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Recommend me a stereo system setup
Poast new message in this thread
Date: July 12th, 2025 12:50 PM Author: azure bawdyhouse (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095778) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 1:54 PM Author: Light Glittery Theatre Immigrant Two McIntosh MC2301, klipschorn, JL Audio Gotham subs
iPhone lossless audio |
Date: July 12th, 2025 1:51 PM Author: azure bawdyhouse (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095899) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 1:57 PM Author: Passionate philosopher-king mediation Just get some good over ear headphones and a comfy leather club chair. Audiophile shit is flame. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095908) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 1:58 PM Author: Red institution useless brakes It's called wirecutter dumbass. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-receiver/ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-bookshelf-speakers/ |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:13 PM Author: azure bawdyhouse should i really trust boomer nyt fags tho (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095958) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 1:59 PM Author: opaque university dingle berry The only acceptable answer is a pair of monitors.
I still use Alesis M-1s from 25 years ago. |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:10 PM Author: azure bawdyhouse what amp should i use (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095948) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:13 PM Author: opaque university dingle berry Whatever's required for the setup.
My M-1s take a separate power amp. It's made by the same company specifically for these monitors.
You can get active monitors without need for a separate power amp as well. |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:17 PM Author: Appetizing Sticky Tattoo Cr. If you don’t need surround sound then a pair of studio monitors is the way to go. They tend to be flatter and more accurate
I have these. They’re cheap and sound great:
Buddy of mine has these. They’re good too:
https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Heritage-Inspired-Powered-Speakers/dp/B0BBWKV3VJ |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:20 PM Author: Light Glittery Theatre Immigrant lol at apartment and small house dwellers. If you can’t recreate 70s Grateful Dead concert level sound without having the cops called you are a prole. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095972) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:22 PM Author: Red institution useless brakes (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095978) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:28 PM Author: opaque university dingle berry Unless one is in very deep, isolated country, a massive PA system will be a problem to anyone close enough to fit the definition of 'neighbor.' (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095987) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 11:12 PM Author: Light Glittery Theatre Immigrant (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096913) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:25 PM Author: opaque university dingle berry A flat frequency response is incredibly important.
Cheap "speakers" are the reason people need junk like subwoofers. |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:30 PM Author: Appetizing Sticky Tattoo Cr. I have a sub too but it’s tuned to the speakers (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095990) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:32 PM Author: opaque university dingle berry A good pair of studio monitors should be relatively flat down to 20Hz. (That was decades ago, too.) (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095994) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:37 PM Author: Appetizing Sticky Tattoo They’ll get there but I use one of these to fill out the low end. It’s a very tight and musical sub:
https://www.amazon.com/SVS-SB-1000-Sealed-Subwoofer-Black/dp/B08X51FVZS/ |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:36 PM Author: azure bawdyhouse monitor pill me vs speakers (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095996) |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 2:57 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse Monitors are ugly. Do not buy monitors for a living room or bedroom. They are only appropriate for an office setup.
Plenty of living room speakers hit a pretty flat response these days. Plus there is room correction if you want a flat response. |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 11:12 PM Author: Light Glittery Theatre Immigrant Modern room EQ can make shit sound flat (ie perfect reproduction). I don’t like flat. Unless you feel the canons on the 1978 Telarc 1812 overture such that you feel like puking, well, I don’t know what to tell you. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096917) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 11:15 PM Author: opaque university dingle berry You can always add an n-band EQ to the rack. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096923) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 11:22 PM Author: Light Glittery Theatre Immigrant That is hard (I am old so I used to do it manually). In the last 20? years a mic based room EQ can make anything flat. But what’s the fun in that? (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096939) |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 1:46 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse Yea, a flatish response is desirable but you're a moron if you think subwoofers aren't more or less a necessity. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49097089) |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 7:34 AM Author: opaque university dingle berry They aren't needed because real speakers are responsive at low frequencies.
Sorry, bro. Home audio advertising hasn't been totally honest with you. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 10:23 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse Go ahead and find me an affordable set of speakers that are flat to 20Hz. I'll wait.
Even Genelec's 2nd best pair of monitors (the $11,000/pair 8361A) are 6dB down at 30Hz. There's a reason they make the $6,000 7380A 15-inch subwoofer to go along with the 8361A. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 12:28 PM Author: opaque university dingle berry You can google monitor frequency response curves as well as I can. If you're looking for a perfectly flat horizontal line, you're being intentionally obtuse.
I have no idea who thinks what is affordable on this board.
Someone asked for a stereo recommendation. I recommend what they use in the studio.
Also... what's the range & sensitivity of human hearing again? |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 12:46 PM Author: Balding meetinghouse > You can google monitor frequency response curves as well as I can. If you're looking for a perfectly flat horizontal line, you're being intentionally obtuse.
