Topic: best complete system for $1400?

[jbrauer]

trying to help my girl get the most for her money.  she wanted to grab the bose system...

http://www.bose.com/controller?event=DTC_LINKS_TARGET_EVENT&DTCLinkID=2728&perfsourceid=k22350&src=k22350

because it's so compact and simple, but i know she can do better.  any suggestions?

[Frank M]

I'd start with a used Rega Planet CD player and an Antique Sound Labs MG SI 15DT (15W single-ended KT88 amp), and a pair of used monitors... but I don't know much about good monitors.  I messed around with that amp in combination with my VR-4's, and I was amazed by those 15 tubed Watts... even managed to piss-off the neighbors! 

Naturally, she'd have to be into owning something that was used and not be afraid of tubes (or getting up to adjust the volume).  It'll certainly deliver a lot more magic than that overpriced BOSE thing.  I had no idea it was so expensive. 

There are also the Panasonic receivers which are pretty amazing, but not very "romantic."

[Todd R]

I've never felt bose products were worth the money, nor that they sound particularly good.  For $1400, you really have a lot of options.  One thought would be the Sony STR-DA2000ES digital receiver and the toshiba 3960 dvd/cd player.  You can probably get both of these for ~$600, leaving $800 for speakers.  This would give you a lot of options, either with full size speaker towers or with bookshelves coupled with a subwoofer. 

I've got Soliloquy SAT-5's paired with a Pinnacle babyboomer sub, which I picked up for about $900 for the set.  I run those behind the 3960 and the Sony 3000ES (a bit more wattage than the 2000ES, but more or less the same thing).  This is a really nice sounding system which I would really recommend, though it a bit more than her budget.  It does give you an idea of what you could go for in the $1400 range. 

The major shift is that this is not at all a small, compact solution which really might be more appealing to her than overall sound.

[jbrauer]

thanks guys. +ts