What do you consider to be a minimal audiophile grade system?

[JLM]

I was thinking more in terms of total cost and basic specifications. 

Could include headphone systems, probably should include some sort of room criteria for conventional speaker based systems, but I'd vote desk top systems off the island.

I raise the issue because its so easy for audio to become all but impossible for newbies to approach.

I've not heard the AudioEngine A5 powered speakers, but I'd suggest a minimal system to include them with an Oppo DVD player (has a good digital volume control), crates/boxes for stands, and decent interconnects.  Done for south of $1,000 USD.

Srajan years ago recommended an Eastern Electric CDP with headphones.  Done for south of $2,000 USD.

Any other ideas?

[bpape]

Hard to say.  To me, an audiophile is someone who is in pursuit of excellent sound reproduction and loves music (that sounds like music).  That may sound like an absolute but it's also relative.  For someone who has only ever had an HTIB or a small Bose system or whatever, something like:

Ascend 170's
NAD Integrated
Oppo BDP-83

Will sound WORLDS better than what they're used to.  It will image decently if set up properly in the room.  Decent bass extension as long as you're not trying to fill 3000 cubic feet, etc.

Would I personally consider that an audiophile system?  Not for me, but it could be a lot worse.  For the person I described above, sure.

Bryan

[mdconnelly]

I think the cheapest entry into damn nice sounding tunes is with computer based audio and a pair of powered speakers like the AudioEngine A5s or similar.  Step up by adding an outboard DAC (e.g. MusicStreamer+) or possibly wait for the new Logitech Squeezebox Touch.

 It is amazing what is now possible at the entry level!   I got my daughter a pair of A2s for her dorm and she's loving it!

[Bigfish8]

We all have opinions and personal tastes of how we want music to sound.  I think a minimal audiophile grade system is any system that hooks a person into the Nervosa of this hobby.  Basically, the never ending pursuit (admit it or not) of wanting to experiment with new gear to "improve" on the quality of sound produced from our systems.  After all, what gives any of us the knowledge to classify someones system as "audiophile grade."  A certain system might not be our personal "cup of tea" but it might make its owner very happy and in the end listening to music is what it is all about. 

Ken

[mdconnelly]

I do know quite a few folks that take great pride in their music system, but if I see speakers on shelves, or shoved in the corners, or in the walls or ceiling, I don't think of them as audiophiles.  Music lovers, yes, but they have successfully avoided the nervosa often associated with this hobby.

Now, if I see a system that has a clearly defined 'listening seat', regardless of the quality of their components, I know that an audiophile lives there.

[richidoo]

Molded in-ear-monitors with a good sounding portable player would be my choice if $1000 was the limit. Perfection is not as important as listenability. The IEMs are so detailed and dynamic they do most of the heavy lifting as long as the opamp output sounds at least "OK." Hard drive player allows carrying all the favorites. Reading AN on the gadget at the same time is recipe for pure pleasure. 

[tmazz]

On a pure sound quality basis I agree that in or on the ear might be the way to go at this price point, but using headphones is a very different user experience than listening through speakers. I'm not sure that they are exactly interchangeable.

On a sad note, Oppo has discontinued producing all DVD players. So that $179 glimpse into the high end world not will cost you a minimum of $500. Devastating to a $1000 system budget. And I am not sure a newbie would be so comfortable at looking for used equipment. I don't know much about what could replace the Oppo as a CDP  in the $200 range. Crutchfield is listing the Denon 2930 for $239. I am using an earlier version (2910) as a transport. (I like it because it is one of the few universal players that will allow you to change layers on a hybrid disc from the remote without hooking it up to a video display to use on-screen programming.) I am not sure how the newer version would compare or perform as a standalone player, but Denon always put out a decent product so it might be a good place to start looking.

I agree, at this price NAD would have to be a serious contender for an integrated amp. I have not personally heard their latest series of amps, but based on what I have heard out of them over the last 20 years I would not hesitate to recommend them to a newbie. Their current 40wpc stereo amp (C-315BEE) is only $349 at AudioAdvisor.

