A friend of mine, Will, a brainy and talented guy who used to work at the national laboratory with me as an intern, years ago now, just yesterday asked me one of the most relevant questions about audio that I've received in a long time:
"I don't see 'a getting into hi-fi' system article on your blog that is more value oriented, say a high-fidelity audio system that is sub $5000, all-in. What would you suggest?"
Will is exactly right. It's easy to get jaded into thinking that $5000 per component is an entry level or "starter" system in high-fidelity audio.
However, when you start adding up $5000 USD for a pair of loudspeakers, $5000 for an integrated amplifier, and $5000 for a source, and so forth, it is more like $15,000 to $20,000 for a "starter" system at minimum in that context, which is a lot of money for most people. You can buy a 2022 Toyota Corolla starting at $20,425.
As an aside, there is a trend occurring in audio where multinational corporations are buying up multiple audio companies, and putting together exotic and expensive audio systems under their corporate umbrella to sell to the 1% crowd.
At the recent Pacific Audio Fest in Seattle there were about half a dozen such systems on display that were near or above $750K USD or so, and some much more.
The population of Planet Earth is almost 8 billion people now. 1% of 8 billion people is 80 million people, which is almost the population of Germany (83,369,843 people).
According to estimates, that 1% group of people control a little more than 1/3 of all wealth on Planet Earth. Reportedly, global wealth was at a record high of $530 trillion in 2021, so 1/3 of that is about $177 trillion dollars.
From a business standpoint it makes sense to develop products to sell to that 1% market, after all that $177 trillion dollars represents a lot of potential customer sales, given that the 1% crowd have more discretionary money to devote to luxury goods than your average person. That's 80 million people that you can sell luxury goods to, so I get what's going on with the marketing emphasis.
However, $5000 for a hi-fi system is still a considerable amount of money for a lot of people. For young people getting out of school saddled with oppressive student loans, or senior citizens living on a stifling fixed income, or for working class people who don't have a lot of discretionary income, $5000 is still a fair amount of money to spend on anything.
The average income for working people in the USA in 2022 is $63,214 ($30.39 hourly pay), for example, which might allow for a $5000 USD high-fidelity audio system.
In the USA, the average working Joe or Jane has to think about budgeting for expensive gas prices, expensive rent prices, expensive food prices, obscenely expensive health insurance and health care, ridiculous prices for an education, saving for retirement, and so on.
While having a high-fidelity audio system really adds a lot of enjoyment and mental health benefits to one's life, most regular blokes can't afford a luxury hi-fi system, but they might be able to afford a $5000 USD *or less* hi-fi system.
So after reading Will's message I started thinking, "Is it possible to own a true high-fidelity audio system for $5000 or less, that will thrill you every time you listen to music with it?"
I think the answer is yes. So I decided to start a series here at Jeff's Place titled "Getting Into Hi-Fi: The $5000 *or less* hi-fi system challenge!"
The idea is to come up with recommendations for true high-fidelity audio systems consisting of loudspeakers, an integrated amplifier, a source, and cables, for $5000 or less.
All new hi-fi components, no used stuff, but DIY kits are ok options.
I thought I'd ask a few audio industry designers, audio dealers, and request your input, on what to recommend to young, or just generally less deep-pocketed enthusiasts, to allow them to get into the audio and music listening hobby with a true high-fidelity audio system, for $5000 or under.
Until I hear back on recommendations, I thought I'd make up an 'imaginary' system as an example to get the ball rolling.
This isn't a hi-fi system recommendation from me per se, even though each of the components are highly regarded by hi-fi enthusiasts, as I haven't actually heard this group of components together as a complete system.
Rather, consider this an idea to get enthusiasts minds going on what a true high-fidelity audio system for $5000 or under could look like.
Personally, I first like to pick out loudspeakers to base a system on. Next an integrated amplifier, and then a source. Finally cables.
Zu Audio "Dirty Weekend 6" loudspeakers, starting at $1599 USD.
So first the loudspeakers: I've really enjoyed the way the Zu Audio loudspeakers I've heard play music, so I thought I'd start with the Zu Audio Dirty Weekend 6 loudspeakers ($1599 USD) as the cornerstone of my $5000 system.
