So I'm ready to buy some beautiful speakers and a matching amp.

My uncle is massively into his audio gear, and I'm going to go in with him for a buy somewhere.

I want to forearm myself with some advanced knowledge. I have tried a few forums and websites, but haven't found anything general enough, they're all very specific recommendations towards specific products that aren't readily available here.

From the get-go I thinkI am looking for:

A 2-4 Channel AMP, I am assuming 150W RMS @ 4 Per Channel

2 x Bookshelf speakers (unless I am convinced otherwise) for music.

May run TV shows through it, but their primary function should be music. Hard to pin down a specific style of music, because I listen to everything from easy listening chill / house through hip hop, to rock, rage, etc.

What else do I need to work out before I am ready to buy something, and where should I be looking?

EDIT: He has some Tannoy Jupiters at one of his places that I love the sound of, but feel like I could do with a bit more power. Not sure if this is the amp though. http://www.hnny.nl/archief_tannoy/planet_series/Jupiter_J40-Venus_v30.PDF

Generally audio snobs will say to go for bookshelf speakers and put them on decent stands. I wouldn’t quiet call myself an audiophile, but I like good audio and I say just go for a good pair of floorstanders, they’ll take up the same room as bookshelfs on stands anyway….. You’ll get much better bass response and a fuller more powerful punchier sound. And more importantly no need for a sub (which can be a pita to get sounding right).

When it comes to brands it’s really up to you, especially the speakers.

Amp’s I’d look at Rotel or NAD as reasonably main stream but better quality units. When looking at power ratings make sure you are comparing apples with apples as generally the Japanese like to talk up their power ratings. Dynamic power (which is what Rotel and NAD are good at) is a better way to evaluate an amp’s performance rather than RMS (the common method). Dynamic power is the amps ability to produce short burst of high power to cope with loader passages of music. It’s important to match the amp power output to the speakers power handling.

If I was buying some quality HiFi speakers I’d definitely be looking at Energy:
http://www.energy-speakers.com/tower-speakers/

and

Polk Audio (not sure if they still import to Australia though):

http://www.polkaudio.com/products/stereo-and-hi-fi/floorstanding

But as I said there are heaps of speaker brands out there, so best get your ears to decide.

If it is mainly for music, forget surround sound crap, dedicated stereo is the way to go.

Stupid edit:

with loader louder passages of music.

Budget is going to be the biggest consideration here.

You need to figure out what your willing to part with and find the best performing products that fit into that price range.

The biggest problem with audiophile gear is that you can buy a 2 channel setup for $199 or $19999 and anywhere in between.

It will get better as you progress through the range, but always keep your budget in mind. And don't let the salesman talk you into spending more... most sales floor guys at high end audio stores are very, very good at mkoving you to the 'model up' from what you should be buying.



As for my opinion, check out B&O, B&W, M&K Sound, Harman Kardon, Marantz and Denon. I currently use a Marantz + JA Audio setup , but would happily replace my speakers with an M&K or B&W setup if my wife would let me spend the $15k+ required.......

OK - I was thinking, technology wise it might be wiser to invest a little more in an amp, maybe $1k - $1.5k and perhaps there would be an opportunity to save money in the speakers by buying an old classic or something?

Yeah I had listen to some Bookshelf speakers a few months ago, I have my heart on some B&W CM5.
Love the sound that comes out of them. I know VideoPro in the Valley have them to listen too.
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Home_Audio/CM_Series/CM5.html

WTF, That bowers site wont resolve for me

Yeah those CM5's look sick

Pre-Pro
http://www.sherbourn.com/collections/theater/products/pt7030

Amp
http://www.sherbourn.com/collections/theater/products/pa7350

Fronts
http://www.paradigm.com/products/products-by-category/floorstanding/signature/signature-series/signature-s8

Centre
http://www.paradigm.com/products/products-by-category/center/signature/signature-series/signature-c5

Surround L+R and Rear L+R
http://www.paradigm.com/products/products-by-category/surround-rear/signature/signature-series/signature-adp3

Sub
http://www.paradigm.com/products/products-by-category/subwoofer/signature/signature-series/sub-2

Would love to pull the trigger on a full on theatre setup. Even with my current setup I prefer it to going to the movies. If I was in the same situation I would go for an a/v receiver and just buy two awesome speakers for music, later then add on a centre and surrounds.

For anyone thinking of getting a home theatre in a box, please don't.

you can buy something in a box to 'do for now' and then replace the amp with something better, and then replace the main speakers,then sub, rears, centre, etc bit by bit to awesome after a financially unsettling event like a big breakup with kids and only a quarter of a house of things to move with you, in the rain, by yourself, fridge slipping as you hulk it from the trailer into the house.

If you are going to go that route, try to get something that has been packaged with a real a/v receiver with multiple hdmi inputs and speakers that are 6-8 ohms. Or else you will have to buy a complete new system. Or get something cheap enough that you won't worry about if you have to replace the whole thing.

Wouldn't waste my time with todds hifi, they have become commercial garbage these days.

Dont forget ebay - can find some bargains on there.
Picked up a nad amp in great condition for a couple of hundred dollars off there nearly 10 years ago..

Still got it and still going strong...

