Need a speaker recommendation for my parents!

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

In spite of hanging out on audio forums, my actualy knowledge of what speakers are out there is pretty limited.

My parents are finally upgrading their 54" Hitachi TV purchased in 1993 and the matching Technics stereo system. As the designated technology guy in the family, I've been designated to help them pick the replacement equipment.

I think we have the TV taken care of, so now it's time for the audio side of the equation. Anythign will be better than what they currently have, and they do not have a discerning ear. The main criterion for the speakers is "small" as they would like to have something that can fit on a bookshelf. ""Inexpensive" is the next criterion, as they don't care about audio quality (have been using mostly TV speakers for years; I'm trying to work on them).

So, any recommendations? I know SVS has a low-priced set of bookshelves, and the av123 ELT's would probably fit the bill as well.

While I'm at it, are there decent low-priced receivers I should look into?

[corndog71]

if cheap trumps sound quality then get whetever you can find. Radio Shack sells pretty cheap gear.

[keenween]

bstock x-ls? only $130.

Where are the Waf-1s? :whoopie:

[Ajax]

Swimming their way to the U.S. Expected in Philadelphia by the 25th of this month. (They be good swimmers )

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

if cheap trumps sound quality then get whetever you can find. Radio Shack sells pretty cheap gear.

Well, since I occasionalyl spend time at their house, some quality is necessary. :)

I guess I was looking for "What sounds good for <$1000"?

[PhenomeNhan]

Well, since I occasionalyl spend time at their house, some quality is necessary. :)

I guess I was looking for "What sounds good for <$1000"?

Have you looked at the Ascend stuff?

Another one in that price range would be the Level 2 bookshelves from HTD.
Stay away from Denon receivers if you want ease of operation :)

[keenween]

Perhaps Emerald XL from ACI?

https://www.audioc.com/speakers1/emeraldxl/emeraldxl.htm

Used pair on Audiogon.

....probably needs to mate with a sub though.

[greg_mitch]

You should look at Elemental Designs (eD). They have some pretty good prices on their speaker sets.

Also, I got an email that the Mirage Nanosats were on sale at Vann's. Something like 5 speakers for $250.

I just picked up a refurbed Onkyo 507 for $260. Pretty good price for about every new feature available. Watch the heat though...

[bunnyma357]

You might look at the Energy line of speakers, I bought some C-100's from Woot.com on closeout and have been very happy with them.

http://home-audio.audioadvisor.com/search?w=Energy&x=0&y=0

If you search around you may be able to find even bigger discounts, since they seem to be trying to clear out all stock on the "C" series speakers.

Jim C

[etcarroll]

Swimming their way to the U.S. Expected in Philadelphia by the 25th of this month. (They be good swimmers )

Phillie, eh.............

I may have to start hanging around the docks about them, dressed in all black, with bolt cutters.

[Cheeseboy]

Phillie, eh.............

I may have to start hanging around the docks about them, dressed in all black, with bolt cutters.

You may just want to grease a Philly union dockworker and have the container loaded on your truck. It might only cost you a cheesteak from Pats. It beats loading and unloading a container yourself at night. It's Philly.

The most important consideration in a home with older users is ease of operation and WAF. Find an older Integrated Amp or receiver from NAD. Simple 2.1 installation. Older JVC receivers had a feature called Compulink. It allows the user to pick the component at the receiver or remote and all the receiver settings happen automatically to accomodate that component. It turns on and begins to play. In the technical vastness of your golden years unless you are like one of us there is no need for surround sound.

Be sure that the speaker stands and speakers match the room in terms of finish and style. Give them finish options on both. Hide the subwoofer behind the big screen. Develop a nice small cabinent that fits the room to hide everything associated with the electronics. When the doors on it close the electronics do not exist.

[Kevin_Wadsworth]

Good ideas, Cheeseboy. For Christmas 2007 I got them a Harmony 880 universal remote because my mom didn't like my dad fiddling with the 4 remotes for the TV, stereo, and 2 VCRs (yest that's right, 2 VCR's - with the TV upgrade my brother and I finally convinced them to go to a DVR).

Matching finish of the speakers will certainly be important, but they are also rennovating the room's cabinetry, so they could match the cabinets to the speakers.

For a sub, I have a UFW-10 that I'm not using right now. That could possibly work well for them since it's small, looks nice, and would perform reasonably well for them. Although they enjoy movies, I don't think they'll be renting Transformers 2 and watching a reference volume levels.

[Cheeseboy]

We are moving into a new house and the remodel is just getting finished.

Your timing is perfect. The cabinet guy could stain the speakers to match the new cabinents or find someone that does staining. It might cost about $150 for a set of bookshelf speakers. Then you could just pick something you like and have it painted. Buy em in oak. We had this done on some wood in the kitchen so we could recess mount the microwave. lT LOOKS GREAT.

My brother in law just made me a mantel for the fireplace and I'm taking it to the same guy who will do Piano Laquer on the top and Rocket Rosewood on the bottom and sides. It was the wifes idea. She likes her 850's too.

[jschlesi]

I second the ascends. I have the 200s and 340SE. 200s or 170s sound like what you are looking for. They have the simple black coating that hides into an entertainment center.

[Jethro]

In spite of hanging out on audio forums, my actualy knowledge of what speakers are out there is pretty limited.

My parents are finally upgrading their 54" Hitachi TV purchased in 1993 and the matching Technics stereo system. As the designated technology guy in the family, I've been designated to help them pick the replacement equipment.

I think we have the TV taken care of, so now it's time for the audio side of the equation. Anythign will be better than what they currently have, and they do not have a discerning ear. The main criterion for the speakers is "small" as they would like to have something that can fit on a bookshelf. ""Inexpensive" is the next criterion, as they don't care about audio quality (have been using mostly TV speakers for years; I'm trying to work on them).

So, any recommendations? I know SVS has a low-priced set of bookshelves, and the av123 ELT's would probably fit the bill as well.

While I'm at it, are there decent low-priced receivers I should look into?

How many channels for this application? Everything depends on this.