Author Topic: Best Entry Level Audio Amplifier and Speaker Combo (Read 5390 times)

BigBert-2 · « **on:** Jan 23, 2007 at 10:00 AM »

I just want to know what is your best entry level Audio amplifier and speaker combination for audio purposes only before I setup one ? Hope to see your advice.

Thanks

allenwfc · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 23, 2007 at 10:04 AM »

whats your budget?

bumblebee · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 23, 2007 at 10:06 AM »

For the amp, NAD C320BEE. Very decent. Should get you started.

For speakers:
AE Evo1
MA B2
Wharfedale 9.1

There are other speakers worth considering. I just gave more focus on the NAD amp cuz I feel that in the budget level (and local pricing), it is untouchable and that those speakers are often sold in shops where the NAD amp is available.

qguy · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 23, 2007 at 10:08 AM »

We would be much helpfull to you if you were to provide a price range on the amount you want to spend, as there are huge difference in prices on entry level gears among different competing brands.

A entry level Wharfedale 9.1 loudspeaker is 5500 php whereas an Entry Level Acoustic Energy Evo 1 is around 12,500 php. A B&W would even cost more than the Acoustic energy. Both are excellent performers in that pricepoint.

5Speed · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 23, 2007 at 11:38 AM »

you must at least give your budget or price consideration...

at this hobby what you pay is what you will get...(well most of the time...)

kaseh kung talagang mura gusto mo eh merong Dai-chi/Konzert etc...na speakers to suit your budget at Sakura/Konzert amp na mura din....malamang, lets say for a budget of 12K eh me 2-speaker ka na at Amp to drive it.....siguro me sukli ka pang pambili ng dvd player (to be you source for the meantime since parang mas mura pa ang dvd player kesa sa dedicated cd player ngayon) or speaker stand.....

These are just examples........it all depend on how much is "entry level" for you......pwedeng 12K (as per example above), 25K, 50K, etc....

baka nga mapagkasya mo pa ang 6-8K kung pupunta ka sa pier at maghahanap ng pre-owned gears don.....

masasabi mo ring entry level yon.....hehehehe

BigBert-2 · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 23, 2007 at 04:33 PM »

Thanks for the reply guys. If I say I have P35K budget for a dedicated audio setup since I want to use my stock Sansui Phono and a Sony CD player. What would be the best combo setup ? Need your advice mga gurus ?

BigBert-2 · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 24, 2007 at 11:47 PM »

anymore guys ?

scofield · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 25, 2007 at 02:41 AM »

try to audition rotel's ra-04 and Dali's concept 2. for me its a great combo. ano ba madalas mo pakingan?

qguy · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 25, 2007 at 05:14 AM »

forgot to ask in my earlier post...

what do you listen too ?
how loud ?
how big is the room ?

accastil · « **Reply #9 on:** Feb 01, 2007 at 03:11 AM »

cdp - marantz 5001 / nad521c / cambridge audio azur 340c
integrated amp - cambridge audio azur 340A / nad 521BEE
bookshelf spkers - wharfedale 9.1 / Q acoustics

my recom:
cambridge audio azur 340C - 15k
cambriege audio azur 340A(40wpc) - 22k
wharfedale 9.1 - 5.5k

txtus · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 14, 2007 at 05:40 PM »

5-8K budget ko subwoofer na may optical?

av_phile1 · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 14, 2007 at 06:56 PM »

Quote from: BigBert-2 on Jan 24, 2007 at 11:47 PM

anymore guys ?

With that budget you don't have to settle for entry level stuff. If just for stereo, there are excellent flagship stereo/prologic separates at the pier Jap surplus shops that cost an arm and a leg when they were new. Sansui, Onkyo Integra and Technics come to mind. You just need to be guided when buying there and have a good techie who can recondition one. When it comes to stereo, these oldies can beat the hell out of new ones. And get at least a 1KVA step-down transformer. 10T or less could bring home a powerful flagship stereo gear. Your remaining 23T can then be allocated to some really good mid-level stereo speaker sets.

AudioAmplified · « **Reply #12 on:** Feb 14, 2007 at 11:32 PM »

perhaps stating a budget, your type of music listened to most and room size will be helpful. These factors are important in choosing gears since everything is relative to the owner

Le_Stat · « **Reply #13 on:** Feb 15, 2007 at 09:58 AM »

I was in this situation before. My advice lang is not to hurry too much and visit a lot of audio shops. It's going to take some time to decide on this but the learning process is great and you would get to know a lot of people. Just take a loot at all the possibilities, and don't forget to listen to it at your own place where it would be installed. Not all shops allow this so it would take some time to audition. Not all combo's are the right combo for the other's ear. Sa huli ang pagsisisi, which would then result to spending more money on upgrades. In the end it is you who would decide. Don't listen too much on the preferences of gears from other people, even mine.

