Sound system

[GoGeTa006]

Im trying to get myself a nice sound system to listen to my nodame cantabile OST. (and some hardcore trance)

anyways. . .I was wondering who are the "Best" out there. . .I know Bose is really good (but overrated) but also bose is quite xpensive. . .so I wanted to know who are the best (regardless of price. . .for when i grow up to be rich and famous) and who are the "for-people-with-a-budget" best.

I was thinking of getting myself a VIZIO soundbar that right now is going on clearance where I work (searS) theres only the floor model left and its going for 100 bux. . .it has the soundbar and the subwoofer. gonna hook it up to my PC/TV . . .

[molbjerg]

I've got an old Technics "new class A" amp(worth ~$300?), linked to Mordaunt Short Aviano 1's ($400)...

I wouldn't want anything that plugged straight into a computer really, old school amp and proper 2.0 speakers for me every time.

I can listen to music loud enough that I don't want it any louder, without any loss of clarity, and the neighbours have complained more than once.

[sdedalus83]

If you're looking to spend $100?  Get a decent pair of headphones - Grado SR-80 or Sennheiser HD555 are reasonably easy to acquire and both would work well for trance.

Eventually get an E-MU 0404 USB soundcard - $180.  It's got a passable headphone amp, but the DAC is excellent for the price.  The only way you'd do better is to build your own.  If you're willing to do modifications, the DAC's power supply can be completely isolated from the computer, removing all of the noise typically associated with computer audio.  Without the mods, it's on par with most sub $500 cd players.  With the mods, it's up there with $500 - 1000 discrete DACs.

Then look for a good headphone amp - anywhere from $200 - thousands, but $200 will get you close to the point of diminishing returns.

After that, find a $200 - $300 pair of headphones you really like when paired with your system, and you'll end up with a good backup and portable pair headphones, along with a great $600 - 800 main setup.

You'd easily spend $600 - 800 on a pair of comparable bookshelf speakers, and nearly as much on a good receiver.  If you need speakers, the best way to go is the soundcard mentioned above paired with an older integrated amp like the one molbjerg mentioned.  Find a decent pair of factory seconds or closeout bookshelves at a place like Saturday Audio or Frys.

Bose doesn't even make it into the category of "Would recommend to my worst enemy".  My $20 Koss KSC75 headphones sound better than anything Bose currently produces.

[mgz]

biggest problem with having REALLY FUCKING NICE audio equipment is you need IMPECCABLE quality audio files or source materials. Otherwise you hear every fucking flaw

[BuriaL]

I got 4 of these in black. Without the "feet".
http://www.patos.no/patos/page.php?2

Not sure if i made a bargain, or if theyre a sligtly different model than on this website.
That website says the price is 2200NOK(USD $371) for a set. I bought mine for 495NOK(USD $84).

And i got this.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665788586

Seems to be really cheap in the us.


Its nothing fancy, but it works.

[GoGeTa006]

so what cha think bout that vizio soundbar?

I was thinking about the headphones. . .ATM i have some skullcandy with bassbooster (requires additional batteries. . .sounds sick). . .and well for the trance My files are quite large. . . the nodame cantabile OST 220 kbps. . . AFAIK thats good

and well. . . thing is also I would like to use it to watch movies (since my TV is hooked to the pc). . .and well the bathroom is right across my room so whenever the house is empty i take my showers with the doors open. . .and my super sound system (I currently own an iLamp ) is feeling. . .flat. . . doesnt make me feel warm and fuzzy . . .the headphones tho. . .they sound really good (Rachmaninoff piano concerto 2. . .god If i ever listen to that live i'd probably cry)

Super sound system:

[vuzedome]

Super sound system:

(click to show/hide)

WTF is taht? 

[fohfoh]

Super sound system:

(click to show/hide)

WTF is taht? 

That thing fails as awesome as Gogeta's skills at building an AMD computer.

[NaRu]

I've got an old Technics "new class A" amp(worth ~$300?), linked to Mordaunt Short Aviano 1's ($400)...

I wouldn't want anything that plugged straight into a computer really, old school amp and proper 2.0 speakers for me every time.

I can listen to music loud enough that I don't want it any louder, without any loss of clarity, and the neighbours have complained more than once.

the old amps and speakers cant never be beat

[GoGeTa006]

Super sound system:

(click to show/hide)

WTF is taht? 

