Small Room. 2-channels. $1,500 & nothing else.


The title says it all: Small, 9.5'x11' room. Hardwood floors. Absolutely no gear to start with. Looking for a 2 channel system. $1,500. Used or new or refurbed - it's all good if it sounds good!

What would you do?

I have a nice HT/downstairs audio system in the way of an NAD T762, PSB Stratus Silver i's, PSB C5i center, PSB Sub 7 15" sub, NAD 542 CD, and a cheap DVD player. Quite frankly, superb sound for the less than $2.5k I spent on it. But the reality is that I am setting up a second room upstairs in the house as a "retreat". It will have little in it - a couch, small flatscreen TV. Beer cooler.

And a 2 channel stereo.

I am working on keeping this ultra simple. As simple as I can: Int/Amp, CDP, Speakers. Wires. No sub wanted. Just good, clean, enjoyable, upgradeable 2-channel sound.

My initial thoughts:

Int Amp:
1. NAD 320 BEE
2. NAD 352
4. Music Hall Maverick
5. Jolida 202
6. Jolida 302
- The Music Hall Maverick is by far the most expensive with a retail of $1250...I would definitely have to find it used. But it is one very lovely looking int amp. and I daresay that the listening has been very good...

CDP
1. Music Hall CD25
2. NAD T542 or 521 BEE (could sub the 521 into the downstairs...take the 542 upstairs...)

Speakers
1. PSB Stratus Mini's
2. Green Mountain Europa
3. B&W ???

As silly as it seems, I want this system to LOOK good, not just sound good. This is my private home away from home. Pictures on the wall, peace, quiet. Aesthetics are all part of this as well.

Type of music I listen to? Classical, Jazz. New Age. Opera. Save the rock & roll for downstairs - this is a retreat room where I can find peace.

This is a wide open type of request. I suppose if I had more money, I would likely go with the Music Hall CD25 & Maverick and then try to find a set of speakers to match it - but I figure that the best I could do then would be a $2k system...which is out of my reach at least in the short term.

What say you, Audiophiles?
rnovi

Showing 1 response by rnovi

So far, it seems that the generally recommended method for CD play is to go with a cheap CD and a separate DAC. Am I reading that correctly? Is it that the would bperform better than the MH CD25 or a T542? If that is the case, well, fair enough. That gives me a good idea how to pursue.

My initial starting point I believe will be:
Int/Amp: NAD 320BEE - $320 refurb.
CDP: NAD T542 - $350 refurb.
Speakers: PSB Silver Mini's - $600 Demo's.

That puts me right at $1270 + IC's...

I am used to the NAD/PSB sound - so I figure that this will give me a good starting points. Call it a memorization point.

I think this might be a "cop-out" system though. No work, decent performance. Doing the work to develop the system is half the fun!

Other combo's I want to make sure I try

Int/Amp: Jolida 202/302 - I have a local dealer on this. Used: $500?
CDP: MH CD25 - new: $550
Speakers: GM Europa's - if I can find a local dealer. $750.

Well, budget blown there at $1800. Would have to cut somewhere. Guess that I would have to make sure I buy used on the CDP & int/amp...

Also want to try the Kestre's & Swifts...

Any other thoughts? This is great stuff so far.