Just started down the HiFi rabbit hole and after watching multiple reviews on equipment that I’d didn’t even know existed, this is the most down to earth video that shows you don’t need $20k plus to have a cranking set up! I grew up in the 80’s so loud music is part of my lifestyle, can’t wait to build a system with all these new gadgets!
Cables are what gets me. "Our equipment wont sound as accurate, rich, and detailed without our specially designed audio cables. The center is not copper. It's mithril mined by dwarves in Moria. A real value at $20.00 a foot".
I put together a bookshelf setup about two years ago and spent around 450 bucks for a good preamp, amplifier, and a pair of speakers. I was blown away by the fidelity and anyone who came over and heard music playing on my setup couldn't believe it. Since then I've built setups for some friends ranging in price quite a bit and anything over like 300-400 you get seriously diminishing returns. To the trained ear you can pick up the nuanced differences and of course the volume can get higher without distortion, but just a nice setup to listen to while you're around the house can be purchased for 250.
The cheap audio man sounds like the screaming character in a 70's electronic store commercial. "Come on down to the Hifi Mart this Friday and get $20 off a new Pioneer receiver, JVC dual cassette deck or RCA color television when you tell'em The Cheap Audio Guy sent you"
I used to be an audiophile back in the 70's but when I got married, my wife didn't share my interest so it got sold off. Now 44 years later she has her TV in the living room where she sits with the dog and watches all that Hallmark stuff. I now have my room where I have a flat screen and sound bar with surround speakers. The whole surround thing really didn't work for me so I've removed it. Don't know why I started watching RUclips videos on audio stuff but found out the hobby was not dead as I had assumed. I discovered this guy called the Cheap Audio Man and he "spoke to me". I see that there is actually a whole new genre of equipment that you can put in the palms of your hands and with a couple of bookshelf speakers, let's you have a nice system! So I got the Aiyima T10 and the A7. I have one Oppo DVD/CD player so I had just enough room in my dinky corner cabinet for this set up. I got the cheap Klipsch sub and the JBL stage 120 bookshelf speakers. Quite a nice little system if I do say so myself. I committed a cardinal sin that I would never have done back in the day and that was not going down to my local audio store to audition them but I just went by the Cheap Audio Man's reviews and did ok. I'd like a bit more clarity from the speakers but I guess that's where the ear buds have influenced me some. All in all a nice system that ought to last me until they put me in the casket.
Finally I can BREATHE! Ive been holding my breath for a year waiting for the Cheap Audio Man to recommend a complete cheap audio system. Thank you, thank you, thank you...... now im out of breath.
I'm relieved to see a review like this. After yesterday's review of a $900 super DAC I was thinking CAM was experiencing mission creep and moving slowly over to the dark side. I was missing your Saturday Speaker Shootouts, best speakers for $100, $200 ,$300 etc. It was cool when you pushed a speaker off your desk or poured port lube into it because it just didn't measure up sound wise value wise. Other reviewers cater to the high dollar stuff occasionally doing a small spiel for a decent cheap option. Sort of like a big law firm doing pro-bono work. But CAM started out as the idealistic public defender, looking out for the regular Joe who didn't have the big buck resources. Much admired. Often folks who live with a smaller budget need to be educated about the tech, about what to listen for so they can hear what they might have been missing. But music is in their soul and for them CAM was a hero. CAM is not just a name for a product but a real concept. Thanks for keeping it real.
100 is almost my öld böse nö köss pc-x?? i ölmöst gifftät för my pärentz. they meant 20 xD im still ön a quaRD like quarter centüry aghöh ^^ and fössteckce
@@hardtymz2517 "port lube" refers to one of CAM's Sith products which he demonstrated by pouring oil into the port of a speaker he really didn't like. Might have been the same speaker he shoved off his desk because it just wasn't worth it. Iirc it was a Polk T15 but don't quote me. This video is a year old. Port lube refers to an even older video. I've followed CAM since his early days. Apparently you haven't
Just found this channel. This channel is absolutely gold. My ears are not good enough as a musician for all the mad expensive hifi stuff. So a resource pool like this from a knowledgeable person like yourself is literal treasure. Thank you so much!
Found this video before I made my purchase and am I ever glad! I can't believe I suffered so long with my garbage sound equipment. I'm falling in love with my music all over again! All this for a heck of a lot less money than I ever dreamed. Thanks so much!
I just discovered your channel and I absolutely love it. There are so many channels that talk about "cheap HiFi systems" and they end up being $700+. It really puts people off and scares them away from the amazing hobby. I am rebuilding a setup that I tore down years ago and while my budget is a bit higher, it is still good to know that cheap stuff exists too. I will most likely pick up those sonys as rear speakers because that price is so good!
Good post, thanks! Alternative $330 amazing system w/sub - put this together for two different homes and it gets rave reviews: Yamaha R-S202BL $150 - Includes Bluetooth and RCA inputs, pre- and power- amp , remote 50; Dayton Audio B652-Air Bookshelf speakers - $58 (seriously, at this price point they are amazing); Polk Audio Subwoofer PSW10 - $129. Use phone or other for music source. Have fun! (thanks to the Audiophiliac too, always informative)
I have the Elac 6.2s and I can confirm that about 100 hours of break-in was required . Well, "required " isn't quite right I guess because the speakers sounded good initially . They just kept getting better and better for the next 100 hrs or so .
Excellent ,I have heard many positive things about Elac . Are these designed by Andrew Jones. I bought some 3 way Pioneers with a 12 inch woofer. These were excellent. I had a good system with a Kenwood reciver,CD and tape deck. I would use Bose 30's as my front speakers in a small room and the Pioneers in a big one. I bought each piece one at a time. It lasted fromm 88 till I gave it to my niece going to college.
Hey Randy...Wow! Good work, and thank you! Thanks for bringing attention to gear that is more accessible to people who are interested in this hobby. This is the content we need to keep it alive! Keep doing what you do!
I just discovered this channel. Technically, I'm not in need of a system, but so impressed that i bought the amp and preamp anyway. thank you Cheapaudioman for your info. So useful.
I can vouch for those Sony’s. I’ve got them paired with an SMSL Sanskrit Mkii, and a little Fosi audio amp, and I’m running them through optical out of my bedroom tv-sounds pretty excellent to me, and that system was only about $225. Definitely blows my living room soundbar out of the water.
I have the Sonys CS5s in my HT. I was thinking of getting a 2nd pair for a hi-fi system. Do I need both the Preamp and amp or should I shop an integrated amp? I want some connection options but not all are necessary.
@@veeclash4157 I still haven't allowed myself to buy anything hifi. I bought some Emotiva E2+ surround speakers for my HT. I was thinking of getting the Aiyima 07 and the T8 preamp from Aiyima as well. It's either those two or the $350 Yamaha integrated amp or reciever. Forget what it is.
@@mikeortiz2139 The Aiyama combo sounds pretty cool. I think my next upgrade will be a Monolith THX 10 Subwoofer. I'm running an Aiyama D03 myself. In future I'm either getting a dedicated DAC like the IFi Zen DAC V2 or maybe picking up a Yamaha RX-V385 if I add a second set of speakers to my 2.1 setup.
@@veeclash4157 I'm looking at getting dual Monolith 10's or 12's for HT. I already have the Sony Core Series sub that I upgraded from. I'll use that for a 2.1 set up.
I've been using mono all in one Bluetooth speakers for many years now (Libratone) but I wanted to listen to music in stereo again. I just got the A07 and T8 based on your advice. Paired them with Dali Spektor 2 and I'm now enjoying hi-fi stereo sound again. Thanks Randy!
Just bought me the Aiyima A07 for my workbench. (Where i do diy speaker repairs and listen to my Frankenwonders. I just cant walk away from a secondhand cheap pair of good speakers...🤷♂️ ) Saves me a lot of space! I always was in the understanding that an amp needs to be heavy and hot to be good. 😅 At least to produce a decent sound. Thanks! Update: Just arrived and installed it. This is indeed surprisingly good! Even at high volume, what I didnt expect for that price!
