Audiophile System Under $250! Even One Under $150!

Fosi Audio BT20As Updated amzn.to/3CscUOl $64
Jamo S803 Lowest price in over 30 days amzn.to/3ErMqwQ $140
Jamo S803 (Crutchfield) shop-links.co/cfUbOjHyxdp $150
Aiyima D03 amzn.to/3mxCY5g $160
Loxjie A30 amzn.to/3nHI66c $180
SMSL AD18 amzn.to/3mDgsrL $144
Moukey M20-1 amzn.to/3ByFLiy $70
Neumi BS5 amzn.to/3Exl8W5 $109
Micca RB42 amzn.to/3pTsCyH $160
Sony SSCS5 amzn.to/2ZK3uQ8 $168
5 Channel Setup amzn.to/3bpOvgq $240
Fosi Audio BT20a amzn.to/2Y2823z $76
Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
High Res Music Streaming for FREE!!!!
Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial amzn.to/3fiiMPC
Test Track Playlist:
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
Satanic Panic Playlist:
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
Leg Warmers Playlist
music.amazon.com/user-playlis...
cheapaudioman
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If you use any of my links to purchase products I will receive a small commission on the sale of that item. Won’t cost you any more to purchase with the link.
Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 - $150)
Sony SSCS5 - Lively amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen - Laid Back
Neumi BS5 -Neutral amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ - Crystal Clear and Punchy emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Debut b5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/2WPNQxw
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 (In and Out of Stock) - Laid Back/Bassy/Detailed amzn.to/37W8hPA
JBL Stage A130 - Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Klipsch RP600M - Neutral amzn.to/3pBoXCf (This speaker’s price can fluctuate between $440-630 which is really dumb)
Jamo C93ii Bit - Boosted on Top amzn.to/3beIG6F (Can also be found cheaper at Crutchfield)
Q Acoustics 3030i - Neutral with Punch - amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500
SVS Prime bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference - Buttery but Detailed amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100 - Neutral
Aperion Novus - Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles
Recommended Amp List
Under $100
Aiyima A07 - Neutral and Full amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130
SMSL AD18 - DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250
SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400
Emotiva TA-100 - DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs - Balanced and Tasty emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark www.vista-audio.com/products.htm
Recommended DACs
Ifi Zen DAC amzn.to/2T3wuyY
FX D01 amzn.to/3d9GY6U
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/2SWTGiw
Denafrips Ares 2 www.denafrips.com/ares
Subs
Emotiva SE8 emotiva.com?aff=9
Emotiva SE12 emotiva.com?aff=9
SVS SB1000 Pro bit.ly/3scmwsc

[@cheapaudioman]

Fosi Audio BT20As Updated amzn.to/3CscUOl $64 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Jamo S803 Lowest price in over 30 days amzn.to/3ErMqwQ $140 )))))))))))))Jamo S803 (Crutchfield) shop-links.co/cfUbOjHyxdp $150 Aiyima D03 amzn.to/3mxCY5g $160 Loxjie A30 amzn.to/3nHI66c $180 SMSL AD18 amzn.to/3mDgsrL $144 Moukey M20-1 amzn.to/3ByFLiy $70 Neumi BS5 amzn.to/3Exl8W5 $109 Micca RB42 amzn.to/3pTsCyH $160 Sony SSCS5 (On sale down to $88) amzn.to/2ZK3uQ8 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5 Channel Setup amzn.to/3bpOvgq $240 Fosi Audio BT20a amzn.to/2Y2823z $76 --------------------Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 =================www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman

[@Jack-oc2fc]

Is the Jamo S803 better than the Emotiva B1+

[@RanTausi]

Please make a review of the Fosi audio tube P1 preamp.

[@daverozelle5229]

Sony SSCS5 is already down to $88 on sale at Amazon! How does this compare to the Jamo? And the sony line has a 5-channel pairings that total about $280; so comparing that to the Jamo 5-ch it feels like Sony is a great steal for a single set of bookshelves; but if I need the 5ch then the Jamo is a great bundle... how close am I to reality or still sniffing the kids candy?

