Where to buy or piece together a gym stereo

We may earn a small commission from affiliate links and paid advertisements. Terms

totalburnout

Well-Known Member
VIP
The other thread gave me this idea. We have been through three different receivers and blown out speakers. One of the receivers looks to have fried during a lightning storm. Today, while the volume was up, it tripped the breaker and seems to have fried the receiver.

We need to push out sound at a decent level that can fill up 5000sq ft with 20ft ceilings. Sound quality doesn't have to be ridiculous.

Where the heck can I find something that would fit the bill? It's all boom boxes from the 80s or 90s, home theater systems, or DJ equipment.

Craigslist isn't being fruitful and I can't find where or what to buy new.
 
Of course you know the obvious question.....what's your budget? The receiver is everything...a lot speakers sound good with a good receiver

Also what did you have previously, how many speakers/ what models? what model receiver? Are these being wall mounted? in ceiling/Wall?
 
Budget, how many speakers are you running, and the kind of speakers.

Ask the guys at crutchfield.
 
Speaker count doesn't matter. Whatever is adequate. We just had 4 + a center.

As for budget, I am not sure what would be an adequate budget. At this point, paying $500 for something new or used would probably be fine. $1000 would probably be hard to justify for our needs.

I spent $200 on speakers but they popped and they'll need to get replaced. Was even thinking of doing a cheap no name surround sound system that was on Amazon or EBay that reviewed really well.

No one that I have talked to has any clue what I would need. I have a family member that owns a car audio store and a friend that DJs but there expertise is not with a system with a receiver and box speakers like we need.
 
But how are they mounted? Are they just on the floor? Are the mounted on the wall? Are they in wall/in ceiling?
 
What we blew were I believe JVC bookshelf speakers that were about $100/pair. probably 12in tall. Believe they were 8ohm and the receiver may have been 16ohm.

Each receiver has gone into protect mode when there's a spike in high treble from a song, even when the receiver was at maybe 80% max volume.
 
But how are they mounted? Are they just on the floor? Are the mounted on the wall? Are they in wall/in ceiling?
Currently a blend. One was mounted on the top of an aluminum framed wall that houses the bathrooms and our drop ceiling for office. The other is mounted on the wall using the mount system that came with JVC. A center speaker was on top of the recover, there were 1 or 2 speakers on the floor. Receiver sits on an open shelf.
 
Currently a blend. One was mounted on the top of an aluminum framed wall that houses the bathrooms and our drop ceiling for office. The other is mounted on the wall using the mount system that came with JVC. A center speaker was on top of the recover, there were 1 or 2 speakers on the floor. Receiver sits on an open shelf.

Sounds to me like you just need 4 good bookshelf speakers and a good receiver.....

I would go with something like this

4 of these

http://sounddistributors.com/buynow...=753&crid=291&cat_name=BIC+Acoustech+Speakers

1 of these
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V47...qid=1420928228&sr=8-9&keywords=yamaha+rx-v671
 
Or 4 of these of if you want a 3 way speaker....( I have these ...sound is amazing)

http://sounddistributors.com/buynow...=126&crid=291&cat_name=BIC Acoustech Speakers


20150110_132533.jpg
 
This was basically our setup but older. We were through a Sony receiver, a pioneer, and I forget the other brand. Speakers were about that size. I know we probably had it too loud but it wasn't all that crazy. I was told the speakers probably didn't match the ohmsw of the speaker and may have been underpowered which may have stressed the receiver.
 
This was basically our setup but older. We were through a Sony receiver, a pioneer, and I forget the other brand. Speakers were about that size. I know we probably had it too loud but it wasn't all that crazy. I was told the speakers probably didn't match the ohmsw of the speaker and may have been underpowered which may have stressed the receiver.

yes but there is a huge difference between JVC/Sony...then with BIC and Yamaha....you'll be blown away by the sound with that setup.. you really probably need 5 speakers to cover 5000SQ FT, I think its 1 speaker for ever 750-1000SQ of coverage, but you can always add a speaker if you needed too own the road.
 
yes but there is a huge difference between JVC/Sony...then with BIC and Yamaha....you'll be blown away by the sound with that setup.. you really probably need 5 speakers to cover 5000SQ FT, I think its 1 speaker for ever 750-1000SQ of coverage, but you can always add a speaker if you needed too own the road.

