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Want a DAC, amp and speakers for under $1000

post #1 of 4
6/27/11 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 

This is for a friend. He's looking to put together a system to use with his iphone and Macbook in his living room. He has his eye on this set: http://aloaudio.com/miniwatt-n3-and-alo-panda-speaker-combo.html

 

I told him he'd definitely want a DAC, as well. He is dead set on getting a "cool looking tube amp" as part of the system, so keep that in mind with suggestions. I think he can do better for under $1000 for an amp, dac and speakers.

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post #2 of 4
6/27/11 at 7:02pm

Wait til he sees the glowing awesomeness that is tube amps, I would have paid just for that. I am a noob when it comes to tubes but I didn't realize that they could power full size speakers from a tube amp that small, Id think youd need 2 amps one for speakers and one for HP.....Nevermind no mention of HP amp

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post #3 of 4
6/28/11 at 1:55am
I'd scotch the tube amp. You'll pay $500-$1,000 for a good one and have nothing left for the rest of the system.

The speakers are most important. The best reasonable speakers I've heard are the Magnepan MMGs. $600 new. $400-$500 used, but used ones get picked up fast.

Then I'd buy a used NAD integrated or receiver for power. $200 would probably do it. Then find a DAC for $200 or so.

It won't have glowing tubes to show off, but the very thin and very good sounding MMGs will draw attention. If he has to have tubes, find a reasonably priced tube preamp and have it feed something like an Adcom GFA-555 or older Bryston amp to drive the speakers. A used McIntosh MC2100 or MC2105 would look very cool and isn't ridiculously priced, either. He wouldn't be able to do that for $1,000, but could pick those up over time.
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post #4 of 4
6/28/11 at 6:24am
Thread Starter 

Yeah, no HP amp needed. Just enough for some decent speakers for a small-ish living room. 

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