A real-world challenge

[budgetblown]

Had an idea. Doesn't happen that often, but every now and then...

I've been spending too much on kit - waaaay too much! - so it struck me - is it necessary?

Well, yes. I know what I like, and it costs money.

But what about people starting out in hi-fi? Where do they go? What do they do? What's out there? So I decided to set myself a challenge. I want to be at scalford next year - but ideally with two systems.

System one - This is the best I can afford on my limited means. Nice speakers, nice amps, nice cables and interconnects, probably either CD driven (got a nice transport lined up for next month, hopefully) or PC based.

System two - this is where anyone can start - a reasonable all-rounder system with a budget of £100 all in - including cables and interconnects. Has to be standard separates based to allow for ease of upgrade (box swappery) in future.

It certainly wouldn't hurt for people to see that hi-fi on a budget is possible, and that systems are available to people with limited means. Is anyone else up for this?

[kernow]

Are you talking used kit for the £100 system presumably? would make it more interesting to see what bargains people could get.

I guess you are because £100 ain't gonna buy anything decent new, heh.

[budgetblown]

For sure, second hand! I'm thinking about hunting up a Nad 3020 of some flavour, although I may have something much more interesting in the pipeline

[istari knight]

Nice idea

CD : Marantz CD-52 mk2 / Marantz CD-63 mk2 - £30

Amp : NAD 3020 / Cambridge Audio A3i - £40

Speakers : Acoustic Research AR18 / Wharfedale Diamond mk3 - £25

[kernow]

I'd actually love to hear everyones £100 systems in comparison to each other, and in comparison to the 'real' systems.

Great idea!

[ClassikFan]

I've got an amp, dac and iPhone as source, just need suitable speakers. I'm up for it!

[julian2002]

i have a b&o 5000 system (£70) - tuner, amp & tape
speakers mission 700le's (recently seen for £20ono in calassifieds)
cables - whatever freebies or bits from maplin i can get for a tenner.
Source - whatever digital is to hand - phone, laptop, squeezebox, whatever.
sounds pretty good for what i paid for it.

[unclepuncle]

Hmmmm, ok here goes:

Decent 2nd hand interconnect £100 - errrrrrrrrrrrrr:minikiev:

[budgetblown]

ClassikFan wrote:

I've got an amp, dac and iPhone as source, just need suitable speakers. I'm up for it!

And this lot costs how much?

[ob1]

Marantz CD 67 - Cambridge Audio A1 - Acoustic Energy Argis 1, sound rather entertaining.

[Beobloke]

I did this a couple of years back for the mag - Dual CS505-3 (£30), Yamaha AX-300 (£12) and Wharfedale Diamonds (£5). sounded great.
I'd be up for having another go if you fancy some competition!

[budgetblown]

Great I just scored a Technics pre amp and power amp... for a fiver

[Beobloke]

budgetblown wrote:

Great I just scored a Technics pre amp and power amp... for a fiver

Oooh, good start. Guess I should have kept my £5 Quad 33/303!!

[Tel]

Beobloke wrote:

I did this a couple of years back for the mag - Dual CS505-3 (£30), Yamaha AX-300 (£12) and Wharfedale Diamonds (£5). sounded great.
I'd be up for having another go if you fancy some competition!

Adam, was that the article where you got everything from the tip?

[Butuz]

Haha! Ladies and Gentlemen - welcome to my world!!!!

Azur 640c - given to me by uncle, PM6010OSE given to me by father, heybrooks given to me by friend.

Butuz

[budgetblown]

Too cheap, too easy - you gotta go and get it

[FiftyPlus]

budgetblown wrote:

Had an idea. Doesn't happen that often, but every now and then...

I've been spending too much on kit - waaaay too much! - so it struck me - is it necessary?

Well, yes. I know what I like, and it costs money.

But what about people starting out in hi-fi? Where do they go? What do they do? What's out there? So I decided to set myself a challenge. I want to be at scalford next year - but ideally with two systems.

System one - This is the best I can afford on my limited means. Nice speakers, nice amps, nice cables and interconnects, probably either CD driven (got a nice transport lined up for next month, hopefully) or PC based.

System two - this is where anyone can start - a reasonable all-rounder system with a budget of £100 all in - including cables and interconnects. Has to be standard separates based to allow for ease of upgrade (box swappery) in future.

It certainly wouldn't hurt for people to see that hi-fi on a budget is possible, and that systems are available to people with limited means. Is anyone else up for this?

I would be struggling to put together a decent system for £100 without buying second hand (even buying s/h), and there is a lot of old equipment on the S/H market that is dubious. A lot of 1980s budget equipment, especially turntables, were poor sounding. A bit of auditioning will get you something worthwhile combining new and secondhand for around £300. A good front end for vinyl lovers is the basic Project deck c/w fitted Ortofon. That will wipe the floor with almost anything from years gone by that were regarded as "classic budget decks". Cambridge, Marantz and Denon seem to offer good budget CD players. Decent interconnects like Qnect 2s are capable of lifting the sound of a budget CD player. As I have suggested in a previous post, contrast and compare - listen and enjoy.

[Butuz]

You mean spend money?!!!?!?!?!?

OMG ;)

Butuz

[budgetblown]

Yep. Latest acquisitions - Marantz CD5400 with remote control for £20, and a pair of TDL NSM2 speakers for £20.

So far-

Technics Pre/power £5 (to be confirmed after testing and fettling)
Marantz 5400 CD Player £20
TDL NSM2 speakers £20
SHB Speaker cables £20 (donated to Red Cross - cheers ChelseaDave)
SHB Interconnects - 2 pairs - £10 (Thanks Dom)
Speaker stands - £5 (local gumtree)
Ikea Corras "rack" - £15 (Ta Goonerboy!)

So I'm at £95 for a complete system with Rack. The pre/power are coming with a tuner as well, but I'm dubious about 80's Technics tuners.

In my defence - it hasn't just fallen into place like that. I bought the pre/power last night, and found speakers, stands and CD Player today having sold some non hi-fi kit I had some pennies spare.

The speakers are just "There" at the moment - reasonably competent bookshelves, and certainly not exceptional. I expect to find better at some point, for certain. I may drop the rack, and speaker stands, sell the TDLS and buy something else instead (not using horse trading to build up the budget - overall purchase will still be max £100).

... sorry - did someone say £300 for a beginner's system? I wish to refute this theory in the strongest, strongest possible terms!

[It Cost How Much!?!]

£100 system bakeoff in Cardiff then...

How about... Linn Sara's (including stands & Linn speaker cable) £56 or the AR 925S's I have just bought for £25 or the Profile 10's for £28

Amp, Nad 3020 for £5, CD Marantz CD63 off this site for £30 (with remote!), Hitachi interconnect £5, all in

So; Linn Saras system would be £96, AR system £65, Profile system £68 all in. I am fairly confident that any of these systems would sound 'acceptable'.


p.s. can add Hitachi FT4500 tuner for £1 of fleabay