[@cheapaudioman]

@@Jack-oc2fc not for detail retrieval. Emos are a special speaker

[@Jack-oc2fc]

@@cheapaudioman for the discounted price, is it smarter to go for the jamo or is the emotiva worth the extra 110? I just want to listen to music and enjoy it, knowing that it sounds how it should. I just want to be happy.

[@jimfarrell4635]

This is truly a Golden Age of entry level audio. The world as a whole might be going to hell but now more people than ever can console themselves with great sound. And that's not sarcasm. When life is repeatedly punching me in the face, the thing I always go back to to make me feel better is hifi. Like you, Randy, I wish all this choice had been available back in the day.

[@earlismarks7108]

Yes indeed I agree...Home Audio options have never been better!

[@bwithrow011]

Agree 100%

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@earlismarks7108 the price is the only thing that i never found better but in the 70´s anything was very expensive so 1981 was the year that all prices came down only cd players didn´t for several reasons,mainly because they didn´t sell them but when cd´s appear cost the same as today ,only in 93 i started to buy them the material they were made was very expensive but they started to made them from a cheaper material and the prices become half ,only had 7 cds till then but the old ones were hard to destroy or risk them ,i use to clean them in the kitchen with flowing water and a scoth-brite and today they might have no brightness but not one song is failing all old ones play perfect

[@goobfilmcast4239]

Also consider the rise of streaming choices for audio.... the size of the available music catalog combined with great sounding, budget-friendly equipment has indeed introduced the "Golden Age" ..... too bad most current music is in the caca age....

[@bwithrow011]

@@goobfilmcast4239 Agreed 👍. The Golden Age of Music 🎶 passed. Reminds me of the rockumentary The Golden Age of Rock n Roll hosted by John Sébastien. That was music!

[@morganmaceachern1214]

Man these videos are getting better and better. It's great to see your personality shine through as you get more comfortable with the camera. Plus with the improvements in editing, great video and audio quality, and your top notch information, it's only a matter of time before the channel blows up.

[@cheapaudioman]

Thanks, Morgan! I really appreciate it. Let's hope it blows up! I've been surprised just how quickly we've already grown. Here's hoping it goes even faster!

[@richardhornberger6815]

1

[@petethegreekre]

How you pulled off a video after a tough night out and then being a dad is remarkable!

[@cheapaudioman]

Ha. Well thanks!

[@robh9079]

'Hair of the Dog'?

[@JohnScheppler]

Amazing entry level set ups, thanks for helping us. I don't use tone controls I just dust my speakers with the Chicken Hawk Audiophile rock or country dust rags to adjust the sound profile.

[@redlion145]

Non-clean sound coming from your source? Don't waste money on expensive cables or buying a DAC - Just dust those cables with the Chicken Hawk Audiophile dust rags and you'll instantly have cleaner sound!

[@theagent578]

I found you at the right time. Ive been waiting 3 years to convert my tv to a 2 channel setup from a cheap soundbar. I finally decided to do it and i feel like this video was for me. I also lucked out and found a set of Paradigm Monitor Atom SE's for 160 (Very lightly used). And you nailed the Sony pricing - the SSCS5 was down to 88 this past week.

[@nktpt]

Thank you so much Randy! Keep doing recommendation videos like this, it really helps us doing a great choice. Can't wait to build one system and hear it!

[@kingbearr1854]

Just purchased the Jamo S803/Aiyima D03 using the links as an intro to audiophile systems! Hoping to be able to pair it with a PSW111 8" sub my dad gave me a few years back. I really appreciate your knowledgeable and entertaining content! Thank you for making it easier to get my feet wet.

[@chrisn589]

Picked up the Sony’s on the last Amazon sale for $88. They completely rock! I am blown away. Thank you for bringing this content to the masses!

[@reisshep]

I'm using Fosi Audio BT30E, it's a great amp! Passive sub out, active sub out, bluetooth, USB... Has it all. And the sound is amazing, too. Really good stuff. It only has a single quirk: power saving mode. It enters standby really fast if there's complete silence and when you pull it out of standby there's like 0.5 seconds of silence before it starts playing sound. It might be because of my DAC because I've never heard of people having this issue. I love the little thing.

