Conference rdvax::grateful

    
    I'm not up on receivers (mine is very old also), but as far as speakers
    go, I love my Infinities.  I think I have the Reference 3's. 
    Definately check out their line - I think they make great stuff.
    
    

Aren't Boston Acoustics speakers acoustic suspension?  I'm a little 
out-dated on speaker technology, but in the past, acoustic suspension
speakers needed significantly greater wattage to produce an acceptable
dynamic range without distorting.  Lacking the big bucks for 100+ watt
amplifiers, I've always leaned toward reflex speakers, like JBL's and
Klipsch.  I currently own a pair of JBL L80T's, and they're quite
acceptable.  I'd rather have a pair of Klipsch's, though.

For low-end wattage, I'd look closely at the Klipsch's - KG3's, KG4's,
etc...  Very low minimum amplification, and a really, really clean sound.
You'll probably notice the differences in sound produced by different
speakers than you'll notice a significant difference between similarly
powered amplifiers driving the same speakers.  

JC, you've got Klipsch's, don't you?  

tim

    I'd agree with Tim pn the JBL's, I own a pair myself.  They may not
    have as full of a sound as some others out there, but they are very
    efficient with power and a good choice for a low-wattage driver.
    
    of course, everything is just MHO...
    
    	Mike

    Another vote for the JBLs. I've had a pair of L100s for years and
    haven't heard anything that beats them for clarity and have never grown
    tired of listening to them after hours of use. They are still available 
    as the 4312 studio monitor (minus the sculpted grilles) in many stores
    stores and catalogs. J&R has them for 600/pair.

    The power ratings of amps/receivers aren't very useful.  It all depends
    on how they measure it.  Nad is known for rating their amps very
    conservatively.
    
    I have a pair of T830s and am very happy with them.  I thought they
    were the best speaker for the price ($400) when I bought them four
    years ago.  I haven't looked at audio equipment in a long time, so I
    don't know how they compare now.
    
    Jamie

I don't object to this topic here, but if you're looking for real answers I'd
recommend going to the Audio notesfile for this information.

Press KP7 to add to your notebook.

	dave

I'm pretty happy w/ my NAK TA2A rec'r.  It is rated at 50W, but I think it
would take a sony 150 watt amp to match it.  Lots of headroom in the amp for
that rastamon music (very heavy on the bass!).  I think the replacement cost
for this one is pretty high, like, perhaps $575, which may be prohibitive
for you.

Yup, I do have klipsch and part of the motivating factor for me selecting
these was the efficiency: it doesn't take much volume to get these suckers
rolling.  I have the Quartet model and have been very happy w/ 'em.  I used
to have KG4s, which is a good entry-level klipsch. I took advantage of the
speaker trade-up deal they had at Cookin' - basically, you can trade up w/in
1 year and receive full credit.  This way, i started off with a lesser priced
speaker and later upgraded, to avoid the instant cash blow!!  you might want
to consider a similar route, that is, check something out for now with 
sights of an upgrade w/in the store's policy....

For speakers, YOU MUST LET YOUR EARS DO THE WALKING!  If the store won't let
you crank 'em up to check 'em out, tell 'em you're gonna go somewhere else.
After all, if you're going to drop a g-note, you're gonna wanna know what
you are getting.  Bring a representative sample of your music and take the
time (hours!!) listening.  For me, I brought reggae (babylon by bus), live/dead,
some boots, some blues, and some rock and roll.  I took the time and listened
and really liked the klipsch.  Take music that you know well!!  I almost 
went with some BOSE...

One last final note.  DON'T PAY FULL PRICE FOR THIS STUFF!  Make them an
offer on a system, or, ask them what they can do for you if you by X rec'r and
Y speakers.  I've got these guys to come down a bit in the past, as much as
nearly 20%.  Also, if you can, pay by check or cash, ONLY if they'll take 2-3%
more off the total (basically, the amount they have to pay to the credit card
company for the transaction).  I've done this and it works...  ask them to
throw in 30' of monster cable for your speakers, etc...

good luck.  if you wanna come and check out my system sometime more closely,
lemme know.

You might do real well at the Cambridge Soundworks factory outlet in Newton.

They have a liberal return policy on their mail order equipment and often have
good deals on very slightly used and fully waranteed receivers, etc.

Also, check out their speakers while you're there.  I have a set of the
Ensemble Satellite/Sub combo and *love* them.

I run a Yamaha receiver that would be out of your price range.  However,
Yamaha makes real nice, good sounding, systems.  They tend to have less of
the fancy bells and whistles but stick to the knitting real well.

I second JC's offer...c'mon over and listen!  I've got one or two nice tapes...

	dave

re       <<< Note 358.8 by NECSC::LEVY "Scientific progress goes BOINK" >>>
                         -< Try Cambridge Soundworks >-

>I run a Yamaha receiver that would be out of your price range.  However,
>Yamaha makes real nice, good sounding, systems.  They tend to have less of
>the fancy bells and whistles but stick to the knitting real well.

Yamaha makes very respectible stuff for a bit less then what you would pay
for NAK stuff.  I think the compariable Yamaha at the time I was buying my
NAK was going for about $375, vs $500 for the NAK.  My x-college roommie has
a yamaha and it has given him good service for the last 5 yrs or so.

>I second JC's offer...c'mon over and listen!  I've got one or two nice tapes...

one or two nice tapes, eh????  :-)

I had a 50 watt Yamaha receiver before I upgraded to a 100 watt Nak
receiver.  The $900 Nak (few years old) is superior to the Yamaha, even on a
$400 pair of Bose 4.2 speakers... ...and the difference would be very
obvious on my Polk RM-3000 sub-sat speakers.  The Yamaha amps just can't
push like the Naks can, imo.

I'm happy with the RM-3000s.  Got 'em for $800 and talked the salesdude
(Sound Advice, in Sarasota FL) into tossing in $100 of Monster Superflex for
free.  There wasn't anything better than the RM-3000s for less than $2000.

FWIW, I believe it was Audio (or maybe Stereo Review) that considered the
Polk RM-3000s and the Cambridge Ensemble (best model) a tie in 'best sub-sat
speaker system.'  

I think you can get factory refurb'd Ensemble speakers for ~$500.  There are
ads in the Globe all the time.  I think the Polks still go for $700-$800.

- jeff