I feel schiit audio deserves a chance to be on your recommended list. They have budget friendly prices for the low end of their products which are also made in the States.
Still got a pair of the Sony SS CS5. They perform great for the price. Only thing slightly lacking would be the mids. If it had a bit more weight there, they will be really great to own. Pair them with the Yamaha RN303 and it’s a done deal. You got all you need to stream music. Total: $600 max.
I paired these speakers with a Sony STRDH190 stereo receiver, I have a 40+ year old Sony PS-T3 turntable that sounds great together, considering the age.
I just hooked up a new Aiyima A07 and this little amp is awesome. I'm pushing a pair of old inefficient KLH 15" floor speakers and the sound is incredible. The highs, mids and are all there and clear, as well as the crisp, punchy lows. What a bargin. I can't wait for the T8 preamplifier to show up and hook it into the mix. Thanks for the review.
I'd prefer the Andrew Jones Pioneer bookshelf's over the Sony's....great budget system you put together...geared for people living in Apartments, college dorms and even a garage man cave !!
I was a headphones guy. In fact, I still use my HD800S, but much less frequently now that I've delved into the speaker realm. Music is so much more than just "hearing"; you have to feel it in your body, something cans will never be able to replicate. I bought the LS50 Wireless II and an SVS PB 1000 Pro and I couldn't be happier. Before someone scolds me, yes, I know the ceiling would have been higher if I'd opted for a passive pair, but most notable amps are too bulky for a PC setup.
I recently put together my first system for under 260-270ish Euros with used Klipsch R51m's that were used as demo units and an SMSL AD18 hooked up to my TV as a source. The best speaker I had before was a Sonos Play5 and the difference is huge, I'm having a blast listening on it
Klipsch is great. I fell for them in 1974 when in an audio equipment store years before I was able to buy my first good audio system. I have the R50s facing me in my living room with a pair of Bose 301s surrounding me at the sides of my sofa outside of the side tables. The two pairs together compliment each other nicely, give great imaging and fill in nuances between each other. Best of all both engulf the room with detail without a need to play them loudly.
I bought the Sony RX66 Mini Hifi System back in the 1990s. It was only $299 for 2 3-Way Speakers, 60WPC Amp with Reciever built-in. 3CD changer, Dual Cassette player, Mic Input, Good Headphone amp. To top it off the sound is actually really great. Clear and gets loud with minimal distortion. Speakers are made of fairly cheap material but still handle sound surprisingly well. Today good luck even finding just a 100 wpc power amp for under $500.
Good subject. Yes, burn in is real. I have the Elac B6.2's, they took maybe 200 goes to burn in but worth it. Then I Toed them in SLIGHTLY and angled them about 3 degrees up. Nice sound. But need some volume to really bring them to life. The woofer is nice and quick. I use a sub also, which I think all book shelves need. Thanks Randy.
You bring up a good point. The 6.2's are truly excellent, the best under $1000 imo, but they need power to get the most out of them. People need to choose the amp with this in mind.
Great stuff! Keep these budget system options coming. It's fun seeing what you and Guttenberg come up with at various price points... I love the Aiyima 07. I'm thinking of building a system for my son with the new Aiyima 08 (same amp as the 07 + bluetooth + dac (usb in), Elac 5.2 or Airmotiv B1+ (if they ever come back in stock) and, eventually an RPI streamer with the Boss2 hat. Total approx. $400.
Agree on giving the Elacs some time. Although you won't hear audiophile and powered speakers mentioned in the same sentence very often, there's a few in this $350 price range that would be a great solution for a lot of folks.
In an interview with Steve Guttenberg. Alex Jones confirmed that speaker break-in is a very real thing. With mid and bass drivers, the suspension is elastic in nature and requires a little bit of time to loosen up. I should post a link, but I'm driving. Lol
When I add this up €390,- , it costs a little under a set of Kanto YU6 active speakers for €405,- ... but those have phono inputs. So add the Aiyima T3 phono pre-amp €67,-. And then you're over what the YU6 would cost. So I love this idea of very affordable versatile components you can pick and choose for your needs. But when I do the math: The YU6 also hits that spot for the same or actually less money. I think I'll go with those. Heck, even throw in a little €30,- Sonos HDMI to Optical converter and you can connect any TV to this system digitally.
I took a few spills on 3-wheelers as a kid. Then I got a Honda TRX125 4-wheeler for Christmas! I was the happiest kid in the world. I rode that little 4-wheeler several hours every single day for many years.
I'm expecting my Fluance Reference towers, today. They must've 'overnighted' the center channel. I've had it for 4 days. (I busted my skull on a 3-wheeler in the 80s)
This may not be a popular comment, but I’ve really enjoyed a pair of Sonos Play:1’s that I found on sale after they came out with the newer versions. They may lack the low end, but they have separate amps and crossovers for the individual components, they are wall powered, plus you’re getting hi quality streaming through the wifi vs bluetooth. The app plus the ability to have different things playing throughout the house is really nice. Very hard to beat in a "bookshelf" type application, but I do think there are much better options for home theater.
Totally agree Randy. There is great sound quality to be had at budget price points. It's just a matter of putting some effort in into looking for the gems that are out there.
All I have left from my old system is a pair of B&W 602 mk2 speakers and their stands (Atacama ballast filled) This video is great to help me build a system again since I've been out of it for a decade now.
I already brought Sony SSCS5 and I am running the pair with Sony STRDH190 with a little help from S.M.S.L M100 Dac cost me less than $300 total. Thanks to this channel!!
Freaking amazing, thanks to cheapaudioman! TV with roku -optical, AT LP 120 w Schiit Mani 2 -RCA, old dvd player for CD transport -coax, & long usbc adapter cord for Usb Player Pro on phone > Aiyima T8 w/ a GE 5670 tube > 48v Fosi V3 >Elac Uni-Fi UB5. Only tweak upcoming so far so far is to add in a wiim, probably soonish. I want to clean it up a bit, currently running music apps through roku >HDMI>old tv by optical into the T8. It sounds fine but it is bottlenecked at 48khz. Distant goals are sparkos opamps and turntable stuff. Thanks again, my soul is filled with happiness. Should have ditched the logitech computer speaker setup long ago.
Yikes Randy! That’s cheaper than just my single eArc hdmi cable! Cool! And yes. There is such a thing as soft parts break in with speakers, there just isn’t any need to use special processes to break them in 👍🏻 I’m into car audio as well and you wouldn’t believe the lengths to which some people go to loosen up their subs before installation haha.
Yamaha R-S202 receiver with Bluetooth , The Sony speakers, and a Dayton Audio 8” subwoofer. Around $365 when the Sony’s are $118. Under $350 when they drop to $75. I bought my wife this system for her office. Sounds fantastic.
This is a great channel. You are 100% correct. You don't need 10 Grand to have a great sounding stereo system. Thanks for the info. I have 3-Fosi P3's and a Fosi V3 amp. I bought those Jamo speakers you reviewed for $100. from some guy on Marketplace. Very happy with them and because my Kenwood KA-3500 has Speaker A&B, they sound incredible together with my old Large Advents. The Fosi P3 is the Preamp. Keep up the great work. There are enough Audiophile snobs who usually go by specs and not their ears. And half the stuff they listen to is terrible music imho. Rock, Jazz & some occasional Classical is what I listen to. Thanks for being you.
Thanks cheap audio guy! I was about to scrap my cs5s and Marantz amp until discovering your channel YESTERDAY. You told me how I was doing it wrong. Now I’m not going to buy anything, saving hundreds, possibly thousand. Much better than Andrew Robinson. Thanks,
Thanks so much for your videos! You just helped me get a great Christmas present for my father. You've also helped me so much at my new job. I am doing smart home systems now (including high end home theater) and your videos have really helped me get acclimated to developing those projects and communicating with my clients about their systems as well.
My dad died on a 3wheeler at Sand Mountain Nevada. The thing flipped and landed on his stomach. They revived him in the helicopter, flew him to the hospital and took his guts out on the table, pieced them back together and shoved them back in. He’s still alive now at 60.
