Need Me Some Tunes.....

[Paradise Ridge]

Howdy all,

I've got the new shop pre-wired for speakers and need to get some opinions.

Shop is 28x28, 10' sidewalls, fully insulated w/ 8' t1-11 (painted) and the top 2' and ceiling drywall. The sound system will primarily be used for music, but it's also hooked up for surround sound from the dish and TV.

Previously I had used Eclipse Marbl indoor/outdoor speakers, but I blew them at the last BBQ (grin!) I do have a tendancy to turn them up to drown out the woodworking equipment and during "after hour" cool refreshing beverages, but quality is a bigger issue than volume. I listen to a lot of classical music (I'll be 47 on Wed.) but if some good 70's or country comes on the knob gets twisted to the right.

Any opinions on good, stout bookshelf speakers? I've been looking at indoor/outdoor speakers because of the shop environment and the ability to mount them up in the corners. I don't need anything with pretty wood cabinets, they'll be covered in sawdust within a week.

I also need opinions on a good receiver, but 1 topic at a time should be enough.

Thanks!

Scott

 

[Luckydevil]

What's your budget on the speakers and receiver?

 

[imported_banzaitoyota]

go to wally-worls. Shell out a whole $99 on a cheap-add surround sound sysytem. Hook it up to a Sirius Home kit. VIOLA! instant killer stereo without breaking the bank

 

[Luckydevil]

Just saw this at parts express...

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=309-155&raid=25&rak=jensen&wt.sv1

Not too bad for $60 shipped.

 

[dboat]

I know you guys will laugh at this, but I have always just used used car stereos n my garage. I have an old Radio Shack AC to DC converter and then just hook up a stereo and some car speakers to it.. low dollar and still sounds reasonable.. I have recently added an XM option to it (via the FM transmission)..

Dana

 

[DynoDave]

I know you guys will laugh at this, but I have always just used used car stereos n my garage. I have an old Radio Shack AC to DC converter and then just hook up a stereo and some car speakers to it.. low dollar and still sounds reasonable.. I have recently added an XM option to it (via the FM transmission)..

Dana

I won't laugh. I have an old boom box in the existing garage, and wanted to add on CD. I had an old portable CD player I used in the '90s with my car stereo, so I have it running into the boom box through a cassette adapter, and it's powered by a 12v power supply.

This setup, however, will NOT be moving with me to the new shop!

 

[Paradise Ridge]

Boy, that was quick!

Budget wise, I'm figuring $50.00 each x 4 (2 pair) for the speakers and probably $200 -$250 for the receiver and a CD player. I've already got an equalizer and surround to plug in. If there's some decent speakers out there, I'd be glad to spend less!

I did some dinking around on Ebay and Amazon and figger I need 4 - 3way speakers, 6" or so woofers, 100W, 35-22,000 Hz.

I'm not expecting anyone to get real specific (feel free, though!), but I'm questioning if indoor/outdoor is the way to go in a shop or if regular metal bookshelfs would work. Sawdust, flying debris, etc. are my main concerns.

Scott

 

[Steve_S]

If you want quality, consider Klipsch. I have become a huge fan over the years. Their bookshelf speakers are absolutely amazing. They are extremely efficient so they can be driven with much less power than most other small speakers. They are also well known for their excellent treble reproduction which is good for classical music. Klipsch offers both bookshelf and outdoor speakers.

For receivers, a good match for Klipsch is Denon. I recently bought a lower end model for my office and I have a mid-range unit in my home theater. Harmon Kardon is also a good match. I would avoid Sony, Onkyo and Yamaha because they tend to produce a sharp sound and since the Klipsch speakers already produce strong highs, they would not sound the best mated together.

That's my 2.34 cents USD.

 

[bmwpower]

Indoor/outdoor speakers aren't going to offer you anything but waterproofness. I would imagine you're not going to hose them down from time to time. Also, indoor/outdoor speaker tend to cost more and sound 1/2 as good as regular bookshelf speakers. Finding a 3 way may be harder to find in this price range.

That being said here are some of my favorites for around your price range:

MB Quart One's (always on ebay):
http://cgi.ebay.com/MB-Quart-Booksh...ryZ14991QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Paradigm Titan:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PARADIGM-TITAN-...ryZ14991QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Yamaha NS-*** (various kinds, I can't keep up with their numbering system):

http://cgi.ebay.com/YAMAHA-NS-5290-...864735952QQcategoryZ94909QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Oh, BTW, found these on eBay, too if you dead set against anything but indoor/outdoor:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PAIR-YAMAHA...862538760QQcategoryZ14995QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or anything Sony:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SONY-SS-MB3...863951750QQcategoryZ94908QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


I've had experience with the MB Quarts and the Titans and some of the Yamaha's. They all sound respectable for a garage type setting.

