Hello everyone,
I'm practically a stereo rookie so any and all help is appreciated. I've been more of a bookshelf speaker guy for past bedroom office setups, but due to the WAF (wife-acceptance factor) I've decided on floor standing speakers for this living room effort (speaker stands are not very popular around here :)
I'm looking for:
1. An integrated amplifier, or any other way of powering the speakers that anyone can recommend instead.
2. Two floor standing speakers.
That's it. I don't want a sub unless the absolute consensus here is that I need one. This setup is not for movies or TV... my only concern is stereo music.
Here are my thoughts:
1. Stereo: It doesn't need to be an integrated amp - any method of powering the speakers is fine. In my own mind for some reason I feel like I'll get the best quality bang for my buck out of an integrated amp. Maybe that isn't the case? Open to ideas.
I realize everything at my price point has its set of compromises. I want my stereo to error on the side of sounding warm but perhaps lacking in clarity. The absolute last thing I want is an overly bright / fatiguing sound signature. I can also compromise on "features." Networking, bluetooth, digital inputs, etc... are all nice bonuses, but I don't "need" any of these.
I've heard that the Marantz brand of integrated amps might meet the sound signature I'm looking for? My only thought is that the wattage output of the Marantz models that fit my budget are only around 35 w per channel. If this was a bookshelf system that wouldn't be a problem - but is that enough for modest to average floor standing speakers?
I will likely never play records / phono input... I will either use a CD player or a DAC to feed in content from a computer. I don't want or need a FM tuner, or any sort of home theater features. Just 2 channel audio with a sub out for future-proofing my situation as a bonus.
2. Speakers: Need to be floor standing. Again, I prefer a smooth warm sound instead of an ultra-clarity-focused sound signature. I've heard that Polk Audio might meet that sound signature? I know that brand is not popular around here so I'm open to all suggestions. I don't have much experience so I don't really know what brands I enjoy and there is no physical hifi store nearby.
Overall thoughts:
My living room is 15+ feet deep, 17 feet wide, and the room doesn't have a traditional "back wall" that the waves would hit... it opens up to stairs / kitchen. It also has standard ceiling height where the speakers will sit, but has high ceilings towards the "back" of the room. It does have traditional full walls on the left / right sides, as well as the speakers will have a full wall behind them.
I would be sitting about 10 feet away from the speakers.
Having heard this description of the room - can I expect a decently rich / full sound from two floor standing speakers? I'm not a bass fiend by any stretch (prefer no sub), but I do want a powerful sounding setup. I don't mind springing for larger speakers, but then powering them becomes exponentially more expensive, correct?
My fear is that there is a myriad of excellent speaker options at my disposal, but no affordable way to power them? Again I have absolutely zero experience setting up a system for a room larger than 10x10 so I appreciate any input.
I don't want a subwoofer, but I'm open to adding one if necessary. Can anyone recommend a receiver / 2 floor standing speaker combo that would fit my situation? I'd like to set the absolute maximum budget around $1,200 USD for the receiver / speakers. By all means, if there are sleeper receivers / speakers that come in under budget that would fit the room dynamics - that is excellent. I'm not looking for exceptional quality as much as I am just trying to make sure I'm not underwhelmed by power / room dynamics.
Thanks so much!!
Hello everyone,
I'm practically a stereo rookie so any and all help is appreciated. I've been more of a bookshelf speaker guy for past bedroom office setups, but due to the WAF (wife-acceptance factor) I've decided on floor standing speakers for this living room effort (speaker stands are not very popular around here :)
I'm looking for:
1. An integrated amplifier, or any other way of powering the speakers that anyone can recommend instead.
2. Two floor standing speakers.
That's it. I don't want a sub unless the absolute consensus here is that I need one. This setup is not for movies or TV... my only concern is stereo music.
Here are my thoughts:
1. Stereo: It doesn't need to be an integrated amp - any method of powering the speakers is fine. In my own mind for some reason I feel like I'll get the best quality bang for my buck out of an integrated amp. Maybe that isn't the case? Open to ideas.
I realize everything at my price point has its set of compromises. I want my stereo to error on the side of sounding warm but perhaps lacking in clarity. The absolute last thing I want is an overly bright / fatiguing sound signature. I can also compromise on "features." Networking, bluetooth, digital inputs, etc... are all nice bonuses, but I don't "need" any of these.
I've heard that the Marantz brand of integrated amps might meet the sound signature I'm looking for? My only thought is that the wattage output of the Marantz models that fit my budget are only around 35 w per channel. If this was a bookshelf system that wouldn't be a problem - but is that enough for modest to average floor standing speakers?
I will likely never play records / phono input... I will either use a CD player or a DAC to feed in content from a computer. I don't want or need a FM tuner, or any sort of home theater features. Just 2 channel audio with a sub out for future-proofing my situation as a bonus.
2. Speakers: Need to be floor standing. Again, I prefer a smooth warm sound instead of an ultra-clarity-focused sound signature. I've heard that Polk Audio might meet that sound signature? I know that brand is not popular around here so I'm open to all suggestions. I don't have much experience so I don't really know what brands I enjoy and there is no physical hifi store nearby.
Overall thoughts:
My living room is 15+ feet deep, 17 feet wide, and the room doesn't have a traditional "back wall" that the waves would hit... it opens up to stairs / kitchen. It also has standard ceiling height where the speakers will sit, but has high ceilings towards the "back" of the room. It does have traditional full walls on the left / right sides, as well as the speakers will have a full wall behind them.
I would be sitting about 10 feet away from the speakers.
Having heard this description of the room - can I expect a decently rich / full sound from two floor standing speakers? I'm not a bass fiend by any stretch (prefer no sub), but I do want a powerful sounding setup. I don't mind springing for larger speakers, but then powering them becomes exponentially more expensive, correct?
My fear is that there is a myriad of excellent speaker options at my disposal, but no affordable way to power them? Again I have absolutely zero experience setting up a system for a room larger than 10x10 so I appreciate any input.
I don't want a subwoofer, but I'm open to adding one if necessary. Can anyone recommend a receiver / 2 floor standing speaker combo that would fit my situation? I'd like to set the absolute maximum budget around $1,200 USD for the receiver / speakers. By all means, if there are sleeper receivers / speakers that come in under budget that would fit the room dynamics - that is excellent. I'm not looking for exceptional quality as much as I am just trying to make sure I'm not underwhelmed by power / room dynamics.
Thanks so much!!