I got the a07 and T8 with the Nuemi BS05 for all under $300 and I can't thank you enough! I would have thought so much more money was necessary but this is all I need for a desk setup.
Great job Randy! I remember back to my very first system which was in about 1981. I bought a Technics 25 wpc Receiver for about $120, a Technics turntable for about $120 and a pair of Bose 201 bookshelf spkrs for about $120. So for a little less than that today you can still buy a complete system and it probably sounds better than what I had 40 years ago! It is an amazing time to be an audiophile!
@@tassostsoutis601 I disagree with you. I understand the inflation over that period, however electronics today is far better than it was 40 years ago. Inexpensive gear today sounds way better than inexpensive gear from 40 years ago. Also as electronics has gotten way better, it has driven the cost down, so even with inflation $350 today buys way more than $350 did 40 years ago. For example what would you have paid for a 40 inch TV in 1990. Probably $2000. Today a 40 inch TV might be $200 dollars and the quality is incomparable. While audio gear hasn't changed as much as video gear, it has improved considerably as well.
@@neilfisher7999 Do you still have that Technics receiver? If you do, it will sell for the cost of Randy's system with the Elac's. You'll probably have money left over. My dad has that same receiver...gorgeous. BTW, advancements don't always mean better quality. You can use a receiver with a pc board to save space and money. That will not make it better than point to point wiring.
Speakers are like a fine wine and get better with age and use (as long as you don't hurt them from the beginning). All quality, and good, manufacturers will recommend a "break-in" period before turning the volume up. One manufacturer I love and respect, have owned and did what they said, proved this and most professionals with engineering degrees will confirm as parts that move need to become more free after solid manufacturing (I won't say the manufacturer as they're very expensive and that's why I did what they said and continue with everything I buy). Things sounds better as they're allowed the freedom of movement they're designed to do but production is a solid state form. Anyhow, to not talk crap so much, the best way to break in a sweet of speakers is this (also the quietest way). Reverse polarity of wiring and place them facing each other no further than 300mm (200W bookshelf speakers this applied to but I've done it with 1000W standing and subs). Play at a low volume for a continuous, you can stop and start again, play cycle for minimum 24hrs (the longer the better, like I said fine wine you can drink but gets better with age, but this is minimum is absolutely recommended). Doing this will create a noise cancellation of the sound created, read about how cancellation headphones work to understand, and help the parts learn to move and get freedom to do so. Do it while you're at work and your neighbours won't know. Do it 13hrs a day for a week, like I said while at work, and then you'll get all the beauty of what you paid for when you need it (without disturbing the neighbours and they cats and dogs). Think of it like buying a new performance, or sports, car but not putting your foot down for the first 20k km (everything that moves needs time to find it's place and settle). Speakers get better with age when looked after and that's the reason why. You're a good honest person and I instantly liked and subscribed halfway through your audiophile rant video. Too much truth that not many people say (just the logic instills fear into people wasting money and aren't sound engineers). Keep up the good work and I'll binge and share your channel and videos with others who need layman's explanations. Peace!
Thanks for a great video for obtaining a cheap 350 starter system loved It! Let me suggest an alternative that some may prefer and that is buying used! I have been involved in audio for over 45 years and I have never seen such a glut of quality high quality equipment on Craig'slist that exist right now. If you are care ful about checking the condition of equipment before you purchase you can buy a nice system for 350 easily After I watched video I did a little experiment went on Craig's and found a pair of KEF towers an Adcom amp/preamp and a energy sub and a Sony 5 disc SACD player for 325.00 total ! Add a blue tooth adapter for 30 to 50 dollars and go.
Not just an audio system but audiophile system, and for under 350$ - Sounds to good to be true, can we get a small sound sample ? Would love to hear it, I know it doesnt give us the full experience through a youtube video but still gives us a little hint about how it sounds.
Thank you. My hifi is about $870. Tube is key for me. Put tubes in the mix, you get almost scary real sound. Elac dbr62, Rockville 70 watt hybred tube amp, stands, banana clip speaker cables. Source from Sony TV or PC Laptop, copper RCA connections. Computer and TV extra, of course. Oh what a feeling... Would take many thousands to equal or better this rig. Yes I know.
Perfect video for the brand you are building. Now double it...the list at $700 or $999! This is way more fun than when I had $20,000 invested in my audio system! Again, great video!
Went from here to Amazon. My speakers will be here in 3 days. Thx for the tip! I was looking to upgrade my old Logitech which have held up well over the years.
I spent a lot on my main system with the Kef LS 50 Metas, however I want a second setup for my personal little PC hangout area. Your channel rocks for these kind of project, and if I didn’t have the money to afford the Metas I’d still be able to have a nearly identical setup with all the info you put out there. Thanks dude!
I just picked up some mission mv8's. A Yamaha v475 receiver. A topping dac. A chrome cast. And a audio separator all for $250 and in great condition separate on ebay. I couldn't be happier as it my first system. Just need some cables now. So will be checking more of your videos for advise. Thankyou very much great vids.
I would argue that anything of real quality from that era is going to be double the cost of these products. Not saying that's bad, just that the bargain basement stuff from 20 years ago is junk.
@@scottmichaels1764 it’s not if you are searching for treasures on carboots and flea markets. Recently I’ve bought harman/kardon HK6650r and TU9400 for 75 euro. The price of the amp back when it was new is 1000€ and currently you can’t find it for less than 250€. I like deals like this :) Almost my entire setup is made from the carboot sales and if I calculate the prices of the components with the inflation, they would cost more than 5000€ bought new. Something that you can’t achieve with 350$ new setup now. And if you want a good tape deck - it’s impossible because the only produced new ones now are expensive crap. There are no new 3-head decks anymore…
Those Sony speakers are crazy good for the price you talked me into those awhile back... the idea that the more something costs is the only way to enjoy music is being righteously challenged here ....its about the music and a cool hobby...nice job Randy
I've had the Elac Debut 6.2s since they launched. Used them for half a year and they sounded ok. However. After one "houseparty-gone-wrong" thingy, where they worked HARD for eight hours they started SINGING. So yes, please, break your speakers in.
$100 TARGET: Once again, you are spot on. How about a $100 target? You can get the Sony SSC5S (renewed) on Amazon for $65.67. Then visit local thrift stores to pick up an old Sony 2 channel A/V receiver for around $15-$20. (You may also find an old Yamaha 2 channel A/V receiver too for a low price). You can also get 16 gauge cable at Walmart or Menards for a low price. BTW, your review on SSC5S inspired me to do what I just described. I manages to score a Sony STR-D611 for $10. It has separate tone controls for Bass and Treble, so you can tune it the way you want. I do love your videos and share them.
Just bought my own budget setup. $240 JBL 530s, a $90 SMSL A100, and a set of Micca 6ft cables. The plan is casual small room listening until I can build out a new desk for my workstation/gaming PC. Stretch goals might be a JDS Labs Atom DAC and Atom amp for headphones and then maybe a small sub like the Jamo S810
Just purchased the Aiyima A07 just for a laugh i connected them to a pair of $50 computer speakers. This amp sounds awesome it is the best value under $100.
Hey Cheap Audio Man , we here in Costa Rica really appreciate your videos , I agree with you , an excellent sound shouldn't necessarily cost more than a having a good time with your friends sharing some beers. Regards from Costa Rica Pura Vida 😎
Nice video. My non-pro tip is, of course, to buy used stuff. Last time I bought a new piece of hifi kit was in 1993: a Sony CDP-X33ES. Still have that player, but it's currently in storage.
Thank you Randy for your honest reviews. Based off your review of the Aiyima 07, I took a chance. Just received today and I am more than pleased! I have my Schiit stack (Magni,Loki,Modi,Mani) connected with an Audio-technica AT-LP120 taking care of the analog end. On the digital end, I am using a Sony DVD player to handle CDs out the Coax output and a Raspberry Pi running Moody Audio for streaming. All this goes to a Bose AM-7 sub and 2 dual cubes. So far everything I have thrown at it has sounded awesome. No distortion when cranking up volume either! Perfect setup in small room. Thanks again! Keep up the great videos! Peace
Thank you!!!! I just missed CDs and was just trying to figure out if it’s worth buying em again and good Lord every other video I saw said so many words I couldn’t understand. Thank you for speaking plain language. I was getting turned off of the whole idea and it was making me so sad cause I hate streaming. But then you popped up! I want a set up for my downtime after work but I need my money to do other things too like clothe and feed my children.
