Want to setup basic home audio system

thecarpathian:
I’ve been eyeing ascend speakers after reading about them a lot on reddit and avforums. Thank you for the amp recommendation as well! Now I can start off somewhere and do my dd. I will definitely be looking at the used speaker marketplaces.
I decided to check out Best Buy magnolia tomorrow to test new speakers. You definitely been active in this thread and I’m extremely grateful for that!

chorus:
do you live in Washington state as well? You’re bada** for recommending a local shop. Man I am excited to check out their used selection! They definitely got great speakers and amps. I will call tomorrow and speak more with Dominic. Hopefully I can demo some of the used speakers and amps. Also, Cambridge audio speakers are well within my range! Got lost a few hours on their website browsing thru their products lol.

Ihasaguy:
how can I tell the difference between high efficiency speakers and normal efficiency ones? Are you talking about powered speakers rather than passive speakers?

glupson:
Hahahaha!! You got the best idea. But I agree with you. Good karma will come to those that send me your used gear.

jrpnde:
those are some great advices! I am more tempted to check out local audio dealers and work with them before settling on anything. You’re right on the money that I should get a system that works together as a unit. Thank you for that advice!

With what I know after 45 years as a audiophile I would recommend holding out till you get at least 1,500.00 dollars and then make your move . It'll give you more options and breathing room .

diripio,

I was not kidding. I suspect that many Audiogon members have an extra amplifier in the closet. Not necessarily a brand new D'Agostino, but something still reasonably good that they have not touched in years.

Unfortunately, the amplifier I would happily get my karma points on is inaccessible to me now so no karma for me.

Do not forget, once you consider smaller/bookshelf speakers they will have to stand on something. Those stands, even really cheap ones, will set you back a hundred or two, but more likely three.

My office setup is a pair of B&W 602’s (1st Gen) and a Marantz M-CR611. Works great, and used you can easily do it under 1k. CD, all streaming services etc. plus the option to add with other inputs. 

I have a relatively modest pair of AKG K701 open baffle headphones. I can also hear what’s happening outside of the headphones as though I don’t have anything on my ears.
These AKG K701s are an older model now, I found a new set on Ebay for $205 + tax and shipping.

You could play music through open baffle headphones and hear what you’re playing at the same time. Adjust the levels to suit your instrument?
I don’t know if this could work for you, that’s something you could perhaps look into?

If it does work, you could get a whole lot more quality for the outlay of your money with an open baffle headphone and headphone amplifier than with a $1000 speaker / amplifier / interconnect & speaker wire set / source setup I think.

Mine are nowhere near the best, and your budget could certainly get better and leave money for quality DAC and amplification.