I had the recent challenge of putting together a two-channel stereo system for a family member, on a $600 budget. Impossible you say, maybe with all new components, but here is what I ended up cobbling together from e-Bay, Audiogon, and a couple of other sources.
AM/FM Receiver: Proton D940 purchased at e-Bay $140 w/ shipping.
SACD/CD Changer: Sony SCD-CE595 reconditioned purchased at e-Cost $79 w/ shipping.
Cassette Player: Nakamichi BX-125 purchased at Audiogon $80 w/ shipping
Speakers: ART SLM-1 studio monitors purchased at BSW $224 w/ shipping
IC's: Blue Jean Cable LC-1 IC's purchased at Blue Jeans Cable $40 w/ shipping
Speaker Cable: VH Audio 12 AWG unshielded,cyro 2 5' runs purchased at VH Audio $43 w shipping
I was more than pleasantly surprised at how good this system sounds, particularly with redbook CD's and SACD's. The Proton contains a digital Schotz designed tuner with wonderful FM reception, even with a simply T-antenna. The cassette player was a special request which had to be filled.
Just an encouragement to other AC members out there that a decent system can be put together relatively inexpensively. Time for my next project!
NB
