Looking for “just good enuf” for garage man cave

Great question ...

Recently purchased a pair of Fluance Ai41 powered speakers; one of the many inputs is optical ... I set mine up for Bluetooth but could easily upgrade to Dragonfly dac or other input.  I think I paid 250 for mine.  Sure it uses DSP but for $/SQ very engaging, especially for Jazz! Great for office or second, third system: easy, inexpensive highly impressive sound

https://www.fluance.com/powered-5-inch-stereo-bookshelf-speakers

ideally, an AVR with front pre-out and a separate stereo preamp or integrated with ’HT Bypass’ (an input for front l and front r that the AVR controls the volume of)

No way in your $1,000 budget, so I would look for good used, and go for a pretty good video 5.1 and simply use the avr’s 2 channel mode for stereo content.

patience to find good deals on better equipment will be rewarded for years afterward. or, don’t spend much, sell/toss it all later when you do it differently.

soundbars solve space/budget/installation issues, but separate speakers will sound better.

front L & R speakers the most important if you want say 3 people wide to get a good l/c/r image, their dispersion pattern makes a huge difference, or at least have easily adjustable toe-in.

none listed currently, but these DBX soundfield 100’s were designed for wide l/c/r, perhaps use something temporarily, keep an eye out for some, or another model designed to do what they do

http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/dbx-soundfield-100-135.html

front center speaker very important to keep close to the image (just below works best), thus think about how to arrange that carefully now.

I used my very compact Bose VCS-10 for many years, surprisingly good

I just changed to a Klipsch center (version with no rear port)

I waited until a good deal on a used one popped up.

live anywhere near Plainfield, NJ. I’ve got some good used stuff on the shelves I want to move outta here with as little effort on my part as possible!!!

onkyo 5.1 receiver

bose center channel

small speakers good for rear l/r channel use (3 optional pairs: energy/boston/b&w)

I also have a 2 channel stereo receiver that has 2 sets of speaker outputs, with remote control.

close enough? drop by, look, listen, have fun, learn something that helps you with other choices now or later.

In my garage where I'm running machines and making a lot of noise I have my "retired" yamaha reciever and some old 2 way speakers that remind me of how sound systems sounded when I was in college.  I certainly don't consider this a "man cave".  my cave is where my primary system is.

I'd stay away from sound bars. 

Jerry

I’ve got some used Cambridge Soundworks speakers and a Yamaha 660-something receiver that does just fine. I can stream Pandora on it and hear it in the front yard which is fine for what it is. 

In my garage I have a Sansui 8080  JVC KD A5 cassette deck and some  Jensen JP 1200 3 way speakers sounds pretty good .