[@ginom407]

Bravo Randy!!! Just in time for Christmas🎄. I now know what my family will be getting this year.👍👍👍

[@Trolleybus62]

I just want to say thanks for this video. I got the Aiyima D05 with the Sony speakers and sub, all for a total of $350 on sale around Thanksgiving last year and it's been a blast listening to music and watching movies with that system. Glad to see that your channel keeps growing and I hope to upgrade that system soon. Happy holidays!

[@billmankin6204]

Thanks so much for this and your other budget reviews. I needed to replace my office computer speakers (crappy logitech) and wanted a step up in fidelity. Tried the Moukeys and Fosi BT20As, and couldn't be happier. Well, I could but not for the price. Have them paired with the old powered sub, and it really fills out the thin low end. Need a turntable next to be able to break out my old vinyl.

[@nathanaelcole8466]

I am very pleased with my Fosi DA-2120C and Jamo S803. Definitely on a budget when choosing things, but it is pretty nice sounding. That Fosi has sub out, optical, USB, aux, and bluethooth. Plus a remote and preset EQ and bass and treble control through the remote.

[@perra002]

Thanks for putting a video like this. You are nailing it for people in apartments.

[@Cyba_IT]

When I was a kid, after I'd saved up for god knows how long, Dad took me to the local Hi-Fi store and I came home with a pair of Wharfdale Modus One bookshelves and a Pioneer receiver. He gave me an old Teac CD player to complete the system. They sounded pretty damn good and 30+ years later, amazingly, they still do. I say amazingly because they received a hammering at parties, at dorms and everything in between. I like to look after my gear so they hardly have a scratch on them. They've been relegated to the bedroom in my house now but are still going as strong as ever. I'm sure the items you listed will also last a lifetime if looked after.

[@dougburg3210]

how old are you 20?

[@Cyba_IT]

@@dougburg3210 40 actually. Why do you ask?

[@ptg01]

I can relate to your story.. I have only acquired two pairs of speakers my entire life (I am in my 60's), both of which are still kicking..... One for hi-fi stereo, one for TV... Could not be happier.

[@Cyba_IT]

@@ptg01 Very nice PG. Just goes to show that if you spend a little more initially, do your research and get good quality equipment it'll serve you well and you won't have to replace it every 5 years. Especially with speakers as the underlying technology hasn't changed much at all for decades.

[@ptg01]

@@Cyba_IT So true.. but sometimes there's always that urge to 'upgrade' but I have a very hard time justifying the cost to replace as there is absolutely nothing wrong with what I have from 30+ years ago, especially for my aging ears !

[@TheMNbassHunter]

Thanks for bringing awareness to these budget friendly audio options. I've been looking for a cheap, small setup to replace the portable speaker in my kitchen. I landed on the Fosi DA2120A, Wiim Mini Airplay2, and a pair of Neumi BS5 speakers. Seems like a nice little system for just over $300.

[@geezer5236]

Nice work. Good timing. Especially now as we approach the holiday season. More like this perhaps targeting other price points. You're one of the few who fill this niche

[@cheapaudioman]

thanks, Dean

[@qualitysets]

I love how you just throw random stuff in like "I can hold this with my teeth". Outstanding. Alan Partridge vibes. Fantastic advice and channel.

[@ArtoPekkanen]

You're my favorite guy for consumer audio equipment revies ... you got serious talent for this stuff :)

[@Michaelincontext]

Bought the Fosi Audio DA2120C Bluetooth 5.0 Amplifier 240W Stereo and a set of Jamo S 803 speakers so the whole system $337.00. Now it isn't a high end stereo but for a the right room, it's great. I use with BT and stream from TIDAL or Spotify from a phone or tablet and it's great. Thanks for your review!

