Audiophile System Under $350 – This Budget Audiophile System Will Knock Your Socks Off
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Sony SSCS5 https://amzn.to/3hCaEuG
Elac Debut b6.2 https://amzn.to/3ysoRBc
Neumi BS5 https://amzn.to/3Axu4JP
Aiyima A07 https://amzn.to/3dSg6bJ
Aiyima T8 https://amzn.to/3jVBJMl
SMSL SA300 https://amzn.to/3Au0XXX
Loxjie A30 https://amzn.to/3ytt3AD
Emotiva SE8 https://emotiva.com?aff=9
Emotiva SE12 https://emotiva.com?aff=9
3.5 mm to RCA https://amzn.to/2TzuS0j
RCA Cable https://amzn.to/36iUyAQ
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Test Track Playlist:
https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/24d254ee836b42dda037530f77fedc2esune?ref=dm_sh_0c0d-7fb2-b9eb-7614-9cb17
Satanic Panic Playlist:
https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/0868bb9f479846fd8b221c2a77ea2e0bsune?ref=dm_sh_d600-359c-60fe-d886-cff9a
Leg Warmers Playlist
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DIY Assembly for $350 email me with “DIY Assembly” in subject line cheapaudioman@gmail.com
Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 – $150)
Sony SSCS5 – Lively https://amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen – Laid Back
Neumi BS5 -Neutral https://amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ – Crystal Clear and Punchy http://emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Debut b5.2 – Neutral https://amzn.to/2WPNQxw
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 (In and Out of Stock) – Laid Back/Bassy/Detailed https://amzn.to/37W8hPA
JBL Stage A130 – Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value https://amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Klipsch RP600M – Neutral https://amzn.to/3pBoXCf (This speaker’s price can fluctuate between $440-630 which is really dumb)
Jamo C93ii Bit – Boosted on Top https://amzn.to/3beIG6F (Can also be found cheaper at Crutchfield)
Q Acoustics 3030i – Neutral with Punch – https://amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500
SVS Prime https://bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 http://bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 – Neutral https://amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference – Buttery but Detailed https://amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100 – Neutral
Aperion Novus – Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 https://bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 https://bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed https://amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles
Recommended Amp List
Under $100
Aiyima A07 – Neutral and Full https://amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130
SMSL AD18 – DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls https://amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 https://amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250
SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp https://amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400
Emotiva TA-100 – DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs – Balanced and Tasty https://emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark http://www.vista-audio.com/products.htm
Recommended DACs
Ifi Zen DAC https://amzn.to/2T3wuyY
FX D01 https://amzn.to/3d9GY6U
SMSL SU8s https://amzn.to/2SWTGiw
Denafrips Ares 2 https://www.denafrips.com/ares
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.
why would you want to use bluetooth, doesn’t the audio get compressed?
Can this still be accomplished?
I just got this very setup on your recommendation, and am absolutely loving it. Thanks so much!
If I buy the Sony speakers I wouldn’t need the amp, right? Just wanting to make sure I understand properly about powered vs passive amps.
How does this differ from using a receiver only
First dip into high quality audio. Got the T8 and AO7 run to elac UB51s and it is the best audio I have ever heard, don’t know how it could get much better.
SMSL PO100 PRO MQA Decoding USB Digital Interface XOMS XU316 for PS5 Switch, this is £66, add that to the Wiim Ultra £350, then add Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 Speakers at £179, would this be a good setup or could you recommend cheaper speakers that match or better em? Or do i need powered speakers?
Would someone here help me understand the difference between buying these two pieces and a set of decent speakers vs. buying a refurbished vintage stereo reciever for $200 and a set of decent speakers? Thank you so much
Noob question: would this setup work for both a tv/entertainment system as well as a turntable for music? Looking to put together an affordable setup for all of it
This is great Randy. Thanks. Any suggestions on a phono pre-amp to get me started? I have a turntable already w/o an integrated pre-amp and I’m ditching my old all-in-one receiver for setup like what you’re suggesting in this video.
Love this until recently I started playing bluray from my tv, this is connected via bluetooth, dialogue is so much lower than the sound effects and there arent any presets for this set up. Can only adjust treble and base? Any ideas?
Viewer with the hard "R", I felt that.
i mean, this is a 3 year old video.. but "under 350dollar". umm one speaker alone is 430€ atm..
Im very newbie on audio but can the Aiyima A07 work with the two Sony SSCS5? And could I add a Subwoofer to it? Thanks for your video.
Geez, than for letting us HEAR that setup! 🙄😳
Yeh I’m usually pretty doubtful of audiophile claims, but yeh given different material choices there is going to be a time where when the dome is fresh it’s going to be more or less rigid due to being flexed a lot so a speaker having a certain time until it falls into sounding mostly like it will for the rest of it’s life makes sense.
Randy in 2024: “budged audiophile system for under $3,500…” 🤣🤣🤣
Hu thanks for the lead on the Aiyima A07 and Aiyima T8 wanted something for my PC and phone for my room to tide me move until I can save up to build the system for my living room, so Sony SSCS5, A07, T8 perfect. Don’t need anything crazy for my room and that will do me just fine for the moment, currently having to use the internal speakers in my TV for my PC… not happy.
