$3k budget - Audio setup from scratch

[blybo]

 

If really after something simple for family and minimalist, I'd go an active speaker that has streaming capabilities built in, and 1 of the many turntables with built in phono pre-amp stage. For a 4x4 room as long as you aren't cranking it, perhaps even the new Kef LSX active monitors which are around $1500 new I believe. Or their big brother if you have some wiggle room.

[mud_shark]

1 hour ago, Juicester said:

Or something like this with a cheap blu ray player attached to it's DAC.... 

 

 

Please help the new guy... aesthetics aside... How is this Peachtree better then the Yamaha AS701 I've been looking at?

 https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi/a-s701/index.html

[Brendon Foster]

 

Hey mud shark,

I'm the seller of the Peachtree in the above post. If you were buying new, I would suggest you buy speakers first, these have the biggest effect on the character of the sound, then buy an amp that brings out the best in your speakers.

If you are going second hand and considering your feature checklist, it makes sense to buy the amp first, ensuring that you have the appropriate nerve centre for everything you want to do. Like others here, Blusound Node is awesome but a Sonos Connect will do the same job for a lot less money, if you plug that into a decent DAC like the one on my Peachtree it will outperform the Node.

Now you have amp and source, now start buying second hand speakers. Good speakers have a stable second hand price, so do some research and negotiate before you buy. Use EBay sold listings Search and Stereo net for your research. If you are lucky, you may be able to persuade the vendor to bring the speakers to you for a demo. Your room will be critical, especially if it's open on one side so they will likely sound very different in your space than the vendors home. If you bought well, you can onsell your speakers without losing money, maybe even a small profit and then try another pair.

[blybo]

23 minutes ago, mud_shark said:

Please help the new guy... aesthetics aside... How is this Peachtree better then the Yamaha AS701 I've been looking at?

 https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi/a-s701/index.html

Power, quality of components??? Only you can decide whether features on paper like this make a positive difference regarding sound quality and the higher price, but the Peachtree is high regarded by many. If buying a passive system I'd suggest buying your speakers 2nd hand in the classifieds here before getting an amp. Then you can find an amp that hopefully works well with your speakers, but be aware many people chop and change speakers and amps just to find the symmetry they are after.

 

Some like that hunt for the elusive SQ and endlessly tinkering with equipment, others prefer a set and forget system where they can concentrate on the music more than the gear.

[mud_shark]

37 minutes ago, blybo said:

Some like that hunt for the elusive SQ and endlessly tinkering with equipment, others prefer a set and forget system where they can concentrate on the music more than the gear.

Set and forget - that's me... Once the system is in place, I want to enjoy the music. I want everything to work in terms of connectivity (esp with the streamer functionality). No interest in chopping and changing components regularly.. 

[timelord9]

I've recently put together a similar (ish) system. 

 

Focal 807 floorstanders (given to me as a present from a friend who upgraded)

Vincent SV237 Mk1 - $1250 2nd hand. Has DAC.

SMS 200 - $650 (new)

Rega P1 - $450 (new)

Plinius Jarrah phono stage $475 (2nd hand)

Speaker cables: RG213 cable from Jaycar -  $70. 

 

RCAs - $50 from Bill on the forum

Roon - $129

 

Exisiting equipment: 

Old Technics CDJ-500S CD player

DIY sub with a JBL W15GTI and OAudio plate amp

 

Still to buy: 

3 Panels of Polymax XHD to make bass traps out of ($300)

MiniDSP 2x4HD to muck around with the bass. ($250)

 

So far I'm most impressed by the SMS-200 and the Vincent amp. The above would leave you about $1000 to spend on speakers, which if bought carefully from the forums should get you something great. It all works, not much ducking about with equipment, and the majority of the time I stream Tidal through roon, which I'm perfectly happy with. The only thing I'd change would be to look for an amp with DAC and phono (like the PS Audio Sprout). I've got a mate with the original Sprout for sale for $500, but the power output is possibly a little low depending on your needs. 

 

Good luck!

[blybo]

2 hours ago, mud_shark said:

Set and forget - that's me... Once the system is in place, I want to enjoy the music. I want everything to work in terms of connectivity (esp with the streamer functionality). No interest in chopping and changing components regularly.. 

