How would you build a giant killer system with a $5000 budget?

[Mlistens03]

Yes you two are taking the thread off the intended topic...ie Thread Craping

Oops, I was a part of that... sorry.

 

[4-2-7]

Oops, I was a part of that... sorry.

Yeah you bit into the bait

 

[jrtrent]

That is the gist of it. Please keep in mine this is not my personal quote. I don't know if it could be done.I have heard a few systems at and above 50,000. My system already past the $5000 point is not in the running.

I'm not certain what you're saying. I had asked, "Are they really saying that $5000 will buy all the performance available in today's market, or are they thinking that $5000 will buy enough performance that anyone should be willing to be satisfied with it?" Which is "the gist of it," the first option ($5000 buys as good a performance as you can get) or the second ($5000 sound is good enough)? Nixxuz says that at least some people seem to believe the former, and I can see how some people might make a case for the latter.

 

[Hawkeye83]

Soooooo many ways to build a good system for $5k or less. I've built two such systems over the past 5 years. Not saying by any means that these systems were the "best" but I greatly enjoyed both of them. I felt both were a good value. The first system I spent around $4k for, the second system was $6-7k.

System one - approximately $4k
Quad ESL 57
Juicy Blueberry xTreme w/cream - tube preamp
Monarchy SM70 amp
Peachtree Dac-itX DAC
12" subwoofer (DIY/Dayton)
Rega RP-1 turntable
Denon DL-160 cartridge
Hagerman Bugle 3 phono stage

Such a natural sounding system! Highly enjoyable for music, never heard vinyl sound more natural in my life. Sold the system to help pay off some debt and buy a big TV for system 2.

System 2 - approximately $6-7k (with $1k of that being the used OLED TV)
Kef 107 speakers
Townshend Audio Maximum supertweeters
Bel Canto DAC 3.3VB w/VBS-1 power supply
Bel Canto CD-2 CD player
McCormack DNA 0.5 amplifier
Rega RP-1
Hagerman Bugle 3 phono stage
Sainsmart 6N3 tube preamp
12" subwoofer (DIY/Dayton)
Nvidia Shield
Apple iPad Air (essentially a remote in this system)
65" OLED LG TV

This is a great "all-around" system, which is what I needed, and why I kept this system over system #1. It can play loud with plenty of bass. No fear of blowing ESL panels while watching movies.

If I had to do it all over again, who knows what I'd do. So many ways to reach audio nirvana. I think the biggest question for me is would the system be performing "double duty" as music and home theater, or strictly two channel music. Next consideration would be surround sound vs two channel. From there, pick your speakers and go from there!

 

[sqlsavior]

I won't comment on the rest, but on that one... They're right.

I understand, and fully appreciate the joy vinyl users get from the whole experience. But I think vinylophiles should be distinguished from audiophiles. It's possible to be both, of course, but it's hard to argue that one can be both for the same reason: best possible sound.

You're back on Ignore again.

 

[W9TR]

Folks, these are the good old days wrt to great sound for not crazy money. This is very topical as I’m in the process of putting together a system for our lake home.

Here is what I’m thinking:
Dali Oberon 7 speakers $1400
Parasound Hint 6 int amp $2995
Dell Laptop i3, 8G, 1T. $300
JRiver SW. $55
Cable Allowance $250

All these prices are new mfg list, except the laptop which is a current Micro Center pricing.

Now this will be a VERY good sounding system. The cool thing is there are options for each piece at the same price points.

For speakers, Elac and GoldenEar are also in the hunt.

For the integrated amp + D/A , Auralic, Aurrender, Vincent, NAD, Marantz, are all in the hunt.

And the only cables you’ll need are speaker cables and a good USB cable.

Tom

 

[Mlistens03]

Folks, these are the good old days wrt to great sound for not crazy money. This is very topical as I’m in the process of putting together a system for our lake home.

Here is what I’m thinking:
Dali Oberon 7 speakers $1400
Parasound Hint 6 int amp $2995
Dell Laptop i3, 8G, 1T. $300
JRiver SW. $55
Cable Allowance $250

All these prices are new mfg list, except the laptop which is a current Micro Center pricing.

Now this will be a VERY good sounding system. The cool thing is there are options for each piece at the same price points.

For speakers, Elac and GoldenEar are also in the hunt.

For the integrated amp + D/A , Auralic, Aurrender, Vincent, NAD, Marantz, are all in the hunt.

And the only cables you’ll need are speaker cables and a good USB cable.

Tom

I think the Oberon 7s may be a bit much in a 14x18 room (as specified in the OP), Maybe Oberon 5s would be better, hence my choice of them. Otherwise, once again, your choices are better than mine, but why no vinyl?

 

[W9TR]

Why no vinyl? Good question. I'm a vinyl lover so it is an obvious omission.
I wanted to spec out a system that would hit way over its weight in sound quality with a minimum number of boxes, interconnects and complexity. So I overspent on the Parasound Hint 6, leaving no room for a vinyl rig that could deliver similar quality as the digital setup. That's also why there is no subwoofer - there is a level of performance needed that just didn't fit in the budget, so better to forgo it than add one that is not up to the level of the rest of the system. That's also why I chose the Oberon 7's, more bass extension, but I agree the tradeoff with the Oberon 5's needs to be carefully considered.

