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Musical system for under $2K?

My nephew stayed with us this past weekend, and was bitten by the "audio bug"...he now wants to put together an "affordable" music system for his appartment based around a CD player, an integrated amp, and a pair of monitor speakers. He listens mostly to classical and jazz, but also to rock from time to time. Any favorite combos? I'd prefer it if you limit your suggestions to systems that you own (or have owned) and that you have found to be musically accurate and satisfying over the long haul. His total budget, including stands, wire, and interconnects is just about $2000, and he is open to buying used if it helps him get more for his money. Thanks in advance for all your help. Deborah.
deborah1
megasam's avatar
megasam
798 posts
 
Here is a great system for your price range, prices are for new equipment, PSB Image 2 speakers $300.......Attacama 21" speaker stands $99.....8ft Analysis Plus Oval 12 speaker cable pair $150....Musical Fidelity X-A2 integrated, 75w $700....Musical Fidelity A3CD player $1000....Analysis plus copper oval 0.5m interconnects $200.....Monster HTS200 power conditioner $125....grand total for new equipment is $2500 slightly over budget, you could get cheaper CD player but this MF A3CD based system will produce amazingly good sound, CD player quality will be most important at this budget level.......many of these items can be purchased from Audio Advisor online, Sam (yes I have heard all these myself)
deborah1 OP
30 posts
 
Thanks for all the help so far. As I have no personal experience with DVD players, I found the advice offered by Bebo and Hdm to be very interesting, and worth looking into. And please, keep the systems comming, and the more specific, the better! Of course, I plan to enlist my favorite local dealers help too, but I wanted some first hand advice from people who have actually lived with a "small" system that they have found to be musically satisfying. Thanks again! Chow, caio,...forget it! Deborah.
jules
53 posts
 
I think the size of the room would be very important to know before suggesting a system I beleive that to be the most important factor in order to put together a system of any price in a small room you can save on power and speaker alone
deborah1 OP
30 posts
 
Sorry about that Jules. I called my nephew, and he said the room is *about* 16' x 14' x 8', and he plans to set the speakers up along the long wall. Thanks. Deborah.
patriot
24 posts
 
Deborah, I just downsized from seperates to take a break and save some money, and have been very pleased with my NAD and PSB setup. I use the NAD 317 Integrated ($600 from Soundcity)/80 watts -- great history behind the NAD integrateds. I then use the NAD C540 CD Player ($400 from Soundcity)it's 24/96 capable -- I have read there have been problems with NAD CD players of old, but this unit performs flawlessly. The speakers are the PSB Stratus Bronze speakers ($800 from Soundcity). The integrated gets better with time and the CD player is decent for the money. The remote controls the CD player and integrated, so it makes for a very easy setup. Good luck.
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