://schiit.com/products/sys


and for your beast, yes that definitely exist, will just depend on your budget. for simplicity, any standard av receiver should work since your turntable has the phono preamp built in. that means you simply have to run rca cables from your turntable into one of the rca inputs and then can either run your tv through the receiver via hdmi from your cable box, or can run the audio from tv to receiver (like youre doing with the m10's now), then the receiver should have rca outs that you would run to the m10's for now and if you want to get passive (standard wire as you called them) speakers later, an av receiver would be ready to do 5.1 or 7.1 or whatever. that would just depend on your budget. av receivers already have a DAC and other processing things so it covers that too.

or you could get a simple integrated amp. i have an onkyo a-9050 and i love it. it is just for my computer 2.1 setup. it has plenty of line level (RCA) inputs, a sub out and plenty of power for passive speakers. it also has a decent dac, but i use a separate one that i like the sound of better.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009JBZFVK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1



it really comes down to your budget. separate pieces are prob going to cost more and mean more wires but allow for more customization as you can swap different things out if needed. an av receiver is probably the easiest route and covers far more than what separates would for the same price.

u/kerowack · 1 pointr/audiophile

A couple years back I bought a bunch of speakers when I was living in a house and had freedom, hooked them up to some junky receivers from the thrift shop and was happy enough.

I'd like to give them a bit better treatment and see just how much I like them after giving them a fair shot though and could really use some advice on the best solution to power them adequately enough for a fair trial, here's what I have, a bunch of Polk stuff:

Monitor 70:
https://smile.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Monitor-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B00631YX62/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517939899&sr=8-3&keywords=monitor+70

Monitor 40:
https://smile.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-AM4095-Monitor-Bookshelf/dp/B0071MSYEE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517939826&sr=8-1&keywords=Polk+Monitor+40

PSW505:
https://smile.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-12-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B000092TT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517940032&sr=8-1&keywords=psw505

I was thinking maybe something like this?:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MXUCN0A/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

My source is 99% high quality digital files straight from my PC (2011 MacBook Pro 15").

I'm not in any big rush so would be happy to hunt for smarter used prices, etc. just really looking for guidance. Does it make sense to connect both sets of speakers to the same amp?

Is a subwoofer redundant/unnecessary/harmful for music listening with this set up?

Side question: the Monitor 70s come prepared for bi-amping with little removable metal connectors between the two sets of connectors on the back of each speaker. Am I in any trouble if I remove these connectors and DON'T bi-amp?

Thanks a lot for any help.

u/bit_pelican_adjuster · 1 pointr/audiophile

Budget: Like to keep it under 800.
What I Need: Looking for an entry level system with a receiver to build around. Only want 2 speakers.
Where it will be used: In the family room of a 1600 square foot single level. The room is 15 x 15.
Use: Music (variety). Will use with Apple TV and PC for gaming and movie watching.

I was thinking about going with the Onkyo A-9010 https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-A-9010-Integrated-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B00SY20TE8

Speakers: I was going with floor speakers. These look good. Pioneer SP-FS52. https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-Designed-standing-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4

Questions:
I want the system to be a incognito as possible to placate partner. Will the system sound good? Would lay people be impressed with the sound? Or is going to sound like a glorified 5 speaker special from Best buy? I'm willing to spend more on the speakers, up too $500 if there is a significant difference that a normal person could tell. I am not interested in a loud or party system. I'm in my mid thirties and got a little one. I am interested in new right now, and preferably from Amazon. Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.

u/Mad_Economist · 2 pointsr/CabaloftheBuildsmiths

Hmm, not a lot to spend on speakers and headphones. Shooting from the hip, around that budget, I'd probably go one of two directions:

A pair of reasonable-ish entry-level speakers - something in the vein of the Micca [MB42] (https://www.amazon.com/Micca-PB42X-Powered-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B009IUIV4A) (which is passive, and so requires an amplifier, which can be [pretty cheap for a very budget option] (https://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2020A-Class-D-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B01FZKA28Y/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=class+t+amplifier&qid=1573193876&s=electronics&sr=1-7))/[PB42X] (https://www.amazon.com/Micca-PB42X-Powered-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00NXAEPDC) (which is powered and so requires no amplifier) - which will run something a little north of $100 unless you're down to buy used, plus a reasonable lower mid end closed headphone ([NVX's branding of the Yoga CD880] (https://www.amazon.com/NVX-Over-Ear-Headphones-ComfortMax-XPT100/dp/B0093PVTPS) is a pick I like a fair bit). These speakers will be pretty alright, albeit imperfect to be sure, and there are a few decent-to-good closed-back options in the ~$100 range.

Alternatively, if speaker quality is literally of no importance, you could go for something in the budget range of those Logitechs - there really are absolutely not options that cheap that are any good at all, but if you only use speakers to occasionally listen to youtube videos, it might be acceptable. That would leave more budget to allocate to the headphone side of things, where you'd have options like [AKG's] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svAmJheRxAg) K371, NAD'S HP50,or on the used side of the street [AKG's] (https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/akg/n700nc-wireless) N700NC, which are quite robust options in the closed-back world (particularly, in my opinion, the N700NC, which sounds fantastic to my ears with its digital signal processing active, and has quite good noise cancelling as well).

It's a bit of a tight squeeze regardless - if you're down with used gear, you can get a bit more for your dollar, but at very low price points you're in a space where shipping costs may dwarf savings, so even that might not help much, outside of headphones (which don't cost much to ship, and have a quite vibrant used market).

If you'd like more information or options, just let me know - I've thrown some links in above, but I'm pretty short of time today, so I figured I'd offer what I had from the top of my head rather than leaving you waiting.

u/picmandan · 8 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Depends on the type of setup you're looking for, the most common of which are 2.0, 2.1, or 5.1 (or more).

For simple stereo music listening, you'd need a 2 channel amplifier, (such as a the small and very inexpensive but decentish Lepai, or better the SMSL SA-50, or a full size receiver such as this Pioneer) and a way to play and input your music.

For that you could use your computer and an Aux cable, or you could use your phone and an inexpensive bluetooth receiver. This would be a 2.0 system (2 main speakers only, no sub).

You may wish to add a subwoofer for better reproduction of low frequencies. As the subs usually come with their own amplification, but accept high level (already amplified) inputs, you can just wire them together from the amplifier. This would be a 2.1 system.

Plus you need speaker wires and maybe wires for input (like Aux) depending on your setup.

For Home Theater plus music, you'd want a Home Theater receiver such as this Denon, that plays at least 5.1 channels (the .1 is for the subwoofer. This will give you a setup to power Left and Right front speakers, a Center Channel, plus 2 surround speakers. You still need a way to play your source, such as a CD player.

As u/smackdaddies pointed out, you could get four of these Pioneer speakers, plus the related center channel and a sub, plus the receiver, for under $500. It would be a pretty great sounding (budget) 5.1 system.

Once you decide on the type of setup you're interested, we can help you choose items here on r/BudgetAudiophile.

u/rar3nativ · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

At the bare minimum include the following things if you want help and/or advice choosing or setting up amplifiers, speakers, DACS, etc

  • Budget: a little more or less than 100 u$s? I'm not sure
  • Country: Argentina. If the product cost more than 50$, I have to pay 50% of the excedent as taxes
  • I can buy from: Any amazon, b&h, I think almost everywhere
  • Use: Audioslave, RHCP, Rock in general, series,
  • Where: A desk in a Room
  • Space: 3.67m x 3.88m, NOT really loud, I will be most of the time 1.5m away from the speakers and occasionally on my bed, or taking a bath or cooking in the next room.

    Optional but also helpful

  • Powered, passive, or no preference: no preference, I've heard you can get a better quality with the same budget with passive speakers.
  • Any size limitations for either speaker or amp: no
  • To upgrade later?: not really
  • Pref certain way of sounding (Bright/forward, smooth/laid back, neutral, etc): that immersive experience (everyone here would call it the commercial one?) but I'm not sure, I don't have any speaker to listen and compare.., I only have a HyperX Cloud 1 headsets and I won't be downloading FLAC at least for the moment, I only listen from Spotify (music) or Bluray (series and movies) most part of the time

    I've made my search but I have no idea about this so... I need speakers for the pc on the desk in my room. Mostly for series, music, games. I will not update the system soon after this purchase and I don't have anything right now besides my current headphones.

    I'm from Argentina so I have 2 disadvantages: I have absolutely no idea what I'm buying because there are no places near me to try any of these speakers. For every purchase, if I spend more than 50$ I will have to pay 50% of the excedent. That means, I can buy an amp of 30$ without paying taxes or if it exists the possibility to buy a pair of headphones by separate (1 and 1 making a pair) I will probably not pay taxes... Are there places willing to do that?

