Are there other people like me ? Amazed by their low cost system :)

Interesting price...Thanks jayctoy..

have you already compared with something else ?

OP yes Iam amazed of my low cost used gear system.ELAc speakers b6, MIT S3 speakers cable, schiit preamp tube, Norh mono block $400 , Njoeb marantz cd players. Audioquest cobra ic.This system is purely musical and very involving.

Thanks chiadrum ... and jmarini2

This will surely help others in their journey... welcome to Audiogon

my best 😊

This thread is not about me even if i make remarks and thank those who gave their experience with relative low cost system...

If you read it  i ask others testimonies in their "similar"  audio journey and about their own experience of the their relative  S.Q. /low cost ratio... Then it is not about my low cost system...

Now you are not in the obligation to read my answers... Read others people posts here ... It is informative and enlightening precisely because it does not comes from me and is intended for beginners also...

Then any  innuendo about my posts count is just that : an innuendo ...

Thanks anyway for your "due respect"...😊

And instead of asking people to quit creating their  thread pass over their thread if you are not interested, i do it each day...... Is it not more  not only logical  but more meaningful  , i say that as an added benefit for your next posts about anyone else here creating a thread  ? 😊

But enough already about your low cost system. That horse has been beaten to death, and the word count is overwhelming.

Restored Pioneer SX-1250, Denon DP-59L turntable, Denon DL-103R/Musikraft Lithium headshell, Magnepan 1.7i speakers, Anticables throughout.  Total investment about $6,500.  Completely satisfying to my 70 year old ears.

Throughout my HiFi journey, I have been amazed by relatively low cost components several times. My little Dragonfly and PSB headphones provided and unbelievable upgrade for computer listening, which I did at work. 
That was 500$ very well spent. 
Then I moved on to my A&K with Grado headphones, another big leap. $1700.

Now I have a dedicated listening room. After going to shows and every dealer in the area. I spent 14k. IMHO, I would have had to spend tens of thousands more to get significantly better sound. At the show that I attended, one of the standouts was a system with a HiFi Rose all in one with Piega bookshelf speakers. That system was just over 5k. With a good sub, In hindsight, that system may have been good enough for me. But I definitely love what I have. Everyone that hears it is flabbergasted and wants more. 
I am also well impressed with my little “The Fives” by Klipsch that I have in my living room. They fill a wide open space with clear and powerful sound. And that is just over Bluetooth or the TV’s ARC out. With a really good source and sub, I could see that little system being enough for a lot of people. 
Sit back and enjoy what you have. The smile on your face is all that matters. 

Amen....though I have my prefs for the ladies....😏

mahgister, with all due respect, I truly believe you have created something special, at a fraction of the cost others, including myself have spent, and good on you for achieving audio utopia. (btw I'd love to hear a vintage Sansui amp with some old Tannoy's or similar).

But enough already about your low cost system. That horse has been beaten to death, and the word count is overwhelming.

Especially since my retirement ...

Noted. Now your responses are starting to make sense - word count wise. Happy posting and make sure that you are the one who has the last word. Have fun.

Low cost here is a relative notion i refuse to precise...

In my exemple above i spoke about Bill Gates reading my advices about embeddings controls of the mechanical, electrical and acoustical dimensions and discovering that a 88,000 bucks system almost rival his one million bucks system...😁 For sure it is an audio parable... 😊

For him 88,000 is very low cost...It is peanuts...

For us reading this we understand that before upgrading we must learn how to realize our dream at a favorable ratio in the scale S.Q. /price when going with our budget which is different for everyone...

But as i said the minimal acoustical threshold of satisfaction and level is characterized by the same acoustics factors at play : timbre, distortion, spatial qualities of the sound and of the soundfield and immersiveness grosso modo... There is many others secondary factors and qualities which are all important and they all must manifested together some balance ratio for an optimized perceptive experience of any stereo recordings..

This is what matter , the knowledge behind these factors and their controls multidimensional parameters...

It is why speaking of price tags has absolutely almost no meaning in audio... The common place fact that better design cost more is only that a common place fact which is useless if we dont learn how to embed rightfully any system at any price to begin with once synergy between some chosen gear is reach for sure...No embeddings controls will replace synergy and vice versa.

