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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
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.


mesch
3,519 posts
 
You have selected speakers, now focus on an integrated amplifier that plays well with them. I would suggest that you focus on finding a quality line level integrated amp and a used external DAC.  A DAC with the appropriate inputs can serve for CD playback with a transport and also for streaming via computer or other device. As an example, Cambridge Audio makes a CD transport that retails for $500 (though I hear sells for less) which could be mated to a high quality used DAC that would sell under $1000, leaving you $2000+ for an integrated amplifier and cables.  (finding a DAC for $500 would allow funds for the Belles). 

In addition to Belles, other integrated amps that would drive the Vandys are provided by NAD, Rouge Audio, Parasound, Arcam, Hagel, Vincent, and several others.  Hopefully other will ad to this list.

If you want a integrated amplifier that has it all check out the Parasound Halo. A review was published by Stereophile November 2015 and can be found online.  Line level, digital, phono, minijack inputs are some of it's features.
mesch
3,519 posts
 
I just went to the Audio Connections web site. Why not go back and ask to listen to the Vandys as driven by the Rouge Sphinx and Cronus, Nad 356BEE and C375, Hegel 80, in addition to the Belles?
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