stereo systems?

Question

Weel after christmas i will likely have some money to spend and am looking at a stereo system. i am thinking 450.00 at the most and i want a subwoofer a front speaker a front left and right and a back let and right. i also want a cd changer and an ipod docking station that i can control my ipod by remote through

Answer 1

This set up isn't very expensive but it will give you a lot of sound for your money...Click below to see the receiver...Wait until it's on sale for $80...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sherwood-Stereo-Receiver-RX-4105/sem/rpsm/oid/121266/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Now you need some speakers...Get these guys when they're on sale for $40 each...Don't listen to the website, they ACTUALLY have 8 inch woofers, not 6 and a half...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-Bookshelf-Speaker-S-HF41-LR/sem/rpsm/oid/132518/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Now get your sub woofer...You can get a good one for about $150 when it's on sale...This model it usually $200...Don't miss out...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/MTX-12-Subwoofer-SW2/sem/rpsm/oid/81414/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Now for an entry level 5-disc, CD player...This model goes on sale for $80 quite often...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/NexxTech-trade-CD-Player-N500D/sem/rpsm/oid/148407/catOid/-12900/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Now this leaves $60 to get your iPOD docking station...I don't know too much about computers so you'll have to ask the sales man a thing or two...I only allotted you TWO speakers...A front-left and a front-right...For music you only want 2 speakers...For movies you want to have an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT set up with 5 SPEAKERS and a sub...If you want to do music AND movies then click these links below...

You'll use the SAME CD player but the speakers, receiver and sub woofer will change...Here's the receiver...Get it when it's on sale for $130...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sherwood-Surround-Sound-Receiver-RD-6500/sem/rpsm/oid/108452/catOid/-12949/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Here are the 5 speakers...The 5th speaker is for dialogue in movies and goes on top of the TV...They're sold in pairs but they'll sell you an odd number if you ask...They go for $20 each on sale...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-Bookshelf-Speaker-S-HF21-LR/sem/rpsm/oid/133873/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Here's the sub woofer that matches...It goes for about $80 on sale...Check it out...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-8-Subwoofer-SA-WM250/sem/rpsm/oid/92231/catOid/-12950/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Now this second set up will STILL leave you with $60 to mess with the iPOD docking station thingy...The TRUTH is that the FIRST set up will make your MUSIC sound INCREDIBLE...The SECOND set up will make your MOVIES sound better and your MUSIC sound WORSE...It's up to you but like I said I would NOT use 4 speakers to listen to MUSIC.

I also wouldn't buy traditional speaker wire...I would got to Lowes or Home Depot and get some "18/5 THEROSTAT" wire..."18" is the gauge (thickness) and the "5" means how many conductors (wires) are inside the cable...It's SOLID copper and NOT braided...It only costs 20 cents a foot...The FIVE separate conductors have their own insulation and then are twisted inside a single sheath to resist electo-magnetic interferance...Simply strip and COMBINE two conductors for POSITIVE (red) and two for NEGATIVE (black) and clip the 5th one...This is an EXACT copy of AUDIOPHILE speaker wire that sells for $3 per foot at some stores.

Answer 2

Go to a Circuit City and have a look around. They tend to have some good deals, especially after Christmas. That said, when it comes to home audio, I would plan on stretching a little beyond $450 just to give yourself some "shopping room". Good luck.