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Really Inexpensive Systems That Sounded Great?

I think there is a big difference between "cheap" and inexpensive. I have blown money on "cheap" cables and immediately regretted it when my ears started bleeding from the brightness in my digital components. I also don’t mean "bargains" like the time I scored $2000 speakers for $200 on Craigslist, that is basically luck.

I am talking about inexpensive (less than $1500) for a system that sounded really great to you.

I fell into a whole house audio system from DTS Play-Fi because I wanted to try and compare different brands. I picked up Play-Fi amps, preamps and active speakers made by Polk, Paradigm, Klipsch, Onkyo and DefTech all for less than $1000 a pop. For what it is, whole house audio/casual listening it sounds great.

What inexpensive great sounding systems have you tried?

 

kota1
bgross's avatar
bgross
305 posts
 

Luxman R-1050, KEF 103.2, Auralic Aries Mini, Geshelli DAC. If you look hard you can put this together for $1500+/ a few bucks. Be HARD pressed to do better. Just my opinion...

clydeactor
24 posts
 

My small setup consists of a Sherwood S7100A receiver, Samsung DVD-HD841 player, and ADS L300 speakers.  Doesn't take up much space and sounds GREAT.

buellrider97
365 posts
 

+1 on the Akitika, they are amazing. Stereo Times has a nice review. I have a modest system ( $12K ). I pulled the SEP tube amp and rotated in the Akitika, sounds amazing. Pair it with the matching pre or use Shitt Audio gear. I ran the amp with Zu Omens, Klipsch Heresy’s, and JBL 4312’s. Sounded great, but was a little under powered for the JBL’s. I bought mine off AGON ,homebuilt as new with upgraded chassis and parts. Paired it with a used Cambridge DAC Magic 200. Add a pair of budget bookshelves like Borea 3, Klipsch 600, or Elac. As far as vintage gear , I gave my son a 23 wpc Marantz receiver and Klipsch KG 1.5’s and a Bluesound Node 130. Total cost with decent IC’s and Speaker cables was $1100. If you can experiment you’ll find that budget amp speaker combination that has a little synergistic magic. Happy hunting , Mike B. 

gents's avatar
gents
91 posts
 

Great thread. I love the challenge of putting together the best system you could afford.

tomcarr
1,468 posts
 

My wife and I have three systems. 

Master bedroom, living room, listening room.

The living room system is the least expensive by far and consists of a pair of Pioneer stand-mount 2-ways designed by Andrew Jones, 14 gauge cheap speaker wire, and a  Denon AVR bought used. Source is streaming.

Total cost is under $600.

Sounds amazingly good for what it costs. Helped in no doubt by a large room with tall ceilings. Best bang for the buck of our three systems.

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