HiFi on a Budget

Welcome

About this Blog

While many of my friends believe I spend too much money on my audio equipment, my friends who are very active in hifi audio don't hesitate to call me a cheap ass. I buy a lot of used and closeout gear and my TV is a Dynex (the TV is the lowest on my list of priorities). Hifi on the cheap is not something one could easily do in the past, but thankfully between modern amplifier technologies, manufacturing advancements and of course the internet, we have access to a world of affordable high quality gear. There are entire web stores dedicated to selling closeouts of hifi audio equipment. There is a huge market of used products through Audiogon and eBay. Every once in a while you can even work a deal at Best Buy's Magnolia store, but that's a more traditional route.

It is my goal to share with you my experiences as I go. I will do my best to be unbiased, discerning and picky. I have learned many things in a short time, and I plan to learn a lot more as I go. Again I will share as much as I can along the way. If I help you put together a quality hifi system for a reasonable price, then I've done my job. Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments and I'll do my best to answer those as well.

There are a few up and coming reviews I'll have, and I'll also be reviewing the gear I already own. Here's a rundown of the gear I'm currently running. This changes pretty regularly, and I'll do my best to update on the changes I make and why I make them.

Primary TV

• Dynex 40 Inch 1080P (I really am cheap sometimes)
• Sony Blu-Ray Player
• Emotiva UMC-1
• B&K TX4430 200Wx3 - driving the front 3
• Lepai 20Wx2 Tripath - driving the surrounds
• L/R - Focal Chorus 726V Towers
• Center - Focal Chorus CC701V
• Surrounds - Jamo C60 SUR
• Sub - Definitive Technology Supercube 6000

Secondary TV

• Another Dynex 40 Inch 1080P
• Samsung Crystal Surround Air Track

Other

• Pioneer A4 Wireless Speaker
• Weak shelf system running a pair of poorly crossed over Onkyo HTIB front speakers

As you can see, there are some quality items in the list, and some items which need to be replaced. The lepai amp is high on the list. I opted for a 3x200W amp to drive my front 3 with the intention of getting a more powerful stereo amp for the towers and moving two of the 3x200W channels to the surrounds. The lepai was running a couple of Energy Take 1 speakers as part of my PC audio setup, but since I replaced my Marantz reciever (used only as an amp) with the B&K, I needed something to run the surrounds. Luckily since they don't see a lot of action it doesn't hurt me too badly to have an amp which has a hard time running at reference levels.

I have a Jamo SUB800 on the way which I picked up used on eBay. The PC system was using an old Onkyo 8" sub, which is bulky and boomy, so I wanted to replace that. Once I free up the Lepai I can evaluate the sub. More on that when it happens.