Awesome video! I'm not in need of a good stereo but if I was, I'd be looking at this. Right now I have a pair of HZ Audio's speakers which use Vefa components. I worked in the shop that built them and we built probably over 100 pairs. Very small company. I have a Dynakit 70 stereo tube power amp and a NAD pre-amp. I use my DVD player for CDs and it all sounds fine!
Another great example that you can have a great sounding system on the cheap 👍 I put together my bedroom system on your recommendations (Fosi BT and CS5s) Thanks Randy! Now excuse my while I resist the urge to buy the Elac's on sale.....
i would add the jamo s 803's those are some amazing speakers for the price of 150$....great bass mids and highs,i was blown away by them,they sound like 700$+ speakers
You have some of the best videos and tons of humor 😁🤣 Better than the serious guys who review snobby equipment with stuck up attitude! Keep up the great work sir!!
This is straight facts. I picked up a small USB-C to 3.5 mm DAC, and a dirt cheap two channel amp to connect my tower speakers to a laptop or phone. It's setup in my daughters room and it sounds great. Total spend was $270 AUD (speakers from FB Marketplace). In a bigger room it wouldn't be that great, but in her average sized bedroom it puts out decent volume, and the speakers have decent bass (no subwoofer need).
Years ago I had Paradigm 7se speakers (late 80s) and later picked up a pair of Radio Shack Nova bookshelves at 1/7 the price. At lower volumes the tonality and detail were similar between the two until you increased the volume. That's when you realize what you pay for.
Just got these speakers 2 days ago / impressive sound from a 4" mid bass driver. I paid $220.00 for mine - add the Yamaha - 200W 2-Ch. Stereo Receiver - Black Model:R-S202BL And for $380.00, you have way better sound thanks from that little cheap chinese amp and DAC. And real stereo sound with all the functionality.
Love vids like this! Just a note: it looks like no headphone amp on the SMSL. This is going to be my desktop setup so I would rather have the headphone amp and no sub woofer with the Aiyima setup. Thanks Randy.
Thanks for this video! I am just diving down this HiFi/vintage path. I ordered the A07 to hook up from my pre out on my AV receiver to the A07 and then some huge 85 lb speakers I got while thrifting. They are 200 watt 4 ohm speakers, so I hope this does the trick.
This is so American ^^ comparing prices to a set of tires (I haven't been driving a car for 10 years now), homes for our troops and paying your taxes (here in Germany you pay taxes automatically) are all so unrelatable
I got the Sony bookshelfs at your reccomendation, Maybe it was just my amp or the fact that I'm primarily running a turntable setup, but I found the mid-range way too scooped. Return them and I'm sticking with my dayton audio for now. Thanks for the tips!
My desktop is Fulla Schiit 3 (Dac, Headphone amp, Mic input, $109), an SMSL SA-50 ($69 class D amp), and a pair of Jamo S801's ($149). Stays nicely under your $350 target. Add in a pair of DROP HiFiMan HE400i headphones and you're gonna blow your budget, but man, they sound good ;D As happy as I am with this system, I'm upgrading the Jamo's to a pair of GR-Research mini's, as soon as the flat packs get here. Puts the system at $377. My first foray into DIY speakers... which, from what Danny says, was kinda the point of these Mini's. Still looking forward to a Schiit Modi Multibit review... if you can get your hands on one.
I’ve heard good things about those Sony speakers. The only thing I have under $350 are Martin Logan Forte wireless amp. It was on sale for $249 (was $599). AirPlay, DTS Play-Fi and analog input. Digital 100w RMS into 4ohm and if you need more bass it has a subwoofer output. The package also includes Anthem Room Correction with the mic. I was pretty impressed, I bought a second for a cheap audio system.
One of my favorite affordable speakers which may sound crazy but they sound really, really good it plays frequencies I haven't heard before even with $4k systems. They are...Logitech Z625 400 watt 2.1 THX certified computer speakers! 🤭🙈 They blow my mind. They get loud but not crazy loud and when turned to 100% volume you can tell it's struggling a little bit, I think the technical term is you can hear compression. But you wouldn't listen to music at that level it was just me seeing the capabilities of the system. So the cost...$140. Sometimes you can get them cheaper. The best part of it is hearing all the sound being presented so well and the bass. A lot of speakers the bass is just boom boom with out hearing much of a difference in the tone. This one the bass goes very low, down to 37hz. It really brings the music to life and you feel like you are hearing music in a new way, like your hearing it how the artist intended it to sound like. The speakers itself look nice, though I wish they were made to where you could hang them on the wall. It has 4 inputs 1 aux.,2 RF, & 1 optical.
That sounds like a pretty good setup for a modest sized room. Add a decent sub and you can still come in under four figures. No doubt the tube is a superfluous buffer but what the heck. At the moment I haven't finished setting up a main system for the music room so I am currently using an el cheapo setup that sounds a whole lot better than it has any right to... Source: PC running Ubuntu Studio Linux OS. Have ripped CD playing in Rhythmbox, CDs through built in drive, and online such as youtube. Amp: Cheap Lepai Class AB 2.1 Main Speakers: Home made OBs using Mark audio 4" Fullrange (most expensive single component) and 10" Goldwood OEM class helper woofers. Sub: Cobbled together home built with 12" Goldwood sub driver and salvaged JBL 15" passive radiator tuned to about 22Hz. It manages a reasonably plausible representation of an actual performance. Room for improvement? Absolutely. Sound like crap? Far from it.
![Eminem - Somebody Save Me (feat. Jelly Roll) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vwa0HenQMi4/mqdefault.jpg)
![[TF2] The Russian Bear Trap](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YFNSwz2_rOA/mqdefault.jpg)
Just started down the HiFi rabbit hole and after watching multiple reviews on equipment that I’d didn’t even know existed, this is the most down to earth video that shows you don’t need $20k plus to have a cranking set up! I grew up in the 80’s so loud music is part of my lifestyle, can’t wait to build a system with all these new gadgets!
Cables are what gets me. "Our equipment wont sound as accurate, rich, and detailed without our specially designed audio cables. The center is not copper. It's mithril mined by dwarves in Moria. A real value at $20.00 a foot".
@@keithmarlowe5569 That mithril is the real deal!
I put together a bookshelf setup about two years ago and spent around 450 bucks for a good preamp, amplifier, and a pair of speakers. I was blown away by the fidelity and anyone who came over and heard music playing on my setup couldn't believe it. Since then I've built setups for some friends ranging in price quite a bit and anything over like 300-400 you get seriously diminishing returns. To the trained ear you can pick up the nuanced differences and of course the volume can get higher without distortion, but just a nice setup to listen to while you're around the house can be purchased for 250.
Ya , crap that probably sounds good at low volume, anything any louder sounds like barf.
@@keithmarlowe5569 LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD!! 🤣🤣😂 I've done some work in the industry and always thought the same thing.
No one brings Audio Value to the people like the Cheap Audio Man!!! Bravo Randy... BRAVO!!!
Agreed, I love watching and sharing his videos
@@anilm.s8356 👍👍👍
He brings it no frills. I dont think speakers like this sound that much better with my expensive amp.
The cheap audio man sounds like the screaming character in a 70's electronic store commercial.
