Sound System: Audiophiles and Audio Experts Only !!?

[RaimiTrackRecords]

OK, bear with me please...

I am really thinking of building myself a home theater for my room, which is rather small. The main use for it would be for hi-fi music (SACDs, BluRay Audio and DVDs and even regular CDs) and movies, so I don't need an iPod dock or whatnot.
I am thinking that a 5.1 system would be more than enough, however I have no idea how to "build" myself a respectable audio equipment, not even where to begin with and what speakers to get.

However, it has come to my understanding that an A/V Receiver is a must for an audiophile sound system, but yet again I don't know which one to get or certain other important specs to take into consideration.
What I used as my "home theater" system was two BOSE Companion 3 speakers with the subwoofer which really sounded amazing. It was hooked directly to my Sony BluRay Player that also plays SACD and the sound was great, but I really want to upgrade.
I also have a BOSE Companion 5 brand new in its box and have been thinking of selling these two BOSE speakers for cash for my audio equipment.

So my question is how to build an excellent sound system for my music and movies, what kind and how many speakers, what receiver, subwoofers and everything related to it.
Keep in mind I have literally no clue about receivers nor do I know the kind of sound they amplify or enhance the regular audio, so I would really appreciate details and explanations for an amateur like me.

Thank you very much in advance! I trust you guys.
Wow thanks! Unfortunately I cannot demo any speakers since where I live there are no separate speaker stores, they only demo home theaters that already include the blu ray player and no receiver and everything is just one brand. I would really like to build a home theater system with the A/V Receiver.

 

[bbt91945]

I highly recommend you go online to Home Theater Magazine and read the reviews on just about every device you will need. This will also depend on your personal budget. One thing I can tell you is that Bose is not one that is recommended at all and they are overpriced. Sony is overpriced and there reliability is not all there. Most receivers now are 7.1 and the Pioneer and Onkyo are the top brand. Panasonic has had a blu ray disc player being recommended each year from day one. For speakers I would recommend you demo them at your local retail store with your own source of music and listen only to one song on the speakers you are interested in. Look for brands like: Boston, Definitive Technology, Energy, Infinity, JBL, Klipsch and Polk Audio. I have personally used Pioneer Elite and Onkyo receivers for well over 35 years. For speakers Energy, JBL, Infinity, Klipsch, and Martin Logan. For players Pioneer Elite and Panasonic (first generation model BD-10 now over 4 years old and never had one problem. I had purchased 2 Sony tv and the last one the first HDTV in the market for $6.400 and it did not last more than 3 years, also 2 DVD player when they first came out model 7000 and 7700 both over $1,100 each and they also did not last more than 3 years. My JBL speaker was purchased in the 90's, Infinity and Energy in mid 90's, Martin Logan in 2002, Klispch in 2009. Hope this will help you out.

 

[PaulinSanDiego]

What surround sound format?

I expect to get some backlash (thumbs down) on this, but a 5.1 surround system is perfectly adequate and anything more is overkill for all but the most sophisticated home theater systems. A 5.1 format is front right/left (main program audio in stereo), front center (mostly dialog or components of the main program audio in mono), and rear right/left (surround sound, especially for things that aren't on the screen). The ".1" is a low-frequency effect (LFE) channel that is basically the bass that goes to a powered subwoofer (with built-in amplifier - the only way to go).

A 6.1 system adds a single rear center channel to the 5.1 system. And, a 7.1 system has two side surrounds and two rear surrounds to go with the front right/left and center channels. Problem is, almost all audio programming you would be playing is 5.1 (all broadcast and most DVDs). Some Blu Ray disks offer 6.1 and 7.1. And, if you only have 5.1 programming, the extra speakers are then just monophonic mixes of the rear 5.1 surrounds. So, you're just wasting money for the more expensive receiver, the extra speakers, and the speaker wires. Plus you now have to position or mount them somewhere and run all that wire everywhere.

What brand of receiver?

