One Less Bose Wave Radio in the World


I was pleased when a reasonably rich friend of mine who studied physics, likes good things and is generally well educated on most matters told me that he wanted my help buying a "stereo".

The conversation got a little less interesting when he told me he wanted to "spend no more than $2K" given that $2k is certainly less than his monthly, if not weekly, dinner allowance. But things took a real turn for the worse when he told me that a) he wants it to dock with his iPod and b) preferably have the whole thing in one piece?!

So if I can get him to be flexible on the one piece requirement, could we build an iPod based, Bose Wave radio killing system along the following lines:

* Wadia iPod docking station?
* Cheap as dirt external DAC?
* Cables by Signal Cable?
* Berhinger A500 amplifier(s)(has volume controls)
* Epos or other competent mini monitor?

Hard to believe even that would add up to about $1500 bucks or so and his wife might not approve of more than one box....but wondering how a normal person might react to such a system, when used with their iPod.

What would you suggest in this case?
cwlondon
Wadia 170 ($379 new) and NAD L54 Receiver ($699 list, sale price $499 or $369 refurbished). The NAD is a 2 channel receiver (50 watts per channel) with FM/AM tuner, has S/PDIF input and contains a DVD/CD player. This gives the option for DVD or TV input video, if desired. It is a two box system but is very flexible. The NAD has a learning remote and you could probably learn the Wadia commands with it. You know about the Wadia. NAD also has a iPod dock that does digital out for about half the price of the Wadia. It also has a smaller footprint. Add your speakers of choice - there are lots of options. Sonus Faber Toy monitors for $600 here on Audiogon would be nice, although I have not heard them with the NAD.
For speakers, used Totem Arros are also an option if you want some small floorstanders. They are small but sound great.
CW, has your friend and his wife had a chance to listen closely to your system? Doing so would give them (and you) a metric against which to measure their real wants.

As someone already mentioned, not everyone is an audiophile and even we exist at varying levels of involvement and investment. Determining where your friends interests reside in the continuum might be a good place to start.
OP - Have you visited his house and had him point out where the new system will be going?

I am somewhat entertained at the level of discussion just to find something that's a Bose "killer." If the Bose product is a bad as many believe a Bose "killer" would be just about anything that doesn't carry the Bose name and certainly any product from an audiophile respected company.

It shouldn't be this hard to best junk. I'll post again with a recommendation.