The Tightwad Thread

[rollhead]

I hesitate to post this in the "audiophile" section because what I am going to ask will likely be considered blasphemy by audiophiles.

But ... I am looking for a good-sounding compact system to replace my 20-year-old component system.

I really don't have the $$ for a high end system. In fact, I am not sure I could budget the speaker wire for it.

So, can anyone recommend a good "budget" system, sans the rats nest of wires and a room full of speakers that come with the so-called 'home entertainment centres" these days?

[Tanager]

What are your requirements?

1) what's your budget?
2) what forms of playback do you require?
3) what are your priorities (cost vs. fidelity vs. size)?
4) do you have preexisting equipment (speakers, amp, whatever) with which any new equipment would need to interoperate that might impose even more specific requirements (like a pair of really low impedance speakers)?
5) do you need to be able to try the rig out in your home before buying, or does that matter to you? (Similarly, do you have preferences on mail order vs. buying in stores?)

[rollhead]

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in the response. I had to check out my system at home to see what was still working. It looks like my receiver and one of my speakers is shot, so I am looking at a total replacement.

I want something compact and under $1,000, preferable closer to $500.

Don't think my wife would go for much over $500 (she is tighter than I am.)

I could live with only a CD player, and I was looking at one of those Cambridge Soundworks radio/CD players, which cost about $350.

But I don't know if I am getting the best bang for the buck with that.

[Al in NYC]

Damn, sounds like Rollie and I are looking for the same thing at the same time, only my budget is just a bit more flexible than his (I could probably go as high as 1,200 to 1,500). I'm replacing my entire system, so I'm waiting breathlessly to see what if anything pops up on this thread.

[Tanager]

Al, I did a near-total replacement for about what you're wanting to spend a couple of years ago - Cambridge Audio for the CD player and integrated amp, Axiom Audio for the speakers. Very happy all the way around.

I would highly recommend that both of you peruse GoodSound, one of the best budget audiophile sites out there. You should also peruse the SoundStage network review archives (includes GoodSound), which is here.

For example, here are the speakers I bought, the Axiom Audio M22ti SEs. Axiom still sells these, I believe. The amp and cd player have since been supplanted in CA's lineup, but Ron Thorne bought their successors and is very happy. YOu'll note that the lead review at the GoodSound main site is for a very highly-rated $400 integrated amp from NAD, which should be right in your sweet spot, Al.

Rollie, I don't know a lot off the top of my head about the types of gear you want, but there are a *number* of good CD/DVD players now out there which come in around $125 or so - if you can spring for these speakers at $280 a pair, then all you need to do is find a decent integrated amp, and you're probably just about done, unless you need other playback options. That would give you expandability if you wanted to add something else down the road, and you could use it as a basic home theater setup as well. I'm pretty sure you'd get better sound quality than with the all-in-one unit you describe.

[Chris D]

I know I sound like a broken record on this, but do check out the Audio Advisor. Their clearance areas and demo sales (all the demos are sold with full warranty and return privileges) offer some great bargains on better-than-big-box equipment.

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by Chris D

I know I sound like a broken record on this, but do check out the Audio Advisor. Their clearance areas and demo sales (all the demos are sold with full warranty and return privileges) offer some great bargains on better-than-big-box equipment.

Good advice - my amp was a warranteed demo from Audio Advisor, never had a problem with it.

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by Tanager

Good advice - my amp was a warranteed demo from Audio Advisor, never had a problem with it.

The service people are really approachable, too.

You sometimes have to look, but there are deals like this:

Cambridge Audio

[Tanager]

Chris, you ever had them service gear you purchased from them? Experiences, good, bad?

[Chris D]

They delivered a Mission speaker with a buzzing cone. They replaced it quickly and well. I did have to pay for one-way shipping, though.

[John P. Cooper]

Scoping out the local garage sales and swap meets might score you some good equiptment at a good price.

