Putting together a budget (as in frugally cheap) 2 channel system, help!

[IRG]

Have you considered a speaker kit from Parts Express or Madisound? They seem to offer quite a bang for the buck and look fairly easy to put together. I'm considering the Dayton UA701 Usher 701 for my first project to learn. It seems hard to beat the drivers in the sub $300 range.

Having said this, the Axiom M3v2 seems interesting for $330/pair.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/m3.html

Short of that, ebay or audiogon for used equipment. I've bought and sold on audiogon with excellent results. There are lots of people looking to upgrade, so there's always gear to be purchased!

I was thinking about a kit too, funny you should mention it. Not sure about whether I want to go that route or not, but I'll have to look at this idea again.

The Axioms have been around a while, I think they're well liked, they seem to advertise quite a bit. Not sure I want to spend the $ on them though.

[IRG]

Anyone have comments on these Polks? http://cgi.ebay.com/PAIR-Monitor-40-...item35a64f497f

Really inexpensive, so I wonder how good they are, seems like Polk isn't as well liked by some, although I think they often get reviewed quite well (of course, most stuff does so...)

Just curious about this Monitor line, older I think.

I would also like to know more about the TSi100, found here, http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Polk-Audio-T...item2a03873275

or other placed for about $200, gets good consumer reviews, fwiw.

[02audionoob]

The Monitor 40 appears to be cheaper at Newegg.com...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...dio-_-82290010

[IRG]

The Monitor 40 appears to be cheaper at Newegg.com...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...dio-_-82290010

Wow, $129 for the pair, granted they're older models, but I am tempted to give them a try. The reviews are quite good. Thanks for the link, hmmmm

[IRG]

I see Crutchfield has the black Boston Acoustic CS 26 for $75 each. How are these speakers overall? WIth a larger cone than some of the others, bass might be a tad better. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065CS26...-26-Black.html

Reviews online seem positive, moreso than the Polks.

[blackraven]

I would scoop these Energy C-200's up in a hurry- http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76742

I like the sound of the Bostons you mentioned too.

[IRG]

I would scoop these Energy C-200's up in a hurry- http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76742

I like the sound of the Bostons you mentioned too.

Looks like they're sold. Gott hit the sack now...

[Mr Peabody]

FWIW, I put together a small system for my girl, we were looking for a inexpensive 5 disc changer, I went to a store that sold Yamaha, Denon & Onkyo and listened to an offering by all three. The Denon and Onkyo were similar but the Yamaha exhibited much nicer sound in the mids and highs with natural and lush sounding strings were the other two were a bit hard in that area.. The Denon & Onkyo were better in the bass detail area. I was impressed with the Yamaha for a mere $149.00. Oh, the Yamaha is the one I bought.

[Mr Peabody]

You know it might be interesting to say what that system ended up being, the Yamaha changer, a Sansui AU-9500 integrated (vintage) and a pair of Dynaudio Audience 40's.
Yaamie = $149.00
Sansui = $20.00 (killer find) The 9500 is sort of a classic sought after piece, excellent
The 40's = $300.00 , used, splurged a bit here but I doubt anything for $300.00 would even come close.

[harley .guy07]

Have you considered a speaker kit from Parts Express or Madisound? They seem to offer quite a bang for the buck and look fairly easy to put together. I'm considering the Dayton UA701 Usher 701 for my first project to learn. It seems hard to beat the drivers in the sub $300 range.

Nice to see someone else that like DIY speakers and sees how sometimes how much more you get for your money that way. I believe the Dayton tritrix speaker kits are very well reviewed for the money but they require putting the cabinets together and either being painted or veneered. Now one of the Dayton bookshelf speaker kits using the Dayton drivers might be able to be an affordable option for him and they are basically just installing the pre made crossovers and drivers and breaking them in. He might be very happy with one of the Dayton kits from Parts Express. I have heard some really good things about their kits. And I have thought about the Usher 701 kit as an option for me a few times but I haven't done it yet, other things to do right now.

[IRG]

Nice to see someone else that like DIY speakers and sees how sometimes how much more you get for your money that way. I believe the Dayton tritrix speaker kits are very well reviewed for the money but they require putting the cabinets together and either being painted or veneered. Now one of the Dayton bookshelf speaker kits using the Dayton drivers might be able to be an affordable option for him and they are basically just installing the pre made crossovers and drivers and breaking them in. He might be very happy with one of the Dayton kits from Parts Express. I have heard some really good things about their kits. And I have thought about the Usher 701 kit as an option for me a few times but I haven't done it yet, other things to do right now.

The Usher kit looks very interesting. I don't think the total package is out yet, but I would like to give that a try. For now though, I think I'll go reay made. But a definite possibility in the future for sure.

[IRG]

You know it might be interesting to say what that system ended up being, the Yamaha changer, a Sansui AU-9500 integrated (vintage) and a pair of Dynaudio Audience 40's.
Yaamie = $149.00
Sansui = $20.00 (killer find) The 9500 is sort of a classic sought after piece, excellent
The 40's = $300.00 , used, splurged a bit here but I doubt anything for $300.00 would even come close.

That looks like a good system there. The Dynaudios are very well regarded I recall. $300 seems really cheap.

I'm glad to hear you liked the Yamaha cd player. Audio wise, how do you think this Yamaha dvd player stacks up? http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...ETYP=ATTRIBUTE

Seems like a good unit, and the price now, is hard to beat.

[bobsticks]

Anything by Kef in the under $300 range I can look at?

