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Ok so I got High School out of the way and I am headed to the dorms August 27th. I would really like to be able to put out some good music in my dorm but obviously money is tight. My computer is the only audio I own at the time because my Dad's system is stellar and I have always used that.

Any suggestions as far as setup, components, mouting, anything really. I was thinking about a reciever and some speakers because my DVD player can play CD's and such. But one of those "All-in-one" systems is tempting as well, too bad most of them look so damn goofy.

Give a price range and size limitations if any, and we'll find you something.

If needed a computer too and you had some cash to burn, I'd say go for a PowerBook, AirPort Express, a pretty good receiver and a set of speakers.

Of course you could do the same thing with an iPod, a good receiver and set of speakers.

Room is gonna be 10 X 10 give or take a foot or 2 on each. Price isn't very concrete, I can see spending maybe 400 total. If the parts are Sony I could probably get them at a decent discount, maybe 30% cheaper or so but they would have to be new.

I think THIS is what my dorm layout is, I'll be in the single. Although I think I am getting a loft so my computer can go under my bed.

And I have an iPod, so something that I can plug into that or my computer so I can play all my .mp3's would be ideal.

I was looking on ebay for shelf systems and this one and this one looked like good deals, if I really am willing to spend 400 I could prolly do better though.

Here is a link for you, can't go wrong with Klipsch.

http://store.klipsch.com/list.asp?DepID=8&CtgID=8

Check out the two refurb systems, my ultra 5.1 should arrive this week.

Wait, you call "all in one" systems goofy, but want to get those things?

Those will be cool if you want something near indestructible for parties, or whatever. A good desktop system will sound a lot better if it 's just you listening in your room though, and it would look a bit .... classier.

For example:

One of the Denon, Teac, or Sony "executive" systems would be just fine for your dorm room.

Otherwise use that player to power an integrated:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ran&1096724124

and some speakers:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

or

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1096242173

And you will have the best sounding desktop system on campus.

Hey there,

I recently returned from a non-internet vacation and the first link you posted isn't there and I was just curious as to what component it pointed to. Also I aquired on my vacation a Bose Wave Radio as well as a Kenwood 5 CD changer similar to This one and I was wondering how you would suggest incorporating these new components. If anything I can just hook up the radio to my TV or something.

Thanks

OK, something to think about--you probably dont want to go putting any stereo equipment in a dorm worth more than a couple hundred dollars. Things get stolen from dorm rooms all the time. Not to mention dorm rooms are just shit holes and crap gets piled up, knocked around, beer spilled on it, and all kinds of other stuff. If you *really* crave some nice sound, get a nice pair of headphones. Otherwise, go spend $100 on a cheap mini-system. Trust me, you dont want to go sink money into a system for a dorm room.

I had $1k+ worth of stereo equipment and nobody tried to steal it, but people did steal boomboxes, rack mounted amps, and even freaking jbl dual 15" pro style speakers (150 pounds each, cost about $100 each). From what I've seen thieves will take flashy over quality, since at a pawn shop, more people will pay money for a big flashy boombox then an antique looking rotel amp.

Now with that wave radio, you get 1 auxiliary in, 1 aux out. It'll be a great clock radio, and perhaps all you need for music. Test it out and tell me if it's enough sound for you.

If it is then you've got a couple of options:

If the tv has aux in/out, you could hook up the dvd player to the tv, the tv to the radio. There might be an audible loss in quality though.

Hook either the dvd, tv, or cd player into the radio, then you've got only one source at a time, switching sources is... inconvenient.

Get an av switchbox, and use it to hook all the components into that radio, which will give probably the worst quality, depending on the switchbox. How audible a difference in quality will be up to you.

If you want more than just that radio, then you also have a couple of options:

Use the radio separately.

Use the radio with powered speakers (compuer speakers).

Get a system with a tuner (boombox or desk system) and not worry about the radio. Get something with a couple of inputs and plug everything else in.

Get an integrated amp and speakers, use the radio as a tuner for it. Plug everything else in, and use it to select the source.