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How cheap can you go and still be happy with the sound?

I would think many guys on this forum are spoilt by the gear they have and never listen anymore on cheap rigs.

I was listening recently on my younger daughter’s PC audio rig and got reminded again of how good it sounds. There is a fairly high level of clarity, detail, tonal balance and great bass in this rig.

 

- Yamaha HS8 powered monitors: $700 to $800

- Yamaha WXC-50 MusicCast streamer+dac+preamp: $450, often found on A4L for around $300

- Audioquest Powerquest PQ3 (was around $200 or so)

 

IMO, this would qualify as a high quality (sonically) charity price hifi rig for any younger or older person w.r.t small room nearfield or midfield listening.

 

What is the cheapest rig that has brought you happiness these days?

 

deep_333

Showing 3 responses by simao

simao's avatar
simao
1,875 posts
 

@inna I usually agree with or at least acknowledge your contributions, but this seems a bit out of touch. $10-$15K minimum for "good" sound? Nah. My system now’s total cost is about $4500 and sounds much better than my previous $12K system.

But on a more important note, I’m also blissfully happy listening to music in my classroom system played on a Craigslist-bought Technics SL-B30 ($45) with a new AT85 cartridge ($39) and belt ($12) played through a Schiit Mani ($99) into AudioEngine A5+ speakers (also CL - $129).

simao's avatar
simao
1,875 posts
 

For all those saying that you need at least 10K as an entrance fee to good sound, just keep saving and you’ll get to this range.

https://futureaudiophile.com/how-many-audiophile-whales-are-there-really/

simao's avatar
simao
1,875 posts
 

@grislybutter - a dollar here a dollar there. Some Krill here, some Plankton there, and eventually we can be the whales

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