Best 2ch system for under $1200?

If one knows next to nothing about speakers other than having tried the LSR 305s, what is the best 2-channel setup for around $1200? Does something this cheap (that also sounds good) even exist in the speaker world?

Let's set the following parameters:

• DAC/DDC & streamer already taken care of (cross those off the list)
• Room size is 16'x16' with a shared walls with roommate (we play brown noise thru a Sonos system in the hallway, however, so a highish SPL isn't too much of an issue)
• Speaker size to be small-to-medium-sized bookshelf
• Loudness of high dynamic peaks at 90-95dB is fine
• Tonality to be warmish, definitely not bright and thin, like I've heard a lot of British speakers/Focals can be—would rather have a thick Audeze-like presentation (though I'm not set on actual planar technology, just the tuning)
• Passive-preferred, but if cost is a limiting factor, then powered is fine too
• High efficiency or easy to drive
• Class A/AB amplification suggestions are preferred
• Some subbass without a subwoofer? (again, I know nothing about speakers, tell me if this is not possible)
• Lack of placement nervosa, would rather "set it and forget it"-type speakers

If there's anything else I am forgetting or missing entirely to make this question more answerable, please let me know.

Edits:

• Used equipment recommendations are good, preferred even
• Speaker size - along with bookshelf, floorstanding is fine too
• Stands - do I need these or can I toe bookshelves in well on top of a small home theater credenza?
• Use case is music only

 

Elac Debut 2.0 and Uni-Fi 2.0 are pretty solid shouts for bookshelves. Some friends got the Debut, and I have to say they are pretty darn good for the price. They have a slightly mellow/sweet top end and make some decent bass. Also, both are front-ported, which makes them easier to place in the room. Can go up against a wall or, indeed, in a bookshelf without sounding too bloated. Though I'd go with stands, if possible.

I have a less ready rec for the amp, but Yamaha makes some decent integrateds in the $400-500 range. With Elac often on sale--particularly around Black Friday--you could pretty easy get into both for just over a grand. With maybe $80 for stands.

 

Klipsch RP-600M II and an SVS SB1000 Pro would bring you to around $1000 and would sound fantastic. If you could find them used that would give you more headway for an amp. You could try to find something used in that space also. Sony makes a 2 channel receiver for around $200 that sounds pretty good.

 

Good shout. I owned the RP-600M for a while, and they're great. Very lively.

The KEF Q series also worth a look, though a bit brighter, as I recall.

 

If you can do little of DIY, X-LS encore can be built for ~$500, and it has enough low end to fill 16x16 room.

 

Would something like a Vidar be better than an integrated amplifier?

 

If your DAC/DDC/Streamer (and software) solution can do suitable pre-amp duties, aaand you're only switching digital inputs, aaaaaand you're okay with digital attenuation, then yes, Vidar would likely be preferable to an integrated (at this price point and given proper synergies with whatever speaker you decide to use).

Just throwing this out there, but if you have the space, and can figure out how to audition with no strings attached, I'd be interested to check these out: Magnat Transpuls 1500.

 

That's, uh, a lot of caveats, might go with an integrated lol... If anyone has any advice on powerful integrated amps which can handle preamp duties and maybe a remote, that's also the same price or lower than the Vidar, I'm all ears.

I will definitely check those out!

Thank you to all who posted here, I've been researching the Elacs and Klipschses, and now will do the same with the Magnat above from @yotacowboy.

Edit: Holy shit, 15" woofers... all sold out, but will see if I can hit up my local audio store and see if they have these, the price isn't too toxic either. Will see if they have the Klipsch and Elac, too, though they are so bourgie I doubt it

Also checked out the DIY speakers that @uniqusrname suggested, but I don't think I have the necessary cabinet building skills.

 

what does 'best' mean?

your questions suggest you don't really know anything about stereo systems so your 'best' bet would be to buy something very inexpensive off craigslist and listen to it in your room for a few weeks. my first stereo cost me about $450 in total, I assembled it over a weekend by buying used equipment locally. it blew my mind how good it was.

if you don't want to buy used stuff locally then just buy active speakers that you can return if you don't like them. there are a lot of companies in the business of selling active speakers direct to consumer or via Amazon these days. much better idea than pissing away $1200 on random boomer audiophile components and hoping they work well together

 

I do want to buy used locally, been searching craigslist for the big names, but I just don't know where to start... "the best" as in the best sound quality for the smallest sum of money. I know, I know, what sounds good to me might not to you, just was hoping the speaker world was less divisive than the headphone space, but the more I read the more I think it's more subjective and divisive, split along hard lines, and even more elitist. Also, it's expensive asf, and I'd rather not spend a lot of time researching, so I just wanted to get to the best entry-level stuff first, then worry about tweaking and preamps and cables and all that much, much later. I want to transcribe my headphone experience into a stereo system as much as is possible, if it is possible, even though people usually go the other way around. I'm happy with my hp setup, was soliciting advice that I thought would be as simple as when I was looking for cheap, good active monitors, and everyone, even here, univocally said get the LSR-305s. Want that, but for passives and a power/integrated amp, if it exists.

