burnspbesq Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Speaker based: 11" MacBook Air, 8/256 $1,199 Western Digital 2Tb My Passport for Mac $99 Vanatoo Transparent One $499 Total $1,797 Headphone Based 11" MacBook Air, 8/256 $1,199 Western Digital 2Tb My Passport for Mac $99 Schiit Modi 2 Uber $149 Schiit Vali $119 Sennheiser HD 598 $165 Total $1,711 Portable w/IEM: Apple 64Gb iPod Touch $299 Noble 4, $450 Total $749 Office: MacBook Pro - Audirvana Plus - Resonessence Concero - Cavailli Liquid Carbon - Sennheiser HD 800. Travel/Portable: iPhone 7 or iPad Pro - AudioQuest Dragonfly Red - Audeze SINE or Noble Savant Link to comment
TimU Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I'm happy with this desktop setup: Centrance DacMini $800 Audioengine A5+. $400 Audioengine S8 Sub $350 Toshiba Core i3 All-in-one ~$850 JRiver MC 17 $50 Blue Jeans Cables ~$50 And, for those moments when the spouse says "turn that s--- down!": Sennheiser 650 headphones $500 So there you are, just under $3000. The Audioengine 2.1 has plenty of juice for a small room, not just a desktop. You could do better than the Toshiba for a computer, I'm sure. Link to comment
realhifi Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 When you factor in used equipment (as "Mike" has) it becomes an almost impossible task of recommending systems at specific price points. The options are so vast and pricing so variable I'm not sure how anyone could truly pinpoint specifics on an ongoing basis. That said, any system in that range would have to include a used Naim Nait5i. The dac could be any of the usual suspects that are popular and of course used. The speakers, ah yes, the speakers, well I would look at the smaller Vandersteen 1c, used of course, or one of the current Kef R series small floor standers (the superb R500 used) at around $1500 to round out the system. Killer system. Nait.........$1000 Dac...........$500 Speakers..$1500 Total........$3000 Ridiculous performance at a bargain price. Oops, forgot the computer. Make it a Mac Mini. Guess I'm over budget....again. PS. Paradigm? Don't think so. David Link to comment
fallington Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 My main system comes in right at or slightly above $3000. This system sounds great to me and was very easy to set up. Having just received my Pono, I could see someone using it as their source/DAC for a "budget system". Once PMW works out the kinks in the software that is. External Hard Drive, Mac Mini, Audirvana, Peachtree Decco 65, Zu Omen Link to comment
BANSwee Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Even theough youtube that sounds very crisp & clear ..and I guess the band-in-the-room feeling is there too. Cant go wrong with dynaudios ABSOLUTELY SIR! DYNaudio FTW!! ~Jason Macbook black| consonance usb-spdif|Muse NOS DAC | Yamaha A-s700 | Dynaudio audience 52se| cables: pangea ac9, DH labs Q9 silversonic, chord company crimson interconnect, BJC digital coaxial cable Link to comment
Mike Mcsweeney Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 When you factor in used equipment (as "Mike" has) it becomes an almost impossible task of recommending systems at specific price points. The options are so vast and pricing so variable I'm not sure how anyone could truly pinpoint specifics on an ongoing basis. That said, any system in that range would have to include a used Naim Nait5i. The dac could be any of the usual suspects that are popular and of course used. The speakers, ah yes, the speakers, well I would look at the smaller Vandersteen 1c, used of course, or one of the current Kef R series small floor standers (the superb R500 used) at around $1500 to round out the system. Killer system. Nait.........$1000 Dac...........$500 Speakers..$1500 Total........$3000 Ridiculous performance at a bargain price. Oops, forgot the computer. Make it a Mac Mini. Guess I'm over budget....again. PS. Paradigm? Don't think so. Really surprised you would put Kef R500 above paradigm studio 60s...I have heard both and no comparison imho... Link to comment
Mike Mcsweeney Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 When you factor in used equipment (as "Mike" has) it becomes an almost impossible task of recommending systems at specific price points. The options are so vast and pricing so variable I'm not sure how anyone could truly pinpoint specifics on an ongoing basis. That said, any system in that range would have to include a used Naim Nait5i. The dac could be any of the usual suspects that are popular and of course used. The speakers, ah yes, the speakers, well I would look at the smaller Vandersteen 1c, used of course, or one of the current Kef R series small floor standers (the superb R500 used) at around $1500 to round out the system. Killer system. Nait.........$1000 Dac...........$500 Speakers..$1500 Total........$3000 Ridiculous performance at a bargain price. Oops, forgot the computer. Make it a Mac Mini. Guess I'm over budget....again. PS. Paradigm? Don't think so. will have to check out this Naim Nait5i, though... Link to comment
