Garage Stereo options

mustangmike6996

mustangmike6996

Club Member
So, last year my old Sony surround sound amp kicked the bucket. I Bought some Klipsch bookshelf speakers and ran them through a small Pyle PFA300 amp (had mixed reviews on Amazon) and used my phone to connect with the 3.5 mm jack. The sound was good but the amp only lasted 5 months until the right channel took a shit. The amp was only $30 so Im not too bummed but I would like to upgrade so something that wont be problematic. I see Pioneer, Sony and Yamaha have some 200w amps for about $150 through Best Buy or Onkyo and Denon have some $250-300 receiver/amps with HDMI passthrough.

Any recommendations on a garage amp for music? I have browsed CL and there arent many great deals or good equipment so Id prefer something new or like-new. I currently have a TV (that will eventually be upgraded) but mainly use the amp for Spotify and sometimes Youtube if I want to watch music vids.

These are the speakers I am using:
https://www.klipsch.com/products/r-51m-bookshelf-speaker#product-specs

Another route, that I havent looked into in depth, was people utilizing car headunits in an enclosure with Bluetooth and other app features which could be kind of cool.


Here are some links:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-2...-with-bluetooth-black/6187501.p?skuId=6187501
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/yamaha-200w-2-ch-stereo-receiver-black/5037100.p?skuId=5037100
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pioneer-2-0-ch-stereo-receiver-black/6150411.p?skuId=6150411

or the more expensive options:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/denon-...heater-receiver-black/6210100.p?skuId=6210100
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/denon-...heater-receiver-black/6210100.p?skuId=6210100
 
I would stick with two channel in the garage unless you want to do a surround setup for watching movies or something. You should be able to connect your TV to it through RCA cables if you want. Make sure you get blue-tooth too - a lot of the home theater receivers don't have bluetooth even if they cost a lot more.

For power, my guess is that those Klipsch speakers - like all Klipsch - are super efficient and will get pretty loud with low power.

-Geoff
 
WhiteHawk said:
I would stick with two channel in the garage unless you want to do a surround setup for watching movies or something. You should be able to connect your TV to it through RCA cables if you want. Make sure you get blue-tooth too - a lot of the home theater receivers don't have bluetooth even if they cost a lot more.

For power, my guess is that those Klipsch speakers - like all Klipsch - are super efficient and will get pretty loud with low power.

-Geoff
Click to expand...

Yea, I want BT. These speakers are awesome, even with the crappy underpowered amp I was using.
 
mustangmike6996 said:
Yea, I want BT. These speakers are awesome, even with the crappy underpowered amp I was using.
Click to expand...

I was all ready to pull the trigger on this Yamaha integrated - but when I looked up the bluetooth it was discontinued. I was inches from buying this. No tuner though.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_022AS301B/Yamaha-A-S301.html

Looking at this one now. They give you 30% store credit after purchase (be $120 on this), so theoretically you could get the bluetooth for free but i haven't read the fine print yet. Plus it's got the tuner and plenty of power.
https://emotiva.com/collections/amps/products/ta-100

I was ready to buy something, then this whole world shutdown happened to I figured that the best move was to wait. Probably grab something in a few months though when I start working in the garage again. I like the Emotiva, and having the phono input is nice in case I want to use it in the house at some point.

-Geoff
 
And I want to say, as far as tuners, I really want to get an HD Radio tuner too. I was specifically looking at that Yamaha until the bluetooth disappeared because I was going to buy a separate tuner. I have another home receiver with HD Radio and I have it in my truck. The audio quality is night and day better with the HD radio. I can't even stand radio without it anymore. The problem is, hardly anyone is making HD tuners for home gear right now - I guess the only supplier who was making the chips decided the home market wasn't worth it, and is focusing on car stuff.

The best solution is to get a Sony HD Tuner used from fleabay for a couple hundred, or if you can afford it, Rotel makes one you can get for a few hundred more. Or if you have money to burn - there is a McIntosh that was discontinued that does HD and XM that you can still find in the $4000 range... Outlaw Audio also makes a $1000 receiver with HD but it of course doesn't have bluetooth.

