Here's a challenge:a class A sound system for less

This is not class A, but an enjoyable system neverthless.

1) Computer as the source - less jitter like an upscale piece.

2) Sound card upgrade to M-audio 2496 audiophile ($89)

3) Old marantz receiver 2270 ($250 ebay)

4) Athena speakers as-b2 ($170)

5) Sony sawm500 sub ($150)

6) DIY belden cables ($50) : google for info on the web

This system sounds especially good on female vocal music - had me dancing for an hour, so I decided to put it in my gym system.

If you hook this up to a TV, with your favorite exercise DVD, you won't know the pain of exercising, 'coz you are enjoying the sound so much.

For under a grand, you can both enjoy the music, and stay healthy and trim...

CURRENTLY posted on 'Gon (AND assuming no issues for these used components):

Source: Sony DVP NS 999ES w/ Modwright Signature Truth mods $1550;

Preamp: DIY Hi Fi Supply Django (factory assembled w/S&B transformer and silver wiring) $895

Amp: Atma-Sphere M60 MKII.2 monoblocks $2275

Loudspeakers: Talon Khorus X $4000

Total cost (less cables) = $8720

I've owned the ModWright Sony. The Django and Atma-Spheres are my own ads (sorry, both are sold). I use Atma-Sphere M60 MKII.3s (w/Speltz Zeros - show up used on 'Gon for $250 or so) to drive a pair of Talon Firebird Diamonds with beautiful synergy.

There are dozens of great ideas, but this combo would be WAY good for the cost.

regarding the nearfield listening discussion above: I'm not sure if there hasn't been this level of discussion on A'gon previously, or if I just missed it. I frankly thought my rooms were already set up in nearfield; but I decided to experiment based on Nsgarch's comment in the first reply above:

(BTW, were talking not more than 8 feet away from the speakers +/_)

I have 2 "reference" systems in different dedicated rooms. One room is 14x22, with Totem Mani-2s driven by B&K M200 Sonatas (4 of them biamped), Musical Fidelity pre. My seating position was about 12 ft from the Totems which are 4 1/2 ft from the wall. I moved my seat in 2 ft so I'm now 10 ft from the speakers (measured from divers to my ears). The result was a profound improvement in the definition, and depth of the sound stage. My next step is to try to move my seat closer still, but that requires more significant furniture mod's, so I need to find time for that.

The other room is a larger, irregular room with the main section being a virtual square 16'x16', and another smaller square section 12x12 off-set on one corner. I have Von Scheikert VR4gen III's driven by Conrad Johnson dual MF2100s in vertical biamp, and a Dared tube preamp. The VR4s are set up on a diagonal line on one corner, about 3 1/2 ft from the wall, and my seating position was about 13 1/2 ft from the speakers. I moved my seat 3 ft closer to the speakers with similarly profound results as the other room. In this room, I anticipate I'll have to reposition the VR4s closer together as I move my seat in still more, but will continue to experiment.

A few additional points I would make about this change: 1) both of these systems sounded wonderful before I made the change, and I had spent a great deal of time and care in optimizing the speaker placement. I simply didn't consider moving my seat that close previously as it seemed counter-intuitive to me. 2) ALL I have done so far is move my seat closer. I haven't tried any further tuning of the speaker position (ie moved them closer together), 3) In both rooms, even though they're not exactly small, the repositioning of the seating solved some "arangement issues" I previously had and make the rooms more aesthetically appealing as well as sonically appealing.

At CES 2006, Positive Feedback's Dave and Carol Clark reported on some of the products AAA Audio had on display. From the AAA Audio room: "An Original CD-2008 MK II HDCD/CD player, Dussun V8i Integrated amplifier, Tetra 306 loudspeakers—MSRP is $8500 for a KILLER system."

I'm taking a serious look at the V8i integarated from the Dussun. 250 watts per channel, dual mono design. $1598

Bartkofan,More people need to put systems together like yours.This is the future of high end value.Kit speakers,direct purchases from manufacturers and use of cheap cables that still sound good.Well done!Why pay exhorbitant retail mark up and inflated pricing due to advertising costs when you dont have to.
And in this light did I mention Supratek!

JT