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04 Oct 03 - 04:57 PM (#1029673) Subject: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Mudlark With great trepidation I had to totally dismantle my music system due to wall-to-wall rug replacement. Altho I took copious notes, they now look to me like something written by an insane person and I'm so daunted by all the multiple connectors, so overwhelmed by the sheer BULK of all those piles of wire on the floor that I'm seriously considering just getting an integrated shelf system, instead. The components in my current system are of various ages, but all of good quality, plus a pair of old but still very good AR speakers. What I'm wondering is whether these integrated shelf systems, with smaller speakers (less muss, less fuss, and less space), will be "good enough" in a 11x17ft room to be satisfying. I no longer play music quite as loud as I did a few hundred years ago; now my listening is mostly folk, trad jazz, baroque, and classical/other acoustic guitar, etc. I have no experience with shelf systems. If anyone im Mudland does I'd appreciate some input If I can only spend about $350 on new system, how happy will I likely be with it in comparison to the current multi-component system, i.e. receiver, tape deck, 5CD chgr, tuner, turn table. I could really use the extra room and ease of set-up, but not at the expense of substantial loss of sound quality. Thanks for any and all opinions/help. |
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04 Oct 03 - 05:49 PM (#1029691) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: GUEST,pdq Which Acoustic Research speakers? What year? Your room requires about a 10" woofer for normal loudness (obviously 2 in a stereo pair). Music of all kinds loses impact without a reasonable sound pressure level. |
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04 Oct 03 - 06:22 PM (#1029708) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: mack/misophist You might also consider your age. How's your hearing? Mine's not so good any more. |
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04 Oct 03 - 10:37 PM (#1029802) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Mudlark Guest,pdq...no designation on speakers I can see, but they are big, about 2-2-1/2 ft tall, and sound great. They are about 25 yrs old, however. They were not AR's most expensive at the time, but we went into hock for them. I don't know anything about woofers/tweeters and the like, but I suppose the technology has changed a lot since then. Misophist...lol...you WOULD bring that up. But, tho I'm going blind in one eye, luckily my hearing is still...sound. I did talk to a stereo salesman today on the phone and he said I'd have to spend at least 800-1000 for a smaller unit that would approximiate the quality I now have. Which is more than I can afford. Any other input would be welcome. |
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04 Oct 03 - 11:09 PM (#1029812) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: GUEST,pdq Dear Mudlark; I sold stereo equipment at one time can suggest an orderly approach. Start with the speakers. You may have AR 2's of mid 1970's type. They are 4 ohm impedence and are just fine. I have a large main system, but the only backup is a pair of Dynaco A-25s, very similar in size and design to the AR-2s. A friend recomends the current Phillips DVD player for audio-only CD use. About $69.00 at discount stores. Between the disc unit and the speakers you need only a solid state integtrated amp. This systen is actually no challenge to put together. |
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04 Oct 03 - 11:14 PM (#1029815) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull My advice=Buy seperate components every time, there are a few reasons for thgis= You can upgrade a bit at a time, ie buy a nice CD player now, then a good Amplifier next year, then a good Tuner [radio unit] etc. Each manufactuer is best at one thing, ie Denon may make very good Tuners [radios] for example, but not so good CD players wheras another brand will be the opposite, [good CD player, crappy Tuner] The companys that are best at making loudspeakers, only make loudspeakers. If you buy seperates, and one unit fails, CD for example, you still have, radio, tape, mini-disc etc, if you have a midi system or music centre,, and one part fails, the whole lot has to go back, and you are left with no music till it gets fixed. You can finfd good bargains, as hi-fi units are replaced each year, often whith just a slight change, ie a different colour dipslay, etc, you coulds buy "last years" model at a good saving, ie, my tuner is a Denon TU 260 11L, list price £150 , I got it from Superfi for only £70! though there is probably a TU 360 out now,! who cares? :-) The sound quality is exellent, I can get 40 radio statiuons in perfect stereo, and i have no complaints at all, i listen to the radio a lot, and i have certainly had my moneys worth out of it! Whatever set up you buy, don't forget to buy decent speaker cable, it makes a big difference, you can buy bell-wire from the hard-ware sstore for 10p a metre, it sounds crap, or good stuff from the hi-fi specialist for 1 pound a metre, well worth it.john |
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05 Oct 03 - 03:09 PM (#1030065) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: GUEST,pdq Maybe clarification of terms is in order. A "package system" usually has tuner, amplifier(s), speakers and disc player (maybe tape player) all in one box. At best it may have separate speakers. This type of system is almost always poor quality. A used integrated amp (preamp and power amp in one unit) has little to go wrong and may last a lifetime (obviously we are talking solid state type, not tube). If a radio is included in the unit it is called a receiver. A used, tested receiver made 20 or more years ago often sounds better than current models and costs about $50-75. Add the AR speakers you already own, and a $69 new Phillips DVD player (useable as CD-only, if you choose) and you are out approx $140. Think of all the CDs you can buy with th savings. |
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05 Oct 03 - 07:12 PM (#1030153) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Mudlark Thanks so much for the input. Finally decided to tackle putting this spaghetti tangle of wires all back in appropriate places. It took me a while but much to my amazement and gratification I finally managed it. I do get excellent sound quality from this system and even with my 43 year old turn table hooked into it, there is room for adding other components, if I should need them. I'm much less afraid of the set=up problems now, and can no eventually replace the good but old (so wont play all CDs) CD changer with one that I can record on as well. Really appreciated the input...virtual hand-holding! Thx again. |
