High-end audio experiences for little money

[Audionaut]

Many here say: "It has never been so easy and affordable to enjoy high quality audio playback for little money as it is today!"

I agree and challenge you to post your cheapest but very good audio setup that can save you a lot of money from source to ear.

So not just a single device, but a whole playback chain.

My first suggestion:
A smartphone, a PC or a tablet (most people probably have one)

The JCALLY JM20 MAX dongle
LINSOUL 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2

In Europe approx. 50 euros - and you're already high up in hi-fi heaven.

What are your suggestions?

 

[olieb]

My setup at the moment:
Macbook + Apple dongle + Truthear Gate
I use dearVR Monitor (free) + Elements (free) + Blackhole (donation) software to create a BRIR (binaural room impulse response) crossfeed that can even play Atmos.
About 30€.

 

[DVDdoug]

If you have a phone (or tablet) with a headphone jack you can probably skip the dongle.

 

[thunderchicken]

Truthear zero and a Qudelix or DX3 Pro is world class for under $300.

My personal headphone rig is around $1300 and there is not a speaker system that can do it for ten times the price. Aeon 2 open, SMSL DO200, Massdrop THX AAA amp, and a Wiim mini for streaming. My other setup is similar in quality at half the price, with Aeon RT closed and DX3 Pro+.

We really live in the golden age of headphones.

I am finally building my forever speaker system and it is shocking how expensive it is to get close to my headphone rigs in quality.

My HT setup is Anthem, Ascend, and RSL. My stereo setup is a combination of DIY and used gear and is not complete, but I’m on the prowl. I have locked down my preamp, turntable, phono pre, and DAC. Still have another set of speakers to build and an amplifier to find used. My dream CD/DVD/Bluray players are all unobtainium so a cheap universal player is hidden in a cupboard for now.

 

[Matt_Holland]

For a speaker based setup my suggestion is that a Wiim Amp Pro plus streaming service power your choice of budget floorstanding speakers.

My particular small room (5x4m) system consists of Wiim Amp and Revel M16. The latter were second hand at £250 so the system cost approximately £500 in total.

It’s a very refined sound for the money.

 

[Mort]

Wiim Amp $300
Philharmonic Audio True Mini $380

 

[kemmler3D]

What are your suggestions?

Same setup you suggested but on a Windows PC with EQAPO and cross feed... IMO will put you in striking distance of endgame.

Concept is similar to @olieb but I personally find BRIRs to be too special effect-y, but if you are not bothered by a less dry sound it's also very interesting.

 

[effj]

Do I have to include all the gear I bought along the journey to my cheapest but very good audio setup?

 

[Cbdb2]

Buy used.

 

[Romario]

Did you ever hear high end gear at someones house or store? Ridiculous that a pair of IEM is considered high end. You could be satisfied and so am I but I wouldn't dream to call it high end.

 

[Vacceo]

All my gear is second hand. I have listened to better speakers than my KEF IQ´s, but nothing sounding quite well for so cheap.

 

[Cbdb2]

If you have a phone (or tablet) with a headphone jack you can probably skip the dongle.

Why would your $1000 phone come with a HP jack? And a pet peve, why no radio? Rotten apple.

 

[Cbdb2]

All my gear is second hand. I have listened to better speakers than my KEF IQ´s, but nothing sounding quite well for so cheap.

And it helps the enviroment.

 

[FrantzM]

Do I have to include all the gear I bought along the journey to my cheapest but very good audio setup?

Yes

Peace.

 

[Audionaut]

Did you ever hear high end gear at someones house or store? Ridiculous that a pair of IEM is considered high end

Of course not.
I only know the sound of medium wave kitchen radios.

Do I have to include all the gear I bought along the journey to my cheapest but very good audio setup?

I wouldn't do that

For a speaker based setup my suggestion is

I'm still thinking about what the cheapest speaker-based setup at a very high Level is.
It won't be 50 euros or dollars.

All my gear is second hand.

That's quite a good solution, but for this Thread I was actually thinking of New Audio, because used is not to be specified or from uncle.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

Tooting my horns:
My 2-Channel Audio consists of a Denon AVR-X-3400H + miniDSP-2x4HD + 2 x JBL LSR-308 + 2 X Dayton Audio SUB-1500 in a 20 square meter room. It is so far the best system I have had in my 50+ years of being a sometimes ardent (read spending serious money) audiophile.
That 2-channel system cost me less than $3000.
This is achieved with the use of free software namely REW and MSO (Multi Subwoofer Optimizer), and a paid software: Audyssey MultEQ-X WIndows App, around $200.

I haven't tested it but I am willing to bet similarly good results could be achieved with a Wiim Preamp ($329)+ The miniDSP2x4H (essential for MSO, $250) and the exact same complement of speakers and subwoofers ($1000 total) less than $1700 total.
This system has been measured in my room is smooth from 20 to 20 kHz, following a smooth Harman-like curve ...
Can reach 110dB at the MLP about 2.5 meters from the plane of the front speakers.

It can be improved but I feel no hurry to do so, and wonder often what would be the price of a next jump in audio quality...



Peace

 

[Romario]

Truthear zero and a Qudelix or DX3 Pro is world class for under $300.

My personal headphone rig is around $1300 and there is not a speaker system that can do it for ten times the price. Aeon 2 open, SMSL DO200, Massdrop THX AAA amp, and a Wiim mini for streaming. My other setup is similar in quality at half the price, with Aeon RT closed and DX3 Pro+.

We really live in the golden age of headphones.

Ten times the price buys you one high end speaker.

So you walk out a movietheater where you were indulged in a Hans Zimmer soundtrack of Dune for instantie and put on your headphone and have the same experience?

 

[ZolaIII]

Sony MH-755 trough Apple EU dongle, Hiby W3 II BT, or it's original one for FM radio. With Usound EQ (for more than 10 years now and going on).

 

[Mart68]

I made this system for a friend (his wife insisted on a turntable).

B&O CD50 - £70
Technics SL5 - £70 plus new stylus £5
AR A03 Amplifier - £75
KEF 'Calinda' speakers - £100

Set up properly in a good room you wouldn't need anything more unless you were very fussy.

I would love to take that system to a show and set it up alongside the efforts where just the cost of the power cables is ten grand plus. You could demolish the high end audio business overnight.

I suppose all second hand so cheating a bit but then so is using headphones which are a castrated way to listen to music IMO.

 

[DSJR]

Did you ever hear high end gear at someones house or store? Ridiculous that a pair of IEM is considered high end. You could be satisfied and so am I but I wouldn't dream to call it high end.

I'm inclined to disagree, but have to concede that you can't physically 'feel' the music via iems, and neither do you have the 'Eye Fi and Feel Good' aspects which is really what high end domestic audio is mainly about

IEMs at modest price can actually sound amazing, allowing deep access to recorded mixes for good or ill that most *domestic* rooms mess up to one degree or another.