 

[krooser]

I've got a 70's vintage Soundesign AM/FM/8-track/turntable set-up that has killer 4" speakers in 8X10 boxes...I COULD be talked outta the whole shebang! hehehe

Footnote: I lied about being "talked out of it'....I need at least $4.00 for the whole system.

 

[REFLEXX]

I'm getting these

Beringer ms16's studio monitors. I like the fact thay they are self powered and have a volume control right on them.

http://www.behringer.com/MS16/index.cfm?lang=ENG

$60-80 online.

 

[EdNJ]

Just saw this at parts express...

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=309-155&raid=25&rak=jensen&wt.sv1

Not too bad for $60 shipped.

Definitely not bad,I bought a set two weeks ago

They're replacing a pair of old Sony floor speakers left in the garage by the previous homeowners. The woofers are damaged so anything near/past half volume would cause crackling noises. I'm using a reciever a cousin gave me,has Dolby surround (not even Pro Logic LOL). I figured anything would be better than the Sonys,and with the Jensens I can now have rear channels.

At the moment I only have the sub and RF/LF satellites connected. The sub is on the floor at a corner and the sats hanging on walls. Bass is quite good,especially for only a 5.25" woofer. My garage is 25ft x 25ft give or take a few inches,rest of the entertainment system consists of a small TV and DVD player from Target. I might have to upgrade the reciever now,Dolby Surround doesn't have a center channel output.

I also picked up $9.90 worth of 18ga speaker wire (500ft total haha) from PE http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=109-155

 

[Steve_S]

If you plan to put that speaker wire inside the wall, keep in mind that it is not an oxygen-free wire and will eventually corrode. I only mention this so you're prepared to replace it at some point in the future!

 

[Donzi4me]

I bought a Technics reciever, a Sony CD changer off of Ebay for $80.
Went to Circut City and bought a pair of new Polk bookshelf speakers for $70.

I've got $150 into it and it rocks the garage....

 

[krooser]

If you plan to put that speaker wire inside the wall, keep in mind that it is not an oxygen-free wire and will eventually corrode. I only mention this so you're prepared to replace it at some point in the future!

Oxygen-free wire? Huh? Geez, my cheap-*** stereo was installed with USED wire ten years ago....still works...That sounds like a great sales pitch...I'll have to remember that!

 

[bmwpower]

If you plan to put that speaker wire inside the wall, keep in mind that it is not an oxygen-free wire and will eventually corrode. I only mention this so you're prepared to replace it at some point in the future!

Oxygen-free wire will still corrode. Oxygen-free wire is used for its better high frequency qualities (ie, less distortion).

 

[tubeman]

I just went thru the same exercise where my shop turns into a party every weekend night! I like to rock it sometimes so I went with durable component stuff. The speakers are what you would see in nightclubs, same with the amps. About $500 for the amp and $200x4 for the speakers. Souns like alot, but let me tell you, if you like to punch out some sound, its the real deal. Surf some DJ supply sites and you'll get the idea. I would be happy to help if you go down that road.

 

[Steve_S]

Hey, you wanna install crappy wire then by all means go ahead, but from my experience good wire makes a difference on a nice system. I have 40-year-old crappy wire in a car stereo and it still works, too. But when I spend money on a nice system, I find it's worth spending a few extra dollars on a good wire. Take my opinion for what it's worth but there's no need for smart remarks. I was just trying to help.

PS... don't buy into the Monster Cable hype. They have a marketing department rivalling that of Bose. And don't get me started on Bose!

 

[tubeman]

I have to agree with Steve on the wire. If you use good wire you can always reuse it. I used crappy wire once and had to redo the whole thing 2 years later. My system gets salt air though and that makes everything worse.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I got my old Pioneer receiver and speakers out of the neighbors trash in the alley after their last garage sale a few years back, I wonder if Krooser might discuss a trade!

 

[shopking68]

Heres mine
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/JVC-...21375/catOid/-12951/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do


It is very loud, I like the looks too, can hear it all the way to the backdoor to my house.

 

[krooser]

I got my old Pioneer receiver and speakers out of the neighbors trash in the alley after their last garage sale a few years back, I wonder if Krooser might discuss a trade!

I THINK you're trying to take advantage of me....

