Complete AUDIOPHILE Hifi System under $1,000!!!
Complete AUDIOPHILE Hifi System under $1,000!!!
Cambridge AXA35 https://amzn.to/3kQHnhB $350
NAD C338 https://amzn.to/3kOBukV $700
Emotiva TA1 https://bit.ly/3kU32Fs $550
SMSL DA-9 https://amzn.to/3n1fbLI $250
Denon PMA600NE https://amzn.to/3jDygBo $450
Marantz NR1710 https://amzn.to/3zKEPaP $599
Onkyo TXNR696 https://amzn.to/3mXhAXC $650
Speakers
Jamo C93ii https://amzn.to/3yFgfXz $400 Fun, u shaped
Elac Unifi 2.0 https://amzn.to/38DnBjJ $560 but some amazon warehouse at $355
SVS Prime Bookshelves https://bit.ly/3h0rhkp $500
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 https://www.wharfedaleusa.com?sca_ref=582904.nfUgrqsNGJ
Elac Debut B6.2 https://amzn.to/3n5XryN $251
Schiit Modi $119 w/t shipping https://amzn.to/3yJKHjt
Topping EX5 https://amzn.to/3tdMLyP $350
Soncoz LAQXD1 https://bit.ly/38FFIpq $220
Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial https://amzn.to/3DRAVj9
www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
High Res Music Streaming for FREE!!!!
Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial https://amzn.to/3fiiMPC
Test Track Playlist:
https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/24d254ee836b42dda037530f77fedc2esune?ref=dm_sh_0c0d-7fb2-b9eb-7614-9cb17
Satanic Panic Playlist:
https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/0868bb9f479846fd8b221c2a77ea2e0bsune?ref=dm_sh_d600-359c-60fe-d886-cff9a
Leg Warmers Playlist
https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/61d9b77c1995453cb76d0381c234fff1sune?ref=dm_sh_8874-d4b2-5e62-e345-82872
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Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 – $150)
Sony SSCS5 – Lively https://amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen – Laid Back
Neumi BS5 -Neutral https://amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ – Crystal Clear and Punchy http://emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Debut b5.2 – Neutral https://amzn.to/2WPNQxw
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 (In and Out of Stock) – Laid Back/Bassy/Detailed https://amzn.to/37W8hPA
JBL Stage A130 – Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value https://amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Klipsch RP600M – Neutral https://amzn.to/3pBoXCf (This speaker’s price can fluctuate between $440-630 which is really dumb)
Jamo C93ii Bit – Boosted on Top https://amzn.to/3beIG6F (Can also be found cheaper at Crutchfield)
Q Acoustics 3030i – Neutral with Punch – https://amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500
SVS Prime https://bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 http://bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 – Neutral https://amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference – Buttery but Detailed https://amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100 – Neutral
Aperion Novus – Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 https://bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 https://bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed https://amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles
Recommended Amp List
Under $100
Aiyima A07 – Neutral and Full https://amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130
SMSL AD18 – DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls https://amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 https://amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250
SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp https://amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400
Emotiva TA-100 – DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs – Balanced and Tasty https://emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark http://www.vista-audio.com/products.htm
Recommended DACs
Ifi Zen DAC https://amzn.to/2T3wuyY
FX D01 https://amzn.to/3d9GY6U
SMSL SU8s https://amzn.to/2SWTGiw
Denafrips Ares 2 https://www.denafrips.com/ares
Subs
Emotiva SE8 https://emotiva.com?aff=9
Emotiva SE12 https://emotiva.com?aff=9
SVS SB1000 Pro https://bit.ly/3scmwsc
What do you think about IOTAVX SA3 (464,98€) + Dali Oberon 3 (599€) for just about a little more? 🙂
Makes me laugh AUDIOPHILE SYSTEM. If you want an un-audiophile sound quality buy the Cambridge. For your £1000 system, you will get far higher soud quality with headphones and a headphone amplifier. Any one buying a new Cambridge axa35 is just wasting their hard earned cash. There is no way you will get your so called ( AUDIOPHILE SOUND QUALITY ) from a Cambridge axa35 amplifier. In fact it will be the most un-audiophile sound quality ever. If you like pure distortion trying to drive some average sensative 87db and 4 ohm load loudspeakers go right ahead. It wouldn’t power the skin off rice pudding putting it very bluntly. All Cambridge audio’s lowest power amplifiers are absolutely awful / dreadful ever since the early days, and still no better today. You will get some sort of a sound laden with lots of distortion trying to power some average sensative loudspeakers. WHAT YOU WILL NOT GET IS THE SO CALLED AUDIOPHILE Sound. Ear bleeding harsh, messy, non understandable sound as soon as you turn the volume up.
Great channel! You can really get great sound at this price point.
