Challenge for the modern fans - The best $1000 system.

21 posts with zero $1000 systems added - back to it guys!

JBL LSR2328P: $700/pair

Schiit Modi: $100

Refurbished Windows 7 netbook with optical drive (approx. 50 options): $200
 
ReverendFunk said:
That and the Magni would do for an iPod office system. :scratch2:
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Or a Little Dot DAC_II by itself, speaking of which if you give me a free computer, could change the JBL setup to one with analog input and headphone output, and tubes:
JBL LSR2328P: $700/pair
Little Dot MK III: $200
Schiit Modi: $100
 
dumptruck said:
Or a Little Dot DAC_II by itself, speaking of which if you give me a free computer, could change the JBL setup to one with analog input and headphone output, and tubes:
JBL LSR2328P: $700/pair
Little Dot MK III: $200
Schiit Modi: $100
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After I posted that, I got to thinking that what I really want to do is take a turntable to the office again. I had a vintage phono/amp/speakers rig set up when it was just 4 of us in a private office. Now we're in cubicles on an open floor, so a full rig ain't gonna happen. But the Modi and a small phono preamp could work. I e-mailed Jason at Schitt a few minutes ago and asked him if they were planning a phono preamp. He said they were thinking about it, but no release date yet. :music:
 
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ReverendFunk said:
After I posted that, I got to thinking that what I really want to do is take a turntable to the office again.
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Bellari VP130 takes care of that all by itself, although it is not much of a headphone amp for the price, I suppose. I had one for a while, and I think I remember the headphone out being fine, but probably best to buy used so you can turn around and sell it if it doesn't get along with your favorite headphones well.
 
dumptruck said:
Bellari VP130 takes care of that all by itself, although it is not much of a headphone amp for the price, I suppose. I had one for a while, and I think I remember the headphone out being fine, but probably best to buy used so you can turn around and sell it if it doesn't get along with your favorite headphones well.
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Neat! Do you have a favorite solid state preamp? The $50 Rolls was the best I could ferret out of a field of cheap Chinese units with reputably dodgy reliability.
 
ReverendFunk said:
Neat! Do you have a favorite solid state preamp? The $50 Rolls was the best I could ferret out of a field of cheap Chinese units with reputably dodgy reliability.
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Seems like the ART one gets better reports than the Rolls, as far as that bargain bin field goes. Stereo preamps with phono and headphone out are pretty thin these days, especially under $1k. It's easier to find an integrated amp to do it. Something with the perfect functionality for office headphone hifi with phono is Furutech ADL GT40. It's a USB Dac and MM/MC phono preamp and headphone amp! I have absolutely no experience with it - never seen one, never touched one, never heard one.
 
dumptruck said:
Seems like the ART one gets better reports than the Rolls, as far as that bargain bin field goes. Stereo preamps with phono and headphone out are pretty thin these days, especially under $1k. It's easier to find an integrated amp to do it. Something with the perfect functionality for office headphone hifi with phono is Furutech ADL GT40. It's a USB Dac and MM/MC phono preamp and headphone amp! I have absolutely no experience with it - never seen one, never touched one, never heard one.
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Well, that would certainly solve the problem of how to use both a phono and an iPod at work. Doesn't leave much in our $1000 budget for cans though. Would one need considerably better than the K-240 Mk II to do this amp justice?
 
Speakers : Omega Super 3E full range single drivers - $695

Amp : Parts Express TK2050 class D - $39.98
+
Meanwell 24VDC 14.6A regulated switching PS - $49.00

ebay 6N3 3 tube preamp with 110v transformer - $58

Heavily modded SCPH-5501 with remote ( my friend sells these on A'gon ) - $100

The amp and preamp are naked plug and play but look better in clothes.

Now if you don't want to fool with nude gear you could substitute with this gorgeous SE EL34 amp for $200

http://www.goodcomponent.com/GDAP-01.html
 
I put a little system together for the spare room a while back.

The amp was a Tangent AMP 100 , the forerunner of this

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11095-tibo-amp410-amplifier.aspx

Looks like this

http://www.audiopuls.hr/testovi/tangent_hifi100a.jpg

Amp, tuner , cd player for £110 brand new.
I used an existing set of Wharfedale speakers and a DJ turntable that is a copy of a Technics that I picked up cheap new from Richer sounds in the late 90`s.

It is actually a really nice sounding little system.
The DAB radio is great and the amp is punchy, so long as you dont expect to much clarity.

The brushed aluminium front is a actually very attractive and the blue lit readouts look cool at night.
 
New System for $1000

Based on your criteria, I would select the following components:

1) KEF Q100 Bookshelf Speakers - $549

2) Denon DRA-297 Stereo Receiver - $299

3) Sony CDP-CE500 CD Player - $119

At this point, I will just use the cables that came with the components.
 
This thread is amazing! Being pretty new to this game, and very new to owning modern equipment, I'm ecstatic to see that I already own some equipment that has been mentioned here. I love my icepower amp and my paradigm mini monitors. actually, now that I think about it, the only thing I currently have active in my system that is more than 5 years old in my technics 1200. :)

I found this thread because I was researching modern preamps. the icepower sounds great, but from what I read it is a little picky about its input source impedance. I'm using a grant fidelity DAC 11 for digital conversion and volume control. Though from what I read it is not ideal for the icepower based on its output impedance.

it seems to me, not many of the systems listed here are using dedicated preamps. do the toppings chip amps simply have passive volume control? I'm wondering what to put upstream of my ice power amp. I have not had a chance to try anything aside from my DAC11 feeding into the icepower, so I'm curious about what I may be missing. :)

Please keep the $1000 system suggestions coming!



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It's not easy to throw a preamp in the mix with a ceiling of $1000. The only one I recall so far is the 3 tube Matisse circuit preamp.
 
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