Hi,

Actually, I wrote a thread just the other day pertaining to this exact subject. I recommended the M-Audio Fast Track Pro It can either hook up to your computer, or serve as a stand alone Digital to Analog converter, which means you can take any cheap CD or DVD player and hook it up to the Fast Track Pro via the coaxial digital connection. Fast Track Pro is about $150

I also recommended the JBL 2.4g Wireless speaker system. You can connect your Fast Track Pro directly to the speakers or you can use the included wireless transmitter to situate your speakers across the room without running wires to the speakers.
JBL 2.4g is about $175

If you want a bit more power, look into Mackies like the Mackie MR8 which runs about $200

For this price, I recommend self powered studio monitor speakers, rather than getting a separate amp or a receiver. I think you get a bigger bang for the buck this way. Others may differ in their recommendations.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Well you are not going to get bass with those JBL actives. I'll take a stab at this as it sounds like you are not striving for high fidelity but a certain sound.

Harman Kardon HK3485-Z 120 wpc Stereo Reciever $230
Good powerful amplifier section, decent phono stage and input for an iPod.

Oppo DV-980H Universal DVD Player $170
Plays CDs, HDCDs, SACDs, DVD-As and is a great upconverting DVD player.

Insignia

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Will blow away that Sony crap.

Wow, that

Hi 88 and welcome to the forum

I'm going to take a stab at trying to answer your question but first I have to ask you a couple of questions. Once we (me and the other forum members) have the answers to these simple questions we can provide you with much more useful advice.

First, what is the main source for your music? CDs, radio, computer, iPod, etc. Without knowing where your music is coming from it's difficult to recommend the proper type of equipment. For example both a receiver and a DVD/CD player have been recommended and if you don't listen to the radio (or listen to the radio via your computer) there's no need for a receiver. In addition if you don't use CDs then why spend money on a CD player. Spending your money only what you absolutely need will mean you can maximize your bang for the buck.

Second, would you rather spend your money on good quality equipment that you can use for several years and add to and grow with or on some equipment that you'll just be embarrassed about once you leave college (that my nice way of saying that the Sony systems are somewhat less than desirable)?

Third, do you need or even use surround sound or will plain old 2 channel stereo be enough to rock your world?

Finally, besides your room being 20'X20', what else you can tell about it? Such as what floor is on, what type of construction and odd features (like sloped walls or ceiling, niches, etc.) This is useful because if you really want LOTS OF BASS you going to need a subwoofer and getting good sound from subwoofer is very much room dependent.

Get back to us with answers to these questions and I'm quite sure that we (the helpful members of this forum) can and will put together a sound system at or under your budget that will rock the house.

Hi

There is a great answer to your needs, Cerwin Vega.

They make great speakers that will blow you away, if you shop on ebay you will pick up a great set for $3-400

http://cgi.ebay.com/CERWIN-VEGA-LS-12-Fl...%3A1%7C294%3A50

Now these are not the last word in refinement but they will blow you away with power and energy, they are also extremely efficient which means you can buy something like a nice NAD C715 all in one unit for around $400 bucks that will give you CD, radio and a great sound.

So for $700 ish you will have a kick ass system that will blow your ass out of your bedroom, when you get old and fuddy like us lot you can sell the speakers and buy some nice bookshlef monitors for the jazz you will be listening to.

If there is one thing that you have to take away from this forum its that the wattage of the boom boxes you are looking at is fiction. Its an instant peak that if real amps were measured that way would be like 20,000 watts. teh Nad at 30-40 watts will blow away any 1000 watt claims of a boom box.

Alan

I apologize. But I heard one of those systems and they are harsh with overemphasized mid-bass, not real bass. I guess I also should have put one of these with my crap comment. The Cerwin Vegas are a great idea. That 15" woofer will move lots of air and with a 95dB/1w/1m sensitivity they won't take much power to get good sound levels in a 20'x20' room. Could even get a $90 Sherwood RX-4105 stereo receiver that would have more power than that Sony.

$700 is not going to do it. Even if you search for "legacy" equipment. Just go to Best Buy and pick all your components to fit your budget. Or something like that. When you graduate and get your own place and starting making some $$$ you can upgrade. We've all been down that road.

Subwoofer. Big one. Speakers with 90db sensitivity or higher. The rest won't matter that much.

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This guy understands me completely, thanks for the consideration.

