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From: ben@moncol.UUCP (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: stereo
Message-ID: <191@moncol.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Feb-85 12:26:11 EST
Article-I.D.: moncol.191
Posted: Tue Feb 19 12:26:11 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Feb-85 07:07:35 EST
References: <630@houxa.UUCP>
Organization: Monmouth College, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Lines: 63


>I am interested in purchasing a stereo system.  My price
>range is initially $600 for speakers and receiver.  Even-
>tually I would like to include a turntable, equalizer, 
>and CD in that order.  I read in Consumer Reports that 
>the Sherwood's 2660CP 50 watt receiver is top rated in
>my price range.  The Boston Acoustic A70 or Genisis 10
>are the top rated speakers.
>Does anyone have any recommendations that they could
>pass on to someone starting new, given the stated financial
>restraints.  I would appreciate any comments, in terms of
>what factors I should be aware of in order to purchase
>the most efficient receiver and speakers.  Any experiences
>with the above mentioned units  or any other recommendations
>would be greatly appreciated.
>
>      houxa!tommy
>      Tom Weidner

My best advice would be to put your consumer reports aside, grab a
representative sample of your albums, and head for the stereo stores.
The selection of speakers is largely a matter of personal taste.
The criteria that makes consumer reports so reliable for selecting
television sets and toasters (frequency of repair, safety defects,etc.)
do not apply to high fidelity speakers, and I have found that CU's
reviewers are not entirely reliable when it comes to selecting
speakers.   I like to listen for 3 things in a speaker:

1) Imaging.  Does the speaker present a lifelike soundstage, or does
   the sound seem to come from all around, or perhaps from a box.
   A high quality speaker can give you a feeling of image height
   and depth, as well as width.
2) Do the instruments appear distinct or do they blend together
   in a muddy blur.
3) Does the speaker reproduce all audible frequencies at the same
   level (flat frequency response), or does it give unnatural
   emphasis to certain frequencies.  (Many speakers boost mid-bass
   and/or treble frequencies.  Such speakers might sound better at
   first - but will become fatiguing during a long listening session)

The trick is to take your time.  Don't let the salesman push you into
buying a speaker before you are ready.  The time you invest will be 
well spent, and you will be much more likely to get a speaker that you
will be satisfied with, than if you simply bought a model on the basis
of a favorable review.

Regarding selection of a reciever:  Here you are less likely to go wrong.
The difference in sound between one reciever and another is very small
relative to the difference in sound from one speaker model to another.
A model from any of the big manufacturers (Sony, Kenwood, Sherwood) is
likely to be satisfactory, since they all perform pretty much the
same.  When your ear becomes educated enough to be able to tell the
difference between one amplifier and another, you will want to trade
up to separate components anyway.

Hope this has been helpful.  I have always found that shopping for new
audio gear is half the fun.

                                       Ben Broder
                                       ..vax135!petsd!moncol!ben
                                       ..priceton!moncol!ben