To make a long story short, recently bought PSB T45/C40/B25 speaker system for HT and music in my home family room. B25's sounded so good as mains, that I have decided to get an inexpensive pair of PSB Alpha LR's for surrounds, and mount the B25's on stands in my living room just for 2-Channel (Stereo) music.
Besides the speakers, the only system component that I already have is an Onkyo Direct Drive (DD) turntable from the early-mid 80's, back then it was one of the best DD turntables in the market. Don't know what cartridge it has, as it has been in a closet for some 10 years, but it was my father's and he always used high quality cartridges that usually were around $250.00.
I'm looking to assemble an inexpensive system around the speakers and turntable I already own. My budget is around $400.00, and I say around, as I am sure I will end up buying around $600.00 worth of equipment; it always happens. I don't mind buying refurbished with valid mfg warranty, but I'm very careful about used equipment.
For amp my plans were to make my own 12 to 18W stereo tube amp (just for fun), buy a pre-amp, and get a good quality cd player. But, I am open to solid state/electronic amp, as long as the SQ is not compromised. As an inexpensive alternative I was looking at Parasound's Classic 275.
Your opinions and recommendations regarding pre, amp, and cd player are welcome, just keep in mind that I have a budget between $400.00 and $600.00. I'm not fond of people who don't know how to read, and say things like: "For $18,000.00 you can get a Supercalifragilistic System made by...", or "I know your budget is $500.00, but for only $300.00 more (my monthly electric bill) you can get...". Just keep in mind this is a secondary system that wasn't planned for, this was like: "Ups, my lover just got pregnant and I have to buy baby stuff, and my wife cannot find out until she sees the baby".
