Mortsnets
Junior Member
I own the Klipsch speakers and like them for the liveliness. They are not for everyone and not the most refined speakers. I use them in a large room with a homemade bucket sub.
Last edited:
$2000 Doorway SET/HE Sounding System
- Thread starter prime minister
- Start date
IMO SET systems start, evolve around and end with the speakers - start there and forget about everything else until you've gotten by step 1 and are well happy with your pick.
I wouldn't consider anything less than maybe 95db sensitivity per watt either, since this price-point is going to mean a real low power SET amp. It's been a few years since I've been to shows or retailers to hear what is currently available new, and I I honestly can't think of anything I've listened to that would work brand new, plug and play, no DIY in a $2K system. The Tekton Mini Lore and Klipsch RP600M mentioned above sure seem interesting though, I'd maybe seek them out for a listen - if that's even possible post 2020.
I wouldn't consider anything less than maybe 95db sensitivity per watt either, since this price-point is going to mean a real low power SET amp. It's been a few years since I've been to shows or retailers to hear what is currently available new, and I I honestly can't think of anything I've listened to that would work brand new, plug and play, no DIY in a $2K system. The Tekton Mini Lore and Klipsch RP600M mentioned above sure seem interesting though, I'd maybe seek them out for a listen - if that's even possible post 2020.
@prime minister, are flat-pack cabinets allowed in the rules or is that too close to DIY?
If so, you could slap those 15" speakers into a pair of these Parts Express 15" trapezoidal cabinets: PA Knock-Down Trapezoid Plywood Speaker Cabinet for 15" Driver (parts-express.com). Of course, that'd bump the total cost by $300.
This is hard as Bill mentioned because in order to really do SET right, you either need to do a lot of DIY or throw a lot of money at it, that being said, here's my gateway options (technically, SEP, not SET):
$629 Klipsch RP600M
$995 Decware Zen SE84UFO
OR
$435 Musical Paradise MP-301-MK3
$350 Cambridge Audio AXC35
$1,974 for the Zen system
$1,435 for the MP-301 system
Note: if Raspberry P streamers are considered OK in the rules outlined, then I'd replace the AXC35 with the following and save $140 and dramatically increase my flexibility:
$95 SMSL M100 USB DAC
$115 PI Shop Raspberry Pi 4B Starter Kit
$0 Moode Audio Player
$629 Klipsch RP600M
$995 Decware Zen SE84UFO
OR
$435 Musical Paradise MP-301-MK3
$350 Cambridge Audio AXC35
$1,974 for the Zen system
$1,435 for the MP-301 system
Note: if Raspberry P streamers are considered OK in the rules outlined, then I'd replace the AXC35 with the following and save $140 and dramatically increase my flexibility:
$95 SMSL M100 USB DAC
$115 PI Shop Raspberry Pi 4B Starter Kit
$0 Moode Audio Player
I like this plan. At a $2000 (USD) budget, you’d not only have enough left for a CD or DVD player and cables, but also an upgrade to the standard Tekton Lore.
You’ve also got a free analog input on the MP301 for a phono rig or what have you.
I had a similar mental exercise, trying to compile a smaller system I could use in a den with a sound characteristic I could live with. It would have to be tube-powered, and speakers small enough to give a good reproduction range yet have deep bass and a sound that isn't too forward or bright. And then, I get tripped up along the way when trying to choose a digital source I can live with.
While I can't recommend sources (some prefer digital server/streaming, some prefer CD/SACD, some prefer analog), and certainly can't recommend speakers (again, it's way too subjective for me to suggest anything), I would base it around a Conrad-Johnson CAV50 if I could find the right deal on one. (The newer CAV45 is more money.) Sadly this is the only component I could decide upon. And it would take some hunting to find one for around $1,250. There is also the PrimaLuna Prologue 1 (integrated amp) that can be had for around the same price or even less. Another good choice IMHO.
So unfortunately, I guess I'll have to bow out on most of this $2,000 challenge. I have the anchor picked out (the C-J or the PrimaLuna), but the rest I really have no options to choose from until I get out to hear more components.
While I can't recommend sources (some prefer digital server/streaming, some prefer CD/SACD, some prefer analog), and certainly can't recommend speakers (again, it's way too subjective for me to suggest anything), I would base it around a Conrad-Johnson CAV50 if I could find the right deal on one. (The newer CAV45 is more money.) Sadly this is the only component I could decide upon. And it would take some hunting to find one for around $1,250. There is also the PrimaLuna Prologue 1 (integrated amp) that can be had for around the same price or even less. Another good choice IMHO.
So unfortunately, I guess I'll have to bow out on most of this $2,000 challenge. I have the anchor picked out (the C-J or the PrimaLuna), but the rest I really have no options to choose from until I get out to hear more components.
Flatvpack was definitely on my mind too....
As long as no cutting is required. The ones I've seen on Madisound just require glue and clamps.
OK. That'll allow @radarek to use his suggestion.
Frugal horn flat pack w/ Alphar 7 $330.00
Allo Boss Player $171.00
IfI power supply $49.00
Musical Pardise MP-301 MK3 El34 SE amp $435.00
Schiit Loki $ 149.00
Sega Planar 1 with phono amp $595.00
$200.00 for interconnects.
Total 1929.00 plus tax and shipping
Allo Boss Player $171.00
IfI power supply $49.00
Musical Pardise MP-301 MK3 El34 SE amp $435.00
Schiit Loki $ 149.00
Sega Planar 1 with phono amp $595.00
$200.00 for interconnects.
Total 1929.00 plus tax and shipping
Last edited:
Thank you Sir :-)
As an alternative to the Musical Paradise amp: Bottlehead's Single-Ended eXperimenter's (S. E. X.) kit w/ C4S - $574. Plus another $100 for a half decent soldering station and some solder. The latter will easily pay for themselves if you get the soldering bug.
It's sad that the prospect of having to solder things scares most people off. If you managed to learn to tie your shoelaces as a kid, you can learn to solder. And it opens up a whole new way of engaging with this hobby.
It's sad that the prospect of having to solder things scares most people off. If you managed to learn to tie your shoelaces as a kid, you can learn to solder. And it opens up a whole new way of engaging with this hobby.
Agree.
If kit were allowed per the bosses rules this would change to game two much higher level.
ejfud
Junior Member
Oh forgot it includes Alphar7s ... now edited 😎
And it would also eliminate a lot of folks from contention. If I had unlimited funds, I'd call up Grahame from Coup de Foudre in Montreal, order the Devore O96's and a nice Shindo setup to drive it, and call it a day. Im sure anyone who heard it would do the same. However, that would be the price of a new Mustang, which knocks most folks out of contention.
''The point of this exercise is to give those folks some of that experience, without having to sling solder on their own.
Similar threads