[@EsotericArctos]

I love what you are doing with your channel and showing people that good quality doesnt need to cost a fortune. In fact, if you did a blind test, I would cahllenge any audiophile to actually pick which is the $10,000 system and which is under $500

[@joemartin6439]

75 years in audio ,music lover hear, Casta B horn speaker , audio space AS-3i integrated tube amp , modified Thorens TD 160 turntable, new Jelco 550S tonearm Grace M-F 9 , with nude Elliptical stylus, 6 Acoustic Audio York phono stage, BlueSound Vault 2 , Audio Lab, CDT 6000 cd transfer , Aune X8 Magic DAC with changeable op amp. Just love my music. Vinyl, digital, CD’s. Who could want as thing more thanks for all your hard work dude

[@eddents]

Thank-you CAM! That was a list of gear at low prices that was almost exhaustive (as perhaps last night's concert?). Your gear lists are always so helpful and will make shopping a breeze this holiday. Clips of the concert had it looking a smidge louder than your typical Yo-Yo Ma concert. Hope you had earplugs to keep from become the Ringing Ears CAM.

[@cheapaudioman]

Oh yes on the ear plugs. I bought new ones just for this event.

[@eddents]

@@cheapaudioman Great to hear (haha)! I urge all your viewers to always protect their most personal and dear audio gear of all. Take it from me, trying to listen to the music you love through the din of around the clock tinnitus is something I wish on no one.

[@moonytheloony6516]

Hey There Randy, This right here is why I’ve been watching your channel since mid-January 2021. You continue to focus on the people who have some or very limited resources who wish to enjoy a hobby as seemingly infinite as music, by removing the intimidation factor that this hobby can project. You review products and teach many of us a thing or two along the way, with humility, knowledge, honesty, and humor. This channel is a healthy escape. And that’s integrity in a nutshell. I want to say “Thank You” because I do greatly appreciate this channel and the time and effort you put into it week after week. Cheers!

[@cheapaudioman]

Thanks, brother. I really appreciate that. Got a big nov and dec planned. Going to review more products each month than I have during previous months. A close out deal and other awesome affordable products. What others ignore I embrace. Appreciate you watching from the beginning. I truly appreciate you.

[@moonytheloony6516]

@@cheapaudioman You are very welcome!

[@reaper01gaming]

This is an awesome channel! I have found a lot of useful information here as I am new to the hobby. I had 2 Amazon Echo Premium sound speakers paired with their Echo sub as a home theater and it just wasn't cutting it for me. It would constantly disconnect while watching movies. Needless to say it was overly annoying... After returning them I stumbled upon your channel in doing some research and I got straight to work. I ordered the Aiyima T8 DAC and the Aiyima A07 Amp. I had a pair of old Sony SS-MB105H kevlar cone speakers laying around I had bought years ago and never did anything with and it was a night and day difference. In shopping I came across a killer deal on a Moukey MAMP4 2 channel with tone controls and Bluetooth that was marked down from $79.99 to $49.99 and had a $20 off coupon so for $29.99 I had to grab it just to have. I picked up a Polk Audio PSW10 10" powered sub for $40 locally and then found a set of Polk Audio towers with 2 smaller Polk RM101's and a Polk RM202 center channel for $100. What I was thinking of doing is using the A07 for the tower speakers and using the Moukey for the 2 RM101's and the RM202. Since I am new to this I wasn't sure if the Moukeu can power the 3 speakers since it is a 2 channel amp. Can the center speaker be split between the 2 channels? negative from the left and positive from the right or vice versa? I'm not knowledgeable on wattages and ohm ratings in this regard. I may order a 2nd A07 Amp as I was planning to just wait till the Sony 3 ways you mentioned in several videos to go on sale. Also I used your affiliate link in my Aiyima orders. Thanks for doing what you do!

[@coldfinger459sub0]

Perfect match for my speakers Pioneer SP-FS52 And 10 inch subwoofer picked up on craigslist for $90 used

[@dondelchulia3189]

Got the sscs5 because of you and while I have little experience in bookshelves I must say these are great

[@SSJfraz]

Got my Fosi Audio Amplifier hooked up to a pair of Yamaha NS-F51 floor standing speakers and it sounds great! :)

[@stephenstevens6573]

CAM back to your roots!! Great job, man! Thank uou!

[@ufarkingicehole]

Randy.. tried the Geshelli j2 dac running into a smsl 0200 (running mids and highs) and using the sub outs into a crown xls 1002 (subs on tower). Im also Running a sub out of the crown out. All balanced and sounds everybit as good as my $2000+ integrated All covered by you This is the best "cheap" set up /synergy I have found thus far. Biamped to polk lsim 705s and elac 3010 sub.

