Here's $5,000 build the best system you can.

Pez · « **on:** 4 Apr 2011, 03:24 am »

Rules:
1. You MUST buy new gear, ~~no used~~ YOU ARE ALLOWED ONE PIECE OF USED GEAR, ~~no DIY.~~ DIY KITS ARE NOW ALLOWED.
2. You cannot cheat. As in speakers, source, preamp, but no cables. It must be an honest attempt to build something superb. Of course you can always get zipcord from Home Depot if you want.

3. You can do vinyl, digital or whatever you want. As long as it makes music you can use an iPod for a source if that's what you want.
4. You CAN buy modded gear as long as the modded gear is 'a la carte' where the modder is doing mods for a specified price and listed on their website.
5. Don't worry about taxes, shipping etc, just equipment cost.
6. Must be 2 channel stereo!
7. Pics are preferred, but not required.

I would buy:
Fritz Carbon 7s:

$1750
I loved Fritzspeakers sound every year at RMAF. I always say, if I had to do it all over again I would probably start with Fritz.

Jolida Integrated 202A PP tube amp.

$850
I have always thought stock Jolida gear is darn good out of the box! I also think they would do a good job running the Fritz speakers.

Oppo universal player BDP-83

$430 at http://store.audioholics.com/product.php/2675/0

We're at $3030 already.

GIK Acoustics Room Kit #1 and yes they will work in my imaginary room.

$544 (glad I don't have to pay shipping in this scenerio

)

Bolder Nitro Speaker cables

$165 for 6' speaker cables. $150 for 1 meter M80 interconnects.

24" target stands

$300 And I'm driving down to the beach to fill these with sand.

We're at $4039!!!

Tubes (HA thought I forgot huh?)

Gold Lion KT66s $156
Pavane 12at7s and 12ax7s $165.
Herbies tube dampers approx. $250

Misc.
Power cords, Kimber PK14s, they're $170 each x 2 (one for CDP one for integrated)

Brings us to $$4950!!! I know I didn't do a stand for all my equipment or power conditioning.

I'll just go with Cinder blocks.

Edit: Had to remove modwright mod to Oppo, it put me over.

DaveC113 · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 03:33 am »

Omega Super 5 XRS Speakers $1300
Omega Deep Hemp Subwoofer $1000
Decware SE34 Integrated Amp $1300
PC, USB DAC, Cables... not sure on this one but we've got $1400 left to finish it off which should be plenty.

Pez · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 03:48 am »

Here's another take:

Logitech Touch approx. $450ish
Bolder Analog mod $225

Woo audio WA5 lite

$2500

Sennheiser HD800s

$1500

$4675 Little room for cabling.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 04:21 am »

I just wouldn't go new if I only had 5k to spend. too many great deals on used.

Chromisdesigns · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 04:30 am »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 4 Apr 2011, 04:21 am

I just wouldn't go new if I only had 5k to spend. too many great deals on used.

+100!

Pez · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 04:32 am »

Well then screw you both, you don't get $5000.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 04:33 am »

Quote from: Pez on 4 Apr 2011, 04:32 am

Well then screw you both, you don't get $5000.

Honestly, don't need it!

Tyson · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 05:02 am »

OK, I wanna play too!

Source - Scott Nixon USB TD2.2 - $485

Preamp/Amp - Shuguang I25 Integrated amp - $785

Speakers - The amazingly musical Aperion Audio 6T - $1390

That brings the total to about $2700. I'd get Bolder Speaker wire and Interconnects, and then spend the rest on music. Or maybe sell my PC laptop and get a Macbook Air to serve up my music to the Nixon DAC -

stereocilia · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 05:10 am »

I'll try to build the opposite of a tube-based system:

Event Audio Opal: $3000 /pair http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Opal/
Benchmark DAC1 USB: $1295
Sqeezebox Touch: $299
Speaker stands: $300
Balanced cables: $106 or less.

voila!

JLM · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 12:27 pm »

Starting with my own listening room and speaker/listening locations all ala Cardas:

Add Exact Audio Copy (free) and a Logitech Touch to your computer - $300

Bolder Cable mods with Jerome Industries power supply - $110

Speakers: Klein + Hummel O300 active speakers from BSWusa.com - $4400

Interconnects from Scott Endler - $70

15 Cinder blocks and blankets for speaker/Touch stands - $50

Total $4930

Later on add full Bolder Cable mods to the Touch ($500) and real speaker stands.