    This is my room: https://imgur.com/a6UVKYU

    Questions:

    - What would you recommend and why?

    - My motherboard doesn't have bluetooth. I want to connect my pc the 99% of the time and maybe my phone 4-5mts away. What is my best option?

    - I think I can buy from any amazon. I've found better prices for some of the products there. Editing..

    Active:

    Edifier R1280T 156$ - £89.99

    Edifier R980T 115$ - £59.99

    Swan Speakers - D1010-IVB (unavailable? the 2nd best option?)

    Passive:

    Micca PB42 60$

    Micca PB42X 110$

    Pioneer SP-BS22-LR 93$ (the best ones? 1st best option?)

    Dayton Audio B652 28$

    Dayton Audio B652-AIR 45$

    Amp:

    Lepy LP-2020A Class-D 23$ (I want to connect my phone occasionally without disconnecting my pc, should I get a bluetooth or wifi amp?)

    ​

    ps: sorry for the long post and thanks in advance
u/explosivo563 · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

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

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

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

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

u/lihpwehc · 1 pointr/hometheater

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

u/Hemb · 1 pointr/audiophile

Ok, couple things.

First, looks like speakers are included. I don't know these speakers, so I can't comment on their quality. But if your current speakers still work and use regular speakers wire, then you could just keep those. Of course, it's always nice to get nicer speakers; but you don't need new speakers to get sound going.

Now the amp itself will work, and has the CD built in. However, it only has one RCA input (that is the "line" input). You can hook up only one thing to it; so a record player would fill it up.

One other thing to consider is if you will eventually want a subwoofer. The amp you linked has no sub out, so no subwoofer. This is a preference thing, but a lot of people like subwoofers.

And now the record player. They need a special piece called a phono pre-amp. Some record players come with them built in, some don't. You would hook record player to phono pre-amp, and plug the phono pre-amp to the amp. Both using RCA cables. Also some amps come with a "phono in" input, which has the phono pre-amp built in.

Now, that setup will work. But there are other options. If you want my personal opinion, I would say get a decent cheap amp, and a separate cd player. Then save up money to get speakers as good as I can afford. That will give you a good base to build off of. Then you can add the record player (and phono pre-amp) later. You can upgrade the amp or the CD players also, if you think you need to, without replacing the rest of the setup.

I'm afraid I don't have exact amp recommendations, but SMSL and Topping are pretty common cheap amps. This Topping one has gotten good reviews, but I can't say much since I have heard it: https://www.amazon.com/Topping-MX3-Bluetooth-Headphome-Amplifier/dp/B075SYC4Z5/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=topping+amp&qid=1555784891&s=gateway&sr=8-3

That amp has a subwoofer out, but still just one input. Some amps have more inputs, but generally you want a receiver. Here is an example of a cheap stereo receiver with several inputs: https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrs202bl/yamaha-r-s202-2-ch-x-100-watts-natural-sound-stereo-receiver/1.html

That receiver does not have a sub out. Both of those amps are just ones I've seen others talk about, I haven't heard them. But hopefully this gives you an idea of what you're looking for.

One other consideration is digital inputs, but you never mentioned a computer or anything so I don't think you'll need to worry about them.

Sorry for the wall of text, I hope.its.helpful! Gotta run now, but definitely look around r/budgetaudiophile, they are always talking about and comparing cheap components.

u/Mathias787 · 7 pointsr/buildapc

I advocate using component bookshelves speakers with a mini amp unless space is at a big premium. They are better engineered, have better bang for your buck, and have a much cleaner sound.

You have the added bonus that the speakers are more flexible for other uses and, if you wanted to go from 2.0 to something else, it's a pretty easy upgrade, ala: you don't have to pitch the old system and get something new. I think you'd find a good 2.0 system to be much more impressive than a lot of the gamer sound systems out there.

Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers

Dayton Audio DTA-1 Digital Amplifier

Amazon Basics Speaker Cable

Another note: A system like this will sound way fuller without a boominess that you'd get from most gaming 2.1 sound systems. All of my friends that I have recommended go this route have loved it!

u/Graceful_cumartist · 1 pointr/vinyl

I suggest the Pro-ject pre amp

For speakers I don't know, I have a pair of Audio Pro addon t8's but they seem to be way pricier in US. Basically anything that fits your budget and has gotten favorable review usually is enough to get a nice sound out of your TT.

If you want to save a bit on the pre amp then you might wanna take a look at TCC TC-750, that would also do the trick, it is now for a pretty reasonable reduced price so be quick.

Speakers that I can recommend without a reservation would be these audio engine A2+. They are solid small powered speakers that would do your vinyls justice.

All together the TCC 750 with the A2+ now add up just shy of 300. This would be setup that with your TT will go a long way before a need to upgrade although I would add a sub when you get the chance.

If you want to save more, you could go for these Mackie CR4 but you can't add a powered sub to these, use them for your PC trough USB and don't have an option to add wireless support later. So it comes with a lack of features.

u/blackjakals · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

Hey SoVerySick314159, I can't attest to any headphone amps under $50 as I have never owned any at that price point. Just about any amp should power your headphones as they are very low ohm, but I am not sure which amp would be best to prevent the sound attenuation problems you are having.

Just two months ago I received my very first headphone amp in the form of the Micca Origen G2 USB DAC/Headphone Amp combo from Amazon for $110. It is excellent. It has a great quality DAC, it can handle headphones with very large ohm requirements, it has a gain switch, and it can change between powered speakers and headphones with the flip of a switch and no unplugging of sources. It is powered by USB, but can also be powered by a 5V power adapter that you would have to purchase separately. I know it's out of your budget, but check it out.

Also, go to the r/Zeos guide HERE for great options for DAC's and heaphone amps for different price ranges. The post is about a year old, but the options there are still valid. Zeos also has some great videos on speakers, headphones, amps and the like on this channel HERE and also has one on that Micca Amp above.

u/Scrimgali · 1 pointr/gadgets

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

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

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

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

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

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

Es100:

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


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

u/Guyon · 1 pointr/audiophile

1. What is your budget?

Potentially up to $300, but I don't want to spend that much if I don't absolutely need to. It just means I won't get it sooner.

2. What are you looking for?


An upgrade to my Dayton Audio DTA-1 Amp / better alternatives to the Monoprice Stereo Hybrid Tube Amp with Bluetooth.

Something with:

  • Volume control
  • Speaker wire output, headphone output
  • Bluetooth would be a nice bonus.

    As long as audio quality is no worse than it is now (not bad), I'm happy. Currently, the closest to what I'm looking for is that Monoprice tube amp.. I know it gets a bad rep, but it fulfills the features that I'm looking for. I'm definitely not attached to it, so I'm absolutely welcome to better suggestions.

    3. How will you typically be using the gear?


    At my desk, with my bookshelf speakers two feet to each side of me.

    4. What gear do you own?


    Currently Dayton Audio B652 w/ T-amp This kit.

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


    Two computers, and Xbox One, and potentially Bluetooth if possible. I can use splitters for these.

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


    Gaming, generally broad music styles.

    7. Are you willing to buy used?


    Sure, if it's actually feasible. I'm not Goodwill hunting for two years.

    edit: I ended up getting a refurbished Denon AVR-S500BT for $160. I feel like this was a great improvement.

u/MrJ0hnny · 2 pointsr/PS4

I would probably stick with 5.1.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's my opinion on a couple of brand :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

u/Xpress_interest · 3 pointsr/vinyl

You're going to take a lot of shit for wanting to connect a turntable to a soundbar as opposed to a proper 2.0/2.1 setup arranged to the room's acoustics (generally recommended here and in any other music-related sub over a soundbar), but any receiver with an optical out will do, as you can add a phono preamp to the chain to get a line level signal out of the turntable. You CAN find amps/receivers with optical outs and a built-in phono stage, but they're likely to be more expensive and even a $50-$100 phono pre-amp will sound as good or better than anything built into a receiver. And going to component route means if anything does go out or you want to upgrade something, the modular element means it's a lot easier to do.

Edit: the cheapest new (and decent) amp that I found in a quick search that has a phono stage and optical out in it: Onkyo A-9010 Integrated Stereo Amplifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SY20TE8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_J4mlxbKYNJZHB - this actually looks like a pretty decent amp for what you want to do, and it's only a little over your budget (whuch is going to be tricky going the new route anyway)

And if you're set on new for the turntable too: http://uturnaudio.com/turntables/ and add a cueing lever and upgrade the cart to the ortofon or grado in their custom build link and you've got a better table for a better price delivered to your door and ready to play.

u/Shike · 2 pointsr/audiophile

I'd take a look at these - not that some combinations of amps/speakers will go over $1K by a little bit, so if it's a hard limit keep that in mind (one will limit the other). Equally, I'm assuming you already have a phono preamp or that your TT has one built in.

