Check out the Yamaha line of receivers and integrated amplifiers.
Also Music Direct, Audio Advisor, and this site for speaker choices.
Also Music Direct, Audio Advisor, and this site for speaker choices.
Just getting started on a budget and need bookshelf speakers/receiver now
This might work for you and is within your budget. Music Direct has the well regarded
Wharfedale - Diamond 10.2
speakers on sale for $299. You can get a Yamaha
A-S501
Integrated on Ebay for $349. I've never heard either, just an option from good companies. https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/wharfedale-diamond-102-bookshelf-speakers-pr-awfdia102blk https://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-A-S501-170-watt-Stereo-Integrated-Amp-DAC-with-sub-out-AUTHORIZED-DE... |
So you can go to a dealer, and buy new, and it will sound great because you’ll be able to hear it all first, and make sure it sounds great. Or you can buy used, and save a ton of money, but then you have to resell stuff that doesn’t work. Problem is, unless you buy local, the shipping costs are going to take most of your cash, so used isn’t much help. If you are buying local, though, then many sellers are more than happy to share their thoughts and knowledge, and that includes letting you come and listen, before you buy. That’s true of dealers too: many hifi dealers do it because they love music. I’ve gotten used kit from dealers that had upgraded their big spending clients. (I am a very little fish). Don’t rush. Unless they’ve been abused, speakers don’t really get worse with age. I have a set of 20 year old meridians and they are the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard. So that's $25,000 of speakers (in 1995 dollars) for ~$1400. I can't give you specific recommendations for Opera. But for me, buying used has been very rewarding. |