JLM · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 12:58 pm »

That was fun, let's do it again

Starting with my own listening room and speaker/listening locations all ala Cardas (that doesn't need room treatments or power conditioning):

Add Exact Audio Copy (free) to your computer - $0

Eastern Electric DAC with chip, fuse, and tube upgrades - $1,000

W4S integrated - $2,000

Fritz Carbon 7 - $1750

Digital cables, interconnects, and speaker cables from Scott Endler - $190

18 Cinder blocks and blankets for speaker/Touch stands - $55

Total $4995

Later on add real rack and stands.

rollo · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 01:38 pm »

To start Maggie 1.7 speakers at $2000. MarantzCD5004 CDP at $350. NAD 375BEE intergrated [150W/ch] $1300. Project RM-5.1SE TT $1000 Ortofon Blue cart. $200 Project phono box 2 $150.
$5000 on the nose with vinyl oh my.

charles

eclein · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 02:37 pm »

Virtue Audio- Piano M1 CD Player $700
Grant Fidelity- I-25 Tube Integrated $785
Ron's Cherry N2X Build out-GR Research $900
Squeezebox Touch $399
2 TB Vortexbox Appliance $480
Eastern Electric DAC $750
sub total $3615.00
Balance for Cables- WyWires & Virtue
Tubes-Grant Fidelity $1385
Total $5000.00 I would do this configuration if I was starting again today from scratch and then dust off some JBL's
for added fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Gopher · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 05:59 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 4 Apr 2011, 05:02 am

Speakers - The amazingly musical Aperion Audio 6T - $1390

Are these things really that musical? Driven by what? My dad has a pair that he drives with Emotiva gear and I am not a big fan of what I am hearing.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 07:41 pm »

I think it is a fun challenge, and I am not in any way surprised to see that different folks take it in a different direction.

Much as I would love to contribute a system, I don't have enough experience with new gear to play, and most of my gear has an element of DIY, or was purchased used. There is no budget I would spend solely on new gear.

As for needing to add a PC, unless someone is posting from the library, I don't see why you could not assume they own a PC. Ah well, as a server, I am sure any netbook would do, so add $100-$150 to the already decent PC based suggestions, and I think we are there.

Nice thread Pez, looks like a fun one to follow. I will stew over some choices, and post one here to get flamed on too!

skunark · « **Reply #15 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 08:02 pm »

An entry-level tube 2 channel US/Brit combo for LP, CD and SACDs.
Rogue Audio Cronus w/remote $1895
Oppo Digital BDP-93 $499
Rega RP1 $445
Magnepan 1.7 $1995
Total $4834

The RP 1 includes a cable so one more interconnect is required along with speaker cables.
Analysis Plus Oval One IC $84 for 1/2 meter
Analysis Plus Clear Oval SPK $119 for 8ft
Total $5037 (I'm sure dealer would knock off $37 from price, or select other cable combo)

Future upgrades would be to add the power pack to the RP1 ($200), upgrade the Chronus to Magnum Cronus ($695), upgrade wall outlet ($100), reasonable power line conditioner, add HDD to Oppo for hi-rez files if there's a way to control it.

If focus was just LP, then I would drop the Oppo and do the P3-24 or if the focus was just CD, then I would drop the RP1 and do Oppo's BDP-95. For digital music player focus, I would do the Auraliti PK100 ($799) w/iPod Touch as remote (might be a stretch).

nature boy · « **Reply #16 on:** 4 Apr 2011, 08:29 pm »

Anything BOSE.

It's been that kind of a day.

NB

Gopher · « **Reply #17 on:** 5 Apr 2011, 03:10 am »

Alright I'll give it a whirl:

Zu Soul Superflys ($1800 used)
Redgum RGi120 ($900 used)
Squeezebox Touch ($250 sale)
Eastern Electric Minimax DAC ($750)
Wywires Digital SPDIF ($350)
Zu Mission IC & SC ($800)

The Redgum/Zu SS combination was one of the most musical I've encountered.

Pez · « **Reply #18 on:** 5 Apr 2011, 03:17 am »

I'm liking what I'm seeing and reading. Interesting stuff!

HT cOz · « **Reply #19 on:** 5 Apr 2011, 03:33 am »

OK Here goes. This might be bending the rules a bit

GR Research N3TL & Servo Sub built by Ruben "Outofthewoods"

$2500

Melody Audio MK88
$1395

OR

Audio-gd C-400
$980

Squeeze Box Touch
$299

Audio-gd NFS-3
$300

Misc - Wires Cords
$500-$921

The Smile on your face when you crank these bad boys

Price-Less

Thanks,
Robert

PS I was kinda guessing on the speaker price. Ruben let me know that for $2,500 he includes a servo sub.