Then your post is very useful and can reveal that acoustic happiness can be done at this price : 6,600 bucks and we can be satisfied with no frustration at this level...

This does not means that we cannot do better ... Toward a way greater results with more money or toward a better or equal results with less money ... ( my 2 different systems were 1000 bucks value speakers and headphone included and unbeatable in my opinion with less money and hard to beat even with some relatively costlier system at my level compared to my 1000 bucks......With no limit budget or even a few times bigger it is if not easy possible to beat me...( my own dreamed upgrade system will be 15,000 bucks but i felt no frustration because i am already at the minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold anyway )

The goal is with your example and your post some beginners will begin to think BEFORE throwing money uselessly ... Then thanks for your post...

In a way my thread is the opposite of most thread... We think less often about a way to have more with less money invested for more joy ... Most audio thread started with some frustation and a search for a costlier upgrades...No thinking about homemade devices and tweaks and about embeddings method seems necessary BEFORE upgrading, which resulted in a frustration starting an upgrading race ...

Audiophiles subjectivist as objecvtivists focus on gear qualities or measures make us forgot acoustics and psychoacoustics and mechanical and electrical embeddings controls. What was called "tweaks" in the past.

I dont like this word because embeddings controls are more than just "tweaks" and they are not secondary at all but at least as much important as gear synergy choices. At the end they are the most important because learning them save us money and end our frustration with sounds...

Define "low cost.’Mine, by my reckoning, is high value and reasonable cost;but I couldn’t have afforded any more. And it was actually going out on a limb to get what I wanted and that’s; with a preamp I’ve had for 20 years! so my amp was like $1500, speakers something like $3k, CD Player - that I hardly use anymore but was primary when I bought it 7 years ago or so - $500, streamer $700, cables about $400, stands $500; so about, what, $6600 all-in new? To most people that’s A LOT, to others, it’s being cheap and doesn’t sound good lol. For me, it’s nigh on perfect, certainly for the investment.

Define "low cost.'Mine, by my reckoning, is high value and reasonable cost;but I couldn't have afforded any more. And it was actually going out on a limb to get what I wanted and that's; with a preamp I've had for 20 years! so my amp was like $1500, speakers something like $3k, CD Player - that  I hardly use anymore but was primary when I bought it 7 years ago or so - $500, streamer $700, cables about $400, stands $500; so about, what, $6600 all-in new? To most people that's A LOT, to others, it's being cheap and doesn't sound good lol. For me, it's nigh on perfect, certainly for the investment.   

My thread intention then i hope it is now clear, was only that : a celebration by some of us about our relative successes in the scale ratio S.Q. /low cost, and the pleasurable occasion to read others explanations about this relative success i called : the minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold and level ... 😊

This is also meant to be  an invitation for the beginners to think BEFORE upgrading too prematurely BEFORE trying experiments  or uselessly if they are not in the ideal room condition anyway  ...

It is not wrong... 😊

+2 immatthewj

As i said i had a reactive temper... No one is perfect ... But i dont doubt myself ... And i dont need others opinions about my sound experience in my room ... I just like discussing sincerely and reading others similar experience  ...Especially since my retirement ...

Went through a few posts here and the only conclusion I came to is that you are offended by whatever words others choose.

+1 @milpai .

Went through a few posts here and the only conclusion I came to is that you are offended by whatever words others choose.

+1 @milpai  .

I cannot contradict mapman wise post...

😁

Most people outside these "high-end" parts would not consider my stuff low cost. For example, I just got a nice deal on a pair of mint Sonus Faber’s from someone locally (compared to other popular options you might read as touted here), but even then still more than most people would ever shell out for a pair of speakers. It’s really not hard at all to get top notch sound for modest cost these days, even with a very modest budget and very high audiophile-level type expectations going in. It just requires doing your homework and a lot of patience perhaps.

If headphones are sufficient to meet one’s needs, you really have it made! Do the homework and find that ~$150 for ear monitors and dongle + an existing Smartphone or tablet with streaming can get you sound that is reference standard by any objective measure quite easily. That would be the absolute lowest cost setup I could identify that is capable of providing reference quality sound. Disclaimer: reference quality may not be to everyone’s liking. That is more a matter of personal preference. In that case, it’s even easier, you just buy whatever sounds good to you and that’s all that matters.

