So, after searching, I didn't see any threads related.

Anyways, I have a friend who wants to order these...

Thoughts?

http://www.buy.com/prod/boston-acoustics-classic-cs26-speaker-2-way-speaker-cable-150w-rms/q/loc/111/210399739.html

Also, what would be a good amp/reciever to power these two speakers? There are way too many out there and I don't know where to begin.

7/21/2009 3:25:43 PM

i've never really seen the point in using an amp/receiver if you're only using 2 speakers

i'm sure this makes the audiophiles cringe, but a good 2.1 multimedia set hooked up with a 3.5mm to whatever (usually RCA, i would assume) converter works great...you get a lot more for the money

this really only applies to stereo configurations...if you're going surround-sound and you've got a good surround-sound source (bluray, for example), then sure, go with something higher-end

7/21/2009 3:30:02 PM

Okay. So what about the speaker themselves? Anyone have/dealt with Boston-acoustic? I'm only familiar with 5.1 sony/pioneer surround sound systems. I've heard some 2.0 and 2.1 bookshelf systems that were just mindblowing awesome, but I'm not familiar with quality brand/product book shelf speakers, amps/pre-amps, receivers, and subswoofers.

If someone wouldn't mind helping me out on a decent 2.0/2.1 setup that sounds awesome without the need of a true 5.1, I'd appreciate it. I'd really like to find something very nice considering I am an audiophile, however, have little knowledge of the technology behind it.

In the future, I may expand the 2.0/2.1 system to a full 5.1 surround. I'd like to start small and see how I like it. Also, trying to stay with a budget. Lets say $300 for everything for now?

[Edited on July 21, 2009 at 4:29 PM. Reason : .]

7/21/2009 4:28:18 PM

I'd check this place out: http://www.theaudiovideosource.com/

I got a great deal on some Infinity Primus speaks there. You can get a lot better speaks than the BAs for about the same there.

7/21/2009 5:48:40 PM

. Thanks for the link. I've been checking out audio advisor.

Question: which sensitivity is "better"? something that has a lower dB or one with a higher dB? How does that and signal noise play a role in the quality of the sound produced by the speaker given a particular signal?

[Edited on July 21, 2009 at 10:21 PM. Reason : .]

7/21/2009 10:19:56 PM

in my experience, any shelf speaker from one of those aiwa/sony/sharp sets from back in the day and a decent 100w/chan receiver work great. I have 2 aiwa speakers powered by a kenwood vr series receiver I got from tdub for $20 and it sounds excellent. I feed the receiver with the spdif from my audigy.

7/21/2009 10:43:28 PM

AIWA is crap, dude.

Get a pair of Beta 20s for $200 and you will be a happy camper. Or get a pair of Primus 162s for $140 and they'll also be great. I had a 5.1 setup of Primus w/ the tower fronts and and the bigger center and i was really happy with 'em. I'm not stuck on Infinity in particular, but they make good speakers and that site has incredible prices on them.

higher sensitivity (db/W) means that the speaker will play louder with a given amount of power. higher is usually better, but thats not set in stone. it just means that it'll play louder

the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of an amplifier determines how clean/accurate the signal is. its the decibel ratio of signal to noise. higher the better.

7/22/2009 8:18:44 PM

Thanks dannydigtl

7/22/2009 8:51:54 PM

^^ That's the way to do it- buying a good receiver and 2 front speakers to begin with. Add a center speaker, satellites, and a sub of the same make and line as you can afford it later. You'll spend a lot by the time you're done, but you'll have a sound system that is far better than any of the pre-boxed options and it should last damn near forever.

One of the systems I had inherreted included high end denon receiver and 4 AR9's and a klipsch center channel speaker. My dad had purchased the AR9's about 30 years ago but they still sounded great. Bear in mind that over that much time traditional speakers would have to be refoamed if not reconed as well. Still, they sounded great. Obviously I did have to replace the receiver with a newer yamaha model so I could use the current digital inputs. Still, the system sounded amazing and was a great investment considering how long it lasted.

