Dangerously OT: Calling all audiophiles... - Page 4

RobbyTT · 02-21-2001, 08:51 AM

The altec setup I recommended is of a slightly lesser quality (but you will pay less) and comes with a handy remote that allows you to adjust volume, mute, treble, bass and switch between straight stereo and dobly digital...all from the remote..

JustJeff · 02-21-2001, 08:54 AM

TTinGables · 02-21-2001, 08:54 AM

chillzatl · 02-21-2001, 09:01 AM

strawtarget · 02-21-2001, 09:03 AM

I don't mind going all-out... I spend 60 hours or so a week in my home office listening to music... and about 2 hours a week listening to the _real_ system in the living room.

Basically what I've learned from this thread so far is that I have two choices....

Keep my plain-jane soundcards and get a PC-based klipsch or Altec ADA880R speaker system. I see I can get the ADA880R package for $129 locally... not bad! The klipsch is much higher powered, but the altec has the remote control so I don't have to stand on a chair to adjust volume. Pretty good deal... I could surely get away for under $200 with the cable and everything.

OR

Get a $70 soundcard, use the well-spoken-of JVC theater-in-a-box as a receiver and speakers. This would be a higher quality setup, right? Plus I'd be able to listen to the radio, which would be a bonus. But this would be pushing $450 or so. Would the difference be worth the extra bux?

Thanks... I'm really glad so many knowledgable people have responded to my question! I think I'm going to end up with something good.

BTW... how far away from you are your altec sattelites? Mine will be at the 4-corners of a 10x12 room. Is that too far?

TTinGables · 02-21-2001, 09:03 AM

ago. The signal "quality" from a PC does not matter when it comes to loudness. It is signal-to-noise ratio that matters. An LP puts out about 45-55 Db, a cassette 50-60 Db, and a CD is around 90Db and up. The higher the number, the louder it will sound given the same amplification.

You cannot design an amplifier to "work better with cleaner signals", an amplifier can be designed to work better when presented with certain ohm loads, but that's it. The amplifier does not and cannot differentiate between the "cleanliness" of the signal.

Sound from a PC source will be fine, from an amplitude level. Amplifiers will not amplify hum, unless the hum is already on the music.

All your other concerns about

chillzatl · 02-21-2001, 09:26 AM

The klipsch does not have a digital input though, just in case you weren't sure of this.

Tx2 · 02-21-2001, 09:34 AM

TTom TTR · 02-21-2001, 09:48 AM

...ones at Best Buy usually suck.

But My ES Pre-Amp is the best thing I've ever heard (for it's price point)

strawtarget · 02-21-2001, 10:35 AM

About the same price as the klipsch set, but with a major bonus... remote control. I would have went with the ADA880 set but the STEREOx2 mode on the 885 is worth a lot to me. The klipsch is much higher powered and perhaps even higher quality, so the creature comforts are a tradeoff I guess.

On the downside, my local Best Buy stocks the klipsch speakers and I could have gotten them today. I had to order the 885's from the sole US distributor... Dell. Funny... I'm in Austin and Dell is in Austin but they are still going to deliver it using ancient 4-6 business day methods! So I had to pay shipping+tax. I wish I could just go pick it up.

Once again... thanks to everyone for your help. I learned tons about this stuff.

02-21-2001, 08:51 AM	#31
RobbyTT Senior Member Account #: 6301 Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 5,761	If that is a concern.. The altec setup I recommended is of a slightly lesser quality (but you will pay less) and comes with a handy remote that allows you to adjust volume, mute, treble, bass and switch between straight stereo and dobly digital...all from the remote.. __________________ RobbyTT Honorary TT Gurl member ;) Los Angeles, CA

02-21-2001, 08:54 AM	#32
JustJeff Elder Member Account #: 2847 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 21,786	well, personally, I don't like their amps either, TV's - that's diff. - I luv Sony TV's __________________

02-21-2001, 08:54 AM	#33
TTinGables Senior Member Account #: 4929 Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 7,627	Of course if money is no object, the best by far in office/computer speakers is: Evett & Shaw __________________

02-21-2001, 09:01 AM	#34
chillzatl Junior Member Account #: 2809 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,704	yeah, that could be a hassle in that situation, to correct the price they can be had for about 275.