Your post is a stunning example for all... Congratulations! and my thanks for your experience communication and invitation... ... I wish i could go alas! ...It will be an encouragement  for beginners to think a bit  and experimented a bit BEFORE upgrading too rapidly ...

My best to you ...

So then, with less than $6K invested (using a 22 year old Yamaha RX-Z9 receiver, in "Pure Direct" mode, purchased new with over 30K hours on it now), plus countless hours of speaker development/tweaking (in the room they are used in), and an Oppo95 SACD...,

When people who do listen to systems say it sounds better than some six figure systems they’ve heard, we’ve met the goal?

I’ve never heard a system that throws a soundstage so big and precise, and I’ve heard Magicos, Focal, etc. and I have JBL L200/300s, L112s, One-Off Altec Big Red Supers (furniture-grade, 15.5 cu ft ext vol, custom made, tri-amped), Chartwell LS3/5As), and anyone in Orange County, CA is welcome to come by and hear it for themselves

You are right... i sometimes (often) overeacted ... 😊😁

But i think you know me perhaps better than me  ... 😊

Then read me with no projected suspicions about my thread intention ...Dont use innuendos.

Relax.

Most people outside these "high-end" parts would not consider my stuff low cost. For example, I just got a nice deal on a pair of mint Sonus Faber’s from someone locally (compared to other popular options you might read as touted here), but even then still more than most people would ever shell out for a pair of speakers. It’s really not hard at all to get top notch sound for modest cost these days, even with a very modest budget and very high audiophile-level type expectations going in. It just requires doing your homework and a lot of patience perhaps.

If headphones are sufficient to meet one’s needs, you really have it made! Do the homework and find that ~$150 for ear monitors and dongle + an existing Smartphone or tablet with streaming can get you sound that is reference standard by any objective measure quite easily. That would be the absolute lowest cost setup I could identify that is capable of providing reference quality sound. Disclaimer: reference quality may not be to everyone’s liking. That is more a matter of personal preference. In that case, it’s even easier, you just buy whatever sounds good to you and that’s all that matters.

Then read me with no projected suspicions about my thread intention ...Dont use innuendos.

Relax. 

So then, with less than $6K invested (using a 22 year old Yamaha RX-Z9 receiver, in "Pure Direct" mode, purchased new with over 30K hours on it now), plus countless hours of speaker development/tweaking (in the room they are used in), and an Oppo95 SACD...,

When people who do listen to systems say it sounds better than some six figure systems they’ve heard, we’ve met the goal?

I’ve never heard a system that throws a soundstage so big and precise, and I’ve heard Magicos, Focal, etc. and I have JBL L200/300s, L112s, One-Off Altec Big Red Supers (furniture-grade, 15.5 cu ft ext vol, custom made, tri-amped), Chartwell LS3/5As), and anyone in Orange County, CA is welcome to come by and hear it for themselves.

😉

I am married too ...My wife is not audiophile as i am but more a musician which alas! i am not ( the reason appear to me late in life i perceived more sound as a story and by forms dynamic with my eyes than as sound isolated tones, music is more movies moving forms than sound as tones for me in a way , it is why acoustics interested me so much )...

She was persuaded i was completely mad in a madhouse when she observed my acoustic room slow construction and changed his mind listening to it at the end...

Anyway we are often in love with wiser woman who think we must be "mad" but may be anyway useful husband ... 😉 I married her after writing his philosophy examination the night before giving it and i am still very proud of the maximum grade she received finally after one hour questioning for plagiary which was disproved because i briefed her before the oral examination and she had a good memory and are very bright soul ... 😊 We are together since that 50 years ago ... She was never interested in philosophy by the way but by linguistic. she studies two languages right now ...

By the way audiophile experience is not about perfect sound at all cost, it is about the best sound ratio for money invested with the help of basic knowledge ...

Anything else is ignorance mixed with deep pocket and consumerism marketing ..

If i had budget for sure i will add more higher cost gear but i will do it in the samw way i do it with less costly gear, acoustics and psychoacoustics, and others embeddings controls dont change ... And it will be for sure maximal acoustic satisfaction but anybody can be in ectasy with minimal acoustic satisfaction...

Why ?

