Best stereo setup

[Skyryder]

Just been reading another thread where speakers came up in the discussion and got me thinking whats the very best stereo setup.

This will probalbly branchout into home theartre and full blow inbuilt systems well go for it but I'm more interested in a standard stereo system. So what's ya pick??

SPEAKERS
AMP
DVD
TURNTABLE

From mid price up to top end. It's just that I'm going to upgrade soonish.


Skyryder

[Tank]

Cant go wrong with anything from Dick Smith.

[Usarka]

You talking types of components, or brands/models?

If the latter, then what's your budget? Eg for speakers I'd love to listen to these puppies but at £5,000 (yep pounds) you'd hope they are good.

[bungbung]

That looks pretty bizarre, more about form than function. How could they possibly work well given the proximity of the driver edge to the edge of the baffle?

[Usarka]

Form and function! Removing the cabinet frees up the sound. Not sure about the proximity to the baffle, but the 60kg (each) weight may have something to do with it....? http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Jamo-R909/

[Headbanger]

Lets talk about cables......

[scissorhands]

I have old sterios, they dont have digital displays or remotes but sound fab and are cheap.

about 10years ago sound quality on home units became secondary to styling

[KiwiGs]

Niam D/A converter
Perreaux pre amp
Niam mono block Power Amps x2
Rotel CD player
Royd floor standers
Any good interconnects
I don't have any vinyl so I don’t know about turn tables....

[Usarka]

If you want stereo only, get a stereo amp not a home theater system. Dollar for dollar you get better quality for the two channels.

Now about these cables........

[Tank]

Now about these cables........

A couple of options here: http://most-expensive.net/audio-cables

[Headbanger]

Personally I have no idea what high-end audio components are the best, as far as I'm concerned its a case of diminishing results as the money scales upwards at a ridicules rate, at which time brand wankery rears its head.

My setup I bought off trademe for $300, I looked into it and it cost about $2500 to $3000 when purchased new, Amp,CD player are Onkyo, Speakers are Infinity 61 Mk II's, The rear and centre speakers just something I had from another system. It runs off a PC (via toslink) that according to its specs has an HD audio chipset (though I can't imagine I have any HD audio media, Its not something I have looked into) and its in a room that was purpose built for use as a home theater, all walls and ceiling packed with insulation and I have a row of big arse chairs along the back wall, with one giant super comfortable uber chair that I reside upon.

To say it cranks is an understatement, Its the best system I personally have ever heard whether it be movies or music, Though I'm thinking it may have started to sound a little shrill recently, (Though that's probably as I was playing with settings that I have no idea about) I have no doubt that audio-wanks would listen to it and consider it crap, Lmfao.

Since then I have replaced the amp with a more modern Pioneer unit so I can have DTS, Still sounds awesome, and moved the Onkyo amp into the lounge and paired it up with a set of Wharfdales, For that setup I have the House PC, Xbox 360,and DVD player all feeding the TV via HDMI , and teh TV feeds the audio back to the Amp via toslink cable. This system is let down by the speakers but still blows away the TV speakers and its not an environment suitable for thundering bass or high volume. Though when I can afford it I will look into improving it, One of the speakers has failed so they will be getting replaced, I'll go cheapish again so may beef it up with a sub, But then again, I fuckin hate subs.

Speakers in my Home Theater

Specifications
Type Floor standing loudspeaker
Power handling 175 W
Weight 20.5 kg
Audio Section

* Number of Speakers : 4
* Impedance : 8
* Power admitted (W) : 175
* Boomer : 2 x 170 mm, Polypropylène

Audio Performances

* Bandwith : 30 – 20000Hz
* Sensibility (dB/W/m) : 90.0

Miscellaneous

* Dimensions : 254 x 1070 × 307 mm
* Weight : 20.5 kg


All cables purchased at either DSE or the Warehouse.......

[CookMySock]

whats the very best stereo setup.

How long is a piece of string? You can spend $100 upwards, and there is no best system for one person.

If it were me, I'd put a nice soundcard in a PC, buy a second-hand pair of bookshelf monitors or reference speakers Energy et al (aim for about $500) a nice direct-coupled amp, and hook that lot up. Add to that, a homemade 10" DM/DVC driver in a 50 litre ported box tuned for between 20 and 30Hz and put about 300WRMS into it. Budget for around $1500-1800.

Later add surround bits if you want.

edit: for some people it will be a computer 2.1 set of speakers with sub connected to their Ipod.

Steve

[T.W.R]

Go to Strawberrysound (corner of Falsgrave & Stevens St) check a few of their systems out.

http://strawberrysound.co.nz/

Different systems suit different applications and it's upto what the individual is wanting

[neels]

As above, there is no such thing as best, just an open ended spending of more money. I'm a cheap bastard so I built my stereo for $200ish from trademe.

Solid state discrete component Yamaha Amp, $40, with a free tape deck
Digital Yamaha Tuner $25
Already had a Technics CD player
100W Denon speakers $120

It's loud enough to keep me happy, and sound quality a truckload better than the cheapish Sony one it replaced. It only gets used for playing music, surround sound is for movies.

[vifferman]

As above, there is no such thing as best, just an open ended spending of more money.

Indeed, although it's not always about money.
#2Son built a 300W/channel amp that cost far less than even any one item from our home theatre system, yet it has far better THD figures (and obivously, moar powerr!) than our 85W/channel receiver. Good design and well-spec'd components can count for more than the badge on the front.

Sometimes too there are other surprises, like one day he was playing something on his PC and it sounded so good from upstairs I went down to the TroglodyteCave to see if he'd bought a new system or a subwoofer or summat.
Nup - his Yamaha studio monitors and rack-mount soundcard are just very well spec'd. Mind you, the speakers weren't cheap (But once again cheaper than any one item from our home theatre system..' blah blah...) He's a fussy bugger though - discarded his sound card because of some minor quality grumble and bought another rack-mount one. No wonder he's always broke...