The best $500 or a lot less complete budget audio systems
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- FIRST PICK YOUR SPEAKER
ALL PRICES PER PAIR
The $47 Dayton Audio B652 Air speakers, read my CNET review, www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...
$90 Pioneer SP-BS22-LR, on Amazon www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-BS2...
$229 Emotiva B1, read the CNET review www.cnet.com/reviews/emotiva-...
$200 JBL Stage A130, read my CNET review www.cnet.com/news/jbls-pint-s...
$125 Klipsch R-51M, read my CNET review, www.cnet.com/reviews/klipsch-...
$229 ELAC Debut B6.2, read the CNET review www.cnet.com/reviews/elac-deb...
$255 Q Acoustics 3020i, read the CNET review www.cnet.com/reviews/q-acoust...
Klipsch R100SW SUBWOOFER single price is $175, www.klipsch.com/products/r-10...
Sorry, the R100SW won't work with the Onkyo or Yamaha receivers, but the Dayton Audio SUB1000 will, it's $120 on Amazon, www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-S...
$219 Audioengine A2+ powered speakers, with these there's no need to also buy an amp or receiver, the CNET review www.cnet.com/reviews/audioeng...
NEXT, PICK YOUR ELECTRONICS
$80 Dayton Audio DTA 2.1 BT2 integrated amp, www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-D...
$119 Onkyo TX 8020 stereo receiver, read my CNET review www.cnet.com/news/is-a-stereo...
$130 Yamaha R-S202 stereo receiver, read my CNET review www.cnet.com/news/this-149-ya...
$129 Schiit Mani phono pre, www.schiit.com/products/mani
$99 Schiit Modi digital converter, www.schiit.com/products/modi-1
INTO ANALOG? PICK YOUR TURNTABLE
$100 Audio Technica AT-LP60, read my CNET review www.cnet.com/reviews/audio-te...
$200 Fluance RT80, www.fluance.com/rt80-high-fid...
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Steve is an audiophile.
Steve is not a snobby audiophile.
Steve is a good audiophile.
Be like steve.
Very well said
I like steve.
cant. not. be. snobby
People like Steve make UA-cam look good.
- Steve is a True _REFERENCE_ of an *AUDIOPHILE.*
Steve I think you are really good guy, you're one of the audiophiles that are respectful and understand different budgets.
except he'll tell you that expensive cables are NOT snakeoil lmao
@@colin7moon they aren't, to a certain extent...
CS: GOPNIK agree i dont believe that cable is better sounding or worse but it certain changes things
Yes I dislike snobby audiophiles who just look down on lesser systems than their own best. You need to be open-minded in this game.
I agree. You could imagine that buying from this guy in a store would be a thoroughly pleasant and rewarding experience.
For people just getting into this stuff, recommendations like this are invaluable. Thank you so much, Steve, for helping so many along the way.
Thanks for being who you are! 💖 Caring Audiophile sharing his precious experiences with us without looking down upon those who can't afford the most expensive.
Thanks you for sharing your knowledge. A lot of work have gone into this list.
Love love love this video! Look forward to the next ones where you raise the price the little bit.
I love, love, love this series idea. This is what I've been waiting for! Thank you!
I think Steve has done some things like this on CNET in years past, too. I always look forward to his comments.
If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time you include images of the components you are talking about. Great work!
Thanks, but I've been doing for a couple of weeks on videos where it makes sense..
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac the pictures of the equipment really help including the prices and websites the best
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac You have a great chanel , its needed for some videos, you can put custom subtitles
I wish he kept the image of what he was talking about up for longer. Makes it easier to keep track of what he's talking about from moment to moment...
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Steve, do you favor bi-wiring for speakers ?
Thank you so much Steve. you have no idea how great idea this is. will help many people. Great if we could see your thoughts on 1k, 2k, 4k systems.
Also 10-20k and money no object just because.
You're really stepping it up Steve. First off with the fascinating insights into recording with Engineer Alex and now this series. Strong work!
