Moderately priced audio

Count me among the lower-budget audiophiles, one who takes great pleasure in continuously tweaking my sub-$5,000 system to get the best out of it for not alot of money, and enjoying my music collection through it. Every small tweak in cables, mostly, has resulted in a very recognizable and positive increase in sound performance (to my ear; my wife is even hearing the same audible differences and articulating them in her own terms with no prompting or suggestions by me). I just replaced my DIY Moonshine/White Lightning speaker cables with straight-up 12 gauge, single conductor THHN speaker cables (sheathed in Techflex and a pair of cable pants; no twisting, braiding, etc.) with bare wire going to the amp binding posts and speaker inputs. Wow. I thought the Moonshine cables were a step up from the 16 gauge zip cord I started with!

I replaced my modded Hafler DH-220 amp with a B&K EX-442 Sonata a couple years ago, and THAT was a substantial increase in performance. The Hafler was good (itself a nice upgrade over the Adcom GFA6000 it replaced) but the extra 100 watts or so into 4 ohms delivered by the 442 really perks up the Maggies. My 2-channel listening rig:  
 
Parasound P5 preamp

Oppo BDP-93 used as CD transport or Pandora streaming source

Denon DVD-2900 used as a CD transport

B&K EX-442 Sonata 2-channel amp

Magnepan MMG mains

Rhythmik FG12 subwoofer (that, for being only a single sub, integrates VERY nicely with the Maggies, thank you very much)

I now use BLE Design 10 gauge Rhodium Plated power cables for the pre-amp and main amp (very reasonably priced off eBay) which were added a couple months ago. Another great addition that upped the audio revelation. The rest of my gear is powered with standard 16-gauge power cables. My interconnects are a mixture of Monster and Monoprice cables - nothing special, and the the next likely candidates for the next tweak.

With the speaker cable "upgrade" of a couple evenings ago, what was a well-defined, deep and wide soundstage with precise imaging has been fleshed out into a more forward and robust presentation. I detected a small decrease in soundstage depth with the new cables immediately after install, but at the same time, what I presume many would call the "dynamics" of the sound increased. The bass is a bit fuller and tighter (was pretty damned good before), the middle filled in substantially, and I gained height in the soundstage. I may have bought an extra decibel in volume as well. As the cables are burning in, I’ve noted that some of the immediately lost soundstage depth has returned. The overall sound image/presentation is what I would consider to be more cohesive instead of what what I would call the surgically separated sound I had prior. I believe I’m also getting a smidge more detail, though I had what I thought was excellent detail before. My wife said she hears the overall sound presentation "gel" better - it’s really helpful when you can bounce your perceptions off someone who is hearing the same differences you are. I haven’t yet sat to critically listen to most of my reference material other than a few pieces here and there, but so far I’m very pleased with the fit of the cables in my system now that they’re settling in. A completely new sounding system - which sounded pretty fine already - due to a $40 set of DIY speaker cables.

Yeah, I’m enjoying my mid-fi system immensely. I’m here, present, loud and proud.

I hate to judge too quickly but I suspect I’m bringing down the curve just a little bit with my $10 system. A thousand pardons. 😬

Knowledge is what’s left after you subtract out all that good stuff you forgot from school.

I have put together at least a dozen inexpensive ($1000) to moderate priced (under $2500) audio systems for friends over the years.  I purchase used equipment in almost all instances, with turntables and cartridges often being purchased new.  The systems have late 1970s early 1980s receivers from Yamaha and Marantz.  They often have Dynaco or ADS speakers.  They use either download from computers for digital or older CD players of which I stockpiled dozens back in the early 2000s for really cheap ($10 - $100).  These systems get the fundamentals of the music right.  They do not pretend to be a high end system.  However, I can enjoy listening to them as do the new owners.  Note that most get into or back into LPs after inheriting or wanting to hear their collections again. 

Well, I don't have a single component in the system that cost me over $1k, either new or used, including cables and power cords. I count turntable/tonearm/cartridge as three components. But there are a lot of them, the components, so the total cost is not particularly low bit it is not high either. Moderate cost. And I see no reason to waist funds on anything that would not perform as good as what I have. I did have to pay for two pairs of new interconnects each almost as much as for a used turntable because I couldn't find them used, and the Purist Dominus power cord on my amp was about $2k when new.
So, the total system cost is probably around $11k, but most component were bought used.
$5k new for a system with one source ? It won't sound bad but it will sound much worse than what I got. I don't need it, better listen to computer with $200 Grado headphones.

I have a good ear, picky about my sound but not the income to jusify a levenson or better. I never will. I love music of all types and since a teen have followed stereo review and other mags. I now follow the web. What hi-fi and try to keep up on the latest gear I can and cannot afford. Over the years I have heard really great systems.  The best I remember was a Mark Levenson mono block system playing from a lynn sondek back in the late 70's.  I have found, and only my opinion with my home systems when you have $2,000 - $3000 system it takes a significant amount of investment to get that small bump in quality of sound that makes you go wow! Significant for me is over $1,000.   But it is a personal financial decision if the "wow" is worth the double or triple price tag? Or if you can still have a thrill off the other lower priced system?  Or could this all boil down to perzdx onal taste? The next system I have will most likey last me till life end.  The preamp, power amp I use now is 40 and 45 years old. I do not need to change systems just to do it.  I simply love listening and experiencing music. I like dynamics, low end authority, crisp highs smooth mids as my ears hear it.  I  wonder if the majority of music lovers and Hi Fi enthusiasts could tell much difference between a $2'000 pair of speakers $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000? The  same goes with the electronics.  My experience has been your sound system is no better than it weakest link which is usually room accoustics. It is beyond my imagination the cost of some of these systems.  It would be a thrill and a life experience I am sure if an average guy like me could tour home like settings and hear for myself these esoteric systems.  I am so happy those more fortune than myself can share the knowlege and experience they have with excellent products and some that we also can afford. Thank you again!