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Help First Audiophile system

Hey everyone,

I'm a longtime forum reader, but a first-time poster. So to introduce myself, my name is Brian and I'm a starving university student majoring in English-Secondary Education. I have never owned a true audiophile system as I've never had anywhere near enough funds. Well, shortly I will be moving in with a roommate for the first time in a while cutting my rent almost in half. That means I'll have some spare funds. I was going to invest those in paying back loans and buying my girlfriend presents... but where's the fun in that?

So what I'm looking for here is advice on what components I could afford on a very tight budget (think, ~$100-200/mo. in excess funds) so it will take me a long time to save up and purchase any really fancy stuff. But I need SOMETHING good because lately music has lost a lot of it's flavor for me as my speakers in car and on my computer are just too inadequate.

I prefer CDs to Records (own a cat and being a 21 year old college student probably can't take care of them properly) and have a lot of songs on iTunes on my 100GB harddrive so I was thinking that my computer might work as a good source (which would necessitate new sound card reccommendations or the like).

I mainly listen to rock, classical, and blues but sometimes I mix it up with jazz. My knowledge of the hi-end is very very limited so feel free to explain in detail the reasons for and the results of various component choices you may reccommend. I'm also, of course, looking to see prices listed so I can see how long and hard I'm going to have to save up!! Try to keep the reccommendations cheap but quality! Money is the bottleneck here. I will be living in a 992 sq. ft. apartment probably putting the system in the living room (see floorplan here: http://www.wilsonwhitecompany.com/river_layout5.html)

System currently: NOTHING!

Anyway, let's get right to it: I am your clay, Mold me!

Thanks in advance,
-Brian
monotonous_b
ije
29 posts
 
There is a good place in Ann Arbor called Overture Audio located at 618 S Main Street. The sell nice audio gear - both analog and digital.

In the Detroit area, visit the Woodward corridor between 13 and 14 miles. There is ALMA's Hi-Fi, Audio Dimensions and several others along that 1 mile corridor.
lokie's avatar
lokie
528 posts
 
I'll put another vote in for a used NAD. I would also reccommend a cheap, used, tube, dac. I found a california audio labs sigma one on ebay for $150. The addition of this tube dac was a significant improvement when using my computer as a source.
belasariuse480
4 posts
 
Hi,

Overture Audio on S. Main is a NAD dealer. Great people to work with, of the dealers in the area, I like them best.

I have bought a lot of stuff online and haven't had any problems with the shipping. I have had very good luck with Audio Advisors in Grand Rapids, as well as Axiom and Ascend speakers. In particular the Axiom M2i's offer amazing performance for the price.

Good luck.
mlauner
250 posts
 
source first, nothing will improve down the line. cd player is huge improvement over computer. then maybe a good integrated like nad. quality bookshelf speakers, with cables and interconnects and you are on your way.
jond's avatar
jond
5,797 posts
 
I would suggest putting yourself in the hands of a good dealer to start with and then down the road as your personal knowledge increases you can supplement our system with some used purchases. As most of us here have discovered it's better to spend a bit more money/time to get it right in the first place then to start out unsatisfied and then constantly upgrade chasing your dream. If that sounds too much like common sense I'm sorry, but since you're on such a tight budget, just a little more money spent now can save you from spending a lot down the road. Good luck and happy listening!
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