"Come on down to the Hifi Mart this Friday and get $20 off a new Pioneer receiver, JVC dual cassette deck or RCA color television when you tell'em The Cheap Audio Guy sent you"
I used to be an audiophile back in the 70's but when I got married, my wife didn't share my interest so it got sold off. Now 44 years later she has her TV in the living room where she sits with the dog and watches all that Hallmark stuff. I now have my room where I have a flat screen and sound bar with surround speakers. The whole surround thing really didn't work for me so I've removed it. Don't know why I started watching RUclips videos on audio stuff but found out the hobby was not dead as I had assumed. I discovered this guy called the Cheap Audio Man and he "spoke to me". I see that there is actually a whole new genre of equipment that you can put in the palms of your hands and with a couple of bookshelf speakers, let's you have a nice system! So I got the Aiyima T10 and the A7. I have one Oppo DVD/CD player so I had just enough room in my dinky corner cabinet for this set up. I got the cheap Klipsch sub and the JBL stage 120 bookshelf speakers. Quite a nice little system if I do say so myself. I committed a cardinal sin that I would never have done back in the day and that was not going down to my local audio store to audition them but I just went by the Cheap Audio Man's reviews and did ok. I'd like a bit more clarity from the speakers but I guess that's where the ear buds have influenced me some. All in all a nice system that ought to last me until they put me in the casket.
Got real grim there at the end, why do all "old" people always manage to squeeze their own death into every sentence they speak..
Finally I can BREATHE! Ive been holding my breath for a year waiting for the Cheap Audio Man to recommend a complete cheap audio system. Thank you, thank you, thank you...... now im out of breath.
I'm relieved to see a review like this. After yesterday's review of a $900 super DAC I was thinking CAM was experiencing mission creep and moving slowly over to the dark side. I was missing your Saturday Speaker Shootouts, best speakers for $100, $200 ,$300 etc. It was cool when you pushed a speaker off your desk or poured port lube into it because it just didn't measure up sound wise value wise. Other reviewers cater to the high dollar stuff occasionally doing a small spiel for a decent cheap option. Sort of like a big law firm doing pro-bono work. But CAM started out as the idealistic public defender, looking out for the regular Joe who didn't have the big buck resources. Much admired. Often folks who live with a smaller budget need to be educated about the tech, about what to listen for so they can hear what they might have been missing. But music is in their soul and for them CAM was a hero. CAM is not just a name for a product but a real concept. Thanks for keeping it real.
Dean that was one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me. Thank you so much.
I can't find a video that I believe you made. I want to buy a brand you recommended that come as 2 units: the amp and a DAC I believe
100 is almost my öld böse nö köss pc-x?? i ölmöst gifftät för my pärentz. they meant 20 xD
im still ön a quaRD like quarter centüry aghöh ^^ and fössteckce
Wtf is “port lube”?? This is the wrong channel for you, brah. Please try again.
@@hardtymz2517 "port lube" refers to one of CAM's Sith products which he demonstrated by pouring oil into the port of a speaker he really didn't like. Might have been the same speaker he shoved off his desk because it just wasn't worth it. Iirc it was a Polk T15 but don't quote me. This video is a year old. Port lube refers to an even older video. I've followed CAM since his early days. Apparently you haven't
Just found this channel. This channel is absolutely gold. My ears are not good enough as a musician for all the mad expensive hifi stuff. So a resource pool like this from a knowledgeable person like yourself is literal treasure. Thank you so much!
Found this video before I made my purchase and am I ever glad! I can't believe I suffered so long with my garbage sound equipment. I'm falling in love with my music all over again! All this for a heck of a lot less money than I ever dreamed. Thanks so much!
I just discovered your channel and I absolutely love it. There are so many channels that talk about "cheap HiFi systems" and they end up being $700+. It really puts people off and scares them away from the amazing hobby. I am rebuilding a setup that I tore down years ago and while my budget is a bit higher, it is still good to know that cheap stuff exists too. I will most likely pick up those sonys as rear speakers because that price is so good!
Good post, thanks! Alternative $330 amazing system w/sub - put this together for two different homes and it gets rave reviews: Yamaha R-S202BL $150 - Includes Bluetooth and RCA inputs, pre- and power- amp , remote 50; Dayton Audio B652-Air Bookshelf speakers - $58 (seriously, at this price point they are amazing); Polk Audio Subwoofer PSW10 - $129. Use phone or other for music source. Have fun! (thanks to the Audiophiliac too, always informative)
Nice! I would like to see more reviews of budget Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer and Onkyo. Cant find many on youtube
I have the Elac 6.2s and I can confirm that about 100 hours of break-in was required . Well, "required " isn't quite right I guess because the speakers sounded good initially . They just kept getting better and better for the next 100 hrs or so .
Excellent ,I have heard many positive things about Elac . Are these designed by Andrew Jones. I bought some 3 way Pioneers with a 12 inch woofer. These were excellent. I had a good system with a Kenwood reciver,CD and tape deck. I would use Bose 30's as my front speakers in a small room and the Pioneers in a big one. I bought each piece one at a time. It lasted fromm 88 till I gave it to my niece going to college.
Hey Randy...Wow! Good work, and thank you! Thanks for bringing attention to gear that is more accessible to people who are interested in this hobby. This is the content we need to keep it alive! Keep doing what you do!
I just discovered this channel. Technically, I'm not in need of a system, but so impressed that i bought the amp and preamp anyway. thank you Cheapaudioman for your info. So useful.
I can vouch for those Sony’s. I’ve got them paired with an SMSL Sanskrit Mkii, and a little Fosi audio amp, and I’m running them through optical out of my bedroom tv-sounds pretty excellent to me, and that system was only about $225. Definitely blows my living room soundbar out of the water.
I have the Sonys CS5s in my HT. I was thinking of getting a 2nd pair for a hi-fi system. Do I need both the Preamp and amp or should I shop an integrated amp? I want some connection options but not all are necessary.
@@mikeortiz2139 What did you end up getting? I'm running an Aiyima D03 with my Sonys. I haven't heard a better speaker for the value yet!
@@veeclash4157 I still haven't allowed myself to buy anything hifi. I bought some Emotiva E2+ surround speakers for my HT. I was thinking of getting the Aiyima 07 and the T8 preamp from Aiyima as well. It's either those two or the $350 Yamaha integrated amp or reciever. Forget what it is.
@@mikeortiz2139 The Aiyama combo sounds pretty cool. I think my next upgrade will be a Monolith THX 10 Subwoofer. I'm running an Aiyama D03 myself. In future I'm either getting a dedicated DAC like the IFi Zen DAC V2 or maybe picking up a Yamaha RX-V385 if I add a second set of speakers to my 2.1 setup.
@@veeclash4157 I'm looking at getting dual Monolith 10's or 12's for HT. I already have the Sony Core Series sub that I upgraded from. I'll use that for a 2.1 set up.
I've been using mono all in one Bluetooth speakers for many years now (Libratone) but I wanted to listen to music in stereo again. I just got the A07 and T8 based on your advice. Paired them with Dali Spektor 2 and I'm now enjoying hi-fi stereo sound again. Thanks Randy!
Just bought me the Aiyima A07 for my workbench. (Where i do diy speaker repairs and listen to my Frankenwonders. I just cant walk away from a secondhand cheap pair of good speakers...🤷♂️ ) Saves me a lot of space! I always was in the understanding that an amp needs to be heavy and hot to be good. 😅 At least to produce a decent sound. Thanks!
Update: Just arrived and installed it. This is indeed surprisingly good! Even at high volume, what I didnt expect for that price!
I feel schiit audio deserves a chance to be on your recommended list. They have budget friendly prices for the low end of their products which are also made in the States.
I would love to see a future version of this video for a price point build of a system based on balanced components. Great work!
Still got a pair of the Sony SS CS5. They perform great for the price. Only thing slightly lacking would be the mids. If it had a bit more weight there, they will be really great to own.
Pair them with the Yamaha RN303 and it’s a done deal. You got all you need to stream music. Total: $600 max.
I paired these speakers with a Sony STRDH190 stereo receiver, I have a 40+ year old Sony PS-T3 turntable that sounds great together, considering the age.
I just hooked up a new Aiyima A07 and this little amp is awesome. I'm pushing a pair of old inefficient KLH 15" floor speakers and the sound is incredible. The highs, mids and are all there and clear, as well as the crisp, punchy lows. What a bargin. I can't wait for the T8 preamplifier to show up and hook it into the mix. Thanks for the review.
