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  1. #1
    Member
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    Aug 2013
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    Southern California
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    Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    If you can follow instructions and are handy with a soldering iron, Bottlehead will allow you to custom build a true High-Fidelity tube system for a mid-fi price.

    Bottlehead.com

    I have no affiliation other than owning a Bottlehead preamp!

    Jim
    Magnepan 2.5's with a pair of B&W ASW300 subwoofers. Audio Research VS-110 amplifier, modded Bottlehead Foreplay II Preamp, AH! Tjoeb CDP with a pair of NOS Siemens E288CC's in the output stage.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
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    Apr 2013
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    Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
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    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    Hey Jim, I just quickly explored that link, pretty cool man!

    * I'll have another longer look eventually, thx.
    ~ Bob ~
    "And it Stoned me to my Soul" Van Morrison
    ClickAudiophile Audition
    Snoopy as the Red Baron attack
    Avatar = The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky (1982 - orbiting)

  3. #3

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    For your consideration............ "beer budget"..............
    Prolly be a good investment regardless of electronics, combined with the mentioned link above, "hard to beat period"!
    No affiliation what so ever, but I live 80 miles from Bob.
    Prolly my next purchase (CNC cabinets at least).
    I plan on paying him a visit sometime this winter and picking his brain.

    Cornscala? | Critesspeakers.com

  4. #4

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    Those prices are still high for a DIY kit, but they might be a higher standard after build. In other words, it might be a $1200 item for $750 or something. It's an interesting idea, but my biggest problem with it is the fact that if I got one of those, I WOULD screw it up!

  5. #5

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    At the moment this is on my radar. I am slowly, repeat, very slowly teaching myself electronics so I can tinker with d.i.y. This is something that really interests me, I would love to build it & then compare it to my uber expensive Soulution 520 preamp in my system. My system is begging of a tube preamp too.

  6. #6
    Junior Member
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    Nov 2013
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    East Bay, California
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    14

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    My son recently graduated from a GE SuperRadio to the following root beer budget system:
    Sony Playstation -> Bottlehead Quickie Preamp -> Dayton T-Amp -> Advent /3 speakers.

  7. #7
    Super Moderator
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    Apr 2013
    Location
    NY
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    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    Welcome to the forum Mortsnets!

    Thank you for joining.
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
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    Apr 2013
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    Dallas/Fort Worth Texas
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    161

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    I have to agree with MusicDirector i would diffiinitely screw this up

  9. #9
    Senior Member
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    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    Quote Originally Posted by Mortsnets View Post
    My son recently graduated from a GE SuperRadio to the following root beer budget system:
    Sony Playstation -> Bottlehead Quickie Preamp -> Dayton T-Amp -> Advent /3 speakers.
    Hey welcome indeed!
    ~ Bob ~
    "And it Stoned me to my Soul" Van Morrison
    ClickAudiophile Audition
    Snoopy as the Red Baron attack
    Avatar = The Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky (1982 - orbiting)

  10. #10

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    Welcome to AS, Mortsnets!


    Allen



  11. #11
    Senior Member
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    Nov 2013
    Location
    Minnesota
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    1,369

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    I have a few budget components that sound awesome. The first is the Dayton DTA100a digital integrated amp, I paid $59 for it on sale from $89 at Parts Express. I have it connected to an old Denon 1910 DVD player and Monitor Audio S1's. The sound is airy, transparent, dynamic with deep bass. It sounds like a high end system if not played too loud as the S1's aren't the most efficient. With a better source (like my 2 budget tube DAC/Pre's) the sound is spectacular for a budget amp.

    My other budget pieces are my Class D Audio CDA 254 amp, Grant Fidelity DAC-11 tube Pre/DAC that I paid $325 for and my Maverick Audio tube DAC/Pre that I paid $220. Both units make great budget DAC's and good preamps. The Grant just needed a tube upgrade from 6922's to 6DJ8 vintage 1960 Telefunken or 1960 non A-frame Holland made Amperex. I am running the Grant with the CDA 254 amp (250 wpc at 4 ohms) which I bought used for $189 (it was a Kit but retails for about $500 pre-built) and my Magnepan MMG speakers ($550pr) with a Yamaha DVD S-1800 SACD player as a digital source except for SACD which I run analog (paid $79 new as a closeout off Amazon, it use to retail for $450) . You would be hard pressed to find a better sounding system for the cost of all the components. The Grant is smooth and liquid sounding with a rich midrange and good transparency. The CDA amp has a tube like quality and has a huge sound stage and a very black background.

    As for the Maverick, it is not as good at the Grant and I needed to upgrade the stock op amps for $10 each along with a tube upgrade. It sounds very good as a DAC and Preamp and adds that tube richness. It rocks with the CDA amp and my Parasound A21 hooked up to a pair of PSB B6 speakers
    My Gear- Mains System-Pass X250 amp, BAT VK-51se preamp, Luxman DA-06 DAC, Magnepan 1.6's, Thorens TD-145 TT, Dual Martin Logan Subs, Vintage Luxman T-110 Tuner, Cables-WW Platinum 7 USB, Cardas Parsec XLR, AQ Columbia DBS 72v XLR, Belden 8402 XLR.

  12. #12
    Member
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    Aug 2014
    Location
    Omaha, NE USA
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    59

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    I agree very enthusiastically about Bottlehead! I purchased a pair of Paramount 300B monoblocks that they had assembled and used, and with new tubes they have been and still are really intoxicating! I then purchased a Smack headphone amp kit, thinking that I could assemble it...
    After reading the manual I realized that I would screw it up.... I found a local tube expert and he did a perfect job of assembling it at a reasonable price. With my Grado PS500 phones it is magic, unfortunately they discontinued it after the one run. Doc B and Queen Eileen are the real deal!
    Tannoy Canterbury SE's, Nottingham Analog Studio Space 294/12"Anna arm/Grado Gold1, Ah! Njoe Toeb 4000, MF M1DAC, AVA Transcendance 8+ pre,
    Bottlehead 300B Paramount monoblocs, PL Prologue 5, Decware Zen Torii MK3, Odyssey Stratos, Stillpoint Mini's

  13. #13
    Senior Member
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    Apr 2013
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    Quebec Canada
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    742

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    Bottlehead preamps YES but amps you better have very efficient speakers or else it's a big no no.
    André - - - Keep it simple system
    Amp = Chord CPM-2600
    Source = Chord One
    Speakers = Acoustat 1+1s highly modified
    Life without Acoustat is possible BUT senseless.

  14. #14
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Omaha, NE USA
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    59

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    Very true! My 96dB Canterburys work well, however.
    Tannoy Canterbury SE's, Nottingham Analog Studio Space 294/12"Anna arm/Grado Gold1, Ah! Njoe Toeb 4000, MF M1DAC, AVA Transcendance 8+ pre,
    Bottlehead 300B Paramount monoblocs, PL Prologue 5, Decware Zen Torii MK3, Odyssey Stratos, Stillpoint Mini's

  15. #15
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    471

    Re: Audiophile on a Beer Budget!

    I've followed the bottlehead products for some time. It's super subjective if you haven't heard things or we lack sufficient test data to support a good decision.

    My contribution is this:

    listen with headphones 720p (HD) for proper effect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26fH2APyQyY

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