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Some advice:

1) HTiB systems are generally OK for movies, but unless you are paying well over 1k, they are not so good for music.

2) Stick with a major brand suchs as JVC, Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, etc.  Buying an off brand might save you a few dollars but quality is ass-tronomically bad, if you know what I mean.

3) Particular recommendations (Under $500):

Panasonic

Denon (My choice)

Sony

4) As with almost everything, when it comes to audio you get what you pay for.  If it sounds too good to be true, it aint gonna sound too good at all

My system is a Denon receiver with Paradigm Monitor 9 speakers, matching Monitor series Paradigm centre, and some Cinema series Paradigm rears.  Total cost? Somewhere just south of 2k (luckily I bought it all when I worked at a stereo shop!) so I realize not everyone wants to spend similar $$$.  Just please please please avoid off brands.  You might as well burn your money than expect quality and the sort of support you'll get when they inevitably break down.

I'm going to check out the Denon site now, but the web site for the Paramax is here

Thanks guys

I was actually looking for my dad who went ahead and bought this system anyway for $120.  I agree with you things that retail for $3K getting resold for $150 doesn't seem like a good investment, but my dad is stubborn and thinks he got a good deal.  He has a rather small place so it may not be too bad for him.  I guess time will tell.

Thanks for the advice

Explains the reactions to birthday music, and songs you're [not] listening to.

mrreet2001 wrote:

For best results get matching speakers

My system sounds great minus the smurfy $99 Sony speakers. They are the week link. I think all together my sound system cost around $1,400 and is average.

sturner wrote:

I don't listen to the same music that most people do. I have very eclectic tastes.

Like Im Flndern Reitit der Todt or Wildgänse rauschen

And every album made by Blackmore's Night. Black Sabbath stuff, most obscure. Ever play pro?

Yeah, mine are pretty vanilla and unvaried. 18-volume complete organ works of Bach plus a few extras like 'E. Power Biggs Plays Bach in the Thomaskirche,' Leo Kottke, Beatles, stuff already linked here and there like the Tom Rush, Big Country, Roxy Music, Al Stewart, Talking Heads, classic soundtracks... as undetailed as that digital audio post. I know nothing, just uncritically consume whatever comes out. Ya got me.


...tho I may just have a followup post or thread yet. I won't, tho, put in the effort I at least half-planned to if not appreciated; but... maybe a few denizens might be interested. And I was the only person who proffered anything, remember.

Music is life.

That's a shame. Once it's gone it's gone... tho hearing aids keep geting better, they're also expensive and don't do real justice to good sound.

(Sorry for going a bit OTT there, sturner. Sick, last post long night, hit all wrong buttons wrong time. Me, not you).

Oh well. My buddy fell for it, too. He's actually quite happy with the system so I've never called him on it.

I've been propositioned for Paramax systems several times. Twice within 2 weeks at the same gas station parking lot by 2 different people in 2 different vans. The pitch usually goes like this:

"Hey buddy, do you know anything about stereos?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. I got a deal for ya. I do deliveries and just finished my run and found an extra box in the van. If I go back to the warehouse they're just going to take it back. It's worth $1500. Here's the brochure, see? I'll sell it for like $700."
"No thanks."
"$500?"
"Nah."
"Well how much you got?"
...and on and on.

My dad has been sick with a summer cold so he hasn't had the chance to set it up yet.  I just hope there is something in the box beside rocks.   Guess we'll soon find out if it was at least worth what he paid.

D'Eyncourt wrote:

Here is one example: $500 for a 5-foot Ethernet cable. This is not even close to the most egregious example of unjustified, over-priced equipment.

This is hilarious.

Our high-end Nexo system at work uses CAT-5 for connection between the processor and mixer; but we just buy Ethercon cable which is just ethernet with XLR style barrels around the actual connector.  We did just use regular CAT-5e cable before we had the Ethercon though, worked fine.  No way they cost $500 though; that is just plain highway robbery there.

-mark