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Cult Classics for Young Future Audiophile

My young nephew turns 10 this week and I would like to buy him his first stereo, assembled from used classics that I will clean, restore etc and wrap up in big boxes.

He is taking piano and saxophone lessons, is generally very creative and artistic and has expressed an interest in Charlie Parker. As his Uncle, I am encouraging him to listen to music as much as possible while he is "working" on his artistic interests.

Can anyone help with ideas for assembling a high end, classic system that will be fairly reliable, inexpensive and whet his appetite for music and high end audio?

At first I thought a kid his age might enjoy some of the big classic receivers or amps from the 70's with multiple LEDs , VU meters, tone controls etc. -- remember Yamaha "Natural Sound" -- but he is very smart and technical and would also get the mimimalistic, straight wire with gain, audiophile approach.

Apt Holman amp and preamp? Classic Hafler amp and preamp? A pair of used Maggie SMGs? With one of the less expensive, discontinued but still new in box SACD players?

I would like to keep this well under $1000.00 -- closer to $500 would be ideal.
cwlondon

Showing 2 responses by aboldor

aboldor
49 posts
 
A little more expensive, but maybe worth it:

Prices are for used gear:

Paradigm Monitor 5's ~ $350(?) (around 500 new - no ads)
Creek 4330 ~ $400 (one for sale here)
Nad CDP ~ $150 (couple of ads around this price)
aboldor
49 posts
 
I heard the monitor 5's with NAD components and for the money the Paradigm's are pretty tough to beat. They're nicely "voiced", with good/vg imaging and good detail. Their sensitivity (89/92dB) should make them a decent match for the 40W/ch of the Creek, which I think sounds better than a NAD – more musical, more… “vibrant”, if you will (maybe because it has more detail?). So I did not hear the Creek with the rest of the setup, but if I had to build a system with that budget those would be my first choices.
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