You seem to have a definition of excellent already since you were able to tell us that "It is for sure not possible to have "excellent" system for less than $1K, unfortunately." So what is your definition ?
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Has the General Rule of Audio changed?
- Thread starter Steven Holt
- Start date
Torin Krell
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2025
- Messages
- 123
- Likes
- 161
A few decades ago, when I was planning to put together a better quality audio system and music studio, I was planning on putting up to 60% of my funds into my speakers but then found a pair of Energy 22 Reference speakers that were discarded for garbage pickup on the curb - in surprisingly excellent condition. I found that I liked the Energy 22 Reference speakers enough to use them as my main speakers for a few years. This enabled me to channel 100% of my allotted music gear fund into the other gear I needed which availed me the opportunity to purchase significantly better quality components. So obviously expenditure ratios and music system plans can change for a variety of reasons. Even now among my friends we sometimes randomly gift each other quality gear that we no longer use helping each other put together secondary systems.
Not sure where you got that part. There are pros and cons. (Also, it matters whether you want plain old stereo, or multichannel. Subwoofers are also indicated unless you invest in speakers that really can do ~40 Hz or lower)
Not even if bought used?
Ken1951
Major Contributor
"Excellent" means different things to different people. When I first started in the car business in 1983 (spent 13 years in the business) I had a great GSM who told me "loaded" means different things to different customers. For some it meant an automatic trans, an AM/FM radio, and A/C. For others it was every power option in the book. For $1,000 I'm sure many people would be thrilled with the sound. Here, we're a very minuscule subset. A good soundbar and music streamed from their phone to their TV and to the soundbar is living large for most.
That is true. But it should not mean different tings to different people.
Words have their meaning and it is not up to us to interpret them otherwise. Excellent is obviously the upper tier of greatness. Bested by "divine" or perhaps "exquisite" or "flawless".
If bending the meaning of words starts here with this simple and at larger scale meaningless subject - where does it actually end?
I serious would consider the following gear:
Active speakers Adam Tv8 . . . . 500,-
Fosi Audio Pre-amp ZP3.500 . . . 240-
Topping D10S . . . . . . . . . . . .110,-
Accessories (Cables stands etc) 100,-
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 950,-
You could buy a measuring mic use foobar2000 an Mathaudio Room EQ or REW combined with APO (totaly for free both) on a Windows laptop using wasapi exclusive driver an you are in bit perfect audio heaven for less than 1000,- euro (besides the laptop) look for sales.
Active speakers Adam Tv8 . . . . 500,-
Fosi Audio Pre-amp ZP3.500 . . . 240-
Topping D10S . . . . . . . . . . . .110,-
Accessories (Cables stands etc) 100,-
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 950,-
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Adam T8V active monitors (speaker). It was kindly sent to me by the company a few months ago. I was surprised at the very low cost of these speakers at US $299 (each) considering that they are DSP speakers with dual amplification.
This is one giant of a monitor, certainly far larger than other speakers in this price range:
One great thing about these speakers is that they generate essentially no tweeter hiss. This is a common problem in many budget monitors and is something that when you become sensitive to it, you hear it...
This is one giant of a monitor, certainly far larger than other speakers in this price range:
One great thing about these speakers is that they generate essentially no tweeter hiss. This is a common problem in many budget monitors and is something that when you become sensitive to it, you hear it...
You could buy a measuring mic use foobar2000 an Mathaudio Room EQ or REW combined with APO (totaly for free both) on a Windows laptop using wasapi exclusive driver an you are in bit perfect audio heaven for less than 1000,- euro (besides the laptop) look for sales.
Last edited:
Robin L
Master Contributor
I think it ends with what is possible in a given environment. If one has a huge, acoustically designed space then the sky's the limit. If one is in a much smaller room one can have excellent sound, top to bottom, with a much smaller budget. If one is primarily using headphones or IEMs, the budget is even smaller. Consider the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 IEM; by all indications, it is objectively and subjectively excellent. It is also $25.
Ken1951
Major Contributor
I bought a pair based on ASR. The first I've had in ages and specifically to use with my iPhone on our trip to the UK last year. I've since used them with my MacBook Pro and I am floored with the sound. I can't imagine needing to spend any more for my needs and I doubt I would notice anyway.
Robin L
Master Contributor
I still own the Klipsch X11i IEMs. They cost about $235 when they first appeared (I bought them at a close-out price as IEMs increasingly became wireless). Their bass isn't as good, and they can easily slip out of one's ears. The Zero 2s are better in all regards.
Even cheap BT speakers now are surprisingly decent provided they can be paired in actual stereo and tuned with EQ.
