small audio/video system for elderly space

I just helped my father set up a small system in his new apartment and am familiar with some of the better product choices in this category. You can put together a system that sounds good to very good including a subwoofer for between $1200 and around five grand US, depending on how much detail you want to retrieve.

The electronics and speakers already listed above are excellent choices. I really like the Totem Arros if you have the room for an extremely slight tower speaker. To the electronics listed I would add two NAD products, a Music Hall product (all at lower cost points, but pretty good for what they are), and a relatively new Naim system.

Even the Linn or Naim are not going to drive high end speakers to their full capability - so I suggest a range of modest bookshelf speakers and subwoofers below that will produce pleasing music, but also be forgiving of the electronics driving them. All the speakers listed below have furniture level cabinetry in addition to quality sound. Try out different speakers at the showroom to see what you like, you may decide to go higher than these to personal taste.

Don't forget decent speaker cables and an after market power cord. The power cord will be particularly important as the smaller power supply in these all-in-one units are somewhat hand-to-mouth, and benefit from a big hose to the wall socket. What you save on interconnects and additional power cords needed for a larger multi-box system you can invest in better gear, the wires you do need, or music and movies to play on your new system.

Some electronics to consider:

Music Hall Trio (no DVD but sounds very sweet)
http://www.musichallaudio.com/mmf_products.asp?show=true&prolook=trio

NAD VISO-FIVE (award winner)
http://nadelectronics.com/products/av-receivers/VISO-FIVE-DVD/CD-Surround-Sound-Receiver

NAD C-717 Micro (very small)
http://nadelectronics.com/products/av-receivers/C-717-Micro-DVD-Receiver

Naim n-Vi (pronounce "ENVY", most grunt in the group)
http://www.naim-audio.com/products/n-vi.html

and a few bookshelf speaker choices:

Aperion Audio bookshelf speakers (well rounded bargains)
http://www.aperionaudio.com/catalog/Satellite-Bookshelf,20.aspx

B&W CM-1 (beautiful midrange and treble)
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=1065&sc=hf

Epos M5i (new, nice)
http://www.epos-acoustics.com/products/m5i.php

Era Designs 4 (beautiful cabinet, smooth sound)
http://signalpathint.com/index.php/Design-4-Series/

Era Designs Flat Panel Series (different)
http://signalpathint.com/index.php/Flat-Panel-Series/

Focal Chorus 806V (very efficient and live sounding)
http://www.focal.tm.fr/

Monitor Audio Radius 90 (tiny)
http://www.monitoraudiousa.com/product.php?range=4&product=25

Monitor Audio Bronze 1 (good bargain)
http://www.monitoraudiousa.com/product.php?range=8&product=55

Totem Acoustic Rainmaker (wide dispersion, lively)
http://www.totemacoustic.com/products/compact/rainmaker/

Usher S-520 (get it on at an affordable price)
http://www.usheraudiousa.com/products/loudspeakers/usher-series/s-520-shielded

and some subwoofers:

Aperion Audio Bravus 8D
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Bravus-8D-Dual-8-Powered-Subwoofer,104,66,241.aspx

REL T2
http://www.rel.net/index2.htm

Totem Acoustic Storm
http://www.totemacoustic.com/products/sub-woofer/storm/

Dwhitt,

I was steering you towards one box solutions. If you are interested in two box systems based on an Oppo disk player, that is a whole other deal.

If you are interested in a receiver/Oppo DV-983H system with AM/FM and subwoofer out - look at these:

Cambridge Audio Azur 540R
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=282&Title=Azur+540R+(Version+3)+6.1+HDMI+AV+Receiver

Music Hall Audio Maven
http://www.musichallaudio.com/mmf_products.asp?show=true&prolook=maven

NAD C-725BEE
http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-receivers/C-725BEE-Stereo-Receiver

Outlaw Audio 2150
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/rr2150.html

Any of these receivers paired with Oppo's best player would make a righteous combo. With the power provided by the Music Hall and the Outlaw, you could easily drive some greedier speakers. In addition to the B&W CM-1 and the Era Design 4 listed above, I might suggest the Dynaudio Focus 110 as well.

http://dynaudio.com/eng/systems/lines/focus/focus110.php.

