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Build a system for $1000

One of my sons is moving in with his girlfriend.  He grew up with my audio obsessions and seems to be immune to them.  She apparently grew up in some type of Fundmentalist household where listening to reproduced music, and most other things that make life worthwhile, were discouraged.  She has fortunately rejected all of that and we love discussing food and wine with her as she is a cooking buff.
Anyway, she wants a decent audio system, and my son at least remembered that I might be good for something.  Both of them are used to Apple Ear Bud or TV speakers , but Tina asked me at brunch today for advice.  Their budget is a grand, she says sound is the paramount consideration.  She wants a digital tuner and isn’t interested in powered speakers.  They were including a TV stand in the budget
  My wife, who shares my taste in music but could care less how it is reproduced, wondered if I had any spare stuff that I could contribute.  I just took a perfectly good 9 year old Onkyo AVR out of one of my HT systems that was top of the line at the time so that can be used and it has digital inputs.  I also have a TV mount that I picked up that might suit their TV.  I recently added a Bryston BDP3 streamer to my main system and if Bryston  ever add Qobuz then I can donate a Bluesound Node 2 , but not sure if that will occur.
  Anyway, how would you answer their search?
mahler123
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,771 posts
 

Admittedly, the digital tuner is throwing me a bit. I am thinking FM & HD & Internet Radio with digital readout

So, here goes.

System #1 @ $670. The Polks are being heavily discounted by Crutchfield. These were a Stereophile favorite for a number of years.

Emotiva TA 100 - Stereo Preamp/ DAC/ Tuner with Integrated Amplifier @ $429
https://emotiva.com/collections/pre-amps/products/ta-100

Polk RTi A3 @ $240
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_107RTIA3C/Polk-Audio-RTi-A3-Cherry.html

If the Emotiva works for them, but not the Polks, there are a number of bookshelf speakers available that would work out.

Music Direct has the EPOS K1 @ $400, for a total of $829 with the Emotiva

https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/epos-k-1-bookshelf-speakers-pr


Rich

mahler123 OP
3,324 posts
 
I forgot about stands for the speakers.  I’ll have to factor that in.
I have heard good things about the Epos.  The last time that I auditioned small speakers it was the Paradigm Atom, which didn’t do much for me.  I have also owned some Polk speakers in the past and found that they ranged from decent to mass market dreck.
  I am thinking that if they use the AVR that I have for amplification and perhaps a Google Chrome as a streamer (I will have to check to see if it offers Internet Radio), then perhaps a decent sub satellite combo is really all they need
mesch
3,481 posts
 
Using your AVR relieves much of the strain on the $1000 budget. Many options for used speakers. Check out the listing posted here on AG. They may not need a subwoofer, or if for movies only many inexpensive ones provide the bass needed there.
loomisjohnson
1,943 posts
 
the google chromecast can be used for internet radio and should sound good through the optical in on your avr (alternatively, they could use their computer as a source)--this'll free up most of your budget for speakers.
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