I just meant I would be concerned it wouldn't get loud enough or the receiver would be stressed to much like ours is now. I'm sure sound quality will blow away the junk we had.
 
I just meant I would be concerned it wouldn't get loud enough or the receiver would be stressed to much like ours is now. I'm sure sound quality will blow away the junk we had.
nah you will be fine with these speakers they can handle it along with the reciever
 

How would what you posted compare to something like this? I got a couple of responses on another forum to do a PA system.

"On the cheap, even something like 4 of these on the corners: Amazon.com: 2) New VM Audio VAS38P 8" 400 Watt 3 Way DJ Passive Loud PA Speaker System Pair: Electronics


and one of these to power it:Amazon.com: Pyle PMX401 4-Channel 150 Watt Powered PA Mixer/Amplifier with Independent Channel Control and Audio Line Input: Electronics

and something like this:Amazon.com: Insignia- 200W 2.0-Ch. Stereo Receiver: Electronics would be good enough for your FM source or use AUX or bluetooth, etc....use aux out though to give the AMP a line level signal..."
 
Sounds like you were asking too much out of a cheap receiver. Just like car audio with just an aftermarket head unit you can't really crank 4 speakers for extended period without distortion or blowing something. Put those speakers on a proper amp and it will sound clean and last a long time.

Surround sound speakers really aren't meant for what you are doing. I would get some sort of bookshelf speaker. I have been out of it for too long to know whats good now. Use good wire too.
 
PA speakers are a great option but they are usually huge and bulky...my sister is a dj and started out with 4 cheap PA speakers from ebay just like that and 2 blew within a year...she now uses JBL JRX 215 PA speakers. she has them on stands.

that receiver is not sufficient to push 4 speakers. stick with a yamaha 5.1 ...

you dont want to have to keep replacing your receiver and speakers every two years
 
you dont want to have to keep replacing your receiver and speakers every two years

You are absolutely right. I mean we dropped $200 on speakers and were given a hand-me-down receiver that we thought was decent. We got fed up of that one, even when not that loud (but definitely when it was up loud, too) spiking and saying "protect". Our friend gave us a newer Sony one and it seemed to be fine. It spiked once but everything was going louder and sounding clear. Came back after a weekend where there was thunder and lightning and the thing wouldn't turn on. Yesterday, we had a third receiver that came from another friend/trainer that was older but was a much beefier system. Thought all was well and it must have been overloaded or underloaded (I'm told this is just as bad) and pop! I get the phone call that I need to bring the old receiver from home because the last one popped.

Long story short. Tired of this and just want something that is going to work correctly. Don't want to spend a grand if I don't have to but will spend $500-$750 if I have to, to make sure the system is built right and will last. Like I said, the only scary part about what you posted is that everything appears to be similar ampage, wattage, size, etc to what we had and kept blowing.

What you said about needing 1 speaker per 750 sq ft is definitely what I am looking for an idea of because then I can go, oh for 5000sq feet, we should be running 7 book shelf speakers or 4 PA speakers.
 
I just txt my sister and she said if you are looking for low budget PA system that sounds great, Behringer speakers are really good. So I looked some up...

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-B21..._sim_MI_6?ie=UTF8&refRID=10EA519THYVKSQHXK1HX

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-EP2000-BEHRINGER-EUROPOWER/dp/B001W3BM24/ref=cm_cr_dp_asin_lnk

Gah. So many questions! Those get great reviews and look like a great speaker, but they're rated at 200watt versus the 400watt VM speakers that were in a wood box, also got good reviews, and were $100 for the pair rather than $150 each. Although those look much smaller and more easily mounted somewhere based on their size and their look.

Do you recommend an amp for any system that I get or only if the speakers are passive and don't have their own amplifier?

I guess some of my struggle with this stuff is that so much of it seems to be each individual's opinion and there doesn't seem to be only one "right" way to do things.
 
Back
Top