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

I’m like curious Jim.  I can enjoy music anywhere, from almost any source.  I think engineers have figured out a way to get decent sound on many products.  The cheapest solution that I am currently enjoying are a pair of Bluetooth speakers I found on the morningsave.com site.  The speakers were about $50, as I recall, and I bought a pair for myself and two other pair to give as Christmas gifts.  The sound is not bad for what they are, and I like the feature where they glow in 6 different colors, which can be set to one color, or set to cycle through all the colors, or set to pulse with the music.   I find it convenient to take them out on my rear deck or front porch, or anywhere I choose, grab a few cold ones and rock out.  The volume could be greater but otherwise I have no complaints.  I find that young people today value portability and low fuss, as well as lower price, over the expensive stationary gear us oldsters tend to prefer.  The gifts were well-received by the younger people I gave them to — one guy thanked me, saying the lighted speakers enhanced his getting laid.  Lol, excellent!  
 

P.S.  I looked to see if I could buy more.  Morning Save doesn’t have them anymore.  I found them on Amazon for almost $200!   Whoa! 

I am currently listening to some Fostex Fe126En drivers (purchased used for 100…) in DIY Olson/Nagoaka Manifold Horns, being driven by a Heathkit SA-3 SE EL84 amp, cost me 200, which I stripped down and did a ground up rebuild in a DIY chassis. A very satisfying listening experience.

I really like my living room setup, intended for casual but satisfying listening that has minimal visual/esthetic impact. It uses a Teac A-H01 class D integrated amp, Magnepan MMGW speakers, Martin Logan 300 sub and — wait for it — Apple AirPort Express as source. Total price probably around $800, since I shopped pretty hard at the time and got some good deals. The electronics are small and can hide under the TV. The speakers are wall-mounted and I ordered them in a linen cloth cover that blends in with the walls. You get that sweet Maggie midrange and let the sub provide the bass. I will just add that if you told me I could only have a pair of cheap bookshelf speakers, Wharfedale’s Diamond series, even the tiniest model, sound pretty darn good. It’s all about synergy, both kit and the room.

Knowing what I know now, I could probably live sub $1k.

I recently subbed out my Modwright PH9.0 with a vintage Moth Audio phono stage ($200) and it sounds pretty good!

I also picked up a Dual 1218 for $60. I put a V15 typeII on it.

Add a decent receiver and I could be happy.

I think though, you have to experience really good first, so at least you have a baseline; you have to know what minimum makes you happy.

I'm thrilled with my PSB Image 2B front and Image 2C center channel speakers, REL subwoofer, and Radio Shack Optimus LX5 rear channel speakers powered by my Yamaha RX-V571 receiver(soon to be replaced with an Aventage RXA-4A receiver)! Even if I had a massive reserve of disposable income, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on HiFi/home theater components is unnecessary and ain't happening!!! But, I'm not hating on those who have the resources and choose to do so,