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Really Inexpensive Systems That Sounded Great?

I think there is a big difference between "cheap" and inexpensive. I have blown money on "cheap" cables and immediately regretted it when my ears started bleeding from the brightness in my digital components. I also don’t mean "bargains" like the time I scored $2000 speakers for $200 on Craigslist, that is basically luck.

I am talking about inexpensive (less than $1500) for a system that sounded really great to you.

I fell into a whole house audio system from DTS Play-Fi because I wanted to try and compare different brands. I picked up Play-Fi amps, preamps and active speakers made by Polk, Paradigm, Klipsch, Onkyo and DefTech all for less than $1000 a pop. For what it is, whole house audio/casual listening it sounds great.

What inexpensive great sounding systems have you tried?

 

kota1
kota1 OP
2,706 posts
 

Anything in the Sony ES line is going to be good and Klipsh are a good match, nice job!

russbutton's avatar
russbutton
429 posts
 

I have a little system in a back room with some home brew loudspeakers with a 5" Vifa bass driver and a 1" soft dome Peerless tweeter.  Damn things sound GOOD.  I got the drivers from Madisound.  The Vifa was being remaindered and I paid $15 each for them.

Your best value is always in a good DIY loudspeaker, whether you build it yourself, get a friend hobby builder to knock 'em out, or find them used.

The Linkwitz LXmini system can be done for as little as $1000 and that will embarrass a lot of systems costing many times as much.

nakamaye
16 posts
 

This is doesn't refer to a system but a while back I purchased two tower speakers under the Plaisir name made by Triangle for $100/pair new and they are amazing.  As far as I can tell they contain the same components as their Color speakers with cheaper cabinetry.  

spaceguitarist
30 posts
 

Speakers : Q Acoustics Concept 20 (launched at 500$, now 250$) Easily outperform the 707S2 B&W.

Amp : Yamaha A670 class D ($300). Incredible soundstage and very powerful 2x30W amp, lots of dynamic.

seanheis1
624 posts
 

Q Acoustics Concept 20 (launched at 500$, now 250$

I see them at $600? That would be a great price

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