[@FashionableFather]

That last part resonated, "Don't binge...fill your soul with happiness" Love it! So true. I love/hate spotify. I don't really feel like I listen to music anymore; I'm just inundated with music options but seldom actually enjoy. My friends have convinced me to get a turntable and soon I shall I've a little stereo for records and yes occasional spotify.

[@FashionableFather]

@@mezzb very eloquent. I have a turntable now and I’m thoroughly enjoying. But it’s also helped me to find the albums I love on Spotify.

[@robertfelts8773]

I got the sony for 88 bucks and got the 100 watt fosi bluetooth amp, fantastic speaker and amp. Got their non bluetooth that's higher watts coming later in the week. The larger one might drive some modest floor speakers. Very good value

[@dazzlerweb]

The Fosi is great value, very clear detailed sound, but lacks low end. The AD18 has Bluetooth 4, this can be unreliable, but otherwise a great DAC/amp combo. SA300 is highly recommended, great sound, has the new Infineon amp chip, has less in/outs than the AD18 and no headphone amp/socket.

[@kennethjrgensen2087]

I got a budget 2.1 system and happy with it. Wharfedale 220,D10 sub Rotel RA-980BX. But then I just want to listen to music, I use my Sennheiser hd 560s with Earstudio ES100. I think it's sound fantastic for the price.

[@LuisFlores-ij9yx]

Great job! This is a great source of information. Also with a good sense of humor!

[@NickyNicest]

Had me dying when you kept cutting in with the slipknot concert footage 😂 love your channel man! You are quickly taking over as one of the top audiophile KZbin channels. I like that your videos are more edited and somewhat scripted vs Z reviews rambling but I like you both!

[@kenjikodai]

Since I've had the deluxe hifiman experience and ended up trading my Deva Pro into an Edition XS, I've gone hella broke so this channel has been nothing but amazing for someone like me who's getting into the hobby without a massive amount of money

[@MyAddictedLife]

Thank you for doing this explanation, it's easy and approachable!

[@jjdrew068]

I bought the Aiyima D03 directly for their website for $130..only issue it took 3 weeks to arrive..Using for my desktop setup, sounds great

[@hornetIIkite3]

When in my teen years I had an old Akai AM17 amplifier I bought for €10. And a pair of Philips bookshelf speakers. It created some really nice audio in my bedroom

[@michaelschneider4972]

Really loving the new sponsor!

[@thomaswachter7782]

Great review, Randy. I bought the Micca RB42's two years ago and really couldn't be happier. I have them in a fairly large living room and they fill it nicely. They are on tallish stands about 8 feet from my listening area. They are powered by the Yamaha A-S301 integrated amp, so it can be done. I would love to try some of your choices, but honestly can't imagine besting the Micca's. Thank you, Randy.

[@NWGR]

Thanks for this. Under $250 is almost impulse buy territory for a new kitchen setup for me. Right now I use a set of JBL 104s (non bt model) connected to an echo dot for kitchen music, but it doesn't really fill the area; I have to play them louder when doing the dishes. No complaints though; I only paid $50 for them during a bf sale.

[@hampyonce]

All of my sophisticated testing equipment indicates that yours is objectively the best tube for sanely-priced audio devices.

[@edgrigsby8610]

There's tons of good stuff to be had on eBay. 😄. I picked up a Denon 1560 CD player for $250. It sold for over $2000 new. It sounds AMAZING.

[@nadtz]

Still really happy with the Sony SSCS5's I grabbed from amazon for a song because they had a non existent scratch and someone returned them. It's time for a new amp so I can put together something in my bedroom so I'm keeping an eye out for sales with the consume till you drop season upon us.

[@iowaudioreviews]

Great video. I'm through a recommendation in for the SMSL SA300 amp $140. Its got a lot of great features and good amount of clean power for a little unit.

[@cheapaudioman]

I like the SA300 but its dac is limited only to USB that's why I went with the AD18. It's dac has more options

[@dazzlerweb]

Agreed the SA300 is awesome, fewer inputs, but uses more up-to-date tech, a better sounding DAC/amp combo than the AD18.