Because minimal and maximal satisfaction resulted from a BALANCE between acoustic factors... But with more high end gear designed pieces some limitations disapear and the balance is renewed on a higher acoustic level ...

The key concept is balance...

In the two cases the goal is the same : retrieving the original various acoustics recorded trade off from any albums perceived as it was in our system/room ...

i had it but i dont doubt that mikelavigne system do it better... And i know why it is such... It is why i know exactly what pieces of my system to upgrade first if i want how to embed it and with the right pieces of gear...

As stated by mikelavigne wise audio experience : audiophilia is more about a  state of mind than about price tags...

@mahgister Thank you, I actually enjoy the challenges and doing more with less$$$$ is quite gratifying. I also have a wife that would kill me if I spent even $120k on my systems. Personally we enjoy doing charitable work, traveling, will have more disposable income once our last two graduates university, one in May!,

@mahgister Thank you, I actually enjoy the challenges and doing more with less$$$$ is quite gratifying. I also have a wife that would kill me if I spent even $120k on my systems. Personally we enjoy doing charitable work, traveling, will have more disposable income once our last two graduates university, one in May!,

This post will be informative to any beginners...Thanks to you

...

In fact i read the same kind of post 12 years ago when i was in desperation and frustration because i did not have the money to buy a high end costly system...

Then reading a similar posters saying the same things i decide to study basic acoustical,electrical and mechanical principles and ideas, and i begun experimenting with what i have as gear pieces , instead of dreaming about high end gear reviews and entereing in despair because i would never been able to affford it anyway,...

I discovered then what i must do slowly... One experiments at a time ...I succeeded as you did... For + or - the same reason...😊 Basic principle may varied but do not change...

After I had the opportunity to listen to an $800K system in an extremely well engineered listening environment, then came home and listened to my $60K system in my small well treated listening space, I was grinning from ear to ear. I have done well for my audio needs and desires. That trip was validation for me.

After I had the opportunity to listen to an $800K system in an extremely well engineered listening environment, then came home and listened to my $60K system in my small well treated listening space, I was grinning from ear to ear. I have done well for my audio needs and desires. That trip was validation for me. 

For sure i admire you and i believe you...

because i did the same in my own way...

Creativity and acoustics matter for happiness ... Anything else is budget limits and self doubts by ignorance and marketing conditioning ...

It is fun to have a joyful celebrating and explaining "why we are happy"  thread !

😋

In answer to the question, Yes! I have always been proud of putting together good sounding systems for comparatively low $$$. I have rarely bought new equipment, kept current thru the audio press, but, most importantly, as a musician I know what instruments and singers sound like live. That has always been my benchmark.

I will admit that my current system has cost more than most people would spend. But not too much more. I couldn’t afford this rig new. Musicians I’ve had in to hear it - jaws drop.

I do like to hear other “fellow travelers’” systems. Many are stunning. In the end, my ears are happy. It’s fun to tweak the room and speaker positioning to find that little bit more. Can’t do the “Full Mahgister” 😉 but still interesting.

In answer to the question, Yes!  I have always been proud of putting together good sounding systems for comparatively low $$$. I have rarely bought new equipment, kept current thru the audio press, but, most importantly, as a musician I know what instruments and singers sound like live. That has always been my benchmark. 

I will admit that my current system has cost more than most people would spend. But not too much more. I couldn’t afford this rig new. Musicians I’ve had in to hear it - jaws drop. 

I do like to hear other “fellow travelers’” systems.  Many are stunning. In the end, my ears are happy.  It’s fun to tweak the room and speaker positioning to find that little bit more.  Can’t do the “Full Mahgister” 😉 but still interesting. 

All I said was, "Someone who was certain they were satisfied might not be tempted to ask this question." Pretty benign statement. Easy to agree with. No one here is certain. You’re not certain. I’m not certain. I can admit that. The length of your reply speaks volumes.

The level of your own misreading speak volume: i am certain than i am happy acoustically yes...😊 I am certain that better experience than mine exist over my own acoustic ectasy yes..😂.But mine is enough for me...😎And some others feel the same and i am curious about their reasons and their systems ...I stated my own very precise reasons to be happy with what i have ...

