PLEASE READ *before commenting*! 1) Got a question? Please ask it of the Darko.Audio TH-cam community (and not me) as I'm off making the NEXT video 2) All comments here are moderated by a third party: instagram.com/p/CTWcokaszpW/ 3) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories, please)
What a coincidence!!!! I just bought Dali Oberon 3, Rotel A11 Tribute and ifi Gryphon a few days ago. Couldn’t be happier 😃😃😃 subwoofer will be my next purchase 😊 Love your channel 🥰🥰🥰
On Cables, I just got some Canare 4S11 for Speaker cable, Shipped it cost 7 Euro per metre. It blew away my Audioquest Rocket 22 which I love. Massive Value.
A pity you didn’t tackle the phono connection on the amp. I’ve read that it’s not hassle-free. The reason why i decided for the cheaper NAD C316bee. Although not very happy with that one either; there’s no sub-out, the remote control isn’t worth the name and there’s no return-out to connect a tape, mini-disk or dat-recorder. The Marantz 6006 or 6007 is definitely the way to go if you ‘re a starter.
You do need to be well versed in HiFi to fully take advantage of what the 2nd hand market has to offer. Or simply know/trust someone to guide you through the market for those unicorn deals!
As someone trying to figure out my first system in roughly this price point, these are great tips and I am going to take your advice and make sure I go listen to the gear first.
Nad c338 with kef Q350's are the way to go. With the current pricing they're just a steal. Built in chromecast which sounds surprisingly good. Imaging comparable too speakers triple the price. And even a built in phono amp.
@@GazMoore Bear in mind What HiFi is one opinion, not always right. Listening demo is not full proof either as room treatments, cable, stands , amps resellers often demo are generally high end and you could well be disappointed when you take them home. I would instead order from a reseller with a good return policy. Maybe order 2 or 3 sets and demo all of them on your own gear at home and send back what your don't like. Audiophile for 30 years
Brilliant video, so helpful as I’ve just purchased the DS2 speakers and now looking to upgrade Amp and CD. Not sure if you can help with this, but given the choice would you stick with the A11 Tribute or consider the Denon PMA600NE, both are pitched at the same price? Thank you.
When I bought my first hi-fi system, I had a $1000 (USD) budget, for a desktop system. I chose Klipsch RB-61 ii speakers ($299 on ebay), a Reisong A10 tube amp ($450 on Amazon), and a Zen DAC II ($169). Speaker stands ran $89, and generic interconnects and speaker wire brought the total to about $1050 USD. The Klipsch speakers turned out to be an inspired pairing with the Reisong amp. The Reisong is a bit rolled-off in the treble range, and Klipsch speakers tend to be a little bright. The Reisong only puts out 6 WPC, but the Klipsch speakers are rated at 95db sensitivity. Really nice synergy there. The Zen DAC II doesn't have a remote, but in a desktop system, that's not a problem. I did add a subwoofer, later (Emotiva Airmotiv SE 8 $299 direct from Emotiva). The SE8 is nearly unique in its price point in having an adjustable high-pass filter. Running the signal from the DAC through the SE 8 and letting it strip out the sub bass, saves the Reisong from using it's limited power trying to drive sub bass frequencies. I ended up with a pretty nice class A tube amp-based system for about $1000 USD, $1300 with the subwoofer.
I have the Topping E30 also and find it an excellent DAC at great value. The best way to run it is in its pure DAC mode which totally bypasses its volume / gain circuitry. Setup for that mode is covered in the manual. The filter, brightness and input settings are conveniently accessible from the remote.
Reviews I've read advises against using the Topping E30 as a pre-amp. I've noticed that when linked to my (active) speakers the Topping in DAC only mode reduces the higher volume capabilities on the amplified speaker.
Not gonna lie, I'm an avid proponent of buying used gear. Partly because this system that John showed would be about $2500+ here in New Zealand and partly because I'm a cheapskate but still like good sound.
Quite odd seeing this, I have the Rotel A11 , Dali Oberon floor standers, Arylic streamer. Even the trademark Darko door stop - currently in Lidl for 3.99. 🤣
@@jacobfreeman7427 yeah, I picked one up. You know what it’s like in Lidl though. Quick in, quick out. Exact same type. Very weighty with hard rubberized rings. I removed the rings and defo stops the cables dragging small lightweight items.