No I'm not. There is music that goes to 20Hz (James Blake, Bjork, etc.) and I want to hear it.
> I have no idea who thinks what is affordable on this board.
Extremely few speakers are flat to anywhere close to 20Hz, and those that do cost a boatload.
> Someone asked for a stereo recommendation. I recommend what they use in the studio.
A living room isn't a studio, you aren't listening in nearfield like you do with monitors.
> Also... what's the range & sensitivity of human hearing again?
The range of human hearing is generally given as 20Hz-20kHz. This range declines with age, mostly on the treble though. |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 2:19 PM Author: brass trust fund Just buy a Sonos Five and the Sonos Sub 4 Woofer. It’s all you’ll ever need. You can buy two Fives if you want but it’s not even necessary IME (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49095970) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 6:11 PM Author: azure bawdyhouse seems like a sacrifice on audio quality (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096445) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 6:33 PM Author: brass trust fund It has a feature where you download an app then walk around the room with your phone and it sends audio signals to your phone’s microphone to optimize the sound for you room. It sounds like flame and takes 2-3 tries to get it perfect but it’s legit. Perfect sound quality. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096480) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 11:23 PM Author: Light Glittery Theatre Immigrant (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096941) |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 1:56 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse The Sonos Five actually measures pretty decent
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sonos-five-smart-speaker-review.51409/
I'd avoid Sonos for other reasons though. They have a history of doing unfriendly things to their consumers. Their mobile app update last year was so bad it got the CEO shitcanned.
They've done this forced obsolescence thing where older devices running their 'S1' operating system can't work with newer 'S2' devices. How long before they come out with an S3 and all the current S2 stuff won't work with the S3 stuff? Probably just a couple years |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 11:08 AM Author: brass trust fund I’ve had the same Sonos system for 4 years and see no reason to update it ever (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49097524) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 8:58 PM Author: plum massive forum goyim (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096700) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 8:59 PM Author: stubborn vivacious keepsake machete property hard to say without knowing about your room + uses (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096702) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 10:03 PM Author: azure bawdyhouse pretty general. music listening (lean classical) but also movies/shows/general tv i guess, but would prefer to optimize for music (and maybe i should have separate tv / music audio anyways but i'm happy to sacrifice full surround for music-optimized stereo). for a 20x15 foot living room but also looking for a lighter setup for a slightly smaller bedroom. i'm no enthusiast or else i wouldn't be asking the question but i can afford a better setup than i'm able opine on intelligently and i wouldn't mind investing in a non-shitty setup that i could appreciate and maybe will last. just crowdsourcing xo wisdom. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49096800) |
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Date: July 12th, 2025 11:52 PM Author: bronze hairraiser field Here's what I have currently. A kind of middling system set up in its own listening room: Peachtree Audio Carina GaN integrated amp. Klipsch Heresy IV speakers with SVS 1000 powered sub (the Heresy speakers have big woofers but still roll off the base a bit too high for my taste, hence the sub). Denon streamer. Old Technics 5 disk CD player/changer. Thorens TD 1500 turntable. Mostly stream and download via Amazon music, but play CDs and vinyl, too. There are a lot of choices and no optimum solution. Systems all sound different but at some point it gets hard to say one is better. Once you get beyond some point below even where I am the diminishing returns effect quickly sets in. Speakers are most important followed by amp. If you use a headset exclusively forget about speakers and just get a nice headphone amp.
At the winter house I have Klipsch RM-600M bookshelf speakers, 12 inch Klipsch powered sub, PS Audio Sprout integrated amp, and Bluesound node nano streamer. No turntable or CD player there. Much cheaper system but sounds quite good. Can't really do an a/b as the locations are 2000 miles apart.
I have it all set up to work with Alexa so music can be summoned by voice command.
I use a Klipsch soundbar with companion sub for TV and it is really impressive to my ears. Winter house has a Vizio soundbar which is surprisingly good, esp. for the price. I have found that for me soundbars seem to present better dialog than stereo speakers. YMMV. The Klipsch soundbar is so good I think I could live happily with it also playing music.
Clearly I like Klipsch. A lot of people don't. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 12:01 AM Author: Light Glittery Theatre Immigrant Solid. The heresys are great.
I go between k-horns and magnapans. I have a set of B&W but just not my thing. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 2:01 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse The original PS Audio Sprout has a non-defeatable bass boost, ljl
They made a defeat for it on the Sprout100 |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 10:37 AM Author: bronze hairraiser field I have the Sprout 100. Excellent little amp. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49097473) |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 11:03 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse I still haven't finished my EPI M100 restoration project. I replaced the crossover and drivers. Replacing the drivers was probably unnecessary but I couldn't get the idea out of my head that getting new drivers would maximize sound quality. Definitely not worth it for resale, I'm like $600 into them and there is no way I'd get even half that if I put them up for sale.