Awesome recommendations! Keep them coming. Thank you for this worthwhile list.
This by far is a great video to get people into audio gear.
More like: need to upgrade right out the box. The way to start is...used market.
Thank you Steve for this valuable information! Just what I was looking for for our 3 season Room/Sun Room coffee corner. Perfect!!
Hey man, I'm starting to learn about the audiophile world. I liked your vibe, cheers!
Thank you for this video. I really appreciate budget options.
I showed this to all my friends! Thanks Steve!
I bought my Elac Debut B6.2 speakers thanks to your earlier video, Steve. Never regretted that :)
I like the original B6 better.
I was thinking of upgrading my jbl powered monitors for the elacs, in new to audio equipment but which did you use to drive the elacs?
I need to acquire these SOON
I bought them based on his review of them and he said that they pair nicely with his NAD B316BEE which I own as well. Guess what he's right! Much more detailed than my previous speakers. I wish they had a bit more base but I can't turn my system too loud anyways.
I can't wait to start my journey into HI-FI music and this video helps a lot. Thanks
I went with the Dayton Audio blue tooth amp and speakers. Love it! thanks for the advice and info.
Hats off for not skipping over theses very impressive ,yet very affordable components !
Nice to see someone as famous as you in the audio world show people they can get a really nice little system for not a lot of money.
A friend saw my dads old McIntosh amps and Klipsch horns & LaScalla's and said to me "oh your an audiophile"
Pleas dont call me that I said,
I just dig great music and like it to sound as good ss possible to MY ears..that's it.
Really liked this type of video. Looking forward to the $1000 system version
STEP ONE:
Go to Salvation Army or Goodwill and buy a used receiver. Wait until you find a good one at a good price. You can find an old Kenwood or Yamaha for $15 sometimes... Wednesday is half price.
STEP 2: If you're lucky you can also find good speakers there. I got some Infinity Reference 6.5" bookshelf speakers to go with my used receiver. I think I paid $30ish for them.
If you just can't find any used speakers for cheap, try something like a 6.5" round JBL coaxial car speaker. I think a pair will be $75-$150. Good sound and excellent stereo imaging (which is most important for 'audiophile' purposes). Slap them in a premade cabinet, or whatever.
I happen to own a pair of speakers that were $2,000 each but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the sport of putting together a good system for the lowest price possible.
My best was $22. $15 for a used Yamaha receiver and $7 for a pair of very decent bookshelf speakers. It would take about $400 to match or beat that system if you bought new stuff at a store.
The secret is that you're doing the shipping and handling labor, by driving down to Goodwill. Shipping is the killer that makes ebay more expensive.
Very very helpful. Need more like this. Thank you.
Great video Steve! Hilariously this really spoke to me because I have the Andrew jones pioneer full set up surround speakers, Audio Technica turntable you mentioned and the mani and Modi. I've also had good luck with used Sony CD players on eBay. Glad to know my research over the last year has accidentally paid off with some great products! Looking forward to the next video so I can keep an eye out on some things to upgrade to
Great video. All the options are nice. I got the Klipsch bookshelf/subwoofer combination for $300. Good full range sound; and amazing value.
I love this guy he’s honest always has a variety of audio stuff and comparable models. Keep up the good work and the good vibes !!!
This is absolutely great and is much needed in this hobby of ours to bring more people in. Keep this up Steve.
Always love hearing your thoughts on things Steve. I've been following your for many years and, well, I guess that says it all. Thanks for this "affordable audiophile" overview.
Great video idea, Steve! We need more future audiophiles in the hobby and the idea of offering many choices that in various combinations could work for a price point. This has to be one of your best thoughts for a video. I can't wait to see the $1k, $2k $3k, $5k $10K system ideas. It's a lot of work to put together, but well worth helping newbies get in and grow in the audio hobby. I personally think that investing in music is one of life's greatest pleasures. Especially in today's crazy world, relaxing to your favorite music that sounds good, in your own home - for me it's the best pastime.