Then read me with no projected suspicions about my thread intention ...Dont use innuendos... Insinuating that opening this thread suppose self doubts is false and projection of your part. Period. Others than you here claimed the same and you came after repeating this innuendos ... I answered ...Not only i had no doubts about what i said but i am full of pride...I make myself my own acoustic heaven at the best possible cost... I apologize for my excess pride for sure... I am guilty of that...😁

What i said since i am in Audiogon 8 years ago and is resumed in my virtual page title had never changed but was confirmed by all my experiments ... It is clear as water... ...

By the way i generally admire all your posts then i apologize to be so direct and straight in my answer to you ... 😊

All I said was, "Someone who was certain they were satisfied might not be tempted to ask this question." Pretty benign statement. Easy to agree with. No one here is certain. You're not certain. I'm not certain. I can admit that. The length of your reply speaks volumes. 

phillyspecial

6 posts

03-06-2024 at 07:23am

"And BTW, who is this Jay guy you are referring to?"

@yogiboy I think he must be referring to a reviewer on YT who posts videos as Jay’s Iyagi. For example:

When i spoke about Jay i spoke about this Jay :

( the reason i spoke about him is the fact of his honesty and he knows a lot about high end gear and in this video he spoke about the fundamental importance of acoustics here room acoustic...He goes in his reviews on audiogon before his youtube  without room dedicated acoustics for years though and discovered his importance lately )

Acoustics rule audio acoustic perception as much as the gear design ... Thats my point... Nevermind the price paid you cannot optimize your gear  and put it at their optimal peak level of quality without acoustics, without electrical grid of the house and room  and connectors and cables workings controls   and without resonance and vibrations controls  and at the end unbeknowst to most  you cannot go  without crosstalk controls with Dr. Choueiri filters design ...And you cannot do without psychoacoustics measurements either... 😊

You are so right that i invite people to meditate your post observations...

Thanks for Chesky very astute observation with which i am in complete approval and understanding... And he knows way better than me then i am glad to be confirmed on this opinion... Not because i had doubts about it. i studied acoustics enough to know he is right. but it is fun to not be alone and be in the same circle of opinions as a reputed musician and acoustician  ...Thanks to you ...

I’m with you @mahgister . I have found that the difference between a good system and a great system as far less than the difference between a good room and a bad room, or a good recording and a bad recording.

I recently saw an interview on the audiophiliac with David Chesky, a musician, producer, and record company owner. And he said something to the effect that recordings can be like a photo with extra vivid colors, which I took to mean that they can be kind of an enhanced reality. I agree with this. Most live music actually has rather subpar sound and seldom sets off aural fireworks for me. The performance and the music itself are the focus. Chesky also suggested that recorded music is essentially an artificial experience that can be crafted in many different ways. All of this is good to bear in mind when we start to get too carried away, telling ourselves that we are on a search for “truth”.

I’m with you @mahgister . I have found that the difference between a good system and a great system as far less than the difference between a good room and a bad room, or a good recording and a bad recording.

I recently saw an interview on the audiophiliac with David Chesky, a musician, producer, and record company owner. And he said something to the effect that recordings can be like a photo with extra vivid colors, which I took to mean that they can be kind of an enhanced reality. I agree with this. Most live music actually has rather subpar sound and seldom sets off aural fireworks for me. The performance and the music itself are the focus. Chesky also suggested that recorded music is essentially an artificial experience that can be crafted in many different ways. All of this is good to bear in mind when we start to get too carried away, telling ourselves that we are on a search for “truth”.

😊Well said....thanks...

We are happy people and we had done our best to be there ...

So, I love my curated, a.k.a. hodgepodge system. It’s not expensive by high end standards, but I love listening to all genres on it. It’s far from perfect. I get to hear a lot of high dollar systems through my local audio club, and rarely do I feel any regrets about my own system. Does the 6 figure system feeding a pair of Magicos sound better than my rig? Of course it does. But I can listen to that system, go home, fire up my rig, and still enjoy the music. And that’s why I got into the hobby; because I love music. Sure, I drool over expensive gear and have my Lottery winner’s system all picked out. But when I hear a well recorded tune on my system, I really couldn’t wish for more. I am sure my acoustics aren’t ideal, although my room and a/c power are pretty quiet. Others have heard my system. Some liked it, some didn’t. I couldn’t care less.

 it seems we are a little "crowd" of deluded or perhaps "inspired" and "informed" people ...

 my Sansui vintage alpha 607 i  do well  for 300 bucks and my AKG K340 for 100 bucks modified are very good... As you i bought vintage pieces because of the ratio S.Q. /low cost...