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06 Oct 03 - 04:34 PM (#1030782) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Stilly River Sage I inherited a number of pieces of equipment that took a few minutes of studying before I plugged them all into the receiver. It's old enough that it doesn't have buttons with names for the things I have plugged into them, but even for it's age, it is a good design, excellent sound, and well-thought-out. But the spaghetti is really something. My plan is to design a cabinet and build it myself. The key to the whole thing will be the base, wide enough to be stable, but set on sturdy castors or wheels. I'll build a skirting around it of some sort so it will simply appear to have a clearance of an inch or so off of the floor. The reason for this? So I can turn the darned thing around to plug in all of the wires! This fishing around the back with a flashlight is a killer! (Maybe I'll sell my plans to Norm of The Old Yankee Workshop and make a little something on my design, eh?) SRS |
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06 Oct 03 - 05:42 PM (#1030828) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Bill D SRS...YES! I applaud setting things up so you can easily access the wires and plugs. Makes an amazing difference when you need to move or service something. Best of luck with the design. |
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07 Oct 03 - 05:38 AM (#1031099) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: s&r I spent £100 on a Digital Radio, and I'm blown away with the clarity. |
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07 Oct 03 - 09:46 AM (#1031202) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Mooh Space being a premium, I replaced my lesson studio system with a necessarily small "bookshelf" system of integrated Yamaha amp/cd/tuner and separate speakers. To this I added an older Luxman cassette player which I'm hesitant to replace simply because cassettes seem to be going the way of the Dodo. I picked up a smallish subwoofer which sits unseen on the floor and makes the system sound much better, but the room is only about 11' by 11' with an 8' ceiling. I looked around alot before I bought this stuff because I came from the bigger is better school of '70s stereo purchasing and was unconvinced about small speaker systems. Partly because I don't listem to music at the same loud levels that I did in my 20s, and because my tastes have evolved a little, I'm more than satisfied with the present gear. Speaker technology IS better nowadays, and the subwoofer serves me well. I'm not done tinkering with speaker placement yet, but the sub can sit almost anywhere and not screw up the audio field. The thing that got me was that this still sounds better (headphones proved it to me) than my older but much bigger previous gear. I think the amps and players of today are better sounding than they were 10 years ago. My heart still skips a beat when I visit a high end audio shop, but for under a grand Canadian (tax in) I did well. If I had the space and cash I would have bought discrete components, but having neither I still satisfied. Peace and good luck. Mooh. |
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07 Oct 03 - 06:58 PM (#1031456) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Burke The best stereo purchase I ever made was a shelf system. I think it's O'Sullivan. It's just wide enough for all components. On casters. The shelves are all fixed. Top to bottom: CD changer,Receiver, (both of these are eye level), Turntable area, tape deck, LP storage area. It's easy to roll out from the wall to get at the wires, then roll back. I never seem to play my LP's so a reuse of those areas might be in order. The tape deck & CD changer are the newest pieces. The receiver & speakers are the ones I bought 25 years ago. For FM reception, I use really old "rabbit ears." The AM radio reception is not great. The receiver is so old it has no presets & no remote. If there's a brand that's especially good, I'd like to hear about it. I'm in the US. If I can figure out where all the wires go, anyone can! |
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07 Oct 03 - 11:52 PM (#1031574) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Stilly River Sage I've seen some of those O'Sullivan and other units for sale in Home Depot and Lowes in the States. They aren't in the size and number of shelves I want; I considered buying an old armoir and putting in shelves and castors, but they typically saw a big hole in the back and for all of the modifications I would make, I'd hate to saw a hole in it. I also would like a shelf or area in the unit for placing a television, because mine is integrated in with all of the other pieces (the early version of "home theater" is regular television channels or a movie through the VCR playing out my stereo speakers). That's why I'll probably end up building it myself. But thanks for the head's up on the brand--I'll go look at them next time I'm over at Lowes and see what they use for wheels, what the thickness of the boards is, and what kinds of joints on the shelves. SRS |
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08 Oct 03 - 03:46 AM (#1031633) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: Mudlark Stilly...count me in on your turn aroundable component cabinet. My back was killing me by the time I finished with the whole system. Castors a very good idea as well. I had a terrible time humping the heavy rec'd cabinet, solid, all wood, loaded up with all the components, into a corner w/only one inch to spare. It does have great record storage tho, and having to move all my LPs got me to playing them all again...which has been great payback for all the work. There is a slight buzz in the turntable however...maybe needs grounding. Burke, will keep in mind an O'Sullivan unit in case I remake this decision at some future time. Having saved myself a hefty re-installation fee, which is burning a hole in my pocket, I'm now seriously thinking about getting a JVC CD unit w/mic jack and am wondering if anybody has made personal CD's w/ one of these? |
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08 Oct 03 - 10:00 AM (#1031755) Subject: RE: BS: Integrated vs component stereo? From: EBarnacle1 Getting back to the speakers, there is no reason you cannot go to an audio store and get individual speakers to replace the shot components. This will allow you to put your money where you need to. Even though crimp on/slide on fittings are currently popular, there is no connection like a solder joint. Once I got past the angst, it was very easy to solder joints. |