The $100 Hi-Fi

Ash5561

Ash5561

New Member
Finally got this set up to a point I am pretty pleased with it. Acquiring a Stereo Cabinet has proven to be immensely difficult for some reason. So this little TV stand works for now (Now watch, I'll find one for like $5 at a Thrift store next week after spending all this time setting this up) I am fully aware that my probably questionable taste in furniture makes this look a bit ugly but oh well all the furniture was free. (The setup is also in a basement, which is not doing this any favours lol)

Sadly there was no room for my Cassette deck, but as the belts are getting tired and need to be replaced I'll probably have gotten a cabinet by the time I fix that.

But now to the part most people on here want to hear about, the equipment!

The heart of the system is the Toshiba SA-750 receiver. Its probably about due for a recapping and I'll get to it at some point, but it works well enough right now.

The CD player is an Onkyo DX-130, I found it at a thrift store for not the greatest price, But I really like the look of it, and I find players from the early to mid 80s charming.

Then we get to the turntable, the Technics SL-23, a very fortuitous rummage sale find last summer. Its working very well and at this point I see little reason to seek out a higher end turntable.

Finally we get to the speakers. Paradigm Titans (I am guessing they are the original Titans because it doesn't have a v1, 2, 3 and so on, I had to refoam them and the date on the back of the woofer stated they were made in late March 1996, making them only slightly older than me)

Any questions or suggestions are welcome!

Stereo System.jpg
 
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Looks like you've done well for getting started. Even better if the gear makes you happy enough that you feel upgrades are unnecessary for the foreseeable future. Better speaker placement (and some stands) may be beneficial to your sound, however.
 
Well, What the important part is........

How does it sound?

Good Job putting a nice system together on the cheap. The Hunt of the game is part of this Hobbies enjoyment for me. The thrill of upgrading. How fun would it be to just go by the system of your dreams? Well maybe a little. o_O It's always fun to put a system together that could rival some expensive others. Enjoy the music!!:music:
 
wyceeric said:
Looks like you've done well for getting started. Even better if the gear makes you happy enough that you feel upgrades are unnecessary for the foreseeable future. Better speaker placement (and some stands) may be beneficial to your sound, however.
Click to expand...

Yeah I agree that the speaker placement leaves something to be desired and I have been looking for ways to improve their placement in the confines of the space I have available, the Titans definitely do not like being as close to the wall as they are. I might try my hand at making my own stands when it warms up here, but for the time being I figured that matching end tables at least look pretty good, even if they are very beat up at this point.
 
DavidZak said:
Well, What the important part is........

How does it sound?

Good Job putting a nice system together on the cheap. The Hunt of the game is part of this Hobbies enjoyment for me. The thrill of upgrading. How fun would it be to just go by the system of your dreams? Well maybe a little. o_O It's always fun to put a system together that could rival some expensive others. Enjoy the music!!:music:
Click to expand...

Thank you! To me I think it sounds great, My alignment job on the turntable cartridge could definitely be better, but for a first try its not bad. The Hunt is definitely part of the enjoyment for me too, like besides old stereo equipment, I collect and use film cameras (You can see my camera bag in the far right of the picture) and I always find it far more rewarding to of found the camera at a garage sale or thrift store, than if I just ordered it off Ebay. I have some ideas for Upgrades. I'd like to add a Reel to Reel to the system (I found a huge lot of blank tape at a Thrift store, but alas, no deck)
 
I like it all, especially the Toshiba.

The furniture is cool, too.

My only suggestion (FWIW); take the lava lamp, and that other rack, off the speakers. The Paradigms have to resonate on their own.
 
Like your system. Most of my system has been rescued from thrift stores as well. Would like to try a Toshiba receiver but never see them here. Welcome to AK.
 
$100?!!!! You did well. I am gonna start looking at thrift stores. I use Crutchfield and Amazon and Best Buy. The reviews on products can be very misleading. I guess trial and error is a part of the process but having a good sound system is worth the effort.
 
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