Comments on GF's budget system

dogberry · « **on:** 11 Jun 2003, 12:43 am »

My girlfriend likes listening to music at my pad, and wants to upgrade from the clock radio she has at her place.

She has a fixed budget of $1500, and also wants the option to upgrade down the road as she comes into some more cash.

Here's my initial idea:

IRD MB-100 monos $279
used AES AE-3 tubed pre ~$300 or CI passive pre $249
DVD player as transport ~$250 or NEC CDROM as transport (already have @ $40)
CI DAC (already have @ $285)
Acoustic Energy Aegis One speaks $209
used cables $200 (some of my old ones, and more $ if NEC used)

That's just about $1500. She cannot go over budget at this time. Anything you'd replace?

rosconey · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 01:07 am »

call klaus at odyssey ask about his little package deal-
317-299-5578

quote from

MaxCast

The biggest surprise in the Odyssey room was the "little" set up he is selling for $1500!! It is the Khartago amp, Estesian passive pre, Epiphony speakers and Gronenberg cables. About $2000 separately. Add in a source and you good to go. Good to go with impressive sound. If I needed a complete simple system for a bedroom, office or such I would have bought this system just like a few people there. Since my system is half way there I just opted for a Stratos. I think the biggest difference in the two systems were the speakers. We listened to the "little" system with the Lorelei speakers and it was of course better. So if you already have speakers you could add in a new amp and pre for little $$ and have a sound that will certainly rival a Stratos and Tempest.

Hantra · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 01:24 am »

Well dog, looks like you have a nice system planned out. The AE speakers are the single best bang for the buck monitors I have ever heard.

Brad · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 01:42 am »

I've heard good things about the Aegis Ones.
I've also seen the 2's - same thing but floorstanding - at pretty good prices. Saves you the cost of good stands.

In that price range, I'd look at integrated amps that have preamp outputs. Lots of good stuff under $1k.

Of course, it sounds pretty good like you outlined it in your post

MaxCast · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 01:50 am »

It is always fun to spend other peoples money so here it goes.

I certainly stand by what rosconey said I said.

The pieces are very impressive and sounded good in the large room. If you use the sound card you'd stay in budget.

What I noticed in your plan is it is a $1500 system with $209 spent on speakers. I would suggest a bit more on speakers. If you didn't already have the DAC I would save that for an upgrade piece. I would also suggest a bit less on cables if $$ is needed to get a better piece else where. (I mean, she is upgrading from a clock radio

) Usually in this price range and for a simple 2 channel system an integrated amp is recommended.
Does she like the tube thing?

nOrh SE-9 with some efficient speakers and a sony SACD player.

Jay S · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 02:07 am »

I would personally go for the $1500 Odyssey matched system. I would bet that the Epiphony speakers would handily beat the AE, and look better too. Klaus is really big on synergy and you can be sure that this combo will work together well. And, she probably would not need to upgrade a thing down the road as even the cables will be high quality.

By the way, the IRD monos are $279 each, and you need a pair.

If you need to cut down, start with on cables. Start off with radio shack zip cord if you need to.

Marbles · « **Reply #6 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 02:26 am »

Here's a link to what was said at last weeks show in San Fran.

The Odyssey review is the last one on the page, replete with pics.

http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/he2003/he2003_2.html

nathanm · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 03:22 am »

I'd skip the outboard DAC, drop a zero off the cable budget and sink the majority of dough into speakers she really likes.

dogberry · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 03:24 am »

Wow, Klaus' new package deal sounds incredible. Er, I haven't heard it, but the deal is sweet!

I've not heard a Statos. Is the new Khartago similar sounding? The Stratos is highly revered, so if it's close, I'm pretty much sold. Damn, including ICs and speaker wire, too. Done deal.

Anyone know availability?

TheeeChosenOne · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 04:23 am »

Trust me, it really sounds amazing. I heard it this week at HE 2003.

TheeeChosenOne · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 04:25 am »

Trust me, it really sounds amazing. I heard it this week at HE 2003.

Jay S · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 05:32 am »

There have been threads on the Khartago. It is said to sound very very similar to the Stratos but with less current reserves (not a big deal at all for a 2-way like the Epiphany). Go for it!

Kishore · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 06:22 am »

Another hearty recommendation for basic 'Klaus' set-up. I think he should step-up advertizing this big-time (great way to enter hi-end sound with lo-end budget) and his speakers are amazing performers for $$.

Cheers,
Kishore

MaxCast · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 10:55 am »

Quote from: dogberry

Anyone know availability?

Always best to call him. His number is somewhere in a post in his circle or check the website. Don't email him. Call him for fastest service.

I think Klaus should put his cell number on our index page instead of his web site address

.

Marbles · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 12:29 pm »

317-299-5578

Here is another report from TNT.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/shows/maf03-2_e.html

Scott Faller did that report and talked Klaus into giving him a set of the bookshelves to eval for a future speaker shootout report.

I think I read where the problem Scott is having is he has a hard time taking out the Odyssey speakers to listen to the others

Marbles · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 12:41 pm »

Found Scott F.'s post..

"I think I know where you are coming from. At MAF, Klaus sent me home with a pair of his Epiphany's (his small mini-monitors). If you guys have been keeping up at the site (TNT), I've been doing a speaker shootout that has been mainly mini-monitors. The reference pair that I chose to gauge all others against whas the Dyn 42's. Not a bad speaker at about $700 or so. When I plugged in Klaus' speakers and got them dialed in for the room, my world changed. Granted, they aren't perfect but what they get right outweighs everything they do wrong. These little speakers image like you wouldn't believe. They absolutely disappear in my room (on the right material of course). I've yet to roll another pair through here that have been able to do that.

In turn, I've turned into an Epiphany junkie. I can't take these out of the system (which makes it damned tough to write about other speakers
"

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=2402.msg19327#19327&highlight=#19327

TheeeChosenOne · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 02:17 pm »

I was recently in touch with Scott Faller from TNT. He said he liked the Epiphony speakers "far better" than more expensive models from Dynaudio and B&W.

When I listened to the Epiphonies, they did sound amazing.....

audiojerry · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 03:30 pm »

Quote

She has a fixed budget of $1500, and also wants the option to upgrade down the road as she comes into some more cash.

upgrade #1: Buy her a better clock radio

upgrade #2: Pocket the remaining $1450 for yourself

upgrade #3: Use the $1450 for upgrades to your own system

upgrade #4: Your girlfriend upgrades her boyfriend

nathanm · « **Reply #18 on:** 11 Jun 2003, 09:54 pm »

The real challenge would be to get the girlfriend to accept the typical audiophile speaker\room arrangement - that is, speakers pulled out away from the walls, symetrically aligned and you sitting in the middle. If she can tolerate the positioning and hear the benefit of that, then any inexpensive system would suffice, even moreso if ye olde clock radio is the prior reference! (Unless of course it's the Bose Wave Radio, which RULES!

) Proper setup vs. the female decorative arts ideas of furniture arrangement seems to be the conflict in my experience. If you can overcome that it would be quite an achievement!