$450 to spend between stereo receiver and speakers. Recommendations?

Hi folks,

I have $450-500 to spend on a stereo receiver and a new set of bookshelf speakers. I have considered the Onkyo 8211 and a set of JBL38s (mainly because they have been marked down from $500 to $250. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can get best for my money here? I listen to mostly classical music.

Sincerely,
Chris Morgan

One way to go would be the Pioneer VSX-912 (~$300 online at several locations with automatic calibration - use a program like www.nextag.com) and Athena AS-F1 from Best Price Audiovideo http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/p...=2815&Class=56 for $199 + free shipping.

Hi Chris:

See my reply under your "college student needs....." posting.

Mark

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Originally Posted by PmR

One way to go would be the Pioneer VSX-912 (~$300 online at several locations with automatic calibration - use a program like www.nextag.com) and Athena AS-F1 from Best Price Audiovideo http://www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com/p...=2815&Class=56 for $199 + free shipping.

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I believe that price is for one speaker, not a pair. With these price constraints, perhaps the AS-B2's @ $250/pair would work quite well.

That would leave about $200 for a receiver. This open you up to some low end HT units as well, which offers quite bang for the buck as opposed to two channel units of the same price range.

Check sale papers locally. Where are you, geographically?

Good of you to pick up on that Mark. That to me suggests poor business practices when that is not more clearly labelled as non-center speakers are usually sold in pairs.

Ascend Acoustics CBM-170s are very highly rated and are on sale for $336 incl. shipping right now. You will need speaker stands but these can be bought for around $50.

The Pioneer VSX-D812 would then bring you back closer to your spending limit while still giving great value. It doesn't have quite the same automatic equilibration (MCACC) that the 912 does, though.

Onkyo 8211 stereo receiver is good choice (you can find it on the net for under $200 delivered)

IF you can scrape together more money upgrade to a NAD C-740 you can find them on the net for $400

Speakers:
Acoustic energy ageis one $230 pair if you can find any.
PSB 2B $260 pair for open box, lovely speaker
Monitor bronze 2 $300, very nice

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chrismorgan

Hi folks,

I have $450-500 to spend on a stereo receiver and a new set of bookshelf speakers. I have considered the Onkyo 8211 and a set of JBL38s (mainly because they have been marked down from $500 to $250. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can get best for my money here? I listen to mostly classical music.

Sincerely,
Chris Morgan

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