Building a hifi system from scratch on a grad student budget

[A_Newbie]

Hi all,

After a few years out of the game, so to speak, I've decided to re-enter the fray.

Until a few years ago I had a system that really worked for me: Sonographe (by Conrad Johnson) SA 250 amp; Sonographe (by ConradJohnson) SC25 fet preamp; NAD 521-BEE disc player; Paradigm mini-monitors.

But then I decided to go to graduate school (I'm still in graduate school) and figured, correctly, that traveling and moving with all that gear was going to be annoying. So I shed all the heavy equipment and opted for a pair of AudioEngine A2 powered computer speakers. They're great but I'm feeling to itch to get more out of my music.

For background I listen almost exclusively to classical music (nineteenth century German; Italian baroque; early music; opera), rock (generally nothing past the early 1990s), and folk/country (think John Fahey and Townes van Zandt). So "detail" matters to me quite a lot, especially at low volumes (I have roommates).

My budget is extremely limited (remember, I'm in graduate school) but I'm hoping there's a good way to get started again with a $150-400 budget for each piece, assembling this over the course of the next 8-10 months.

Last time I started with a crummy Sony 5.1 integrated amp and the Paradigms and worked my way to dedicated components. This time I don't even have speakers. I'm also not sure which component I should prioritize price-wise.

Now none of this uncertainty has kept me from doing research:

I have been looking at vintage equipment thinking I could probably get more bang for my buck that way but I also worry about buying un-tested, especially online. For instance:

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-linn-tukan-2015-08-16-speakers-07450-ridgewood-nj

http://www.highperformancestereo.com/power-amplifiers/linn-lk85-3-available.html

http://www.hifishark.com/search?q=acurus+a150

I have also been looking at new, boutique gear:

http://www.humanspeakers.com/human/qt-1.htm

http://www.luminousaudio.com/axiom2/rca.html

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-canary-audio-p100-passive-preamplifier-new-model-new-in-box-2015-08-13-preamplifiers-91706-irwindale-ca

(I realize it doesn't make sense to get either of these before committing to speakers and amplifier)

Anyways. I feel like the deeper I dive into the research the less sure I am about where and how to start.

Any advice would be most welcome!

 

[rojo]

I recommend devoting more of your budget to speakers than to electronics. The perceived difference in detail between an AVR and separates is infinitesimal compared to the difference between, say, a pair of Polk Audio bookshelfs and something like the Ascend Acoustics Sierras. If you were going to, for example, find a used Denon AVR on Craigslist for $200 and maybe a used Panasonic Blu-Ray player for $25 to play your discs, how much would that leave you for speakers? Would you consider getting a subwoofer?

 

[A_Newbie]

Thanks, Rojo. This is helpful. I'd really prefer not to spend more than $400 at a time, putting the Sierras out of my price range...I'm also not so keen on getting a subwoofer at this point, more for space and roommate issues than price.

I'll also say that most of my music lives on my computer (I have lots of lossless files in my iTunes) and so would likely forgo the disc player for a DAC or just an integrated amp.

On that, what do you think of the CBM-170 SEs? Paired with (something like) the Sony UDA-1 (regularly available for ~$350)? Or the NAD C 316 BEE?

Thanks again

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I'll also say that most of my music lives on my computer (I have lots of lossless files in my iTunes) and so would likely forgo the disc player for a DAC or just an integrated amp.
Paired with (something like) the Sony UDA-1 (regularly available for ~$350)? Or the NAD C 316 BEE?

Rojo is right, don't waste time on electronics. Get a used $100-200 AVR from Big brands - it includes solid DAC already.
Since you use iTunescrap, and the only people who use it, are Mac computer owners - thus your headphones out doubles as digital optical port. Get a right cable (for a whooping $5) and connect it you above mentioned AVR optical-in.

