Getting Started

I have to get a playstation first!

Welcome! There’s tons of great info here already and if you get familiar with the Audiogon search engine on the title page, you will be able to unearth immense pages of info on all sorts of aspects of the audio hobby.

You might even find stuff and people in or near your own area by using the zip code search function!

Checking out Virtual systems pages for ex will reveal already done setups that work well … the caveat here is always this… it’s your ears, and your bucks which will ultimately decide. Not all ears are alike, nor are personalities listening preffs, musical preffs, and so forth.

It’s too bad your initial steps into your local shop were as stated. It’s not too uncommon I’m sorry to say. That idiotic stance of some high end joints is always a poor face for the industry at large and to those folks who are interested in getting into it on what ever level. Must have been some youngsters in there who don’t know how to qualify prospective buyers, and probably have little info outside what they have for sale anyhow.

The same thing happens in my area too… after ttrying numerous times to buy and deal with them, I’ve given up and glad to say I was pointed here. Of the four places only one could get my business and he’s about 100 mi. round trip.

I’ve gotten some interest lately about the Peach Tree line of components. They make a few items, namely two of their integrated amps with built in DACs seem like they would offer you fine audio, and lots of flexibility. The top int pushes out 80wpc @ 6 ohms. Has a DAC built into it, and comes with a remote. You can add an amp later on or use another preamp later on with it. It’s small and the accounts here and online are quite positive. It ahs a good headphone side as well, and it goes new for $1200.

Being new too, it’ll take some weeks to come fully alive as well. Just about every gizmo you can think of in this past time will need lots of watts usage to breakin completely, if bought brand new! Everything! Cables, amps, speakers, conditioners, etc. if it plugs into the wall or to another device, and it’s NEW it will need break in time to be at it’s best!

Speaker systems on the other hand aren’t something I’d say one will get the most value for if bought new. There’s car like depreciation and the countless hours of run in for them, so I’d suggest some thought be applied to getting a pair of more expensive ones for much less then retail if bought preowned.

Thereby adding to the budget and performance curve of your first system.

Simply ensure a couple things:
Orig packing
Seller has very good feedback
Speakers aren’t ancient or in poor condition.
Mate well with the amp in use.

In the under 100wpc category the important numbers are efficiency and impedance. In that sized room 89-92 db sensitive speakers, with 6-8 ohm nominal imp will let you play pretty loudly with 75 – 100 wpc.

There are tables too online which will serve you to peruse for sensitivity and listening distances. These will reveal just how much power on tap is needed to provide a certain SPL at your chair, from the speakers.

If indeed $2K is the bucket to draw from an $800 pair of squeaks should retail for anywhere from 1200 -2000 depending upon condition and age.

Impedance is the real deal when adding speakers to amps. Many posted numbers don’t always reflect the true impedance curve of the loudspeakers when in real world operating conditions. Mostly their numbers reflect info at precise given frequencies of usually 1K hertz… not 20, 30 or 50 where amps get tried. The other end is likewise, tweeters too require good power, but all will be well if there’s decent amounts of juice on tap. 75-150 wpc will drive a whole lot of speakers now on the market!.. to various levels of course. For that matter depending on listening levels, perhaps a good bit less.

80% of the music is made in the 1st 20 watts.

Units from PSB, Silverline, Totem, Canton, and some vintage units too, among others, all should do you well IF the matching process is adhered to with amp to speaker combo in mind.

Jacks2 gave some good ideas here already… the Virtual systems pages will shed more light… as will other discussion threads along those lines.
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also check out the owner reviews from members here too.

Check ‘em out & Good luck.

Hi Bad, and welcome! Lot's of good advice above. If you are going to use a computer as a source, why not think about an integrated with a DAC (digital to analog converter)? This might improve your sound; Peachtree audio makes well regarded units that would be at your pricepoint (esp. demo or used), Bel Canto also makes such a unit, though it is dearer. If I were you, I'd think about calling Walter at Underwood HiFi; he handles Peachtree, Bel Canto, and many others, and often has good used/demo specials. I bet a beginner could do a lot worse than going to Walter and saying, "What's the best I can do for a 2k speaker-amp combo?" I'd suspect you'd come pretty close to, or do better than, the best you could do on the Gon, without a lot of time and luck. Certainly worth a call, I'd think. John

I agree with the Peachtree comments above. Very nice for the money especially for computer-based audio. Don't forget about the Peachtree Decco. It has 50 wpc but, depending on the speakers you select, that might be enough and at about half the price of the Nova would give you more flexibility elsewhere.

Again, I'm really thankful for all the responses. I'm really swimming in info here. Question about amps and power: That PSB Image T65 has to be a serious contender at $799. If I went with that speaker, would a 50wpc amp such as the Peachtree Decco or NAD C326BEE be sufficient? Or should I stick with something more stout (such as the C355BEE mentioned earlier)?