Home Theater Forum - View Single Post - Help me build a setup for my smoking bar!

MaxL · 04-11-2007, 11:07 AM

for me, i'd check out the monitor b-2's ($280/ pair) or the psb alpha c deal ($140 ea or 5 for $600) both from saturday audio. there are advantages to each. neither are small speakers, but the added size should make for better sound in a room that size even at moderate levels. the monitor speakers may be a tad warm for you if you really like klipsch. but they go down to a very respectable 42hz at the low end, very good for a bookshelf at this price. the psb's (i have one for my HT center) are very neutral and accurate without being grainy or sharp, not overly detailed, which may be a plus for digital material. the MA bronzes should warm up the digital as well and smooth it out.

as for the receiver i am a bit confused. do your cable boxes only have digi coax out? do you want digital surround receiver or stereo amp with four speaker outs? you can find both used in your price range but with very different sound qualities. personally i'd go for a vintage marantz or sony, pioneer, kenwood etc. they will pair nicely with the digital sources to balance the sound IMO. they have good power sources and many models with extra speaker outs. they will only take RCA's in though. without looking, i don't think there are many choices w/3 digi coax ins, new, for your price. you're also not going to find many if any 2 channel options with coax ins. for the surround option, i like the onecall deal on the marantz zr6001, nice amounts of clean power, gets you 2 digi coax ins and a gererally well made piece that should last you and sound good. they also have the HK AVR 147 - it's in your budget and has 3 digi coax ins (1 front). i hesitate to recommend it though because it is the bottom of their line and i've heard about quality control issues in their low-mid level stuff. it's a shame because HK specs well for the price and is historically a respected name in the industry.

anyway, good luck

04-11-2007, 11:07 AM	#4 of 12
MaxL *Max Levine* Member Join Date: May 2006 Local Time: 03:50 AM Local Date: 12-02-2008 Posts: 424	Re: Help me build a setup for my smoking bar! for me, i'd check out the monitor b-2's ($280/ pair) or the psb alpha c deal ($140 ea or 5 for $600) both from saturday audio. there are advantages to each. neither are small speakers, but the added size should make for better sound in a room that size even at moderate levels. the monitor speakers may be a tad warm for you if you really like klipsch. but they go down to a very respectable 42hz at the low end, very good for a bookshelf at this price. the psb's (i have one for my HT center) are very neutral and accurate without being grainy or sharp, not overly detailed, which may be a plus for digital material. the MA bronzes should warm up the digital as well and smooth it out. as for the receiver i am a bit confused. do your cable boxes only have digi coax out? do you want digital surround receiver or stereo amp with four speaker outs? you can find both used in your price range but with very different sound qualities. personally i'd go for a vintage marantz or sony, pioneer, kenwood etc. they will pair nicely with the digital sources to balance the sound IMO. they have good power sources and many models with extra speaker outs. they will only take RCA's in though. without looking, i don't think there are many choices w/3 digi coax ins, new, for your price. you're also not going to find many if any 2 channel options with coax ins. for the surround option, i like the onecall deal on the marantz zr6001, nice amounts of clean power, gets you 2 digi coax ins and a gererally well made piece that should last you and sound good. they also have the HK AVR 147 - it's in your budget and has 3 digi coax ins (1 front). i hesitate to recommend it though because it is the bottom of their line and i've heard about quality control issues in their low-mid level stuff. it's a shame because HK specs well for the price and is historically a respected name in the industry. anyway, good luck HT: Marantz SR8000, PSB Alpha B fronts, Alpha C center, CSW New Ensemble surrounds, Martin Logan Dynamo Sub, Philips DVD, Sony CRT TV Stereos include vintage Sony receivers/amps into vintage AR and KEF speakers.