Really, listen to this advice and use your money wisely. CMT-170 SE are good speaker, but lacking bass.
I'd recommend these instead: http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html

I was foolish then people told me not to buy cheap 5.1 - I did it anyways. Now I know, that it may be was not the best idea. In fact I use it as 3.1 for a while now and don't miss the surrounds.

Now Luckily my cheap 5.1 speakers aren't that bad - it could've been much worse.

 

[A_Newbie]

Thanks, BoredSysAdmin.

Fortunately I've already got a decent cable (audioquest) that I use to run the Audioengines to my laptop.

Those Philharmonic Audio speakers are definitely the right price (I could basically trade in my Audioengines for them) but I don't see a ton of reviews online.

What do they sound like?

 

[rojo]

They sound like they were designed by Dennis Murphy. Also, consider the Elac B6. They aren't available for immediate purchase quite yet, but anyone who has heard them at trade shows and similar thought they were $1500+ speakers before they found out the actual price. They've got pretty decent low-end extension for their size, -3dB @ 44Hz.

 

[A_Newbie]

Fantastic! Those look perfect.

 

[Steve81]

Have you thought about a nice set of headphones and maybe a DAC/headphone amp instead of a conventional 2.0 system? It would seem to better fit your criteria (detailed, less likely to bug neighbors), budget, and overall grad student lifestyle. One example setup would be a pair of Sennheiser Momentums and an AQ Dragonfly.

http://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/sennheiser-momentum
http://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/dragonfly-usb-dac

 

[tyhjaarpa]

Have you thought about a nice set of headphones and maybe a DAC/headphone amp instead of a conventional 2.0 system? It would seem to better fit your criteria (detailed, less likely to bug neighbors), budget, and overall grad student lifestyle. One example setup would be a pair of Sennheiser Momentums and an AQ Dragonfly.

http://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/sennheiser-momentum
http://www.audioholics.com/headphone-reviews/dragonfly-usb-dac

I would get Sennheiser HD600 over Momentum for more detailed sound and comfort. There is nothing wrong with momentum, but for about same price you can pick HD600 that are superior compared to them.

 

[Steve81]

I would get Sennheiser HD600 over Momentum for more detailed sound and comfort. There is nothing wrong with momentum, but for about same price you can pick HD600 that are superior compared to them.

They're close in MSRP, but at street price I believe the Momentum comes in a good bit cheaper, i.e. currently $180 vs $350 @ Amazon. Either way, just one example out of many solid possibilities out there.

 

[A_Newbie]

Thanks, guys. I've had high quality headphones before (Grado SR-60s) but I found them (as I tend to fined most headphones) uncomfortable for long periods of listening.

I should also say that while I'm sensitive to my roommates and so don't want to blast music at all hours of day/night, mine are (and will be) the only speakers in the house, which we'll inevitably use when we have people over. So for their sake I think I should keep it to a modest 2.0 system (especially since I do plan on getting my own place in the next 1-2 years).

 

[tyhjaarpa]

They're close in MSRP, but at street price I believe the Momentum comes in a good bit cheaper, i.e. currently $180 vs $350 @ Amazon. Either way, just one example out of many solid possibilities out there.

Ahh, didn't know momentums sold for so cheap already.. Tho HD600 are frequently also at 225-250$.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks, BoredSysAdmin.

Fortunately I've already got a decent cable (audioquest) that I use to run the Audioengines to my laptop.

Those Philharmonic Audio speakers are definitely the right price (I could basically trade in my Audioengines for them) but I don't see a ton of reviews online.

What do they sound like?

Kurt (@KEW) had a chance to review these and was very impressed. Look for his review on these forums.

 

[KEW]

I feel fairly certain there is nothing that can compete with the AA Monitors under $500/pair (certainly not anything at Best Buy or Frys) if you are looking for a clean accurate speaker.
Since you are concerned about bass, that makes it a no-brainer.
The Monitor's bass out classes Pioneer's FS-52 tower!!! (both in depth and in accuracy).
Dennis Murphy said he played a 34Hz test tone through them and had pictures and vases rattling! That is consistent with my experience with them. You can easily live without a sub with these speakers for 90% of music. Depending on what you have for comparison, this may well be more bass than you are used to from a home stereo!
I have several nice bookshelf speakers and my Paradigm Signature S-2 ($3398/pr) is the only one that can match the bass of the AA Monitors (I haven't compared to see which has more, but none of the others are in the running). That means it produces significantly more bass than the RBH-61LSE ($1895/pr) or the Focal Solo6 ($2700/pr).