Focals (Guy also has bookshelf and sub from Focal too as an alternative option for a similar price)

PSB

Monitor Audio

NHT

For amplifier I'd say Yamaha but if you have to save money and don't need digital in this pioneer should work pretty well also, but you may want an extended warranty based on possible QA issues.

If you want to look cheaper you'll need to surrender the remote.

This Audiosource offers pretty good value. It's worth noting that it may have some slight bass roll-off based on the prior version (roughly 1dB at 20hz), but it will be difficult finding something that even touches it in that price range specifically.

If you go used and up the price you get a bit better performance from this Emotiva. If going this route confirm they have the original purchase paperwork - Emotiva has a transferable 5-year warranty on this which definitely eases anxiety on a $200 used electronic device purchase IME. If not I'm not sure I would buy it, but that's me.

u/Meph616 · 1 pointr/vinyl

I remember doing some research on this sub before buying mine, some good reviews for the Behringer 4400 was tossed around frequently. So I got that. It did its job, but it had a pretty weak output honestly.

I then did some more digging and stumbled across the ART DJPRE III Phono Plus. I got this one because the gain/output was adjustable, and I've used one similar in my local record shop and liked that feature. Plus it has the function of hooking it up to my computer via a USB port and transferring some of my records I don't have digital copies of.

If the USB function doesn't sound necessary then I'd look into the DJPRE III which looks to be mostly the same minus the USB.

Volume wise if I plugged in my iPod with the Behringer it could be at '45' on the amplifier while I would have to max out to '70' to have a similar volume output. Now with the ART my records are audibly as loud as my digital files. Clarity wise I have a modest system so it's clean along with being powerful enough for my needs. For reference I have a Project Debut Carbon turntable, Sony STRDH750 for my receiver, and ELAC B6 "bookshelf" speakers (bookshelf in name only, they're large but fantastic for the price).

u/ArizonaLad · 3 pointsr/HomeImprovement

Actually, pretty easily. Keeping with the retro theme, you'd pull the old, non-operating amplifier out of the donor jukebox. You'd then fit something like this Blutooth enabled amplifier into it:

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=13194

Because it looks cool, as well as sounding pretty damn good, you'd likely want to create a shelf for it to sit on within the box, so not only can you see it but operate the controls, as well. Maybe protect it behind a piece of sliding glass to keep it dust free.

If the record player still works (and it probably will; those things are pretty bullet proof), you could listen to some vinyl if you purchased a phono pre-amp. The output of a magnetic cartridge is very low, so you'd have to boost the signal before routing it through this amp I've selected. Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/ART-USB-Phono-Plus-PS/dp/B000BBGCCI

Note: this preamp will allow you to also stream digital media from your home network, laptop, etc.

So there you have a digital setup to stream your media from your smartphone and home networks. And an analog hybrid to listen to vinyl. Provided the jukebox's speakers are not blown, this setup will cost you about $200. Not bad, IMHO.

u/Armsc · 1 pointr/hometheater

Your next step is the AVR. Nothing is going to work without it. Since you don't have a budget you're options are open. Normally you'll see recommendations for Denon or Yamaha. If you want something that's going to last a while looks for something with 4k passthrough. I would look at these as an example.

  • The E400 is a solid 7.1 model that has been discoed but is a good price. $350

  • The Yamaha 377 is a great lower cost 5.1 unit with 4k passthrough. $250

  • The Yamaha 575 is another 7.2 option with 4k. $350

    Now for speakers you can get different rear speakers than the front set. If you want to hang them from ceiling I would go with something light...the Pioneer BS22's are not that. I would look at something like these:

  • BIC32s as they are small and light but sound pretty good.

  • Polk's OWM3 might also be something to look at because of flexible mounting options.

  • Boston Acoustics XS could also fit in nicely and they have a bunch of mounting options too.
u/musselkid · 1 pointr/audiophile

I am somewhat experienced with headphones, but not at all with speakers.

I own a Fiio e10k USB DAC/AMP combo, and it worked wonders for my setup. I use it with my Superlux hd668b's (which I modded,) my AKG k612 pros (my favorite pair and daily driver,) and my Hifiman he400's, which were a gift from a friend. (yes, the original model, just he400, not he400s or he400i)

I want to add some Micca mb42x bookshelf speakers to my setup. Through the research I have done, I realize that I will need to purchase a speaker amplifier for these speakers. I have had my eyes on the Lepy lp-2020a ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FZKA28Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_q4yDzb1TNH6V2 ) based on its positive Amazon reviews but I am not sure how good the company it because it just seems to be cloning Lepai.

So when I do purchase these products, would it be a good idea to use the line out from the Fiio e10k and connect that to the speaker amp? (I have read that the line out from the e10k puts out a low power signal for powered speakers to use that just passes the data through the dac and skips the amp.)

Thanks for the help!

u/mcaron1234 · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

I do, I use my old AV receiver with passive speakers. You have options on that though.

  • Passive speakers and a small AMP: micca MB42 for $59.95 and a small amp like this Lepai 2020 for $24.38.
  • powered speakers that won't need an amp: edifiers for just over your budget at $109. There are a lot of options for powered speakers some with Bluetooth builtin, but the good ones of those start around $130.

    That eats up all your budget with speakers and amp. Checking Craigslist or Facebook marketplace you might find deals, particularly on a nicer stereo amp or AV receiver to use with some passive speakers. If you are interested in running Volumio on a Pi, that's going to add a bit more. For the pi you need, the Pi ~$35, DAC $20+, case $15, SD card $15+, and power supply $10. The pi is pretty nice with Volumio though, it has a good mobile webpage plus iOS and android apps for a few bucks. Volumio has plugins that allow for it to be an airplay receiver or to use Spotify.
u/victortristan · 5 pointsr/zelda

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

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


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

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


Cheers! 29 more days!

u/GlowKitty · 1 pointr/vinyl

Ok, lets try this again, I completely missed the "Submit a New Question" button >.< sorry mods! (I guess I should skim the submission guidelines better next time >.>)

I have a Technics SL-Q200 turntable, nothing too special but I love it. I'm going off to college soon so I have to downsize my Hi-Fi setup for dorm life.

My plan was to get a mini amplifier like [this] (https://www.amazon.com/LP-2020A-Class-D-Amplifier-Digital-Adapter/dp/B01FZKA28Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1499830027&sr=1-2&keywords=mini+amplifier) one, get a phono preamp, and use some smaller speakers that I use on my desk right now.

But my best friend made the point that what if one of the people in my dorms is drunk and falls over on it, or damages it, I'd be devastated. So they suggested to get a Crosley Cruiser, and after looking into it, I'm not sure that's a good idea. Is there anything in the price range of that (not too much more expensive) that would work for me? Something that won't damage my prized records but also sounds decent and is under $100?

Also if you think it would be best to take my current turntable, feel free to let me know.

Any help is appriciated thanks \^w^

u/Elnrik · 2 pointsr/ZReviews

Two of these amps? https://amzn.com/B00ZSEFU94

Assuming the speakers match up fairly well with those amps in terms of sensitivity and power requirements, I think you should be fine. The line out from the Origen+ can control the volume. You would then split the Left / Right signals with a 3.5mm to RCA Y adapter, and connect the R channel to 1 amp, and L channel to the other - is that correct? Reading the Amp owner's manual, it shows the amp only needs a single input using the bottom-middle RCA connector for bridged mono mode.

I don't see anything wrong with this setup. It is a little unusual - an inexpensive home theater receiver might provide better overall features and power without the connectivity issues.

I digress... The number of connectors and length of cable used would probably influence distortion more than the output of the Origen would. Keeping the signal path away from power sources will help as well.

Also, I don't see how replacing the Origen with a Magni 2 Uber would net you massive audio quality improvements, especially where budget is concerned. Unless you need the coax input for some reason.

I hope that helps? Pretty unique situation. Good luck.

u/_jackeane · 1 pointr/audiophile

So I don't really know too much about setting up a system. Right now, I'm mainly planning on using it for music and some gaming/tv from my pc. Have a small room and not a big budget (college student), so following the recommended speakers above I'm planning on getting the Micca MB42X speakers (https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2).

Following this 2.1 setup (http://i.imgur.com/Z8FMJ.png), it looks like I'm gonna get this DAC (https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-U-Control-Low-Latency-Interface-Digital/dp/B000KW2YEI).

The recommended amp from above, the SMSL SA 60W, is unavailable from most places. Out of these two options which one is the best for their value?

