Just wondering for the sake of curiosity and general sharing and education among audiophiles, “What is your favorite budget audio component?” And as a bonus, “Why do you consider it budget and why is it good?” Since budget might be relative, I would say audio gear like MBL, Wilson MAXX speakers or anything ultra high end should not be considered.
My, my, Liz....aren't we testy today. Seems that with your seven thousand nine hundred and seventy-five posts here, you would be a little more accommodating.
Take a breath and feel good that your A/V AC plugs are an airtight connection. Ha! Wonder who made that one up?
Elizabeth...if you recommend stuff like this for other, possibly less experienced audiophiles, it might be beneficial, if not totally appropriate, to explain the science behind such tweaks. There is a lot of just plain bad info going around in the audio world. I mean, like, some people use refrigerators to break in their high priced AC outlets.
NAD 3020A integrated. Remarkably solid performer within limits, no tone controls, 20wpc of solid current, preamp-out/power-in for versatility. The preamp and phono are astonishingly good for the level. Power amp able to drive down to 2 ohms.
A simple cheap upgrade was to use quality short IC patches to bridge the preamp-out/power-in. As a stand alone preamp/phono connected to bad-ass mono blocks it was truly frightening. Lovely design.
My favorite budget amp is currently the Cambridge Audio Topaz AM5 and it was a steal at $100 on sale. Very musical, more detail than $200 should buy (regular price), good construction. The sonic character is similar to my Marantz PM 7200.
Signal Cables - XLR IC’s and Speaker cables, 3D (2) by Les Davis Audio, Telos RCA / XLR caps, Audio Exklusive Silent RCA Plugs Nordost Qk1’s and Qv2’s HiFi Tuning / SR Fuses
And yes, I do consider tweaks and cables as components 😉
Nakamichi BX-300 Cassette Deck (owned from new in 1987, and sold it 17 years later) -- Same Performance, Same Sound Quality, and Same Refinement as their more expensive decks of the era (but without an automatic tape calibration system). Three Motors, Three Heads, Direct-Drive, Dual Capstans, Feather Touch Transport Controls.
I could still kick myself for selling that deck today. Unless I finally get me a ZX-9, a CR-7A, or a Dragon (which is the Holy Grail of these), what I wouldn't do to get my BX-300 back.
A "HONEY" of a Deck!!!! For Under $1,000.00!!
Pioneer Elite PD-65 Compact Disc Player -- Same build quality, and superb sound as their flagship player at the time (the Pioneer Elite PD-91), but without the elaborate circuitry. Had the same sound quality of the $2K Players (and I wanted a Pioneer Elite PD-91 too, and later on, a Meridian 508.24 too). That was saying a lot.
Pioneer Elite PD-65 -- $800.00 (in 1998), and used it for 15 Years (it finally died in 2013 -- the laser and servo mechanisms had developed issues).
I have an NAD 3140 Integrated Amplifier (Dual Channel with Dual Transformers, with 40 WPC, and it is a HEAVY ASS beast too) that is still boxed up now. I'm going to eventually put it to work in my bedroom, and then add a turntable to it, so I can listen to music in my bedroom, when I don't want to go into the living room and crank up the BIG/MAIN rig. The Speakers I hope to add to them are a pair of LSA-1's, or hook it up to my eventually retired KEF Reference 102's (with KUBE)(which then, the main rig will be getting a pair of Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures with an Adcom GFA-555se). A lot of amplifier for an affordable price. I would put it on par with an expensive integrated from back in the day that is two times the price tag. Has a nice Phono Stage too.
NAD 3140 Dual-Channel Integrated Amplifier -- $150 (Used)
I've enjoyed a PS Audio DirectStream DAC since it first hit the market (nearly four years ago), and though a $6000 piece of gear might not be thought of as "budget", I have applied each and every firmware update since owning the unit, and it's like trading the unit in for a "new and improved" DAC, so from that perspective I'll call it "budget". The latest "Redcloud" firmware update is just awesome!
Just now read through this entire post for first time . Excellent post with so many great things made my head swim , don't think anyone was wrong !
That said , if this was a contest and in the unlikely event an old fool like me was the judge, roberjerman would win 1st prize with his Pioneer PLX1000 with Denon 103R.
Mine is mounted with a Soundsmith Otello and one of THE best buys i've made in 50 years in audio. The bearings come with a bit of slack as their powerful torque sells to the DJ crowd as well . It cost me all of $30 bucks to rectify that by a local tech . You can do yourself if you are at all handy, which I am not .
Bryston B100-SST integrated at around $1500 used. I like it so much that I actually sold my CJ MF2500A power amp after I bought the Bryston, & may sell my pre-amp as well
I am continually impressed with my Yaqin MS-30L. It's a Class A push-pull amplifier rated for 25 wpc in triode and 50 wpc in ultra linear. You can get them new for under $1,000 which I think is an absolute bargain for such a surprising product.