So that's the rationale behind the choices. To fit in a vinyl rig, you'd have to opt for a less expensive integrated - I haven't researched those but I'm sure there are some great ones out there. If I spec'd vinyl it would be a great cartridge on a basic table with a decent arm and the bill would come to around $2000 new. Maybe something in the Rega line with a Dynavector or Ortofon MC cart. There's a magic price/performance spot in there somewhere.

Tom

 

[Mlistens03]

Why no vinyl? Good question. I'm a vinyl lover so it is an obvious omission.
I wanted to spec out a system that would hit way over its weight in sound quality with a minimum number of boxes, interconnects and complexity. So I overspent on the Parasound Hint 6, leaving no room for a vinyl rig that could deliver similar quality as the digital setup. That's also why there is no subwoofer - there is a level of performance needed that just didn't fit in the budget, so better to forgo it than add one that is not up to the level of the rest of the system. That's also why I chose the Oberon 7's, more bass extension, but I agree the tradeoff with the Oberon 5's needs to be carefully considered.

So that's the rationale behind the choices. To fit in a vinyl rig, you'd have to opt for a less expensive integrated - I haven't researched those but I'm sure there are some great ones out there. If I spec'd vinyl it would be a great cartridge on a basic table with a decent arm and the bill would come to around $2000 new. Maybe something in the Rega line with a Dynavector or Ortofon MC cart. There's a magic price/performance spot in there somewhere.

Tom

Ah, I see. Makes sense. I like it!

 

[E-Stat]

"Giant killer system" for $5000? Add a couple of zeros.

Perhaps you should think about your priorities and focus on achieving them with the budget.

 

[MikeT.]

When I read “giant killer”, I think “surprisingly or annoyingly good”, which is the approach I took when suggesting a system in this thread, not that my suggestions would actually outperform a well thought out $50,000 system or even a well thought out $15,000 system.

 

[sqlsavior]

"Giant killer system" for $5000? Add a couple of zeros.

Nah. That's the giant.

 

[mjw21a]

I won't comment on the rest, but on that one... They're right.

Only if it's for Nostalgia. Dad always believed CD's were better. He had a Dual 504 with stock needle which was never used. My getting into vinyl had nothing to do with nostalgia. More about how the more time and effort you put into it the more rewarding it was.....

When I read “giant killer”, I think “surprisingly or annoyingly good”, which is the approach I took when suggesting a system in this thread, not that my suggestions would actually outperform a well thought out $50,000 system or even a well thought out $15,000 system.

Aye, a good way to look at it. In that case yes, you can get a fantastic system for $5k. It's still worthwhile to some of us to go over that.... I've gone significantly over that.... Turntable, tonearms and cartridges are more than that without even factoring anything else in.

 

[W9TR]

When I read “giant killer”, I think “surprisingly or annoyingly good”, which is the approach I took when suggesting a system in this thread, not that my suggestions would actually outperform a well thought out $50,000 system or even a well thought out $15,000 system.

+1
Big bucks doesn’t necessarily get you better sound.
I’ve heard a lot of high dollar systems I wouldn’t want in my home. But with care and at any price point you can create something that performs much better than its peers, something that will give you great pleasure.

 

[mjw21a]

+1
Big bucks doesn’t necessarily get you better sound.
I’ve heard a lot of high dollar systems I wouldn’t want in my home. But with care and at any price point you can create something that performs much better than its peers, something that will give you great pleasure.

Same.... Dad's Bang & Olufsen comes to mind. Those are more about aesthetics than anything else though

 

[TomB19]

I think I could kill a lot of giants for $5K.

Used B&W Nautilus 802 can be had for $4000, on occasion. Throw in a used Yamaha MX-800 for $800, Topping D30 ($100), Cheap 14G OFC wire ($25), and use existing laptop.

People here seem to actively dislike B&W products but I would suggest the above system, well set up in a room with decent acoustics, could hang with some pretty serious gear. From this level, a lot more could be gained by tuning a room with absorption/diffraction than could be gained with equipment upgrades.

 

[Erik Tracy]

Gee supposed to be a 'fun' thread.

What was that AK saying...All something and no something? Now, what was it?

 

[W9TR]

This to me looks like a killer system. I don't think I can compete with it for $5k!

 

[Condorsat]

There's a good channel on YouTube where an audiophile who has owned & tried a good sized inventory of products (all price ranges) talks about this subject.

He buys & then sells quite a bit .. and has some friends who have mega dollar systems that he listens to and makes videos of. Fun to watch. It's called Thomas & Stereo.

 

[Me Tarzan]

There's a good channel on YouTube where an audiophile who has owned & tried a good sized inventory of products (all price ranges) talks about this subject.

He buys & then sells quite a bit .. and has some friends who have mega dollar systems that he listens to and makes videos of. Fun to watch. It's called Thomas & Stereo.

You'd think a guy with $30,000 speakers would splurge on a $50 microphone.