esldude Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Really surprised you would put Kef R500 above paradigm studio 60s...I have heard both and no comparison imho... Which actually goes back to the point I was trying to make. Obviously there is a comparison possible with anything. What for one fellow is simply a non-starter, is the right choice for another. Neither is wrong, they just have different preferences about what is a must and what can be left out. And always keep in mind: Cognitive biases, like seeing optical illusions are a sign of a normally functioning brain. We all have them, it’s nothing to be ashamed about, but it is something that affects our objective evaluation of reality. Link to comment
realhifi Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Really surprised you would put Kef R500 above paradigm studio 60s...I have heard both and no comparison imho... There you have it. THAT is why there are so many loudspeaker companies. Something for everyone. David Link to comment
realhifi Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 will have to check out this Naim Nait5i, though... You might want to listen to it more than a day. It has its own set of charms. David Link to comment
Markhh2 Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 My daughters wanted a TT for Xmas, so that idea morphed into this little system Restored Technics SL D2 with Cart - $210 Audioegine A2 powered speakers - $189 Audioengine B2 bluetooth receiver - $189 Schitt Passive Pre - $49 Cambridge Phono pre used - $100 Discounted wireworld IC's - $49 I've been running it in for them and it sounds pretty nice. The B2 and the Schitt passive are the real suprises. I've hooked them up to my custom 300B monoblocks and audio note speakers, and streaming Tidal from my Ipad sounds pretty damn good. For a "real" stereo, I think you can't go wrong with used Naim (Nait 5i, Untiqute) or Rega(Brio R, DAC, RS3 speakers) gear and used Totem (Arro, Raincatcher, Mite, or even Hawk), Neat or Epos speakers. I could put together a very nice system from Audiogon etc for less than $3K. I personally find NAD, Paradigm, PSB etc to be lacking that last bit of realism. ROON Rock NUC, ALLO usb bridge, Exogal Comet, LTA MZ2, Quick Silver Mid Monos, Audio Note AN/E. Link to comment
realhifi Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 After thinking about this a little but more I have thought of a system in the $1000 range also. All new. Sonos Connect Amp"..................$500 Definitive Technology SM45.........$400 WD MyCloud NAS 2t...................$150 Total.......................................$1050 David Link to comment
tranz Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 1 Pono from eBay - $300 Ayre DAC already built in. Plug into your AVR or powered speakers. Done. Link to comment
Mike Mcsweeney Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 Which actually goes back to the point I was trying to make. Obviously there is a comparison possible with anything. What for one fellow is simply a non-starter, is the right choice for another. Neither is wrong, they just have different preferences about what is a must and what can be left out. agree, and understand different people like different things, and I probably wouldn't have even commented, except for the op's comment about not liking the paradigm studio 60s ..(grin)... Link to comment
Mike Mcsweeney Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 After thinking about this a little but more I have thought of a system in the $1000 range also. All new. Sonos Connect Amp"..................$500 Definitive Technology SM45.........$400 WD MyCloud NAS 2t...................$150 Total.......................................$1050 I checked out reviews on the DT SM45s and they look pretty good. Have you heard paradigm studio 20s? I have been looking for a good price on some paradigm studio 20s but if you heard these and think they are better than the paradigms, I would certainly buy a pair to try them out? Link to comment
Mike Mcsweeney Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 1 Pono from eBay - $300 Ayre DAC already built in. Plug into your AVR or powered speakers. Done. or you can just buy an avr or a disc player with a usb port for that fact.... Link to comment
