"Cheapest" Reference System

[Early B.]

What is the least expensive reference system you've ever built (or would like to build)?

To make things interesting, the cost should not have exceeded $1,000 for the main components -- amp, pre, speakers, and source(s). Used prices are cool but vintage gear is excluded (except vintage speakers).

One more question -- how did that "cheap" system sound compared to your current system? Better? Worse? How so?

[okiepolkie]

Is that $1000 for each component, or all of them together?

[VR3]

HMM...

If I had to build one...

Def Tech BP8B - 250
B&K PT5 - 300
B&K ST 125.2 - 400
AMC CD8B - 140

So...like........

Total - $1090...SLIGHTLY over, but thats ok...

[Early B.]

Sid - take out those cables and speaker wire and you have some change left. Add it to the source.

[steveinaz]

Hmmm...$1000 per component limit:

Cambridge Audio Azur 640C used as a transport ($600 new)
Benchmark DAC1 DA Converter ($975 new)
Parasound HCA-1500A amp ($799 new, now)
Monolithic PA-1 preamp ($499 new) or use the Benchmark as the pre for FREE.

....hmmmm, best speakers for below 1 kilobuck new.....this is tough...

If I had 1 speaker to pick (new), and $1000.....hmmm...

Energy Connoisseur C-9

that was easy, I've only been researching that question for 9 months now.

[Early B.]

If I had to build one, it would be:

Jolida hybrid int. amp -- $400
Epos speakers (new) or Polk Lsi7's (used) -- $350
Cambridge Audio 500SE -- $250

[Early B.]

Okie & Steve -- a TOTAL of $1,000 for all components.

[steveinaz]

Ok $1000 total, new or used:

Amp: Parasound HCA 1000....$300 used
CDP: Cambridge Audio D500SE...$279 (new or used now)
Pre: Parasound PHP-850 pre...$185 used
Speakers: Athena AS-B2 or Polk Rti6...$225 (new Athena/used Polk)

there, I got 11 bucks left. And if grab those NEW Athena's on the bay right now for $175....I've got 61 bucks left.

[Danny Tse]

My current system, I suppose, can be a reference....:D

Cambridge Audio A500 stereo integrated amp ($250.00)
Energy Conneisseur C-3 bookshelf speakers (300.00/pair)
Sony DVP-NS500V SACD/CD/DVD player ($175.00)
PS Audio 2M Prelude speaker cables ($57.00)
Standesign BB-75 24 inch metal speaker stands (79.00)
Vidrapods underneath Sony SACD/DVD player ($32.00)

All brand-new from authorized dealers. Under $900.00*

* Can add TEAC Tripath power amp for another $100.00

Edit: Lots of mention of Cambridge Audio in this thread.

[VR3]

Originally posted by Early B.
Sid - take out those cables and speaker wire and you have some change left. Add it to the source.

Changed it

[Early B.]

Lots of mention of Cambridge Audio in this thread.

Yeah, seems to be the entry components into a higher quality of sound (way beyond the CC and BB stuff). My first 2-channel system consisted of a Cambridge Audio 640C CD player, HK PA2000 amp, Parasound PHP-850 pre and a pair of Polk Lsi7's (new) -- all for approx. $1,000.

If I had to do it again, I'd get the best used integrated amp I could find.

[RuSsMaN]

Antique Sound Labs HB1 Head Amp - $250

Sumiko Pro-ject Debut III Table - $299

Sumiko Pro-Ject Phono Box - $119

Sennheiser HD-600 Carbon Fiber Headphones - $249

Signal Cable Analog One - Two Pair - $72

Total $989.00

Cheers,
Russ

[steveinaz]

Danny-
How do you like your C-3's? I've read alot of glowing reviews on those, and have pretty much decided that if I ever go bookshelf again, it'll be the C-3's or ACI Emeralds....

[Danny Tse]

Steve-

I actually started with a pair of Energy C-1's, which are excellent in my small den. However, while browsing at my local dealer, I came across a sale on the C-3 for $300.00/pair (MSRP $500.00/pair) and I decided it was too good of a deal to pass up. The Connoisseur series use an aluminum tweeter that's quite detailed, but not bright at all. Not even when "out of the box", but they do sound better after breaking-in. They don't go especially deep in the bass, relatively to something like the NHT SB3, but what it can do is tight and fast. Excellent in the midrange frequencies....which to me, is more important. These speakers are front-ported and that makes positioning them easier than with rear-ported speakers. In the $400.00/pair range, the Monitor Audio Bronze B2 is just as good. Beware that the C-3 does dip into 4 ohms at certain frequencies, based upon the lab test done by soundstage.com. Here's the link to the review....

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/energy_c3.htm

It's not everyday that I can afford a speaker that gets mentioned in the same sentence as Revel speakers.

Energy is also readying a new Connoisseur Reference line....more expensive than the regular Connoisseur line but cheaper than the Veritas line.

