Really Inexpensive Systems That Sounded Great?

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.

@clydeactor 

@gents 

@tomcarr 

+1 to all

Fosi Audio TB10D (upgraded version) $80

Wiim mini streamer                              $80

Geshelli Labs J2 Dac                           $250

Klipsch RB5II                                       $250

Decent sounding budget system IMO