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How cheap can you go and still be happy with the sound?

I would think many guys on this forum are spoilt by the gear they have and never listen anymore on cheap rigs.

I was listening recently on my younger daughter’s PC audio rig and got reminded again of how good it sounds. There is a fairly high level of clarity, detail, tonal balance and great bass in this rig.

 

- Yamaha HS8 powered monitors: $700 to $800

- Yamaha WXC-50 MusicCast streamer+dac+preamp: $450, often found on A4L for around $300

- Audioquest Powerquest PQ3 (was around $200 or so)

 

IMO, this would qualify as a high quality (sonically) charity price hifi rig for any younger or older person w.r.t small room nearfield or midfield listening.

 

What is the cheapest rig that has brought you happiness these days?

 

deep_333
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nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,883 posts
 

@grislybutter

Dude, don't blow my cover....

😺

grislybutter
3,105 posts
 

@nonoise devil

deep_333 OP
1,441 posts
 

@deep_333
 

So sorry you can’t enjoy music in you car anymore.

When I’m mowing the lawn, music through the earbuds does make the time go by. Or when I’m in my car, I still tap my toe and slap my thigh to the beat, but I definitely prefer listening to music with my main system a whole lot more. 

Jim

@curiousjim

I wish i could....unable to get past the cabin noise floor (feels jarring now). I used to go on road trips (not fly) just to enjoy music on the road. The spouse was wondering why we were listening to podcasts and guys yappin on youtube instead of music on the last trip.

deep_333 OP
1,441 posts
 

For all those saying that you need at least 10K as an entrance fee to good sound, just keep saving and you’ll get to this range.

https://futureaudiophile.com/how-many-audiophile-whales-are-there-really/

@simao, there are lot more 'unawakened' audiophiles in the real world imo/ime. A percentage is probably not born that way, he is made that way from exposure.

My insurance guy stopped by the house out of curiosity last year. He listened to some stuff and said something along the lines of.... "Shhhii, can't get back to the stuff at home now"...(I suppose he had some multi-room sonos type of whatever). After i sent him home with some stuff i had in storage, my insurance rates have gone down this year wink.

 

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