As far as reasonably priced speakers go, you can't go wrong with some of the lower priced offerings from Paradigm. I have been recommending them to friends for years IMO the best bang for the buck in the industry. The $249 Atoms got a great write-up in Stereophile:

www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/907para/


Denon 2930 - $239
NAD C-315BEE - $349
Paradigm Atoms - $249
Speaker Stands - $75

Total - $912, which still leaves you with money left over to cover the sales tax (or buy some cables) and still stay under $1K. Not a true audiophile system, but it will produce very credible sound for the average listener (or begin to push a budding audiophile over the edge into Nervosa)

[tmazz]

I think as they often do this thread has morphed itself away from its original question. I hit the post button after writing about what I would recommend in a sub $1k system and saw the original title I realized that I had gone afield.

Back to the original question about what constitutes an "minimal audiophile system" I think that Mike hit it right on the head. Audiophile is not defined by an inventory list of equipment that either qualifies or it doesn't. I think being an audiophile system has more to do with the state of mind (or lack of mind?) of the owner. An audiophile system is one that is put together with the purpose of getting the best sound out of whatever equipment that person happens to own. This includes having a specific listening sweet spot (although marital harmony may preclude it being a dedicate piece of furniture) and attention to sound improving details such as cables and speaker setup for sound quality and not necessarily aesthetics.

I have also seen people with 10s of thousands of dollars in "audiophile equipment" that turned it all over to their interior decorator to place it so it looked good (and ended up sounding like crap). So in my mind classifying a set-up as an audiophile system is not so much a matter of what you own, but what you do with it. An audiophile strives to get the most out of his equipment, not matter what it is.

[Bigfish8]

An audiophile system is one that is put together with the purpose of getting the best sound out of whatever equipment that person happens to own.

I agree with this comment.

[Ecramer]

Molded in-ear-monitors with a good sounding portable player would be my choice if $1000 was the limit. Perfection is not as important as listenability. The IEMs are so detailed and dynamic they do most of the heavy lifting as long as the opamp output sounds at least "OK." Hard drive player allows carrying all the favorites. Reading AN on the gadget at the same time is recipe for pure pleasure. 

can i bump that to $1500 JH Audio JH13 Pro and cowon s9 and you would have a pocket rig to rival a lot of systems

ed

[shep]

I bought a really nice Denon mini set, complete with "real" speakers a few years back. I think I paid 400$ on sale. It was real hi-fi! I sold it to a neighbor, with some old stands and some decent speaker cables. He was and is in audio heaven! So what have I gained since? Head-ache and an incurable itch and a seriously depleted bank account!

[JLM]

So let me rephrase.  What would be your idea of a minimal audiophile grade system for a new college grad who is interested in audio and finally has a couple of shekels to rub together?  Could be PC based, so all you'd need would be a DAC and beyond.  Would probably go into the living room of a small apartment.  This system needs to satisfy for now (will image, no boomy bass, etc.), provide some sort of upgrade path (like a sub to be added later), and no DIY.

Are there such things (at a reasonable price) as a USB DAC/headphone amp, a USB DAC/pre-amp, DAC/headphone amp/pre-amp, or USB DAC/headphone amp/pre-amp?

[djdube525]

Are there such things (at a reasonable price) as a USB DAC/headphone amp, a USB DAC/pre-amp, DAC/headphone amp/pre-amp, or USB DAC/headphone amp/pre-amp?

What's reasonable? As for a USB DAC/headphone amp, would something like a Firestone Audio Fubar III or IV work?

I have no affiliation with this site... not sure if there are better prices to be had either:
http://www.avhifi.com/shop/Firestone-Audio.html

Dave

[rollo]

   A Mac Mini , HRT USB DAC, and powered speakers.


charles

[richidoo]

I agree with powered monitors, the value there is excellent - like those from M-Audio BX8 or Mackie HR624. Don't forget the speaker stands. You could add a sub for the bottom octave later if needed. A good soundcard does the rest. The new ASUS PCI soundcard ($200) is well reviewed in current Stereophile, or PCI Carddeluxe ($500), or Cambridge DAC Magic has USB input and preferred by Tellig above the rest of the crowded field of USB DACs.