Budget system suggestions

[JB]

Still have my Bel Canto and Cabasse system on an interest check and deciding whether to go to a Sale - had some really firm interest. If I sell my entire system, what on earth do I get as a budget system to tide me over and how dissappointed will I be?!!! Call it £1k amp/speakers or less (+ DAC if fits in budget or an amp with digital inputs). Need either floorstanders or something that can be mounted out of the way of a very inquisitive 1.5 year old!!

All I use it for is primarily improving the TV / film sound and a bit of background music via the squeezebox touch and internet radio.

 

[mmar]

quad 909 power amp , quad 99 cdp which doubles up as a dac / pre and some quad 21 speakers !

 

[Jezzer]

Rega Brio R plus my Leema Xones. :^

 

[JB]

good call Jezza, definitely thinking along those lines, although purite north have some interesting active monitors cheap or the AE's look good too for the cash

 

[RobHolt]

Small pair of pro active monitors and a dac like the Cambridge DM+ which includes pre amp.

The DM+ gives top end performance and just happens to only cost £300 as it's made in China and sold in large numbers.

it will happily work perfectly with anything if you upgrade the loudspeakers later, however good they are.

Or I see Purite North have the ESI Dr DAC Prime at £295.

That looks stunning value so well worth a look.

Feed this lot from your computer or SBT as the audio source.

 

[JB]

Thanks for the input Rob, will take a look at what you are suggesting - what decent active monitors are out there?

 

[MrMister]

what decent active monitors are out there?

I'd be interested to know too, my brother is looking to get some speakers sorted and despite me pushing him towards a cheap Japanese amp and some small stand-mounts, he's keen on actives running from his PC as a source. He's looked at monitors from a mixing/recording point of view but I'd be interested to see what people suggest for a more 'rounded' sound for longer listening. He'd probably use a DAC also (in fact he may have one).

Cheers, Jamie

 

[HoopsOnToast]

Quad ESLs mounted from the ceiling :^

 

[belloire]

the esi unik 05's and 08's are very nice, excellent for the money, and go well with the DR DAC.

DAC + 05's is about £630 i think. very nice........ (think the 08's are about £150 more?)

 

[JB]

Thanks for the input guys, will the ESi fill a reasonable room or are they only good for near field listening?

 

[Philv]

Kef 104/2 - as low as 220 if willing to travel to collect.

quad cdp2 (300ish). Digital inputs for dac.

ming da set (as low as 450 on these forums)

30 quid for cables.

1000 pounds.

 

[Chumpy]

I think that 9 years ago my current budget Marantz CDP-INT.AMP-biggish (smaller are available, but I needed to replace emptiness of departed Linn Isobariks) Cerwin Vega speakers were about 1k new. They still are used extensively/are better than any CDP sys. I have had/heard/are excellent with vinyl or FM etc feeding..

IT IS possible to buy new good warrantied stuff which sounds splendid/lasts/will do you for a 2nd or 1st sys. for c. 1k. You must feel things in your heart/eyes/take a punt to suit your wishes. YOUR money/your ears etc ...

 

[JB]

Thanks getting bit confused with options especially as I don't know how they will sound compared to current set up. 3 options add I see it

1.sell the lot get cheap conventional set up

2. Sell the lot get cheap active set up

3. Keep my dac which is also a pre and stick on some active speakers.

Anyone tried active speakers from say dynaudio or similar.

 

[Purite Audio]

A squeezebox touch and a pair of actives make an extremely elegant and great sounding little system.

Keith.

 

[banjoman]

A squeezebox touch and a pair of actives make an extremely elegant and great sounding little system.Keith.

+ 1

 

[JB]

Think I have decided to keep the DAC and run it balanced into a pair of active monitors - subject to selling my gear of course! Want to clear a grand so would have ~£850 for the active monitors, Keith has been very helpful and the Genelecs look good, which ones would suit for that budget and a front room home environment?