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One Less Bose Wave Radio in the World

I was pleased when a reasonably rich friend of mine who studied physics, likes good things and is generally well educated on most matters told me that he wanted my help buying a "stereo".

The conversation got a little less interesting when he told me he wanted to "spend no more than $2K" given that $2k is certainly less than his monthly, if not weekly, dinner allowance. But things took a real turn for the worse when he told me that a) he wants it to dock with his iPod and b) preferably have the whole thing in one piece?!

So if I can get him to be flexible on the one piece requirement, could we build an iPod based, Bose Wave radio killing system along the following lines:

* Wadia iPod docking station?
* Cheap as dirt external DAC?
* Cables by Signal Cable?
* Berhinger A500 amplifier(s)(has volume controls)
* Epos or other competent mini monitor?

Hard to believe even that would add up to about $1500 bucks or so and his wife might not approve of more than one box....but wondering how a normal person might react to such a system, when used with their iPod.

What would you suggest in this case?
cwlondon
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
"The conversation got a little less interesting when he told me he wanted to "spend no more than $2K" given that $2k is certainly less than his monthly, if not weekly, dinner allowance." and "What would you suggest in this case?"
My suggestion, spend half the dinner allowance for 9 months and use half of that to purchase a real stereo and give the other half to the hungry. Food for thought.
Cheers.
loomisjohnson
1,949 posts
 
jdoris has it down--the idecco by peachtree has an 40w amp, preamp, ipod dock and dac all in one little box; you could also connect an fm tuner, another digital source, etc. $999 new; sounds real purty and leaves him a grand for a couple of suitable speakers.
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 
Has2be,

Let me guess: you don't have many friends in New York?

Otherwise, your idea is a very good one!

Afranta, ESL3 is exactly what I had in mind....
bigbucks5
184 posts
 
Be sure to have your friend watch this, esp since he sounds at least a little tech literate having studied physics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCBe7-6rw4M&feature=player_embedded
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
We can't assume everyone is an audiophile. Non audiophile most likely has a different priority than we do in terms of audio equipment. There is nothing wrong with the Bose wave radio. My uncle has one and he enjoys it very much.
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