Need LOW budget suggestions

[sjtm]

My son's girlfriend has asked for my advice on putting together a LOW budget system to listen to vinyl. She loves music and I gave her a pair of HD 598 headphones last year that I was not using, but now wants something that she can enjoy with friends. Her total budget is $600. Her apartment is not very big, but she wants good sound at louder volumes.

I have read good reviews of the U Turn Orbit TT (which is made locally ) and sells for $179.

There seems to be a lot of love online for some budget Pioneer floorstander speakers (SP-FS52) designed by Andrew Jones (now doing the same or ELAC), but the specs seem to indicate they are relatively inefficient (87db @ 6 ohms), which implies a larger amp to drive them. I can find these for around $175/pair used.

Can anyone suggest a good used integrated amp or receiver that can deliver 100watts/channel for $200 or less? Alternatively, a more efficient speaker and compatible lower power integrated amp/ receiver that meets the budget. Thanks.

[JoeE SP9]

In my bedroom I have a pair of the Pioneer BS-21's with an 8" Monoprice sub woofer all driven by a 50WPC Yamaha AV receiver (RX-V377) The volume levels are more than adequate.

[Mr Peabody]

Actually 87dB is about average, in line with most mass market like Polk or Infinity. I think buying new you are on the right track. Onkyo did make a stereo receiver for right around $200.00 or so and I believe it has a phono input.

You might check Craigslist in your area for a used stereo receiver. I also see plenty of Klipsch on there that are highly efficient but you will give up low bass for loud in most instances in the price you are looking.

NAD has some budget integrated, out of your budget, but may be found in your budget used.

Good hunting

[blackraven]

Here is a nice budget Onkyo high current receiver with built in Phono pre, 50wpc high current will play plenty loud. Going up to 100wpc won't add much.

Onkyo TX-8020 Stereo Receiver TX-8020 B&H Photo Video


For speakers I would go with the Andrew Jones designed Elac B6's book shelfs. Read the reviews, they were the rage of the Newport Audio Show

ELAC Debut B6 Bookshelf Speakers (Pr) at Music Direct

[blackraven]

Other options are the Emotiva Fusion Flex receiver and the mini XA-100 integrated.

https://emotiva.com/products/amplifiers/mini-x-100

Or the smooth sounding Topping TP-60 digital amp. This will probably sound the most hifi .

http://www.amazon.com/Topping-TP60-C.../dp/B008RVKAY0

None of these have a built in phono pre.

[recoveryone]

for the price of the Pioneer Jones bookshelf, you could go for a pair of Fluance towers SX series

[blackraven]

For a TT she may be better off with the Denon DP-300F which is fully auto. It occasionally goes for about $229 if you catch it right.

DENON DP-300F Belt Drive Fully Automatic Analog Turntable | Accessories4less

https://www.newaudiounited.com/index...&product_id=85

[sjtm]

Thanks for many great suggestions. We foung the Onkyo for $175 - great that it has the built in phono amp. We plan to visit the Uturn "factory" as someone told me they occasionally have 2nds ((finish blemishes) at a discount. we might keep this effort under $500 for a nice little setup - which will leave more for her used vinyl budget.

[blackraven]

I would go for the upgrade Grado cartridge and also the tone arm lifter option. Eventually she could upgrade to the Emotiva Phono preamp which is supposed to be very good from what I have read. The phono pre in the onkyo is an after thought from user reviews.

The elac speakers are going top be a step above the Pioneers for sure. I would not skimp on the speakers.

[electricladyland]

Hi sjtm,

I have a pr. of the Pioneer SP-FS52's that i picked up new at 1/2 RRP. I use them in my kitchen system. For what they are they are fantastic. I have 5 sets of speakers ranging up to pretty high end.

I'm playing them as I type. They look pretty ordinary, but the sound for the money is good. I'm running a Vincent SA-T1 pre. into a an upgraded Australian Benchmark A300, puts out 160W. a side, high current and biased heavily into Class A. Realise that hardly anyone else would run this quality into them, but they are the least pre/power combo I own. They lap up the power. While understandably they don't go deep, they have a nice punchy bass, mid is good, the top end is it's weakness (not irritating, just a bit tappy), I intend to upgrade the tweeters one day.

For a small room, rumpus, kitchen, bedroom, workshop I doubt whether you would find much come close near the price. They like punchy hard rock, can get a bit ragged if pushed really hard, but I do listen to music loud and no problem at high volume in a small room. I feel they do like a fair bit of grunt from an amp. I just recently put one my better CD players in and they lapped it up.

Overall a fun speaker, do feel your friend would need to up the budget for ancillories, these speakers deserve it.