Great video but I'm uncertain what your source is with this system, so it's only connected to your TV, are you just using music apps from your TV (Spotify, TH-cam, etc)?
That little Rotel is the key. Clean and with rough power for bookshelf speakers. And best of all is the turntable is analog all the way to the speakers.
That system is very similar to mine: Rotel RA-06 amp, with Dynaudio X12 bookshelves. As a dac I use the Bluesound Node 2 and indeed I added a sub: B&W ASW608.
Completed my “$1000 system” this weekend, ~1 month since first finding Darko Audio and your great advice: 1. NAD C316BEEv2 Amp (new open box $410) 2. Dali Spector 2 speakers ( new open box $335) 3. Topping DX3+ DAC combo (new $295) 4. PSB Subseries 125 8” sub ($80 used). Total $1120 CDN (€835 or $875 USD).
Delighted, and possibly surprised, to see a review which includes the heart of my own system! I have the Rotel A11 Tribute amp and Topping E30 DAC and am extremely happy with both. I went with a Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 pair for my speakers and added a SVS SB-1000 Pro subwoofer and have no regrets with any of my components - they play very nicely together. A tip re the Topping E30 - power it via USB if you can (in my case via a lithium power bank which is in turn charged by a constantly powered USB output jack) rather than the somewhat noisy wall-wart power supply. It does make a difference!
Hi Darko, just got the Rotel A11 Tribute hooked to Monitor Audio Silver100 and its sounds amazing but I know it can be better as i played only through Bluetooth 48k AAC . How should I bring out the most of it/? streamer, cd player ?i plugged my phone through RCA to 3.5 jack but sounds worst then bluetooth... Thank You
I'm new to audiophile, and I've watched many videos on budget systems. Around $1,000 is my budget for everything; but I have to say, out of all the videos I've watched, this is the most informative video I've seen! Appreciate it!
Please share your thoughts on other 1000 euros hifi system you have reviewed. Wharfdale diamond 12.1 vs Mission Lx2 Mk2 vs Dali Spektor 2!!! Would love if you include Polk R100 in your list.
I bought Cambridge Audio CXA 61 amplifier and cheaper Q Acoustics 3020i. But I didn’t like the sound much, so I returned 3020i and got 3030i hoping that bigger speakers would bring more clarity. But no, they had a lot more base, very muffled midrange and very poor high frequency response (to my ears). So I did some more research and bought Dali Oberon 3 speakers. That changed things completely. Those speakers punch way above their weight/price. It was exactly what I was looking for. Now I can work with this setup and make it sound any way I want. Adding a subwoofer improved things even more. So yeah… It took me a while to figure this out 😅
I was really on a budget but managed to buy myself a whole system: Loxjie DAC (with AKM), Denon receiver, Onkyo CD Player, Fisher EQ, Kenwood casette recorder, JBL bookshelfs, AKG 712 headphones and Audioquest interconnects, all used gear for about 550 euros. Doesn't sound perfect but it's pretty decent
Bought a Spektor 2 speaker set. The Loxjie amp/dac, built speaker stands from some old table legs and bought some speaker feet and speaker cables, then hooked them to my TV to stream music over Chromecast. Costed me less than 400eur and the sound is awesome.
I would not choose any of his components. I would use an amp with a high res dac built in it's tidier and no interconnects needed. Use the money saved to pump into the speakers and do 50-60% of the budget on them. I also think subwoofers have no place in sub 1000 pound system and with tiny bookshelfs he will be missing a LOT of bass. I'd gor for Elac Debut 2.0 F5.2 which can be had for 500 and Marantz PM6007 which can be had for 450. Then a USB to coax connected directly to a pc. An old laptop will do or a rasberry pi.
I’m getting a Cambridge CXA61 Amp with a CNX100 Network Streamer I want it to deliver both music and movies under my TV and am struggling to choose speakers RicherSounds actually recommend these Dali Spektor 3 speakers and I was surprised that they were so cheap? Are they not budget speakers at this price? And lastly. Will they work well with my Cambridge amp? I would be getting the subwoofer too LOVE this channel it’s just brilliant!! Thanks for reading! Cheers 👍🏻
My current setup in the living room are a pair of white Dali Spektor 2's. Standing on a set of white Dali E-600 stands. Octavio AMP amplifier, Cambridge Audio CXNv2 streamer and a Cambridge Audio CXC CD transport. The bass is getting a boost through a JVC subwoofer. I'm very happy with my setup. 🥰
I still using a equalizer in my set up and is 2022. I have a Technics equalizer from 1991. I have a Nad c 356, a marantz cd player 5001, a Nacamichi bx 1 and a 1200 Technics turntable if I unplugged the equalizer my set up sound very dead. By the way my speakers are B&W DM 602 s2. What can I do?