The Decware Model SE84UFO Zen Triode integrated amplifier. $1195 USD.
Next the integrated amplifier: I've always had a thing for EL84 integrated amplifiers, so I thought the Decware Model SE84UFO Zen Triode integrated amplifier ($1195 USD) would be nice match to the Zu's in a small room or apartment.
Ok, that puts us at about $2800 USD, so now we have $2200 left for a source and cables.
Naim CD5si CD player. $1690 USD.
The Naim CD5si CD player opens up a world of music listening to recordings from the acoustic (1877 to 1925), electric (1925 to 1945), magnetic (1945 to 1975), and digital (1975 to today) eras of the recording arts that are now available on CD, making the entire recorded music canon of Planet Earth accessible to listeners who want to explore the diversity of recorded music.
That puts us at about $4490 USD for speakers, amplification, and a source, leaving us $510 USD for cables to connect everything together.
Duelund DCA16GA tinned-copper wire for speaker cables. 2-meters for $80 USD.
Cables are the easy part. I recommend the cables I use for almost all my systems, regardless of price.
For speaker cables you can't go wrong with Duelund DCA16GA tinned-copper speaker cables (about $10 USD per meter for the wire). For the best performance I like to leave the wire ends bare, which also saves money. For a 2-meter pair of speaker cables you would be looking at about $80 USD.
Belden 8402 microphone cable interconnects, about $78 USD for a 1-meter pair.
For most applications, my favorite interconnects are the Belden 8402 tinned-copper microphone cable interconnects, and the best part is they are affordable. You can get a 1-meter pair for about $78 USD from the cool guys at Best-Tronics Pro Audio HERE.
For this complete enthusiast level system we are looking at $4648 USD, so we have $352 USD left over to build our music library.
So as Will requested, here we have one idea for a value oriented high-fidelity audio system that is sub $5000, all-in.
So, as this exercise shows, it is indeed possible to build a high-quality, high-fidelity, enthusiast audio system for $5000 USD or less, which is good news for a lot of us in the 99% financial category.
I'll look forward to hearing more ideas from all of you out there on building a high-quality, high-fidelity, enthusiast audio system for $5000 USD or less.
Postscript
After I published this article, Positive Feedback Editor Dave Clark recommended a set of components to me on Facebook for an even more affordable high-fidelity audio system. Michael Fremer also responded and seconded Dave's recommendations.
This is exactly the sort of advice and recommendations I was hoping for, so a big "Thank you!" to Dave and Michael for that feedback.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 bookshelf speakers, $330 USD.
For loudspeakers Dave recommended the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 bookshelf speakers, at $330 USD per pair (HERE).
Perlesmith Universal Speaker Stands, $60 USD
If you don't have a bookshelf to sit the speakers on, you'll want to add some speaker stands, perhaps like the adjustable Perlesmith Universal Speaker Stands at $60 USD (HERE).
PS Audio Sprout100 integrated amplifier, $800 USD.
For an integrated amplifier Dave suggested the PS Audio Sprout100 integrated amplifier at $800 USD (HERE).
PS Audio says about the Sprout100, "The Sprout features a phono preamplifier for vinyl, a Bluetooth receiver for music streamed from smartphones, a high-quality hi-res DAC to handle anything stored on a computer, enough power for any speaker, and a headphone amp that drives even the toughest loads."
So that comes to $1190 USD for speakers and amplification.
Apple iPhone SE, $429 USD.
The next addition is a source. Dave suggested a smartphone would be used by many listeners as a streaming source with the Sprout100, so as a source I added in the iPhone SE at $429 USD (HERE).
That brings us to $1619 USD, and $80 USD for the Duelund speaker cables I mentioned earlier, the all-in price is $1699 USD.
VPI Cliffwood turntable, $1500 USD.
If you want to splurge and add in a vinyl source too, for $1500 USD more you could add in the VPI Cliffwood turntable (HERE), along with $78 USD for a pair of Belden 8402 interconnects, bringing the all-in price to $3277 USD.
Keep those ideas coming!
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