Pyle (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036VO6G4/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza)

Dayton (https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-DTA-1-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B001PNOH2I/ref=sr_1_17?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1322387040&sr=1-17)

Feel free to recommend me any other amp you think would work for ~$75 or less, it just has to have a 3.5mm input as well as an RCA input. Thanks for the help in advance friends, means a lot.

u/y0y0ma · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

I would forego a subwoofer, because I still live in a shitty apartment. Plus, I should add that I am cheating a bit in my list because I would actually buy used even if I had a $1000. OK, Here we go :)

Speakers Nubert nuBox 383 or Dali Zensor 3 Although I doubt they would be able to beat my current MB Quarts, they are still great speakers that go deep enough to keep me happy without a sub. I would need about 2 meters of basic 2.5mm² cables for the wiring ~$550

Amp Yamaha S-301 Because my current amp is a Yamaha AX-500 from the 80s and it is still going strong. Plus, a stereo amp is more than enough for my needs because of my source (below) and there is room for adding a sub later if I want to ~$300

Source Raspberry Pi 3 + iQAudio DAC Pro Great little device that can run debian and play music via mpd. I use the same setup right now for my source (except I have the older RPi2 with OSMC) and it works great for movies as well as music. Kodi + Webinterface makes it easy to play remotely. I had KODI+mpd before but ditched mpd when I figured out how to send video to TV via HDMI, and audio to amp via RCA. Now Kodi handles music as well ~$150

Total $1000 And I hit the sweet spot, but as I said earlier this is only a hypothetical game for me as I would only buy used in real life. I am pretty sure I can get a similar sounding setup including the source for about $150-$250.

u/adrianmonk · 2 pointsr/audio

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

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

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

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

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

u/ldeas_man · 4 pointsr/audio

well to start, those are crap speakers either way. two 3.5" woofers means they will have zero bass, which completely defeats the purpose of tower speakers

second, you screwed up by not doing proper research. most speakers (aka passive speakers) have wire terminals where you connect them to an amplifier

you can buy a cheap amp on Amazon for $20 which will work. but my honest recommendation is to sell those speakers for whatever you can get and getting these Dayton bookshelf speakers and this Lepai amp. it'll sound better than those 'towers' and take up less room. yes, it'll cost a bit more (depending on what you can sell the Monster towers for), but if you plan on listening to anything bass heavy, you'll appreciate the better quality speakers (note: yes I know the B652s don't measure anywhere near flat, but for a layman, they're a good first step)

u/verdesauceisback · 1 pointr/headphones

I had Fiio E10K and ended up returning it after I got this hybrid tube amp, felt bad for recommending the Fiio to a friend after I got the tube amp and am still trying to get him to return it and try the tube amp.

The stock tubes are pretty mediocre but still better than the Fiio in my opinion. I immediately swapped the stock tubes out for GE E180F NOS new old stock tubes which gave significant improvement after they burned in. Planning on getting some Valvo Holland E180F new old stock tubes in the next few weeks as a Christmas present for myself. The GE tubes aren't lacking in any way, especially after burning in, so the Valvo's are really just for epeen sake/hobbyist mentality type shit.

Keep in mind that a hybrid tube amp is not a DAC but I personally think it sounds better than the Fiio did. I'm outputting lossless files from my motherboard's onboard audio (Realtek 1150) at 24bit 192khz and I get no chatter or background noise at all even when I turn everything all the way up so realistically I don't need a DAC at all as my output device is fine. If I ever start having problems with my onboard audio it I plan to get a JDS Labs standalone USB ODAC unit.

Oh yeah, headphones are Sennheiser PC350SE's which are 150 Ohm and I can't turn amp up too far past half or I'll blow my eardrums out with the volume tray on side of headset at 75% and PC output at 95%. EQ just barely boosted from flat, it could use a little more bass, considering Hero mod but still doing research and may just end up getting a dedicated headset instead of headset mic/combo. Only have the PC350SE's because I snagged a brown box special on Amazon for $66 on Black Friday.

u/gatesphere · 1 pointr/vinyl

I am! I'm using the ART USB Phono Plus and I love it. It is admittedly overkill, though -- internally it has the same preamp circuit as the ART DJPre II.

I grabbed the USB Phono Plus over the DJPre II because the Phono Plus also has a USB output and a built in headphone amp. My setup didn't have a headphone output and I wanted to listen at night without waking the neighbors. The USB output is also a plus because I like to digitize some of my thrift finds for kicks, and I want to be able to do that even after I eventually rip out the built-in preamp (haven't done that quite yet, but I've been inside my TT -- looks super simple, even with my rusty soldering skills).

I'm really impressed with the ART, though. It has great sound for my price range. Much nicer than the built-in preamp to my ears.

u/checkerdamic · 3 pointsr/vinyl

I have jerry rigged plenty of turntables up for sampling so... let's see what we can do here...

(1) Pick up a used turntable from your local craigslist or used electronics shop (follow the guide or post here for recommendations). Depending on your location, $100 will find a basic vintage turntable. Make sure you get a new stylus, maybe even a new cartridge depending on what you want to do. If you want to do backcueing, starting and stopping on the fly, or scratching, get a DJ-oriented cartridge. I recommend the Shure M44-7, it's a workhorse and widely available, you can even pick them up at Guitar Center if there is not an audio shop around you. Runs about $60-70. DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT backcue, start and stop on the fly, or scratch with a regular cartridge. You will fuck up your stylus and your record.

(2) As long as the 2i2 has a built in preamp (not sure if the mic preamps on it will work for all turntable--see comment below) all you need to go from your turntable to your 2i2 are adaptors that go from RCA to 1/4 jacks that you can then plug into your 2i2. You can pick them up at Radio shack or order them online. You can use a regular RCA cable and then use these RCA-to-1/4 adaptors, they are like $3... Radio shack will have them if you don't want to order them online. You could also pick up a RCA-to-1/4 cable, these are more expensive and I would just go with the first option as it also allows you to use better cables, but that's up to you. These are your cheapest options to get you started. The best way to sample is to run your turntable into a dedicated audiocard with RCA/phono jacks on your computer... something to think about in your future.

(3) If the mic preamps on the 2i2 do not work or sound weird because they do not have RIAA equalization, then you might need a phone preamp amp. The cheapest one that gets recommended around here is the ART DJPRE II which is $50. You would hook up your turntable to the preamp and then run the cables with the adaptors mentioned in (2) to the 2i2.

(4) If (2) and (3) don't work or seem like too much you could always pick up a preamp with a USB output. I know that there is the ART USB Phono that has built in USB output for $80. I have not used this and cannot comment on the sound quality.

Good luck.

u/MoogleMan3 · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

K, the origen g2 and the schiit fulla 2 are both dac/amp combo units. They take a usb input (audio from your PC) and run it through their circuitry. The end result is audio that's clean and distortion free. There's a TON more to it than that, but that's basically what they do. Think of them as external usb soundcards, but very high quality.

They also function as headphones amps; both are excellent at that. With the fulla 2, I couldn't move the volume past 2pm with my dt770s or it would start to hurt my ears/head.

One feature I like on the origen g2 over the fulla 2 is the optical input. Once the g2 comes back in stock I'll be getting one and "downgrading" from my magni/modi stack. I just prefer the compact nature of the g2, and the fact that no power brick is necessary.

The DT770 Pro 80 Ohm are amazing. They're closed back, but I prefer closed for less noise/sound leakage. I've tried a few sets of cans and liked these the best. Very wide soundstage for closed headphones. They've been dropping to $148 pretty often, so watch the price.

u/ahatzz11 · 1 pointr/Zeos

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


Denon S500BT


BIC America F12


Micca MB42X Center


Micca MB42X BookShelf


Fluance AVBP2 Surround


A few questions I have:

  • Are the Fluance dedicated rear speakers worth the extra 50 bucks over 4 of the Micca bookshelf speakers?

  • Is the Micca center speaker a recommended speaker? I didn't see it listed in the OP, but I found it while searching through amazon, and figured that matching the front two speakers was a good idea.

  • I was also looking into the Denon E300, but I don't see any advantages over the S500BT - any advice?

  • What other things will I need to complete this system? Some speaker cable for sure, do I need a sub cord or any banana plugs? It doesn't look the S500 uses plugs, but I figured I would ask.
u/wsteineker · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

I'll second the call to look at a set of Polk S20s. I just auditioned a pair of S15s and they're shockingly great for the price. Great resolution and soundstage with clean highs, gorgeous midrange, and a surprising amount of bass extension and impact. I'd have gone for the S20s myself, but space was at a premium. You can pick them up in either black walnut or brown walnut for $299 shipped, or step down to the S15s in either finish for $229 if you think the S20s are just too big for her tastes. Pair either of them with something like an Onkyo A-9010 and you have a great 2.0 system for $470 - $550.