Love the Spektors 2 they are accurate but fun. I have it pair with an Onkio A-910 also an inexpensive set up. But recently done with refurbish an old Harman/Kardon 430 twin powered... and yeah the warmer tone of the H/K just balanced well with the Spektor 2. Latin Jazz, female voices, salsa, everything acoustic sounds awesome. Amy Winehouse sounds sublime. The H/K was $20 plus $100 for a components kit for the rebuilt. We can get away with cheap great audio.
Great video. I live in rural western Kansas and there’s not a “hi-if” shop for hundreds of miles. I have educated myself by watching videos from you and others and have learned a great deal. I have put together a system, based on recommendations from a number of people, and am very pleased with where I have ended up. Love your content and the manner in which you present it. Keep up the great work!
I have these Dali speakers for a few years now and for the price I love them. I can confirm that adding a sub (I got the Dali one), makes a huge difference!!
I just got the Tribute for $650 on sale at Crutchfield. Paired it with some very nice Energy RC-10 bookshelf speakers I got used for $100, Klipsch 12 inch sub $150, Onkyo 6 disc changer with wolfson DAC open box Best Buy $125. Total $1025 sounds excellent!
The biggest gripe I have with the e30 is the audible pop when changing sample rate or when the Spdif signal is lost, it got so annoying watching tv, that I changed to the e50, which does have an input buffer for spdif.
This is something I’ve been looking for for ages! I’m got a number of records on vinyl but I don’t have a turntable or a separates system so I need to start somewhere and this has given me some excellent ideas.
2 years ago everyone talked about the e30 dac, now it gets rarely mentioned, but why? Bang for the buck is still awesome there. Glad you mentioned it! Also love the Dalis, I hope the smaller ones are good too.
Wonderful advice, as someone who’s on system no. 3 and now friends with a boutique audio dealer (who sells everything I can’t afford) - all of this is worthy of the term ‘Golden Rules’.. I’ve bought some wonderful and worthless 2nd hand gear, and guilty of dropping way too much on cables! 😄
These golden rules are dead on! Especially the one about money and buying used. Getting stuck with something that pushed your budget that you don’t like or that broke if purchased used is almost soul crushing in this hobby. And the experience is a great point too. I’ve learned so much in the years that I’ve been in the hobby and made more mistakes than getting it right.
Hello Darko, do you recommend me to replace the Dali with the wharfedale linton heritage ? I really love the look of this speakers and my wife already bought the rotel cd player. Thank you for your channel and everything you do. Sorry for my English I’m French.😊
A Denon pma600ne and a pair of Triangle BR03 will set you back €600 (if you use some november deals), I wager it's a better deal. Add €150 for the E30 if you wish to upgrade the DAC.
The E30 (and other Topping DACs that I have owned) have a menu option for 'DAC' (vs 'PRE') to set the output at a fixed level and disable the volume control. Regarding an upgrade: I have both the E30 and the D90. The E30 probably gives you 80% of the performance for about 15% of the price. The A90 will give you more detail and control in the low bass and high treble frequencies and better resolution of barely audible sounds. These are things that you probably won't notice unless you are listening critically. I don't think it would be worth the money to upgrade from the E30 to anything less than what the D90 would give you.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Put the DAC in DAC-mode and it will keep the sample rate visible. One advantage of the upscale E50 however is that it does have a much bigger screen and balanced outputs.
Just hope you don't need to contact Dali for any reason. They do NOT respond to any emails... ZERO customer support. I'm a first and LAST time customer.
Hey man, I want a stereo system and Dolby Atoms setup for cinema simultaneously. I'm planning on getting 1 pair of B&W 606 S3 with Marantz Cinema 50 to start with. And later upgrade to full Atmos system with more speakers. Do you think I'll be missing anything by sticking only with Cinema 50 as my main Amp and Dac for music?