Aside from this site, please also visit www.Wiredstate.com . This is a site that is focussed on 2 channel audio. Madaming veterans diyan on 2 channel audio who can help you out.

txtus · « **Reply #14 on:** Feb 15, 2007 at 04:26 PM »

ung Logitech Z5300 ok na rin po ba ito?

lakambini · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 15, 2007 at 06:01 PM »

bigbert-2

rotel ra-03 (if available pa) if not ra-06 (P O W E R F U L)
marantz pm7001 (Not ear-fatiguing even on long listening)
siguro if what's more affrodable sa 2, s'ya best buy. btw these models are a n otch higher than entry-level

b&w dm303 (great reviews by different media - at last they come up with a similar verdict)
paradigm-too bright
wharfedale-attractive coz of the price, the sound? d ko sya type.
MA, try audition d new bronze series, d ko pa na-try, but worth considering

rotel rcd-06, just for synergy with ra-03 or 06. has no hdcd decodong though, dont know y
marantz sa7001 (w SACD) or cd5001 (cd only)

nakabili k n b?

txtus · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 16, 2007 at 02:52 PM »

Quote from: lakambini on Feb 15, 2007 at 06:01 PM

bigbert-2

rotel ra-03 (if available pa) if not ra-06 (P O W E R F U L)
marantz pm7001 (Not ear-fatiguing even on long listening)
siguro if what's more affrodable sa 2, s'ya best buy. btw these models are a n otch higher than entry-level

b&w dm303 (great reviews by different media - at last they come up with a similar verdict)
paradigm-too bright
wharfedale-attractive coz of the price, the sound? d ko sya type.
MA, try audition d new bronze series, d ko pa na-try, but worth considering

rotel rcd-06, just for synergy with ra-03 or 06. has no hdcd decodong though, dont know y
marantz sa7001 (w SACD) or cd5001 (cd only)

nakabili k n b?

cno po b tinutukoy nyo?

AudioAmplified · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 16, 2007 at 05:59 PM »

Quote from: Le_Stat on Feb 15, 2007 at 09:58 AM

I was in this situation before. My advice lang is not to hurry too much and visit a lot of audio shops. It's going to take some time to decide on this but the learning process is great and you would get to know a lot of people. Just take a loot at all the possibilities, and don't forget to listen to it at your own place where it would be installed. Not all shops allow this so it would take some time to audition. Not all combo's are the right combo for the other's ear. Sa huli ang pagsisisi, which would then result to spending more money on upgrades. In the end it is you who would decide. Don't listen too much on the preferences of gears from other people, even mine.

Aside from this site, please also visit www.Wiredstate.com . This is a site that is focussed on 2 channel audio. Madaming veterans diyan on 2 channel audio who can help you out.

Well SAID! kailan ka mag upgrade para may negosyo naman kami hahaha. joke!

But kidding aside, the advice to audition for yourself and not trust what other's say because their ears are different from yours is right on.

Le_Stat · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 17, 2007 at 12:17 AM »

Quote from: AudioAmplified on Feb 16, 2007 at 05:59 PM

Well SAID! kailan ka mag upgrade para may negosyo naman kami hahaha. joke!

But kidding aside, the advice to audition for yourself and not trust what other's say because their ears are different from yours is right on.

Ganon ?

pag umandar na negosyo ko pwede natin pag usapan yan.

Meron ka ulit benta sa akin. Meron hihingin sa iyong parts ang Technician,

NMM1 · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 18, 2007 at 08:56 PM »

sir bigbert, i don't claim to be a guru but it would help if you tell these guys what type of music (or song) you often listen to.. there are speakers that are good for vocals etc... etc....

sana makatulong in my own little way..

BigBert-2 · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 19, 2007 at 10:06 PM »

First of all, thanks for all your replies. My room size is 4m X 5m( 20sqm) and I listen to all kind of music except Hip-hop. Hope you could help me out. Thanks again mga gurus.

Le_Stat · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 19, 2007 at 10:15 PM »

If you would go for tubes, pick an integrated 6550 tube. This would range from 30,000 - up. If you would go solid state, I suggest you try out the Japanese Surplus amps as these gives you bang for the buck. Di ka niyan ipapahiya compared to SS amps that are priced beyond your reach. Sa halagang less than 8k, meron ka nang higanteng amp.

Contact Sandawa or Oweidah for recommendations. Tapos advise mo rin ako pag meron higanteng amp na ok. hehehe.

oweidah · « **Reply #22 on:** Feb 19, 2007 at 10:53 PM »

Quote from: Le_Stat on Feb 19, 2007 at 10:15 PM

Contact Sandawa or ******* for recommendations. Tapos advise mo rin ako pag meron higanteng amp na ok. hehehe.

******* - rascal101, lordfoo, southpeak, dana, parasmi - yan ang mga vintage experts just to name a few. balato lang ako sa mga latak nila

lyndon · « **Reply #23 on:** Feb 22, 2007 at 11:45 PM »

rotel RA 06 + RCD 06 w/ a B&W 602S3 speaker wat a wonderful combination. sarap pakinggan very clear and also musical. but dont forget to used a good interconnect. i used XLO ultra 1

newbie pa rin · « **Reply #24 on:** Feb 23, 2007 at 12:47 AM »

Quote from: malaya_grp on Feb 22, 2007 at 11:45 PM

rotel RA 06 + RCD 06 w/ a B&W 602S3 speaker wat a wonderful combination. sarap pakinggan very clear and also musical. but dont forget to used a good interconnect. i used XLO ultra 1

Sir how about kung iyung HK nyo ang ginamit nyo dito?
Did you try comparing it?

muypogi · « **Reply #25 on:** Feb 24, 2007 at 03:19 PM »

If you want separates:

NAD320BEE + Wharfedale 9.1 + biwire cables = total damage: P20k

This is a pretty good and versatile setup.

If you are under a very tight budget:

Klipsch Promedia GMX 2.1 speakers = P7k 12months at Spectra, P6k cash at Rising Sun Computers Shaw

The Klipsch has RCA in, so you can connect it to your CDP. They're computer speakers, but don't write them off until you've heard them . If you are not that much of an audiophile and want a cheap and simple upgrade from the minicompo sound, these deserve a listen. You may be surprised at the sound. You can audition them at Spectra, Park Square 1 in Makati. Just beside Phasetron, which sells those excellent AMX tube amps.