Yes! Love it.. And still people whine and moan when he from time to time rewievs something that is"not dirt cheap". Cheap am for president! But yeah.. 🇸🇪
Randy is the best! Introducing fellow UA-camrs and the great Michael Lavorgna of Twittering Machines - while also putting together two $1500 show systems. Bravo! One other “cheap” but great sounding speaker was the Chesky Audio bookshelf.
Loved the smallish Philharmonic monitors with the SB ceramic woofer and the AMT tweeter. Gonna have to get with a collaborator and engineer a DIY version of that honey. Gotta be a winner.
@@elshaddaiedwards I found the product here: Philharmonic Audio - True Mini, and it looks like it's officially moved into production. It even received a positive review from Randy in 2023, which you can check out here. Excited to see how it stacks up against the prototypes discussed on the AVS forum thread!
The local DC area audiophile club had a room on I believe the 6th floor and were demoing a $299 speaker called the Vera-Fi Vanguard Scout Monitors... They were really, really good! Smooth, great mids, imaged really well. Had enough extension on the top. Price is right up your alley!
Randy The Philharmonic BMR speaker. I think you will like them $ 3500.00 Speakers for $ 1800- 2200 depending on the finish Soundstanging, Imaging,Bass, Resolution etc of Much expensive
Seeing these prices make me appreciate my vintage system all the more. 1980s JVC AX3, KEF C45, Pioneer CD player for $150. I optioned for a Google Audio for endless music. Couldnt be happier.
It was great to meet you, however briefly. You were getting into a car on Saturday when my friends and I spotted you. Love the channel, and as I mentioned, I had never heard of Wiim or Emotiva until your channel. Very happy with both products I bought from them. Keep up the good work.
Great video, I just came from the show and that’s quite a feat to put together a budget system for under $1500, considering that most the wares were quite expensive.
Since Moukey M20-3 bookshelf speakers aren't available anymore. Last night on Amazon I ordered a pair of Goldwood Sound DPI-60B 3 Way bookshelf speakers. I hope to have them by next Saturday. I am really excited to finally buy them. 1 pair of 25' RCA speaker wire cost $40.00 which is $12.00 less than the speakers. I also bought a set of Subwoofer isolation pads. My room for A/V equipment will be so much better by the end of the month.
Was great to see Zeos hes another legend in audio. He Randy and many more pointed me toward the SVS altra book shelf speakers and im having so much fun with them playing all sorts of genre music through these babys. All i need is the center channel. Mite get the prime center the ultra is out of reach for me. Im sure i’ll still be happy with it. Love ya channel Randy its my fave on youtube. As soon as you put one out im like i gotta watch this man 🤓
@Nel33147 That is not what they plan on doing. It's a tariff on all imported items. All. Almost everything uses all or some imported parts. Plus, you have no idea how tariffs work. The country penalized doesn't feel the pain. WE do because the costs are passed on to the consumer in the form of much higher prices. Cars. Computers. Electronics. Speakers. You name it. Economic strife and trade imbalances can start to occur. Couple this with mass deportations and you have a recipe for an economic collapse.
@dan_hitchman007 he'll get talked out of that move for those very reasons. He's not going to try and cripple the people. Not when he wants to go independent on oil. He wants to sell it. He can't have it both ways.
Technically, I managed to buy a £1500 setup, with speaker, integrated amplifier, cd player/streamer combo. So Roksan K3, that came with a set of Focal Chora 816 speakers, which combined cost me £999, and then, I added an Arcam CDS50 CD/streamer for £449.10, and then £5.99 for the Mconnect app, to replace the Arcam musiclife app, which doesn't work. Everything was based around clearance stuff (I did buy the Arcam CSD50 7 months after the Roksan/Focal deal). Unfortunately, I have never used the setup, as I decided to sell the Chora 816, and instead got a pair of Focal K2 Aria 926, which was on sale for £1499 (they then went down to £1199, a couple of months later). These, speakers/amp combination added a bit more bass, and do not have the normal Focal treble. Then finally, I added a set of ISOaccoustic Gia 2 feet, which tightened up the sound, particularly the bass, and gave better separation.