To answer my own question: After some research, I found out the more expensive Marantz models have better DAC's and amps in them, ie. better dynamic range.
Great content. I have the Topping E30 DAC ($150 USD) and it cannot play well (jitters a lot) via coaxial/Optical from a CD transport. I bought the Topping E50 ($270 USD) and all is good.
Bought the Spector 2 quite some time ago based on people's review on the net. Didnt like it one bit. Too bright and lively for my taste. And that 84db sensitivity isnt a plus either.
2/3 brands are the same in my setup. Rotel RA-10 (different integrated amp) Topping E30 Rega RX1 and as playback: rega rp1 record player technica sl-pg480a cd player raspi with volumio all put on solidsteel rack & speaker stands. If it wouldn't be for the furniture, the entire setup would also be ~1000 Euro. And this is soooo much bang for the buck- I don't regret a cent. Most of the purchases I've made blind as in: never heard the entire setup before, only components. The little topping dac convinced me so much, that I chased down a topping mx3 for my workdesk setup right across the other side of the room.
Make a friend of the local Hi-fi club and or online forum. If you want the chance to test/ buy good equipment from members, or access to sales listings.
I would be curious how a SMSL A0200 (or DA-9) plus SMSL D0100 (or similar balanced DAC) and using the remaining funds +/-500 Euros for speakers would compare to this system.
I have an ao 200 with an su-9 DAC, they drive a pair of Wharfdale Evo 4.2. At the moment it's a little bit more than 1000 Euro but dude! I sold my Naim Nait 5i to try out this stack. Not because the smsl is pure better, but yeah, it does things better! (details, clarity, not so in your face presentation) The Naim was more dynamic, organic, and engaging, felt a bit more natural, but sometimes it was simply way tooo much. The smsl kontrolls the slower bass better, the mids are not overemphasized. For me, its a more balanced sound overall. And for the Wharfdales, you dont need a subwoofer.. they are hughe and they have plenty of bass. (unless you live in a Castle I guess 😁) So I dunno how this compares to the dali + rotel combo, but hell of a value for sure.
Hi interesting I've only one question where's your sauce, surely that should be within the budget as it is a hifi system and it won't play music without one or is the television going to be the only sauce ? I have to admit I have bought ex display hifi equipment at times and so I got better deals on the whole I did listen first before buying and ensuring there would be a guarantee factory or shop. I do agree buying is trial and error I have bought a brand new Musical fidelity amp that sounded brilliant in the shop but got it home oh dear terrible it went back tut sweet. But I then found a Rega Elex-R wow that blows my socks off it wasn't even twelve months old with a full factory warranty . I have to admit I've spent £4000 as of today on the whole satisfied. The only thing I would choose to upgrade at the moment is the CD transport Audiolab 6000 CDT as I'd like a top loading machine in black and Rega is out, over a grand for their cheapest model. The machine I do like the look of a SMSL P200 but only comes in silver I know I'm being picky but I want it to match everything else..
I’m on my third set of Dali speakers, gone from Opticon 6 to 8, then Wilson Benesch ACT with Torus sub and amp and now my Epicon 8’s. The 8’s are my end game speakers. No doubt. Best I’ve heard.try them if you can
Biggest seller's regrets: my Dali Spektor 2. (Will buy them again 😂 guarantee). Did pair them with older Rotel and Cambridge AXA & cxa: XXX Rated sound, never mind budget. For funny bass ☺️ nad 3020A (recapped).
If you're new to hifi, you are lucky to live in a time when high quality music reproduction has never been more affordable and at a quality that would cost triple digits only a decade ago.
good advice here…a month ago i almost ended up getting these same Dali’s but went to get Evoke 10’s instead and am building from there up…so bye bye €1000 dollar system for me😂
I have assembled systems for my front room and desktop over the past two years. Everything I currently have was purchased online. I was a lot of buying and returning (or reselling) until I was satisfied. I retuned the one piece that I purchased from a local audio store and they charged me a restocking fee. For my front system I just kept trying components until I got the sound I wanted. My desktop system started as computer speakers that outperformed the analog output from my computer. So I added a DAC to maximize their potential, and the process spiraled out of control from there.