realhifi Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I checked out reviews on the DT SM45s and they look pretty good. Have you heard paradigm studio 20s? I have been looking for a good price on some paradigm studio 20s but if you heard these and think they are better than the paradigms, I would certainly buy a pair to try them out? Not a big fan of Paradigm but many are so its hard to say unless you try them yourself. I have heard both, yes. Aren't the Studio 20's quite a but more money, like close to 4x the price? The SM45's RETAIL for $400 a pair. Not really comparing apples to apples there. The much larger SM65's at $900 a pair are closer in price. Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 65 Speakers – Reviews | TONEAudio MAGAZINE Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 65 Speakers Review | Audioholics David Link to comment
Mike Mcsweeney Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 Not a big fan of Paradigm but many are so its hard to say unless you try them yourself. I have heard both, yes. Aren't the Studio 20's quite a but more money, like close to 4x the price? The SM45's RETAIL for $400 a pair. Not really comparing apples to apples there. The much larger SM65's at $900 a pair are closer in price. Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 65 Speakers – Reviews | TONEAudio MAGAZINE Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 65 Speakers Review | Audioholics I mostly buy used stuff. I think you can pick up a pair of paradigm studio 20 v3s used for around $400 if you shop hard enough. Maybe the speakers you mention aren't that old where you can compare to. I am surprised at anyone that has listened to the paradigm studios that didn't fall in love with them compared to anything else in the price range. To me, and many others, there aren't anything that are even close in comparison in the same price range....at least nothing I have heard so far, that is why I am always asking and trying new speakers (grin). WIth advancement in technologies all the time, I am always curious if something newer can be found that sounds better for same price range. The SM45s seem to have pretty good reviews. I have heard good things about B&W 685s2 also...I may have to try them both out. Link to comment
Qhwoeprktiyns Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 The Pioneer BS22 speakers should be a good contender for a budget setup. Link to comment
Burzan Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 The Pioneer BS22 speakers should be a good contender for a budget setup. New to the forums and after doing a lot of reading and wanting to upgrade my system here is what I have come up with as a starting point for my FLAC files and those are the speakers I chose to start with. Toshiba Laptop (My only computer, would like to upgrade to a headless Mac Mini type setup in future upgrades) Harman Kardon HK3390 Receiver (owned already) Audioengine D1 DAC ($145, just purchased) Pioneer BS22 speakers ($125, just purchased) 1TB HDD NAS (previously owned) JRiver (on trial and love it, will be buying for $50) This could easily be done up with new stuff (inc. receiver and computer) for well under $1000, the speakers only just arrived today and I have not set things up yeat but I suspect this is going to be a great budget starting point for myself to grow from. Link to comment
Qhwoeprktiyns Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Another budget contender in the "preamp" category: intact audio Have installed them - if you can do with one input and no remote, this is an excellent solution for 300$. Link to comment
IQ_AV Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Home grown AMD Rig - $700 (2010) Foobar 2k with Asio - Free Adcom Poweramp - $400 (1999) Klipsch RW-12D - $350 Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus - $500 (2014) Audio Quest USB, RCA and Monoprice XLR to RCA - $130 Panamax stablizer - $200 Question for the group, would you spend more money on the cable and linear power supply to augment this setup. Reference -> WIIM Pro Plus powered by Larry's HDPlex-> CA DacMagic Plus -> AudioResearch DS225 Audioquest XLR -> Sonus Faber Olympica 2 Kimber Speaker Wire Family Room -> ALOO DIGIONE -> SPDF-> Onkyo TX-NR609 -> 7.1 In Wall Polk Audio SVS Sub (Home Theatre) Living Room-> BlueSound NODE Gen3-> Carver THX Amp -> NHT Zero + SVS SB-1000 (LivingRoom) Link to comment
regnaD kciN Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Korg 512 DSD DAC $250 w/audiogate software (driver installs easily for foobar wasapi too) Do you have a link to this item? Googling "korg 512 dac" leads me to a bunch of links to other Korg products, plus...this discussion. Link to comment
Mike Mcsweeney Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 Do you have a link to this item? Googling "korg 512 dac" leads me to a bunch of links to other Korg products, plus...this discussion. DS-DAC-100m MOBILE 1BIT USB-DAC | Audio | KORG Link to comment
AudioDoctor Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 My attempt at a budget system a while back: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f8-general-forum/adventures-craigslist-11905/ No electron left behind. Link to comment
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