Very fun video, Randy! Many audiophiles doing a challenge like this would be trying to add a zero to the end of the challenge cost and to each of those prices and would still be sweatin' it! lol
1 Hiby R4 DAP, $250 door to door. 1 pair Blue Jeans LC1 RCA interconnects, $45 1 Audioquest 3.5mm to RCA adapter, $30 1 SMSL AO 300 all-in-one integrated amplifier, $285 door to door. 1 Pair PSB Alpha T20 Minitowers, $650 1 Pair Fyne Audio F301i stand-mounts, $300. 1 Pair home-made speaker stands, $100. Total: $1660, and you've got two completely different systems to switch back-and-forth between every two weeks, so you never get the bug to upgrade. It's utterly ridiculous that anybody would say, in 2024, that it's not possible to build a good-sounding system for $1500. It has literally never been easier, and the resulting system has never sounded better.
Great vid. Thanks for featuring US products partic Black Ice (knowing you’re not into tubes and all..). They make great stuff. I did not hear the little speakers you found but I did do the Geshelli headphone comparison demo they had set up. The unit with the sparkos was incredible, best sound I had ever heard thru cans (I much prefer speakers…). I don’t have much use for the really high end stuff, but I have always had lust in my heart for a pair of Magnepans…
@ Black Ice is a US company with products conceived and designed in the US. Some of their products are US manufactured in MD, others are manufactured to strict quality standards under contract with US and international manufacturing/assembly companies. Not sure what your point is? These are US products by any definition, and the US needs more small mold-breakers like Back Ice (as do all countries!)
@ Black Ice is a US company with products conceived and designed in the US. Some of their products are US manufactured in MD, others are manufactured to strict quality standards under contract with US and international manufacturing/assembly companies. Not sure what your point is? These are US products by any definition, and the US needs more small mold-breakers like Back Ice (as do all countries!)
Got issues with Cambridge DACs. They randomly shut down for no reason. Tried replacing the cheap ass wall warts but it didn't help. Makes me hesitant to look at their other products.
RANDY ! Did You ask the Makers of the Speakers You chose, what specific AMP they recommend for those same Speakers ? btw - What Amp were They using at the Show ?
Ok, I am shocked and impressed that you found the Geshelli, Black Ice, Philharmonic for under $1500. Now be honest... Black Ice vs Fossi? Not a true apples to apples... but which sounds better for small room listening?
The last piece of my HiFi system is being delivered today (a 2nd SVS SB-16 Ultra w/ black oak veneer). I'm finished. I'm finally finished.... So I guess it's time to buy a Dayzee. lol
Thanks as always Randy. Were those Philharmonic speaks sitting on paper towels? I guess if speakers are only $380 pr, setup budget not super….involved. Go grab a white napkin from the kitchen, lol. (Clearly just focusing on the negative in jest)
Well, I'd say a system at or under $1500 with a DAC, a TT, Cartridge, Speakers, integrated Amp would be my want for Granddaughter. Oh, and with Streaming abilities. Oh, again if you run into Crazy Lenny and Zeos give a shout out for me big fans and regularly talk to Lenny.
Umm... no english audio? Started out with Japanese audio, switched to Spanish, then Italian, then back to Japanese. Had no idea UA-cam has selectable audio tracks in the works. Watching in German, as I can mostly understand it, haha.
I see issues with language change and weird soundtrack? FYI mine played just fine. I’m usually the one that kind of stuff happens to, but not this time.
I need expert help!!! How can I reach you? I’m trying connect sub to my denon receiver and it’s been a shitshow. I’m a drummer so I SHOULD have an easier time considering I know interfaces setups. NOPE!!! I’m about to throw everything out a second story window. Can you help me? My Denon has one output for sub but my subs have 2…. X 2 for each woofer. I’m losing my mind here for 3 days 🤬😤😭
Randy is getting a whole new generation into audiophile systems without killing our wallets. Amazing work he’s doing.
Yes! Love it.. And still people whine and moan when he from time to time rewievs something that is"not dirt cheap". Cheap am for president! But yeah.. 🇸🇪
@@a.j9645 What the heck is "cheap" anyhow. Randy covers it top to bottom. Some people think only $50 is cheap - others $2K is cheap. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Such a cool video Randy. Thanks for introducing everyone.
Asking Zeos Pantera what he loves- he loves all the things!
He loves Dan Da Dan 😄
Its actually pretty funny too.
Holy cow! That was the first time I saw his face. *shock* *wham* *kapow* !
