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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
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,
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
give him the 1k and let him figure it out. otherwise he learns nothing, and you have the fun. even if he winds up with junk...its HIS junk. the learning experience and decision making are whats important here.
shersta
140 posts
 
If a straight up, good old-fashioned, two channel stereo is what your son wants, I see in the clasifieds right now a Rega Brio integrated amp for 300, a Rega Planet cd player for 300, and Rega Jura speakers for 400 (no affiliation with any sellers). Would be a great sounding system and the unusual and cool looks might really appeal to a young man.
kthomas
911 posts
 
How old is your son, and is it his desire or yours that the sound characteristics are as you describe? My son is 16 and I constantly amazed and impressed at how into music he is - all sorts of different genres, constantly telling me about new bands he has discovered, etc. But he just listens on his computer. That said, he listens basically every minute he's home and has never once complained about bad or fatiguing sound.

That said, if I was buying a $1K system, I'd keep it simple and buy a Linn Classik and the best used speakers I could find with whatever I had leftover after that purchase. Good tunes in a compact space.
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,803 posts
 
Flyski:

There are quite a few decent performers made by the major mid-fi manufacturers that are definitely worth considering and will give your son not only good sound, but also some advanced connectivity options that more traditional hifi equipment will not.

I started by going to J&R Music's website. For your budget, you can put together quite a system ...

Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR 573 for $300. Nice touches are an XM ready tuner and easy hook-up for iPod.

Speakers: Polk R50 Floorstanders for $250 (reduced from $650)

CD/SACD/DVD player: Onkyo DV-SP502B for $250

Your total at this point is $800

Add a turntable by going to KABUSA's website ...

Turntable: Technics SL-BD 20 complete with PMX-01 preamp and cartridge for $200.

For cables, I would stick with either Radio Shack's mega cables or go to Signal Cable.

A lot of equipment for a grand and it would be new.

Regards, Rich
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