7/25/2009 1:55:30 AM

So. I'm looking at getting some Infinity Beta 20's in the near future (I was thinking of starting with a 2.0 system and slowly upgrade to a full 5.1, as suggested). I was looking into some AVRs and need some helping picking...

Harman Kardon AVR-254
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0016BGRX6/ref=pd_luc_mri?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

NAD - T-744
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NAT744

Marantz - SR-3001
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MASR3001


I was also looking into something slightly higher end, so that I wouldn't have to purchase another AVR when adding more speakers and HDMI sources. Should I be looking into these below or would the ones listed above be considered a worthy investment? I realize HDMI is more of a convenience than a requirement. I do not have any HDMI supporting hardware ATM, but will have some in a year or so.

Harman Kardon AVR-354
http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-AVR-354-Channel-Receiver/dp/B0016BGRXG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1248451228&sr=8-3


NAD - T-755
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NAT755

Marantz - SR-5003
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MASR5003

Let me know what you thing t-dub. Thanks

7/26/2009 10:46:07 AM

This place has good deals on Marantz, especially their refurb'ed stuff:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/generic/Marantz-Specials/1.html

I got my 4001 there and its been great. Shipped fast. It came in a blank carboard box, but besides that i would never have known it was a refurb. Perfect condition, all accessories, batteries, manuals, wires. Its been working great for a couples years now.

I see their 4002 refurb is $299, refurbed 4003: $349, refurbed 5003: $549, 6003: $699 not bad. They also have non refurbed stuff.

Marants is good stuff. Simple and clean. Great SQ, but doesn't have as many bells and whistles as some of the Onkyo (Marantz' sister company), HK, etc. Yamahas are good too.

7/26/2009 11:36:48 AM

Quote :

"Yamahas are good too."

Particularly their electronics. I don't have much experience with their speakers though.

7/26/2009 8:23:22 PM

So I went to a co-worker's house earlier today. I listened to his Beta 50's. Wow, that thing was amazing! And the amp output he said was only 45w. Completely amazing. I also listened to a Beta 10 setup he had in the "cinema" room. They sounded pretty good. I think the balance and smoothness throughout the entire range of sound thoroughly impressed me. It lacked a little bass, however, the 6.5" Beta 20 woofers should help some with that.

I see Beta 20s on sale at Tigerdirect for $129 a pair (+ like $45 shipping).

Hey dannydigtl, assuming you had neither and wanted to pick one, which would you rather have?

1) 2 Beta 20's and a =>$450 amp

or

2) MTB gloves, Camelbak, a couple bike accessories, and riding shorts?

I've got a b/d coming up and I need to pick which one to spoil myself with I enjoy biking as much as I do my music/movies...

[Edited on July 26, 2009 at 8:51 PM. Reason : .]

7/26/2009 8:50:35 PM

youre going to spend $600 on mtb shorts and gloves??

i'd take the speaks and amp over mtb crap any day of the week. w/o amps and speaks you have NO sound. w/o shorts, gloves, and camelbak you DO still have a rideable mountain bike

7/26/2009 9:47:17 PM

^ haha. I mean, i still have 10w speakers that came with the tv


Well...

Short ~$50
Shirt ~ $40
Camelbak ~$55
Night time LED lights (I do like to ride sometimes around sundown when it's cooler) $30
Gloves ~$30
Small bike pouch (for tools, spare tire, etc) ~$20
Spare Tire to go into the pouch (otherwise the pouch is useless right? ) ~$50
Emergency Compressed Air (have to fill the spare with air...) ~$20
MTB Computer ~$45
--------------------------
Total ~$340

I guess that's about all I need want now. heh.

Yeah. I think I'm going with speakers... Just because I can use it to entertain guests when they come over. Having movie nights at my place makes me feel special

And thanks for the Marantz website. I'm definitely going to buy the amp from there. Just hard deciding which one... So many to pick from and they are all great deals I didn't see much difference between the 4002 and the 5002, so I'm going with the 4002 as well. How ironic, the same one you bought...



[Edited on July 26, 2009 at 10:20 PM. Reason : OH THE IRON KNEE]

7/26/2009 10:09:01 PM