As an aside, I totally get the having to placate your SO bit. Mine absolutely hated my previous setup, so I'm hoping she's much happier with these Polks around. Good luck!

u/ygaddy · 1 pointr/audiophile

You don't need a Sonos (or Apple gear for that matter), there are much cheaper DIY solutions. A Raspberry Pi + a decent DAC (like HiFiBerry) + VolumeIO software gets you functionality on a par with Sonos for around $100 or so.

You could save a little more money by picking a cheaper integrated amp. The Yamaha A-S500 goes for $400. Amazon has had the Onkyo A-9050 for as little as $300.

You don't necessarily need floorstanders, 2.1 systems comprised of good bookshelves and big bad subwoofers can be sonically more impressive than floorstanders (and cheaper to boot). An $800 sub with $500 bookshelves is very frequently going to be a better choice than whatever $1,300/pair floorstanders you can find.

If you are intent on getting a relatively low-wattage amp (like some of that entry level NAD stuff), I would second the idea of the guy that suggested Klipsch. Their stuff is a good value and is much more efficient than most speakers.

Good luck.

u/TheDruid666 · 1 pointr/audiophile

I'm looking to build a semi-affordable home audio system this year. I'm gonna start buying components with my tax money, so it's time to seek some quick suggestions. I am pretty much set on the turntable and receiver. And I have narrowed my speaker options down to 3 final contenders. Basically I need help deciding which of these 3 speaker setups will sound the best for my personal taste (music only, no movies. Mostly stoner rock, doom, classic rock, hard rock, blues, reggae, funk... you know, mostly bass heavy rock).

The turntable I chose is the U-Turn Orbit Custom with acrylic platter and Ortofon 2M Red cartridge.

The receiver I chose to go with this turntable is the Onkyo A-9050. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JBZFVK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RsWMybSP4ZYZR

Now onto the speakers. My budget is $500 but I can go over a little bit. This setup will be in my living room which is smallish to regular in size. Also, I have hardwood floors if that matters. Sooooo... Which of these 3 setups will sound best with this turntable/receiver???

  1. ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Bookshelf Speakers ($499 a pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRYWVG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8EWMyb1SZ3EMZ

  2. Klipsch R-26F Floorstanding Speakers ($279 each, $558 a pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMDYM6W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sFWMybEGZCMSZ

  3. ELAC Debut F5 Tower Speakers ($279 each, $558 a pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014GSEPY8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rGWMybR17AP0S

    Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!
u/LOCHO53 · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

I'm going to apologize in advance if this isn't exactly in your budget/wheelhouse, but for some excellent and affordable speakers, I recommend Miccas. They sound amazing for their price tag. Your best bet is to pair it with also one of their USB DAC's it might take a little extra set up, but they're very worth it.

u/nevermind4790 · 1 pointr/vinyl

The only external phono preamp I have experience with is the ART USB Phono Plus. I mainly use phono inputs on receivers. I like it, and it gets a lot of positive respect on here.

If you want to save money and go with the non-USB version or a different cheaper brand (Behringer, Pyle) I don't think you'll lose a lot of fidelity. I bought the ART because I had heard it was the best phono preamp under $100 with USB support as well. USB support is handy if you want to make copies of records not available digitally.

u/oddsnsodds · 2 pointsr/audiophile

I don't believe there will be an audible difference, personally, but I won't argue the point. There are definitely other options with better build quality and brand reputation.

The Onkyo A-9010 is a very popular integrated amp that lands squarely in your desired feature set:

https://smile.amazon.com/Onkyo-A-9010-Integrated-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B00SY20TE8/

A better preamp might be this OSD model:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MPYJLPX/

And a better amplifier might be the Emotiva A-150:

https://smile.amazon.com/Emotiva-Audio-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/dp/B06XSCCVV1/

u/SmittyJonz · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

the Lepy amp or the Kinter will Drive them. Supposed to be 20RMSx2 so a 40 or 50 x2 amp........I'd buy an amp that comes with power supply to make it easy. You'll have Better Highs than the Bose, maybe less Bass but more Balanced Overall.

3.5mm to rca cable to hook to PC........

Need 1 - https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-2-Male-Adapter-Cable/dp/B01D5H8KO2/ref

Banana Plug speaker wire makes it Easier to hook speakers to amp - just plug in like rcas But Not necessary

Need 2 - https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Speaker-Cable-Gold-Plated-Banana/dp/B07FKJDTPY/ref

​

I run Micca MB42Xs on Desktop with a Topping MX3 Dac/headphone amp/amp combo with Bluetooth. Room is 14x18' and Open to Kitchen on One side with a bar separating them. Fills Room(s) Pretty Well.

Recorded on Iphone so does Not convey the Sound Quality.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjg7uIg11_Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6pYIp7OUGY

other amps:

https://www.amazon.com/%E3%80%90Update%E3%80%91-Audio-Amplifier-Receiver-Integrated/dp/B076P2VS9H/ref

https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Wireless-Audio/dp/B07DPKSKVQ/ref (Bluetooth)

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC/ref

this One has Bluetooth and supposed to be Clean. My Choice if not a Topping MX3.........

https://www.amazon.com/Amplifier-TPA3116D2-Bluetooth-Adjustment-Amplifiers/dp/B07Q2XC7K3/ref=

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAN8IKXcFtQ&t=828s

​

MB42X + SMSL SA100 amp+ 3.5mm to Rca cable+ 2 Amazon Basics Banana Plug Speaker wires = $173.69 plus tax

u/DarkLordGwyn · 1 pointr/vinyl

Hello,

I just wanted some opinions on my setup that I'm asking for Christmas. and yes I know buying used gear is a better choice but I can't expect people giving me gifts to go hunt at thrift stores and craigslist.

Denon DP 300F

Onkyo A-9010 Integrated Stereo Amplifier

Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers

The Denon has a pre-amp right? So, do I need the Onkyo Amp? If I don't "need" the Onkyo amp would it still be worth the money e.g. improve the sound a noticeable amount?

Is anything I'm buying too cheap or too expensive for my setup? (I'm looking for an entry level setup)

How much more will I get out of a better turntable like the Orbit U-Turn would I, a novice, notice a difference? And if I do get the Orbit (and the Onkyo) should I get the Orbit with or without the pre-amp?

Finally am I making any huge mistakes? Are there any better value options than the parts I've chose?

u/Skitch_n_Sketch · 1 pointr/audiophile

If you want to stick to powered speakers, I can vouch for Airmotiv 6S. They've come up in price since I bought them, but the AMT is great and the bass is more than enough for a smaller room. With the exception of movies, I think these are fine without a sub (I did add one later regardless, but still). Remaining budget can go towards a DAC.

Definitely don't rule out passive speakers though, I'm an idiot and I got everything working great. Just watch some videos on how to strip wires and setup speakers. If you're down to give it a shot, take a look at:

u/iHateJimbo · 2 pointsr/buildapc

Okay, just making sure there wasn't some technical reason that you needed a discrete card.

If you're just used to them from building PC's years ago, it's different now. The only discrete sound cards I know of are the SoundBlaster AE-7 / AE-9 and the Nu Audio from EVGA. Supposedly they're both really good, but if you have a GPU they'll probably get in the way of airflow. (Unless it's water cooled)

If you just want a better option than your on-board sound, look into some DAC/Amp combos as well.

Mayflower Arc

Topping MX3

SoundblasterX G6

and a cheap but very effective option. I used this one to drive my 6xx's for a while. Was surprised how good it was compared to the price. Would reccommend.

u/TaedusPrime · 1 pointr/buildapc

I use this and love it. A pricier option but if you have nice headphones and value sound quality and easy adjustment it's worth it. It's got a switch on it to go from headphones back to PC speakers which I love.

u/Aco2504 · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

I don't think you should go 5.1. It is possible to setup gaming with it... but I've never done so, successfully.

My suggestion? Go 2.0 for now, add a good subwoofer later.

Klipsch RB-51's

Topping MX3

Hook up via optical. As a bonus, this will be an exceptional headphone amp and DAC, too. Also save a few bucks to buy stands or angled foam bases for the speakers to angle them off the deck.

Use this setup for now, and save up money to buy a decent subwoofer... BIC PL200 at minimum, or better yet, an HSU, REL, or SVS unit.

u/kurros · 2 pointsr/CarPlay

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

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


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

u/GeneralDouglasMac · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Options for the 650 are fairly wide open as it is driven pretty easily.