Have you heard the Denon 2.1 channel AVR, I believe it’s the DRH 800. Source ( streams thru HEOS ) has multiple HDMI inputs as well for around $600.
Ok
Stupid question –
I’ve been out of this for afew years.
What DAC –
Last I knew – DAC – stood for – Digital Audio Cassette or maybe it was DAT – for – Digital Audio Tape.
Feed me Morris – feed me !!!
I’m taking in ALL the info I can take !!!
If 40 is the new 30 then $1,333, would be the new $1,000. Just saying. 🙂
As prices go up, cheap audio man advice is even more necessary! Keep up the good work!
Both informative and entertaining … you have become my new YouTube channel to binge watch! Thanks for all of the effort that you put in to these posts.
I wanna see a comparison video. $3000 budget. Op1. $2500 speakers and $500 for amp, dac and sources. Op2. $500 speakers paired with $2500 worth of amp, DAC, sources.
Cambridge paired with jamo s 807? does it work? reply appreciated
Hi Randy… I’m Pedro from Portugal. I have the following system in the room: Integrated Cambridge Topaz AM10 Amplifier – 35W with SX60 Cambridge Audio monitor speakers + Cambridge DAC Magic 100 + Rega P1 turnable.
The sound of the speakers SX60 is not completely to my taste… it doesn’t seem very clear and detailed. It has a lot of bass and low bass presence…but that’s about it. With teh amplifer Topaz AM10 it doesn’t accentuate clarity…
The phono of the Topaz AM10 is not too bad for the Rega P1 … but nothing out of this world.
Having said that I would like to change something or even everything, since my CD collection is no longer with me and I only want a system for vinyl plus a good resolution files + spotify + Tidal + HD amazon + etc via streamer. Just vinil a streaming good audio files via HIFI or network or bluetooth.
From so many things I see from your reviews what could be a a good projet to me? An amplifier integrated with streamer ? New speakers, an integrated amplifier without streamer and a dedicated streamer. My budget can go up to 1200€. Very grateful and a big hug. Best regards Pedro.
vroeger was het. meer geld duurder. expensive ,,, nu veel beter. goede installatie voor weinig geld.
Recommend Arcam SA10
Sad to see Us’s reality is very different Brazil’s reality… Out here, every what did you say is extremely expensive! Everything you said would cost around here $10.000!…. But thanks anyway.
cheapaudioman is going to hate my setup but: ls50 used 500euros, roksan k3 used 650 euros, chord mojo used 170 euros. = 1320 euros, if bought new 3250 euros
Jamos C93iis in black are @ 249 on 11/4
Not too hard to do. Here’s an alternative audiophile system.
Audioengine Streamer – $189.00
SM.S.L. AO200 Amplifier -$279.00
Wharfedale 225 Bookshelf Speakers -$349.00 pair
Elac SUB1010 10" Subwoofer -$113.00
Total: $930.00 – all above available on amazon
This does not include stands and cables
Sanus leads for low priced stands
SignalCables and Blue Jeans Cables = Quality, high value, low priced
Where’s the sources? No streamers? No turntables?
Great video! Listening to this on a Rotel separates system and (2) Pioneer AJ center channels used as L+R. Sounds great and the Pioneers were $150 for the pair on the biggest river site purchased a few weeks ago. Great for home theater/computer audio and great for music too. I also have Klipsches, Vandersteens, Revels, Omegas and Sonus fabers. But the Pioneers punch way above their weight and are a steal at the price.
What can you say about SVS soundbase paired with css audio criton speakers?
I have an old NAD 320 analogue amp and like it. But the new one having chromecast means it is not gapless with Tidal streaming. (unless you mirror the phone but that is not the same).
So far, the only option I found is the Bluesound node. (around 600 dollars) so I am still looking for options. Anyone listing to albums including live albums, classic albums, Pink Floyd would not accept any interruptions between tracks.
For once I got real lucky. Found a decent looking receiver (and matching CD player) for $25, the front door cover was broken of so the owner considered it junk. Turns out it was a NEC AVR 1000! Had some Realistic Mach IIs since I was a kid (new surrounds installed)…WOW!! Felt bad like I stole it from her.🤐
I wouldn’t call this audiophile, but these are nice choices to start the hobby
I’m currently running a Sansui 5000 receiver straight into a par of Kenwood 777s. Sounds beautiful to me. Total cost: about $60 at Goodwill. The Kenwood speakers sound better on it than my Mc XR-7 speakers do. Go figure? Oh yeah, I’m into vintage audio, as if you couldn’t tell 😀
It’s true the B6.2 might sound a little off at first. I don’t know if I just came to like the sound or if it really got a lot better over time. I do think Elac B6.2 are quality speakers.
Wharfedale ? oh common, they are only good for rock/pop music..
Hate to nit-pick, but, if it has an FM tuner it ain’t an integrated amp. It’s a receiver. Just sayin’.