By the way, I'll be using the same Gungnir A1 and Pi2AES that's in my hp setup, if that helps. Oh and "random boomer audiophile components" caught me lmao, there's a lot of that on YouTube for sure.

 

Joe Jackson - You Can't Get What You Want (Til You Know What You Want)

 

If you can score a used vidar and saga to stay in Budget I would do that over an integrated for the same money. Seen vidars for 450 often used. However if using gungnir might as well go Freya S for XLR in and out and vice versa. I've owned vidar twice if that matters. There's deals to be had scored an OG saga for $99 on another forum.

 

Yea a $100 chinese amp and almost any decent quality 2-way speakers (there are a million under $1000 and they are more similar than different).

I'm going to copy+paste the recommended gear list from cheapaudioman who despite being a cringe youtuber has some very good suggestions for getting started

Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 - $150)
Sony SSCS5 - Lively https://amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen - Laid Back Neumi BS5 -Neutral https://amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ - Crystal Clear and Punchy http://emotiva.com?aff=9
Jamo Concert https://howl.me/cf295uVQJA0
Elac Debut b5.2 - Neutral https://amzn.to/2WPNQxw
JBL Stage A130 - Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value https://amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Emotiva B2+ http://emotiva.com?aff=9
Jamo C93ii Bit - Boosted on Top https://howl.me/cf295uVQJA0
Q Acoustics 3030i - Neutral with Punch - https://amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500 SVS Prime https://bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 http://bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600 Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 - Neutral https://amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference - Buttery but Detailed https://amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100/200 https://howl.me/cf29UeQAWsD
Aperion Novus - Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 https://bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 https://bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed https://amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles

Recommended Amp List
Under $100 Aiyima A07 - Neutral and Full https://amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130 SMSL AD18 - DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls https://amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 https://amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250 SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp https://amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400 Emotiva TA-100 - DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs - Balanced and Tasty https://emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark http://www.vista-audio.com/products.htm

 

There's a pair of Boston Acoustics a70 for $200 and an Eico ST70 integrated for $650 both on usaudiomart right now, they would pair welll. I'd be pretty happy with that system for digital playback. It's a little ugly, but the amp at least is likely to retain value better than new stuff. And you have enough left for a balanced to se transformer if you have gungnir analog out nervousa.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details...e-integrated-amp-sweet-new-power-supply-caps/

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649914097-boston-acoustics-a70-a-70-loud-speakers/

 

I second this. I got a Modi MB, a cheap Sony stereo receiver and the RP-600M (+ the Elac Debut B6.2 recommended earlier in the thread).

Nowhere near top of the line or even "mid-fi" but I think it's a good entry level setup in the sense that it's good bang for your buck and you can get a good sense of speaker soundstage, imaging, and impact.

Haven't felt the need to upgrade from it but then again I decided to spend most of my audio hobby money on headphone equipment.

 

Anyone have experience with Tekton speakers? That product line has several floorstanding models which fit the listed budget and have both good sensitivity and FR specs (meaning no need for stands, a sub, or a crazy high-power amp).

 

If I had $1200 to spend,
I'd get Acoustic Energy AE1 active speakers and minidsp flex 8 (with Dirac and UMIK-1).
Both used, of course.

 

Audio Engine HD6 with a warm-ish DAC. I'm using a Multibit Bifrost 1 with them and I love the pairing.

The HD6's tend to reflect what is fed through them. My OG Yggdrasil has great staging/imaging with them, but the upper mids are a tad too aggressive.

 

What about the Vanatoo Transparent One Encores? A little while ago I "auditioned" (i.e., bought and returned from my pal Jeff Bezos) a pair of Transparent One and Zero to compare. Both were surprisingly good, and the Zero really only lacks bass extension and overall volume/loudness. I settled with the Zeros since they take up less space and the packaging makes them a transportable system-in-a-box for when I go on vacation.

 

Since this thread was started Schiit has come out with a couple of mini amps. I would want to try Sys + Rekkr + Caintuck Audio open baffle and use the remainder on whatever DAC you can afford. The high sensitivity of the Betsy driver means that the Rekkr should have more than enough power to get it loud enough.