Help in setting up my first sound system

Start with your room size and dimensions and how you plan to use your stereo.

How much room do you have to play with in the listening room? Some speakers sound fine at about 18 inches from the wall behind them. Some need 3 feet or more. Some need 5 feet to the sides. Some don't.

What kinds of music do you favor? How loud? The solution that favors small group jazz and acoustic folk would be different than the one for heavy metal or the one for bombastic orchestral music. If you want one system that handles all equally well, be prepared to spend more money.

How do you plan to use the system? Will you primarily sit and listen in a sweet spot? Will others be listening with you? Will you have the stereo on while you wash dishes and kids and dogs run in and out of the listening room?

Do you want speakers with a wide, space-filling dispersion, or something that presents a tightly focused image if you sit *right there*?

What's most important in music reproduction--speed and clarity, frequency extension, warmth and an organic sensation, transparency, evenness of tone?

Will you be using the system with TV or home theater? Surround sound? Audio only/stereo only?

Answers to these will help narrow down your search.

The answers given above are good advice indeed. But, be honest with the type of listening you will be doing. I spent a huge amount of money on a dedicated room, high dollar system, room treatments, and was rewarded with a great listening experience. I now listen to that system about 10% of the time. In my pool (table) room I have a less expensive system that is in use the vast majority of the time. I have friends over, we eat, drink and party rather than sit in the sweet spot. If you are honestly going to be doing a great deal of critical listening, then by all means do your homework. If you will be wandering around your home with music playing in the background, just buy a kick-ass system that will rock. In any case it will be a journey you will enjoy. Have fun.

Hi Worf.
1. Set your budget!
2. Read Harley's book.

Good advise Johnnyb and Mags.
There you have it, Worf.
Now get Harleys book. You might find it on audiogon, eBay or Amazon.
Keep us posted.

Reading upon hifi will certainly give you good background info on making an informed decisions that will lead to a more satisfying listening experience at home !

Let me give you some introductory comments right away, that might answer some of your questions. Keep in mind I am not a real expert as the writers of the books being recommeded - so I would read them if you have the time.

If not, I will give you a quicker alternative - which is not as good, but better than just buying un-informed at a non-specialty shop like BestBuy, or Circuit City.

1) Pre-amp and Power-amp work together to give you electric power. Signal goes from a source (CD or LP player, etc.) to a Pre-amp first, and then to a power-amp, and then to the speakers.

2) Integrated amp is those two amps combined in one unit.
3) Receiver is an integrated amp + tuner (radio source).
So, you need one of these - either no. 1 or 2 or 3.
4) Tube and solid state amps are available (pre and power). They sound different, so you might want to hear them at your local hifi shop, and see which one you prefer.

Solid state is more convenient since it doesn't need to be biased and re-tubed now and then - you can just use a solid state amp until it breaks down, but some people really prefer tubes...

5) You don't have to concern your-self with the type of woofers in speakers, unless you are interested in how speakers are made - important thing is the sound they make, and choosing the one that y o u like - you will be listening to them, so you can get all the advices you want, but in the end, let your ears be the final judge, and choose one that makes you happy.

6) Spend about 10% of the cost of the complete system on cables - they do make a difference in sound.

7) If you really want to get good sounds at home, you may want to get a dedicated electric outlet - have an electrician run a saperate line from the fuse box. It will cost around $200.

8) Also acoustic room treatment will reward as well.

9) You might want to wait for the no.7 and 8, for now, until you assemble a good mid-fi system. See if you can live with that, and when you do get the urge to upgrade to hifi, no.8 and 9 will reward.

10) You can read reviews of gears, and narrow down your search - but you want to listen to them if at all possible before buying.

11) Keep asking questions on this sight if you have more questions before buying - go slow and inform yourself - and you will end up with a better sounding system for sure.

12) These other sights might be of interest to you as well:

You can chat alive and ask questions here :

http://gogloom.com/Audioasylum/Chat+Rooms

http://gogloom.com/search?q=hifi&network=

(download java if you don't have it already)

13) You can read reviews of gears here, as well as on the audiogon :

http://whathifi.com/BestBuys/Hi-Fi-BestBuys/Midrange/

http://whathifi.com/Reviews/

www.audioreview.com

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/

14) Some of the companies making good mid-fi gears are:

NAD, Arcam, Parasound, Music Hall, Rega, etc.

There are better sounding units within these companies, so you may want to google search for reviews, and have a listen if at all possible before buying.

I hope this helps to clearify rather than confuse you further.

Welcome to this exciting hobby - just don't get carried away with upgrade bug, and dig deep into your bank account like many of audiophiles, but keep in mind that it's love of music that got you into this hobby, and not the love of gears - although some are quite attractive I have to admit.

Lastly, if you buy them gently used here on the audiogon, you can resell them here without loosing much money - when you do get the urge to upgrade.

Good luck and I hope you find good sounds at home you are looking for without breaking your bank account - it's possible if you stick with good mid-fi system. There is quite a bit of enjoyment tobe had from it ...