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I would like advice for a beginner.

I'm a "newbie" who needs veteran advice. I'm an ex-music teacher, ex-folk singer who is facing retirement and I didn't have a stereo. I have told my friends I'm going to buy a used system for not much money and incorporate the "dink" system. No, that's not "D-ual, I-come, N-o, K-ids"!! It means I want to "dink around" with my new hobby. I know nothing, but my motto will be "Learn First, Upgrade Later."

Presently I have purschased a factory reconditioned Yamaha RX-596 receiver($179) and a Yamaha CDC-845 demo CD changer($129). I purchased Yamaha, for the time being, because my local stereo shop guy told me they would be adequate and were "work horses." I have them hooked up to old JVC 50 watt speakers from an old bookshelf stereo system with a broken cartridge CD changer(free). Now, I can, at least, listen to music while I shop for speakers.

This is fun!!

I would like advice for speakers. I have liked the sound of stand mounted speakers better than floor speakers. The heavier bass sound seems to get in the way of what I want to hear. I listen mostly to classical, especially choral, Celtic and folk music, with an occasional slip into classic rock and bluegrass. The speakers I have most appreciated have been the B&W 601's and 602's followed closely by the Paradigm Studio 20's and 40's. Any opinions offered on those speakers or any other similar speakers would be greatly appriciated. Oh, by the way, I plan to spend $200 to $400 for used speakers.

After I get the speakers, I will have $500-$700 invested and will be listening to a good solid system. Let the DINKING" begin.

Thanks in advance for the advice.
baileyje
paulwp
585 posts
 
Another inexpensive speaker that I think you'd like is the Acoustic Energy (AE) Aegis Evo One. Very smooth and natural for the price ($300 list), and you may be able to find the previous model, Aegis One, essentially the same speaker for maybe $150-175. This speaker has plenty of bass. Those tasteless audiophiles Charlie mentions probably don't like this speaker because it isn't bright and hyper detailed like their favorites - they would say it's dull or dark. It is smoother and less detailed than an absolutely accurate speaker would be, but you don't get absolute accuracy in your price range, and it is better to err on the side of soft and forgiving, especially with inexpensive electronics.

The Monitor Audio Bronze 2 mentioned above is also good.

Get cheap stands, wood is good, and don't let anyone sell you cables.

Where do you live?

Paul
baileyje OP
45 posts
 
This is great stuff. You guys are a wealth of knowlege. I live in Northern Michigan. Any suggestions? What makes a good speaker stand? It seems like most I see in the magazines are metal. I took a friend sailing today who is an electrician and a talented welder. We were discussing how to make good speaker stands. I told him I thought they had to be heavy with no open cavities that could amplify vibrations. Any thoughts on this?
danvetc
527 posts
 
Great question, Baileyje, and another subject of controversy in the audiophile community. 90% here would recommend a metal stand where the floor:stand:speaker are all coupled rigidly with things like spikes, or the like, at each interface. On the other hand, you could take the advice of someone like Robert E. Greene, (writes for The Absolute Sound;teaches math and acoustics at UCLA; is a perfoming violinist; produced the Philadelphia Orchestra's "Natures Realm" cd; etc...) who finds that rigid stands serve to move resonances up to the speaker. He recommends DECOUPLING the speaker from the stand. Let the speaker do it's thing! Let the stand be rigid for safety, but have a little fun and try it once with blue tack, and then again with something soft, between the speaker and stand. Let your ears be the judge.

Good luck,

Charlie
danvetc
527 posts
 
Baileyje,

As to B&W speakers...if you like them, I recommend you buy them! (I was just referring to the most common complaint from those that did not find them to their liking.) Room acoustics and speaker positioning are varied, so it makes sense that opinions are differing. Home auditions are a must!

Charlie
cdc
1,822 posts
 
Also Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 are a terrific value. I found the mids a bit etched for my taste but they are exceptionally transparent and dynamic.
CBM-170.
I like concrete blocks for stands. They are cheap and totally dead. Not the best looking however.
Charlie, you are hearing bright electronics, not speakers. What is this with the bright all the time? And Yamaha, Truth, and Mackie used in pro studios aren't bright? Engineers who work in the business need speakers to be accurate as part of their job. Most audiophile speakers are pretty watered down compared to real pro-monitors.
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