Steve, thank you for your video "consultations!" After the divorce and a move into a small condo, the K-horns and tube amps ended up in the garage - so sad. But I have found a $500 dollar system that makes my small space sing! From your short review on the Dayton Audio MK442T loudspeakers, I jumped on a pair on a special. Not the highest resolution around, but warm and lively. It has enough bass to satisfy without pulsing through the walls to annoy my neighbors. In one of your videos you recommended trying something new as apposed to "leveling up" with more of the same type of gear. So what's the opposite of my beloved 7 Watt 300B SET amp? An open box special crown SLX 1002 power amp - 350 watts a side to power those slender tower speakers. They were also featured in one of your guest presentation videos. Rounding out the gear is an inexpensive (found on Jeff's Online Emporium) DAC/Pre/Bluetooth box as an input (with happy little tubes sticking out of the top). The "system" sounds great - thanks again for the advice.
Thank you.. i want to start getting in audio equipment these videos very very helpful
Thanks for sharing this! I enjoyed it as much as I learned from it! Keep it coming! All the best!
Great idea! Can't wait for your $3000 System recommendations!
In the eighties, AIWA was still a thing. One day I walked past a electrical store they had a AiWA mini stereo playing some music, the stereo imaging was stunningly good. In those days I visited a lot of showrooms for speakers, the most impressive ones were Tannoy, some theaters in Hong Kong also use giant Tannoy speakers but that AIWA mini stereo was really impressive. The main part of the stereo was no bigger than the iPad display.
I got one of those mini Aiwas and I absolutely loved it. My daughter filled the speakers with coins and shorted out everything.
Thanks for your cornucopia of knowledge. I'm a fairly new subscriber and I have been nerding out on your videos. Keep up the outstanding work.
i genuinely enjoyed watching this video and this is the first video i’ve watched of yours! keep up the good work!
Amazing video Steve! Its great to see audiophiles such as you recommending budget speakers like these. Its great because people from third world countries can get into the hobbie without sacrificing all their money (because shit is expensive here, i tell you)
Currently using a pair of BS22LR with the Yamaha R-S202 receiver, great combination, love it!
My set up is composed of a 35 year old Harmon Kardon RECEIVER, EPI speakers and a technics turntable and a Sony CD player and a Panasonic duel cassette player. Vintage yes, and sounds amazing still.
Stevespecs Absolutely. You don’t have to chase the latest “improvement” as so many do. When I was in grad school I managed to buy an NAD tuner amp pair, Polk 10A speakers, and a Dual turntable. I added a good CD player many years later, and I’m still using them.
Steve, you're my favorite audiophile on UA-cam. I really enjoy your cheerfulness and sincere enthusiasm about all things audio, and it's clear that you want to help others with your knowledge. Thanks for another great video!
Andrew Boush mine too. He is so sweet! Great taste.
Just came across this video! I was into medium high end audio for 30 years! Spent loads trying to find perfection! Ended up listening to imperfections rather than the music!
Ended up selling it all a few years ago but really miss one of my only pleasures in life!
I love your style and will be working my way through your videos 👍
Subscribed!
Looking forward to buying a lower end system as money is an option these days!
Thanks again for your effort in making these videos.
Barry
This is perfect video to help with a cheap decent setup for that family member or friend that always showed a little bit of interest in audio.
Please do this for dac/headphone amp combos.
Thanks for the list and links, nice picks!
this is so incredibly helpful thank you !!!
Funny, I like it already, from your "...This is going to be good!'
I love the fact that you tried super hi fi system and you are still able to appreciate a good cheap system
Thank you so much for this video! Excellent info and many choices for any budget!
Thank you Sir. This kind of advice was exactly what i was looking for.
This was easily one of my favorite video and I am really looking forward to seeing this series continue. I noticed that the Micca speakers weren't on your list, curious as to why. Regardless, please keep these coming, as they are extremely helpful and informative.
I absolutely love my Elac B6.2. Paired to a NAD C326BEE amp. Great setup. I also have the Pioneer BS22. Absolutely wicked speakers!
brydon10 which speakers between those two do you recommend? Would you change the amp or are you happy with it?