[shack]

The rig I've got set up right now for some Cable Swap demos is pretty nice an meets the $1,000 threshold. All gear was purchased used and is 8/10 or 9/10 with actual purchase prices listed (including shipping)....

NAD C160 stereo pre-amp $325
NAD C270 stereo amp - $320
Cambridge Audio D500SE CDP- $215
AQ Sidewinders - (Part of price with CDP)
Polk RT400 Speakers -$85 (or RT25is purchased new for $85)
Signal Cable speaker cables - $50 (actually free but gotta put a price.)

A real world system comprised of well regarded gear for $995.

[Shizelbs]

I'm over the $1,000 limit, but not by much:

SDA SRS 2: $230
Dodd Pre: $300
Sunfire Symphonic Reference amp: $600
Toshiba CDP: $50
Blue Jeans ICs: $20
Total: $1200

[madmax]

I'm working on mine now.

DecWare HDT speakers (home built)
Drivers: $295
Cabinent materials: $125

Toshiba 3960
Unit: $48
Modification parts: $125

Sonic Impact 10W T-Amp
Unit: $22
Modification parts: $150

Cables
Audioquest Type IV wire: $40
Home made interconnects: $50
Home made power cable: $60

Total cost: $915
Should equal the sound of a $6K system. :D

madmax

[TroyD]

Check this thread out...

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/...&threadid=4103

BDT

[George Grand]

How about this from a few years ago:

Marantz "Esotec" SC-8 preamp, mint in original box - $5.50

Marantz "Esotec" SM-8, 100wpc pwr amp, mint in original box - $5.50

Nakamichi 581 cassette deck - mint in original box - $10

KEF Reference 102A speakers - $26

For the mathematically challenged, it's under $50 for the package. Everybody can just quit now.

I can put together about 5 or 10 more systems like that, which I have nailed over the years.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[George Grand]

Now if it's REALLY low dollars you want to hear about, this was purchased AS A SYSTEM, less than a year ago:

NAD 7130 receiver
Yamaha auto reverse cassette deck
Yamaha single cd player
Bang & Olufsen turntable

Every piece works like a charm, is still under this roof, and cost me the princely sum of 2 U.S. dollars TOTAL.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[Jstas]

Onkyo P-301 Preamp -- $100
Onkyo T-4210 Tuner -- $50
dBx DX3 CD Player -- $0.00 + $2.50 in parts to repair
Adcom GFA-535 MKII -- $140
Polk Audio SDA 2B -- $350

Total $642.50

Not too bad especially since the Onkyo stuff is less than 4 years old. It's all standing right next to me right now.

[George Grand]

You spent more for parts to fix the DBX cd player that I gave you than I spent for the entire above system.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[pjdami]

It is surprising what one can put together for $1,000. One of my two channel rigs fits that category. All used equipment here....trying to remember....I believe it ran me $1,150 but the extra $150 was well worth it. If one is patient and lucky then the following can be had for about $1,000.

Rotel RCD-961 cdp
Melos SHA-1 tube linestage preamp
B&K or Parasound amp
Polk Monitor 10As w/ Peerless tweets

Sounds wonderful and holds its own against my more expensive rigs.

[BlueMDPicker]

Originally posted by Early B.
What is the least expensive reference system you've ever built (or would like to build)?

Perhaps the quotation marks should be one word to the right in the thread title? ;)

What is the definition of a reference system? I'm serious. Personally, I don't use the term but I've seen it used frequently. I've always assumed (another tricky word) it meant a benchmark system - one by which all others are judged, compared, or evaluated.

[George Grand]

Excellent point. I would now submit that the system I purchased above for $2, is THE BENCHMARK for all systems containing a receiver, turntable, cd player, and cassette deck selling in the $1-$10 range.

The same statement would apply to the sysytem I accumulated for under $50 in the post above it. For giggles I will add the Euphonic Technology ET-650 cd player I purchased for $5, bringing the sum total of a system to $51. I believe it sets the standard for systems containing speakers, separate amp/preamp, cassette deck, and cd player for under $52.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[VR3]

A reference system is something you compare everything else to...

Kind of like a 'reference material' - which you use to demo gear with, etc

Thats my take

[Zero]

I concur with Sid- it is a system in which you base comparisons off of. This can extend itself to what one owns and what one has heard or seen before.

It also ranges at all prices, from the $5 give aways that George has come across - to 1 million dollar rigs and everything in between.

Some people own or have owned multiple systems and have one they consider the "reference rig"... which is what they use to judge all other existing along with all incoming components in their home.

Also, some simply use "reference" to describe their main system. In that case, the word is used to describe ones "main" system. Just another example of how a word can be adopted to take on a different meaning as intended.

[George Grand]

I want to adopt a word. Are there any that look like Jenny McCarthy?

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[madmax]

Originally posted by George Grand
Jenny McCarthy

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

Georges reference woman...

[George Grand]

ABSOLUTELY! The one to compare all others against! MAX, that was beautiful!

George