Seeking Advice to Improve My Audio System ($1000 Budget)

It is tough to break away from active speakers on a budget, as the whole chain has to be replaced. Staying within your budget, here is a system that will be a big upgrade over your current setup.

I have only heard ELAC speakers at an audio show, but I was always impressed with the sound, a great value. There are several models that will work for you, these have a front port which gives you some placement options.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_970DB62/ELAC-Debut-2-0-B6-2.html?tp=186

An integrated amp will give you the best bang for your buck. I restarted my audio journey with NAD, and it served me well. There are other options, but this is a pretty decent unit. It even has a phono amp built in which may be an improvement.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_745C316V2/NAD-C316BEE-V2.html?cc=07

And you will need some speaker cables, Blue Jeans has a good product:

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

These are all new products, you might be able go up the line with these brands by buying used. Check out hifishark for scouting used gear. 
 

 

 

 

I think you should get what mihorn is recommending. He says its the best in the world. It only costs $4000 new and he provides a link to a used one for only $990. And the best part is he's the seller. Who would have figured the best in the world can be had for $10 under your budget?

Okay, I think after some digging and from some recommendations on here (thank you to @yyzsantabarbara for a great place to start, you made things a lot easier.) I think I am settling towards saving a bit more and going for:

 

A Kef LS50 Meta and a Hegel H95. I see endless debate about this being enough to power it, but from what I have read, it seems it would be. And I can always sell upgrade the Hegel in the future, which would pave the way for an upgrade for the speaker. I like the idea of not putting all of my eggs into one basket with a powered speaker.

 

I have read some say that the Kef needs a subwoofer to get the full range for classical music, and so I think a KC62 will be the the next upgrade for that, but it sure is expensive. Now I have seen some say that there the Kef LS50 is "basically worthless" for Classical without a subwoofer, but I think this is an exaggeration (and that seems common on these forums!)  and I gather that although I might lose a bit of bass from my Audio Engine A5+, the bass will be more distinctive, and I should notice a fairly large difference even without the subwoofer.

 

What do people think of this solution? Am I missing a piece of the puzzle? The price of the Hegel and the Kef would be around $3000 (I think I can find the Hegel for $500 cheaper), does anyone have a strong opinion on there being a better complete solution for that price?

At 1,000 bucks it is difficult to buy good system ...But possible...

I am happy with powered  Edifier speakers but if i had money i will buy  better one for sure...( My Sansui alpha can drive anything but for now i dont want to invest 1000 bucks on  passive speakers alone i am happy with which i could achieve as secondary system (speakers) versus my main one (K340) )

How much cost a linear power supply ?  I own a Chinese one very good at peanut cost... I am happy with it if it goes on for few years as now... (No power button on/off i disconnect it at night but  it is a better  than a IFI linear supply i paid almost 3 times the price)

How much cost a good purifier ? I bought a Chinese one which work better than my Panamax for peanuts...

How much cost  a pre-amplifier equalizer ? I bought a Douk T8 for peanuts 

How much cost an acceptable dac ? I bought one from Douk the Q11 ... Peanuts costs...

Now , the main important part, any speakers even in nearfield listening need acoustic corner control... ( i use Helmholtz resonators i make with different size tubes and tune, others acoustics controls could be needed relatively to your room parameters)

All this will be not satisfying without clean power and a purifier is not enough, i make my own grounding boxes for all pieces of gear even the purifier and the linear power supply...

 

I hope i suggested to you some research  clues...

Acoustics controls matter at any speakers price, grounding method matter at all price...

Others things matter but i dont want to write a long post...

 

For the same  price  i also own my main system which is headphone (AKG K340)  Sansui alpha amp and Hidiz pro 80 dac...

because i bought all this some years ago the total price of my 2 system do not exceed 1000 bucks by much...

If i dont count all the minerals i used in my grounding boxes and my other  homemade tweaks...

To create a peanuts cost acceptable system ask for much time and experiments...

 

Purchasing any system at any price is not being an audiophile but being a consumer we must study and experiment...

Read about acoustics concepts.... And grounding boxes homemade design... 

Others will advise you to spend more money...

It will be an error...

Study first and learn how to make the best with a 1000 bucks system... Replace the speakers you own if you are not happy by low cost one but better one... Upgrading without studying and thinking is not good idea...