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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
doni
364 posts
 
Lots of good advice, and I'll just say that if I had a 5K budget, I'd at least consider the wireless KEF LS50's, with a good source, such as the Sonore Microrendu (with good linear power supply), being fronted by Roon/Tidal on the PC.  With lifetime Roon membership, this would still leave you about a $1000 for cables/accessories.  Just saying,

Don Ivey 
mesch
3,519 posts
 
Provided that the speakers have been determined to be 'the ones' for ones taste and room, I do not have a problem pairing a $1500 speaker to a $2500 integrated amplifier (or visa versa for that matter, though i generally am less inclined to advise this ratio). That said, one issue here is that the working budget is $5000 which only leaves $1000 for source components and cables. Now this is doable, however depending on what source flexibility is desired. Spending 50% of ones $5000 budget on amplification can likely result in a 'weak link' elsewhere in the chain unless a CD player is the only source. Options in the digital domain have expanded greatly since the advent of the CD player.




stewart0722
184 posts
 
curious.......

why would audio connection take you to a Vandersteen that exceeds your entire system budget by 2K, and then slide you all the way down to the least expensive floorstander Vandy makes?  Why did they not let you listen to the 2CESigII?

You need to listen to that speaker with the Belles........and you also need to audition a pair of Magnepan 1.7s before making your final decision.......
joejoe
69 posts
 
Its nice to know what's out there, if you stretched your budget. You may decide to wait awhile just do it once. And not saying double it to 10k, but 1-2 k increase can give you substantial upgrade. To some it may be worth it.
audionoobie's avatar
audionoobie OP
363 posts
 

After auditioning several speakers and considering the excellent advice on this thread, I've made my choice to purchase the Vandy 1ci speakers.

After visiting Audio Doctor this weekend, I've decided to be more flexible to streaming. Dave showed me with a Tidal account and a USB connection, I can access a wealth of music for $20/ month.

With that said, the amp I was considering, the Belles Aria, does not come with any digital inputs.

Can you please recommend a good integrated amp that will:

a.) be a good match to power the Vandy 1ci's

b.) has the necessary inputs to do CD audio, streaming, and have the potential to do phono in the future?

Thanks again to everyone  that contributed to this thread. I really appreciate it.


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