Was debating getting the Bose 3-2-1 ($1,000) or splurging on the Bose Lifestyle 29 ($1,900) but in my quick research and reading reviews of people who have bought them, it seems Bose in not the way to go.

Anyone have a suggestion for something powerful yet small. I would be OK spending up to about $2,000.

Thanks.

 

stay away from bose, i don't know what will be powerful and small, but onkyo is a good way to go, but with that kind of money, you can get better

 

Are you looking for stereo or home theater?

 

isn't a home theatre also capable of playing CDs?

 

Of course. You said home stereo and mentioned you were considering the 3-2-1 which is not a true surround sound, not even close. Just trying to determine what you really want. If you are looking for a home theater with true 5.1 surround sound or better, then you could get something very nice for $2000.

 

With a $2000, you can get something very decent. Stereo = 2 channel vs Home Theater (HT) = 5 channel. How do you plan to use this new setup? Mostly audio or watching movies? Depending on how you plan to use the system, it will give us a better idea on which direction to point you.

 

anything but bose, seriously. with $2k u can get a very good 2 channel stereo setup with some small but powerful and loud sounding bookshelf speakers.

 

In your price range, spend more $$ on good speakers than components.

Take a look at the Yamaha or Onkyo receivers. Don't wrry too much about how many fake sound programs (Concert, Sports, etc..) it can create, just get something with good clean sound. I still love my old Yamaha RXV-596.

For a great DVD player, look at the Oppo line.

Find a high end audio shop and see if they have Phase Technology speakers. Great speaker for the money.

Get a decent sub. Check out B+W, Sunfire, or Velodyne (although I don't think the low end Velo is the best bang for the buck)...

 

Not sure where you are, but you may want to visit these guys. Never been there, but they are members of the HTSA.

Definitive Audio
www.definitiveaudio.com

1824 130th Avenue NE, Ste 1
Bellevue, WA 98005
(425) 558-9945

 

I am not real big on Home theatre and behind the curve on all this. Currently have a Yamaha stereo but I hate the radio tuner/etc. Speakers & sub maybe decent and I thought if I get a new system, I may retire the Yamaha system to the garage. Yes, I did some reserach and have come up with a 5.1 system as well. Main reason I looked at the Bose to start with, is I like the small size of it.

Have started looking at Overstock.com and they have some decent systems.

 

$2k... jesus, thats a lot to play with. what size room is this going in? let me look for a min or two and i'll throw you some ideas.

 

This is the place I look for used gear:

Audiogon

Dont get too addicted though. I was on there quite often a few years back. I'll offer some suggestions after I finish with my lab final tomorrow night.....For clarification, you are talking about just speakers and sub right? Not the whole receiver, dvd player, etc.??

 

i think hes talking reciever speaker sub... at least thats all im advising on

 

All inclusive:
Yamaha/Klipsch Quintet 900W 5.1-Channel XM-Ready Audio Cinema System
SKU: 999971900050001 link
about $900 + speaker wire and cables

its nice if you want space saving speakers but I prefer floor speakers for the front 2 and a larger center channel... I'd probably go with something like this:

Reciever:
Yamaha - 500W 5.1-Ch. A/V Home Theater Receiver
RX-V461BL link

Floor Speakers:
Klipsch - Synergy III 6-1/2" 2-Way Dual-Woofer Floorstanding Speaker (Each) - Black/Titanium Color
F-2 link

Center:
Klipsch - Synergy III 5-1/4" 2-Way Center-Channel Speaker - Black/Titanium Color
C-2 link

Rears:
Klipsch - Synergy III 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Black/Titanium Color
B-3 link

Sub:
Klipsch - 10" 420W Powered Subwoofer
SUB-10 link

Product Total: $1,727.78 + speaker wire and cables

I put a similar system together for my step brother about a year ago for his new house. We tested it out with Terminator 2 and the begining scene almost blew the windows out because it was so loud.

If you are looking for different brands... I highly recommend Yamaha and Klipsch... but other good brands you could try are:

Recievers

Harmon Kardon - nice but comprable to Yamaha
Denon - $$$$$
Sony - stick to the higher end stuff... they do make some good stuff but also some junk

Speakers

Yamaha- good price alternative to the Klipsch's and sound great.
JBL - always a trusted brand, sound great and I'm pretty sure they are made by Harmon Kardon so you can match those up to a H/K reciever.
Sony - again... stick to the high end stuff but the other brands are preferred.