If you don't mind going used one can almost always find anything from extreme vintage to one-owner KEF's. They seem to be in higher favor in Europe which keeps prices low here in the U.S.. Par example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-Kef-Referen...item1e59f76c75

http://cgi.ebay.com/KEF-Iq30-Two-Way...item1c0f40cc82

[IRG]

If you don't mind going used one can almost always find anything from extreme vintage to one-owner KEF's. They seem to be in higher favor in Europe which keeps prices low here in the U.S.. Par example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-Kef-Referen...item1e59f76c75

http://cgi.ebay.com/KEF-Iq30-Two-Way...item1c0f40cc82

I looked at that first speaker last night on ebay, didn't know much about it though. The other one looks nice too, more $ than I want at the moment.

[IRG]

A quick rundown of the speakers (new only here) I'm looking at, in order of lowest price first. Any comments on them, or the vendors is welcome:

Polk Audio Monitor 40s $129/pair at newegg.com
Boston Acoustic CS-26 (black) $149/pr at Crutchfield
Kef C3 $179 at accessories4less.com
Cambridge Audio S30 $186/pair, brandnamez.com
Polk Tsi100 Crutchfield
Modaunt Short 902i $225 at Needledoctor.com

[IRG]

I think I'm leaning now towards the Onkyo TX-8555 over the Yamaha now. About the same price from AC4less, and it has twice the power, and a sub out, in case I decide to add it. I owned an older Onkyo way back, and it was a great unit.

[LeRoy]

OK, either of these two speakers sound like winners, leaning towards the MS model. So is pairing them with a Yamaha amp/dvd a 'poor sounding' electronics, or will they be acceptable? Would the Onkyo or Marantz (don't know much about this model) be a better choice, and if so why?

Sorry for the delayed reply. Too much work lately...

I would suggest the Marantz or Yamaha with strong leanings toward the Marantz. You might find the pairing with the Yamaha to be too bright...but we all have a different benchmark at to what bright is. I feel the Marantz has better tonality overall and leans a little to the warm side of neutral. So, it depends on what you like.

The M.S. 902's still remain my main speaker in my system. Consider that I recently, like 23DEC, have had the Mordaunt-Short Aviano 2 bookshelf speakers in my system as I thought the new editions would simply be bigger and better 902i. That has turned out not to be the case. The AV2's do have a couple of qualities that the 902's don't have but the bottom line is when I listen to music through the 902i.....I am quickly/immediately engaged in the music. This is not something that happens to me when I am listening to the AV2's unless the recording is an absolute reference recording. Recalling my experience in listening to the CA S30's...I think the S30's are more fun than the AV2's but not at the same level as the 902's...

An interesting impression I got while listening to the 902's in my audio dealer's home is that if you place them just right...they can deliver sound very similar to a small floorstander. I don't get this floorstander largeness of sound in my listening space but that just goes to show me how room and placement can affect the sound quality and enjoyment. Either way, the 902's are a slam dunk.

[Mr Peabody]

I've never heard a Yamaha DVD for music but my guess is the same emphasis for sound would not be there. I thought you got a Marantz player already. You should stick with that.

[IRG]

I've never heard a Yamaha DVD for music but my guess is the same emphasis for sound would not be there. I thought you got a Marantz player already. You should stick with that.

No I don't have any player at the moment for this system. I have an old Technics 5 disc player but it's for the upstairs system.

There were some comments I think on Cnet from an owner(s) who also used the Yamaha S1800 for music, and said the DACs in this unit were very good, one of its strengths. I'll see what else I can find. I kinda find info on Marantz gear or good online dealers, sort of hard to come by.

[Mr Peabody]

www,amusicdirect.com used to carry a lot of Marantz. You were probably talking about a local shop though. The Yamaha DVD player may be fine though. If it meets your needs give it a listen. What ever pieces you go with you might want to stick with the ones that will accept a return and with no restock fee, in case you get something you just can't live with.

[IRG]

www,amusicdirect.com used to carry a lot of Marantz. You were probably talking about a local shop though. The Yamaha DVD player may be fine though. If it meets your needs give it a listen. What ever pieces you go with you might want to stick with the ones that will accept a return and with no restock fee, in case you get something you just can't live with.

Well now, the Marantz gear does look pretty good, a definite step up from the Yamaha or Onkyo stuff. I like this receiver here" http://cgi.ebay.com/Marantz-SR4023-8...item1c0f660a1a

It's stretching the budget though. Tempting it is...

[02audionoob]

Well now, the Marantz gear does look pretty good, a definite step up from the Yamaha or Onkyo stuff. I like this receiver here" http://cgi.ebay.com/Marantz-SR4023-8...item1c0f660a1a

It's stretching the budget though. Tempting it is...

You could have had a Marantz SR4021 for $219 from accessories4less if you had jumped on it when I linked to it in post #23 of this thread...

[IRG]

You could have had a Marantz SR4021 for $219 from accessories4less if you had jumped on it when I linked to it in post #23 of this thread...

I thought about it. Probably not an issue, but the frequency range was 40hz-20khz, and I dunno, something about a receiver that doesn't do 20 -20 bothered me, but not like any of these speakers I'm looking at would be affected. The newer version addresses this apparently. O think ac4less has the 4023 for $299. Not bad either.

[Mr Peabody]

The 4023 does have a phono stage, but the Denon will have one built in too, and a sub out. I wonder how much of the cost went to the video switching and home automation features that wouldn't be used.

[blackraven]

I heard that Yamaha 1800 for music and it sounded pretty good. It compared well with the Denon 1910 that I have which is a pretty good cd player as well as a dvd player. For $75 its a great buy for a budget system.

I would still consider the HK receiver over the Onkyo. Its got preamp, phono preamp and sub outs. It also puts out high current with I believe 45 peak amps. It tends to have a slightly warmer sound which IMO would be better for budget speakers which tend to be bright. But either way you go you will have a decent 2ch receiver. And I agree that a receiver should be rated at least 20-20.

Good Luck!