tahe
02-01-2004, 07:37 PM
Hi,
I realize I am one of the mulititude of newbees leeching on this forum to get me started on a system. I have now been browsing and searching the site for a couple of days picking up hints, but I need some direct input now.
I've been living in Europe up to now and made do with a cheap system built from NAD and Dali components. It's done it's job as a casual system. Now I find myself in the US with a bigger paycheck and working quite a bit at home. Finally I can both afford a good system and have the time to listen to it. I guess some of you will not agree with me that a stereo in the background is really listening, but to me it still does beat using my laptop speakers for the background music anyway. And I will do some real listening whenever I have a chance.
Now to the fun part: I find myself greener to the field than in a long time. The brands have changed and the focus has changed compared to what I'm used to. I went to a "speciality" store (I think, can't remember the name) around here. They asked we what kind of receiver I wanted, I answered NO and they were flabbergasted. Seems the americans have done away with amplifiers and only play with receivers these days. This seems to go against all I've learned before, where even an integrated amplifier was a shame and surround almost taboo in learned circles.
I'd appreciate any input you have. I would prefer specific suggestions for packages because although the bring everything home and test it theory sounds nice, I simply don't have the time to do that, and would like to hit a home run on the first try.
* Budget: $2000 but a good salesman might push me to $2500 for exceptional value. This package covers amplifier and stereo speakers. I want floorstanding speakers (I don't even have a bookshelf yet)
* Room: Apartment building, small living room, bad soundproofing. So what I'd like is a system that has it's peak at lover volumes. The room is approx 12x17', but as you can see here (http://www.ashbourneproperties.com/Prop.%20Images/The%20Meridian/TheMeridianFlrPlans1B1B-2.htm) , the layout is horrible with an open kitchen and sunroom with lots of glass thrown into the bargain. The sunroom is set up as the office, and it is here I will do my casual listening. I expect to move the speakers to the sliding doors to get the best effect. For serious purposes the speakers will be against the left wall of the living room.
* System: I've got a horrible TV and DVD that came with the aparment. I've temporarily brought my CD collection on a Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra. So the first stage of the sound is not superb, but I've got decent mp3 quality 196+kbps vbr mp3 and will be bringing my CD's and purchasing a good player later. For now I want to get a good amp and speaker set to cover the basics. I've also got a buch of LP's that may be recessitated in the distant future. If I can find an amplifier that also works on 220V I'd prefer that as I don't know exactly how long I'll stay.
*Music preferences: I listen to several different kinds of music, but the bulk of it is 70's prog with the likes of Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Van der Graaf, King Crimson etc. leading the pack. But I also have classical, jazz, blues, rock etc. I'm completely not into home theatre, but might start experimenting with sorround music in the future. At that time I expect to upgrade the whole package though. I also do not typically listen to your typical thump-thump music such as heavy metal, rap etc., but for those rare occasions, the system should handle it.
* Sound preferences: I find I like high definition, almost dry sound. I find great pleasure in listening to setups that reveal all the detail in the music, such as a finger moving on the string of a guitar. Apart from that I'd like a well balanced system that does not over emphasize the treble as the recordings of for instance early Genesis are quite well endowed in that area already.
My greatest revelation so far has been to listen to the Roger Waters album "Amused To Death" on a high end system demonstration (Electrocompaniet prototype). I had to check that they had not gotten a pre-release of a DVD-A version of the disc. The music, spoken voices and song vere just perfectly clear, revealing details I had never imagined before.
So to sum up I need a good value, high-end stereo setup with minimum fuss. Who can help me?
Any related help, such as which stores in the Arlington, VA area to visit for professional help and good deals also much appreciated.
I realize I am one of the mulititude of newbees leeching on this forum to get me started on a system. I have now been browsing and searching the site for a couple of days picking up hints, but I need some direct input now.
I've been living in Europe up to now and made do with a cheap system built from NAD and Dali components. It's done it's job as a casual system. Now I find myself in the US with a bigger paycheck and working quite a bit at home. Finally I can both afford a good system and have the time to listen to it. I guess some of you will not agree with me that a stereo in the background is really listening, but to me it still does beat using my laptop speakers for the background music anyway. And I will do some real listening whenever I have a chance.
Now to the fun part: I find myself greener to the field than in a long time. The brands have changed and the focus has changed compared to what I'm used to. I went to a "speciality" store (I think, can't remember the name) around here. They asked we what kind of receiver I wanted, I answered NO and they were flabbergasted. Seems the americans have done away with amplifiers and only play with receivers these days. This seems to go against all I've learned before, where even an integrated amplifier was a shame and surround almost taboo in learned circles.
I'd appreciate any input you have. I would prefer specific suggestions for packages because although the bring everything home and test it theory sounds nice, I simply don't have the time to do that, and would like to hit a home run on the first try.
* Budget: $2000 but a good salesman might push me to $2500 for exceptional value. This package covers amplifier and stereo speakers. I want floorstanding speakers (I don't even have a bookshelf yet)
* Room: Apartment building, small living room, bad soundproofing. So what I'd like is a system that has it's peak at lover volumes. The room is approx 12x17', but as you can see here (http://www.ashbourneproperties.com/Prop.%20Images/The%20Meridian/TheMeridianFlrPlans1B1B-2.htm) , the layout is horrible with an open kitchen and sunroom with lots of glass thrown into the bargain. The sunroom is set up as the office, and it is here I will do my casual listening. I expect to move the speakers to the sliding doors to get the best effect. For serious purposes the speakers will be against the left wall of the living room.
* System: I've got a horrible TV and DVD that came with the aparment. I've temporarily brought my CD collection on a Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra. So the first stage of the sound is not superb, but I've got decent mp3 quality 196+kbps vbr mp3 and will be bringing my CD's and purchasing a good player later. For now I want to get a good amp and speaker set to cover the basics. I've also got a buch of LP's that may be recessitated in the distant future. If I can find an amplifier that also works on 220V I'd prefer that as I don't know exactly how long I'll stay.
*Music preferences: I listen to several different kinds of music, but the bulk of it is 70's prog with the likes of Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Van der Graaf, King Crimson etc. leading the pack. But I also have classical, jazz, blues, rock etc. I'm completely not into home theatre, but might start experimenting with sorround music in the future. At that time I expect to upgrade the whole package though. I also do not typically listen to your typical thump-thump music such as heavy metal, rap etc., but for those rare occasions, the system should handle it.
* Sound preferences: I find I like high definition, almost dry sound. I find great pleasure in listening to setups that reveal all the detail in the music, such as a finger moving on the string of a guitar. Apart from that I'd like a well balanced system that does not over emphasize the treble as the recordings of for instance early Genesis are quite well endowed in that area already.
My greatest revelation so far has been to listen to the Roger Waters album "Amused To Death" on a high end system demonstration (Electrocompaniet prototype). I had to check that they had not gotten a pre-release of a DVD-A version of the disc. The music, spoken voices and song vere just perfectly clear, revealing details I had never imagined before.
So to sum up I need a good value, high-end stereo setup with minimum fuss. Who can help me?
Any related help, such as which stores in the Arlington, VA area to visit for professional help and good deals also much appreciated.