But yeh the living room system is gonna be like $3000 total, no reason to spend that much for my room because it’s so much smaller than the living room it would be a waste anyway.
Are you planning on updating this for 2024 or 2025?
The one audiophile to get the struggle of high school walmart wages
Audiophile with a mic like this jeez
Haven’t had a good system in approx 10 years….at that time i was using vintage gear, nothing too fancy but decent for playing my records. Looking to play Cds and stream music at decent quality sound…the options you provided seem great at the price. I’m between one of these options and just getting a Denon M41S. Would the Denon mini hifi deliver close to the same sound as your cheapest option? If it wont please talk me out of the Denon and set me straight!!
Have pair of Sonys got em for $2 at flea market even with sub they hardly Audiophile really need EQ have bunch of speakers JBL Klipsch etc. Sonys use then for delay channel xover 60hz
I am in the Fort Worth Texas area, I have a Sony surround system that I have had since the 2000s, and since then I have become completely blind. I have lost all my site. The system is a very good system. It sounded amazing when I was able to use it but what my question is is there somebody that can tell me if I can, add auxiliary cord to this or Bluetooth capability to this system. If so, please let me know. Thank you guys and God bless.
I have $400.00 into the designated 20 amp outlet that feeds my system. lol.
Can a subwoofer be attached to an ao7? It looks like it can but I’m still trying to figure this all out
@cheapaudioman what if I don’t use the DAC?
Man, I’d like to know if I can replace those Aiyima A07 and Aiyima T8 with an Aiyima T9 or a T9 Pro
I hate watching this video now knowing that the ssc5 cost over 300 for me now…
Do you have a video for turntable recomendations? Thank you
Three wheelers from honda were life as a kid XD Would it be really considered a “complete system hifi” with no dedicated sub? Idk i dont think i can go with out a dedicated sub thats blasphemy i mean where do my lows come from when my mids and highs are the speakers job right thats the way i look at it but thats just my opinion personally… great video love the channel
Old guy here – I cant believe how they have schmoozed the public into forgetting about old school gear – 100wpch receivers with actual bass and treble controls, real power and radio, three way floor standing 12" speakers that made great bass with no need for a sub woofer. Guess I was lucky to live during the great "watt wars" of the 70’s when stereo’s could shake windows and sound great doing it.
I appreciate this content but, Please update or adjust the gear for this setup according to today’s pricing! 9/6/2024
Wait! Randy says Bluetooth sucks! (I’m pretty sure)
Ive gotten used to accurate production and to save money i bought expensive headphones and use my phone
On my PC have the same amp and Wharfdale Diamond 9.1 and sounds quite good, especially the speakers as heard them in CEX and thought these little speakers are filling the shop. I know AV as have Kef Reference floor standers on my main system.
I just purchased this setup, but I am struggling with the RCA cables that I purchased from the list, how do I get them to seat in the speakers, amp and dac?
How do the Sony SSCS5 compare to Argon Audio FORUS 5 ?
5:51 numbers must have been invented by an evil man🤣
Sony,
Would not waste my money.
pictures?
Hi Randy, I love the content. I am amazed at the bargain Hi-Fi available today. In 1989, I was a college student and bought a Technics SAR 330 ($229) and a pair of Cerwin Vega D3s ($238). The $467 I spent on my receiver/speakers in ’89 is equivalent to over $1100 in 2025! I only had the AM-FM receiver for a source, but I saved enough for a Technics double cassette deck a few months later. And I rounded out the system with a Technics 5 CD carousel. Up til that point in my life, I had a Panasonic RX-C45 (boombox). I loved my components, and I kept them for more than 20 years.
I recently took your advice and bought a pair of Jamo 93 iis, and I like them. Thanks again for the excellent advice.
I am 45 seconds into the video and I already love it😂😂 your vibe is just amazing😂✊🏽
You can a quite decent sound from a Samsung 2.1 soundbar for £99. I used to push my TV through my Sansui R50 into my Spendor BC1’s but now I dont bother.
These speakers are abysmal. Better skip the DAC and get more serious speakers. Like Magnat monitor bookshelves with 6.5 drivers – among the best for the money."Hifi" is more than good highs, you definitely need decent bass too.
I have a little Fosi amp and I think it’s basically the same as the Ayema. I love it. Not bad at all. When I am listening to it, I don’t feel wanting for better sound. There is an old Polk ported 2-way with their Dynamic Balance tweeter that I think images a little better then my Elac Debuts, and I use those with the Fosi. The Debuts have more solid bass though, and when they get bass they cannot handle, the woofers just make weak bass, they don’t flop around and make a chuffing noise. The Polk woofers make chuffing noises. So while the Polks have a real weakness, I still love them.
Wow!!! Inflation! Watching this video in 2024 and the Sony speakers are $200 😡
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.
Great advice.
Nice idea… Good sound on a budget.
But I can’t believe class D amplifiers can please audiophiles.
They are basically variable switched mode power supplies.
Horrible!