Certain manufacturers market a so-called 'swap meet' line of stereo gear with fanciful names like "Sounzgood" and "YoHiFi" and the very well known
"Quality Barn" and "Pie-O-Near" brands.

Most of these are manufactured for 'gray' markets, but some find there way here to the states.

You can save a lot of money by buying cheap stuff. It doesn't always sound so good at the beginning, especially at low volume, but after a while, when you really crank them up, you'll get a level of distortion that can rival anything you'd get at the 99 Cents Only Stores or an AM/PM Mini-Mart.

Happy hunting.

[Clay Fink]

I bought a pair of Wharfdale Diamond 5's about 12 years ago and have been very happy with them. Cheap, but very good. I've added a KEF subwoofer and it really adds a lot. The Diamonds are a little less than detailed at the high end, but the midrange is nice and warm sounding. The SW helped with the somewhat muddy bass (due mostly to the rear ports). The new 8.1's look pretty nice and I think they are about $200 at Audio Advisor.

I also bought an Audiolab integrated amp from AudioAdvisor about 10 years ago and it has served me well. Built like a tank.

[rollhead]

Anyone done any business on eBay?

I have bought saxophones, reeds and mouthpieces on eBay but never bought any stereo equipment.

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by rollhead

Anyone done any business on eBay?

I have bought saxophones, reeds and mouthpieces on eBay but never bought any stereo equipment.

Sure - I bought a Nak cassette deck to replace mine (was cheaper than the repair). Same caveats apply as with any other eBay purchases, but I don't think there's any special reason not to buy there other than those.

[John P. Cooper]

Originally Posted by rollhead

Anyone done any business on eBay?

I have bought saxophones, reeds and mouthpieces on eBay but never bought any stereo equipment.

Seriously, yes.

I bought a 2 speed BIC cassette recorder from the 1970s. Mint condition for 35 bucks. Solid seller reputation, beautifully packed and cleaned. Worked perfectly.

Additionally, I sold several pieces of audio gear.....tuner, amp, other stuff. No problems; happy customers.

[hglord]

I've bought a lot of stuff on eBay. Most of the time, it's fine. I've bought four expansion cards for my synth/sampler (Fantom XR), a 48 pt patch bay, a beautiful, clean, perfectly functioning Hafler power amplifier, and numerous connecting cables.

Unfortunately, I've also had two very bad experiences. I bought two JBL speaker from a guy from Yonkers who didn't respond or say anything until twelve days after the auction ended. Then, he said the speakers were damaged and he was withdrawing them. I had to file a "dispute" with Paypal to get any money back and, even then, he still withheld $14.22. I lost that altogether.

Another time, I bought what had been advertised as a "new" copy of Cubase SX3 (music sequencing/production software) and received a bootleg DVD. I complained to Paypal and so did the other four people who'd bought the same thing from that seller. He was kicked off of eBay. In that case, I'd paid for it with my VISA account. Paypal got me part of what he cheated me out of and VISA got me the rest.

Therefore, always check the seller's feedback. I'll never buy software of any kind on eBay again. With hardware, well, I might try again, but it'll be awhile.

Good luck.

[Chris D]

I've bought some vintage stuff on eBay: Harman-Kardon 430 receiver, HK 402 amp, HK 720 turntable, Mission 700 speakers.
All were good deals on good stuff. Lucky, I guess.

[John P. Cooper]

I always check the feedback ratings on people.

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by John P. Cooper

I always check the feedback ratings on people.

I'd hope that everyone would. Even with top feedback for a seller, with vintage gear, there's the chance that shipping will bump something loose or time will take its eventual toll.

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by Chris D

I'd hope that everyone would. Even with top feedback for a seller, with vintage gear, there's the chance that shipping will bump something loose or time will take its eventual toll.

Oh yah, eBay is the ultimate illustration of "caveat emptor."

[Tanager]

Well, as it happens, I'm now packing my CA cd player (D500SE, if anyone cares, which I'm sure noone does) up to ship it off for service. Damned door won't open.

