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Low budget, just for fun

So I'm lookong to buy my girlfriend a stereo for christmas. Here's the catch: I'm trying to piece together a receiver, cd player and speakers, all used for a little more than the price of a boom box from say, best buy or whetever, but it has to sound way better than said boom box. I found an onkyo receiver ($45), sony dvd / cd player ($45), and some infinity sm 122 floorstanding speakers ($75 with crappy rca receiver, going to offer $50 for just the speakers). Anyways, this is actually pretty fun trying to piece together the best system you can for the least amount of money possible. Anyone else out there do something similar? It would be interesting to have an audio show with a $200 system limit and see who could come up with the best sound!
128x128b_limo
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,274 posts
 
Hey Rok, I think everyone here tries to piece together the best system they can for the least amount of money possible; it would be stupid to buy a more expensive piece of equipment because it sounded worse. How much $ have you got in your rig? I would be suprised if it were less than $2k or $3k; I highly doubt it's only $250.00 :-)
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
B_limo,
My most expensive system retailed for exactly $3000. Half of that was the cost of the speakers.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,274 posts
 
Rok, totally off topic here, but what is your current set-up, and how much do you have in it? I'm more interested in the attainable systems here on audiogon, and am curious as to what you are running. You seem to be like me in that the proof is in the pudding and that there is a definite point of diminishing returns. Seems like that last 10% of sound can cost 1,000% more.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
B_limo,

This is what I have. The speakers are perfect for my room.

Speakers -- Polk Lsi15 $1500
Amp -- Marantz PM7200 $500 class A at low levels
CDP -- Marantz SA 8001 $900 SACD
Tuner -- Sony XDR-F1HD $100 HD capable
Wire -- Monster and Blue Jeans $ ? not much
Cable Lifters -- Charmin, they will be 'upgraded' after a few more trips to the john. :)

Thanks for your interest
Cheers
b_limo's avatar
b_limo OP
2,274 posts
 
Beautiful Rok! I love these well thought out inexpensive (relative here) systems that sound great! I'm not familiar with that amp but everything else in that system, I've read about previously and it's all good equipment! I've spent a little more on my rig (in the 5-6k range) and I wonder sometimes if there aren't better sounding systems out there for less $, like yours, and Milpai's comes to mind also. If I knew what I know now, my set-up would look totally different. But oh well, you live and you learn!
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