Really Inexpensive Systems That Sounded Great?

@peterf6 Schiit Freya (original version), plus Maggie LRS, Schiit Aegir, smaller REL sub, ifi Zen Stream and Tidal Hifi/Masters.  I like this budetary system you ignored everyone and put together.

Classic Marantz, what a great piece:

Oh, I have another inexpensive setup that sounds great:  Marantz 2235B receiver, Pioneer DV-610AV player (for SACD, DVD-Audio, CD), ADS L300 speakers, and  Velodyne MiniVee active subwoofer (via Marantz pre-out).  Mahalo & Aloha...

I have a Fosi tube amp with some B&W  LM -1’s plugged into my computer In my office. I upgraded the tubes, stream music all day. People can’t believe how good it sounds. Yea not bad for $250.  

To the OP's original question, because I recently decided to retire some old gear that  failed and tried to find new reliable gear on a budget (rather than looking for 30-yr old "finds" with fingers crossed or counting on repairs).

Schiit Freya (original version), plus I ignored everyone (because I have a small room) and bought Maggie LRS and a Schiit Aegir. Smaller REL sub-bass. With an ifi Zen Stream and Tidal Hifi/Masters. Sound is delightful. Price below $1k per component. 

@daveselbow 

+1, that type of system could not be built for the cost of those speakers, maybe even for 2-3 times more.

You just have instant ‘system synergy’ as every part is designed for the system

that the whole (the sound) is bigger than the sum of the parts

KEF LS50 wireless - my system

KEF LS50W mk2 

both unbeatable at the price

kef engineers have packed in a bi-amp bi-dac dual mono amp set up in both that as a complete system is unbeatable at those price ranges. The mk1 is impressive, the mk2 moves it all on leaps with 380W/p/c of custom amplification - everything is designed to work with each other.

@drbarney1 

Get a book on vacuum tube design and go for SET in the preamplifier and amplifier

Can you post a link?

Get a book on vacuum tube design and go for SET in the preamplifier and amplifier. They are easy to design and to build. You can do the same with open baffle speaker designs using full range speakers that require very little power. 2A3 or 45 triodes can be heated with AC that is center tapped for the cathode to ground through a dropping resistor and polypropylene capacitors. Use polypropylene capacitors in a vacuum tube rectified power supply with Hammond chokes and transformers. 

There are $10,000 tube amplifiers that use the inferior electrolytic capacitors in the power supply and what you build will probably sound better.

Best inexpensive combo I had was NAD326BEE driving Monitor Audio GR10’s - amazingly good sound.

iFi Aurora

For work, we spend one or two nights a week at another place outside of Dallas.  It’s an old frame farmhouse that we remodeled/rebuilt.  It’s mostly just to have a place to eat supper, relax and sleep, then leave for work at sunrise.  Rooms are smallish - 12 x 14 bedroom and 10 x 22 sun porch.  Systems are Luxman R114 receiver with AR 4x speakers ($700 total) and McIntosh Mac1700 receiver with BMR Philharmonitor speakers ($2300).  Both are excellent sounding, if limited, systems.  We stream Qobuz from a smartphone to either system.  Really, the more we play our smaller systems, the more we appreciate how much quality can be had for so little.

We have so many systems that they’re doubled up in several rooms.  Best bang for the buck is Dynaco ST70, PAT5, BMR Philharmonitors.  Under $2000 for entire system.  Second contender is Luxman 5C50 pre, Elekit TU8600S, and Heathkit AS-101 speakers (Altec Valencias in Heath livery) for about $2K again.  All systems are linked together with Bluesound.  

@vinylguy2016 

Sounds like a great system! Vintage gear sounds so good once recapped. Even with new speakers sounds special compared to new stuff. 

I've tried new equipment and I aways go back to vintage. :)

We got Focal's 816 little towers for the living room, wife approved and they sound very good with marantz gear or HK. $900 a pair.  

The time me and my brother went into a hifi store in NYC (Stereo Exchange, I think). I went in to buy speaker cables and they happened to be auditioning B&W Rock Solid monitors. My brother and I were floored at how amazing these little speakers sounded and what a great value price wise they were as well.

