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Help me put a system together for under $1k.

I am trying to come up with a system for around $1k for my son's room. He is of the age where music is really starting to interest him and he loves to discover different types of music. My goals are to put together a system that would sound on the warm side with none of the cheap stereo nasties like sizzling highs and muddy bass. Thin sounding system would be a turn off as well. I would rather sacrifice the bottom and top end response for a better balanced, relaxed and musical system that would play any kind of music and be enjoyable for hours on end of listening. Due to the budget restraint, it would have to be an integrated with bookshelf speakers. CD player and possibly an inexpensive turntable would be nice too as an alternative to using Ipod for playback. I have been eyeballing the Epos ELS3 and Cambridge Azur 640A, am I on the right track so far? Your input would be appreciated!
flyski
bignerd100
515 posts
 
All appologies if my comment was out of line.
Just an anecdote. No criticism intended.

:)
flyski OP
40 posts
 
With responses like "give him the 1k and let him figure it out. otherwise he learns nothing" and "I agree. ask your son. Chances are he knows what he wants and what will work in the life he lives in. The best place to start is with respect.", it's no wonder the HIFI dealers are quickly going out of business being replaced by small home theater dealers which in turn are also going out of business. Pretty soon there will be nothing left but BestBuy and Circuit City. If this hobby is to have any chances of survival, it is our duty to teach the youngsters everything we know about HIFI, keep them involved and interested in music both current and of the past. It does not take much effort to go and buy any system off the shelf from local electronics store, but the rewards and memories of picking your own first system with your Dad and then enjoying the great sounding music for years to come are priceless. Don't you guys have any memories of your childhood where your parents actually participated in something that was important to you? Those memories do not fade away!
matt39
19 posts
 
I think you're on the right track with your original ideas. The 540A integrated would probably be ok too especially as your son will likely be using his system in small rooms for years to come. I'm wondering if he might want a tuner. A lot of young people listen to radio frequently. If so a nice receiver along the lines of the Denon DRA-395 might be a good choice (there is a review in the product reviews you could check). I'd also consider a dvd player for a digital source. Most kids like video and the ability to play concert dvd's might be a welcome feature. A system like a Cambridge/Denon amp/receiver, Epos speakers and say a Pioneer multi-format dvd might be just the ticket and leave some bucks left over to get some starter source material too! Anyway I think your son is a pretty lucky young man and I hope you guys enjoy choosing and playing his new system.
Gary
millikeith
2 posts
 
In a 2004 Absolute Sound editorial entitled, "The industry that shoots itself in the foot," Robert Harley put together a musical system that was near your price range. Hope this helps you out.
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/tas/150/editorial.htm
millikeith
henryhk
648 posts
 
This is REALLY good thread, Flyski. I was thinking to do the same thing for my son as well. My initial thinking is that as it has pointed already, the key thing is what he uses as source, iPOD & notebook. So everything must start from there. Has any one audtioned the Gini system designed with iPOD in mind with tubes? I have only seen it magazines so far but seems to be encouraging,and the looks are likely to be attractive to some one has a MAC and IPOD. Price?
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