Maybe up to around 85db on rare occasions. I'm hoping to find a used receiver for under $400 and maybe spend $1k on a speaker kit that might include a center channel.

I'm surprised that others have not suggested anything yet, my pick would be for something like a used pair of Totem Acoustic model 1 or model 1 signature, another similar would be Merlin music TSM. Both are mini monitor speakers so would require stands. The larger Totem Hawk or Merlin VSM are also excellent though the VSM will likely be harder to find for your price point. I do not think you will need the centre channel speaker, these speakers will cover it. The one likely add on for later could be a good subwoofer.

Anyone interested in a Sunfire Pre-amp? Theater Grand

I've also got a Sunfire Cinema Grand 5 x 200 watt amp too

$1000 for the pair, we can split shipping from zip 98294.

PM me if interested.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1682273915.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1682273915.jpg

Jbl studio series are good speakers and are often 50% on the jbl website. Tough to beat in entry level high quality speakers

Parts express and madisound have some decent kit options

Not sure your exact needs, but if i didn't already have fancy speakers, id be in the market for active amplifed dsp controled speakers from the likes of genelec, neumann, jbl, etc.

Lastly be extremely skeptical of anything read on audiofile websites. Audio science review is mostly decent.

I would recommend a B&K AVR 307

You’ve got a pretty big room. That’s good, but I would suggest a full range speaker, not a monitor speaker. In fact, the first thing I would do is take a look at the room, and what’s in it, and how willing you are to prioritize speaker and listener placement over all of the other functions for the room. Virtually everything we normally use a room for is bad for any serious stereo listening.

Back to the speakers, I would not buy a DIY speaker kit, I’d buy a set of quality used speakers from the last 10-20 years or so. Something from a brand with a good reputation and new enough that speaker cones and capacitors and that sort of thing or not going to be an issue yet. Old enough that they, and the parts in them, didn’t come from China. A $1000 budget will buy you something worth listening to. I would skip the center speaker and any thoughts of using the system for TV sound.

I would suggest a two channel amp, not a receiver. If you want to listen to radio, get a separate tuner.

Have fun.

Now that we know the size of your room, what are the constraints on placing speakers.

Great speakers mounted against a wall sound ok to awful. Mid fi speakers away from room boundaries sound pretty well.

So what am I saying, tell us where your wife will allow you to place your speakers and we can give you some suggestions.

.... and what budget do you have in mind?

I wouldn't say that measurements are not a good idea, but rather than measurements do not necessarily equate to sound quality. Equipment can measure similar and sound different. You want to find what is pleasing to you, if measurements are part of that process, great!

Or are you talking about measuring the sound from the system and using processing to tweak the sound? If so, still great!

Jason Stoddard's (of Schiit) take on use of the term balanced, https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up.701900/post-17518152. I am not an EE so most of it is Greek, but I am sure there are many here who can full enjoy.

So Java, why not a monitor speaker? I am quite sure there are no full range speakers that have the detail and sound quality of the Totem Model one sig or the Merlin TSM, anywhere near that price range, that I can think of, he is not after high SPL, though most would be surprised how loud these small high perf speakers can go. Have you actually listened to the above speakers? Many of the better full range speakers are just a mini monitor sitting above a separate base cab, such as Wilson Watt/Puppy, Sasha or B&W 800 series to mention a few.

I have nothing against that particular set of speakers, and I have not listened to them myself. My comments were based on my experience with other smaller speakers in large rooms. I’m guessing the bass drivers in those are probably 6 1/2 inch. I’ve had some B&W speakers, and others, with driver sizes like that and I just don’t get enough range out of them.

Nothing wrong with Canadian speakers. My personal favorites would probably be a pair of Energy Veritas, V2.8’s. I’ve seen those sell for as little as $1500. That would stretch his thousand dollar budget but it would be a stretch worth making.

There are dozens of r great monitor sized speakers. People often love small limited range speakers because it is nearly impossible to get well integrated bass without EQ, Room treatment, measurments, careful placement.

In the last audible octave in the audible range for domestic sized rooms, the speaker is playing the room. The wavelengths are longer than the dimensions of the room. If you just ditch the last octave you aren't missing all that much musically and avoid the risk of muddying up the more important part of the spectrum.

The Merlin's were made in the USA, unfortunately no longer produced but service still available. The longer floor standing models (Totem Hawk or Merlin VSM) can actually reproduce pretty decent accurate low freq.

Yes something like the Veritas V2.8 would be excellent but likely pretty hard to find a pair for near the price point, but never know.

All the smaller B&W that I have listened to were lacking any low frequency, I think it is just the British way, I have a pair of old Harbeth acoustic that are the same way.

There are deals to be had out there, if you are vigilant. Personally, I wouldn’t set an arbitrary limit on what I might spend on a basic system. And the speakers are probably the most important part of the equation.

Some would say the most important part is the room, and they would be right, but that’s usually something we’re stuck with. Band-Aids for that are available…

Which is why we have been asking for pictures of the room. It would be nice if we could also get a written affidavit from the wife, stating that she will not stand in the way of audio excellence.

Budget
 

Yes, the room. I've been watching countless Youtubes and the room keeps coming up. Speaker placement/etc. As a side note - what about using Roon? Seems like a good way to get pieces of music and not have to deal with CDs/etc. I'm slowly working on the wife to get permission for speaker placement. :-)

I’ve never downloaded a piece of music in my life, so it would have no utility for me. I suppose it depends on whether you have already amassed a large collection of digital music and whether that collection is in a file format that is worthy of serious listening. It might be useful if you want to distribute music throughout the house, but that implies you have other equipment to do that with. From what I understand, Roon is just software, you have to supply your own equipment to work with it.

I prefer physical media. CDs mainly but I still play Vinyl and cassettes.

I dont use Roon. I find that if you dont have a large library of music on a NAS its of limited use (YMMV).

I like SACD, DVDA, CD and stream from Qobuz and Amazon HD.

Currently using a Wiim Pro digital coax to a ChiFi DAC (Topping D90SE). Very convenient interface and its bit accurate out on the digital. The Topping is very accurate and musical.