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?
My system consists of a Rotel RCD 971, Muzishare X7 with upgraded Jupiter Copper Foil Caps, modified ProAc 1mkii speakers (more like DIY speakers), Van den hul D102 mkiii cables, Linn k400 speaker cables and Shunyata Venom 3 power cables. Many of them were bought used and total system cost me about $3,000. I have had this system for the longest time and up till this point don’t have an upgrade itch.
Oh. And a few DIY acoustic panels that cost me a couple hundred bucks. Happy listening! |
I recently put together a 4th listening area in my home, due to the fact I had picked up a couple of pieces of new, inexpensive gear, and I was tired of the boxes remaining unopened. Since November when I undertook this project, that system has received the majority of my listening pleasure because it just sounds so damn good -- or maybe it's the newness and my excitement of bringing a pair of my older speakers into use. Whatever the reason, this inexpensive project punches way above its price-point. The goods:
Polk Audio Monitor 10 speakers I bought new in 1987, still in mint condition Boyuurange Reisong A10 EL34 Tube Integrated Amp (tubes upgraded through Brent Jessie) bought in 2020 and just unboxed Bluesound Node bought in 2022 utilizing Tidal Fluance RT-85 Turntable bought in 2019 and just unboxed Interconnects by Monster Cable bought almost 20 years ago and DIY Speaker Wire with 12 gauge wire and Gold Spade connects just purchased
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed listening to those Polk Audio's. I know Polk is a "4 letter word" (not in the good way) to many in this Forum...but I love them and that's all that matters in my home. |
@allenf1963 Nice, I use Polk s6 active speakers in my playfi streaming whole house audio. 1 in a bedroom, 1 on the patio, and 1 in the gym. |
A fantastic dac/amp out of Canada that is, absurdly.. only $265, and it can drive most speakers... the Musical Paradise MP-303. I have bought more expensive cable elevators (...and they were cheap cable elevators). I was the first customer to write a review of the unit. It drives NEAR 10m speakers ($300 eBay) in a near-field setup and sounds sweet, detailed, transparent, and images insanely well. Add to that an Uptone Regen (or comparable), and plug in your laptop. I’ve read people finding synergy with the Klipsch Cornwall, also.
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