Totally agree with John’s admonition about where to spend the money at this price level. Entry level DACs and speakers have gotten so good that they don’t really stand in the way of an enjoyable listening experience. I recently purchased the iFi Air DAC for my bedroom and was surprised at how it sounded for the price to the extent that I even use my Sennheiser HD800 headphone with it despite the huge disparity in price.
I moved interstate last year and sold my hifi gear. While my home was being built i needed something small for the rental i was in. I grabbed the Rotel A10 int. Amp with Wharfedale diamond 9.1 speakers off facebook marketplace for a few hundred AUD$. Such an amazing little system and the phono input on the Rotel wasn’t to bad either. Mates that are getting into hifi i recommend something very similar to this with an audio technica LP60X Turntable.
Find a friend is an excellent way learn and research towards putting together a first system. Better yet find and join a local community of enthusiasts. This way one can hear systems in real world environments, to get advice, and even to get loaner components for reasonable listening times.
I had Dali’s Spektor 2 before upgrade them with another Dali speakers…Opticon 2 MK2….they are with an excellent sound quality for that price point and above….the another fun fact is that they looks way more expensive in terms of finish, compared to the 5 times more expensive Opticon’s..🤔😉
I did the same for my second system. Same Dali speakers and Power Node 2i and Chord speaker cables and AudioQuest mains cable and audiophile fuse. Love the result. Speakers are designed to be close to the back wall.
Its a good system. I was looking last year and really wanted the Rotel gear but like others had mentioned wanted a digtial input on the amp. For a primarily digital audio setup, USB from PC to Topping D10s, optical to Yamaha RN303D connected to Wharfdale 11.1 all came in under £1000. This system sounds great.
PLEASE READ *before commenting*!
1) Got a question? Please ask it of the Darko.Audio TH-cam community (and not me) as I'm off making the NEXT video
2) All comments here are moderated by a third party: instagram.com/p/CTWcokaszpW/
3) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories, please)
What a coincidence!!!! I just bought Dali Oberon 3, Rotel A11 Tribute and ifi Gryphon a few days ago. Couldn’t be happier 😃😃😃 subwoofer will be my next purchase 😊 Love your channel 🥰🥰🥰
I recently bought the Rotel a 11 tribute amplifier, plus the Rotel cd 11 tribute and the Dali Spektor 2. Very pleased with the system
Proof of no need to spend goofy money on audio. This system should please just about everyone. Good job!!
On Cables,
I just got some Canare 4S11 for Speaker cable, Shipped it cost 7 Euro per metre. It blew away my Audioquest Rocket 22 which I love. Massive Value.
Where did you buy those cables from? Looking for an upgrade to my basic cables but don’t want to break the bank. Thanks.
A pity you didn’t tackle the phono connection on the amp. I’ve read that it’s not hassle-free. The reason why i decided for the cheaper NAD C316bee. Although not very happy with that one either; there’s no sub-out, the remote control isn’t worth the name and there’s no return-out to connect a tape, mini-disk or dat-recorder.
The Marantz 6006 or 6007 is definitely the way to go if you ‘re a starter.
So did you change your TV out for a Frame? The size looks better too.
The budget comment . Audiophile words to live by for sure
You do need to be well versed in HiFi to fully take advantage of what the 2nd hand market has to offer. Or simply know/trust someone to guide you through the market for those unicorn deals!
Rotel has or had nice dual trafo amps in a compact packaging
As someone trying to figure out my first system in roughly this price point, these are great tips and I am going to take your advice and make sure I go listen to the gear first.
You should try what hifi sound and vision magazine it's monthly for a fiver but it gives you such rounded reviews from a budget setup to hi end
Nad c338 with kef Q350's are the way to go. With the current pricing they're just a steal. Built in chromecast which sounds surprisingly good. Imaging comparable too speakers triple the price. And even a built in phono amp.
@@GazMoore Bear in mind What HiFi is one opinion, not always right. Listening demo is not full proof either as room treatments, cable, stands , amps resellers often demo are generally high end and you could well be disappointed when you take them home. I would instead order from a reseller with a good return policy. Maybe order 2 or 3 sets and demo all of them on your own gear at home and send back what your don't like. Audiophile for 30 years
Really tuning in to what your audience wants. Top work.
I bought this combo (Dali Spektor2 + Rotel A11 mkii) and I am very happy. Thanks for your review!!