Long story short, my brother went back the next day and picked up a pair, that was definitely a great purchase.

Marantz 7t- that’s a score

I have a true vintage system that I still love after many years of use:

Dynaco Stereo 80 Amplifier (built from a kit) bought used for $100;

Marantz 7T peramp, personally recapped - $300;

AR-2ax Speakers purchased by me in 1966 for $259 and reconditioned by me for $50;

Technics SL-6 Linear Tracking Turntable - Free and repaired by me;

Grado P-ZTE+1 Cartridge fitted with new Grado stylus - $100;

Sherwood TD-7010R Stereo Tuner purchased in 1991 - $129;

Vintage equipment is a good choice for anyone who is willing to do a bit of restoration work.  The end result sounds delicious.  The AR speakers are still in great demand for their smooth natural sound.  The Sherwood Tuner is amazing for a budget unit and has needed no reconditioning work.

marantz 15 $200 recapped my self 

Marantz 7t pre recapped $600

Boston A. T1000 found on the street on trash day 

Schit Dac 

Sounded pretty darn good better then friends 10k system easy 

I'll toss another one out there,... vintage is the way to go after the components have been checked and repaired where needed. How about a Sansui, AU-666, used BluSound Node, same Geshelli DAC and a set of a/d/s L780. I've seen all this gear at the "better" vintage shops & can put this togther for $1500. it'd be a terrific rig in any room. Just my opinion.

The Nu-Force DDa-120 has gotten rave reviews and that sounds like a MUCH better way to listen to TV. Can you run the Pi via USB into the amp?

Yes, I have tried connecting the Pi directly to the DDA-120 with USB.  But I read a quote from someone at NuForce that said it sounds best using the optical input.  Plus the USB is supposedly limited to 24/96.

Mac C26 and Mac2100 bought 30 years ago at auction for under $400, recently re capped pre and well maintained amp. 

Polk Lsim 707 towers for $400 off Craigslist in immaculate condition, replaced my 27 y/o Acoustat spectra

Sony RCD W500C used $100

Sony PS LX5, Grado cartridge (looking for upgraded tt) $125

JDS Atom headphone amp for $80 with Sennheiser HD 518 (my wife goes to bed early)

Room is 16 x24 with 9' ceilings. 

I can and have listened all day and never get tired of the Polks. About $1200 all together.

The Nu-Force DDa-120 has gotten rave reviews and that sounds like a MUCH better way to listen to TV. Can you run the Pi via USB into the amp?

I've been enjoying listening to our living room / tv system comprised of Raspberry Pi 4 source, HDMI out to tv, tv optical digital out to a Nuforce DDA-120 integrated and a pair of Polk R300 speakers.

Playing Qobuz at 16/44.1 (limited by what the TV will pass thru), it sounds good enough to definitely hold my attention.

RPi 4 was about $100 (running Raspberry Pi OS and Qobuz in the Chromium browser), DDA-120 was I think $275 used, and Speakers were $100/pair on sale.

I too have a bunch of expensive and inexpensive stuff. Some is Schiit gear, a Aegir amp, a Freya n preamp and now a latest spec Gungnir DAC. I also hav e an $8000 SS integrated amp and a $5000 tube integrated amp and to my years the Schiit and at a cost of a fifth and a third of my other amps the Schiit combo sounds at least as good. I have seven pairs of speakers going from $700 to $3500 and they all sound fantastic with my sources and amps. With the stuff I have I could put a combination of gear together that costs less than $3000 that will blow you away. I also use the Genelec powered monitors that were reviewed in Stereophile with the Freya preamp and a $1200 Burson DAC that at around $3500 is my favorite system. It is that good. So inexpensive equipment with the right synergy can play with way more expensive stuff. As a 65 year old audiophile I have either owned it or heard it so I know of what I speak. One of the best systems I have ever heard was back in the nineties when a friend who didn’t have a job and could spend his time tweaking the system had a pair of inexpensive PSB towers , two small asl tube monos ($200) and a modified pioneer GD transforms cd player. Most musically engaging system I have ever heard besides my Genelec system. 

