Paradigm Atoms? and what reciever?
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CollegeTex Unregistered guest | I am a college student who plans to buy my first receiver and speakers. As you probably could guess, I don't really have that much money to spend. However, I want to buy a decent pair of speakers that will last me well beyond college. I have done some research online and the Paradigm Atoms are looking pretty good to me although I have no idea what kind of reciever to buy yet. I also hope to add a sub, maybe the PDR-8 or PDR-10. I want them mostly for music, but they will be hooked up to my tv too. Is this a good idea? A 20' x 12' is small enough for the Atoms right? Any suggestions? |
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Bronze Member Username: QuinnPost Number: 72 Registered: Aug-05 | What is your total budget? It mey be better to combine your speaker and sub budget for better speakers. The only real competiton at the >$200 price range for the Atoms is PSB Alphas. But step up to $300-350 and you can get a heck of a lot more speaker. |
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Bronze Member Username: Raj_pEvanston, IL USA Post Number: 23 Registered: Oct-05 | Also, I'm not sure what price you can get the PDR subs for but for a GREAT budget sub I'd look to partsexpress.com and go for a Dayton 10" or 12" sub. |
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CollegeTex Unregistered guest | So I want to spend less than $800-900 on speakers, reciever and sub if necessary (Quinn, you're suggesting that I just get better speakers with better bass right?) What speakers would I buy that would make up for a sub? Also, I plan to get a stereo receiver because I don't need surround. Would a Denon or Harmon Kardon receiver work in this situation? |
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CollegeTex Unregistered guest | I was reading some posts on this site about Dayton subs and it seems like the Dayton sub is much better for HT than music. Any thoughts? I'm willing to sacrifice some depth and loudness for clarity. |
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Bronze Member Username: Raj_pEvanston, IL USA Post Number: 25 Registered: Oct-05 | Well in your budget there isnt going to be a good sub for clarity. You'll have to spring for a sealed sub...something like a Rocket ULW-10. As far as tightening up the Dayton 10" you could always get a Behringer Feedback Destroyer. But honestly as far as budget subs go I liked the Dayton for music as well. Cant be beat. |
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CollegeTex Unregistered guest | Ok, thanks a lot. Any advice on receivers? |
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CollegeTex Unregistered guest | Ok, thanks a lot. Any advice on receivers? And any guidelines on how much I should spend on a reciever relative to the cost of my speakers? |
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Gold Member Username: T_bomb25Dayton, Ohio United States Post Number: 1197 Registered: Jun-05 | Are you planing on home theater or just 2 channel stereo. |
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CollegeTex Unregistered guest | 2 channel |
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Silver Member Username: BritthoFrisco, TX USA Post Number: 110 Registered: May-05 | CollegeTex, I have heard a NAD 320BEE with the Atoms. It was a nice combination. A cheap way to go too. The NAD 720BEE is basically the same stuff with the NAD receiver built in. The receiver plus speakers should keep up within that $800-$900.00 range and would give you years of enjoyment. You can look around to find the NAD receiver used or refurbished. Spearit Sound is an authorized Refurb dealer for NAD in the US and they should be able to ship to TX for a nominal price. Check to see while you are online there if they have a NAD CD unit as they had a 541i not too long ago for a nice price. By going through Spearit you should be able to get the Receiver for a decent discount over new. If you have any concerns about a refurbished unit click on the link provided and it will provide enough information to ease your mind. http://www.spearitsound.com/nad/C720bee.asp Personally (IMHumbleO) I would add the sub at a later time or not at all depending on your music tastes. When you have the dough go with a floor stander that should produce the low end without the need for a sub. When you go with a Home Theatre set up a sub will be better utilized.  Britt |
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Silver Member Username: BritthoFrisco, TX USA Post Number: 111 Registered: May-05 | Oh and for kicks think about the Ling with the refurb NAD as this would still be in your price range without any issue. I dare say that would be a better music combo than the Atoms for not much more $$$. http://www.us.alegriaaudio.com/Ling.htm $525 NAD refurb plus shipping +$349 Ling's =a very nice system for that $900.00 budget. |
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CollegeTex Unregistered guest | Although the name might not reflect it, I'm actually from Boston. So, I'm actually about 10 mins away from an actual Spearit Sound store. I should probably just go there and listen to the Atoms there. Thanks for the advice. |
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CollegeTex Unregistered guest | I was just looking around and I just realized that the Paradigm Mini-Monitors are just 20 bucks more than those Lings you suggested. How do they compare to the Lings, and would that be worth the extra money if I'm not gonna get a sub? |
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Silver Member Username: BritthoFrisco, TX USA Post Number: 112 Registered: May-05 | CollegeTex, I have not personally listened to the Lings however from the glowing reviews that can be found on this site they would be a good candidate. From what I have read the Lings will give you more of the Lower Frequencies that will help to save you from "having to" get a sub. There are some subs that are really quick and I can enjoy with music but most in the price range you are looking at will be too slow and boomy. The Atom works for a small room or a bedroom set up but for a larger room as mentioned in your opening post I would go with a speaker that can cast the soundstage that you are looking for without too many compromises. Read the Ling reviews here by doing a search and make an educated decision. According to the Alegria site they go down to 60Hz. There is also a good review for the Atom on Stereophile.com. http://stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/664/ The mini monitors would be also a fine choice but the reason why the Ling's are cost effective is due to the fact that there does not need to be additional mark up to sell them retail. Internet direct companies in this case are a beautiful thing. If you don't like them then email Tim and discuss other options or how to send them back. I am sure that he would accomidate. info@alegriaaudio.com Spearit Sound would be where I would do business up there if I lived in your area. Good people and good gear! If you like the NAD sound then the refurb model there is a steal. If not then HK will be a good bet as well. I personally perfer the 320/720 models for allot of quality sound for peanuts. Remember also to leave a little room for speaker cables with terminated posts as well as a good cable to go from your CDP to the receiver. You should be able to find both for around $30.00 a piece. Spearit will surely have some good Kimber Cable that would work fine that they could terminate for you. The next step for you will be a CD player which the NAD 521 or 542 can be had for a reasonable amount of dough. The Kimber interconnects can be bought at that point in time. Maybe the Kimber Hero's if they are in your price range. Have fun at Spearit over the weekend if you go. Oh and this specific set up with the Lings and NAD is my personal choice in 2006 for a second system in the master bedroom of our home. We actually will go with a L40 NAD unit though which has the CD player built in. Britt |
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Gold Member Username: Edster922Abubala, Ababala The Occupation Post Number: 2835 Registered: Mar-05 | College Tex, There is a whole slew of consumer reviews of the Lings here at ecoustics, which you should read through: https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/146884.html https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/151678.html https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/153085.html https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/165396.html It's a fabulous speaker but has its limitations, as any speaker at this pricepoint will have, and you should be aware of them going in. The receiver I would look at is the digital Panasonic sa-xr55, which IMO represents a dramatic paradigm shift in consumer audio: https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/174075.html http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=591368 ....posts #53, 56, and 57 are owners of a Denon 5800, HK7000, HK7200, and Denon 3802. This is what I'd get with your budget: Panasonic sa-xr55, $230 shipped from amazon.com Athena AS-B1 bookshelves, $100 from audioadvisor.com plus Hsu STF-2 subwoofer, $425 shipped ($350 shipped B-stock) from hsuresearch.com --- the B1s can be moved to surround duty later on when you have the money and space to go into surround sound. if you are willing/able to go just a little over budget I'd get the Ascend CBM-170s for $340 shipped from ascendacoustics.com --- these will keep you smiling for years and years to come. |
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