From a $45 dac amp that is the sleeper king of budget setups: https://drop.com/buy/fx-audio-dac-x6#overview

to a Schitt Stack (modi/magni) or JDS Labs (Ol Dac/Atom Amp) for around $200

Topping Mx3 for about $130 for a great combined unit that allows for future expansion to speakers too.

and very much beyond in prices well above several thousands of dollars

If none of those tickel your fancy you'll probably get a more varied response from r/HeadphoneAdvice

But before you do; make sure you know a few things first:

What type of connections you want (USB, RCA, Optical), where you are located, where you can buy from, and your budget.

I answered with amps/dacs that won't break the bank, preform pretty good, and fit with the mid-fi level of your headphones.

u/xsoccer92x · 2 pointsr/NoStupidQuestions

In simple terms this is what you will need.

Speakers -> Use Speaker Wire -> Amp

You will need an amp because the speakers are passive and need power (which your tv can't provide). I listed the usual bang for your buck recommendations. In addition it's up to you whether you want to get banana plugs or not, personally it's just easier to stick the wire straight into the speaker. The MB42 has 5-way binding posts that can accept banana plugs, spades, bare straight wire, and bare looped wire.

Now the easy part. You just have to connect your Amp to your tv. You said you only have optical or aux (no rca?). The amp I linked has the option to use either RCA or Aux input. My personal reccomendation is to use the RCA wire over the Aux, if you can.

And for price vs performance, you can't get too much better than the Micca MB42s. It's always highly recommended as one of the best bang for your buck speakers at that price level.

u/pickapicklepipinghot · 2 pointsr/audiophile

I don't have personal experience with too many amps. I have the Yamaha A-S301 and it's an amazing amp, great, clean and dynamic sound, and terrific build quality. It's $350 new, however. Generally Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, and used Marantz products provide a lot of bang for the buck. You'll be pretty safe going with a product from those companies. Honestly it's hard to go wrong with a modern amp, even the cheap ones -- they just might not last as long. When you upgrade to 5.1, you can always use that 2.1 amp for another room system.

u/soundblastmm · 1 pointr/livesound

I agree, you'll likely have better luck in a more home audio forum, however I do have some advice.

Your best bet would probably be to shop around at yard sales/flea markets and look for a used home theater stereo receiver. For the most part (if they support 5.1 surround), you'll get the two amplified speaker outs that you need, plus a subwoofer pre-amp out (and the 3 additional speaker outs if you decide to expand later). I've picked up many of these over the years and they usually run from free to $40.

​

If you want this faster, you can take a look at the Mini Class D "tripath" amplifiers for sale on Amazon, like this one. Run the speaker outs from the amplifier into the "speaker level in" ports on the sub. Then run the "speaker level out" ports to the speakers.

u/1ManGnarmy · 1 pointr/Louisville

Are you going for "archival" quality (declicked/popped, normalized, etc) or do you just want "listenable".

My studio can help you out either way. It'd cost about the same as a converter, but would be of considerably better quality than what you'll get with the preamps and converters that you'll find in those USB boxes.

I'd recommend springing for a decent converter if you're planning on doing this any time again in the future. Surprisingly, this ART one does a pretty good job for the price.

u/JimboLodisC · 3 pointsr/vinyl

Out of the ones I've seen recommended in this sub:

> "I just need something."

  • ART DJPREII - $49

    > "I want something decent."

  • Pro-Ject Phono Box MM - $79
  • U-Turn Pluto - $99

    > "I want something really good."

  • Pro-Ject Phono Box - $129
  • Schiit Mani - $129
  • Emotiva Audio XPS-1 - $179

    ***

    I've personally had my eye on a Schiit Mani but might save up for a Tube Box S. I play guitar so anything tube kinda draws me in. I still need to mod the preamp out of my LP120 so I don't fully know how well my Klipsch's preamp is performing. If it's good enough then I can save up for the Tube Box S.
u/ch0c0l2te · 1 pointr/audiophile

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

u/Folthanos · 0 pointsr/audiophile

EDIT: I've thankfully been corrected by Arve below, take a look at what he has to say on the matter.

They will work together, although it's uncommon to use studio reference amplifiers in hi-fi setups. You'd normally get an integrated amplifier, a 2-in-1 solution which includes a DAC as well as a powered amplifer, to drive your speakers.

Notable differences between the two are:

  • Studio amps are designed to sound very neutral and analytical, while integrated amps usually alter the sound signature in some way (warmer overall sound, improved detail retrieval, extended/tighter bass, wider soundstage, etc.) to make for a more "musical" listening experience

  • Integrated amps also tend to offer useful additional features such as multiple analogue/digital input options along with an input selector, bass/treble adjustment, integrated headphone output, remote controls and even wireless connectivity in some cases

    That said, using a studio amp along with a separate DAC is definitely an option if you want the best bang for your buck and just need something to feed your system with enough power.

    An integrated amplifier at about the same price as your current picks would be the Onkyo A-9010 ($300), which I've already recommended in another reply.
u/LavenderCactus · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

After more thought and seeing the shipping cost from Parts Express, I ended up just buying the Dayton Audio DTA-1 amp tonight instead. People seem to be more satisfied with it straight out of the box than with the Lepai, and I figured I may as well just put the money that'd be wasted on shipping the Lepai amp from Parts Express toward a better amp I could find on Amazon. (I'm not really wanting to wait 10 business days / 2 weeks just for free shipping from PE, and I get Prime free 2 day shipping on Amazon, which is my main reason for wanting to buy from Amazon.) I also ended up ordering the Micca speakers since they're more positively received and also come with the possibly of easily upgrading with a crossover kit if I ever want to do so in the future.

u/DoctorWorm_ · 1 pointr/battlestations

They're pretty cheap speakers. You don't have to be an audiophile to hear the difference between cheap computer speakers and proper home audio equipment.
Computer speakers may be all you can afford, as high quality speakers are usually over $100, but at the $200 price range, there are much better choices than computer brand speakers.

If you want simple plug-and-play speakers, these Audioengine A2s are pretty good.

If you want better sound at this price, you can go with a separate amp, speakers, and subwoofer. Dayton Audio is the most cost effective brand at this price point.
Speakers: Dayton Audio B652 ($51.99)
Subwoofer: Dayton Audio SUB-800 ($79.00)
Amplifier: Dayton Audio DTA-1 ($46.95)

This combo will blow away any multimedia speaker set, both in quality and simply how loud it can get. and at $177.94, it's $30 cheaper than the Corsair speakers.

If you're spending more than $100 on speakers, you'd be stupid to get computer/multimedia speakers.

u/Doctor_Nutsack · 1 pointr/audiophile

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

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

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

u/vaper7777 · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

A different strategy would be to get an additional set of 8 ohm speakers and wire them in parallel so that you are running 4 ohms on each side. Just use a 12 volt (high amp) power supply. It seems counter-intuitive that Hifiberry is recommending lower voltage for lower ohms. I think they don't want it to overheat or something.

​

I have these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00MGQAH2M - I got mine for $85, but you can still get them for around $100.

​

They are fairly efficient too.

​

The idea here is to have speakers near each of your listening positions. There may be a font-back balance issue - but I am guessing that wiring a pot on each side could solve that. Left/right you fix via DSP (like volume too).

​

Question: once (and if) the Hifiberry amp dies, how are you going to get audio out of your Raspberry? Do you have a headphone jack or preouts somewhere already? There's a better way to do this if you have those, BTW.

​

If you just want a beater amp that will likely never die - get this - I have one and it seems pretty good: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076P2VS9H/

u/ChanceMan · 1 pointr/vinyl

Absolutely! This is my first table as well and I love it. /u/adayinalife has the right idea, you'll benefit from some extras. For sure get a pre amp to actually hear anything unless you have an amp with a phono input already.. Totally spaced that when I got the Carbon and everything was reeeeaaaaalll quiet when I played anything... Pro-Ject makes this bad boy and I'm happy with it. It's another giant plug to deal with just fyi, not a bad trade though: http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-Audio-Phono-Pre-amplifier-Black/dp/B000YEK1AQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462769766&sr=8-1&keywords=project+phono+amp

u/wozmatic · 1 pointr/audiophile

What's a good sub and amp that would go well with the Micca MB42X?

I was thinking this...


Sub:

u/GothamCountySheriff · 2 pointsr/vinyl

For those interested in doing this, but don't have the equipment, here are several audio interfaces for capturing vinyl to digital:

  • Behringer UCA202
  • Behringer UFO202
  • ART USB Phono Plus

    The Behringer UCA202 would be good for setups with an external preamp, output through the monitor function (tape out) of a receiver with built-in phono preamp, or a turntable with a built-in preamp.