Brilliant video, so helpful as I’ve just purchased the DS2 speakers and now looking to upgrade Amp and CD. Not sure if you can help with this, but given the choice would you stick with the A11 Tribute or consider the Denon PMA600NE, both are pitched at the same price? Thank you.
When I bought my first hi-fi system, I had a $1000 (USD) budget, for a desktop system. I chose Klipsch RB-61 ii speakers ($299 on ebay), a Reisong A10 tube amp ($450 on Amazon), and a Zen DAC II ($169). Speaker stands ran $89, and generic interconnects and speaker wire brought the total to about $1050 USD.
The Klipsch speakers turned out to be an inspired pairing with the Reisong amp. The Reisong is a bit rolled-off in the treble range, and Klipsch speakers tend to be a little bright. The Reisong only puts out 6 WPC, but the Klipsch speakers are rated at 95db sensitivity. Really nice synergy there. The Zen DAC II doesn't have a remote, but in a desktop system, that's not a problem.
I did add a subwoofer, later (Emotiva Airmotiv SE 8 $299 direct from Emotiva). The SE8 is nearly unique in its price point in having an adjustable high-pass filter. Running the signal from the DAC through the SE 8 and letting it strip out the sub bass, saves the Reisong from using it's limited power trying to drive sub bass frequencies.
I ended up with a pretty nice class A tube amp-based system for about $1000 USD, $1300 with the subwoofer.
I have the Topping E30 also and find it an excellent DAC at great value. The best way to run it is in its pure DAC mode which totally bypasses its volume / gain circuitry. Setup for that mode is covered in the manual. The filter, brightness and input settings are conveniently accessible from the remote.
You can switch the E30 from pre-amp mode to DAC only (disabling the volume control). This will give you a somewhat cleaner sound.
Most reviewers I've read avoid using the Toping E30 as a pre-amp as they say the sound is much to be desired - awful. DAC use only.
Reviews I've read advises against using the Topping E30 as a pre-amp. I've noticed that when linked to my (active) speakers the Topping in DAC only mode reduces the higher volume capabilities on the amplified speaker.
@Filip Fejdi I think you just switch to DAC only mode and not use it as a pre-amp.
A11 tribute + (focal chorus 816wse cheap second hand ) and a cambridge audio dac heaven rel sub to come
Not gonna lie, I'm an avid proponent of buying used gear. Partly because this system that John showed would be about $2500+ here in New Zealand and partly because I'm a cheapskate but still like good sound.
@@chanslorvalorum6905 Nice, or high end areas where people tend to upgrade more often, have nicer gear and don't really care what they get for it.
This gear in in 1k in would be like my 3 months salary straight..
I bought a pair of Dali Oberon 5 speakers in 2019 and they're the gift that keeps on giving.
Quite odd seeing this, I have the Rotel A11 , Dali Oberon floor standers, Arylic streamer.
Even the trademark Darko door stop - currently in Lidl for 3.99. 🤣
Ooh is it really?
@@jacobfreeman7427 yeah, I picked one up. You know what it’s like in Lidl though. Quick in, quick out. Exact same type.
Very weighty with hard rubberized rings. I removed the rings and defo stops the cables dragging small lightweight items.
Ken Ishiwata also designed one of the greatest integrated amplifiers of all time, even until this day - the Marantz PM-11S2. (Which I own).
Great video but I'm uncertain what your source is with this system, so it's only connected to your TV, are you just using music apps from your TV (Spotify, TH-cam, etc)?
That little Rotel is the key. Clean and with rough power for bookshelf speakers. And best of all is the turntable is analog all the way to the speakers.
That system is very similar to mine: Rotel RA-06 amp, with Dynaudio X12 bookshelves. As a dac I use the Bluesound Node 2 and indeed I added a sub: B&W ASW608.
I particularly like these affordable system videos. Great video, interesting system!!
Completed my “$1000 system” this weekend, ~1 month since first finding Darko Audio and your great advice: 1. NAD C316BEEv2 Amp (new open box $410) 2. Dali Spector 2 speakers ( new open box $335) 3. Topping DX3+ DAC combo (new $295) 4. PSB Subseries 125 8” sub ($80 used). Total $1120 CDN (€835 or $875 USD).
Just buy used. I got a pair of b&W 601 s2 for 50 bucks and a NAD 310 for 50 bucks.