The top three receiver brands I would suggest looking at are Yamaha, Denon, and Onkyo. They make good entry-level 5.1 receivers in the $250-$300 range that will offer all the functionality and versatility you'll need, especially starting out. Avoid Sony audio products. Their video stuff is the best, but their audio stuff is not their forte, so to speak.

What brand of speaker?

Asking what is the best speaker is like asking what is the best tasting wine. Everyone has their own preference and you can only know the answer by listening to them yourself. That said, the only speaker brand I would buy without actually listening to them first is Klipsch. I've been experienced with them since the 1970s and have never been disappointed. I'm currently running a Klipsch Quintet surround system with a Klipsch SW-10 10-inch powered subwoofer, using a Yamaha HTR-5550 entry-level 5.1 receiver. The sound is awesome, especially the bass from the sub. It includes an individual volume control and cutoff frequency adjustments to perfectly tune the sub to any surrounds. New in the box, this setup would run you about $400 on eBay.

Where to see product reviews?

I suggest cnet.com. I would also suggest Amazon to look up and compare prices.

 

[santoshk]

check this www.russound.com/amps_overview.php out

 

[allhailzeppelin]

First off, I wouldn't be so casual with the term "audiophile". Strictly speaking, hardcore audiophiles would have separate components for everything (pre-amp, equalizer, AM/FM tuner, probably a record player, etc) and wouldn't be caught dead with a receiver. But you don't have to get that extreme to consider yourself an audiophile. And you're not "building" a system if you just mean buying a separate receiver and speakers.

Now, Best Buy will most likely have a good selection of HT receivers, and possibly a speaker set. But most of what they sell in that category are HTIB's (home theater in a box), which home theater enthusiasts steer clear of. (As a quick sidenote, NO true audiophile or home theater enthusiast has any respect for Bose. They're make overpriced, low-quality products targeted at people who know nothing about audio and think that more expensive = better. In fact, they don't even publish any real specifications on their speakers because "they might confuse the consumer".)

I would try parts-express.com. There's a huge selection of any type of speaker set you'd want, and tons of receivers to go with it.

 

[GrumpyMac]

First you have to understand that a Music system is different from a HT system.

Music - is about accuracy. Large amount of detail with little coloring of the sound by the speakers.

Home theater is about impact. An array of less-accurate, less expensive speakers but a powerful subwoofer for all the artificial sounds a movie can bring.


If I were going to setup a music system it would be:

* Magnapan Speakers (MMG-1's start at about $600/pair)
* Good SVS or HSU Research subwoofer
* Good AV receiver with 100 watts per channel like a Yamaha RX-V, any Denon receiver, a Pioneer Elite or Sony ES receiver.

For a Movie system it would be:

* SVS Subwoofer
* 5 monitor-style speakers from a 'real' speaker company (one that makes speaker building as it's main business)
* Yamaha RX-V receiver, Onkyo receiver - anything with lots of spare HDMI and digital inputs and some type of microphone and auto-calibration circuits.

".. trust you guys."

No - you really want to go to HomeTheaterFourm or AVS Fourm where the more enthusiastic home theater guys hang out. Spend time learning and reading reviews and you can probably put together a great HT system for $1,000-$2,000 in equipment. There are also guys who have taken a spare bedroom and created a theater room for cheap and others that have spent $20,000 on the room conversion alone.

You dont need to spend mega-bucks to get a good HT system. But you do want to know the difference between crap and modest-but-respected gear.

You also need to know how to set things up, adjust levels, etc. You can spend many a happy weekend for no money adjusting and getting the sound to be great.

You can also save money by assembling your own Subwoofer from a kit that you buy from places like www.partsexpress.com. - there are lots of things you can do.

My advice:

* Set a budget for gear
* Spend at least 1 month researching the receiver and speakers, (Anticipation is a part of this hobby)
* Shop around for last-years "Editors Choice" gear as defined by Home Theater, Stereo Review, Widescreen Review magazines.
* Buy spools of 12 ga oxygen free speaker wire from speaker sites like www.partsexpress.com
* Buy HDMI cables from Amazon or BlueJeansCables
* Ignore marketing companies like Bose, Monster.

Hope this helps.