That thing fails as awesome as Gogeta's skills at building an AMD computer.

. . .i got it for 12 dlls at sears (i work there) . . .and Im in electronics and seriously the 2.1 Bose sound system we sell for 600 bux sounds better than some of the 5.1 surrounds. . .thats why im saying bose is good. . .but not worht the price

[vuzedome]

BOSE is bad for your health.

[kenshin-dono]

BOSE is overated shite.

Not really sure whats good for computers. It sounds you just want something lowcost for mostly your computer, maybe TV.

id go over here and ask around. They got a lot of good info and helpfull people there. Go post what your looking for in the proper forum and you should get some good recomendations. They helped me pick out my bedroom HT and its bumpin

http://www.avsforum.com/

[fohfoh]

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/tight_attic_space_transformed_into_theater/

Fuck damn that's tight. I want to do that to my room now.

[Kuroshima]

Wow, people really don't like Bose here. I have a 5.1 set of Bose speakers myself from the 90's... I'm not really a fan of their current marketing or anything. Those speakers still work great. I'm sure you guys would agree if you heard it in person I wonder how much my dad bought them for....

As for the vizio soundbar... I never really liked soundbars never really sounded the same with a true surround setup.

I recommend klipsh and Polk. Good names never had klipsh though, I hear good things.
And Im pretty sure harman Kardon is up there.... They are in Mercedes and shiat
for desktop speakers I just have a 4.1 altec Lansing. For the upstairs movie room I have some Sony 5.1 sattellites.... The woofer is big and IMO doesn't sound as nearly controlled with Bose. (wow ithink that's grammar fail). I have some pioneer loudspeaker that is use also... With the other movie room


If you are going the heaphond route, adadaelus is right. Get good hardware (dacs amps) then good headphones.... I'd start at budget prices and move up. Unless you got the cash and want to experiment.
Hmmm for actual budget recommendations... I would go with... Maybe a a headfi total bithead/airhead (depending on if you need a dac) and maybe some grados. They complement each other.

Try headfi forums if you need more information on sound equipment.

If you wanted to start real low you can build a cmoy or something I guess..

If you got cash, I would go straight to k701/2. An ampfor that varries and is pretty much based on personal preferences (tube or ssd) it's gonna be pricey though regardless

[mgz]

i can tell you how much your dad paid for them WAY TO FUCKING MUCH.

[molbjerg]

If we're talking about good systems... Bang & Olufsen...

Personally, I don't rate surround sound systems very highly, I mean they're fine for films, and I guess games, but I have a sound system for crystal clear, loud, powerful distortion-less music.

@Naru, yeah. This amp weighs a ton. Luckily I knew a rich guy who's hobby was to go and get old Amps at car boot sales, and pay whatever it cost to fix them then resell them for what he originally bought them for, just because he knows good systems and wants them to still be floating around.

[Kuroshima]

Well if you got money you dot complain
I personally don't think they cost that much. Seriously their entry level earbuds come in at 70usd

maybe because their marketing is like apple.... Which I dislike.

[sdedalus83]

Well if you got money you dot complain
I personally don't think they cost that much. Seriously their entry level earbuds come in at 70usd

When they're worse than earbuds you can buy for $15 new, then it does seem ridiculous and you do complain.  Fuck, you can buy a pair of used Etymotic HF5s(or a new pair of ER6i) for less than $70.

[mgz]

when they are charging hundreds for mediocre headphones and thousands for mediocre surround sound units. You cant help but slam them, they are almost as bad as apple.

If you want functional for alot of cash you will never hear anyone mention bose.

[Kuroshima]

It is functional, it works well. I'm only familiar with their lower end models and they really aren't that expensive. Er6 is good/ obviously better at sound isolation.

If I take your consideration literally (with the 15 dollar earbuds/headphone point) that doesn't really make any sense

my sennheisers cx300s sound good. But still not as good as the Bose. I bought it at 30 dollars at the time (you *could* probably find them for 20, but they are 50 dollar retail from sennheiser I believe).
I feel that there are worst earbud companies out there that sell their earbuds and crazy prices that don't perform.. *cough* vmoda.