Omega based systems at $1500 and $3000 price points. Your input wanted

roscoe65 · « **Reply #20 on:** 2 Jul 2015, 11:05 am »

Another one:

$1,500

Audioquest Dragonfly DAC ($149)
Decware Zkit1 ($170 est.) - http://www.decware.com/newsite/SE84CDIY.htm
Omega Super 3XRS Level 1 Finish ($1,095)

Total: $1,414. Add $86 for a case for the Decware and we are right at $1,500.

$3,000

$1,500 system listed above
Deep Omega 12 Level 1 Finish ($1,495)

Total: $2,995

This approach appeals to me because it both embraces the hobbyist aspect of what we do and it offers a straightforward progression from the $1,500 system to the $3,000 system without needed to swap any equipment at all. Given the price constraints put forth, this is the approach that I would personally take.

oskar · « **Reply #21 on:** 2 Jul 2015, 12:35 pm »

I would highly recommend that whatever one does with 1.5-3k spend the last $200. on the Uptone Audio Regen.

oskar · « **Reply #22 on:** 2 Jul 2015, 12:53 pm »

Meant to say 'if you're using computer based playback you've got to try the Regen.'

rebbi · « **Reply #23 on:** 2 Jul 2015, 04:27 pm »

Quote from: roscoe65 on 1 Jul 2015, 08:54 pm

My instinctive response would have been to be snarky, but as I get older I am trying to be a more pleasant person.

Roscoe, me too!

Flinx99 · « **Reply #24 on:** 3 Jul 2015, 04:43 pm »

Here's what I put together for desktop use, but I'm sure this would sound great in other situations. I just checked and these are today's prices:

Super 3i level one finish........................$585
Rel T9 Sub.................................... ....$947

Musical Fidelity Package:
M1 SDAC
2 M1 PWR amps (class D)...................$1,199
_____________________________________

Total:....................................... .......$2,731 + tax and delivery

Admittedly, this is my first foray into better sound, but it's great that I haven't gotten used to how good this sounds. The only downside is that it has caused my other avenues of listening to music to be a bit lacking now. : )

I had the Rel before I discovered Omega, so I didn't pick the Rel over Omega. If you wanted to go all Omega, you go with the deepOmega 8 in level 1 finish for $895 and come in under my total.

Jim

Beano · « **Reply #25 on:** 5 Jul 2015, 04:56 pm »

For folks with a 3k budget and want to get a higher end Alnico omega speaker while saving up for a great tube amp, I recommend getting the $1995 super Alnico monitor and pairing it with a great value for money APPJ PA1501A tube amp which cost only $234. I just recently got this amp for fun but it pairs well with my Alnico monitors. It's the most value for money tube amp I've come across at that price. APPJ is the manufacturer of the old Miniwatt branded tube amps. With remaining $770, spend it on source or Dac of your choice.

Flyin_V · « **Reply #26 on:** 7 Jul 2015, 02:27 am »

Here's my thoughts on a $3K system.

As long as kits are allowed, we might as well add a couple. My first choice for amp was Bottlehead's 2a3 Stereomour but ran out of budget if we want both analogue and digital.

Omega 3XRS Finish 1 $1100
Bottlehead Seductor kit $570
Bottlehead Quickie preamp $100
Inexpensive DVD player $100
Micromega MyDac $400
Cheap optical cable $10
Hagerman Bugle2 phono stage $150
Pro-Ject Debut Turntable     $400
Herbies Isoballs (3)        $100
Herbies TT mat           $60

TOTAL $2990

Good listening all.

Lary

Folsom · « **Reply #27 on:** 7 Jul 2015, 04:26 am »

Digital
SUPER 7 MONITOR MK2 $995
Power Conditioner Mine $1000~
Built-out 7297 amplifier $400
Rasberry Pi server w/HD $200
TDA1543 DAC DIY (PD version, maybe different DAC) $300
Wire DIY $100~

Analog
SUPER 7 MONITOR MK2 $995
Power Conditioner RevB MajikBUSS $849
Built-out 7297 amplifier $400
Salas DIY Phono $200~
Pro-jeft Debut Carbon $400
Herbies turntable mat full decoupling thickness $70
Wire DIY $100~

No DIY Digital
SUPER 7 MONITOR MK2 $995
Power Conditioner, Mine, $1000~
Sony HAP S1 $995
White lightening $10~

No DIY Analog
Super 3i $595
Built out 7297 $800
Power Conditioner RevB MajikBUSS $849
Pro-jeft Debut Carbon $400
Herbies mat, full size $70
Bellari VP130 $275
White lightening $10~