I am pretty amazed by how much music can come out of vintage and/or inexpensive gear when you get things out of the way (inside) that make them sound worse.

I am also amazed how inexpensive gear can fulfill an intended purpose: musical wallpaper, surround yourself with something(s) familiar, share a tune, provide a musical upgrade over cheap earbuds, etc.  A rough facsimile of a performance is better than no performance in the "right" situation, provided enough rough burrs are filed off.

Someone who was certain they were satisfied might not be tempted to ask this question.

We are a family and we speak with one another...😊

I am curious about others experience with their relatively low cost system...

I just had Bill Gates on the phone yesterday...Yes he phoned me ...He has read my audiogon posts😉

Guess what ? He just sold his more than one million dollars system and just bought a ridiculously cheaper system valued to 88,000 bucks after reading all my posts , he declared that he understand perfectly now how a well embedded system , mechanically, electrically and especially acoustically is not so much far from a more costlier one... And he confirm to me that psychoacoustics at the end matter as much as gear design price tag...

For sure his one million bucks system was slightly better by design but he decided to use the difference in money with his new 88,000 bucks system to serves and help those who suffer from ..... here i must stay silent about those who need help from him ...😁

Then instead of doubting my level of satisfaction as a poster of Audiogon , because it is a philosophical sophistry anyway to ask someone to doubt himself and doubt his satisfaction and pride because he cannot be supposedly completely satisfied enough because we must compared his system with better system and to the best possible on earth which for sure exist ... 😁

Projecting on me your own motives to speak which are your own doubts about yourself and your system, is pure sophistry at worst; at beast erroneous reading about my arguments : the controls of the mechanical,electrical and acoustical embeddings of any piece of gear in their house/room/ears-brain working dimensions matter as much as the price tags of the gear piece to begin with...

Then audiophile minimal acoustical satisfaction state and threshold exist... I am there... It is enough for me... I am satisfied acoustically ...

Some others as mikelavigne for example are on the maximal acoustical satisfaction state and threshold...I dont doubt his superior state of satisfaction .. ( i know enough to know why he is right ) 😊

Why criticizing me then for saying elementary truth and why doubting my intention here , projecting on me your own unsecurities because you dont really understand what you do...

Acoustics with an "s" rule audio, not price tags...Period...

For me there exist two levels of audiophile experience defined by the same acoustics factors general balance : the minimal threshold or the maximal threshold with the same optimization methods in the two cases in the mechanical, electrical and acoustical working dimensions...

For sure my chinese low cost tube amplifier does not compete with atmasphere superior design...

This does not means that when it is well embedded with right synergy with other pieces of gear it will and must be audio trash ... Not at all ... But it is not at all the maximal acoustic level of experience... But trust me it may be the minimal level of acoustical satisfaction ...

Mechanical, electrical and acoustical basic knowledge work and matter as much as design price tags ...

I am pretty amazed by how much music can come out of vintage and/or inexpensive gear when you get things out of the way (inside) that make them sound worse.

I am also amazed how inexpensive gear can fulfill an intended purpose: musical wallpaper, surround yourself with something(s) familiar, share a tune, provide a musical upgrade over cheap earbuds, etc.  A rough facsimile of a performance is better than no performance in the "right" situation, provided enough rough burrs are filed off.

So, I love my curated, a.k.a. hodgepodge system. It’s not expensive by high end standards, but I love listening to all genres on it. It’s far from perfect.  I get to hear a lot of high dollar systems through my local audio club, and rarely do I feel any regrets about my own system. Does the 6 figure system feeding a pair of Magicos sound better than my rig? Of course it does. But I can listen to that system, go home, fire up my rig, and still enjoy the music. And that’s why I got into the hobby; because I love music. Sure, I drool over expensive gear and have my Lottery winner’s system all picked out. But when I hear a well recorded tune on my system, I really couldn’t wish for more. I am sure my acoustics aren’t ideal, although my room and a/c power are pretty quiet. Others have heard my system. Some liked it, some didn’t. I couldn’t care less.

