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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
russbutton's avatar
russbutton
430 posts
 

I have a little system in a back room with some home brew loudspeakers with a 5" Vifa bass driver and a 1" soft dome Peerless tweeter.  Damn things sound GOOD.  I got the drivers from Madisound.  The Vifa was being remaindered and I paid $15 each for them.

Your best value is always in a good DIY loudspeaker, whether you build it yourself, get a friend hobby builder to knock 'em out, or find them used.

The Linkwitz LXmini system can be done for as little as $1000 and that will embarrass a lot of systems costing many times as much.

nakamaye
16 posts
 

This is doesn't refer to a system but a while back I purchased two tower speakers under the Plaisir name made by Triangle for $100/pair new and they are amazing.  As far as I can tell they contain the same components as their Color speakers with cheaper cabinetry.  

spaceguitarist
30 posts
 

Speakers : Q Acoustics Concept 20 (launched at 500$, now 250$) Easily outperform the 707S2 B&W.

Amp : Yamaha A670 class D ($300). Incredible soundstage and very powerful 2x30W amp, lots of dynamic.

seanheis1
625 posts
 

Q Acoustics Concept 20 (launched at 500$, now 250$

I see them at $600? That would be a great price

agwca
112 posts
 

Though it took time to find what would work well together, I have combined a Keces E40 with an Aune X8 with a Sparkos op amp on Triangle Plaisir Zetas.  All three at the price I paid plus blue jeans cables, interconnects and a glass stand I place the amp under and the dac atop cost under $1400.    You can throw in the Solid sub  picked up at a yard sale for $7 for that total price as well.

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