Randy is the best! Introducing fellow UA-camrs and the great Michael Lavorgna of Twittering Machines - while also putting together two $1500 show systems. Bravo! One other “cheap” but great sounding speaker was the Chesky Audio bookshelf.
I have an AXR100 for my basement system and it is great. You have to step up quite a bit in price to get better.
Loved the smallish Philharmonic monitors with the SB ceramic woofer and the AMT tweeter. Gonna have to get with a collaborator and engineer a DIY version of that honey. Gotta be a winner.
Prototypes according to their AVS forum thread - will be interesting to see if they bring them to production or not.
@@richstessman1213 yea, those BMR monitors for under $2k were amazing.
@@elshaddaiedwards I found the product here: Philharmonic Audio - True Mini, and it looks like it's officially moved into production. It even received a positive review from Randy in 2023, which you can check out here. Excited to see how it stacks up against the prototypes discussed on the AVS forum thread!
@@henrylin9990 that's a different speaker. I have the true Minis. The wood grain ones with the AMT ribbon tweeter are the new prototypes.
Thanks for sharing your experience and kudos for taking the stairs. Get those steps in! The downside of our hobby is too much sitting.
The local DC area audiophile club had a room on I believe the 6th floor and were demoing a $299 speaker called the Vera-Fi Vanguard Scout Monitors... They were really, really good! Smooth, great mids, imaged really well. Had enough extension on the top. Price is right up your alley!
Randy The Philharmonic BMR speaker. I think you will like them $ 3500.00 Speakers for $ 1800- 2200 depending on the finish Soundstanging, Imaging,Bass, Resolution etc of Much expensive
Seeing these prices make me appreciate my vintage system all the more. 1980s JVC AX3, KEF C45, Pioneer CD player for $150. I optioned for a Google Audio for endless music. Couldnt be happier.
Nice. The best thing about this video is that you know it is all about community not self. That is the best trait to have.
What were those speakers you showed at the end of the video? Can we hear more about them?
Eastern Bay Sound Southwind (website listed in video).
@ Thanks!
Always enjoy the romps through the rooms.
It was great to meet you, however briefly. You were getting into a car on Saturday when my friends and I spotted you. Love the channel, and as I mentioned, I had never heard of Wiim or Emotiva until your channel. Very happy with both products I bought from them. Keep up the good work.
Great video, I just came from the show and that’s quite a feat to put together a budget system for under $1500, considering that most the wares were quite expensive.
This is the kind of shopping i can appreciate.
Since Moukey M20-3 bookshelf speakers aren't available anymore. Last night on Amazon I ordered a pair of Goldwood Sound DPI-60B 3 Way bookshelf speakers. I hope to have them by next Saturday.
I am really excited to finally buy them. 1 pair of 25' RCA speaker wire cost $40.00 which is $12.00 less than the speakers.
I also bought a set of Subwoofer isolation pads.
My room for A/V equipment will be so much better by the end of the month.
Was great to see Zeos hes another legend in audio. He Randy and many more pointed me toward the SVS altra book shelf speakers and im having so much fun with them playing all sorts of genre music through these babys. All i need is the center channel. Mite get the prime center the ultra is out of reach for me. Im sure i’ll still be happy with it. Love ya channel Randy its my fave on youtube. As soon as you put one out im like i gotta watch this man 🤓
It was a pleasure meeting today! Thanks for some awesome content for the train ride home. ❤
Once these tariffs start... this budget shopping exercise will get A LOT harder.
The tariffs never stopped on China, research man.
@tothemax324 I'm not just talking about imports from China.
Play fair and you won’t get tariffs.
@Nel33147 That is not what they plan on doing. It's a tariff on all imported items. All. Almost everything uses all or some imported parts.
Plus, you have no idea how tariffs work. The country penalized doesn't feel the pain. WE do because the costs are passed on to the consumer in the form of much higher prices. Cars. Computers. Electronics. Speakers. You name it.
Economic strife and trade imbalances can start to occur. Couple this with mass deportations and you have a recipe for an economic collapse.
@dan_hitchman007 he'll get talked out of that move for those very reasons. He's not going to try and cripple the people. Not when he wants to go independent on oil. He wants to sell it. He can't have it both ways.
That’s Zeos Pantera? Z Reviews? Steven Ciofalo? No way! Couldn’t be! He didn’t drop 250 F-Bombs in the 15 seconds he spoke in your video. IMPOSTER!!!