I'd prefer the Andrew Jones Pioneer bookshelf's over the Sony's....great budget system you put together...geared for people living in Apartments, college dorms and even a garage man cave !!
Yes! More of these budget system build vids! I learned a lot from your early ones (Fosi + B6)
I was a headphones guy. In fact, I still use my HD800S, but much less frequently now that I've delved into the speaker realm. Music is so much more than just "hearing"; you have to feel it in your body, something cans will never be able to replicate. I bought the LS50 Wireless II and an SVS PB 1000 Pro and I couldn't be happier. Before someone scolds me, yes, I know the ceiling would have been higher if I'd opted for a passive pair, but most notable amps are too bulky for a PC setup.
Amazing the quality you can get these days on the cheap...I remember when it wasn't like this.
I recently put together my first system for under 260-270ish Euros with used Klipsch R51m's that were used as demo units and an SMSL AD18 hooked up to my TV as a source.
The best speaker I had before was a Sonos Play5 and the difference is huge, I'm having a blast listening on it
Klipsch is great. I fell for them in 1974 when in an audio equipment store years before I was able to buy my first good audio system.
I have the R50s facing me in my living room with a pair of Bose 301s surrounding me at the sides of my sofa outside of the side tables. The two pairs together compliment each other nicely, give great imaging and fill in nuances between each other. Best of all both engulf the room with detail without a need to play them loudly.
I bought the Sony RX66 Mini Hifi System back in the 1990s. It was only $299 for 2 3-Way Speakers, 60WPC Amp with Reciever built-in. 3CD changer, Dual Cassette player, Mic Input, Good Headphone amp. To top it off the sound is actually really great. Clear and gets loud with minimal distortion. Speakers are made of fairly cheap material but still handle sound surprisingly well. Today good luck even finding just a 100 wpc power amp for under $500.
Good subject. Yes, burn in is real. I have the Elac B6.2's, they took maybe 200 goes to burn in but worth it. Then I Toed them in SLIGHTLY and angled them about 3 degrees up. Nice sound. But need some volume to really bring them to life. The woofer is nice and quick. I use a sub also, which I think all book shelves need. Thanks Randy.
You bring up a good point. The 6.2's are truly excellent, the best under $1000 imo, but they need power to get the most out of them. People need to choose the amp with this in mind.
Don't need a new stereo system, but I still watch for fun
Same here, but my problem is I end up buying a new system anyway.
Great stuff! Keep these budget system options coming. It's fun seeing what you and Guttenberg come up with at various price points... I love the Aiyima 07. I'm thinking of building a system for my son with the new Aiyima 08 (same amp as the 07 + bluetooth + dac (usb in), Elac 5.2 or Airmotiv B1+ (if they ever come back in stock) and, eventually an RPI streamer with the Boss2 hat. Total approx. $400.
Agree on giving the Elacs some time. Although you won't hear audiophile and powered speakers mentioned in the same sentence very often, there's a few in this $350 price range that would be a great solution for a lot of folks.
Saw the title and said there is no way unless using the Sony. I wasn't disappointed. Great video!
In an interview with Steve Guttenberg. Alex Jones confirmed that speaker break-in is a very real thing. With mid and bass drivers, the suspension is elastic in nature and requires a little bit of time to loosen up. I should post a link, but I'm driving. Lol
I should post a link, but I'm driv
That's Andrew Jones. Alex Jones is the insane conspiracy nut. LOL
It's true, Joe Rogan confirmed it when he was talking to Tackleberry.
@@rapaudiophile2881 "We're breaking in the conditioning!"
When I add this up €390,- , it costs a little under a set of Kanto YU6 active speakers for €405,- ... but those have phono inputs. So add the Aiyima T3 phono pre-amp €67,-. And then you're over what the YU6 would cost.
So I love this idea of very affordable versatile components you can pick and choose for your needs. But when I do the math: The YU6 also hits that spot for the same or actually less money. I think I'll go with those. Heck, even throw in a little €30,- Sonos HDMI to Optical converter and you can connect any TV to this system digitally.
I took a few spills on 3-wheelers as a kid. Then I got a Honda TRX125 4-wheeler for Christmas! I was the happiest kid in the world. I rode that little 4-wheeler several hours every single day for many years.
I'm expecting my Fluance Reference towers, today. They must've 'overnighted' the center channel. I've had it for 4 days. (I busted my skull on a 3-wheeler in the 80s)
I would love to get your input on them. What were you running prior?
Death by Honda ATC 90! My friend who owned one was always in a cast...
This may not be a popular comment, but I’ve really enjoyed a pair of Sonos Play:1’s that I found on sale after they came out with the newer versions. They may lack the low end, but they have separate amps and crossovers for the individual components, they are wall powered, plus you’re getting hi quality streaming through the wifi vs bluetooth. The app plus the ability to have different things playing throughout the house is really nice. Very hard to beat in a "bookshelf" type application, but I do think there are much better options for home theater.
Totally agree Randy. There is great sound quality to be had at budget price points. It's just a matter of putting some effort in into looking for the gems that are out there.
I just checked (July 19, 2021) and the Sonys are $73 on Amazon! Get'em!!
All I have left from my old system is a pair of B&W 602 mk2 speakers and their stands (Atacama ballast filled)
This video is great to help me build a system again since I've been out of it for a decade now.
I already brought Sony SSCS5 and I am running the pair with Sony STRDH190 with a little help from S.M.S.L M100 Dac cost me less than $300 total. Thanks to this channel!!
Freaking amazing, thanks to cheapaudioman!
TV with roku -optical, AT LP 120 w Schiit Mani 2 -RCA, old dvd player for CD transport -coax, & long usbc adapter cord for Usb Player Pro on phone > Aiyima T8 w/ a GE 5670 tube > 48v Fosi V3 >Elac Uni-Fi UB5.
Only tweak upcoming so far so far is to add in a wiim, probably soonish. I want to clean it up a bit, currently running music apps through roku >HDMI>old tv by optical into the T8. It sounds fine but it is bottlenecked at 48khz.
Distant goals are sparkos opamps and turntable stuff.
Thanks again, my soul is filled with happiness. Should have ditched the logitech computer speaker setup long ago.
Side note. If you plan on upgrading and having a ton of sources buy a receiver. You’ll save money in the long run. Learned the hard way lol
Yikes Randy! That’s cheaper than just my single eArc hdmi cable! Cool!
And yes. There is such a thing as soft parts break in with speakers, there just isn’t any need to use special processes to break them in 👍🏻 I’m into car audio as well and you wouldn’t believe the lengths to which some people go to loosen up their subs before installation haha.
Yes Randall , There absolutely is such a thing as break in. On speakers. That is a fact.
Yamaha R-S202 receiver with Bluetooth , The Sony speakers, and a Dayton Audio 8” subwoofer. Around $365 when the Sony’s are $118. Under $350 when they drop to $75. I bought my wife this system for her office. Sounds fantastic.
This is a great channel. You are 100% correct. You don't need 10 Grand to have a great sounding stereo system. Thanks for the info. I have 3-Fosi P3's and a Fosi V3 amp. I bought those Jamo speakers you reviewed for $100. from some guy on Marketplace. Very happy with them and because my Kenwood KA-3500 has Speaker A&B, they sound incredible together with my old Large Advents. The Fosi P3 is the Preamp. Keep up the great work. There are enough Audiophile snobs who usually go by specs and not their ears. And half the stuff they listen to is terrible music imho. Rock, Jazz & some occasional Classical is what I listen to. Thanks for being you.
Thanks for watching!!
Thanks cheap audio guy! I was about to scrap my cs5s and Marantz amp until discovering your channel YESTERDAY. You told me how I was doing it wrong. Now I’m not going to buy anything, saving hundreds, possibly thousand. Much better than Andrew Robinson. Thanks,
Thanks so much for your videos! You just helped me get a great Christmas present for my father. You've also helped me so much at my new job. I am doing smart home systems now (including high end home theater) and your videos have really helped me get acclimated to developing those projects and communicating with my clients about their systems as well.
