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Help me put a system together for under $1k.

I am trying to come up with a system for around $1k for my son's room. He is of the age where music is really starting to interest him and he loves to discover different types of music. My goals are to put together a system that would sound on the warm side with none of the cheap stereo nasties like sizzling highs and muddy bass. Thin sounding system would be a turn off as well. I would rather sacrifice the bottom and top end response for a better balanced, relaxed and musical system that would play any kind of music and be enjoyable for hours on end of listening. Due to the budget restraint, it would have to be an integrated with bookshelf speakers. CD player and possibly an inexpensive turntable would be nice too as an alternative to using Ipod for playback. I have been eyeballing the Epos ELS3 and Cambridge Azur 640A, am I on the right track so far? Your input would be appreciated!
flyski
bignerd100
515 posts
 
I think that an NAD integrated would create the sound you are looking for rather than the Cambridge.
On the other hand the Cambridge line has just been updated with new DVD players and upgraded CD players. The discontinued ones can be had cheaper.
Another speaker line to look at is Celestion. THey work well within their low-cost price range. THey do not give you the last word in high frequency resolution or low frequency extension. They are not difficult to listen to for hours though. THeir biggest floorstander retails for $600.

Good luck!
pabelson
344 posts
 
Um, Dad? Don't be a dinosaur. An iPod or equivalent will almost certainly be his primary source--if for no other reason than that downloads are probably the best way for a kid "to discover different types of music." As for the turntable, a decent one will chew up a third of your budget, and really constrain speaker choice as a result. Does he even own any LPs? Has he any real interest in spending his weekends scrounging the used bins? (He's unlikely to be shelling out premium dollars for new vinyl anytime soon.) Does he listen to the radio? If so, you should be thinking receiver, not integrated, despite the audiophile preference for the latter.

In short, I think you're asking the wrong people about this. You should be asking him what he wants, what he's interested in, what his goals are (as if he had any, right?).

And whatever you do, don't pick out his speakers for him. It's his ears, not yours, that matter.
timf
237 posts
 
I agree. ask your son. Chances are he knows what he wants and what will work in the life he lives in. The best place to start is with respect.
arni
313 posts
 
An Onkyo Ipod dock ($100), and he will have better sound than a budged cd player as long as he uses Apple lossless file system. Then the new Outlaw two channel receiver ($600) that just got a rave review in Stererophile, and has an USB input so your son could stream music straight from his computer. An then look for used NHT SB-3 ($350), and I think you got a system that a teen would be proud to crank up and show off to his friends... but would also sound great.
Good luck,
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