@@reinaldobravo9462 The amp is amazing, I have no plans of changing it. The B6.2 are the better speaker, but they are big so make sure you have good stands.
Good to see the audio engine stuff getting a look in. Managed to pick up some A5s for an absolute steal and paired with an airplay receiver. Sounds and looks great in my living room! Agree that they are very forgiving and listenable.
Thanks, Steve. One of your best videos ever!
Thanks, Steve. I like how you don't have brand snobbery.
Just source snobbery!👍
Many thanks for this. Too many audiophiles go only for obscenely expensive gear.
This is the best video Steve has made because these products apply to me. Thank you so much!
Interesting you would publish this today. After much research, this week I'm planning to buy the Elac Debut B6.2 speakers and the Yamaha receiver you mentioned. You've confirmed the wisdom of my choices. Although I could spend more, those components should completely satisfy my needs now. Thanks much!!
This is heaven. As I have always maintained - it is all about music first and music last. Given that, a little search will always get you heaven within your constraints of hearing bias and budget and space and availability and serviceability.
This hobby is as much about gear as it is about the music. If it's only about the music then you're just a music lover. Who doesn't like music? There is an appreciation for the design and craftsmanship of the gear.
First time checking out this channel. I walked into Best Buy and asked if they carry Shit Manny and got a lot of confused looks.
You trying to do a Klip-Schitt setup? 😅
Most Best Buy employees have no clue about audio components, the best they could do is to read the label off the box, they know very little about Hi-End audio electronics or any other electronics for that matter, the majority of people who work at Best Buy are not professional sales people.
I love these videos! Thank you
Thank you Steve, this video is a gem for us non-Audiophiles music aficionados
Great job Steve, down to earth, real world prices for those wanting to take their first steps into the world of the audiophile. We will both be criticized for using the word audiophile for such inexpensive gear, but you've got to start somewhere. A lot of young people have not experienced the loudspeaker yet. They want to Bluetooth the music library held on their phones, so be it, believe me they will grow.
Gerald Wilson got my first setup out of the trash. 2 12 in wolfers, 2 surround 8in, 2 6x9's, 2 bull horn tweets, one Pioneer receiver at the cost of carrying it home. Got a few years out of it before the whole thing quit.
Unlike so many ‘experts’ in audio, you know your stuff, and are able to put yourself in your viewers’ position.
Fantastic that you put all this knowledge in one place for us beginners. Thanks man!
Excellent guide, thank you from an audiophile newbie!
Being an ex sound engineer and having had a recording studio before and set up many sound systems and been a dj since 1993 I can say the best, cheap'ish way to have good sound is to get yourself a pair of studio monitors like say the JBL 306P mkII and then buy some acoustic foam to put on your walls and use speaker stands that you can fill with sand using gaffa tap to seal any holes in the stands and put acoustic foam underneath the studio monitors to absorb resonance. You can easily get some thin strips of wood and some material the same colour as your walls and you simply put the wood around each foam tile and then cut the material to stretch over each tile and then staple the fabric to the wood strips at the side of each tile kind of encasing each tile in a wooden frame. Then you use no nails or something to secure the wooden frames to your wall. Then you'll have less sound reflections within your room increasing stereo image and sound quality and the aesthetic impact of the foam panels will be very minimal thanks to the material covering them which is the same as your wall colour. There is no better way to get an accurate representation of how the artists who made the tracks you listen to wanted their tracks to sound than using acoustic treatment and good quality studio monitors. Many audiophiles think they know a lot about sound but know very little and many items such as phono cables and power cables costing hundreds or thousands of pounds or dollars are nothing more than a waste of money and manufacturers know most people who buy them will be tricked into thinking their audio system sounds better when it doesn't. It's called the placebo affect. Do a blind test and you won't notice any difference between a pair of say Van Damme phono cables costing £30 to a pair of cables costing £2,000.