 

[krooser]

Hey, you wanna install crappy wire then by all means go ahead, but from my experience good wire makes a difference on a nice system. I have 40-year-old crappy wire in a car stereo and it still works, too. But when I spend money on a nice system, I find it's worth spending a few extra dollars on a good wire. Take my opinion for what it's worth but there's no need for smart remarks. I was just trying to help.

PS... don't buy into the Monster Cable hype. They have a marketing department rivalling that of Bose. And don't get me started on Bose!

Seems like I've really been p.ssing off a lot of people lately...

Anyway, as a FORMER audiophile from the 70's, I remember very well all the tons of $$$ I spent on Klipsch, Marantz, Sansui, Kenwood and like brands ( yes..that stuff was top of the line!).

I must have memorized a whole catalog of specs just on turntable needles alone!(see, we used to have to use a little steel needle in those record grooves to make sound come outta a speaker...it worked pretty good!)

I HAD to have the best speakers available...even though many of the high freq's they reproduced were only audible to my dog! How dumb is that? Hope ol' Fido enjoyed Maynard Fergugeson and Chick Corea blasting into his ear!

Man, I was hooked.

But a funny thing happened...life got in the way. I got a mortage, got a family, got a career. Soon all that stuff was just...well, it was just stuff. Not really important anymore. Life goes on...your tastes change and all that "fancy" equipment becomes little more than a memory.

You remember how much money you really wasted on "things"...and you just smile.

I wasn't knocking you or your choice of wire. I really could care less what you spend you $$$..this is America and we can do that kind of stuff. God bless you and spend every dime you've got!

It's just that it reminded me of my mis-spent youth where every new "innovation" was welcomed as something we couldn't possible live without for another second.

At the risk of being the called the resident crumudgeon, I'll just put that "oxygen-free" wire on the shelf next to my mood ring, pet rock and Tiny Tim records. And pass me the 22 gauge lamp cord...I've got an old '55 Pontiac speaker laying around here somewhere that always kicked out some pretty good bass...

 

[john300k]

I'm right in the middle of hanging my Klipsch Heresey speakers and my McIntosh 4100 receiver (circa 1978) in my new shop....should sound like a concert hall!!!!

 

[hguerrero]

I'm in the process of installing some in wall /in ceiling speakers I took out of my previous home. . I'm not trying to replicate a home theater system...just looking for decent sound that doesn't take up space and looks stealth.
I also have a Denon receiver, a Denon cassette player (am i showing my age?) left over from a previous stereo... as well as a Sony mini disc player I got at work..... i'm planning on hanging these components out of the way on a TV wall mount ....again to save space.

I'll get pics up as soon as I get these installed.

Henry

 

[Uncle Buck]

Dang, I thought you might bite on that one!.... I really had big plans for that eight track tape player though!

 

[stimpy]

Oxygen-free wire will still corrode. Oxygen-free wire is used for its better high frequency qualities (ie, less distortion).

the only distortion I'll hear is either the hand grinder or circular saw , or my buddy complaining how tight the bolts are or , who the he** designed this peice Of s**t!! as form my system I found a old pioneer stereo at a sale for 10 bucks , its a tube type 125 watt per channel tube type(love that humming sound ) that didn't work due to a blown 50cent fuse , as for speakers I made my own boxes ( got a book on how to do it from Radio shack so they sound right ) and bought my speaker cones from them . 3 way speakers with 12 inch woofers and crossovers . my cost plus lumber $100ea, and they look like doodoo So I don't have to worry about them getting borrowed unless someone listened to them . for my house speakers I bought a closeout at RS of the optimus line which was made for them by sony . 4 speakers 75 watts ea . 100 bucks , and got the floor demos (3) for 15 ea . one of them had a screwed up cone and rattled .

 

[the intimidator]

Dang, I thought you might bite on that one!.... I really had big plans for that eight track tape player though!

dont knock the eight track players i got one in my garage i have it paird with a single juliette speaker with a 8 inch sub and tweeter it sounds pretty dam good considering it came from the neighbors gabage after a yard sale and yes the eight track player still works

 

[Uncle Buck]

It is hard to beat a free tune box that works well retrieved from the neighbors left over garage sale trash!

 

[davs2601]

I know you guys will laugh at this, but I have always just used used car stereos n my garage. I have an old Radio Shack AC to DC converter and then just hook up a stereo and some car speakers to it.. low dollar and still sounds reasonable.. I have recently added an XM option to it (via the FM transmission)..

Dana

I had thought about installing a car cd player into the wall of my garage, I know clearance behind the wall will be an issue. I want to know more about the ac to dc converter you are talking about

 

[Uncle Buck]

You can even power an old car radio with a CHEAP, USED battery charger! No high zoot inverter. I love doin garage stuff on the cheap!