[@wpwentzell]

Agreed, the SA300 sounds much better. Just wish it had an optical input

[@ChauNguyen-wi5pe]

I love the numi bs5, it power by small da8s balance and geshelli Dac.... love it im still under 500 for this set-up

[@rjzlwop3153]

Fantastic video sir, reminds me of watching the old Randy, or the new Randy in the beginning. Fantastic good job

[@evans1875]

My first system is the Klipsch r41m 's with a nobsound mini bluetooth amp. All for 130.00. I'm sure it's not the best but its the best i ever had.

[@WiiWarior23]

Just ordered the CSS5's on sale for 88 thanks for tips!

[@earlismarks7108]

Very well done Audioman

[@kevinmertel6108]

Sony SSCS5 are now (as of 11/01/2020) $88 shipped from Amazon.

[@rosswarren436]

That is a very good deal!

[@jasonmoquin]

Hot damn! …though I remembered you mentioning those Jamo 803s being a good speaker. Adorama had a super deal on those last week for $80, so I pulled the trigger. Excited to see how they play!

[@stokbrood123]

These videos are just fenomenal, WE WANT MORE (p.s. can you do a review of your setup you have at home)

[@stringbreaker87]

Can we get a cheap everything man channel? Seriously though, aside from the great info, straight forwardness with the added humor, I can see this channel blowing up.

[@whtahtefcuk]

Nice work sir. Looking forward to maybe putting one of these together.

[@RasheedKhan-he6xx]

So in a pinch I've even been able to use a Jabra clipper hands free as a Bluetooth receiver. Instead of the wired earbud/mic combo I plugged my Hercules 2.1 PC speakers from over a decade ago into the Jabra's 3.5mm jack. Both these used on Ebay will probably come in under $30 (in my case its free as I had them lying around). With my phone streaming Amazon Music HD from across the room I kid you not, I had a decent system going!

[@bugjuicer]

Huh.. this is my 5,000th liked video. Well worth it. Actually what I’m looking for too. Good stuff, keep it up

[@sting0072007]

Nice dusting solution!!

[@notasovietspy8008]

As a cheap and poor highschool student who just wants to listen to cd's in my room and just learned about all of this stuff yesterday I thank you greatfully for achieviving these levels of cheapness

[@Mark5ive5]

Fosi also makes one with a subwoofer out and two more control knobs for it. For a couple bucks more it’s a no brainer.

[@DougMen1]

The Elac are already no longer on sale at Crutchfield, but they are at Amazon, for the same prices- $215 for the B5.2, $250 for the B6.2, and $454 for the UB52. The others, the Jamos, JBLs, KEF Q150, and MA Bronzes are still on sale at Crutchfield, as well as some others. Also, the KEF Q150 and MA Bronzes are on sale at Amazon at the same prices as at Crutchfield

[@TheWaverDave]

great Ideas !! and guilty of a slipknot concert myself before the pandemic ...glad they are back out

[@nitronamous]

Jamo 801 for $109 and the fosi audio bt30d-s $89 is my choice right now right at $200! Those are a steal and pair well

[@hugobloemers4425]

I would love to see Randy diving in to vintage gear. For example you can buy a Luxman L210 for about $150,-- and that is 2 x 50 Real Watts AB power + a very good phono stage and a very good head phone stage. For about $100,-- you can buy some nice vintage or used speakers or those Sony speakers new. OK, granted it is not yet a complete system but to beat the amp you have to fork out serious money so it will stay with your audio journey for quite a while.

[@cheapaudioman]

I'll be doing more vintage. I can't promote vintage though as a viable option for all because it just isn't and there's no protection. I've done a couple pieces and will keep doing them. In the whole, vintage gear is an inherent risk to most people with no return policy and no guarantee of being able to source it. With all that said... I love vintage gear.

[@ericbaseY0]

i just found a vintage celestion f1 in the 2nd hand marketplace. sq-wise it blown me away. sounds better than my jamo s803

[@Vector_Ze]

Definitely on a tight budget, I just needed a small amp to power a set of full sized Technics speakers from my desktop PC's 3.5mm stereo output. I've got on order a Fosi BT20A that'll be delivered in a few days. Not long after I hit the buy button, it occured to me that having a headphone jack would've been great! Oh well. Oh, and I couldn't care less about Bluetooth. I've got say it irks me that buying an amp WITHOUT it adds to the search complexity, since most seem to have it nowadays. It just bugs me to pay for features I know I'll never use. And don't even try to tell me the feature doesn't add to the unit's cost.

