u/Edisonfire_

Thanks, internet strangers.

I checked the manual and set the speakers up according to the recommended specs. They’re now about 7.5 ft apart, 1.5 ft from the corners of the room, and toed in toward the main listening position. I ditched the center.

I also moved the receiver, which was always the plan once I got longer speaker cable. Thanks, Amazon overnight. And yes, you guys were spot on about the heat. You could grill n that sucker.

I’m really digging this setup. And the price IMO is kinda impossible to beat. Thanks again for all the tips.

As for the printer, I took it to a field and smashed it with a bat. PC Load Letter? WTF does that mean?

One more question, I can set these speakers up for bi-amplification, and the receiver supports it.

What’s everyone’s take on that? Worth doing?

I’ve had a Yamaha YP-701 turntable for a while now. For the longest time, I had it running through my JBL MII studio monitors and a Yorkville sub. It sounded fine, but the desktop footprint and massive sub always made my desk area feel cluttered.

The rest of the house is on Sonos, probably around 10 pieces total, so I grabbed another speaker and used the line-in for the turntable. It was okay, but the digital delay got old fast. Something about hearing the crackle of vinyl instantly is just part of the experience.

So I’d been randomly checking Marketplace for an alternative and came across a pair of Boston Acoustics VR30s and a VR10 center. I offered $100, which was well below asking, and we settled at $125. When I showed up, the lady asked if I needed a receiver and just gave me an Onkyo TX-NR828.

For less than the price of an Era 100, I feel like the sound I have now is far superior, and it makes the whole listening experience way better. I know the size and complexity are much greater, and im still a Sonos fan, but I'm loving it so far.

Now a few questions:

Is the center channel necessary if I’m mainly just listening to music? I need to put it somewhere other than the windowsill if I keep it. Could it go underneath where the printer is?

I also have a Sony SA-CS9 sub sitting in the garage. Would it be worth dragging upstairs and adding to this setup?

The receiver seems to have a menu that can display if you plug in a TV, but my office TV is on the other side of the room. Would it be worth getting a cheap little 7" screen to make menu navigation easier?

TL;DR: $125 Marketplace score, not including the turntable, and it sounds way better than an Era 100 for less money.