02-21-2001, 09:03 AM	#35
strawtarget Member Account #: 7 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,504	So the BEST setup would be a $70 soundcard with a short digital cable and a JVC theater-in-a-box? I don't mind going all-out... I spend 60 hours or so a week in my home office listening to music... and about 2 hours a week listening to the _real_ system in the living room. Basically what I've learned from this thread so far is that I have two choices.... Keep my plain-jane soundcards and get a PC-based klipsch or Altec ADA880R speaker system. I see I can get the ADA880R package for $129 locally... not bad! The klipsch is much higher powered, but the altec has the remote control so I don't have to stand on a chair to adjust volume. Pretty good deal... I could surely get away for under $200 with the cable and everything. OR Get a $70 soundcard, use the well-spoken-of JVC theater-in-a-box as a receiver and speakers. This would be a higher quality setup, right? Plus I'd be able to listen to the radio, which would be a bonus. But this would be pushing $450 or so. Would the difference be worth the extra bux? Thanks... I'm really glad so many knowledgable people have responded to my question! I think I'm going to end up with something good. BTW... how far away from you are your altec sattelites? Mine will be at the 4-corners of a 10x12 room. Is that too far?

02-21-2001, 09:03 AM	#36
TTinGables Senior Member Account #: 4929 Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 7,627	Sorry, but new receivers aren't any different, amplifier-construction-wise, from those made 20 years ago. The signal "quality" from a PC does not matter when it comes to loudness. It is signal-to-noise ratio that matters. An LP puts out about 45-55 Db, a cassette 50-60 Db, and a CD is around 90Db and up. The higher the number, the louder it will sound given the same amplification. You cannot design an amplifier to "work better with cleaner signals", an amplifier can be designed to work better when presented with certain ohm loads, but that's it. The amplifier does not and cannot differentiate between the "cleanliness" of the signal. Sound from a PC source will be fine, from an amplitude level. Amplifiers will not amplify hum, unless the hum is already on the music. All your other concerns about __________________

02-21-2001, 09:26 AM	#37
chillzatl Junior Member Account #: 2809 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,704	sounds right, but the speaker quality on the jvc isn't going to be close to the klipsch The klipsch does not have a digital input though, just in case you weren't sure of this.

02-21-2001, 09:34 AM	#38
Tx2 New Member Account #: 9440 Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 324	Visit "www.hifi.com" Cambridge Soundworks is excellent !!!! __________________ Future '03 Allroad Burgundy/Grey '01 225QC, BB/Ebony, Premium, Bose Forge DV TT Caps

02-21-2001, 09:48 AM	#39
TTom TTR Member Account #: 3176 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 3,399	Well, my Sony E9000 ES would disagree with you on the Pre-Amp area. However, the all-in-one cheap.. ...ones at Best Buy usually suck. But My ES Pre-Amp is the best thing I've ever heard (for it's price point) __________________ Tom Boucher Wake Forest, NC ---- Formerly 2004 A4 3.0 CVT Cabriolet Formerly 2001 Audi TT Roadster

02-21-2001, 10:35 AM	#40
strawtarget Member Account #: 7 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,504	THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!! I ordered a set of Altec ADA885's (the THX ones). About the same price as the klipsch set, but with a major bonus... remote control. I would have went with the ADA880 set but the STEREOx2 mode on the 885 is worth a lot to me. The klipsch is much higher powered and perhaps even higher quality, so the creature comforts are a tradeoff I guess. On the downside, my local Best Buy stocks the klipsch speakers and I could have gotten them today. I had to order the 885's from the sole US distributor... Dell. Funny... I'm in Austin and Dell is in Austin but they are still going to deliver it using ancient 4-6 business day methods! So I had to pay shipping+tax. I wish I could just go pick it up. Once again... thanks to everyone for your help. I learned tons about this stuff.

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