If you're buying used, buy a Meridian 565. Absolutely love the sound that comes out of it. Also, bought a used Oppo BDP93 and a used Yamaha RX V1. Absolutely wonderful sound.
Double dip: I forgot to mention Stax SRX mk 3/SRD-7 $185. New 'component': I recently bought and applied a CD that guides one to optimum speaker placement by listening to a series of sounds and effects. The result was like getting new speakers! Really! and I thought I had my speakers positioned perfectly before. So wrong. (Isotek Ultimate System Set-up Disc. No affiliation)
Also mt Denon DL-301 mk II. I had a hard time finding a real upgrade and in the end had to spend more than double the $329 the 301 cost me.
I got some Jade 1s on closeout !!! 489.00$ to my door !! Trouble is caused me to upgrade to Jade 7 . But now I have Jade surround 5.1 Best deal though Marantz SR 8001 scratched and dent works perfect , still in use today. 685.00 delivered . MSRP was 2000.00$
B&K TS108 tuner. I did not believe that it would sound better than my Kenwood KT917, but since fmtunerinfo.com claimed it did, I had to find out. It does, but not by much, and only on my B&W 803's, and then only when the subs are not on.
Still have and love my 30+ year old Audible Illusions Modulus II pre-amp. I believe it was about $450.00 new. Still going strong and sounding good...Jim
The Lumin D1 digital player with Linear Tube Audio linear power supply It is very analog sounding and total under $2500 and bests Many at several times this price.
My favorite budget component is a crown DC150 A series II I got in trade for labor. I removed a woofer and reconed it for my church. I cleaned up the old Leslie and made sure the belts and lube were good. They had a slightly used DC 150 II sitting around. I asked how much? They said free! It is not being used, we know you will use it. You can get them for about $300.00 bucks. The 45 year old sounds great with lots of kick and power, clean good low end, bright highs, detail and good for a small townhome. Not at all esoteric. And it still specs at 94 RMS L and 93 RMS R, into am 8 ohm load before starting to clip. (90W claimed when new.)Not bad for that age! The Electrolitics tested good too! Amazing great old time build quality? You did say budget, I say its great for me! (Not wealthy)
My favorite unit was a Onkyo T-4711 AM/FM Stereo tuner I bought new at the old Circuit City store back in 96' It's retail price was at the time $600.00 but I got it new for $159.99, as a matter of fact I bought three of them, two gold, and one black unit all for the same price because I have three systems and I wanted a decent tuner for background music when working on something. All three are now working for 21 years and not one ever had a problem. This is a great tuner and one I'm never letting go of.
Already been mentioned but if we stick to sub $1000, just has to include Bluesound Vault 2( $999 new open box) and Oppo 105d, most versatile cost effective shiny disc spinner in existence...imho.
But my biggest steal was a nearly new Exogal Comet Plus, list $2995, for a paltry $1000 even! How could I not buy it!
After thinking this over, I have forgotten my favorite cheap upgrade is this:
My room was a little bit "hot" so I purchased a 5' X 9' rug. Using a couple of carpet tack strips which I nailed to the wall and into studs, I was able to hang the rug from the tack strip. Not only did it greatly improve the sound but the rug adds a good look to the room.
I am a dealer for carpet tack strip so don't buy them from Lowes I can sell them to at a greatly marked up price.
ADL-GT40 - The "Swiss Army Knife" of high end audio. Combines a pre-amp / 24-96 DAC / MM MC phono stage that produces clean, clear, musical sounds. Throw in an A to D converter that will facilitate high rez vinyl rips, and that is one kick @$$ budget component considering the $500 I paid for it. Look up Art Dudleys review in Stereophile for a more detailed look.
Note: The upgraded 40a features a DAC capable of 24/192 and other improvements.
BTW - Not a dealer or anyone in the industry. Just a satisfied consumer.
Watch out for blindjim and his audio trinkets. Cheap but they accomplish nothing. He must be a dealer.
Budget? That varies according to disposible income, audio interest and other factors. But for VALUE (which is quality divided by price), the industry loves Emotiva. Clearly the best bang for the buck in that price range.
+1 on the MMGs and the Schiit gear. My headphone rig is a Schiit stack consisting of the Asgard 2, Bifrost Multibit, and the new Loki. All budget-friendly bargains.
Genesis Physics Model 7s - $75 new for Hwu Powell tweeters!!! Emotiva XPS-1 phono pre - $85 used. It was sweet for the money. Oppo DV-980h - $83.45 used. Introduced me to DACS, HDCD, & DVD-A Canton Ergo 1002DC towers - $800 used.
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