They are a new design as of about 6 weeks ago, so not much out there on them yet. I got lucky and had the chance to review one of his first speakers!

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/new-2015-affordable-accuracy-speakers-by-dennis-murphy.95661/#post-1092555

 

[herbu]

A_Newbie,
If "designed by Dennis Murphy" doesn't mean anything to you:
1. Google it/him
2. Listen to the audiophiles here who have spent many thousands of $$$ and many thousands of hours listening.
3. Google Salk SongTowers, (also Dennis' babies)
4. Research all the forums and simply enjoy many hours of reading about speakers and opinions.
5. Then go buy a low end or used Denon/Marantz/Yamaha receiver, a pair of the AA Monitors, and fuggetaboutit.
It will serve you well, and sound better than most costing 2-3x as much.

 

[Mike L. Long]

I don't understand how you did it. Wow.

 

[beldandolgin]

Hi all,

After a few years out of the game, so to speak, I've decided to re-enter the fray.

Until a few years ago I had a system that really worked for me: Sonographe (by Conrad Johnson) SA 250 amp; Sonographe (by ConradJohnson) SC25 fet preamp; NAD 521-BEE disc player; Paradigm mini-monitors.

But then I decided to go to graduate school (I'm still in graduate school) and figured, correctly, that traveling and moving with all that gear was going to be annoying. So I shed all the heavy equipment and opted for a pair of AudioEngine A2 powered computer speakers. They're great but I'm feeling to itch to get more out of my music.

For background I listen almost exclusively to classical music (nineteenth century German; Italian baroque; early music; opera), rock (generally nothing past the early 1990s), and folk/country (think John Fahey and Townes van Zandt). So "detail" matters to me quite a lot, especially at low volumes (I have roommates).

My budget is extremely limited (remember, I'm in graduate school) but I'm hoping there's a good way to get started again with a $150-400 budget for each piece, assembling this over the course of the next 8-10 months.

Last time I started with a crummy Sony 5.1 integrated amp and the Paradigms and worked my way to dedicated components. This time I don't even have speakers. I'm also not sure which component I should prioritize price-wise.

Now none of this uncertainty has kept me from doing research:

I have been looking at vintage equipment thinking I could probably get more bang for my buck that way but I also worry about buying un-tested, especially online. For instance:

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-linn-tukan-2015-08-16-speakers-07450-ridgewood-nj

http://www.highperformancestereo.com/power-amplifiers/linn-lk85-3-available.html

http://www.hifishark.com/search?q=acurus+a150

I have also been looking at new, boutique gear:

http://www.humanspeakers.com/human/qt-1.htm

http://www.luminousaudio.com/axiom2/rca.html

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-canary-audio-p100-passive-preamplifier-new-model-new-in-box-2015-08-13-preamplifiers-91706-irwindale-ca

(I realize it doesn't make sense to get either of these before committing to speakers and amplifier)

Anyways. I feel like the deeper I dive into the research the less sure I am about where and how to start.

Any advice would be most welcome!

Building a Hi-Fi system on a limited budget is something unrealistic for me. I am also a student and I don’t understand how.

 

[lovinthehd]

Building a Hi-Fi system on a limited budget is something unrealistic for me. I am also a student and I don’t understand how.

OTOH I think it's as easy and inexpensive as its ever been.

 

[its phillip]

OTOH I think it's as easy and inexpensive as its ever been.

You’re responding to a spammer

 

[lovinthehd]

You’re responding to a spammer

Also a very old thread....so maybe a double whammy