Recommendation for a first setup

[WalkingBrass]

Hey everyone,

I hope you're all doing great. I just discovered this forum, which seems like a treasure trove of information, and I thought I'd reach out for some help navigating this rabbit hole haha.

So, I'm moving into a new apartment, and it's finally time for me to get my first proper audio setup. I've done some research online, but there are so many possibilities that it's easy to get confused.

My ultimate goal is to have a great setup that allows me to enjoy music from various sources: a direct link to my computer, vinyl (I'll add this next month), a way to stream from my phone, and perhaps even the option to connect my bass or piano to the system so I can play without headphones or have backing tracks.
I listen to many different music genres: Jazz, contemporary jazz, anything with a good groove (African groove and American one), classical, rock, electronic, hip-hop, folk, etc..

I'm planning to buy the most important components second-hand, and that's where the trouble begins. My budget for the core setup (excluding the turntable) is around 800 euros.

Where I live, I can find several highly-regarded speakers for around 350-450 euros, including:

- Polk R200
- Elac DBR62
- Elac UBR62
- Focal Chora 806
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.2
- Wharfedale Evo 4.2

I'm really torn about which ones would be best for me. Maybe there are better options I've come across? As for other components, I can get a Yamaha A-S801 for around 400 euros, which I thought would be a good starting point. I'm quite new to this, so I don't really know what other devices I'll need to complete my setup.

A few details about the room: this will be in my 21 sq meter living room. I do have neighbors, so I thought that bookshelf speakers were the better call. If needed, i can make a schema of my place.

Any information would be greatly appreciated – regarding the speakers, but also other things I might not have considered. Your opinion on whether I'm aiming too high-end for my budget would also be very helpful.

Thanks for your time and involvement!

 

[ZolaIII]

Sub's, room treatment/correction, ELC, integration, getting rid of neighbours which don't play along... Just kidding of course, first two DBR62's if you ask me and A-S 801 has nice enough DAC and USB audio input which you can use and do DSP processing elsewhere (PC preferable). It also has basic self filters for sub out. Do find money for measurement mic and preferably UMIK-1 and play with room placement. Consider limited and what's acceptable to you accustic treatment (heavy curtains, thick rug and thing's like that). Lot of patience and try to have a nice time at it.

 

[DVDdoug]

Is there a store nearby where you can listen to some different speakers? Thats' usually the best way to compare. They will sound different in a different room but you can compare and you'll learn what different speakers can sound like.

It's the speakers that make the biggest difference, by far. Then you just need enough power (Wattage) for you particular speakers to go as loud as you want (without burning-out the speakers). And, then things like tone controls, EQ and "room correction" can alter the sound. And whatever inputs you want, etc.

vinyl (I'll add this next month)

If you don't already have records, I'd skip that. It's an outdated inferior format and it's more expensive that digital.

a way to stream from my phone,

From what I found, there is an optional Bluetooth module for the Yamaha if you don't want to use a wired connection.

connect my bass or piano to the system so I can play without headphones

The piano should OK but the bass needs a high-impedance guitar/instrument input. And you might blow-out your speakers trying to get the sound of a bass amp. Bass & guitar amplifiers aren't designed to be "high fidelity" and they go with rugged speakers that can survive being over-driven.

or have backing tracks.

You'll need a mixer. Guitar/instrument inputs are common on mixers but I still wouldn't play "live" through my stereo.

I've done some research online,

WARNING - Sadly, this is one of the few rational-scientific resources and most audiophiles are nuts!!! "Audiophools" who think that expensive speaker cables sound better than any adequate wire from the home improvement store, etc.) As far as I know the last remaining audio magazines are also worthless... Actually worse than worthless, leading you to focus on the wrong things and waste money.

 

[JeremyFife]

Nice selection of speakers, and the Yamaha is a fine amp - no issues and you are not 'aiming too high' - these should do very nicely for you.
Don't overspend on a turntable, if you still decide to add one. If you want one, then that's your choice and is cool. If you don't have a collection of records already I would think hard about it though.

Streaming from your PC/Laptop gives you great flexibility. Add a bluetooth receiver for your phone - or consider something like a WiiM Mini, managed from your phone, instead.