I built myself a cheap system using quality 70s equipment. May not have all the bells and whistles but I love the sound
My dad died on a 3wheeler at Sand Mountain Nevada. The thing flipped and landed on his stomach. They revived him in the helicopter, flew him to the hospital and took his guts out on the table, pieced them back together and shoved them back in. He’s still alive now at 60.
I got the a07 and T8 with the Nuemi BS05 for all under $300 and I can't thank you enough! I would have thought so much more money was necessary but this is all I need for a desk setup.
Great job Randy! I remember back to my very first system which was in about 1981. I bought a Technics 25 wpc Receiver for about $120, a Technics turntable for about $120 and a pair of Bose 201 bookshelf spkrs for about $120. So for a little less than that today you can still buy a complete system and it probably sounds better than what I had 40 years ago! It is an amazing time to be an audiophile!
I dont think it would sound better. 1981 360$ with inflation is 1176$ today
@@tassostsoutis601 I disagree with you. I understand the inflation over that period, however electronics today is far better than it was 40 years ago. Inexpensive gear today sounds way better than inexpensive gear from 40 years ago. Also as electronics has gotten way better, it has driven the cost down, so even with inflation $350 today buys way more than $350 did 40 years ago. For example what would you have paid for a 40 inch TV in 1990. Probably $2000. Today a 40 inch TV might be $200 dollars and the quality is incomparable. While audio gear hasn't changed as much as video gear, it has improved considerably as well.
@@neilfisher7999
Do you still have that Technics receiver? If you do, it will sell for the cost of Randy's system with the Elac's. You'll probably have money left over. My dad has that same receiver...gorgeous. BTW, advancements don't always mean better quality. You can use a receiver with a pc board to save space and money. That will not make it better than point to point wiring.
There is no chance this will sound better than your vintage Technics and Bose 201.
Speakers are like a fine wine and get better with age and use (as long as you don't hurt them from the beginning).
All quality, and good, manufacturers will recommend a "break-in" period before turning the volume up.
One manufacturer I love and respect, have owned and did what they said, proved this and most professionals with engineering degrees will confirm as parts that move need to become more free after solid manufacturing (I won't say the manufacturer as they're very expensive and that's why I did what they said and continue with everything I buy). Things sounds better as they're allowed the freedom of movement they're designed to do but production is a solid state form.
Anyhow, to not talk crap so much, the best way to break in a sweet of speakers is this (also the quietest way).
Reverse polarity of wiring and place them facing each other no further than 300mm (200W bookshelf speakers this applied to but I've done it with 1000W standing and subs). Play at a low volume for a continuous, you can stop and start again, play cycle for minimum 24hrs (the longer the better, like I said fine wine you can drink but gets better with age, but this is minimum is absolutely recommended).
Doing this will create a noise cancellation of the sound created, read about how cancellation headphones work to understand, and help the parts learn to move and get freedom to do so. Do it while you're at work and your neighbours won't know. Do it 13hrs a day for a week, like I said while at work, and then you'll get all the beauty of what you paid for when you need it (without disturbing the neighbours and they cats and dogs).
Think of it like buying a new performance, or sports, car but not putting your foot down for the first 20k km (everything that moves needs time to find it's place and settle). Speakers get better with age when looked after and that's the reason why.
You're a good honest person and I instantly liked and subscribed halfway through your audiophile rant video. Too much truth that not many people say (just the logic instills fear into people wasting money and aren't sound engineers).
Keep up the good work and I'll binge and share your channel and videos with others who need layman's explanations. Peace!
WOW! What a system for people on a strict budget! University students would love this!!
Thanks for a great video for obtaining a cheap 350 starter system loved It! Let me suggest an alternative that some may prefer and that is buying used! I have been involved in audio for over 45 years and I have never seen such a glut of quality high quality equipment on Craig'slist that exist right now. If you are care ful about checking the condition of equipment before you purchase you can buy a nice system for 350 easily After I watched video I did a little experiment went on Craig's and found a pair of KEF towers an Adcom amp/preamp and a energy sub and a Sony 5 disc SACD player for 325.00 total ! Add a blue tooth adapter for 30 to 50 dollars and go.
Not just an audio system but audiophile system, and for under 350$ - Sounds to good to be true, can we get a small sound sample ? Would love to hear it, I know it doesnt give us the full experience through a youtube video but still gives us a little hint about how it sounds.
Exactly right!
Thank you. My hifi is about $870. Tube is key for me. Put tubes in the mix, you get almost scary real sound. Elac dbr62, Rockville 70 watt hybred tube amp, stands, banana clip speaker cables. Source from Sony TV or PC Laptop, copper RCA connections. Computer and TV extra, of course. Oh what a feeling... Would take many thousands to equal or better this rig. Yes I know.
Perfect video for the brand you are building. Now double it...the list at $700 or $999! This is way more fun than when I had $20,000 invested in my audio system! Again, great video!
Went from here to Amazon. My speakers will be here in 3 days. Thx for the tip! I was looking to upgrade my old Logitech which have held up well over the years.
I spent a lot on my main system with the Kef LS 50 Metas, however I want a second setup for my personal little PC hangout area. Your channel rocks for these kind of project, and if I didn’t have the money to afford the Metas I’d still be able to have a nearly identical setup with all the info you put out there. Thanks dude!
I just picked up some mission mv8's. A Yamaha v475 receiver. A topping dac. A chrome cast. And a audio separator all for $250 and in great condition separate on ebay. I couldn't be happier as it my first system. Just need some cables now. So will be checking more of your videos for advise. Thankyou very much great vids.
For this money I’ll go for used 20+ years mid-high-end equipment. Actually it doesn’t matter the budget - I’ll always prefer the good old stereo :)
I would argue that anything of real quality from that era is going to be double the cost of these products. Not saying that's bad, just that the bargain basement stuff from 20 years ago is junk.
@@scottmichaels1764 it’s not if you are searching for treasures on carboots and flea markets. Recently I’ve bought harman/kardon HK6650r and TU9400 for 75 euro. The price of the amp back when it was new is 1000€ and currently you can’t find it for less than 250€. I like deals like this :) Almost my entire setup is made from the carboot sales and if I calculate the prices of the components with the inflation, they would cost more than 5000€ bought new. Something that you can’t achieve with 350$ new setup now. And if you want a good tape deck - it’s impossible because the only produced new ones now are expensive crap. There are no new 3-head decks anymore…
i’m seeing a nirvana poster in the background, i’m hearing about cheap audiophile setups… i’m a simple man, i hit the subscribe button.
Those Sony speakers are crazy good for the price you talked me into those awhile back... the idea that the more something costs is the only way to enjoy music is being righteously challenged here ....its about the music and a cool hobby...nice job Randy
Thank you for this great video about getting a great system on a small budget!
Great to see how you've grown over the past year Randy!
I've had the Elac Debut 6.2s since they launched. Used them for half a year and they sounded ok. However. After one "houseparty-gone-wrong" thingy, where they worked HARD for eight hours they started SINGING. So yes, please, break your speakers in.
$100 TARGET: Once again, you are spot on. How about a $100 target? You can get the Sony SSC5S (renewed) on Amazon for $65.67. Then visit local thrift stores to pick up an old Sony 2 channel A/V receiver for around $15-$20. (You may also find an old Yamaha 2 channel A/V receiver too for a low price). You can also get 16 gauge cable at Walmart or Menards for a low price. BTW, your review on SSC5S inspired me to do what I just described. I manages to score a Sony STR-D611 for $10. It has separate tone controls for Bass and Treble, so you can tune it the way you want. I do love your videos and share them.
Great review!!, get these kids in early...cheap and good...they are the future
Vanatoo Transparent zero’s for an all in product. Add a subwoofer and watch them shine.
Just bought my own budget setup. $240 JBL 530s, a $90 SMSL A100, and a set of Micca 6ft cables. The plan is casual small room listening until I can build out a new desk for my workstation/gaming PC.
Stretch goals might be a JDS Labs Atom DAC and Atom amp for headphones and then maybe a small sub like the Jamo S810
Just purchased the Aiyima A07 just for a laugh i connected them to a pair of $50 computer speakers. This amp sounds awesome it is the best value under $100.
