I love helping my friends or anybody that asks me to design a system suitable for them. Not everybody gets the same recommendations. My approach is to structure the system based on their listening taste and habits, room, budget, and tech savviness. The following list of recommended systems will be segmented as I do with my friends. Each system will include a music streamer and be based on a two-channel design and never include a sound bar. The list will be sorted by price point – low to high.
System # 1 | The Chapman System | $1,500
Requirement: $1,500 to spend on an audio system for my family room and I want my kids and spouse to be able to use it. Mostly classic rock for music and want theater experience using only two speakers and a subwoofer. The speakers will sit next to the TV on the same stand. $110 for quality speaker cables.
Streaming Amplifier | WiiM Amp Ultra | $450
Why: it’s an easy-to-use component with one of the best music apps; fits inside any cabinet
- The WiiM Amp Ultra is a modern half-width component with a 3.5” touchscreen
- There are 100 watts per channel
- Simple and intuitive app
- Includes a remote control with Alexa voice control
- Supports Spotify, Amazon, Tidal, and Qobuz music services
- Apple Airplay is not supported yet
- HDMI Arc input for playing TV sound through your stereo speakers & subwoofer
Loudspeakers | Dali Kupid | $600 per pair
Why: great sounding small speaker that will look nicer than your TV; let your wife pick the color for quicker approval
- Attractive speaker from a great hi-fi company
- Compact monitor fits into any room, dimensions: 10” high by 5½” wide by 8” deep
- Four color options for: Walnut, Black, Blue, Caramel, and Yellow
- Due to its size, the Kupid may disappoint in a large room
- Low sensitivity so quality watts only
Subwoofers | RSL Speedwoofer 10E | $340
Why: quality sub from a passionate company that will do its job very well
- Affordable design and well built
- 10-inch subwoofer in a ported enclosure
- Basically a 15-inch cube and not very appealing the eye but you can put a plant on it
- White or black only; attractive gray grill on the white model
System # 2 | The Hunt System | $2,500
Requirement: $2,500 to spend on an audio system for my family room for mostly TV audio and some music. The main music genre is hard rock/heavy metal and they entertain often. Large room with adjoining kitchen. Speakers will sit on the floor beneath the TV with subwoofers.
Streaming Amplifier | Onkyo Muse Y-40 | $1,000
Why: high-end audio performance with world class aesthetics; supports the main music streaming services including Apple Airplay 2.
- The Onkyo Muse Y-40 is a new product within Onkyo’s relaunch into the 2-channel audio market
- Built for sound; 75 watts per channel
- Onkyo app for simple intuitive setup
- Silver or black
- Remote control included
- 5 ½” color screen
- HDMI ARC input for TV audio; also includes a phone input for your turntable
- Dimensions: 14” wide by 4” high by 13” deep
Loudspeakers | Klipsch Reference Premier RP-5000F | $840 per pair
Why: reliable excellent performer that fills a large room well; won’t embarrass you playing heavy metal at high volumes; makes for a great conversation piece due to its performance and appearance
- Very efficient speaker needed as little as 20 watts to fill a large room
- Klipsch has a reputation for handling loud complex music without harshness
- Tower speaker measuring 36” tall by 8.2” wide by 16” deep and 40 pounds each
- Ideal choice for rock-and-roll music
- Very nicely finished in either Black or walnut
Subwoofer | RSL Speedwoofer 10S MKII | $500
Why: quality sub from a passionate company and will thrive with the Klipsch
- Overachieving 10-inch subwoofer in a ported enclosure
- 400-watt internal amplifier
- Designed for medium-to-large rooms
- Enclosure is a 15” square cube and comes in white or black
System # 3 | Havemeyer’s Apartment System | $5,000
Requirement: $5,000 budget for an audiophile rig with an emphasis on vinyl playback; listening habits are low-to-moderate volume levels and should be focused around one listener sitting in the sweet spot.