I don't like really expensive wine.  I feel like a lot of the time it tastes like wine with a bunch of gravel in it.  I really don't like expensive coffee. It's too bitter.  I've listened to some five and low six figure sound systems and while they seem impressive they seem like they're trying too hard I can also find the sound kind of uncompromising and the whole experience just overbearing. 

Mostly, expensive systems are an aesthetic that's harder to achieve at a lower price point. The fact that it's hard to achieve that aesthetic at a lower price point doesn't mean that it's somehow better.  I've watched a lot of people chug down expensive wine without knowing if they liked it. 

At some level there's a lot of diminishing return chasing some imagined super system. The whole hobby is filled with confirmation bias, and desire for desires sake, and if you ask me, a lot of junk science. 

My main system is a Tom McNally SET amp that I bought for $350 in a Harbor Freight parking lot and a pair of Omega speakers which are single drivers.  I love that system and wouldn't trade it for anything. It's easy to listen to for extended sessions and the mids sound great to my wife and I. 

In the end, you'll be happy with your system when you allow yourself that pleasure. 

Ultimately there is no objective measure, not really, as I don't listen to test tones in an anechoic chamber. 

Elac BS41-Bk (~$65.00)modified using Neil Blanchard directions ($20 plus parts ~ $70.00)

Aiyima a07 Pro (~$80.00)

Don’t be jaundiced by the inexpensive cost, this system rivals my mid fi system = Node as a streamer, REM ADI-2 DAC FS, Freya + pre, Rogue Hydra amp, TAD Micro Evolution 1 speakers, REL T/9x sub woofers.

Of course it is your listening area and your ears that should drive your choices.   Try to audition as much as you can, take advantage of return policies !

My surprisingly good sounding simple inexpensive:

12x13 room w/8ft ceiling, carpeted, otherwise no treatment.

sansui 881 receiver

NHT 1.5 bookshelves

samsung CD player 

off the shelf 12 gauge wires 

a friend that worked in studios….wanted to buy the speakers on the spot.

@switlikbob 

It is like every piece of kit tok you closer or further from what you like, then it comes together. Interesting how Schiit gear is coming up in this thread, makes me want to try it.

@digsmithd 

It is surprising how you can go to a dealer and hear uber priced gear you have read great reviews and at the end of the day still can't surpass what you own. I find old Carver amps can sound better than come new kilobuck amps on my speakers, go figure.

My friend with 100k system told me my system made him trip...asked him why? your system sounds great.... "for what it is"...😉

I've always found that no matter the price / value of the equipment, proper component matching is what makes a system sound ok, good, or fantastic.  Right now, I have about 12 pairs of speakers, 3 tube amps, 4 solid state amps, a hybrid amp, multiple preamps of both solid state and tube variants, some equalizers, a few DACs and multiple different analog or digital sources.  Some speakers I have built myself from scratch, some I have modified, some are at manufactures spec.   Some of my equipment is fairly valuable, some is not.  I am constantly mixing and matching, trying to get the best sound out of each matching component set.  I must say, there are times when I am amazed at how good some of my inexpensive equipment sounds when properly matched up.  I am also equally horrified with the results of matching up some of my higher end equipment.  With that said, one of my least valuable, yet favorite sounding system consists of:

- Mistral MT-34 Integrated Tube Amp with solid state rectifier

- S.M.S.L. SU-6 DAC & LDAC Bluetooth receiver with volume control and remote control

- Schiit Loki EQ (to add bass)

- ZU Audio Omen Bookshelf Speakers

- Self made Custom interconnect and speaker cables

and for old as well

+1

@kota1 

"for new members or people starting out in the hobby"

and for old as well

Looking through this thread I think it is a treasure trove of matched systems for new members or people starting out in the hobby. The systems posted here may seem simple at face value, but it ain't easy getting system synergy that can really sing on a budget. I have already gotten a few ideas for my wish list.

