The thread for very affordable high-end: With references to measurements

hifikontoen

New Member
Dec 19, 2011
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It is time to celebrate high-end products which come at a very affordable price.
I encourage you to list very affordable products here which belong to the high-end category by objective criteria, that is by measurements.

My suggestions (very incomplete list, please come with further suggestions):

1) DACs combined with headphone amps: All by Benchmark Media (prices: from USD 1000 to USD 2000)
Measurements:
a) http://theaudiocritic.com/plog/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=30
b) http://www.stereophile.com/content/benchmark-dac1-pre-usb-da-headphone-amplifier-measurements
c) Page 40 and onwards in this : http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0321/7609/files/DAC2_Series_Manual_Rev_C.pdf?273=

Looking forward to see how well Benchmark Media's upcoming AHB2 100W stereo amplifier measures.

2) Floorstanding loudspeaker: PSB Synchrony One (price: approx. USD 5000)
Measurements: http://www.stereophile.com/content/psb-synchrony-one-loudspeaker-specifications

3) Bookshelf loudspeaker: KEF LS50 (price: approx. USD 1500)
Measurements: http://www.stereophile.com/content/kef-ls50-anniversary-model-loudspeaker-measurements

4) Music media streamer: T+A Music Player Media Streamer (price: approx. USD 3600).
Measurements: http://www.stereophile.com/content/ta-music-player-media-streamer-measurements
 

MylesBAstor

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
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I think Steve started a while back a sub fora exactly for this topic entitled the best for less.
 

Johnny Vinyl

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
May 16, 2010
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Your streamer option seems a little out of proportion price-wise. Surely one could get something for considerably less,no?
 

flez007

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Aug 31, 2010
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I support the KEF inclusion but a little over-prized compared to some other more affordable options from Mission, Paradigm or even B&W. NAD and NuForce have some great options as well as Oppo for digital source.
 

BlueFox

Member Sponsor
Nov 8, 2013
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2) Floorstanding loudspeaker: PSB Synchrony One (price: approx. USD 5000)
Measurements: http://www.stereophile.com/content/psb-synchrony-one-loudspeaker-specifications

I will second that. While my PSBs are now doing duty as HT surround/rears, I still love them.


I don't have the links, but the electronics I used with them are most definitely budget high-end gear. This was a Cambridge-Audio 840E preamp ($1500), and two 840W amps ($5000). That is $6500 total, which is less than my Pass Lab XP-20 pre, let alone a lot less than the total for the Pass X600.5 amps and the pre.

Anyway, the Cambridge gear easily held its own against the Pass gear. Only late Friday and Saturday night when the beer goes down, and the volume goes up, does the Pass beat the Cambridge gear.

Cambridge just released the 850 upgrade, and I expect it to be even better than the 840. With the PSB speakers and Cambridge electronics, for $10K or so one can have a very good stereo. Assuming you have all Shunyata cables and power conditioners, which costs more than the stereo, but it sure sounds good.
 
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hifikontoen

New Member
Dec 19, 2011
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I support the KEF inclusion but a little over-prized compared to some other more affordable options from Mission, Paradigm or even B&W. NAD and NuForce have some great options as well as Oppo for digital source.
Interesting comment regarding the other speakers. Do you have links to measurements supporting your claim ?
By the way, I think you are correcting regarding Oppo for digital source: High-end at a budget price.
 

hifikontoen

New Member
Dec 19, 2011
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To me it seems (in general, i.e. in the big picture) to be a more ''sensible'' relationship between prices of speakers and performance across different brands.
This being said, some brands tend to be clearly more value for money also when it comes to loudspeakers.

Regarding electronics, in my opinion, prices are not seldom extremely high without that meaning the performance is correspondingly high (at least when it comes to audiobility differences, which obviously are the differences of importance).
In electronics, (still in my opinion) real super-bargains may more easily be found: Gear that performs better or as well as very very expensive gear.
 

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