[@anthonydefr]

I got the suca audio m 98e pro 4 channel and sub out for like 80 totally worth it. I have it running to some Klipsch book shelfs and some Bose double cube's sounds fantastic.

[@CrashCarson14]

So many people nowadays have never listened to clean, loud, undistorted music that it’s a shame. Everyone should try just a cheap system that’s actually decent, and you’ll never look back to a usb portable speaker

[@muhammadluqman9053]

Love your, channel keep up the excellent work... Highly informative..

[@samloo8529]

Love them sponsor pitches!!!

[@stephencampbell9886]

Get this .... TDK Tremor S60 subwoofer to my Panasonic PM-46 Shelf System running Sherwood DSS250e speakers... This is my challenge for this morning.

[@jacobjohnson4763]

The Sonys are $88 right now on Amazon. Just grabbed a pair.

[@paulk9014]

I picked up the sonys, fosi Amp and a monoprice sub for around $300... awesome set up

[@bradhuskers]

The sound is garbage. It's stunning how naive and clueless you guys are.

[@jacobjohnson4763]

@@bradhuskers they sound pretty awesome. Point blank, have you listened to these in person?

[@bradhuskers]

@@jacobjohnson4763 Yes, and sony has been duping you guys for years. Not only in speakers, but headphones as well. It's funny how so-called audiophiles can be so easily duped and manipulated. You want great sounding speakers? Try Buchardts instead. A danish company that makes the very best speakers.

[@arkimperious5509]

@@bradhuskers Just went to their website and saw their speakers are in the thousands of dollars. Why are you comparing $88 Sonys to $1k+ Buchardts???

[@hwccheng]

A couple of addition to your list the SMSL SA300 also comes with good DAC and BT5.0. Besides the Sony spkr, Costco also has the Klipsch RM-41? and that goes for a little less than 90 occasionally. Also the Sony 2 ch DH-190 comes with phono stage and sometimes it goes on sale for about 100.

[@darylschmitt6868]

Just delivered today to me...pair of Jamo S803's...$80....enjoying them...

[@chrisandrew_tv]

More budget videos please you legend!! 🙏

[@kateg151]

Stand-up comedy is getting better and better and reaching new levels, and it will soon reach mobile phone speaker audiophiles. . . 🥲

[@richardhernandez7741]

Great info at gift time...

[@xXCP1993Xx]

The Sony strdh 190 was a hell of a deal that was under rated when you could still find it for $99-$120. Now they are like $200

[@Silverlining1111]

👍Thank you so much for your sharing. 👍

[@scottbaylor6215]

Nice job man, you've come a long way in a year. Just purchased a Modi 3 DAC for my desktop setup, sounds great. Keep up the good work.

[@aimeeou812]

Thanks man help a lot rock on

[@stevef4010]

Jamo 803s are on Amzn open box/refurb for $99 in white. I ordered a set after considering several others in the same price range.

[@bencarignan2711]

Hey Randy, please check out the Jamo S 808 sub. At only $114, that 8" sub might be the best budget solution to compliment these bookshelf speakers. But, will it be "musical," or muddy? Im looking forward to that review amigo. Maybe a budget sub shootout for those under $200? I bet there are a few gems out there that could help people put together a solid little 2.1 system. Keep these videos coming!

[@RalfWiggam]

Randy really miss the between two speakers interviews. I thought that was the best thing in the entertainment electronics reviewer space on KZbin

[@terencemayo662]

Glad you mention using a dvd player for a cd player. Basic audio cd player price for 400 bucks on are crazy.

[@andrewbrazier9664]

Panasonic dvd / blu ray players generally do a good job with CDs 💿🎶as they are the visual brand of Technics 🙂

[@terencemayo662]

@@andrewbrazier9664 I purchased a Phillips for $50 I failed to see a audio DAC spec on the Panasonics.