Go and hunt down a pair of those Kef LSX at a local retailer. RRP $1895 + a TT with cart and built in phono pre and your good to go. Like one of these https://musichallaudio.com/product/mmf-1-5/

You can pick up the TT for around $500 allowing you around $600 left over to spend on music

Edited November 5, 2018 by blybo

[Guest Peter the Greek]

On 30/10/2018 at 7:50 AM, yamaha_man said:

SNA classifieds are the best place IMO.

Keep an eye on them.

I agree, 2nd hand all the way

[Snrub]

I've only recently dipped my toes into speakers, having spent the majority of my short time as an audiophile focusing on a desktop headphone setup.

 

That said, I recently had an opportunity to listen to some KEF LS50 Wireless speakers and had my wee little mind blown. Being of the same mindset as it seems you are (set and forget) I impulse bought some Dynaudio Xeo 6 speakers ( https://www.dynaudio.com/home-audio/xeo/xeo-6 ) with a Dynaudio Hub second hand.
From my limited experience so far, I couldn't be happier. While I haven't had a chance to experience them in a properly set up listening room like I did the LS50W, I am loving the sound they are able to produce, and the simplicity that they provide. I happen to have a DAC with a jitter free optical out, which can feed into the Hub. I can then have the speakers set up anywhere in my house and control them via the remote, while the hub sits on my desktop streaming wirelessly to the speakers.
 

If you keep an eye out for a good deal (or haggle something like this down a bit and get a Connect box) you could feed a turntable and laptop / server / streamer into the Connect box and have an easy, set and forget setup that has a lot of mobility.

 

Edited February 27, 2019 by Snrub

[Cope]

If you can find an Oppo UDP203, that's about $1000 and takes care of DLNA streaming and Blu-ray and CDs.

 

An Audio Technica LP120 USB Turntable can be had for under $500 new, includes a preamp, and gets good reviews. 

 

A Yamaha R-N303D has DAB+ radio, enough power, and can be got for just over $500.

 

That leaves a grand for speakers, which is totally a personal preference thing. Someone in this thread, for example, described KEFs as shrill, which is not what I'd call them at all. Ear dependent, amp dependent, room dependent too.

 

For the money, is be looking at larger bookshelves - KEF Q350s, Monitor Audio Bronze 2, B&W whatever they have in that bracket, etc.

 

The active speaker suggestion is a good one generally, but I'm wary of it personally, as it ties the two most important components together.  If one is dead, the other is dead. If you don't like one, you don't like the other.

[DAMO 1147]

I'd be tempted to wait for the wireless ELAC Navis ARB-51 land for.  Just add source.

 

[Andrews_melb]

While the actives sound great and im very keen to go hear those Kef lsx’s one thing to keep in mind is upgradeability - if you have an integrated amp and speakers matched with a sonos/bluesound style, its easy to add and swap the streamers to what ever the current tech/fad is. 

 

A good amp and speakers will generally stay that way. Good.

 

I love my BS Node for radio/streaming and Nas function and i got it second hand for cheap.

 

i think something like a BS node is essential to a family/shared hifi system. And as you mentioned, easy to add portable speakers down the track

[blybo]

1 hour ago, Andrews_melb said:

While the actives sound great and im very keen to go hear those Kef lsx’s one thing to keep in mind is upgradeability - if you have an integrated amp and speakers matched with a sonos/bluesound style, its easy to add and swap the streamers to what ever the current tech/fad is. 

This upgradability issue that some tinker'ers seem to fear is actually the major strength of the active route. Once you demo the speaker, there is no more guess work as to which amp may or may not be a good match. They've done that research for you and come to the best compromise... as everything, even $100k systems have compromises

[Andrews_melb]

@blybo you are right regarding the constant tinkering.

My point should have been more like companies to continue supporting and updating that specific product. Since it is all built in, as new tech/format of music comes along its not easy to add.

 

if you have a good int amp/speaker (within your budget obviously) then just changing sources around is not really a big deal. 

 

Its just my opinion, and i have heard the LS50w and loved it. So not knocking the active route one bit. Probably sounds better than my set up anyway its just not for me.

 

 

[blybo]

4 minutes ago, Andrews_melb said:

Since it is all built in, as new tech/format of music comes along its not easy to add.

This depends on the manufacturer. I have a Sonos ZP100, which is 2 generations old but it is still getting software upgrades and is now Roon and Apple music capable, 2 products that didn't even exist when it was made.