However after all of info, I'll tell you that I just got a simple Yamaha "speaker/amp set" system for my apartment last year, its not nearly as powerful but its pretty nice, gets the job done and has those compact speakers/stands (gotta buy the stands seperatly) you might be looking for...

Yamaha 5.1 Channel Black Home Theater In A Box System - YHT280BK link

If you go for something like this (don't let the price fool you, its a VERY nice system) then maybe you can spend what you save elsewhere... like on a new 42LCD ... we have a bunch on sale at best buy for like $1299 Phillips/Sony/Samsung)


Anyway, I hope after sorting through the mounds of info on here you find some help/direction and get what you are looking for.

Good Luck!

 

sony =

 

TSX..

thanks a bunch for all that info. I will research when I have time and see where I wind up from there. Yeah, I might just start with buying the receiver/amp and work from there.

I love to research and shop and that usually takes me a while. Part of the fun of buying too.

Thanks again.

 

yup anytime

 

If you really like researching stuff, check out AVS Forum

I have killed many hours there... Lots of good info for beginners and audiophiles alike.

 

Yea, definitely check out AVS Forum. I would also suggest Audioholics I got the prices from Crutchfield. Here are some suggestion:

Denon AVR 1907 $499
Mirage NanoSat $799


Denon AVR 1907 $499
SVS SBS-01 Speaker System $999 SVS Sound
SVS is known for their subwoofers.

Orb Audio Mod2 HT System $1289

For receiver, I would go Denon or Yamaha. Hopefully that will get you started on your research.

 

Save up and shop where I dream of shopping.
http://www.audiofederation.com/deale...arma/index.htm

http://www.audiofederation.com/deale...rten/index.htm

 

High end audio arent all that...IMO, they look big and ugly.

 

Haven't looked at systems in awhile and obviously don't know as much as 2001AudiRS4, but I have owned both Onkyo and Denon receivers and liked both of them alot. In keeping small, I was really impressed with the "big" sound of Klipsch bookshelves. You can get a good packaged set (receiver and speakers) for under 2k. Oh yeah, definitely NOT Bose! Way overpriced for what it is.

 

What's your goals with the sound system?

Watching movies?
Jamming tunes?
both?

Do you want floor standing speakers for the front? or all small satellites?
If you want only satellites your music listening will suffer a bit.

You can do a lot with $2k. And as everyone else has said; don't get the bose crap.

Like others have said I'd recommend looking into Yamaha or Denon stuff. You can get a nice Yamaha or Denon receiver cheap. And a good set of Yamaha speakers for < $1000. Another nice thing a lot of the Yamaha receivers have is the auto 5/6.1 setup with an included microphone.

 

I've listened to those before. They sound good but have a real narrow sound stage.

 

If you want smaller speakers with great sound, Phase Technology FTW

http://www.phasetech.com/

( I don't work for them, but they sure work for me!...)

 

I don't want to mislead you. I don't dislike Denon or Onkyo. I think both companies make excellent quality products. I am just not a big fan of the sound quality of the entry to mid level Onkyo Receivers as I find them to be a bit lacking in full range capabilities. Others with a less sensitive ear may never notice. Denon I think sounds great, but for the average user, a lot of their features are hard to work. Otherwise, I think both offer great products.

 

I agree with you on the Denon. You got to know someone who can work with HT equipment to take full advantage of it. I was looking at receiver for co-worker and found the Onkyo TX-SR605 to be a sweet deal. Two Day Sale @ OneCall

 

So just to eliminate, you have no plans of connecting this to an HDTV? HDMI connections and/or components are not important?

 

Sorry, wasn't trying to be a smartass. I understand you have a lot of experience in this field and was dangling a carrrot to hear your advice.

 

Carrots are ok and since you upgraded me to 2001AudiRS4, I think we're cool

 

I bought my recent B&W speakers from Definitive Audio (the Seattle store). This is a high-end retailer and are exclusive distributors of B&W and Linn products in the PacNW. Go to either the Seattle store or Bellevue store and they will be glad to demo different products for you...and just for kicks, ask to listen to the $45,000 Linn speakers.

I wrote a review of my experience at Definitive here http://www.yelp.com/biz/rq2lL6FbNsaa...hvac-d2hJj_IwQ