To be an audiophile, one doesn’t need to have Elon Musk type resources.  You just have to appreciate good sound.  It’s more of a challenge to achieve this with limited resources.  Yes, system matching, synergies, etc matter, but honestly if one spends megabucks on each component the odds are that it will sound good, if not perhaps realizing the full potential of the resources expended.  And while there is a lot of really good sounding mid Fi gear available compared to decades of yore, here it becomes more of a challenge to match components, etc.  The budget audiophiles get sneared at a lot, and there are some eccentrics who play in that corner of the sandbox.  However there are many who really know what they are doing 

Someone who was certain they were satisfied might not be tempted to ask this question.

"And BTW, who is this Jay guy you are referring to?"

@yogiboy I think he must be referring to a reviewer on YT who posts videos as Jay's Iyagi. For example:

At the end of the day, whether you spent $1000 or $100,000 on your system, they are boxes of wires. I don’t think of them as important in the large scheme of my life. Find contentment and happiness with your audio and music, but more significantly find contentment and happiness in your life.

I believe far too many people worry about what others think about their equipment.  Who cares? Does it sound good to YOU?  Do YOU enjoy it? If so, enjoy it then. Goof around with it hear and there looking for improvements if you wish always making sure it's YOU  who likes the results.  Sure, ask questions and learn but just please yourself and that should suffice. 

@mahgister ,,,,*G*elbow nudge*

Well, I suspected you were not alone...looking upforum. definitely not. ;)

And...I'm happy to admonish that if you're delusional (or merely 'tripping'). you've got a 'fellow traveler' (or 'trip sitter') only as far as a keyboard and screen.... ;)

@p05129 ....gently, sir....I was admonished OUAT that a small dogs' bite can be just as painful as that of a larger one....

....and strangers can be more of a surprise that you expected. 🤔

I've a sneaking suspicion that many who populate A'gon would prefer...nay, Strive for 'better', if not beyond rationality and the agonized squeaks of a credcard....

There are no 'audio clubs' in my locale....I've looked about...one that was 4 hr. away doesn't seem to exist anymore, and I've better and more to attend to than punching my means through combat traffic to listen to Macs in a for-sh*t space where acoustics was ignored 'cuz the SO wanted the room to feature the furniture v. the audio qualities....

Surprised?  Oh, F no...

Mahg's thoughts and commentary is muzic to my mind , if not ears....

Yes, one can achieve the 'suburban' levels of Nirvana without Xcess,,,,yep, pun intended, and you should have heard it coming.....

My 'pile' of this, that, and th; other would likely not impress. Few have seen it, less heard it, esp. 'philes with zilch interest at darkening my door.  They're welcome, wine, brew (AVL has more than you will EVER imbibe without making  the local PD happy to DWI you or worse...), or 'other', which You should supply.,,,

NC still is in an idiot state.....mho.....longer story than I'll subject y'all to....

...*sigh* Miserable acoustics....I can cope.

DIY Walsh drivers that the few that have heard....prefer...

I don't claim perfection.

It doesn't exist.

Dollars be damned.

Make self happy, bottom line.

Nothing else matters.

If you are content with your system, you should really not care for what others think about it.

I think some people miss my main points :

Audiophile minimal satisfaction may be enough for most at least for me because of basic knowledge and creativity...

it is not enough to own a 100,000 bucks system... We must learn how to embed it in our house/room for our ears and how to optimize it ... This is my point... This is valid even for a 1000 bucks system optimization as mine is...

We need acoustic , electrical and mechanical basic and this matter as much for S.Q. as high quality design of the gear pieces ( this is my main personal discovery and this does not means that all gear design at all cost levels are equal with one another for sure)

I dont care about what people think about my system , if i would have care do you think i would had posted my first virtual pages where i received insults for my room acoustic disposition and my experiments or do you think i would had post my second system gear pieces which are low cost pieces anyway with pride after selling my first house/room ? Do you catch how and why your supposition are completely wrong about me ? 😊

But i care and i am curious about other people experience and opinions about their own low cost system here ... some had already given interesting answers... this was my goal... I never need any approval man... But i like others experience posts ...