I really like the looks of the Cerwin Vega VE-15F, not to mention the 15" woofers. I'm assuming that I would have no need for a separate subwoofer if I did go with these? Probably a stupid question but again, lack of expertise in this subject.

I also really like the looks of the Harman Kardon HK3485-Z. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but the ability to connect directly to an iPod is also a HUGE plus for me given that I will only be playing music through my computer/iPod. And it would be able to take full advantage of the massive woofers on the Cerwin Vega's?

That brings up another question; is the CD receiver necessary in any way? I haven't purchased a CD in many years so I would have no use for one.

Also, here are a few things that I failed to mention in my first post that probably need to be addressed:

1. My music will come from 2 sources: iPod Touch/Computer
2. The bedroom is about 20x20, concrete floors. The bedroom is in the basement and the house is probably 60 years old, so the construction should be pretty solid.
3. I feel that my taste in music is very eclectic, so these speakers will be playing a plethora of genres. I listen to basically everything other than heavy metal and country. With the exception of Johnny Cash/EmmyLou Harris/Hank.
4. The room doesn't have any unusual characteristics and only has one window.

Again, thanks to everyone that has posted. You guys have been very welcoming and helpful.

Now we're getting somewhere. Thanks providing the above information.

Okay to answer your questions.

First powered subwoofer versus speakers with big woofers: in order to move and control big woofers one needs lots of power and good, clean distortion free power from an amp costs money. On the other hand powered subwoofers usually use an amp which is specifically made to pump out lots of power but in a very limited range (the bass region) and these types of amps cost much less than a good and powerful full range amp. There are pluses and minuses with each method but the powered subwoofer with bookshelf speakers and a modest amp will give one a better sounding system then a pair of speakers with big woofers driven by a cheap but powerful amp in the price range you're aiming for.

Second, since your music comes from either a computer or an iPod you can safely dispense with the idea of a receiver and focus on getting something that will accept these two inputs. I would suggest either a pair of self-powered speakers plus a powered subwoofer or some type of iPod docking system that comes with a subwoofer out and an auxiliary line in (for the feed from the computer).

No it won't be an audiophile system but it will be a system that gets the job done at a price you afford.

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My music will come from 2 sources: iPod Touch/Computer

What king of computer, PC/Mac laptop/desktop?

More specifically, what kind of audio outputs are available on the computer?

Line out, headphone out, digital out? All three?

Tell us and we can help you get ideally connected to the receiver/amp.

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I will only be playing music through my computer/iPod. And it would be able to take full advantage of the massive woofers on the Cerwin Vega's?

Absotutely!

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First powered subwoofer versus speakers with big woofers: in order to move and control big woofers one needs lots of power and good, clean distortion free power from an amp costs money.

Yet another audiophile myth.

First, lets agree on the basics - bass in a room is all about moving air. In technical terms, that means SD (area of the diaphragm) times Xmax (linear travel).

However, neither SD nor Xmax necessarily require lots of power.

The usual reason why consumer woofers are inefficient (IOW require lots of power to play loud) is because they are put into relatively small boxes. That's both for convenience and low cost. Since when was the pursuit of audio excellence about low cost or convenience?

tdh:

nothing lasts forever. when i think of my first audio system compared to the one i have today, there is no comparison. you have picked a starting point and that is great. also, if you are going to be in this hobby, you have to trust your ears and while what others say may (including reviewers) might help guide you in a direction, the important thing is what you like. if you like the cerwins and no one else here does, it makes no difference at all. personally, i have not heard cerwins for many years and they may be different than some folks remember. good luck and enjoy.

The CV VS-120s should do you well for your initial desired use. They are relatively efficient and will reproduce substantial bass.

Let us know how your investment turns out and when you are ready to upgrade I'm sure there will be many here who will provide you advice on how to proceed.

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Did I offend someone with my choice or something?

Yes, when I tell you what to do and you come back saying your going to do the opposite it hurts my itty bitty feelings. I'm sensitive that way!

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I just want something loud for now, I'm going to get a pair of Cerwins.

Then do it. You said you wanted alot of bass and loud. The Cerwins will fill the bill.

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BUT....

There you go vacillating, again.

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Really feel as though I've been snubbed here guys.

If you really want to feel snubbed, keep hangin' round and we'll tell ya what we really think about those Cerwin Vega's!

RG