I would also stick with quality 2 channel for music over a 5/6/7 speaker system any day of the week...

home theater systems are good for movies (and music dvds mixed for 5.1 etc..) but when it comes to old fashioned music in stereo, 2 channels is where its at!

Some of the older amps provide a much warmer sound due to how the amp is powered - my Nad and Technics amp both exhibit this characteristic compared to the sterile sound of a Yamaha home theater Ive compared them to (along with other all in one systems).

I think the Nad and technics have class a poweramps - not sure what the yamaha was...

Here's my NAD:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-20079793-47/nad-3020-vintage-hi-fi-that-still-sounds-great/

yeah i bought onkyo receiver from ebay about 8-9 years ago, paid $1500 worth $3000 at the time got it from hong kong, havent had any issues with and still looks brand new

Those CM5's sound very good

Videopro paired with a Cambridge Audio delivering 150W

They want like $1700 for the premium 2 Channel Cambridge Audio amp though which feels steep?

Hey jmr,

Just thinking out loud here...

I know it's so easy when reading suggestions in this sort of thread to just gloss over a lot. This brand, that brand, etc. While the general advice is usually pretty good, the brand specific advice really is the hardest to get a good feel for.

It'd be nice if every time you did some reading on any particular topic, the overwhelming majority steered you in one direction, (sometimes it does seem to, like PC hardware I've found), but with audio gear it's definitely not the case. Soo subjective, soo many opinions...

With brand specific advice, or type of gear specific advice, it seems like a lot of people (and not necessarily in this thread) 'recommend' brands that they personally have, or gear that they have. And while sometimes that isn't altogether bad (some people arrive at a choice with their own extensive research/reading/listening), sometimes it's not that informative.

Once again, not that anything anyone's said in here is no good.

/rant

Now with all that said, sort of a disclaimer to my own opinions I guess, I've got my own recommendations.

I own B&W speakers and they are indeed nice. But there's so many nice speakers. If I were to buy again I'd have a good look at Focal speakers and Magnepans as well.

But what I really came in here to mention was the amp/s. Now I DO own some of this brand myself and for good reason.

www.emotiva.com

Cross my heart hope to die stick a needle in my eye, these are some kick-arse amps, and at awesome prices. The sort of clean, HIGH, quality power you get for your money, you'd be paying 10 times the price and more for comparable amps from the big names, and they do compare favorably. Seriously, if you care to check them out and read some reviews and impressions on these guys amps, you might be surprised. While I might buy a whole different range of branded speakers, at the moment, I wouldn't be interested in buying any other amps than from Emotiva. Btw, I own the XPA-5. Seriously unbeatable prices.

Also really hanging out for their Pre-Pro due out sometime very soon, the XMC-1.

+1 on the emo gear, my younger brother has the XPA5 and XPA2 he is in the market for a decent AV pro/pre since his pioneer SCLX82 pre stage is arse. Can't say I like the speakers he has paired with them which is cerwin vega XLS-215 they are loud for sure. I did however get to pair my missions up to the XPA2 which was awesome. Emo stuff is great for the price but that's about it, value and power in spades pretty much.

How much space to you have to fill?
To what level did you want to f*** the neighbors off?
Whats the mix ratio of movies and music? Or is it purely music only?
Have you considered headphones and a high end headphone amp and dac, you could be a truely antisocial c***!
Given any thought to how to spread the audio over the house if required, is it? Or you just want something in one room?

Also go take a trip to lenwallisaudio.com considered to be one of the better wallet dieticians in the business

http://www.qldaudioclub.org.au/

prepare for some mental anguish...

you'll meet some pretty cool peeps there, though you'll discover a whole swag of reasons not to go outside ever again.


I'd like to have the kind of kit that these chaps enjoy, though I could do without their predispositions toward people of my age.


I'm pushing 40.. I'm a trained (woodwind) musician as well as a ( well kinda poor actually ) classical guitarist. Apparently I'm a n00b to these people... such was said - and now is 'law'.


And here I thought TOG had it tough with gamers.. good luck dude - you'll need it.

Yeah, those AMPs are very well priced

Maybe XPA-200 ?

J - mostly music TBH, generally chilling around living / kitchen area which is combined, and hopefully will be in the next place.

Have good headphones, but enjoy whole room sound.

Watch a tiny bit of TV, but I'm not a serious movie fanatic by any means. How would TV sound through a channel AMP like that?

SL-1200.
respect.

Everyone thinks they are just a DJ turntable, but they were designed first up as an high end/audiophile turntable. The DJ crowd happen to love them because they were as reliable as the sun rising and built out of depleted uranium.

What about this fella: http://www.techradar.com/au/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/amplifiers/nad-c375bee-625300/review#articleContent

Good luck with that. I'd probably at least try to run the Apple TV headless as there seems some success on-line in doing that. Sonos might be good option down the track if you don't want to go with airplay/ (or airplay/dlna built into amp).

Well... :)

Emotiva again, I bought one of these: XDA-2

It's a
-USB DAC (does 24bit/192khz)
-digital preamp (6 inputs in total, superb volume control)
-high-current headphone amplifier

in one.

For the price, it's ridiculously good.

I'm using it as a USB DAC with some active monitors for my desktop setup, half and half headphones and speakers. Absolutely awesome for both.

My setup atm:

http://i.imgur.com/bZbgk03.jpg?1

You using a bass box too Bargain ?