Really low-priced system

[GA Russell]

Anybody can go out and spend big bucks for a great sound system. It only takes money, no brains required.

Suppose you had only $1,000. for a system. What would you buy?

[LeMo]

I think I will try that:

CD Player: Phillips CD 23 (around 150 $)

Integrated amp: Denon PMA-100M (around 330 $)

Headphones: Sennheiser HD 600 (around 330 $)

Interconnect Cable: a pair of Cardas Crosslink (around 170$)

Total: (around) 980$

And it could sound great, you know.

[kazak]

There was an article on MSN's website about a HI-FI system for under $1000. Here's the link: http://www.msnbc.com/news/859141.asp?cp1=1

I can't vouch for any of the equipment but I thought it was an interesting read.

[Claude]

Originally posted by LeMo
I think I will try that:

CD Player: Phillips CD 23 (around 150 $)

Integrated amp: Denon PMA-100M (around 330 $)

Headphones: Sennheiser HD 600 (around 330 $)

Interconnect Cable: a pair of Cardas Crosslink (around 170$)

Total: (around) 980$



If a headphone is enough, the Sennheiser HD600 is the best solution. However the HD580 is only slightly inferior at half the price (at least in Europe).

As far as speakers are concerned, I recommend small Dynaudio (Audience 41), B&W or KEF (Q1) models. They are of course more expensive then the Sennheiser.

Why an integrated amp (with a crappy headphone output) when there are no speakers to drive? Better get a headphone amp ($200, strictly technically not necessary, but it will improve the sound of the Sennheiser a lot.)

CD players have a much higher incidence on the sound than interconnects. Instead of a $170 cable use a decent $15 one and spend the other $ on the CD player (--> NAD C521).

[GA Russell]

LeMo, interesting that you would go with headphones. That didn't occur to me.

Claude, so you suggest
CD player - NAD C521
speakers - Dynaudio, B&W or KEF

So what amp are you suggesting, keeping the whole system under $1,000?


Kazak, thanks for the link!

[LeMo]

I think than Claude will have some difficulties to suggest any amp of a good quality in the configuration he is putting on.

If I have recommended to buy an integrated amp at first and not a headphone one, its because it lives you the possibility to improve the system, later, by buying a pair of speakers.

Like, by example a pair of Magnepan MMG (500$) or, even better, the MG12 (950$) .
Of course their size & the place they need to work properly could be a turn on if you don't have a room dedicared only to your listening.

By the way the Phillips CD is not the "23" but the "723".
It's the best of the cheap CD currently on the market and he can be easely tune without spend much money.

I've done that somme years ago with the model "722" and it still bit most machine between 1000/1500 $ including some of those who claim to have a 24 bits converter.

He is just a little bit wake in the bass and he's not the most dynamic CD player I know (& own). But it's an incredible value for money.

For the CD player the Nad is not the good match, IMO, at last not the C521.

The first NAD CD player of good quality, is the C541i (the i is important because there is one C541 who is not so good. The i have been really improve).

But if you go for any of these machine and want to have also a pair of speakers, you will be largely over your 1000$ budget.

Buy the way, I own the Denon amp and I used it ONLY with headphone because he as a good quality (for the value) headphone output, what not happen, for sure, not so often.

An I do own also the Sennheiser who is not match to any headphone of the same price.

[jomina]

Buy second hand.
With thought and a little care (it is not rocket science) you can double or triple your buying power.
I agree about cans. A good, accurate headphone system is cheaper than a good, accurate (that rules out the Magenplanars:D ) speaker system. It is also a lot easier to set up.
Sennheiser, Beyer, Sony all make good cans. IT's a question of taste. The Senn 580s are often singled out as a particularly good buy, though.
A s/h Stax "Earspeaker" system would be pretty good. These are the kings of cans, and hideously expensive new.

[GA Russell]

Kazak, I really enjoyed reading that article.

I'm surprised that the author suggested a tube amp for a low price! Live and learn.

[jomina]

Originally posted by GA Russell
I'm surprised that the author suggested a tube amp for a low price! Live and learn.
Personally I wouldn't get too hung up on tube or transistor. There are transistor amps that sound like tubes (think Sugden (warm, clean and liquid) or even <gasp> classic Sansui (warm and slightly fuzzy), and tubes that do the transistor neutrality thang (De Paravinci, some other high-end modern designs).
Vinyl or CD and what speakers you choose and where you put them is likely to have more impact than what brand of amp you use IME (although componant synergies are very important).
Of course the biggest impact is from what you play.
There are a few tube headamps out there. Haven't heard any myself, but could be worth a try.