Creating a budget high-end set

[Mike]

These speakers Emerald Physics CS3 MK2 Superb OB Speakers-Undervalued at $50k! | Full range | Thornton, Colorado 80229 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community with the sub they used at RMAF (you can call Wally and ask him). Combined with a DSPeaker 2.0 for the preamp/DAC and Bel Canto amp.

Would run you about $5300. Add in an older model Oppo 83 and a REGA TT (or whatever) and you have pretty great system for $7K. That's a lot of dosh....but it would sound great.

 

[Glareskin]

These speakers Emerald Physics CS3 MK2 Superb OB Speakers-Undervalued at $50k! | Full range | Thornton, Colorado 80229 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community with the sub they used at RMAF (you can call Wally and ask him). Combined with a DSPeaker 2.0 for the preamp/DAC and Bel Canto amp.

Would run you about $5300. Add in an older model Oppo 83 and a REGA TT (or whatever) and you have pretty great system for $7K. That's a lot of dosh....but it would sound great.

Good one Mike! The speakers are ugly as hell (for my taste at least ) but I know Norman is a big fan as well. I hope I find a pair for auditioning some day.

I understand the DSpeaker is a device to optimize acoustical problems for full-range speakers.

The disc player Oppo 83:

And the Belcanto amp:

That is also a lot of equipment for the money!!

 

[ohbythebay]

I am lost as to the powered speakers ..are we talking a high end audio system or a high end PC/desktop system ?

 

[Mike]

You are right - they aren't the most attractive, but honestly, I heard two models at RMAF and was floored.

 

[Glareskin]

I am lost as to the powered speakers ..are we talking a high end audio system or a high end PC/desktop system ?

The ones we have described are a lot more than PC desktop speakers. I think they qualify as Studio Monitors but I can tell you that my wall-mounted mini Focal's sound really really good and fill up my kitchen (4 x 6 meters) well and have an incredible bass. If you go to a shop where they sell music instruments and deejay gear they will have them around. Of course I feed the speakers from my Linn Akurate DS / Audionet DNP in the living room so the source and amp are to notch.
It is worth doing some research in this area.

 

[Glareskin]

Monitor Audio Silver RS6 - $1100
Yamaha R-S700 - $500
Micromega MyDAC - $399 miracle
Add a faster drive to your laptop but you dont' need it - Any tablet or PC will do...IPad would be my last choices (sorry, I don't buy into the Apple hype). You can get a new Dell Venue 8 (8 inch table) for $199 with 32gb or the ASUS 10" for about $399 - 64 GB SSD

You could stop here at $2400 OR
Add a turntable
ClearAudio Concept or VPI Traveler with MC cart - $1600
Phono stage - variety - $600
Cables - $400

So for 5K, you have a killer system, DAC, a tablet, storage and a turntable

Sorry...not trying to one up...but with a 7K budget I could build 2 systems...LOL

Yeah but the question was not how to build to cheapest set...

 

[ohbythebay]

That is not a cheap set. Again, its a matter of perception of budget. You didn't really specify (initially) that this was a secondary "budget" system for a kitchen. I would never use powered mini speakers for a main rig..just no comparison. And yes, I have heard high end..but bookshelves are bookshelves, powered or not, high end or not, they have inherent limitations just by physics. Not doubting they sound good...

Again, not knocking the configurations, but again, budget is relative. Where does one delineate high end ? Simple - when the money runs out...LOL

 

[wisnon]

The Vanatoos are very interesting. I like the glass of wine in the picture:eyebrow:
I know you will always find something special Norman!
The Peachtree is a bit too obvious like the Sonos, the B&W Zeppelin, the Bluesound systems, the Dynaudio Xeos, Raumfeld by Teufel etcetera. Very nice systems but our not so audiophile friends would get the recommendation for these in the audio/streaming shops you will find nowadays. The approach us for the not so obvious, right?

Actually Chris at CompAudiophile gave the DeepBlue and astounding rating for the price and says it would still be good value at $1,500!!!

 

[wisnon]

You are right - they aren't the most attractive, but honestly, I heard two models at RMAF and was floored.

The older model is "prettier".

 

[Glareskin]

The older model is "prettier".

Do you have a picture?

 

[NorthStar]

I luv this thread so far, great direction; I'm about to contribute.

Hans, thank you for your time in posting the great pictures.

Rob, active speakers are a great way to go for high end speakers on a budget; the amplifiers (for the woofer & tweeter) are chosen for them drivers and enclosure by the designer for usually best matching. ...It takes the guess work out of the equation for the customer.
- Add a nice little sub and you have a great system that can go low enough to reproduce the lowest note of a p.i.a.n.o. (27Hz) no sweat.

* I luv Genelec speakers; some of them measure the very best. ...On and off axis.

 

[wisnon]

Do you have a picture?

Yes, the older one is plainer and works better visually for me. Take a look at this French beauty that could easily displace the Kef LS-50 in my suggested setup, costing about $600 more:

 

[Glareskin]

I luv this thread so far, great direction; I'm about to contribute.

Yes please do!:exciting:

 

[Glareskin]

Yes, the older one is plainer and work better visually for me. Take a look at this French beauty that could easily displace the Kef LS-20 in my suggested setup, costing about $600 more:

View attachment 3998View attachment 3999

You are right in both cases! great find!

 

[NorthStar]

Yes please do!:exciting:

Be patient, I'm gathering my thoughts all together. ...Extensive research (with goggles).

 

[Petro85]

You are right in both cases! great find!

I like your little speaker men in your avatar !! Where do I get those?

 

[NorthStar]

They cool.

 

[ohbythebay]

I luv this thread so far, great direction; I'm about to contribute.

Hans, thank you for your time in posting the great pictures.

Rob, active speakers are a great way to go for high end speakers on a budget; the amplifiers (for the woofer & tweeter) are chosen for them drivers and enclosure by the designer for usually best matching. ...It takes the guess work out of the equation for the customer.
- Add a nice little sub and you have a great system that can go low enough to reproduce the lowest note of a p.i.a.n.o. (27Hz) no sweat.

* I luv Genelec speakers; some of them measure the very best. ...On and off axis.

I agree that they can sound great. I guess what I disagree with (and I will stop posting on this thread) is the term budget used in this context. The average Joe would in no way call any part of this "budget". Its a bit of a class bias. If I (or people of my peers) are going to spend money that kind of money on speakers, it will be for a main system. The configuration outlined was bit "different", not a main rig, not a mini rig. It was something suitable to the OP. How many mini-rigs for a kitchen have 2TB music servers that are NOT part of a different main rig elsewhere?

Like I said, probably not the thread for me so I bow out gracefully and will enjoy the recommendations...of which, I have my own for cost effective mini-speakers which I would recommend

Aon Series | GoldenEar Technology | A Passion for Sonic Perfection

 

[NorthStar]

It is what it is Rob.

Why don't you start another thread for a $2,000 budget high-end system?

* Those just above are nice looking speakers, and very affordable too.

You know Rob, you should feel comfy wherever you are, and right here in this own very thread there are no rules as if a system should cost less than another. $1,0000 or $10,000 (anything between); we're all good to go.

And why did I just say that! ...This is the shark aquarium; no need to say the obvious. :heart:

 

[ohbythebay]

Nah...been there..done that...LOL..I feel like I as a pain in the ass in this thread and don't want to be a thread crapper ..shudder..The original poster was doing "good" and I just boggled a bit about budget...its all relative...

Carry on good people...lOL
BTW..read the reviews on the AON 3's...awesome...