What stereo(s) do you listen to? What do you want?

Both the Lenehan's and the SGR are Australian made speakers.

Both have some fairly extensive reviews on stereo.net.au if you're interested in reading more. I think the Lenehan's would make a great bedroom system.

Originally Posted by Sherlockian

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I'm currently dusting off my early 2000s Arcam Alpha 7r amp, CD72 disc player and Mission 771e speakers, which have been sitting in the cupboard since moving house. A nice simple, reliable and decent sounding setup for not too much money.

For sure. Nice.

Gentlemen, disclaimer, Lenehan Audio is an advertiser with Audiophilia.

That said, Mike's speakers are absolutely amazing, and for the price a genuine bargain. He's a great guy and accessible. My Aussie reviewer, Andy Fawcett 'discovered' these speakers just down the road from him in Brisbane. The company is becoming quite successful and has moved to a larger manufacturing plant with more employees. Happy ending for a great guy.

We have two reviews and a tech follow up. I purchased the speakers for my second system.

My review

Andy Fawcett's tech update

Andy Fawcett's review -- from the old magazine site

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

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I have been listening to the new Audio Research DAC7

Have:

-Naim CDX (just serviced - with new software update).
-Naim NAC82 pre-amp
-Naim NAP250 amp
-Naim XPS
-Naim Flat Cap
-Sonus Faber Minueto speakers
- Panasonic DMR-EX77 DVD recorder
-Loewe Anaconda TV

Want:

Not sure. Would like to integrate home cinema, but don´t want to give up musicality.

Simplified down from a Theta Casablanca/Carver set up to a Rotel RSX-1056 receiver and so far, so good. The Theta was a cranky ***** that barely worked at times.

Now thinking about moving on from the Energy speakers I have now for either Sonus Fabers or ProAcs. But, I may just go anti-materialistic and get a mediocre sound bar that has wireless surrounds to simplify further.

I'm looking at making a first foray into the audio world and would love some advice about what to look into. Here are my parameters:

1) Right now, I'm looking at spending in the neighborhood of $500-600 max, which, I realize means I'm going to have to stick to entry-level stuff. My preference is to get one decent component that I can build from and have the rest be somewhat disposable.

2) The stereo will go in our living room, which is a classic Chicago "front room" - about 11 x 16, opens up onto the living room to the right, and on the left is a hexagonal window bay that opens onto the street. Walls are not terribly sound-proof and there's a fair bit of street-noise. Such is life. This is the room the stereo will really have to go in to get any use.

3) I'll mainly be listening to classical music, lots of opera and some instrumental, with some other stuff mixed in, but classical will be the majority.

So, my question is: what components are most important to spend a bit more on at first? Take into consideration that we only plan on being in the apt for max 2 more years, so this won't be a long-term listening room. Specific brand or component recs would be welcome, as would general advice.

Thanks for any thoughts.

**I certainly don't mean to hijack this thread, but I didn't want to start a whole new one. Feel free to respond via PM if you prefer.

double post.

Originally Posted by adambparker

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I'm looking at making a first foray into the audio world and would love some advice about what to look into. Here are my parameters: 1) Right now, I'm looking at spending in the neighborhood of $500-600 max, which, I realize means I'm going to have to stick to entry-level stuff. My preference is to get one decent component that I can build from and have the rest be somewhat disposable. 2) The stereo will go in our living room, which is a classic Chicago "front room" - about 11 x 16, opens up onto the living room to the right, and on the left is a hexagonal window bay that opens onto the street. Walls are not terribly sound-proof and there's a fair bit of street-noise. Such is life. This is the room the stereo will really have to go in to get any use. 3) I'll mainly be listening to classical music, lots of opera and some instrumental, with some other stuff mixed in, but classical will be the majority. So, my question is: what components are most important to spend a bit more on at first? Take into consideration that we only plan on being in the apt for max 2 more years, so this won't be a long-term listening room. Specific brand or component recs would be welcome, as would general advice. Thanks for any thoughts. **I certainly don't mean to hijack this thread, but I didn't want to start a whole new one. Feel free to respond via PM if you prefer.
Take a close look at the Cambridge Audio and NAD lines. You can get a good integrated for $300 and a decent CD player for $315 (prolly both NAD) but you will be short for speakers. It's really tight to do everything for $600 in my experience. You could do a nice iPod Classic plus AudioEngine speakers. Or you can stretch for $800 and have another $200 for decent used or new two way monitors. For speakers look at PSB or Paradigm entry levels.

Originally Posted by adambparker

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1) Right now, I'm looking at spending in the neighborhood of $500-600 max, which, I realize means I'm going to have to stick to entry-level stuff. My preference is to get one decent component that I can build from and have the rest be somewhat disposable.

I agree with AF in that it's going to be tough to get anything for $600 that you can expand from. The general way to build your system is to find a pair of speakers you like and build backwards from there because speaker sound is about the most subjective thing in the whole audio chain.

Do you have anything already, or are you building completely from scratch? If you are playing back from an iPod or another PMP (portable media player), you may want to check out active speakers like the Audioengines AF mentions, or the NHT M-00. Later on, when you get more space and $$, you can use those speakers as really nice computer speakers or in another room.

--Andre

Just picked up one of these a few months back for a bargain price.. Hooked up to some B&Ws and a CDP that needs upgrading

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

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Take a close look at the Cambridge Audio and NAD lines. You can get a good integrated for $300 and a decent CD player for $315 (prolly both NAD) but you will be short for speakers. It's really tight to do everything for $600 in my experience. You could do a nice iPod Classic plus AudioEngine speakers.

Or you can stretch for $800 and have another $200 for decent used or new two way monitors. For speakers look at PSB or Paradigm entry levels.

If stretching to $800 will make a big difference, that's probably what I'll do. To start out, my primary source will be a CD player -- I think I'd rather not start building a system around an iPod. I'll check out those lines. Thanks for the recs.

Originally Posted by adambparker

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If stretching to $800 will make a big difference, that's probably what I'll do. To start out, my primary source will be a CD player -- I think I'd rather not start building a system around an iPod. I'll check out those lines. Thanks for the recs.

You are welcome. You may want to look at any Oppo 980H that may be around (I think some dealers still have them-very good DVD-Audio playback as well as SACD, great video). Decent playback for around $170. $300-350 will get you a nice pair of entry monitors.

Originally Posted by jaypee

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Just picked up one of these a few months back for a bargain price..
Hooked up to some B&Ws and a CDP that needs upgrading

Pretty, I love the sound of tubes.

Originally Posted by adambparker

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double post.

Triangle bookshelf or KLH signature .
Use your laptop for CD player it has better CD drive than 99% of stand alone "audio" players.
For cheap amp try Cambridge Audio or Music Hall or Denon (my preference would be MH).