    The UFO202 has a built-in phono preamp and would be good for connecting the turntable directly to the computer -- no external preamp or receiver needed. The ART USB Phono Plus would be the same, except you will get a definite upgrade in clarity and presentation with it's phono preamp.

    All of these interfaces max out at 16 bit / 48 kHz, so they are not high-res (24 bit / 88.2 kHz or higher), but they are going to capture at CD or better quality, which should be fine in most instances.
u/ScatmanJohnMcEnroe · 2 pointsr/vinyl

My friend has practically that exact setup and is very happy with it. If you just want a plug-and-play option, are putting this in a small room that won't make those little speakers sound tiny, and aren't the type to fall down rabbit holes, then you probably will be, too.

However, if you'd like more of an upgrade path, I'd recommend going with a cheap class d amp and the ever-popular Pioner BS22 speakers. A little bit more expensive than just the Edifiers, but in the same ballpark -- and gives you the option to improve any individual step of your chain down the road. Or you can go with a U-Turn Basic and use the money saved to buy something like an Onkyo TX-8220 which has a built-in phono preamp, tons of analog and digital input options for hooking up a TV, a connection for a subwoofer if you want the extra bass down the road, etc.

u/Alwayssunnyinarizona · 1 pointr/googlehome

Sure - the amps are [Audio Source 2 channel/4 speaker amps] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZSEFU94), though I was also looking at the [12 channel variety] (https://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-12-Channel-Audio-Distribution-Amplifier/dp/B004XT6PMQ). I went for the 2 channel because of the cost: I could put 3 effective zones in for half the cost of the 12 channel amp.

The speakers I'm using are [Polk in-wall/ceiling speakers] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005T3BD), which are a good compromise between cost and sound. One thing I learned - as clean as it makes the room look to have them tucked beside the fan, the sound suffers quite noticeably when the fan is on :/

We've been very lucky with our house, I will say that. 15y/o ranch makes it very easy to modify without much trouble. Don't think I'd ever own a 2-story house again :)

u/sweatymongoose2 · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

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

u/CC440 · 0 pointsr/technology

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.

u/Paladin500 · 1 pointr/audiophile

Hey, so I've got some christmas money and was thinking about getting a new amplifier. Currently I have the cheapest Yamaha amp, the R-201BL which pushes 100 watts but at THD of .02 and has considerable hiss when on without music playing. My budget is around 300$ and I'm looking for something worthwhile without any kind of DAC. The best one I can find is the Yamaha A-S301BL and while it has great THD and other specs I feel like my money is getting wasted on a DAC I'll never use (I have an external DAC). Should I instead get the R-S500? If there are any other recommendations I'd like an amp with a Subwoofer out because that's my next addition to my current set up. Additionally, I need wattage due to the fact that I am experimenting with RoomEQ right now and it significantly lowers the output from my PC.

Current loudspeakers: RTi A1s eventual upgrade to either KEFs Q100s or Ubi-Fi ELAC.

What do you guys think?

Also here are the relevant links.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044779GI/ref=twister_B00FPLMSK4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-S301BL-Natural-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B00MXUCN0A/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1483652544&sr=1-3&keywords=yamaha+amplifier

u/FULL_METAL_HOODIE · 2 pointsr/hometheater

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

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

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

u/Snaxmaster93 · 3 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

Nad D 3020v2 fits all criteria. Emotiva Ta- 100 is normal sized, but fits all other criteria. PS Audio Sprout would be a great option, but is a bit over budget.

You could also get a small dac/amp and add a small phono preamp like the schiit mani. You could stack the Schiit on something small like the micca origain.

Hope this helps.

u/www-ListenUp-com · 2 pointsr/audiophile

You'll probably want to look into speakers then an amp in that order. Speakers tend to be the most subjective and personal piece of the setup, so get those squared away, then figure out what to drive them with.

For speakers, check out:

u/EZmacaroni · 6 pointsr/BuyItForLife

Yes. Do this.

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

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

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

Razer is not know for bifl.

u/MrBrightside1009 · 1 pointr/PS4

I recommended the Prozer above, which is a great "cheap" option. If you wanna pay a bit more, pretty much anything from FiiO will do you splendidly, and they even have some portable options as well. If you're wanting something like a tube amp, which uses "good" distortion to add warmth and saturation to the sound, then the Nobsound is a pretty good option.

Of course, there are far more expensive options, but I personally have never tried them as I'm kind of a cheap ass, but those are all great, and if nothing else, will at least hold you over for a while until you know you're ready to invest in maybe a $300 headphone amp.

Also, here's a Top 10 article that lists some options as well: http://www.wirerealm.com/guides/top-10-best-headphone-amplifiers

u/Bradlyeon · 1 pointr/VinylDeals

step 1 is to check craigslist for vintage gear. some towns have a healthy market for it, some don't. I got a BEAUTIFUL Sansui 6060 for $80. Vintage can not only be more affordable, but are generally built like tanks, and will give you a nice "warm" sound that alot of modern stuff fails to get you. Ebay is also a valid option, but you just have to be really careful. Do your research. buy from people with alot of pictures and good descriptions, and preferably, some kind of return policy. expect to pay an extra $30 to $60 for shipping, but IMHO this is still better than buying new.

if you HAVE to get new, the Onkyo A-9010 and the Yamaha A-S301 are good for the $300-$350 price range. Both also have a phono stage, something harder and harder to find on modern amps, especially in this price range.

u/dreamer_2142 · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

Ok m8, so after researching more, looks like MB42X is one of the best one out there and the bad review is from people who don't have subwoofer and they expect lower frequency from this speaker since I'm already going to get a Dayton 1000 sub, I believe MB42X is going to perfect for me. especially reviews say it performs really good on mid-range which is important for me since I watch a lot of movies. so here is my final list, can you tell me if I'm missing something like if the banana plug is correct (and how many of them I need?), and do I need the cable (no cable comes with the speaker?) and check for the AMP if it's good enough.

u/jcacavias · 1 pointr/hometheater

I’ve been using a couple of these for years with great success.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Source-AMP100VS-Channel-Amplifier/dp/B00ZSEFU94

They can be had for less than $100 occasionally and you can daisy chain as many of them as you like driven by one sonos connect.

I set the volume control on the unit once and then use sonos volume control from there. Works great. The units even have an auto sensing input 2 if you ever wanted to add another source like tv audio...

u/itmustbesublime · 1 pointr/audiophile

So here is my set up:

A JBL DCR600II sound reciever with 2 ARC1000 towers and the rest of the 5.1 speakers hooked up normally. It's great and I love it but the problem is that the receiver has such a puny little amp, so my speakers barely get that loud. I also would like to add bluetooth capability to this system, but I primarily want to increase the overall volume of the system.

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-980-000910-Bluetooth-Adapter-Streaming/dp/B00IQBSW28/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473888530&sr=8-2&keywords=bluetooth+receiver
^ this bluetooth receiver I need to add bluetooth. My question is, can I add a tube amp (linked below) meant for headphones and plug the input to the bluetooth receiver and the output to my sound receiver.

I understand that the reprocessing of the signal inside the sound receiver defeats the purpose of the tubes in the amp, but would I still get a volume increase by doing this?
Basically, input device >> bluetooth receiver >> tube amp >> sound receiver, speakers.
I really want to make this work because I absolutely love that tube amp. its so pretty

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014FASL1A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ADPE7GPX91ORE

u/nlnl · 1 pointr/Zeos

Yes, this setup is for desktop and to be used nearfield. Considering I already have an Micca OriGen, would the OriGain AD250 be suitable to run along side the headphone amp? The OriGain seems to have a line out as well. I know it will take 2 USB ports and I'm fine with that.

Also, I'm having a hard time deciding between the Aperion Intimus 5B's and the Klipsch RP150M's. My budget is $350, and at that threshold I am already waiting for the RP150M's to drop down in price. Which of these two would be best for nearfield listening with wedges? Would the Micca OriGain AD250 be suitable to power my choices? Also, am I overlooking a pair of speakers? Ideally, I want something that has a respectable bass profile, doesn't sound flat and muddy, and is within my budget.

