On my lower end system I made my own speaker cable with 12 AWG pure copper low oxygen "lamp cord' as @millercarbon calls it. Put decent banana plugs on it and I'm happy with it. Can be done with little skill and no tools. Its a step up from the 18 awg stuff from Walmart anyway.
I think for immediate, low complexity, low expense enjoyment with good SQ, CDs and a decent CD player are very hard to beat. And there is a nearly endless supply of cheap used CDs out there. That is where I would start.
Then I'd look into ripping them. But that gets complicated really fast unless you drop some cash for an all-in-one ripping, storing, playing solution like the Blue Sound Vault 2i. About $1200. Many here will tell you that its DAC is no good though.
I currently use an old iMac with iTunes (free), XLD ripping software app (free), a $30 USB cable and a used Schiit Modi 2 Uber ($110). I'm listening to Steely Dan - Two Against Nature ripped CD right now through this set up and it sounds great to me.
I think for immediate, low complexity, low expense enjoyment with good SQ, CDs and a decent CD player are very hard to beat. And there is a nearly endless supply of cheap used CDs out there. That is where I would start.
Then I'd look into ripping them. But that gets complicated really fast unless you drop some cash for an all-in-one ripping, storing, playing solution like the Blue Sound Vault 2i. About $1200. Many here will tell you that its DAC is no good though.
I currently use an old iMac with iTunes (free), XLD ripping software app (free), a $30 USB cable and a used Schiit Modi 2 Uber ($110). I'm listening to Steely Dan - Two Against Nature ripped CD right now through this set up and it sounds great to me.