LETS MAKE A DIRT CHEAP SYSTEM-500$ max

rosconey · « **on:** 10 Mar 2004, 05:21 pm »

power wave amp everyone is talking about and a 3950 toshiba for starts-160$
now what for speakers and a pre- we have 340$ left to spend

vpolineni · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Mar 2004, 06:09 pm »

increase the budget some and for the speakers,
ascend acoustics cbm-170
if you don't want to increase.. i'm not sure what to use for speakers..
for the preamp, definetly the luminous audio axiom passive pre
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1081691180

Carlman · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Mar 2004, 06:29 pm »

AM/FM, CD, amp:
http://store.yahoo.com/avpronet/sd-ex111.html

For Speakers, you can ask Jackman if these would do the trick:
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?spkrmoni&1070941962&auc&3&4&

Usher 2-ways.

Under budget, very good sound, and lots of features.

earlmarc · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Mar 2004, 06:58 pm »

I would recommend the Athena Technology AS-B1 Speakers. http://Http://www.soundstagerevequip/athena_asb1.thm

BrunoB · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Mar 2004, 06:58 pm »

Quote from: Carlman

AM/FM, CD, amp:
http://store.yahoo.com/avpronet/sd-ex111.html

For Speakers, you can ask Jackman if these would do the trick:
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?spkrmoni&1070941962&auc&3&4&

Usher 2-ways.

Under budget, very good sound, and lots of features.

Good suggestion.
However, the Usher (86db@1w/1m, 8 ohms) might not be sensitive enough for the Sharp SD-EX111 (25 w 4 ohms). A more sensitive speaker is the CBM-170 http://www.ascendacoustics.com but then the total will be over $500 (328 + 234).

And a last detail: the diminutive Sharp digital amps have an amazing bass if you feed them well (clean power contacts).

Bruno

Figo · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Mar 2004, 07:33 pm »

i'd say go for headphones and grab a pair of HD600's for under $200. I just can't enjoy budget speakers, exept for full-range DIY ones.

Figo · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Mar 2004, 01:05 am »

also, if you are going to go for speakers, DIY is ultra-highly recommended if you are capable. Any basic vifa/peerless setup will crush budget commercial speakers. Also, GR Research comes to mind - take a look at the A/V 1.

WerTicus · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Mar 2004, 01:12 am »

hrmmm why buy speakers when you can DIY!?

especially if its going to be low cost!

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 Mar 2004, 01:26 am »

I've always thought the tools cost for DIY is quite daunting. Assuming you can get a store to table saw all the big planks for you, you still need at the minimum a jigsaw type tool and clamps. Not cheap, unless you already have them handy.

Dmason · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Mar 2004, 02:28 am »

I once built a pair of the Ed Frias DIY speaker, $180 for the parts, $60 for the cabinets, finished and routed. These are truly reference quality monitors, and when put up against the Dynaudio Audience 52, everyone preferred the EFE. 3db downpoint 45Hz. 89db, 7 Ohms...See Madisound and SpeakerCity.

I believe no other speaker under $1000 can even come close to these. Read the many audioreviews that concur. Score 4.79 with about 80 reviews. Case closed.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Mar 2004, 02:50 am »

Hm, I dropped by Speaker City (they're semi local to me) and gave the Frias speakers a listen. They were smooth but it didn't seem special compared to the speaker city designs. The price is right though, in fact, the lot of speakers at speaker city all sounded pretty good.

Don't forget about powered speakers. I like the Event TR-5 at $300. Biamped, accepts balanced and unbalanced inputs. With $60 for the toshiba, you can still pick up a Bottlehead Foreplay tube preamp kit if you're not counting trivial things like tax and shipping

Figo · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Mar 2004, 03:04 am »

DIYing a small monitor does not require too many tools.

I built a pair of voigt pipes with a circular saw, 2 clamps and a square.

youd probably need a router for the monitor, so go and borrow one from a neighbor

how about this:

http://home.hetnet.nl/~geenius/HATT-III.html

WerTicus · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Mar 2004, 09:55 am »

thanks for the example dmason my arguement was pretty weak without one

But you dont have to make the cabinets yourself - just take the plans to a cabinet maker near you if you cannot mangage it and you can have the proffessional finish and higher quality and lower cost of diy!

there are so many good designs out there - your definatly insane if you dont diy!

Dmason · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Mar 2004, 09:05 pm »

Here's my idea on a great, cheap stereo, and one I am going to pursue:

1-PowerWave $90 state of the art cheap Tripath amp
2-Bottlehead Foreplay $149 single ended pre amp (I have always wanted to build one)
3-Fostex FE207E single ended drivers $168 96db/1 watt, 49-13KHz 8"
4-1cubic foot cabinets, Speaker City, $76
5-Toshiba 3950 DVD $59 Fry's

total= $550

I don't need a source, so including incidentals, total comes to less than$500.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #14 on:** 12 Mar 2004, 12:04 am »

HoHoHo!
Sorry to burst your bubble dmason, but the $76 at speakercity is PER CABINET.

You'll have to bump up your estimate by another $76+tax or shipping!

Dmason · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Mar 2004, 12:30 am »

That's okay!

Visionaries need critics, and vice versa. --Just ask Galileo.

I am drawing out some plans long-hand, and will table-saw up my own cabs this weekend. I can do a pair with one $18 sheet of MDF. I placed an order with Bottlehead for the Foreplay, and Fostex drivers from Madisound, some BlackHole, ports, stuffing, fittings, etc. I will have this going by the end of the next weekend!

TheeeChosenOne · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Mar 2004, 12:36 am »

Quote from: Dmason

I once built a pair of the Ed Frias DIY speaker, $180 for the parts, $60 for the cabinets, finished and routed. These are truly reference quality monitors, and when put up against the Dynaudio Audience 52, everyone preferred the EFE. 3db downpoint 45Hz. 89db, 7 Ohms...See Madisound and SpeakerCity.

I believe no other speaker under $1000 can even come close to these. Read the many audioreviews that concur. Score 4.79 with about 80 reviews. Case closed.

Good choice. I agree with this one.

Get yourself a pair of BIC speakers for CHEAP and then have Ed Frias of EFE replace the crossover. He'll leave you a speaker of an amazing quality for dirt cheap price. Check under EFE at www.audioreview.com.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Mar 2004, 12:52 am »

I'm not saying the cabinets at speakercity aren't worth it, they're just twice as expensive as you originally budgeted

They're high quality furniture grade cabs.

Dmason · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Mar 2004, 01:16 am »

No, I, --the customer, (

) am saying they are not worth "it" to me.

I am going to bring in a superb sounding stereo, employing a single-ended tube preamp with single-ended drivers, ie: The Holy Grail of Thee High End, for under $500. Screw academic "discourse." This needs to be investigated.

My cabinet money is now going for the following items:

-a sheet of ribbon mahogany veneer.
-caulking for the driver baskets.
-NOS Telefunken pre tubes.
-Cardas continuous cast Cu 14awg cable
-a case of Henninger ale

"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." -T.S.Elliot

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Mar 2004, 02:05 am »

My thoughts exactly, actually. I'd rather use truck bedliner than pay $150 for cabinets...at this stage of my life, at least