Complete newbie needing guidance/purchase advice


Hi folks-

First of all, let me apologize in advance for a lengthy post. I'm a brand new forum member after recently being introduced to this site by an acquaintance who heard I was looking for sound advice... As my thread title states, I'm completely ignorant when it comes to the audiophile world, but I really want to start building a system and learn something in the process. A little background on me: I've been making a living as a recording artist and studio musician for almost 20 years, but my career choice as a music-maker has somehow ironically detached me from the simple pleasure of just sitting and _listening_ to music for the sheer enjoyment of it. My wife and I are currently in the process of remodeling our bonus room into a media room, and one of my objectives is to at the very least turn it into a space where I can do some critical listening.

I currently don't have anything decent... Just some old Bose bookshelf speakers and a Yamaha surround receiver. The closest thing to 'something decent' that I own are a pair of Etymotic ER-4S headphones coupled with a Headroom headphone amplifier.

The big limiting factor is my budget. Given that fact, maybe I have no business posting here... I will probably need to build this piece-by-piece over time, so I'm content with having to stretch the process out. I'm not concerned with having to have the 'best' of anything; I would just really like to make listening to music an engaging and emotional experience for me like it was for me many years ago.

Would a speaker purchase be a good place to start? I was perusing the Audiogon classifieds today and saw that there is actually a pair of DK Designs LSA-2's for sale local to me. The asking price is at the top of my speaker budget, a little over a grand, which I realize is probably 'chump change' in the audiophile world. However, I've read some reviews and they seem mostly positive. Would be super-convenient to be able to find something nice that was used and local, but as I said before, I'm completely new to this. Another related question: Is it better to go with floor-standing speakers, or can decent sound also be accomplished with bookshelf speakers combined with a subwoofer?

Also, what are the other 'basic' components that would need to be purchased? The only other thing I know I'd love to have would be a decent turntable; I'd love to be able to go and purchase some of my favorite classic albums to listen to once again. Do I need a separate preamp and power amp combination? Are there any 'receivers' that do a decent job of covering both tasks?

Any other feedback or direction you experts could throw my way would be greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance!
renaissanceman9
You can certainly spend your budget on speakers first. You will have a lot of fun initially. Then, especially if you have not heard them before you purchase, one thing may happen, and a second thing will certainly happen, not necessarily in that order.

What may happen is that you discover (after the novelty wears off) that you don't like their sound as much as you thought you would. Sound systems are meant to be listened to in the long term, over months, and in that long a time you notice things that you don't notice at the very beginning.

Or, of course, it may happen instead that you find you love the speakers' sound more and more as time passes! However there will be a limit to how much your love can grow.

This is because the other thing, which definitely will happen if you buy speakers at a much higher level than your upstream gear, is that you will begin to hear very clearly the failings of that upstream gear.

Now it is a good idea to spend as much as you can when you upgrade any piece of equipment, because upgrading is always expensive, and when you move up a lot you have a chance to stay happy for a long time. And of course if you are currently using a piece of gear which is toxic to the ear, as your Bose bookshelves may be, then that piece of gear should go a.s.a.p.

But if you spend all you will have to spend for the coming year on new speakers now, remember that for 12 months you will be listening with great clarity to what is currently feeding the Boses. Depending on how you feel about that, you may want to spend a bit less on speakers now so you can get a better amplifier more quickly.
I'd start asking everyone I know about their systems, and looking for any opportunity to get a listening session. If you are lucky, you'll meet someone knowledgeable (yet humble) who is willing to help you along with your own system.

Where do you live?
You can get great speakers for $350 or less. I would look into Usher 520's. Factory direct, or used. I have heard great things about these speakers. There are many people here who are humble and knowledgeable and will help you on you way. I also enjoy the folks over on another site called AudioCircle too. Online mags are good resource as well,and fun! Tone audio, Enjoythemusic,Positive Feedback, 6Moons etc...
How big is the room? Do you own cd's?
I like the Oppo 980h cd player for pretty great sound under $150
Best of luck on your new journey!
Todd