I've always been a low budget audiophile. My first systems were made up of Harman Kardon, Denon; Then later NAD and Adcom. They were all great systems for the time being, after all, I was in my late teens-early adulthood. As I got older my financial position was still average so building a "decent" audiophile system was going to take time and a little luck. I am addicted to thrift shops so about 6 times a week I comb my local Goodwills and Savers stores. One Saturday afternoon I was browsing the electronics section in a Goodwill store and noticed the back of a beefy older amp or receiver located on one of there loading carts. I took a better look and realized it was a McIntosh MA6200 Integrated amp with wood cover in near mint condition. I plugged it in and saw that it powered up and took it home for $15.99. It didn't play when I hooked it up to my existing system so for a couple of hundred $$ had it fully serviced and cleaned. I know wanted to upgrade my system around my thrift store gem. Step 1, new Project table, 2, new Marantz CD player, and to complete the system a nice power conditioner from goodwill and a pair of Vandersteen Model 1's I found on Craigslist for $60.00.
At best, I think it's a modest system for my price range. I think it sounds amazing and am happy with it. I still go to the thrift stores everyday because there is always a surprise and who knows, I might find something to replace my cozy sytem.
The CD5001 is compatible with the usual CD and CD-R/RW music discs, and it can display CD Text when available. As you would expect, there is a full array of playback modes, including song and disc repeat, shuffle and music intro scan. Unfortunately, the CD5001 doesn't support the playback of MP3 or other digital audio files burned to disc.
Project Audio Pro-Ject Debut III
It's built with an Ortofon OM-5E moving magnet phono cartridge (for the audiophile in you), a chrome-plated stainless steel axle in a brass bearing housing, aluminum tone arm, and a silicone-damped arm lift.
McIntosh MA-6200
100w/ch at 4 ohms, 75w/ch at 8 ohms. Response 20-20kHz (+0 -0.5dB). Distortion 0.05%. Noise and hum -95dB high level, -85dB low level re 10mV. Damping factor 30. Power amp noise -100dB. Input sensitivity and impedance: high level 0.25V at 100k, phono 2.0mV at 47k and 100pF, power amp 2.5V at 22k. Tape output 0.25V. Program equalizer: 30, 150, 500, 1500 and 10,000Hz boost or cut 12dB. Power Guard.
Vandersteen 1
The Vandersteen 1 Bs are a good compromise between a full-range loudspeaker and a mini-monitor. They won't make Apogee or Duntech shake in their boots, but the Vandys do a credible job of filling a room with music at prices close to that of a mini-monitor.
Kimber 8TC
Legendary Musicality Consisting of sixteen individual TCSS conductors, eight blue and eight black, arranged in a large format braid. Individual conductors are Hyper-pure copper and utilize our proven VariStrandª conductor geometry
Great system, Are you in Phoenix? We finally visited friends down there last year and they love to go thrift shopping. The best stores are in the Phoenix area. High quality stuff.
