[h3nG]

if you had $500 and no equipment to begin with, which setup (phones/amp/player) would you invest in?

(i am interested in all your opinins, so share)

 

[gsferrari]

Source : Sony DVP-NS500V / DVP-NC685V ($100 / $200)
Amp : PIMETA / Used PPA / used MG Head
Headphones : HD-580 / SR-225

 

[Thaddy]

Probably a used Marantz CD-63 player, a nice Pimeta, and some HD580's.

Wait a second, that's what I'm gonna get this summer!

 

[gort]

Toshiba SD-3950
Sennheiser HD580
PIMETA
and some good cables

 

[JeffL]

HD580
Used PPA
M-Audio Audiophile USB /w mods
Vintage PCDP and CMOY/Mint if I could fit it in..likely not

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Source: (based on recent reports) Toshiba DV4900 ($70)
Amp: Headamp.com Gilmore Lite ($250) or used MG-Head
IC's: (you'll need these as well) Headphile.com standard copper or silver ($35-40)
Cans: Grado SR225 (more energetic music) or Sennheiser HD580 (more relaxed music) or AKG K271S (if you need closed cans) or Beyer DT250-250 (ditto) or AT A900 (more enrgetic closed cans) or Ety ER4S (if you want canalphones).

 

[GSh]

Source: M-Audio Firewire Audiophile ($200)
Cans: ATH-A900 ($200)
Amp: Cmoy w/ decent ICs (~$40-50)

Heh, I already have 2 out of three...should I spend another 200 for the A900 HMMM lol

 

[KJ869]

Phones: Ultrasone hfi-650 ( wwww.meier-audio.de )
Amp: PPA or gilmore lite
Source: With the rest of the money just pick 1 from the local store. They arent that diffrent in the $100 range.

 

[mxs1030]

Source : sony scd-ce775 ( could sacdmod it later if needed )
Amp: Pimeta / used PPA
Headphone: HD 580

 

[Edwood]

$500

Source = $200 Emu 1212M
Modding Equipment = $50, cheap soldering iron, solder, hookup wires, cable connector and wire to make interconnects.
Amp = $250 Gilmore Lite

Headphones = Crap. I'm out of money!

I always go overbudget........
-Ed

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood $500 Source = $200 Emu 1212M Modding Equipment = $50, cheap soldering iron, solder, hookup wires, cable connector and wire to make interconnects. Amp = $250 Gilmore Lite Headphones = Crap. I'm out of money! I always go overbudget........ -Ed

Gee that way really helpful

 

[gort]

Iron_Dreamer and I are the only ones budgeting for interconnects... Does this mean most people here use cheap radioshack type of cables? Or are good ICs moot on $500 system?

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gort Or are good ICs moot on $500 system?

IMO, hell no! I first upgraded cables when my "system" was just an HD590 (cost me $125), Corda HA-1 (cost me $150), and M-Audio Revolution (cost me $80), and I immediately noticed the increase of clarity, soundstage, etc. Good cables are totally worth it.

 

[gpalmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gort Iron_Dreamer and I are the only ones budgeting for interconnects... Does this mean most people here use cheap radioshack type of cables? Or are good ICs moot on $500 system?

No, they're not, but if you consider them as an incidental expense instead of including them in the budget you can get better equipment... This is a basic Head-Fi accounting principle...

 

[gort]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpalmer This is a basic Head-Fi accounting principle...

You got a point there. After a newb gets all the stuff and tries to setup it up, he'll realize the cables are missing.