One last suggestion:

a Peachtree Audio Decco or Nova + Oppo 981H set up with digital sound out to the Decco and using the Oppo's very good onboard video processor to your monitor. No AM/FM, but onboard DAC, 50-80W amp, tube preamp, and nice sound for between $800 and $1200 depending on finish and power output. Would drive iPod, computer and all other digital sources. Slick, Slick, Slick.

http://signalpathint.com/index.php/Peachtree-Audio-Products/Peachtree-Audio-Products.html

Happy shopping.

Dwhitt,

You can save your money on a power cord for the NAD C-717 because it has a dedicated lamp cord hardwired through the chassis.

If this system really intrigues you, you also ought to look at desktop units by Onkyo and Denon, and maybe JVC. I have one of the Onkyos on my desk at work and it sounds pretty good with the stock speakers that came with it in the box. A decent set of speaker wires and a little silclear or similar contact enhancer on the AC plug and you are in business. My Onkyo is CD only, but I seem to recall the DVD units sounded at least as good.

With that said, 20W of budget class D amplification gets the leading edges and sounds "speedy" and lively, but lacks some in terms of body and warmth. Given your audio history, you may want to look at one the larger NAD all-in-ones. Audio Advisor has the NAD-L73 DVD/CD Surround Receiver on sale for about $500 right now - $200 less than it's 2 channel sister unit the L54. I have heard this system driving Era Designs and B&W CM-1's and it sounded like music. An active subwoofer would still be needed to get movie effects or deepest bass passages right.

Maven + Arro = :-)

Dwhitt,

"Maven + Arro = :-)" means this would be a very good sounding combo (look at the last three symbols sideways, smiley face).

Yes, the Maven is a traditional receiver (AM/FM plus integrated amp) with a built in DAC for your iPod, computer, etc. You would have to add a digital source like an Oppo DVD player to play movies or CDs through the system. So the Maven would NOT be a one-box system.

The Naim n-Vi/Arro/Storm system would be a really great set up if you can swing it. I have found that Naim amplifiers generally work really well with Totem's column speakers. If I read your system page correctly, you already have the Arros so would only need to add the Naim and the subwoofer. There is a used Totem Storm subwoofer for sale right now on Audiogon. Or, you might just want to get the Naim to start with, and see if you feel you really need the added bass from a sub in your new space. If so, you can add one later.

Dwhitt,

Hope I am not harassing you (HA!). I was looking at the latest issue of TAS and noted an ad for an Oppo Bluray player. It looks way more polished than their other models - brushed black aluminum face plate. My question would be, how well does this player work with redbook or sacd's?

You know, the NAD VISO TWO DVD/CD Receiver looks better to me all the time - a little slicker looking than the Decco, and I think they really poored it on the internals of those rigs. No Bluray - but for 2.1 channel sound and a smaller monitor, you don't really need any higher video resolution than the component out for standard DVD.

How about this for a system:

NAD VISO TWO DVD/CD Receiver
Era Flat Panel speakers in piano gloss black
Era Sub 8 in piano gloss black?

Looks and sounds good. Compact. You are set.

For what it is worth, the latest issue of TAS just gave the VISO TWO one of their "Product of the Year" awards.

I have not had that much trouble integrating a sub with satellite speakers. I use a cheap Radio Shack digital sound meter, a couple of test disks and my ears to get the crossover setting right. Fooling around with position in the room is the most critical part for me. The smaller the front speakers and the higher the crossover setting, the closer the sub needs to be to the other speakers to achieve a coherent overall presentation. For crossover settings much above 60Hz, I find this becomes perhaps the key factor in set up.

Enjoy.

Dwhitt,

For some information on the Oppo Bluray player (apparently not released yet), click hear and read 12/12/08 post:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?bhome&1228640920&openfrom&1&4#1

As you suggest, this may be overkill if your primary focus is two channel music listening and an efficient footprint, with video and multi-channel sound capabilities a secondary concern.

Dwhitt,

Sounds like you made an excellent choice. ENJOY!

Dwhitt,

Would be interested in system review and pics once you get settled.

Dwhitt, that sounds impressive. Nice to have the opportunity to build system from behind the walls and from below the ground up!