Really Inexpensive Systems That Sounded Great?


I think there is a big difference between "cheap" and inexpensive. I have blown money on "cheap" cables and immediately regretted it when my ears started bleeding from the brightness in my digital components. I also don’t mean "bargains" like the time I scored $2000 speakers for $200 on Craigslist, that is basically luck.

I am talking about inexpensive (less than $1500) for a system that sounded really great to you.

I fell into a whole house audio system from DTS Play-Fi because I wanted to try and compare different brands. I picked up Play-Fi amps, preamps and active speakers made by Polk, Paradigm, Klipsch, Onkyo and DefTech all for less than $1000 a pop. For what it is, whole house audio/casual listening it sounds great.

What inexpensive great sounding systems have you tried?

 

kota1

Tekton Lore

Aiyima A07 chip amp

Schiit Modi DAC

Wiim Mini Streamer

The weakest link here is the Aiyima amp. Upgrade it with a Van Alstine SET 120 amp like I did or maybe a Schiit amp.

A $1500 System - Based on Reviews and Personal Experience

Terrific flexibility - but easily upgradeable.

$80   WIIM Mini Streamer -Optical SPIDF->DAC.  USB Laptop Streaming via USB->DAC is also somewhat being assumed.

$279 SMLS M200 DAC - Balanced, Remote w Volume Control, LDAC Bluetooth

$400 2 units - Sabaj A20a AMPS - Balanced, 2x 350W Monoblock or can Biamp depending on speakers

$320 Elac Debut 5.2 Speakers - flexible, ported

$109 Xduoo MT-602 2 Tube Preamp and Headphone AMP - for DAC->RCA outputs

$170 Drop 6XX Headphones - great on Tube Amps

$40   Blue Ray CD Player with Coax Output - to DAC.  For the analog vibe…

$100 for Cables

Total:  $1498 for a Streaming Headphone setup and powerful speaker setup w remote volume control

Sabaj RCA inputs and XLR/RCA switch make it possible for a tube preamp connection - for optional flavor.

Or… use one Sabaj A20a unbalanced and substitute other speakers for ~$520. You lose balanced and flexibility, though.

An Xduoo MT-604 could be used for the balanced DAC output to a tube Amp - but is more expensive.

I use an MT-604 as a balanced preamp to a balanced AB power amp - and the sound is great.

It is amazing how Moores law works in favor of audio. Many of the systems being discussed in this thread would have been $$$ just 3-5 years ago.

20wpc Philips receiver paired with Epi 100 speakers.  

Problem was, once they heard it, it embarrassed a lot of people who spent a lot more on big, fancy, expensive, and/or blingy stuff... 

I still have those Epi 100 speakers to this day, though updated the simple capacitor crossover... and they still challenge speakers far more expensive and larger speakers.  Plus, they are attractive to look at, modest in size, and flexible and non-picky in placement.  The Epi 100 has a practically hemispheric high frequency dispersion, tight low musical bass, and a wide off-axis response.... all while being sweet and non-fatiguing all day long with whatever type of music one chooses.