BEST SOUNDING SYSTEM FOR THE LEAST AMOUNT OF $$$$


greetings!

if you were to throw a ton of dead presidents at just about anything one can or should be able to come up with a high quality strong performing top notch, result.

but what if your angle is to squeeze the most out of coins and cupons and piggy bank savings. just how far might you get with real world budget constraints holding the whip of accountability in the pastime of audioland?

using your system building experience, noteable auditions, and or imagination, let’s jot down on ‘paper’ what you think, or indeed have put together that should be or is, an enjoyable, engaging, stereo rig for the least investment.

guidlines:
For simplicity sake, please use just one source. analog. Digital. Streaming.

although there is no real dollar amount being targeted merely try to provide good ideas on minimally invested rigs which likely or do exceed entry level outfits audio performance.

naturally, show your component choices and their overall cost.

Looking forward to reading about your various 2 channel outfit builds either practical or imagined which adhere to pedestrian rather than provocative investments yet possess the attribute:

“its hard to turn it off, once its turned on”.

thanks to all.
blindjim

Thank you for the insights. very nice rig.
I dig tubes too, though SS with tubes has a strong attachment still.
This is one of the configurations I've had in my computer room system (I've since replaced the Vincent).

Vincent SV-237 integrated $1,250 (second hand)
Harbeth P3ESR SE $1,050 (second hand)
MHDT Labs Orchid $750 (second hand)
Onkyo DV-SP205FX SACD player approx. $130 (second hand, required a $20 step up transformer)
SVS SB12-NSD $400

In some ways, this system rivals or betters my main system, which costs many times more than this system.  
TAKE YOUR TIME (wait for the luck of the Irish)

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USED (with caution)

If using PayPal, have seller send you an invoice for the goods. If you just send money without an invoice, you have no protection from PayPal.

Talk to your credit card company about their help, even consider taking an advanced card level with yearly fee for a while, get ’extra’ protection, then buy, then, next year drop back to prior level or keep it.

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SPEAKERS are primary,

I would look for used, returns/full refund accepted, then the only risk is return shipping.

So, used speakers: only ones I could drive to, pick up, get home in one day, and then if a bust, return in one day, no shipping to/from needed. Many people will meet you half way, or at least drive 1 hr toward you.

Seller might even let you hear them at his place. Tell seller you will be wearing a mask and gloves of course. Or, pick up at the end of a driveway, transfer money with a 6 ft stick!
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TT
I agree, that AT120 turntable is quite good, I had one for years, I used my cartridge, the new optional cartridges/stylus is a great move up.

When pricing cartridges, remember, average life of advanced shapes increase, so figure the cost per 50 hours for true cost comparison

Avg. Life chart I found:

150 hrs conical.
250 hrs elliptical, (+67% longer than conical)
400 hrs MicroLine (ML), Shibata, ..(+60% longer life than elliptical)
500 hrs SAS (+100% longer life than elliptical) (+25% longer than ML).

And don’t forget, advanced shapes equates with less wear to LP grooves, and, less Tracking Weight equates to less wear to LP grooves
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FEATURES list prior to components
FUTURE Considerations NOW

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Play good speakers with any damnnnn thing, replace each piece as you get lucky







used

sonos streamer   150
chord mojo   300
naim nait  500
modest little proacs   500
modest rel sub  300

done
I consider my system #2 a poor-ish man's system. Though some normal friends have said it is expensive.

Benchmark: HPA4 + DAC3B + AHB2 x 2. 

This is not a system for rose colored glasses view of the music. It is neutral but not fatiguing. The headphone section on the HPA4 is phenomenal.

Some other options for money in pockets systems.

The NAD Master M33 sounds interesting with the Purifi module. Not sure if the DAC in it is great, but most DAC are good enough nowadays. It would be a one and done component. The Hegel 390 integrated is also a one and done component. The older Hegel 360 was a component I thought about buying after hearing it.

Don't get mad if these are considered expensive options. I have a rich wife.