Thanks for the coverage Randy.
Two great UA-camrs! And Steve! Where’s Old Guy Hifi?!
Technically, I managed to buy a £1500 setup, with speaker, integrated amplifier, cd player/streamer combo. So Roksan K3, that came with a set of Focal Chora 816 speakers, which combined cost me £999, and then, I added an Arcam CDS50 CD/streamer for £449.10, and then £5.99 for the Mconnect app, to replace the Arcam musiclife app, which doesn't work. Everything was based around clearance stuff (I did buy the Arcam CSD50 7 months after the Roksan/Focal deal).
Unfortunately, I have never used the setup, as I decided to sell the Chora 816, and instead got a pair of Focal K2 Aria 926, which was on sale for £1499 (they then went down to £1199, a couple of months later). These, speakers/amp combination added a bit more bass, and do not have the normal Focal treble. Then finally, I added a set of ISOaccoustic Gia 2 feet, which tightened up the sound, particularly the bass, and gave better separation.
Good seeing you bro!
Love to see the joy from all the people. Thanks for sharing, Randy.
Wish I could be around to hang out too =) Cheers!!
Ohhhhhh!!!!! That’s Zeoz!!!!??? Maaaaaan!!!! IDK why is so cool to finally see his face? Maaaan lol -
Very fun video, Randy! Many audiophiles doing a challenge like this would be trying to add a zero to the end of the challenge cost and to each of those prices and would still be sweatin' it! lol
1 Hiby R4 DAP, $250 door to door.
1 pair Blue Jeans LC1 RCA interconnects, $45
1 Audioquest 3.5mm to RCA adapter, $30
1 SMSL AO 300 all-in-one integrated amplifier, $285 door to door.
1 Pair PSB Alpha T20 Minitowers, $650
1 Pair Fyne Audio F301i stand-mounts, $300.
1 Pair home-made speaker stands, $100.
Total: $1660, and you've got two completely different systems to switch back-and-forth between every two weeks, so you never get the bug to upgrade.
It's utterly ridiculous that anybody would say, in 2024, that it's not possible to build a good-sounding system for $1500. It has literally never been easier, and the resulting system has never sounded better.
Randy,
All of a sudden we got your video with Portuguese voice over as option. Did you request UA-cam to have it in your channel?
Great vid. Thanks for featuring US products partic Black Ice (knowing you’re not into tubes and all..). They make great stuff. I did not hear the little speakers you found but I did do the Geshelli headphone comparison demo they had set up. The unit with the sparkos was incredible, best sound I had ever heard thru cans (I much prefer speakers…). I don’t have much use for the really high end stuff, but I have always had lust in my heart for a pair of Magnepans…
Not that its s big desl but note -Black ice not actually manufactured in usa
@ Black Ice is a US company with products conceived and designed in the US. Some of their products are US manufactured in MD, others are manufactured to strict quality standards under contract with US and international manufacturing/assembly companies. Not sure what your point is? These are US products by any definition, and the US needs more small mold-breakers like Back Ice (as do all countries!)
@ Black Ice is a US company with products conceived and designed in the US. Some of their products are US manufactured in MD, others are manufactured to strict quality standards under contract with US and international manufacturing/assembly companies. Not sure what your point is? These are US products by any definition, and the US needs more small mold-breakers like Back Ice (as do all countries!)
Got issues with Cambridge DACs. They randomly shut down for no reason. Tried replacing the cheap ass wall warts but it didn't help. Makes me hesitant to look at their other products.
If the axr 100 is reviewed I would be very interested in seeing how it performs with hard to drive/power hungry speakers.
Thanks for the interesting show coverage!
RANDY ! Did You ask the Makers of the Speakers You chose, what specific AMP they recommend for those same Speakers ? btw - What Amp were They using at the Show ?
Your best video in a long time.💥👍
Nice. I was there yesterday.
Ok, I am shocked and impressed that you found the Geshelli, Black Ice, Philharmonic for under $1500.
Now be honest... Black Ice vs Fossi? Not a true apples to apples... but which sounds better for small room listening?
Ps the True Mini s are a" Gangsta". Punch wat high above their cost👍👍👍👍
What was the streamer (big screen) from 06:37 in the black ice audio room?