SSM · « **Reply #28 on:** 17 Oct 2015, 05:01 pm »

For a nice sounding entry level system, I would put together the following:

Cambridge Audio Dacmagic XS (USB DAC) $200
Line Magnetic LM-218 mini $600
Super 3i $995

Canada Rob · « **Reply #29 on:** 17 Oct 2015, 07:43 pm »

That would be a nice system indeed. In level 1 finish the Super 3i is $595, and in level 2 $895. Some new level 1 finishes should be up on the website later today.

md92468 · « **Reply #30 on:** 3 Nov 2015, 02:45 am »

I'd go:

Clones Audio 25i (integrated) @ $900
Omega 3XRs with wood veneer (gotta have the real stuff) @ $1,495
Schiit Bifrost Multibit @ $600
– OR, for vinyl –
Lounge Audio LCR MkIII with MC step-up @$570 for the pair

$3K on the button(ish) either way.

Canada Rob · « **Reply #31 on:** 3 Nov 2015, 05:37 am »

Nicely balanced system md92468. Omegas love gain clones.

halitun · « **Reply #32 on:** 5 Nov 2015, 03:49 am »

Hello all,
Last winter I built a SET kit amp; the Elekit 8200 ($699). I have 6550 tubes in it that I had laying about, but the kit comes with 6L6 tubes that work fine as well. I did roll in some tubes that I had laying about so actual cost as it is now would be higher than the $699. I was looking for some nice high efficiency speakers and found the Omegas. After two great discussions on the phone with Louis, I settled on some beautiful 3U speakers that he had on the website at $595. As this was not my primary system, I set it up in my son's room hooked up to a Smart T.V. as the source playing Spotify for music feeding into an LHLabs Geek Pulse DAC that I got on Kickstarter for $299 (now goes for $999 but a decent Schiit DAC would work as well). B&W speaker stands ($300). Interconnects for around $100 and braided CAT5 speaker cables ($10 worth of CAT5 cabling). So for around $2,000 plus some cost for tube rolling, we have an amazing sounding system which I enjoy as much as (and sometimes more than) my primary system. The speakers are unbelievable in the beauty of their sound (but you all know that already).

It's a lot of fun when I overhear my son's friends when they hear it for the first time. For most it's the first time they've heard great sound and they really get it.

Canada Rob · « **Reply #33 on:** 5 Nov 2015, 04:03 am »

Hello halitun,

Welcome to the Omega AudioCircle. I just got my first 3Us a few weeks ago and I wholeheartedly agree with you. They are sensational.
Nice system you've put together.

sugbob21 · « **Reply #34 on:** 5 Nov 2015, 12:21 pm »

One of these Fleawatts (mine was around $350 with premium parts , 2 inputs) and Audioquest Dragonfly. Have had numerous amps and this stands up to any of them with Omega Super Alnico's

sugbob21 · « **Reply #35 on:** 5 Nov 2015, 12:22 pm »

.

CXorrected image

HiFiJeff · « **Reply #36 on:** 5 Nov 2015, 05:38 pm »

Quote from: sugbob21 on 5 Nov 2015, 12:22 pm

.

CXorrected image

Another happy Fleawatt owner I see. Derek is doing some fabulous work over there at Fleawatt. Great guy too!

Here is my Fleawatt.

Canada Rob · « **Reply #37 on:** 5 Nov 2015, 06:33 pm »

Hi sugbob21 and HiFiJeff,

What TPA3116 board are your amps using?

HiFiJeff · « **Reply #38 on:** 5 Nov 2015, 06:38 pm »

So my Omega based System consists of this.

Omega 3XRS - $1095
Fleawatt TPA 3116 Amp - $200
Schiit Audio Uber Modi 2 - $149
Denon 955S SACD/DVD-AUDIO CDP - $500 New/ $35 at my local pawn store!

Grand total new = $1944
Grand total with used Denon = $1479

It's amazing the kind of performance and quality $1500 buys you these days.

HiFiJeff · « **Reply #39 on:** 5 Nov 2015, 06:56 pm »

Quote from: Canada Rob on 5 Nov 2015, 06:33 pm

Hi sugbob21 and HiFiJeff,

What TPA3116 board are your amps using?

Yuan Jing (blue/black) TPA3116
Audiophile Quality Nichicon Muse power supply capacitors
Alpha Volume Potentiometer with solid brass volume knob
Gold plated, solid metal binding posts and gold plated RCA connectors.