Home Stereo Advice

[colonel panic]

I'm tasked with finding a stereo for our home. I'm thinking that a unit with small (wireless?) speakers that can play radio, CD's and iPods would be the appropriate thing. I have little ones so it can't be one of these: (http://www.atma-sphere.com/products/s30.html) as it may get roughed up.

Does anyone have anything like this or can recommend one?

(I'm looking on Amazon but I don't really know whats out there).

(also, does the period go after or before the trailing parenthesis)?

thanks. 

[fonpr]

Just remove the parenthesis.
(Right,Sarah)?

[Sarah]

I'm tasked with finding a stereo for our home. I'm thinking that a unit with small (wireless?) speakers that can play radio, CDs, and iPods would be the appropriate thing. I have little ones so it can't be one of these, as it may get roughed up.

Does anyone have anything like this or can anyone recommend one?

(I'm looking on Amazon but I don't really know whats out there.)

(also, does the period go after or before the trailing parenthesis?)

thanks. 

[Bryan]

I don't have a particular recommendation, but would warn you off wireless speakers. Wireless anything is a pain in the ass (and usually requires batteries).

[Gilly]

I don't have a particular recommendation, but would warn you off wireless speakers. Wireless anything is a pain in the ass (and usually requires batteries).

And expensive. I was looking into them because my new puppy kept chewing on my speaker wire so I had to take them down. But they're way too expensive for decent ones and even still they get the pain in the butt reviews.

[yesno]

Wireless speakers are a pain in the ass.

I want a tube amp too, and have been planning for months to get a kit.  In the meantime I took old self-powered Bose speakers with 2 inputs and have one input be a new Apple TV and the other one a record player.  They sound better than my janky old amp.  The Apple TV just streams iTunes from my computer in the other room--it works perfectly, and it's actually nice to just have a single (backed-up) music server.  While wireless speakers suck, music and video streams just fine over an 802.11N connection. The Apple TV can play WFMU, too.  And I can turn off the TV's screen while having it keep playing music.  If I ever wanted to play a CD, I suppose my Blu-Ray could do it, but it really hasn't come up.

(I used to have an HTPC, but a web browser on a TV is a pain in the ass, and Apple TV does Netflix streaming.  I turned the PC into a headless Ubuntu web and NX server/workhorse transcoder/etc because I'm cool.)

So anyway, the Apple TV in my living room is the best "stereo" system I've ever had.  It works much better than XBMC-derived things like Boxee, and is very pleasant to use.

[fonpr]

I turned the PC into a headless Ubuntu web and NX server/workhorse

I barely know what this means; yet, somehow I am delighted.

[Gilly]

I'm partial to Harmon Kardon receivers. You can go low end with them and have a great sound. If you have a turntable I suggest going to the vinylasylum boards or audio adviser. They can lead you to low cost stuff at salvage stores, Craigslist or garage sales that sound great.

[Big Plastic Head]

So anyway, the Apple TV in my living room is the best "stereo" system I've ever had.

I do the same thing and I love it. Can control the whole thing anywhere in the house with the remote ap on my phone. It really does work well especially for listening to web streamed radio which we do often.

[JonFromMaplewood]

Since this thread exists, another stereo question:

Where could I go and buy a phono preamp if I wanted to drive to a store right now instead of ordering it online?  Best Buy does not carry them.

Thanks.

[dave from knoxville]

Much as I am loathe to point it out, Radio Shack carries a couple of really basic ones.

[Bryan]

I used one from Radio Shack for years. Any well-stocked stereo store probably has some in stock.

Google maps says maybe these guys are in your neck of the woods: http://www.audionexus.com/

[JonFromMaplewood]

Thanks DfK and Bryan.  Both recommendations are working out as possibilities.

FOT rule.