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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
kota1 OP
2,706 posts
 

and for old as well

+1

switlikbob
2 posts
 

I've always found that no matter the price / value of the equipment, proper component matching is what makes a system sound ok, good, or fantastic.  Right now, I have about 12 pairs of speakers, 3 tube amps, 4 solid state amps, a hybrid amp, multiple preamps of both solid state and tube variants, some equalizers, a few DACs and multiple different analog or digital sources.  Some speakers I have built myself from scratch, some I have modified, some are at manufactures spec.   Some of my equipment is fairly valuable, some is not.  I am constantly mixing and matching, trying to get the best sound out of each matching component set.  I must say, there are times when I am amazed at how good some of my inexpensive equipment sounds when properly matched up.  I am also equally horrified with the results of matching up some of my higher end equipment.  With that said, one of my least valuable, yet favorite sounding system consists of:

- Mistral MT-34 Integrated Tube Amp with solid state rectifier

- S.M.S.L. SU-6 DAC & LDAC Bluetooth receiver with volume control and remote control

- Schiit Loki EQ (to add bass)

- ZU Audio Omen Bookshelf Speakers

- Self made Custom interconnect and speaker cables

 

 

digsmithd
913 posts
 

My friend with 100k system told me my system made him trip...asked him why? your system sounds great.... "for what it is"...😉

kota1 OP
2,706 posts
 

@switlikbob 

It is like every piece of kit tok you closer or further from what you like, then it comes together. Interesting how Schiit gear is coming up in this thread, makes me want to try it.

@digsmithd 

It is surprising how you can go to a dealer and hear uber priced gear you have read great reviews and at the end of the day still can't surpass what you own. I find old Carver amps can sound better than come new kilobuck amps on my speakers, go figure.

jacksky
102 posts
 

My surprisingly good sounding simple inexpensive:

12x13 room w/8ft ceiling, carpeted, otherwise no treatment.

sansui 881 receiver

NHT 1.5 bookshelves

samsung CD player 

off the shelf 12 gauge wires 

a friend that worked in studios….wanted to buy the speakers on the spot.

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