2. amps-preamps
  3. 128089-93252

Looking to build a system for under $5k

Hello,

I am brand new to audio and looking to put a system together for around/under $5k all in. Any recommendations?

This would be mainly for CD audio but expandable for phono in the future. I have a small bedroom that I am dedicating as a music room upstairs in a cape cod style home. So it has angled walls that follow the roof line.

Looking for components that offer the biggest bang for the buck. I've done some research over the last couple of months and it seems like the Vandersteen 1Ci might be a good cornerstone to design a system around.


Thanks,

Joe

128x128audionoobie
audionoobie's avatar
audionoobie OP
358 posts
 

Quick update!!!

I had a chance to stop by 2 dealerships this weekend.

First up was John at Audio Connection....

John, as previously stated is a wonderful guy. I was there for probably two hours and it felt like we were two music buffs just hanging out listening to great tunes. No pressure and extremely helpful.

He first demoed the Vandersteen Treos. Initially with an Ayre AX-5 Twenty integrated and then with a Belles Aria. Both amps sounded fantastic but the sound stage with the Ayre was a notch or two above, and at nearly 10x the cost I would expect that to be the case.

We then went in to the back room where we listened to the Vandersteen 1ci’s, again with the Belles Aria integrated. All of the components here were within my initial 5k budget. The speakers were so transparent they just kind of faded into the room. I felt as though I was no longer listening to the speakers but listening to the music. John played types of music I never would consider listening to on my own but the speaks were so engaging.

Next up was Steve at Quest for Sound in Bensalem, PA.....

I told Steve what I was looking for and what my approximate budget was. We then went into one of his show rooms and listened to the KEF R500’s with a Rogue Audio Shynx amp. What a tremendously different experience vs. the Vandersteeens. In comparion the KEF’s sounded more scooped in the mids with a heavy emphasis on tight, punchy bass. Sound stage was virtually non existent and clarity no where near as good as the Vandys.

I asked if perhaps we could give the KEF’s a go with a different amp. He swapped out the Rogue for a Parasound (the model escapes me at the moment). Still not that much of an improvement. Needless to say I was in and out of there in 20 minutes.

I really felt listening to the Vandy 1ci’s with the Belles Aria, that I could be quite content with this system for years to come.

Anyway, that’s were I’m currently at. Comments are more than welcome.

-Joe

Post removed 
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
Time to listen to 1.7i Maggies.

It took me several months to decide between older Maggies and older Vandies (in 1995) ...
mesch
3,481 posts
 
Joe, Yes soundstaging and imaging are very important to me also. My system resides in a bedroom (15x12x8 feet) and puts me front row center stage in a jazz club. Were you listening in rooms close to the size of yours? Thanks for the update.
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,786 posts
 
Hello Joe,

I have been following your thread and are waiting for you to come into our shop for a visit as well.

You are not mentioning what sources and how the systems were played which can be a big factor in how a system images and sounds.

Audio Connections system was $1,500 speakers with a $2,500 amp for $4,000k what was the source being demoed and how expensive was that source?

As per the Quest for sound system, $2,500 speakers, plus $1,300 amp as per a Rouge or a Parasound both are good starter amps, however, for the same money there is an amplifier for $995 that beats the stuffings out of both of them.

A Vandersteen sounds totally different than a Kef, if you told Quest for Sound you like the Vandersteen sound it is doubtful you would prefer the Kef. Kef is a much more accurate speaker than a Vandersteen, I am not saying better, more accurate, and has better treble extension, which makes the Kef a more forward sound to the more laid back perspective which is the Vandersteen sound. Apples to Oranges.

I would say that you did not get a good demo with the Kef, as the electronics were not as good as the Belles and a more accurate speaker will show you flaws in the electronics more easily.

You should check out a pair of the Dail Opticons, the Dali offer a remarkable sound, they use a Ribbon super tweeter for detail coupled to a soft dome for wide dispersion and a smooth sound , they also use drivers which have very low distortion and use a new type of powdered magnet material. The Dali Opticon sounds more like a $4,000.00 speaker then a $2,500.00 set! They also have very good bass, and offer a similar warm perspective like the Vandersteens do.

We have a fantastic system using a Nuprime Dac/preamp which sounds incredible and in our system you are getting a state of the art dac along with the preamp, couple that with one of their smaller amps and you have a system with a state of the art dac, a headphone amp, you can upgrade the amp and a stunning pair of Danish speakers that throw a gigantic soundstage. This entire system comes in at $4,795.00 add some good inexpensive cables and you have hit your price point.
More to discover