 

I'm sceptical of new music formats, I don't think many people (even SNA audiophiles) can reliably tell the difference between a good MP3 file and Flac, so what are we all getting carried away about hi-res or MQA for? CD quality is fine for me and I suspect it always will be ... until technology evolves to a point the sound is transmitted directly to my brain, with the original recordings soundstage and imaging.

[Snoopy8]

On 05/11/2018 at 11:02 AM, mud_shark said:

Please help the new guy... aesthetics aside... 

As the new guy, please learn to trust your ears as they are the best judge. If it sounds good to you, that is all that matters.

 

I agree with the other posters that it is better value for money to buy from the classifieds here. But if it is too daunting, then audition at a specialist retailer and bring your favourite CDs.

 

Try Klapp and have a listen to something like this

https://klappav.com.au/collections/showroom-specials/products/c-368-hybrid-digital-dac-amplifier-floor-display-model

If you add in BluOS, you will get a user friendly system.

[Ittaku]

Speakers, if you're going passive (using a separate amplifier) and not interested in going for something second hand, I would recommend something bookshelf sized and compromise maximum volume and scale for the benefit of quality reproduction and I'd recommend something like the Elac debut $699 RRP https://www.stereophonic.com.au/elac-debut-2-0-b6-2-bookshelf-speakers-pair/  or the SVS prime $850 on special http://deephzaudio.com/SVS Speakers Prime Bookshelf product page.html leaving you plenty of budget for multiple other components. Match that with a great all-in-one integrated amp/DAC/phone such as the PS Audio sprout 100 $895 http://magentaaudio.com.au/product/ps-audio-sprout100-sprout-ii-2/ , and you have the foundations for a great system. Sorry I'm not informed enough to advise you on the rest of the components.

Edited November 22, 2018 by Ittaku

[mud_shark]

A huge thank-you to all who have replied to this thread. In the 3-4 weeks since I posted it I've learned a lot... and realised I have a hell of a long way to go.

A few things have changed since I first posted and the funds for the full planned rig are still a while away... so I went for the super budget option so I could have at least something to play my music on.

 

This is what I ended up getting:

- Turntable: Pioneer PL514A  ($220)

- Amp: Onkyo A-9030 ($200)

- CD Player: Marantz CD5004 ($220)

- DAC: Cambridge Audio DacMagic ($140)

- Speakers: Using the satellites from the Whatmough 5.1 set I'm trying to sell through the classifieds ($0)

( in case anyone is interested)

So for $780 I've got myself an entry level system that to my untrained ears, sounds awesome. I'm sure the tinkering (and the Sonos/Bluesound addition) will come in time.

This is not what I had planned, but am very happy with the outcome.

 

Thanks again. I look forward to continue with the learning - and more importantly, listening! The big lesson to me was not to spend so much time reading about models and specs and to actually do some listening. Yes, in this case I only had brief demos of the devices when I bought them - but it was enough to know that I'd be happy for now. Whenever upgrade time comes around I'll have a better idea of my baseline for when I'm demo-ing gear.

 

How good are the classifieds here? 

 

Cheers

Edited November 22, 2018 by mud_shark

[Cope]

59 minutes ago, mud_shark said:

This is what I ended up getting:

- Turntable: Pioneer PL514A  ($220)

- Amp: Onkyo A-9030 ($200)

- CD Player: Marantz CD5004 ($220)

- DAC: Cambridge Audio DacMagic ($140)

- Speakers: Using the satellites from the Whatmough 5.1 set I'm trying to sell through the classifieds ($0)

That'll get the job done. Odds on that Marantz being the last component to get upgraded - great value. 

[Tim D]

Now you have a system you don’t mind the sound of my advice is to stay away from the classifieds here!

 

 

 

 

[mud_shark]

19 hours ago, Tim D said:

Now you have a system you don’t mind the sound of my advice is to stay away from the classifieds here!

Hehe... I was thinking the same... Yet I keep looking

Edited November 23, 2018 by mud_shark

[kylevuong19]

@mud_shark

There is a pair of KEF LS50 in the classifieds right now.

If I were you I will just grab it without second thought and then get a Peachtree integrated amp.

You won't look back! That's an amazing system and your house will still look clean and minimal.