Sufen makes many good points. Many 1st year college students live in dorm, then move out to apartment. Either way space issue and the ability to get the most from a $1500 system is difficult. Another issue is that many other associates one makes in college lack the appreciation/respect due such a system.
To the question:
I would purchase a high quality late model integrated amp used. Amplification is a mature science. A quality one can last through several speaker upgrades. A quality used amp at $700-$800 would well serve a $1500 system today and a $2500 system later. Spend ~50% budget here.
There are many high quality budget speakers available. Price ranging from the Pioneer SP-22 at $130, to Warfdale 10.1 at $350, to B&W 685 at $650, new. AS speakers tend to establish the sound character of a system to a greater extent than other components, and a young budding audiophile likely doesn't yet know what sound characteristics he/she like most, I would not allocate much over 25% of 1st system budget to speakers. I would look at used, dealer demo, or new. One thought, buy the Pioneers now, they are special for the money, save the ~$250, use them as reference when auditioning more expensive speakers. If they were to get damaged, not as great a loss.
Purchase A DAC with the remaining 25% budget. Can serve both a disk player and computer as server. Many older used DACs are great, the weak link being the USB/SPdif conversion. Many new budget USB/SPDIF converters are available to upgrade this function. I would buy used here also as digital products suffer the most severe price drop once purchased. Would need a DAC with 2 SPDIF inputs if using USB converter and a disk player as transport.
I read your post as a query for more general advise than for specific product recommendations . I am hesitant to recommend specific products as there are far more that I have not experienced, than I have. I great system can be had for $1500. I have had great luck shopping here on AG. Buy from those with good feedback, know value of product.
As a side, I recently listened to the Pioneer SP-22 coupled to the NAD D3020 amp/DAC driven by my Macbook pro with inexpensive cables. Sounded wonderful for $650.
To the question:
I would purchase a high quality late model integrated amp used. Amplification is a mature science. A quality one can last through several speaker upgrades. A quality used amp at $700-$800 would well serve a $1500 system today and a $2500 system later. Spend ~50% budget here.
There are many high quality budget speakers available. Price ranging from the Pioneer SP-22 at $130, to Warfdale 10.1 at $350, to B&W 685 at $650, new. AS speakers tend to establish the sound character of a system to a greater extent than other components, and a young budding audiophile likely doesn't yet know what sound characteristics he/she like most, I would not allocate much over 25% of 1st system budget to speakers. I would look at used, dealer demo, or new. One thought, buy the Pioneers now, they are special for the money, save the ~$250, use them as reference when auditioning more expensive speakers. If they were to get damaged, not as great a loss.
Purchase A DAC with the remaining 25% budget. Can serve both a disk player and computer as server. Many older used DACs are great, the weak link being the USB/SPdif conversion. Many new budget USB/SPDIF converters are available to upgrade this function. I would buy used here also as digital products suffer the most severe price drop once purchased. Would need a DAC with 2 SPDIF inputs if using USB converter and a disk player as transport.
I read your post as a query for more general advise than for specific product recommendations . I am hesitant to recommend specific products as there are far more that I have not experienced, than I have. I great system can be had for $1500. I have had great luck shopping here on AG. Buy from those with good feedback, know value of product.
As a side, I recently listened to the Pioneer SP-22 coupled to the NAD D3020 amp/DAC driven by my Macbook pro with inexpensive cables. Sounded wonderful for $650.