28 replies to this topic

[exup]

Ok, I searched and found nothing, but this must have come up before, so if someone can link me to another thread then great. If it hasn't come up before, then....


I am looking at $1000 budget for front stage. This is to include Speakers and Amp.

Option 1 - Buy $500ish splits and $500ish amp (say, focal 165s + Audison srx)

Opiton 2 - Buy $900ish splits and $100ish amp (say, Focal Utpia's + Jaycar amp)

Option 3 - Buy $500ish splits and $100ish amp (say Focal 165s + Jaycar Amp)

What is going to sound better? Am I REALLY going to notice the difference with a 'brandname' amp? Or is it a waste? I am not entering comps, it is just for my own listening. Has anyone done a comparison between cheap and expensive amps for the average joe?


I will sound deaden the doors as an added cost, not included in my budget.

I know Jaycar amps aren't exactly $100, but you get the idea. Plus I can get them cheap anyways.

Thanks

Chris

[joey_kev]

Focal and Audison will deliver an excellent sound
If I were you..I would get some 2nd hand focal splits from the FS section and a 2nd hand Audison LRX series

If you can stretch out your budget a bit then go for Utopia ..definitely a great speaker!

[phoenix gold]

Go option 1 sounds good.

[stazed]

.....I'm actually going to disagree with myself here. :tony:

Forget the quality of the speaker - installation and tuning is the crucial factor in a front stage. I could go and spend $5000 on a set of top-quality front splits, but they'd be useless if I just stuck them in stock locations and didn't tune them properly.

If you have the time and effort to play with hundreds of different tweeter positions, angle the woofers as best as possible, etc etc, then get the Utopia's and the Jaycar amp.

If you need a professional to optimise your setup (like I got Fhrx to) then I would say option 3 and spend the remaining money on paying a pro to install it and make it sound perfect.

Even though I'm an Audison boy, the only reason I would take the Audison amp is because it puts out more power... it depends what you need. IDEALLY I would take Option 1 and get a professional to install it. If you did take an Audison, go the Audison SRx2S, lots of power right there. And Jaycar amps are NOT that cheap.

[Pumped]

Option 1

[STIK79]

um which speakers do you prefer is probably the most important question as these will definitely audibly impact the sound whereas the subtle nuances of an amp are less obvious.

also it's a lot easier to upgrade amps later rather than speakers - especially if you're custom mounting the speakers!

[shiny_car]

all else being equal, you'll get better sound from higher quality splits matched with a cheap amp compared with the other options.

with a $1000 budget i'd spend $700 on splits and $300 on amp.

[Bodyjar]

shiny_car said:

all else being equal, you'll get better sound from higher quality splits matched with a cheap amp compared with the other options.

with a $1000 budget i'd spend $700 on splits and $300 on amp.

x2

[stazed]

I'm disappointed you didn't mention the importance of installation shiny_car, even though I agree with you on the cost split.

EDIT: By installation I mean tuning, the cost of getting pods made if required, the proper positioning of tweeters, etc... all of which costs money if not done yourself.

[icacha]

Properly installed cheapsh!t speakers will out perform poorly installed great speakers!!!

there is no compromise, you either do it right or dont do it at all...

go with whatever you like the sound of, no one can tell you what would sound better over something else as they/we dont have your ears or taste in music...

[audioquest]

stazed said:

Forget the quality of the speaker - installation and tuning is the crucial factor in a front stage.

Fully agree!!!! and positioning of the speaker too. Be it be an average speakers in stock position, with expert tunning, speaker positioning and great installation, you will still have a great sound stage.

For me, I will spend the most in a H.U and pre-amp, then the amp. Speakers is always my last worry.

[audioquest]

ICACHA said:

Properly installed cheapsh!t speakers will out perform poorly installed great speakers!!!

Spot on!!!!!!

[exup]

Thanks for all the replies.

I agree with the install factor. I should have posted that up. I have been talking to Marty at FHRX regarding this, and he has been very helpful. My main concern ATM is how a cheap amp will perform on nice speakers. One I decide this I will decide which speakers I want (based on the money I decide to spend on the amp) then I will decide if I have the money to have FHRX install them, or if I create my own pods and sound deaden myself.

It's really hard for to me to justify more than $1000 on the front stage, so I really need to get the best deal I can.

I am leaning towards the $500ish speakers, $200ish amp, and the rest towards sound deadening/professional install by FHRX....however I have NO idea what the install costs are, so I might be dreaming ATM anyways!

[stazed]

If you need custom pods made, you're looking at about $100 for that. Add another $100 for having the sound deadening put on your door, and another $150 for the actual deadening itself. Then add an hour or so for tuning, another $60.

That adds up to about $400 or so, not including running the wiring.

If you're on a tight budget, I recommend buying the sound deadening and wiring, run all the wiring yourself (power cable, speaker wire, remote wire, etc) and put the deadening on as well. Then just pay the store of your choice to build the pods for your doors and install/tune the speakers, and if you are having difficult mounting your amplifier, just run the cables to where you want the amp (make sure they're longer than you need so you can move the location around a bit) and then pay the store to secure your amp.