Choosing Components for a Hi Fi System


I am trying to assemble a system for my large great room to be used for two channel music only. The room is quite large (24'x34'x9') and my wife won't go for a pair of full range tower speakers so I'm leaning toward a monitor/subwoofer combination. I'm considering a Marantz PM7200 integrated amp to power a pair of Monitor Audio Silver S1 stand mounted speakers. I don't want to shake the foundation but I do want to extend the bass and free up the monitors to do what they do best (mids and highs). I currently have a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio 60 towers and she says absolutely not to placing them in the great room....they are banished to the dedicated home theater down stairs (great news for the Home Theater). I currently have a pair of Paradigm Studio 20s on stands up stairs and she is fine with their size on stands (she just doesn't like the �tower of power� look of traditional full range speakers). I�ll be using the Studio 20s as rear surrounds in a 7.1 HT system downstairs. I have a Paradigm PW2200 in the HT downstairs now and a sub of similar size would work upstairs, I have room to hide it, and she is OK with a single subwoofer. For a sub, I�ve considered the Monitor Audio FB210 or FB212, although I might be looking at a 15" Paradigm servo or 15" to 18" Velodyne to move enough air to make a presence in this room. I'm switching speakers upstairs to some more precise, quick monitors with better extended mids and highs and want a sub to match them musically. I'm seriously considering the Monitor Audio Silver S1 monitors and would need a very tight Sub to blend with their metal cone quickness. I'm much more concerned with a subwoofers ability to produce musically clean and articulate sound over the rumbling impact needed for movies.
I�m looking for any suggestions on components including: an Integrated Amp(<$1000.00), CD changer [(not DVD or SACD)<$500.00], a pair of stand mounted monitors(<$1200.00) and a musical subwoofer (<$1500.00). Your help and advice is greatly appreciated.
cookiedds
Point of order:
amplication has nothing whatever to do with speaker bass extension.

One need only follow the mfgr recommendation for min and max power. Though it is probably wise to use a little over the minimum for a sense of ease at higher levels of playback. But certainly do not go over the maximum which puts the drives at risk, while it accomlishes nothing.
If full range speakers are selected for the front/center/right channels then one sub will work fine. Linn AV 5140 speakers are very attractive and take up less floor space than your average high end metal stand for a bookshelf type speaker; they are also full range with right amplification.

Agree on Marantz comments; many better choices out there. Used Integra receivers are a good value and sound pretty good. Arcam AVR200 receiver is a good unit, too; and the AVR300 much better (but much more expensive).

Hard to beat a used REL Strata II for about 600/650; it is one of the quickest and most musical subs around. You never know it is there when it is set correctly. It also has a fairly small footprint and is fairly unobtrusive in the flat black finish. I use one with Gallo Dues (f/c/r) and Gallo Micros (rear surrounds) and an Integra 7.3 receiver with excellent results. I slimmed down from a much more powerful home theatre system with larger speakers (Thiel CS 2.2) and don't miss it a bit with this Gallo system. The receiver is good enough that I've already removed the Bryston amp I was using for the front channels and just use the amps in the receiver.

A great pair of stand mounted moniters would be Spendor 2/3; beautiful sound and fairly easy to drive with a solid 30 watts or better. These speakers do not present a difficult load so you don't have to have Krell/Levinson type gear to do a good job (although it never hurts). The smaller Spendor 3/1 is also very, very good and less expensive. Harbeth makes spectacular speakers that stand mount for a bit more money.
I used to sell the Marantz line and I've owned my share of their product. Although certainly not a bad choice, you can do MUCH better for a little bit more $$$. Check out the integrated amps from Creek. Unbelievable sound for the money. I have owned a slew of integrated amps including Denon, Jolida, Levinson, Plinius, etc. Even though I own the Moon equipment from Sim Audio presently, ( I love it ) the Creek stuff is just such a great sound for the money. Also look at the JM Lab speakers, they will quickly show the weaknesses of the B&W line which I have also owned. Check out everything for yourself and get what YOU like because everyone has their own opinions of what is good or not.
B&W makes enclosed cabinet speakers as good as they can be. The entire line is superior for what each model is. PSB is not bad either. But aesthetically, which seems to be of serious convern, the Nautilous 805 monitor is georgeous. Especially if you use the light cherrywood finish, and the dedicated stands. Bass extends to 50hz.

Stereophile rated it 'A' class when it first came out a couple years ago, then more realistically reduced it to 'B'. But it shows how taken they were with it, for what that is worth.

BTW it is not appropriate to use a single woofer. For better integration of frequency range place a sub next to each monitor, near a side wall --roughly in an arch from the listening position. By that they can be very unobtrusive, and with a sculpture or plant on top, even aestheically pleasing.

It would be a shame to power these little jewels with anything other than a distortion free amp. Examples: the vintage Hafler DH-200/220 ($200); Muse 160 ($7-1400); any ATI (probably the best value); Bry$ton (pricy), and Jeff Rowland Design Group (offers a suberb integrated model) tends to be so well built as to qualify as art. No kidding. ONe model comes with an optional plastic cover so the interior can be veiwed. Understanbly. But $8k? It shows how price is not the issue with accuracy in amps. Rather build quality and value.

BTW, to evluate other models, look for:
THD/IMD <0.1% over 5hz-50khz frequency range (the models mentioned are more like <0.005% THD/IMD)
Output impedance: <0.4ohms

If accurate bass response, and 'true to the original' sonic characteristics is not your goal, than I have nothing to suggest, and suppose that it does not then matter what you do, right.

Quote:
'Regrettably, much misinformation and outright nonsense have been spread to promote certain "high-end audio" products. The power of suggestion works exceedingly well, when listeners cannot trust their own hearing. I recommend to re-calibrate yourself frequently. Listen closely to all sorts of un-amplified sounds in order to recognize and remember natural aural patterns. It becomes an endless and futile pursuit to listen for and try to evaluate differences between speakers, equipment and accessories without a reality based mental reference. (Seigfried Linkwitz) www.linkwitzlab.com
Just past my 20th anniversary. So I've had some experiece in the WAF catagory.

My bet is its not floorstanders she dislikes its the apperance of the Studio 60's. Lets face facts on the WAF the Studio 60's score very low.

I just showed my wife a picture of the 60's to see if I was right: "No way! Those are ugly as sh--!"

They epitomize styling in speakers men would love and women hate. "Tower of power" really sums this up perty well.

My bet is show her some smaller attractive floorstanders with a real good wood finish and she'll approve.

I could be totally wrong of course. Funny thing these women :)