Cambridge AXA35 https://amzn.to/3kQHnhB $350
NAD C338 https://amzn.to/3kOBukV $700
Emotiva TA1 https://bit.ly/3kU32Fs $550
SMSL DA-9 https://amzn.to/3n1fbLI $250
Denon PMA600NE https://amzn.to/3jDygBo $450
Marantz NR1710 https://amzn.to/3zKEPaP $50
Onkyo TXNR696 https://amzn.to/3mXhAXC $650
Speakers
Jamo C93ii https://amzn.to/3yFgfXz $400 Fun, u shaped
Elac Unifi 2.0 https://amzn.to/38DnBjJ $560 but some amazon warehouse at $355
SVS Prime Bookshelves https://bit.ly/3h0rhkp $500
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 https://www.wharfedaleusa.com?sca_ref=582904.nfUgrqsNGJ
Elac Debut B6.2 https://amzn.to/3n5XryN $251
Schiit Modi $119 w/t shipping https://amzn.to/3yJKHjt
Topping EX5 https://amzn.to/3tdMLyP $350
Soncoz LAQXD1 https://bit.ly/38FFIpq $220
The SMSL DA-9 is £200 in the UK…what a bargin! Thanks for pointing his one out 🙂
I grabbed a pair of Energy Pro 22s off a family member who was going to give them to the thrift store, work great. I’m running them with a Sonos amp with a Tidal hi def account and the whole thing sounds great and is super convenient.
I’m setting my first system, already bought a pair of Klipsch RP600M, gonna buy a rega p3… but i’m struggling on the amp!! Can you give me a little advice on it? Please? Thanks!
YES Prices are going up Klipsch $749 now $829! Most Klipschies are now higher 🙁 Love the Mid-Fi stuff thanks keep it coming
Can we all agree that the opening "Brought to you by…" on this channel is the best on YouTube! Keep them coming.
Why not the yamaha A-S301?
Again, no turntable!! Damn!
A thousand bucks is a high end system.
A $40 Wal-Mart set is good enough for most normal sized rooms.
Let’s see, this was posted 6 months ago. 1200 is now the new 1000.
Was Falcon Audio a real plug? I almost laughed so hard I spat out my coffee…
Hi Randy, which one do you recommend? I have some polk tsi 100 speakers.
Personally I think Yamaha is warmer sounding than Denon. Denon to me sounds more v-shape to my ears. Denon brings the treble out in elac but is too bright for Klipsch.
Where do I find these items?
Two Amazon echo studios, or two Kali lp6’s attached to a laptop.
Audiophile quality for less than 400 quid.
Just found the channel – excellent stuff! I’m in the market of buying a slim integrated amp that fits nicely under a TV and pairs with Amphion Argons. I have laid my eyes on Audiolab 6000a – any chance to get an audiophile class review on that?
Good work men ! Just a AMP suggestion, that i believe is in the top sound and build quality at 500-600 range, the Yamaha A-S701 at 160W/4Ω and 100W/8Ω. Pure direct, DAC etc … What do you think ?
To anyone looking to build a high performance system for cheap,please consider used and vintage. Speakers are hard to ship so you can find those cheap if you’re willing to drive. ADS,KLH,AR,Polk etc can be had cheap. 80’s-2000’s electronics are risky but there’s some good ones out there(I remember yamaha being very competent). Older single disc cd players can sound really good. Most 70’s silver is no longer a value but there are still a few under the radar,sure the sound is colored but can be very enjoyable!
My problem is that I’m trying to set up mainly a turntable system for my bedroom and am right around $1000 but missing the key piece…an amp. I don’t know whether to go with an integrated amp that has a phono stage, or go with a phono preamp (looking at the ifi zen) and a power amp of some sort. I need an amp with bluetooth so my nvidia shield can connect letting me run sound through the bookshelf speakers (looking at Q’s 3030i speakers). It seems like the separate amp components are on the cheap end (making me question quality) and the integrated amp with phono stage is expensive. I thought about trying the ifi zen with a fosi bt20a but I wonder how good can the fosi be for $80.
The turntable and the shield are the only 2 sources I need. I’m trying to keep the amp hardware fairly compact…I don’t want a big/heavy a/v type receiver. Been watching a lot of videos, having no luck.
Elac Debut 6.2 Tower, almost gave up, and then after a couple of months, started to sound warm with jazz, fussy with positioning.. and yes, need lots of power to drive, especially with my budget class ab
Hi Randy, can you suggest a good amp for audio listening, btw I HV got a pair of Q acoustics 3020i, not sure which amp to pair with.
I’d just like to say thank you! I got the emotiva ta1 and I love it! Made my old sony apm sound awesome.
Hi Randy and all, I’m looking to add a CD player to my entry level system. What would you suggest? Maybe something smaller than standard 16” devices?
Thanks