New System for the House

Keeping the Totems, here are some short lists:
New: Rotel RA 1062, Audio Refinement Complete, Blue Circle CS
New all in one, a little more expensive: Linn Classik
Used: Unico Integrated, Naim Nait 5i (integrated and CD), Blue Circle 21.1

Exodus 641 kit speakers from Kevin Haskins at:

www.diycable.com

They cost $665 without cabinets, but he was supplying cabinets when I bought mine a few months back. Have him assemble the crossovers and all you need do is mount the drivers, hot glue the crossover boards to the inner cabinet walls and hook up all wires (push tab type connectors - NO soldering iron needed!) I built my pair in 2 hours and they sound fabulous, absoulutely on a par with $2000+ loudspeakers (I've owned quite a few commercial speakers, up to $25K/pair). Anyone looking to spend $1000 on bookshelf loudspeakers should consider the Exodus 641s. Anyone can build them. The midrange driver is truly remarkable. The woofer gives a true 30Hz bottom in-room, something very few bookshelf speakers at any price deliver. The tweeter is the Usher clone of the ScanSpeak 9700.

Integrated amp s/b 100W/Ch or higher. I use an old Musical Design D-140 amp w/ EVS Ultimate attenuators (140W/Ch), $620 used for the amp and passive attenuators as a basement system. With a Sony DVP-S7000 player($95 used) I have a system that betters some $10K range systems I've put together before. A cheaper $400-$700 range used power amp plus a passive linestage like the Axiom may save you over an integrated amp. The older version DK Design VS-1 integrateds still seem to be plentiful and in your price range. They certainly are a nice power match for the Exodus 641s, but I've not heard them.

Good luck.

JB

Rainmakers are not bad but a little boxy sounding. Go up to the Rokk's or Staff's.

Good amp would be an Arcam or Rotel as a second choise.

If you do a sub, find a REL or a 10" Energy as a second choice.

I have an awsome sub for sale used which is a Kinergetics but would not win the wife as it is ugly.

The Linn Classik integrated might work in your situation, which seems to be one in which you don't desire to make the sound system the main focus of the room. The Linn is very compact and does not call attention to itself with hi-fi nerd design or ostentatious bling. Good luck!