A new challenge! What's the best system you can build for under $500?

ASUS C720 (16GB) Chromebook- $236.95 on amazon
FiiO E10K USB DAC w/headphone amp - $75.99
Pioneer SP-BS22 speakers - $126.99 on amazon
SMSL SA-36A - $51.99

Total = $491.92. That's a complete setup with a computer as source for less than $500.
 
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Desk system w/speakers and headphones:

HP Stream 11 - $199.99 on amazon
FiiO E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier - $75.99 on amazon
SMSL SA-60 TPA3116 based amp - $79.99- on amazon
Dayton B652-AIR - $59.80 at Parts Express
Grado SR60e - $79 at B&H Photo/Video

Total = $494.77 for a nice dorm room or small home office system
 
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This system comes in at $100. Can't imagine any competition at that price.

Revised Dayton B652 + $1.50 caps = $43
TPA3116 red board = $12
6N3 3 tube preamp = $40
SCPH-5501 = $5


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Yamaha RS201 $129.77 at Amazon

KEF C3 $329.01 at Amazon

Sony SR370 DVD player (for our purposes, a CD player. And its even standard component width so it wont look funny) $32.55 at Amazon

Miller Genuine Draft 40 ounce $3.59 at the gas station near my house.

Total $494.92, if I did my math right.
 
Teamaudio.fr FF125WK kits $339.50/pair
Topping TP-30 - $88.00 at PE

Should be enough budget remaining for some decent speaker stands from craigslist.

This is assuming a "free" computer source of course.
 
PSB Alpha B1 $299.99 @crutchfield

S.M.S.L SA-36A TA2020 43.17$ @ deal extreme

DAC3 USB DAC AD1955 WM8805 PCM2704 Coaxial Optical 119.51 @ ebay

OEHLBACH 1019 silverline 2x 2,5 mm² 6.35$ per meter speaker cable 2x2 meters @ ebay

Monoprice 6ft Premium 2 RCA Plug/2 RCA Plug M/M 22AWG Cable - Black 3.70$ @ Monoprice

Monoprice 6ft USB 2.0 A Male to B Male 28/24AWG Cable - (Gold Plated) 1.34$ @ Monoprice

I am assuming that the buyer must have some kind of computer in the house.


493.06$ total.
 
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Yamaha Network Receiver R-N301 $236 Amazon
Pioneer Speakers SP-BS22LR $126 Amazon
Sony Blu-Ray Player BDP-S3200 $75 Amazon

The network receiver is very handy. It has digital connections for both TV and Blu-ray players. The speakers are fantastic, and the Blu-ray player can stream audio, video, play audio CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

That totals to $438, leaving plenty for cables.
 
An old girlfriend (like, from over 20 years ago!) just contacted me on Facebook looking for help on getting a system together so she could listen to records again. Budget: $500.

I suggested:

Either the U-Turn Plus ($309)
Or the Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB ($250)

Sherwood RX-4109 ($50 at Radio Shack right now)

Pioneer SP-FS52-LR Andrew Jones Designed Floorstanding Loudspeakers: $107

Total: $466 or $407.

I told her to plug in her old DVD player so she can listen to CDs as well. No cost.

Aren't I a great ex?
 
$50 for the 4109?! Screaming deal. (Web site shows $99)

FS52 for $107? Is that each or a pair (they are normally priced each) (that's each)

Adds up to more like $570 ish with the A-T.
 
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Great thread. Here goes.

Fluance SX6 - $130 @ their website

fluance-sx6-high-definition-two-way-bookshelf-loudspeakers-11.jpg


I had a set of these for a period and they really were a nice little bookshelf speaker. I preferred them considerably more that the Pioneer BS-21 I have. That doesn't mean they couldn't use a subwoofer though

12 inch 150 watt sub from Monoprice - $109

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Onkyo TX-8050 stereo receiver - $200 at accessories4less.

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That leaves about $60 for cables and speaker wire... prob pick up a CD player for that too.
 
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a desktop tube/full range rig:

Schiit Modi - on sale for $79
Fostex P1000E Kanspea with FE103En drivers $179 at Madisound (drill 4 holes, connect clips to drivers and secure to cabinet)
MiniWatt - $199 on Amazon

Canare quad/Neutrik Rean 1 ft interconnects from Dyson Audio on ebay $18

4 "Nakamichi" sawtooth bananas from ebay - about 6 bucks shipped.

Whatever decent speaker cable can be bought for about $20 in bulk. Lots of option there. Any bigger than 16AWG is pushing it with the spring clips on the speakers.
 
How about (considering PC front end):

1. New Onkyo A-9010, phono stage, line + Wolfson DAC (opt./coax), goes for 299$
2. Fanmusic FM6011 USB to SPDIF, Amazon, 19$
3. Usual suspects for speakers (Pioneer, Dayton) or something on sale, <150$. Lets say, Polk TSi100 currently on Amazon
4. Left 30$ for cabling/wall brackets, at least
 
all from Amazon
Emotiva Mini-x a-100 Stereo Flex Amplifier Price: $219.00


Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Price: $126.99

Audioengine D1 24-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter Price: $169.00


15 over
 
New user to the forum. This thread got me to register :)

My current budget set up for the bedroom:

Pioneer SP-BS22-LR: $125
Topping TP60 amp: $185
AudioQuest Dragonfly DAC v1.2: $149

Use any existing laptop as a source through the USB.
 
Finally came up with a vinyl set up I wouldn't mind living with and listening to.. for under $500 (that was the hard part)

Yamaha R-S201 $149.95.

U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic (mod it later amirite?) $179

ART DJ Pre (cheap at B&H right now) $34

Fluance SX6 $129.99

$492.94.

>already have an ART DJ Pre. Works fine I suppose but there's plenty of room for improvement and I'll get to that eventually.

>the g/f wanted a stereo and I told her to buy the Yamaha R-S201. Great sounding little receiver.

>the Orbit can be modded after the fact with acrylic platter, better cartridge, etc. However for somebody just getting started the Basic looks like it'll do the job, even if I HATE that particular AT cartridge.

>the Fluance SX6 are getting consistently good reviews for a speaker at this price point. They sound like they're probably better than the BS-22 in a lot of ways. The SX6 and the Philharmonic Audio Affordable Accuracy Monitors (which are just BS-22s with a different tweeter and better x-over) are currently vying for my birthday budget. However I think the Philharmonic Audio modified Pioneers are going to win.
 
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