A fantastic dac/amp out of Canada that is, absurdly.. only $265, and it can drive most speakers... the Musical Paradise MP-303. I have bought more expensive cable elevators (...and they were cheap cable elevators). I was the first customer to write a review of the unit. It drives NEAR 10m speakers ($300 eBay) in a near-field setup and sounds sweet, detailed, transparent, and images insanely well.

Add to that an Uptone Regen (or comparable), and plug in your laptop.

I’ve read people finding synergy with the Klipsch Cornwall, also.

@allenf1963 Nice, I use Polk s6 active speakers in my playfi streaming whole house audio. 1 in a bedroom, 1 on the patio, and 1 in the gym.

I recently put together a 4th listening area in my home, due to the fact I had picked up a couple of pieces of new, inexpensive gear, and I was tired of the boxes remaining unopened.  Since November when I undertook this project, that system has received the majority of my listening pleasure because it just sounds so damn good -- or maybe it's the newness and my excitement of bringing a pair of my older speakers into use.  Whatever the reason, this inexpensive project punches way above its price-point.  The goods:

Polk Audio Monitor 10 speakers I bought new in 1987, still in mint condition

Boyuurange Reisong  A10 EL34 Tube Integrated Amp (tubes upgraded through Brent Jessie) bought in 2020 and just unboxed

Bluesound Node bought in 2022 utilizing Tidal

Fluance RT-85 Turntable bought in 2019 and just unboxed

Interconnects by Monster Cable bought almost 20 years ago and DIY Speaker Wire with 12 gauge wire and Gold Spade connects just purchased

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed listening to those Polk Audio's.  I know Polk is a "4 letter word" (not in the good way) to many in this Forum...but I love them and that's all that matters in my home.

Thank you Kota1,

Schitt freya+ is wonderful preamp for the money. transparent, detailed sound w/o much noise. 

I have 6^N7 tubes in operation,;preamp  is highly rated in reviews.

My system consists of a Rotel RCD 971, Muzishare X7 with upgraded Jupiter Copper Foil Caps, modified ProAc 1mkii speakers (more like DIY speakers), Van den hul D102 mkiii cables, Linn k400 speaker cables and Shunyata Venom 3 power cables. Many of them were bought used and total system cost me about $3,000. I have had this system for the longest time and up till this point don’t have an upgrade itch.

Oh. And a few DIY acoustic panels that cost me a couple hundred bucks.

Happy listening!

I use a Nakamichi Soundscape 5 in my office. It sounds surprisingly good. Selling for $100 - 200 on eBay 

Welcome to the forum @syd7865 , how do you like the shitt tube pre?

1-My office desktop has sport PS audio$599.0 connected to BW T7 speakers(dead battery); I stream from I phone via Qobuz

2-Home desk top-Oppo 105D>>shitt tube preamp>>chord Etude amp>>RevelBE126 speakers

Though it took time to find what would work well together, I have combined a Keces E40 with an Aune X8 with a Sparkos op amp on Triangle Plaisir Zetas.  All three at the price I paid plus blue jeans cables, interconnects and a glass stand I place the amp under and the dac atop cost under $1400.    You can throw in the Solid sub  picked up at a yard sale for $7 for that total price as well.

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

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

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.

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.  

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.

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

Chromcast audio ($35) streaming Tidal to my Sony AVR ZA3100ES ($400)and Klipsch KG 5.2 ($350) superb sounding 

The KLH Model 20 "Amazing Music Box" was my first experience with hifi sound. A buddy was telling me great his new stereo system sounded, so I decided to drop over after school for a listen. Here was this dinky little chassis with a turntable stuck in the middle of it with cutesy little knobs. Speakers were not small, but lacked the awesomeness I that I envisioned. The expectation of a mind-blowing musical interlude had already dropped to near zero as he cued up the music on this glorified table radio.

Then, he played WIth a Little Help from My Friends, a song I’d heard on my dad’s dual chassis 12" 4-way Admiral console stereo many times before. There was a delicacy to Ringo’s voice I hadn’t heard before. Hum? Other selections revealed details and the feeling of "being there". Okay. This was IT. I was hooked.