Hey Cheap Audio Man , we here in Costa Rica really appreciate your videos , I agree with you , an excellent sound shouldn't necessarily cost more than a having a good time with your friends sharing some beers.
Regards from Costa Rica Pura Vida 😎
Nice video. My non-pro tip is, of course, to buy used stuff. Last time I bought a new piece of hifi kit was in 1993: a Sony CDP-X33ES. Still have that player, but it's currently in storage.
Just bought the Sony's around $70 to start a cheap system... Thanks to your help
Thank you Randy for your honest reviews. Based off your review of the Aiyima 07, I took a chance. Just received today and I am more than pleased! I have my Schiit stack (Magni,Loki,Modi,Mani) connected with an Audio-technica AT-LP120 taking care of the analog end. On the digital end, I am using a Sony DVD player to handle CDs out the Coax output and a Raspberry Pi running Moody Audio for streaming. All this goes to a Bose AM-7 sub and 2 dual cubes. So far everything I have thrown at it has sounded awesome. No distortion when cranking up volume either! Perfect setup in small room. Thanks again! Keep up the great videos!
Peace
Thank you!!!! I just missed CDs and was just trying to figure out if it’s worth buying em again and good Lord every other video I saw said so many words I couldn’t understand. Thank you for speaking plain language. I was getting turned off of the whole idea and it was making me so sad cause I hate streaming. But then you popped up! I want a set up for my downtime after work but I need my money to do other things too like clothe and feed my children.
This man made those Sonys $220 single handed
Awesome video! I'm not in need of a good stereo but if I was, I'd be looking at this. Right now I have a pair of HZ Audio's speakers which use Vefa components. I worked in the shop that built them and we built probably over 100 pairs. Very small company. I have a Dynakit 70 stereo tube power amp and a NAD pre-amp. I use my DVD player for CDs and it all sounds fine!
Dang, you put a ton of work into this video, research, and description details. Thank you!
Thanks much! The Aiyima T8 resurrected my Bose Wave radio AWR1-1W with blue tooth function through RCA cables. Sounds great!
Another great example that you can have a great sounding system on the cheap 👍 I put together my bedroom system on your recommendations (Fosi BT and CS5s) Thanks Randy!
Now excuse my while I resist the urge to buy the Elac's on sale.....
i would add the jamo s 803's those are some amazing speakers for the price of 150$....great bass mids and highs,i was blown away by them,they sound like 700$+ speakers
Agree. Very nice speaker
Too bad the prices for all of these shot up
Clicked the first item and it’s double the price he mentions in his video. Love to see it.
You shut up!
You have some of the best videos and tons of humor 😁🤣
Better than the serious guys who review snobby equipment with stuck up attitude!
Keep up the great work sir!!
This is straight facts. I picked up a small USB-C to 3.5 mm DAC, and a dirt cheap two channel amp to connect my tower speakers to a laptop or phone. It's setup in my daughters room and it sounds great. Total spend was $270 AUD (speakers from FB Marketplace). In a bigger room it wouldn't be that great, but in her average sized bedroom it puts out decent volume, and the speakers have decent bass (no subwoofer need).
GREAT system match vid. This build would fit budget, space in home, etc for anyone. Also great closing exit
Years ago I had Paradigm 7se speakers (late 80s) and later picked up a pair of Radio Shack Nova bookshelves at 1/7 the price. At lower volumes the tonality and detail were similar between the two until you increased the volume. That's when you realize what you pay for.
thanks for this!! was gonna buy directly thru Amazon but have now clicked to buy via your links above.. thanks again
There's also the PSB Alpha P3's, been running those on my desk and love them!
Just got these speakers 2 days ago / impressive sound from a 4" mid bass driver.
I paid $220.00 for mine - add the Yamaha - 200W 2-Ch. Stereo Receiver - Black
Model:R-S202BL
And for $380.00, you have way better sound thanks from that little cheap chinese amp and DAC. And real stereo sound with all the functionality.
Love vids like this! Just a note: it looks like no headphone amp on the SMSL. This is going to be my desktop setup so I would rather have the headphone amp and no sub woofer with the Aiyima setup. Thanks Randy.
Thanks for this video! I am just diving down this HiFi/vintage path. I ordered the A07 to hook up from my pre out on my AV receiver to the A07 and then some huge 85 lb speakers I got while thrifting. They are 200 watt 4 ohm speakers, so I hope this does the trick.
This is so American ^^ comparing prices to a set of tires (I haven't been driving a car for 10 years now), homes for our troops and paying your taxes (here in Germany you pay taxes automatically) are all so unrelatable
I got the Sony bookshelfs at your reccomendation, Maybe it was just my amp or the fact that I'm primarily running a turntable setup, but I found the mid-range way too scooped. Return them and I'm sticking with my dayton audio for now. Thanks for the tips!
My desktop is Fulla Schiit 3 (Dac, Headphone amp, Mic input, $109), an SMSL SA-50 ($69 class D amp), and a pair of Jamo S801's ($149). Stays nicely under your $350 target. Add in a pair of DROP HiFiMan HE400i headphones and you're gonna blow your budget, but man, they sound good ;D
As happy as I am with this system, I'm upgrading the Jamo's to a pair of GR-Research mini's, as soon as the flat packs get here. Puts the system at $377. My first foray into DIY speakers... which, from what Danny says, was kinda the point of these Mini's.
Still looking forward to a Schiit Modi Multibit review... if you can get your hands on one.
Absolutely love using my father's 1985 Honda Big Red 350 ATC! Tipsy but fun!
I’ve heard good things about those Sony speakers. The only thing I have under $350 are Martin Logan Forte wireless amp. It was on sale for $249 (was $599). AirPlay, DTS Play-Fi and analog input. Digital 100w RMS into 4ohm and if you need more bass it has a subwoofer output. The package also includes Anthem Room Correction with the mic. I was pretty impressed, I bought a second for a cheap audio system.
Great channel - an antidote to those hifi chatrooms where each person cannot resist adding what their own system consists of as a badge of status.
If I wasn’t already loving the Yamaha 7.1 receiver I found at goodwill for 25 bucks, I’d be all over this stuff. 😂
This is easily the best 10 bucks a month sub I have.
One of my favorite affordable speakers which may sound crazy but they sound really, really good it plays frequencies I haven't heard before even with $4k systems. They are...Logitech Z625 400 watt 2.1 THX certified computer speakers! 🤭🙈 They blow my mind. They get loud but not crazy loud and when turned to 100% volume you can tell it's struggling a little bit, I think the technical term is you can hear compression. But you wouldn't listen to music at that level it was just me seeing the capabilities of the system. So the cost...$140. Sometimes you can get them cheaper. The best part of it is hearing all the sound being presented so well and the bass. A lot of speakers the bass is just boom boom with out hearing much of a difference in the tone. This one the bass goes very low, down to 37hz. It really brings the music to life and you feel like you are hearing music in a new way, like your hearing it how the artist intended it to sound like. The speakers itself look nice, though I wish they were made to where you could hang them on the wall. It has 4 inputs 1 aux.,2 RF, & 1 optical.
That sounds like a pretty good setup for a modest sized room. Add a decent sub and you can still come in under four figures. No doubt the tube is a superfluous buffer but what the heck.
At the moment I haven't finished setting up a main system for the music room so I am currently using an el cheapo setup that sounds a whole lot better than it has any right to...
Source: PC running Ubuntu Studio Linux OS. Have ripped CD playing in Rhythmbox, CDs through built in drive, and online such as youtube.
Amp: Cheap Lepai Class AB 2.1
Main Speakers: Home made OBs using Mark audio 4" Fullrange (most expensive single component) and 10" Goldwood OEM class helper woofers.
Sub: Cobbled together home built with 12" Goldwood sub driver and salvaged JBL 15" passive radiator tuned to about 22Hz.
It manages a reasonably plausible representation of an actual performance. Room for improvement? Absolutely. Sound like crap? Far from it.