Great Start to what I think will be a great series, my plan is to get something low cost to start with I want to go with vinyl as my source. if I have something low cost to start out with and it be complete I will save each month until I can afford to replace a piece. as I live on a fixed income I am looking at this as my finished stereo system.
Fluance RT84
Nagaoka MP 110 Cartridge
Schiit audio
MANI
VIDAR
FREYA +
Magneplanar LRS
this is my end goal for a dream system that I can save for
Thanx Steve, appreciate this video too, I ll be able to refer people to this when they ask me about putting a good budget system together
Thanks for your reviews Steve, you obviously put a lot of careful research into it, it's great to get the inside scoop on audio stuff!! :)
Great start of a series for hitting price points. I would not hesitate in suggesting Schiit Audio and Elac gear to anyone starting/restarting a system.
Great suggestions for our budget minded music loving friends.
Cheap fix if you can't stand the sound of a friend's system. Wedding gifts?!
Thank you!
Samsung sound bar. Easy to use and set up and if plug a chrom cast then you can use tidel to get great music out of it. And the wife will like it to. I use one don't even need the remote
@@koenigsforst_ fair enough. I will last week I just built a new low end sound system. Hahaha
Carlito Melon I bought my friend a pair of A2’s, couldn’t stand shooting darts at his house listening to music via built in laptop speakers.
Wonderful video. Thanks for the advice!
Thank you so much for this video! Looking forward to the $1,000 video next!
PLEASE! PLEASE! Steve, get those records on that top shelf vertical.
I'm dying here!
Dennis Bohner who cares
@@MichelLinschoten I agree, why does it matter, I don't get it.
Lloyd Hudson, because it's not recommended to store records horizontally, as it can cause your records to warp.
I did that once with a small pile of my own albums a long while back. Bad mistake. Never again.
gotta save this for when I finally get my own place
I’m astonished how affordable equipment money can buy that also sounds good! I’m looking for new speakers and your video definitely helped me on the way, thanks!
Now this is a really great video. Thank you!!!
One of my many "hobbies" is answering people's questions on Quora, for topics I know stuff about. Audiophile on a budget comes up seemingly once a month. Going to simply link to this video, a better answer than I can come up with on my own.
That's actually pretty cool. May I suggest you also take a look at this video from my favourite European reviewer, John Darko? ua-cam.com/video/co_rYIfpfmA/v-deo.html
This is great.i may invest in bedroom system
Great video, Steve! If this video had been around before I built up my current system, I bet I could have built up something for a lot less money and, honestly, I'd be happy. I like your selections here.
Love your videos have learned so much best audiophile channel on UA-cam 😀
I love your hair! And glasses! And shirt! I guess you are just awesome in general!
I remember when $15 bought you a hit of acid and a ticket to a Hendrix concert..
The 1st time I saw the Jimi Hendrix Experience was at MSG, NYC in 1968. Somebody slipped him some acid. He played on the revolving stage and many people were photographing with flash bulbs. He kept asking people to stop with the flash bulbs. He could not play. LSD is a very dangerous drug that has destroyed many lives. It was a real bummer and a bad trip for Jimi. He walked off the stage in 20 minutes. I remember Scott Muny of WNEW-Fm introducing the experience. He was wearing a Nehru suit with a big gold chain and medallion over his neck.
steve paul crazy
@@Peter-ff1tp Not true at all. Long term harmful effects are indeed pretty bad. Flashbacks, schizo, and more after taking these drugs long term.
Wow, this turned into a bummer fast. Maybe it would have been better if Columbus hadn’t experimented with the edge of the earth but it worked out for him.
Michael i used to think psychedelics are not harmful and all these people saying acid give u different perspective of life once you take it made me want to take it even more and I did. Guess what? I am currently experiencing hallucinating perception perceiving disorder. I had never abused any drug and just one try with acid, I am fucked. I do understand there are tons of people abused shit out of psych and never experience any visual abnormalities but there’s def alarming number of people suffer from non disappearing visual issues. I wish i never touched lsd.