Thank you /u/ZeosPantera

u/dremic · 2 pointsr/headphones

this one looks pretty solid actually for 50$

http://www.amazon.com/Nobsound%C2%AE-Vacuum-Integrated-Amplifier-Headphone/dp/B014FASL1A?ie=UTF8&keywords=headphone%20amp&qid=1464386957&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4


http://www.head-fi.org/t/794796/nobsound-ns-08e-also-know-as-nobsound-6j9-hybrid-tube-amp


Some people talking about it on head fi saying they're impressed


if you want to spend 100$ its pretty hard to beat the Schiit which would let you add a DAC later... I use the Schiit M&M stack and its glorious. I got an amp first and a dac later


http://schiit.com/

edit: I also feel like I should mention, if you have a soundcard you will need to use a line out instead of a headphone jack when you get your amp. The headphone jack in your soundcard will already have an amplifier. So you will be double amplifying which will make your sound not so good. I had this problem originally and had to switch to a line out

u/DZCreeper · 1 pointr/buildapc

External DAC will improve your output just as much as an internal soundcard, if not more. But unlike the soundcard it won't provide a cleaner audio input, if you are using a microphone.

Virtual surround sound is a joke. A properly designed stereo source played through good headphones can create a surround effect just by the difference between both ears. There is no need to muck about with the signal.

https://www.amazon.com/Topping-MX3-Bluetooth-Headphome-Amplifier/dp/B075SYC4Z5

I recommend that unit. It is a combination speaker amp, headphone amp, and DAC. Despite being fairly cheap it is good at all 3 jobs. Just run a SPDIF cable from your PC to the DAC and enjoy.

u/thesnakefoot · 1 pointr/audiophile

http://www.chanemusiccinema.com/chane-loudspeakers/A1rx-c

These speakers are great for the price

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426927052&sr=8-1&keywords=bic+subwoofer

I hear this sub is great for the price.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009JBZFVK?psc=1

Sweet little integrated. Lots of inputs and a sub output. Should work great with all this.

u/calbearsteve · 2 pointsr/PS4

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

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

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

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

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

u/Jobobo21 · 1 pointr/hometheater

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

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

u/amygdala125 · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

Are you looking for an audio interface or dac/amp? There wouldn't be a reason to use an audio interface with ps4 or to use a phantom powered condenser mic for ps4, you could get something like the v-moda boom pro or whatever will work with your headphones . If want really good dac/amp for Ps4 and PC, go with the micca origin g2 and use optical, which also has a line out for monitors if need it.


https://www.amazon.com/Micca-OriGen-G2-Resolution-Preamplifier/dp/B01N14SY65/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1510845173&sr=8-2&keywords=origen+g2&linkCode=sl1&tag=zeos-20&linkId=63ea73fbbc443dca2e1a7b14e2dc4030


https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-Digital-Optical-Audio-Toslink-Black/dp/B00L3KO3YU/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1537906216&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=optical&psc=1


I dont know if you can get the origen g2 in the UK, but what you need is a dac/amp, not an audio interface for ps4.


If you could be more specific with what you want to do with whatever you buy, I could maybe better help. If just wanted to record from ps4, need something like el gato capture card and then can use whatever interface want on pc

u/liamosull · 2 pointsr/BudgetAudiophile

While you will certainly get better value from a ss amp in that price range here are some tube amps...

[i have this one and am quite impressed with the sound] (http://www.aliexpress.com/item/32443111524/32443111524.html)


["portable" but has bad reviews] (http://s.aliexpress.com/b6BB7Bbu)

Has a dac but is more expensive

[more expensive] (http://s.aliexpress.com/Znmumi67)

[bad reviews] (http://s.aliexpress.com/A32EZJJn)


[probably bad] (http://s.aliexpress.com/NvYzUVvu)


[called a guitar amp but im sure it could drive headphones] (http://www.aliexpress.com/item/32748157846/32748157846.html)

[very bad reviews] (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/251876015253/251876015253)

[Looks okay] (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/271969184294)

[Really good video reviewing several candidates. Definitely watch this before purchasing] (https://youtu.be/22kx0q5j-JA)


EDIT:Just read amazon only

Here are some amazon links to the above ones. They are a little bit over budget but are the cheapest ones.

[1. Recommended] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B014FASL1A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482186554&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=Tube+amp&dpPl=1&dpID=41llpyTU%2BIL&ref=plSrch)

[different one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01M7101CY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1482186722&sr=1-3&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=Tube+amp&dpPl=1&dpID=41QGAaW2nnL&ref=plSrch)

[good reviews] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ADR2DTG/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1482186784&sr=1-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Tube+amp&dpPl=1&dpID=51CV4EXJUzL&ref=plSrch)

[another one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I19SBK2/ref=mp_s_a_1_61?ie=UTF8&qid=1482186981&sr=8-61&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Tube+amp&dpPl=1&dpID=41zNfkGPeGL&ref=plSrch)

You wont need any amp for those headphones and it will have nearly no effect on the sound. I understand it looks nice but if you really want to improve your Audio, invest in new headphones.

u/tempal78 · 2 pointsr/vinyl

Firstly, thank you very much for the detailed response!
I have definitely confused a receiver for an amplifier, thanks for clearing that up.

Here's what my plan is:

  • I have a Technics SLQ200 with a receiver, and I will be moving it to another room.

  • My new table is a Sony PS212 - that will be going in the old room with existing set up (receiver and speakers).

  • The new room will have my Technics TT (where I can enjoy my records more often), but there isn't the room for a receiver like the one I have already.

    Looking at what I linked, I don't believe its a pre-amp at all (though I said it was), it seems to be a 'mini amplifier'

    Would this then be sufficient for my Technics TT? I would only have to plug the input into this mini-amp and it would function like the existing receiver that I am looking to down size?

    Thanks again!
u/BeerDoctor · 1 pointr/BudgetAudiophile

For a source, I would checkout chromecast audio. They are $35, support multi-room audio, and are fully controlled from your phone with decent audio quality (IE not bluetooth).

For amplifiers, you have a few options:

  1. You could get an independent amp per room with each one connected to a different chromecast audio. One like this from audiosource is a good option because it will auto turn on / off when it detects sound from the chromecast
    http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Source-AMP100VS-Channel-Amplifier/dp/B00ZSEFU94/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463151021&sr=8-1&keywords=audiosource+amp


  2. You could get a single multi-zone amplifier which connects to all speakers in the house. These are cool, but might work best with pre-wired keypad.
    https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=109&cp_id=10918&cs_id=1091801&p_id=14524&seq=1&format=2
    http://www.htd.com/Products/Whole-House-Audio

    As far as the living room, for Home Theater you probably want a separate set up / receiver which is for that room only. If you really want to re-use the existing the ceiling speakers for both whole house audio and home theater, they make some switches that allow the same speakers to be connected to multiple sources, but you could also just connect a chromecast audio to your HT receiver. Note that this option may involve some wiring challenges.
u/kodack10 · 2 pointsr/audiophile

Here's the thing about receivers. They are cheap, and even the cheap ones have tons more features than the receivers of old. However, what they don't have, even up to the $2000 range, is power. The issue is power supplies. yeah you can have 150WPC amps on each channel, but they are all sipping power from the same power supply, and driving more than 2 channels at once lowers the output power (and increases distortion) on ALL other channels. That's the dirty little secret about multichannel receivers.

So if you want good stereo sound for music, I'd advise against a multichannel receiver and suggest one of the stereo combination devices like the Yamaha S301 which has more than enough power for Klipsch super efficient speakers, and a built in phono stage. No HDMI though.

If HDMI is a must have, all of the sub $500 amps are basically the same. Denon's have better room correction, all of them are lacking in power.

u/Axelpanic · 1 pointr/HeadphoneAdvice

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

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

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

​

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

u/drtonmeister · 2 pointsr/electrical

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.

u/GrandpaSquarepants · 1 pointr/buildapc

Apple Pro Speakers, the clear orbs that came with a few Apple computers in the early 2000s. They have a stupid proprietary connector because the computers had the amp and power supply built in but they're normal speakers—I'm going to just cut the connector off and solder on banana plugs. The look so cool and they're supposed to sound pretty good too. I believe they're made by Harmon Kardon.

Edit: Looks like the original amp delivered 10 watts to each channel so I probably shouldn't go higher than that, right?

Looks like this should work? https://www.amazon.com/LP-2020A-Class-D-Amplifier-Digital-Alimitopia/dp/B01FZKA28Y/

u/sir_ramen · 1 pointr/audiophile

Hello there, trying to hook up an RCA sub (RT2250B) to a Sony STR-DH500 receiver.

The only sub output is RCA, and the only sub's I have use regular speaker wire.

I have hooked up my sub to the regular surround outputs for now (increased wear on the other speakers?), but I would like to know how I can hook it in properly.

I have some RCA cords from an old speaker system that I stripped to try and connect it, but it didn't work. I suppose there is to much resistance in those wires?

I think I need something like this, but that is basically what I made with the old systems RCA cables.

Thanks!

P.S.- Completely open to suggestions on upgrades, like getting this Lepy 2020A, I suppose I can hook up my current speakers to this also?