[John P. Cooper]

Originally Posted by Chris D

I'd hope that everyone would. Even with top feedback for a seller, with vintage gear, there's the chance that shipping will bump something loose or time will take its eventual toll.

The seller I bought my 2 speed BIC cassette recorder from dealt largely in vintage audio gear. It was perfectly packed - wrapped in bubble wrap - and the interior of the box was superbly cushioned. The unit had been cleaned to virtually new condition. Not a fingerprint or a speck of dust on it.

His eBay bluurb proclaimed that he tests all his items out in full before a sale.

I think the moral here is that you may have finer luck dealing with someone who has a speciality line that he sells on eBay.

[rollhead]

I spend $350 on a Cambridge SoundWorks radio, which takes up a relatively tiny amount of space and has -- count it -- just ONE cord to plug in.

It gets better radio reception than my Harmon-Kardon receiver did, and does a reasonably good job of filling up my smallish living room.

Reviews on CNET.com rated the Cambridge radio better than the Bose radio/CD player, and it's $150 cheaper.

I would highly recommend this for someone who wants a CD player for his or her office, and for anyone -- such as myself -- who is on a VERY TIGHT audio system budget.

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by rollhead

Reviews on CNET.com rated the Cambridge radio better than the Bose radio/CD player, and it's $150 cheaper.

As a general rule, you pay a lot for very little quality with Bose. They should generally be the last place you look.

[rollhead]

I might have done better if I had shopped around for some kind of "mini-stereo" system, but my wife -- the ultimate tightwad -- liked the box, so we got it.

I might try to find something for around $200 for my office. Right now, I am just running my CD player and Pandora.com off of my tinny PC speakers.

One of my co-workers said I should spend $125 on an upgrade of the PC speakers.

Any thoughts?

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by rollhead

I might have done better if I had shopped around for some kind of "mini-stereo" system, but my wife -- the ultimate tightwad -- liked the box, so we got it.

I might try to find something for around $200 for my office. Right now, I am just running my CD player and Pandora.com off of my tinny PC speakers.

One of my co-workers said I should spend $125 on an upgrade of the PC speakers.

Any thoughts?

Do you have coworkers in your office? If yes, you might do better getting a killer set of 'phones instead - there have been multiple threads on what to buy. I don't know much about powered PC speakers (what I assume you're talking about), since I listen to headphones exclusively on the rare days I actually bother going to the office (when I'm at home, I listen to my rig).

(edit - I'm asking my colleagues for recs on your behalf. Let you know what they say.)

(further edit - get good cans, if you don't already have a pair. PC speakers pretty much suck, and if sound quality actually matters enough to spend money, at that price point you'll get WAY more bang for buck with a good set of headphones.)

(still further edit - here's something to consider - at $29 for the small model (plus the price for 8 AA batteries - get rechargeables), you can find a good (probably *really* good, if you buy used) pair of bookshelf speakers and have a setup that will blow the fucking doors off of self-powered PC speakers.)

[rollhead]

Hey, thanks for the recommendations.

[Mark of Cenla]

I suggest that you check out some of the more expensive micro systems from JVC, Yamaha, and Onkyo. They are in your price range, do not have much setup or wires, take up little space, and sound pretty good. Peace.

[Tanager]

Originally Posted by Mark of Cenla

I suggest that you check out some of the more expensive micro systems from JVC, Yamaha, and Onkyo. They are in your price range, do not have much setup or wires, take up little space, and sound pretty good. Peace.

My real problem with "micro systems," beyond the fact that the speakers almost always suck when compared to a good pair of what I'd consider budget audiophile bookshelf speakers, is that they represent a dead end, for the most part. You want a better CD player? Better amp? Swap out the whole thing. Bad return on investment, and you get much better sound quality going with separates.

[Mark of Cenla]

He is going to have a very hard time getting good components for $500. He also does not seem to want to deal with a bunch of wires. And, not everyone wants to upgrade. Peace.