I have more pride of my two systems S.Q. ratio/price i myself created at low cost than any system at any cost ( which systems as we can see in others people virtual page  for sure may or  will be better potential S.Q.  by design; only an idiot will claim that my low cost speakers are top of audio, i never claimed that stupidity; but only an idiot will claim that after my modification they are not way better than before as they were in the box ) ... Then take any opinion about my system as i take it myself ... Rain on my duck back ... 🦆

High end exist because higher design cost more... This is a common -place fact...Period.

I never contested this fact... It will be relatively easy for me to upgrade my system tomorrow but i dont want to invest 15 times the money i had invested already... My actual system is audiophile level and satisfy me completely with his limitations for sure but no evident acoustic defect, it is a balanced design because of my creativity... ...I explained why above and what i means by that...

Why then my thread seems so disturbing for some ? 😊

if you dont have a satisfying low cost system to speak about in this thread stay mute instead of accusing me of being unsecure in myself... You are unsecure yourself attacking my motives and intention then dont project that attitude on me...

Audiophile experience is grosso modo defined by acoustic knowledge more than just price tags sorry if you dont know that yet... Dont kill the messenger think twice...

If you know of costlier systems, heard costlier systems but come back to your own and still get goosebumps? That’s all that matters. It’s all relative, and it’s all a matter of experimentation and personal taste. Not to mention the psychoacoustic effect that can blend so much of the overall experience into serious and personal bliss.

Tonal balance, great soundstage, impact, realism and true system synergy need not be hyper exorbitant nor unobtainable. And the journey can be fun if we let it be…

enjoy the music 🙏🏼

I agree with griislybutter knowledge and research and listening are keys… OP it’s ok to amaze for what you have, it’s hard for others to agree when we tell them we are amaze on our low cost system.congratulations.

Pick your choice of word

Went through a few posts here and the only conclusion I came to is that you are offended by whatever words others choose. This contradicts the following statement you make:

For sure an upgrade of part at low cost unbeknowst to me is possible but i must live with what i have for now but i feel no frustration at all.

If you are content with your system, you should really not care for what others think about it. I checked your current system and it does not show a specific room or audio equipment setup. I love my system as much as you like yours. You enjoy your system and let me enjoy mine. Have fun!

Wow, lots of brow beating and chest thumping here. Here’s the deal, it doesn’t matter what is spent on a system. If you enjoy it, then it’s all good. No explanation or justification required. But don’t judge someone who might spend more (however much) as a person sold on hype and ignorance. Our systems are individual things to make us happy. That’s all.

I am indeed amazed at how good a pro analog hardware EQ properly implemented sounds in my low cost system 

I have a couple of cheap systems that cost around $5000 each. They sound good, but they don’t come close in sound quality to my dedicated system where my cables alone cost more than my own her systems.

IMO, the op created this post only to hear him talk. We all know you have a $500 system that betters $500k systems, just like older posts from MC claiming his $2000 speakers bettered Wilson $800k speakers. 
We don’t need to have someone trying justify their system sound quality and the OP doesn’t need to try to push garbage about how to turn a $200 amp into a giant killer by the knowledge only the OP knows. I suggest go to audio club meetings, audio dealers, audio shows to hear what you are missing.

Indubitably

We will like a bit more details...if you could ... 😊

interesting post by 61falcon thanks...

As you i discovered that a low cost system can be very good for enjoying music , especially if much of our creativity is invested in it...

I modified completely my low cost speakers, i disliked them a lot after purchase for 10 years as i put them almost in a bin trash or relegated them on a second computer work; now i can live with them without any frustration this is really audiophile for the poor, acoustics basic knowledge helped me a lot here in modifying the rear porthole design completely and the tweeter waveguide + others "tin foil" hat tricks... 

My Tannoy  gold dual concentric which i owned 40 years with a way more refined design never gave me the same enjoyment. Why ?

Because nevermind the price and quality, any speakers must be used in an acoustically optimized way in a room ... Alas! when i had the Tannoy i was knowing nothing about acoustic... My actual 100 bucks small speakers gave me more right now even with a less refine design  because of this knowledge... Even if the design of the Tannoy were  superior in all acoustic factors on paper... Then owning high end speakers is not enough , we must learn how to embed the speakers mechanically, electrically and acoustically ... And this is my main point ...😊