good audio system recommendation for android

totow

Estimable
Jun 18, 2014
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4,510
Hello,
I want to purchase an audio system / speakers to put in a living room, and I actually need your recommendation please. The music system should
1) have a good sound quality (I'm an ex-musician, so I'm used to a good sound :)). It will be used to play classics, rock, jazz and children songs.
2) be able to connect to a smart phone (android) - to play music from youtube etc.
3) cost up to $100-$130
4) built-in radio, CD player and remote control are nice to have
5) preferably not too bulky - it should fit 2-3 small shelves on the wall.

I looked at this one, but there I'll probably pay extra for the iphone support, and I dont have iphone/ipad.
http://www.amazon.ca/Sony-CMT-S30iP-Micro-System-iPhone-Audio/dp/B00FJKGXFW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403106366&sr=8-1&keywords=CMT-S30iP

I also thought about the following speaker system, but I can put 2-3 small shelves to fit everything on a wall. Not sure if it's enough space for these speakers:
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Surround-Sound-Speakers-Z506/dp/B003VAK1FA


Sorry for the long thread, I'm a bit confused with the lots of options :)
What would you recommend?
 
to connect to a smartphone all you need is a system with 3.5mm input then output via the phones 3.5mm headphone jack. you will need to control music via your phone and have it physically connected but thats not a big deal.

if you wanted to be able to control the songs played via your sound system then that needs android support and is going to cost you more money. its always a rather clunky interface anyways and generally slower than just browsing on your phone.

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it sounds like a mini system with two small satelite or bookshelf speakers of good quality paired up with a small cd player/amplifier is suitable for your needs.

perhaps like something TEAC offers or that sony mini system you listed above. neither are going to offer professional grade sound but likely are not going to be bad for the price. most of the cost is in the control unit and not the speakers.

you could of course just buy a mini cd player stereo amp and pick out what speakers you like of course but that might run a bit more money.

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another option is to just buy speakers you like and use a small amplifier. its barebones and doesnt have an integrated cd player but its cheaper meaning you can get better speakers for better sound. also since it takes rca (converted from 3.5mm) it can take signal from a phone or cd player just fine.

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the z506 would be wasted as most of the sound is going to be stereo only. instead you could use one of the 2.1/2.0 logitech sets, the jbl creature iii, harman kardon soundsticks iii or creative t20/t40. all take 3.5mm input and do not include a cd player (they are computer speakers).

sound quality might not be as good as a system made with bookshelf speakers and an amplifier however its not going to be bad.

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you pay big money for the nicer looking mini systems with all the integrated options. but, they do look much nicer.
 

totow

Estimable
Jun 18, 2014
3
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4,510
thank you for your detailed answer!

Could you explain why Im going to need an amplifier?


Could you recommend a good mini system, up to $150-200? Or its going to cost much more?


logitech are twice cheeper than t20/t40. is it because have worse sound quality?

thanks again!
 
all speakers need an amplifier.

computer speakers which have a power plug and also powered hifi speakers which also have a plug have one included inside them. other speakers such as the hifi speakers i'm talking about which makes up the majority of speakers would require an external.

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by cheap speakers and a small amp i was referring to something like this
http://www.cnet.com/news/build-your-own-desktop-stereo-for-under-70/

if you wanted a step up and more room fulling sound then i was talking about something like this http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH130-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B006U1VH2S/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1403120785&sr=1-5&keywords=200w+stereo+amp paired up with speakers like this http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SS-B1000-4-Inch-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B000OG88KY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1403131144&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+bookshelf+speakers or this http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SSF-5000-Floor-Standing-Speaker/dp/B000OG4E1G/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1403131170&sr=1-5&keywords=sony+bookshelf+speakers of course you could use other brands. sonys dont sound half bad for the price. i've seen the ss-f5000p floorstanders for as low as $130/pair (we got them for $100/pair years ago). they are so boomy that you dont need a subwoofer with them.

if you wanted me to suggest to you an all-in-one micro system similar to the sony you listed above then sorry but i cannot. i'm not familiar with anything in the $150-200 range that i would call excellent.

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what logitech set? if you are talking about something like the z313 or z323 they are rather low end speakers. they are good for the price but not anything special. the t20/t40 are better sounding however since they lack a subwoofer they will not have the bass response. some of the other sets mentioned have subwoofers so are going to be better sounding than the low end logitechs.

any of the computer speaker sets though are going to have a hard time keeping up with any half decent hifi speakers.

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totow

Estimable
Jun 18, 2014
3
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4,510
ssddx, thanks a lot for the detailed answer! I will meanwhile use my computer speakers (logitech 2.0) and will wait for sale on good bookshelf speakers
have a great week!