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Suggest a minisystem for around $1000

post #1 of 20
11/2/04 at 5:57am
Thread Starter 
Hey guys,

I was thinking about getting a Mini System for my room. I'd like to share my music once in awhile and my Sennheiser 650s and Ety ER4P don't cut it

Any suggestions?

CD Player: I already have a Cambridge Audio D500SE so I don't need one

Amplifier: I was looking at the Cambridge Azur 640A but it's kind of pricy at $500 and eats up my budget. I've read some REALLY good reviews about it though. I was thinking about the 540A since I don't need so much power for a small room but I haven't heard much about it. Suggestions?

Speakers: B&W DM303 ($300), Axiom M3ti/M2i ($275/$255), PSB Alpha? I've heard good things about them but supposedly the B&W works better if you're not using a sub. Think I can fit a sub into my budget? Suggestions on that?

A possible combination could be 540A $350, B&W $300, Sub $350?
640A ($500) + Axiom M22Ti ($400)? (I heard the M22Ti is really good)

It's for my own personal room so power isn't that big of an issue but I know most of these bookshelves benefit greatly from a subwoofer.

Not limiting myself to these brands but that's the extent of my knowledge. I've demoed the B&W DM303 and was really impressed, but it was probably running off a Krell power amp and Marantz cd player (it was at a showroom).
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post #2 of 20
11/2/04 at 1:17pm
My 2 cents worth..........

Spend the bulk of your $ on really good speakers, skip the sub, and find a temporary cheap amp. In short build your future system on your speakers. Alternately, buy a really nice amp, like a Rega Mira for example, and get some cheap speakers that will hold you over for some time.

On a limited budget, I do not believe that spreading the money around and buying a little of everything makes sense. Sooner than you think, you will end up wanting to replace everything, thus you end up buying your system twice. If you think you will upgrade in the future, then find one nice piece of equipment that brings you joy, and use it to anchor your system as it evolves. If you do not plan on upgrading, then temper my above advice a bit, but still buy one piece of equuipment that puts a smile on your face.
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post #3 of 20
11/2/04 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 
You have a good point, the same happened to me with headphones. But then again even when I found myself with high end stuff (Stax, 600s, 650s, ER4P) I still bought and upgraded more

There's ALWAYS something better out there and being an audiophile means never ending upgrades.

Your idea definitely makes sense though, but I think it will cause me to upgrade even quicker because the "cheap" component will be seen as one to make due with until I have money to get a better one.

I think buying good valued stuff is a great idea, I read the Stereophile review of the NHT Super Zeroes with sub combo and it was very favorable. I just need to find a pair of bookshelves that does mid and highs well and get a sub I guess.

I love all these reviews though..."Sounds better than $3000 monitors I've heard." "Sounds like it should cost twice the price!"

Which horrible speakers are these being compared to? Haha it seems like EVERY speaker review I read says it's better than stuff twice the price. Maybe it's time to raise the standards
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post #4 of 20
11/2/04 at 2:38pm
i reccomend, as do others on here and at audiocircle.com the teach tripath amp that is a giant killer.
it's 100 bucks and has bested my asl wave 8 monoblocks and a Sugden integrated.

check it out
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/v...ic.php?t=11728


cheers!

as for speakers, i just bought some totem rokks, and they're pretty nice!
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post #5 of 20
11/2/04 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 
Is the Teac Tripath Amplifier in the same class as the Cambridge? It's only $100 but so is the ASL Wave 8 monoblocks. I mean, I can understand if it's a giant killer in that price point but at the $500 one?

I know the Art DI/O got a similar reputation but most people forget to add that it's after heavy modification.

Oh does the Teac come with a remote control and multiple inputs? I think the Cambridge does and that would be useful. I don't want to get a pre amp to cut down cost.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepkyng
i reccomend, as do others on here and at audiocircle.com the teach tripath amp that is a giant killer.
it's 100 bucks and has bested my asl wave 8 monoblocks and a Sugden integrated.

check it out
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/v...ic.php?t=11728


cheers!

as for speakers, i just bought some totem rokks, and they're pretty nice!
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post #6 of 20
11/2/04 at 8:04pm
The TEAC is basically a power amp. However, it does have individual volume control for each of its 3 channels on the back panel. No remote.

The Cambridge Audio is an integrated amp with a remote control. I do believe it has pre-outs so that a power amp can be added at a later time.

I have a Cambridge Audio A500, the predecessor of the 640A, and I am still considering adding the TEAC to my system.
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post #7 of 20
11/2/04 at 8:31pm
There have been reports that the Teac sounds best with the gain pots maxed. The frequency response is apparently not linear when using the pot.
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post #8 of 20
11/2/04 at 10:52pm
if you pair the teac with a nice tube preamp (i'm using a hybrid melos sha 1) it is really fantastic.

and yes, the gain pots should be maxed as it is much better.
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post #9 of 20
11/3/04 at 12:25am
Thread Starter 
Ok well if I go with the Teac then my budget expands considerably for speakers.

Are there any good valued subs or sub/speaker combos out there you guys would recommend for a small room?

Axiom M22ti + EP125? ($400+$380)
Axiom M3ti + EP125? ($275+$380)
NHT Super Zero + SW10ii? ($270 +$500)
NHT SB-3? ($600)
PSB Image 1B?
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post #10 of 20
11/3/04 at 1:10am
Consider the dayton titanic mkIII sub kit for $350 shipped. It'll give you the tightest most musical sound out of the subs you named because it is sealed with some proper design.

I hear good things about the OLD super zeroes.
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post #11 of 20
11/3/04 at 2:29am
I agree. Either build the Dayton Titanic sub kit or pick up the Adire Rava for $399. Both are very good sealed designs with among the best drivers in the world. The EP125 is nowhere near as good -- though it may have a bit of an edge in low end extension, it won't likely be as fast, tight, or musical.

I've heard good things about the NHT SB-3. If you're in a small room you can probably get away with a pair of those and no subwoofer.
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post #12 of 20
11/3/04 at 2:44am
Thread Starter 
Maybe I should just go all DIY

Are the other kits any good? The bookshelf ones....

Any reviews and how do they compare to the speakers I listed?
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post #13 of 20
11/3/04 at 3:17am
Here's one: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...rs-5-2003.html

There's tons more diy designs, including upgraded variations of that gr av1, like the mbow1 that I have. If you read that review, it seems that all the criticisms come from the tweeter. Well what if you replaced that tweeter with a world class one?
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post #14 of 20
11/3/04 at 3:53am
Thread Starter 
I see you have the Sennheiser HD600s. How do the speakers compare? I have the 650s right now and I'm alternating between the 497s and 650s because I'm guessing most speakers at this price point will sound about as good ast the 497s....

Don't know if I could live with that haha.
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post #15 of 20
11/3/04 at 4:02am
Well my speakers cost a bit more than your budget since I got all premium parts and made a cabinet finishing mistake, but it could be done under $500 if need be. The AV1 is also a close call with the GR cabinet but if you get them from some other place, it can be done. And don't feel bad about not getting all premium xover parts. Many diyers, including the designer of my speakers, couldn't hear the difference between capacitors in several blind tests that have been taking place this year.

Let's put it this way. I never listen to my headphones any more. I mean that almost literally. I even sold my very nice customized wooaudio-I because I no longer listen to the headphones. The headphones do serve a purpose. If I need to blast my ears while hunting down some detail at 3am, I'll pop my headphones on for a couple minutes, but after I'm done doing that specific deed, I pop them off and continue to listen to my speakers at low level. The speakers simply offer me something I have never heard any headphones give me, and yes, I've heard the R-10, K-1000, a couple Stax, etc.
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