[geeks] decent stereo kit on a budget (classical Baroque plus rock)

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Patrick Giagnocavo wrote:
> Let's say you have $300 to spend on used stereo kit.
> 
> Can you get a decent turntable, CD player, receiver/amplifier, and 2 
> good speakers used or new with that combo?
> 
> I listen to a mix of classical (Mozart/Beethoven/Bach plus lesser known 
> Baroque) and rock music (opera, not so much).
> While 128Kbps MP3 usually sounds good enough, there are times I want to 
> set aside the headphones and iPod or laptop, sit in a big easy chair 
> (yet to be purchased) after a meal and really *listen* either by myself 
> or with guests.
> 
> Is it worth prowling the shops for decent but older vinyl recordings, or 
> is that method of getting good music cheap mostly disappeared
> at this point?
> 
> Please no $10,000 Class D amp setups or tube-freakazoids with their 1938 
> Hungarian-made left-handed red dot tube setups.  Yes I know the guy from 
> Boston does his own sound engineering and uses tubes - I don't have his 
> knowledge nor his budget.
> 
> If not $300, what is a reasonable price?  What goes into getting a 
> decent speaker these days?

Probably more like $600 for a decent setup for vinyl.  For $300, you 
should be able to do the CD player and the receiver.  I did a home 
theater system including DVD player, AV receiver and five speakers + sub 
for $800, the last time I bought something.

Peace...  Sridhar