I'm not an expert on this, but I'd also wonder about trying to do everything through your Hi-Fi - especially a bass guitar. Sounds slightly risky. Do you want to record your playing (plus backing track) or just jam? If it's the latter then perhaps just play your backing tracks on the H-Fi and play along with a regular bass monitor?

All sounds good though, enjoy

 

[WalkingBrass]

Thank you for all your thoughtful answers ! All very good advice.

After reading your comments, I think I'll hold off on the vinyl for the moment, and on playing an instrument as well (I already have a bass amp, so I'll be fine there). I feel like I asked too many questions in my first post, so I'll try to focus my inquiries a bit more:

At the moment, I'm not really thinking about the full setup. I'm trying to decide on the core components: speakers and amplifier. Zolalll, you mentioned you would choose the DBR62. Could you please elaborate on why?

To be more precise, I have a budget of around 800 euros. However, I'm open to buying second-hand. Do you have any recommendations for speakers around the 800-euro price point that would be significantly better and that I might be able to find for cheaper on the used market? That's my current struggle (and I'm sure I'm not alone in this!). I'm trying to get the best value for my money, and I keep thinking there might be some hidden gems within my budget that I haven't heard of. So, I'll ask for your advice once again: Do you have any other speaker recommendations? And if not, which one on my list would be the best? I know hearing is subjective, of course, but I'm pretty sure there's some consensus about quality speakers that offer more than others.

My second question about the Yamaha amp was more along the lines of, "Do you find it reasonable to spend 50% of my budget on the amp and the other 50% on the speakers?" As an absolute beginner, I would have thought the ratio was more like 75% on the speakers and 25% on the amp.

Again, thank you all for your time and your very welcoming presence here!

 

[ZolaIII]

In short for the cabinet with very little refractions and they are capable. Why not those deserve place in history if you ask me. A-S 801 if in great condition is a value at that price. I whosent joking about mic and other stuff (except neighbors!).
For some reason I guess you want separate and those will last you and serve you until they become history.
However if you don't intend to expand it and still want to be able to use guitar in active studio monitor/interface you could aim to find higher grade 8" with pasive crossover ones and gain a bit more of extension and SPL capabilities. If you plan hunting you can get bunch of advices but it really depends on what you might bump into (location, availability/price). Value is peace of mind and that you forget for how long it serves you, still don't buy anything old.

 

[LTig]

I'd get active speakers like the JBL 308P and a small mixing console with a Hi-Z input, a few stereo inputs and USB soundcard feature, like the Soundcraft Notepad-12FX. Still you can't play instruments (neither piano nor bass) loud with such speakers, so be careful.

 

[Ground Noise Industries]

I would work from downstream to upstream.

Find the speakers you like the best and let the amp selection follow.

Listen to as many different speakers as you can. Find your taste in sound. It should be fun and educational.

I would first spend as much as I can on good speakers not thinking about the amplifier. Pick up a cheap amp
for the time being. Break the speakers in so they will be ready for stage 2.

Then play catch up (earn some $$$) and get the amplifier. It might take longer but when the two
come together you will have a better matched system tailored to your listening taste. Good amps
provide the voltage swings and current the speaker needs without anything else. There are plenty
of them out there.
The first three pairs of speakers I owned were all mistakes. I didn't listen well enough.

My fourth pair was a pair of Klipsch KG4. It was a compromise speaker. Great for classical, jazz
and digital music but terrible at vocals. I spent about double for the fourth pair of speakers as I
spent on the total cost of the previous three pairs. This was back in the early 80s to early 90s.

Then several years later I was introduced to a pair of DCM TF350 speakers. Great at vocal
performances but not terrific at synth pop. I wasn't even looking but they found me.

So I have two pairs of speakers that cover my listening taste. Sometimes I use them together,
other days just one pair or the other.

I had always dreamed of owning a pair of Klipschorns until I listening to them for about three hours.
The reality was they are not what I like. I was able to audition the B&W 801(sealed box version) for
two weeks while house sitting in the 80s; not only were they WAY out of my price range(even used),
they just didn't fit me. See picture below.

So, if possible, audition as many speakers as possible. You might be looking for two different pairs
of speakers.