-Geoff
 
Ive got a Denon AVR-X2500h and really like it. Its my second Denon receiver and it works well. Bluetooth and wifi features make it even better. If your garage is close enough to your wifi, I'd find a receiver with it. You can control the receiver power, volume, input, etc with an app and it's really useful. The Denon you listed doesnt have wifi but the one below does. Accessories4less sells Denon manufacturer refurb receivers and alot of people on Reddit buy from them.

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs650h/denon-avr-s650h-5.2-ch-x-75-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html
 
Last edited:
Well, if you're not picky and are bargain hunting you got me
thinking and I went out to the garage and dragged this in the
house, hooked it up, listening to it now.

Selling as a package;

Kenwood Tuner / Amp
Kenwood CD player
Infinity Bookshelf Speakers (work but need new foam surrounds)
Infinity Satellite Speakers (work but need new foam surrounds)
Infinity Subwoofer

Stereo system works & sounds great.

Selling everything together for only $75. *** Sold ***





Stereo 1.JPG


Stereo 2.JPG


Stereo 3.JPG


Stereo 4.JPG
 
Last edited:
93 saturn sl2 said:
Ive got a Denon AVR-X2500h and really like it. Its my second Denon receiver and it works well. Bluetooth and wifi features make it even better. If your garage is close enough to your wifi, I'd find a receiver with it. You can control the receiver power, volume, input, etc with an app and it's really useful. The Denon you listed doesnt have wifi but the one below does. Accessories4less sells Denon manufacturer refurb receivers and alot of people on Reddit buy from them.

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs650h/denon-avr-s650h-5.2-ch-x-75-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html
Click to expand...




Ill have to look into them. I don't mind a refurb. WiFi isnt completely needed but would be nice. Usually my phone resides on the toolbox under where the receiver would be located. I repurposed an old Linksys routers and configured it as a WiFi repeater and ran CAT6 to the garage so now I have a network hub in the garage (which is great because I can stay connected to WiFi on my entire property plus some.



Sidenote, good news on the amp that crapped out.... I pulled the circuit card out of the amp and cleaned it with contact cleaners, hooked it up and it is functioning again. So I have music until I decide/buy a replacement (until it craps out again)
 
mustangmike6996 said:
Ill have to look into them. I don't mind a refurb. WiFi isnt completely needed but would be nice. Usually my phone resides on the toolbox under where the receiver would be located. I repurposed an old Linksys routers and configured it as a WiFi repeater and ran CAT6 to the garage so now I have a network hub in the garage (which is great because I can stay connected to WiFi on my entire property plus some.



Sidenote, good news on the amp that crapped out.... I pulled the circuit card out of the amp and cleaned it with contact cleaners, hooked it up and it is functioning again. So I have music until I decide/buy a replacement (until it craps out again)
Click to expand...

That’s the way to do it. They have Ethernet as well so even better.
 
I put Sonos play5's in my garage and they're everything I've ever wanted. Sound good for a garage, have access to anything on the internet (which now includes all worthwhile radio stations), even play movies or things I have on the TV
 
WhiteHawk said:
Crutchfield has this $20 off right now. Did you get it running yet Mike?

Also, I am still on the fence about that Emotive and now it is out of stock... Doh!

-Geoff
Click to expand...

I got the Yamaha up and running. Kind of a surreal purchase in the sense of what I had to do to get it. I got it from Bestbuy. Drove to Madison Heights (closest store that had it in stock and wouldnt take 10 days to ship). Pull up to the store and it looks like a fucking autocross with cones in the parking lot, employees all over directing people. Traffic was a mess for the 8 cars trying to get into line. Pull up, show my ID and tell them what Im picking up. Pop the trunk, they dropped it in and I took off.

At any rate, its all hooked up and paired up pretty well with my Klipsch speakers. Im using Bluetooth and Spotify, sounds quality could be a bit better but for $150 I cant complain.

I just actually got back from BestBuy and replaced my old Westinghouse 26" TV with a new Samsung 32" (same overall dimensions). Purchased online, stopped at Lowes and it was ready for pickup in 30 minutes. Screen quality is so much better its not even funny (even though its only 720p). Viewing angle and clarity is great but the stock TV speakers are super lame.... (guess Ill be hooking the TV to the new receiver). This TV was only $150, so far so good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top