Awesome video, thank you for this 🙏
Thanks steve that's what I was asking for much appreciated.
Steve, would love to see a tour of your apartment!
A tour of his t-shirt drawer would suffice, I think.
Fantastic premise - missing only a disc player (CD/BR) recommendation (I'm probably not going back to vinyl. In the meantime, I'll use my Sony Blu-ray or my Mac.
I’m afraid my subwoofer would skip an LP. 😜
Your sony bluray will sound just as good as any CD player.
Great and helpful video. I really appreciate it. Thank you!
Wonderful video, great suggestions. Some of these can be put together for a budget desktop system or basement/workshop/garage system if you already have a primary set up.
Yes!
Hifi for everyone:)
hey Steve! can we update this video with 2022/2023 products?
Steve, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.
Good video. So glad to see someone who like to give solid advice for people on small budgets.
Hey Steve, would you mind doing an updated version of this video? perhaps there are new speakers and electronics to consider.
Nope.. vintage or bust
When I think audiophile, I think of this guy.
❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍
OMG this is exactly what we needed I personally will go for the $2000 plus system but you covered every price range especially for 500 or less you cannot beat it so looking forward for more great job Steve
👍👍👌👌😎😎😘😘
#theaudiophiliac
Thanks Steve! Great delivery of easily digestible Audio information. Based on your advice I bought the Andrew Jones Pioneers SP BS22 LR, the Audio Technica AT-LP60 Turntable, the Schiit Mani and the Yamaha R-S202! Very happy with my budget system spinning some Velvet Underground 'Loaded' and Dire Straits 'Making Movies' this afternoon! Be like Steve!
Alternatively, buy used vintage gear - there are fantastic bargains to be had if you're patient. I recently picked up a Panasonic SL-H350 (re-badged Technics SL-3) linear tracking turntable for £25 ($32) via eBay - didn't even need a new belt or stylus. Trio/Kenwood and Hitachi made some very nice amps and receivers circa 1980, which can be found for under $100, and Technics' sweet little aluminium-cased SB-F1 speakers often go for about the same.
Yup. I just got off eBay a Dynaudio EMIT M10 bookshelves for $425.00 in mint condition... MSRP $799.00
I just bought a pair a Paradigm Monitor bookshelves with A Polk sub for $50. Before that, I put together a great system with a thrift store find (Yamaha rs300 $20), a Schiit Modi, and Dali Zensor 3 speakers. That system costed me $550. Using a desktop as a source streaming Tidal. It sounds great. I'm so glad I didn't listen to the people on the forums saying I had to spend thousands to get good sound.
@@bigdallyc Yep, the forums can be helpful or harmful. There's a huge forum on vintage planar magnetic headphones which is heavily skewed towards modding. So glad I didn't listen to them moaning about the tonal 'faults' of the Yamaha HP50 and Audio Technica ATH-2, which I picked up for less than £50 for the pair!
I still can't believe nobody gives the NHT Super bookshelves any credit for being a great budget line brand. Specifically the SuperZero 2.1 and SuperOne 2.1. Both for under $100 a speaker on Amazon and will compete with any of the budget line speakers mentioned here.
The video would have to be 2-3 times longer if Steve included all the possible choices. Plus these recommendations are all ones that he's personally familiar with...
@@geoffreybritain8878 I understand that but all these audio channels seem to parrot one another and review the same speakers and make the same recommendations. How about throwing some NHT's in there or some Ascend Acoustics but I understand marketing and pay for play.
Mike Dinno This where you come in. Setup a video and kindly give us a review. I will subscribe. 🙏🏾
Great speakers! NHT SuperOne! I have seen no reviews of the C1!
I used to sell NHT and I especially like the older, Ken Kantor era speakers (before the Recoton and Jensen eras). With shipping factored in, those older Super Zeros sell for around $100 on eBay, and the older Super Ones sell for around $200. I know of no better speakers for the money.
What I needed!!! Thanks!!!
Great how you are giving such big attention to budget audio. Where the folks are. Love it.