Streaming Amplifier | NAD C 3030 | $1,500
Why: high-end audio performance and vintage aesthetics; separate analog domain for purity
- 50-watt per channel streaming amplifier with a strong analog focus
- BluOS streaming platform – arguable the beat streaming app – intuitive easy to use
- Moving magnet phono input
- Analog bypass keeps the phono input in the analog domain and away from digital interference
- HDMI Arc for TV audio
- Classic illuminated VU meters
- Remote included
- Dimensions; 14” wide x 5” high by 13” deep
Turntable | Rega Planar 1 | $600
Why: legendary British turntable flagged as the best budget turntable
- Includes a dustcover
- Very easy to set up
- Includes MM cartridge
Loudspeakers | Wharfedale Linton | $2,000 per pair
Why: audiophile speaker that can fill the apartment without the need for a subwoofer
- Heritage British speaker perfect for an audiophile’s apartment where a subwoofer isn’t practical
- Three real wood veneers: red mahogany, walnut, and black oak
- Includes matching stand with room to store some of your records
- Aesthetics and performance are a great match for the NAM amplifier
- 3-way design anchored by an 8” woofer providing low end harmonics with tight impact
- Rear ported design
- Dimensions w/o stand: 22 ½” high by 12” wide by 14” deep
- Dimensions of stand: 17 ½” high by 12” wide by 13” deep
Audio Rack | Solidsteel S5-2 | $600
Why: we need to control the vibration to the turntable, and this is a well-built rack with isolation platforms
- Anti-vibration dual-shelf design
- Two 1.18″-thick MDF structural shelves, each supporting an additional vibration-decoupled 1.18″-thick shelf
- Solid steel carpet spikes with protective floor discs
- Black or white
- Dimensions: 20” high by 23” wide by 17” deep
System # 4 | Saratoga Theater | $15,000 w/o Installation
Requirement: looking to add a theater room in the basement of a new construction home; projector a must; owner entertains often and wants a big wow-factor.
Multichannel Receiver | Sony ES STR-AZ3000 ES | $2,000
Why: Sony ES makes the best AV receivers in my opinion; excellent reliability with a strong focus on sound quality
- 110-watts per channel with 2 channels driven
- 9.2 channels with Dolby Atmos channels
- Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping – excellent results
- 6 HDMI inputs
- 5-year warranty
- Internal music streaming with Apple Airplay 2 support
- Dimensions; 17” wide x 8” high by 19” deep
- 42 pounds
Video Projector | Hisense LQ9 USTP | $5,000
Why: Sony ES makes the best AV receivers in my opinion; excellent reliability with a strong focus on sound quality
- Ultra short throw design lets you place the projector almost directly under the screen
- Bright, triple laser light source delivers crisp image quality, and 25,000-hour life span
- Light output: 5,000 ANSI lumens
- Recommended screen size: 80″ to 200″
- Built-in 6.2.2-channel Devialet speaker system with support for Dolby Atmos
- Internal streaming support
- Automatically adjusts to screen size
- 2-year warranty
- Dimensions: 25” wide by 6 ½” high by 12 ½” deep
Video Screen | Elite Screens 150” Aeon CLR5 Fixed Screen | $2,500
Why: 150” for WOW factor; designed for ultra-short-throw projectors only; minimal frame
- 152” 16:9 projector screen with ambient light absorption
- Sleek slim black frame
Speaker System | Monitor Audio C1L In-ceiling Speakers | $3,500 (6 speakers)
Why: I own and trust Monitor Audio for great audio performance and whose sound appeals to a wider audience.
- C-Cam 9-inch woofer and 1 ¼” tweeter per speaker
- Big rich engaging sound
- Never too bright/harsh
- Tight punch bass and warm tone to dialog
Subwoofer System | SVS 3000 Micro R|Evolution | $2,000 per pair
Why: SVS always overachieves and the new Micros are compact monsters
- Dual 9-inch sealed subwoofers per box
- Set up and tune via Bluetooth and SVS Control app
- DSP for custom tuning to your room
- Compact well-built enclosure attractive enough for any rooms
- Black or white lacquer finishes
- Dimensions: 12” wide by 11” high by 11” deep
- 22 pounds
Our recommendations reflect our personal experience with the equipment reviewed and should be considered alongside your own listening preferences and room acoustics. We encourage readers to audition audio equipment whenever possible. Great sound is personal, and the best component is the one that brings you closer to your music.