[@andrewbrazier9664]

@@terencemayo662 If you've got a pre - owned Phillips CD player in excellent mechanical order for 50 US you've done well . You are right , as dvd / blu ray players are not marketed for 2 channel audio they don't highlight what specific components are used for the music output . Most modestly priced amplifiers have built in DACS these days or buy a stand alone one pretty cheaply especially in the USA. I am currently running a standard Panasonic blu ray player through a Marantz PM6005 amp which has s built in Cirrus logic DAC. Sounds fairly decent ,although i need to replace the Monitor Audio BRX speakers packaged with the amp 7 years back They sound ok with older cd or vinyl recordings but bottom out even at low volume on modern lower bass albums like The Weekend's "After Dark " 🎶

[@BlackHand531]

I have to watch this again ..

[@carlosruizberrocal4162]

Hi Randy, I'm learning and discovering so much with your guides, reviews and advices, thank you! I'm just about to buy my first Hifi audio system, but I don't know where to put some more money, speakers or amp, what would you do? Best regards.

[@sidesup8286]

Not only can you get reasonably good audio equipment cheap, but buying music doesn't have to be expensive either. With the vinyl renaissance, lots of stores have re-released new vinyl for usually $20 to $30 a pop. The old originals often sound better. I once found a very rare and desirable record (that was selling for $1,500)) in a thrift store for a buck. There is one on ebay right now as a Buy It Now for $1,499. I think his price would have a better shot if it was 1990 though. The market does ebb and flow. Another two records that were rare enough and old enough that I had never seen before that I found was an amazing coincidence. At tat point I probably had looked through 500,000 records in my time. I remember it was a sunny Saturday afternoon. There was a Goodwill on Pacific Coast Highway. My eyeballs almost popped out when I spotted it looking through the bins. About a half hour later I almost fainted when I found another copy of it in a box among other stuff at a sidewalk sale. I had never seen a copy of it before and all of a sudden I find 2 copies within a half hour. I have never seen one in the many decades since. The LP was selling for about $400 at the time. Getting struck by lighting I'm sure would have been more likely. Exceptional, or what I would consider exceptional vintage gear is rare but sometimes possible to find in cheap places like those. Most people don't usually think of records being highly valuable (most aren't but many are) and they don't think of audio equipment as being of great worth either. Find yourself some vintage Marantz model 9 power amps, a model 8 preamp and a pair of old Electro Voice Patrician speakers. If someone offers you $30,000 for the grouping, just look at them and smile, and tell them "you're not that dumb."

[@davidreidy5750]

Sponsors are hilarious 😆🤖

[@badassgmc00]

Nice video. Ever done a review on the micca ooo’s?

[@blackknight212]

Love the channel. Question for you. Will this setup work if I’m playing music on my laptop?

[@klarikanal]

For fun, I connected this small amplifier to the kef ls50, I must admit that I was amazed. My expensive Hiend 50W amp is not that much better at all. Kef ls50 requires an amplifier of at least 100 W, at least that's what they say, and the whole time I thought there was no point in connecting that cheap Chinese amplifier. I don't believe in Fosi's 100w, but they obviously have the power to drive such demanding speakers. Audiophiles would say that what I've done is crazy, but I'll have to do some side-by-side testing and see what sounds better. Also i use Topping d30 in that combo. All the best to Fosi.

[@daveohran6730]

11/1/21 - I just bought Sony sscs5 on Amazon for $88

[@dicmccoy]

Slipknot is amazing live. Very intense indeed.

[@renaulth2009]

Love your satire. You're like the Sam The Cooking Guy of audio

[@SyzygyNoon]

As others have probably stated on here, I saw the Sony SSCS5 on Amazon for $88 this morning, before I even saw this video.

[@DougMen1]

The Jamo S801 and S803, as well as the Elac B5.2, B6.2, UB52, KEF Q150, MA Bronze 50 and 100, and JBL A120 and 130 are all on sale at Crutchfield right now. And the Jamo C91II and C93II are both half price while they last. I've been listening to samples of the C93II on another YT channel, and they don't sound V shaped to me, like the S series Jamos are. It sounds better to me than the RP500M and RP600M (Jamo is now owned by Klipsch) and are anamazing deal at $249, down from $574!