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".