What was Z's tube amp stated, XT0266? Who makes that? Thanks Randy.
xduoo ta-66
The last piece of my HiFi system is being delivered today (a 2nd SVS SB-16 Ultra w/ black oak veneer). I'm finished. I'm finally finished....
So I guess it's time to buy a Dayzee.
lol
I luv it ❤ 🎉. Best CAF review, shot from the hip! Rock the Octopus!
Wearing that backpack, I thought this was a Ghostbusters video at first?
I love my Q Acoustics M20 HD's Great sound IMO at all levels...and don't brake the bank at all. I know those are active one's but they sound awesome!
Randy you're a top bloke all the very best UK.
Not important to me but was correcting his misunderstanding of which city the product is manufactured in
Nicely done, what is that tune you’re playing??
Thanks as always Randy. Were those Philharmonic speaks sitting on paper towels? I guess if speakers are only $380 pr, setup budget not super….involved. Go grab a white napkin from the kitchen, lol. (Clearly just focusing on the negative in jest)
Well, I'd say a system at or under $1500 with a DAC, a TT, Cartridge, Speakers, integrated Amp would be my want for Granddaughter. Oh, and with Streaming abilities. Oh, again if you run into Crazy Lenny and Zeos give a shout out for me big fans and regularly talk to Lenny.
Peachtree Audio Carina 150 Recertified. Polk ES20. Boom!
Well done...
Umm... no english audio? Started out with Japanese audio, switched to Spanish, then Italian, then back to Japanese. Had no idea UA-cam has selectable audio tracks in the works. Watching in German, as I can mostly understand it, haha.
Lenny (spelling?) is from CC Top! 😂
can someone please explain to me how an old jvc system from 1998 could sound better than anything I've heard lately?
I see issues with language change and weird soundtrack? FYI mine played just fine. I’m usually the one that kind of stuff happens to, but not this time.
I'm so confused. I... I thought Zeos's face was a camera?
HA. Z looks exactly like I pictured him.
I do not find English version.
When I click the video it is in Portuguese. Very odd.
I’m getting German 😂
@ I tried it again and it started in English and then switched back to Portuguese. lol.
I'm in Italy and it's translated, very oddly, into Italian
@@giannirainero I am in Canada, so I could see French, but this is odd.
Cee Senoir
Can we do the same video in 2025 with new import tariffs?
U can read the room. That’s why u r growing. Some others - not so much
I need expert help!!! How can I reach you? I’m trying connect sub to my denon receiver and it’s been a shitshow. I’m a drummer so I SHOULD have an easier time considering I know interfaces setups. NOPE!!! I’m about to throw everything out a second story window. Can you help me?
My Denon has one output for sub but my subs have 2…. X 2 for each woofer. I’m losing my mind here for 3 days 🤬😤😭
I never knew what Z looked like until now 😂
Allways nice listening to old,tonedeaf and outdated hifi farts!
Indonesian audio track? What's going on?
It's a matter of time. Other tracks are being added. The original just appeared. Have fun!
under 1500 minus taxes lol
Why do audiophile shows show case their stuff with sassy music 😅😂
hi Randy U lost waight 🤷🏻♂️
I can see a dilemma if you bought any of that gear as it wouldn't play music as no source. No CD, No Streamer and No Turntable..
Didn't the DAC have Bluetooth? Phone is the source.
Cheap took a shower before the show..
Seriously?
We don't use that kind of language in my house young man ;)
When I click the video it’s all in French.
$1400 for a 12 watt system? How many people would buy that?
Why is all the audio Spanish ?? WTH ?
How about no one talks about clearing the ears of wax
Why is this in German?
Mine was too. Reloaded it and now in English.
Spanish (United States) for me.
On my phone app English, TV app no bueno.
@@JohnVander70 New function in UA-cam. In the video - select the gear wheel (settings) - Audio track - English U.S. (Original)
Foreign language audio dude for some reason. I see I'm not the only one.....Edit: fixed
Aargh!! Halfway through doing micro-skips, and the music is too much the wobbly parts - and that awful sucking and swooping compression!
jus' sayin'
I love Zoe’s . His preferred sound isn’t mine but he has sold me all my headphones from his great reviews
In German
wtf wtih ai translation
So much gray hair. :-/
Chasing the best sound is daunting
Is that a new speaker from Philharmonics?
First🤣