All that is left is to replace the grille fabric. I bought the fabric a long time ago. I keep telling myself it'll be a good winter project but I think it's been two winters now. |
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Date: July 15th, 2025 10:28 PM Author: bronze hairraiser field I had some EPI 100s. My kids took them and blew them out playing electric guitar music through them. They were very nice sounding speakers. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49104652) |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 1:42 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse Budget?
WiiM is the move for budget streamers & amps |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 2:41 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse If you can afford $1,700+ for a preamp and amp, I would strongly recommend a miniDSP Flex Balanced TRS w/ Dirac and a UMIK-1 ($1100, be sure to buy from their US importer, Deer Creek Audio - you will get caught up in tariff bullshit if you order direct from MiniDSP), and a class D amp from Buckeye Amps (these start at about $600 depending on how much power you want).
Dirac is pretty great, it's sort of the gold standard in room correction. Reasonably easy to use too.
If you want this same sort of shit in one box you could get the NAD C 3050 BluOS-D For $2200. That comes with a limited range Dirac license which should be mostly adequate. You can upgrade to a full range license for another $100. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 9:46 AM Author: azure bawdyhouse hate to noobpwn myself but the number of options and things to consider in hifi is obnoxious. i'm learning and i get it but still.
would love to use an avr to flex between stereo for music and surround for movies but i guess you lose some audio fidelity on the stereo side by doing that. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 10:16 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse The multichannel miniDSP Flex HTx with Dirac and a UMIK-1 is ~$1650 from Deer Creek Audio
And Buckeye makes a lot of multichannel amps
Edit: Honestly though this is likely beyond your skill level. Also you'd need a newish TV with HDMI eARC |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 11:21 AM Author: azure bawdyhouse i think my plan is to judiciously scout out good value on craigslist, i live in a major metro where there is good stuff available. i will complement with whatever avr or amp is most suitable to it. if i "get into it" more thereafter i will pursue audiophile shit in earnest but i'm probably at least months away from being able to make a truly discerning choice. but at least right now i can use online reviews and chatboards etc. to determine if whatever is available to me is worth having and whether the price is good. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49097556) |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 11:43 AM Author: Balding meetinghouse That's not a bad plan.
Dirac made such a big difference in my system, I think it's one of the best bang for the buck upgrades out there. I just took a look at Crutchfield and it looks like the $1100 Onkyo TX-RZ30 has Dirac. Get a UMIK-1 instead of the crappy mic that comes with it and you'd be well on your way.
Maybe cop that and used speakers and sub? Revel is one of the best brands out there for home speakers that hit a pretty flat response.
This audio stuff is a big rabbit hole though, no doubt about that. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 11:48 AM Author: azure bawdyhouse is it wiser to let the speaker choice determine the avr / amp? seems like some are better suited to a given speaker than others but varies.
do you know much about ohm omnidirectional speakers? seem cool but extremely niche with a unique sound profile, most reviews are positive and some are extremely positive but some people don't care for it. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 12:25 PM Author: Balding meetinghouse The vast majority of solid state amps have sufficient power for the vast majority of speakers / tastes. You might want highly efficient speakers if you're running a tube amp. Or you might want more powerful than average amplification if you're running particularly insensitive speakers and/or you like to listen really loud. Those tend to be edge cases though, and this is stuff you can figure out as you go along.
I've never heard Ohms but I know they've been around for a while. I'm always a bit interested in unconventional driver arrangements. |
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Date: July 13th, 2025 1:53 PM Author: bronze hairraiser field Once you get started it's normal to get the bug to upgrade. Buying used is a good way to reduce the financial carnage. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49097926) |
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Date: July 15th, 2025 1:00 PM Author: azure bawdyhouse i get it but this shit is so expensive lmao. you need like four separate thousand-dollar boxes of byzantine electronics to get your playlists to play on your speakers at max quality. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749524&forum_id=2)#49103213) |
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Date: July 15th, 2025 3:00 PM Author: sooty razzle boiling water brunch Just get these and call it a day: https://www.klipsch.com/products/the-nines-powered-speakers
That's my setup and they are 180. |
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Date: July 18th, 2025 3:32 PM Author: Balding meetinghouse A pair of speakers I might purchase in the future just got released
https://www.dedicatedaudio.com/products/mofi-sourcepoint-v10-master-edition-speakers-pair
The 10" coaxial driver should give me everything I like about my LS50s, plus more dynamics that are missing from the smaller drivers in the LS50s, plus a lot of deep bass extension. I likely wouldn't need a sub with these. |