So how does it sound??? You didn't go into any detail after listening to it.
Delighted, and possibly surprised, to see a review which includes the heart of my own system! I have the Rotel A11 Tribute amp and Topping E30 DAC and am extremely happy with both. I went with a Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 pair for my speakers and added a SVS SB-1000 Pro subwoofer and have no regrets with any of my components - they play very nicely together. A tip re the Topping E30 - power it via USB if you can (in my case via a lithium power bank which is in turn charged by a constantly powered USB output jack) rather than the somewhat noisy wall-wart power supply. It does make a difference!
Same here. A portable power supply with the E30 has been recommended by many.
Hi Darko, just got the Rotel A11 Tribute hooked to Monitor Audio Silver100 and its sounds amazing but I know it can be better as i played only through Bluetooth 48k AAC . How should I bring out the most of it/? streamer, cd player ?i plugged my phone through RCA to 3.5 jack but sounds worst then bluetooth...
Thank You
Dang, your audio makes my cheap Creative T-20 computer speakers sound amazing. Great clear and crisp highs and a good deal of bass.
I have the Rotel A11 Tribute . Amazing build quality . Bluetooth sounds great and powers my BW 607 really well
I'm new to audiophile, and I've watched many videos on budget systems. Around $1,000 is my budget for everything; but I have to say, out of all the videos I've watched, this is the most informative video I've seen! Appreciate it!
Please share your thoughts on other 1000 euros hifi system you have reviewed. Wharfdale diamond 12.1 vs Mission Lx2 Mk2 vs Dali Spektor 2!!! Would love if you include Polk R100 in your list.
I bought Cambridge Audio CXA 61 amplifier and cheaper Q Acoustics 3020i. But I didn’t like the sound much, so I returned 3020i and got 3030i hoping that bigger speakers would bring more clarity. But no, they had a lot more base, very muffled midrange and very poor high frequency response (to my ears). So I did some more research and bought Dali Oberon 3 speakers. That changed things completely. Those speakers punch way above their weight/price. It was exactly what I was looking for. Now I can work with this setup and make it sound any way I want. Adding a subwoofer improved things even more. So yeah… It took me a while to figure this out 😅
How do you compare q acoustic 3020i, 3030i with spektor 2
I was really on a budget but managed to buy myself a whole system: Loxjie DAC (with AKM), Denon receiver, Onkyo CD Player, Fisher EQ, Kenwood casette recorder, JBL bookshelfs, AKG 712 headphones and Audioquest interconnects, all used gear for about 550 euros. Doesn't sound perfect but it's pretty decent
Do you like these Dali's more than the Missions in your other system under 1k vid?
Bought a Spektor 2 speaker set. The Loxjie amp/dac, built speaker stands from some old table legs and bought some speaker feet and speaker cables, then hooked them to my TV to stream music over Chromecast. Costed me less than 400eur and the sound is awesome.
I would not choose any of his components. I would use an amp with a high res dac built in it's tidier and no interconnects needed. Use the money saved to pump into the speakers and do 50-60% of the budget on them. I also think subwoofers have no place in sub 1000 pound system and with tiny bookshelfs he will be missing a LOT of bass. I'd gor for Elac Debut 2.0 F5.2 which can be had for 500 and Marantz PM6007 which can be had for 450. Then a USB to coax connected directly to a pc. An old laptop will do or a rasberry pi.
No need for PC at all. WiiM Pro
I’m getting a Cambridge CXA61 Amp with a CNX100 Network Streamer
I want it to deliver both music and movies under my TV and am struggling to choose speakers
RicherSounds actually recommend these Dali Spektor 3 speakers and I was surprised that they were so cheap?
Are they not budget speakers at this price?
And lastly. Will they work well with my Cambridge amp? I would be getting the subwoofer too
LOVE this channel it’s just brilliant!! Thanks for reading!
Cheers 👍🏻
My current setup in the living room are a pair of white Dali Spektor 2's. Standing on a set of white Dali E-600 stands.
Octavio AMP amplifier, Cambridge Audio CXNv2 streamer and a Cambridge Audio CXC CD transport.
The bass is getting a boost through a JVC subwoofer.
I'm very happy with my setup. 🥰
I still using a equalizer in my set up and is 2022. I have a Technics equalizer from 1991. I have a Nad c 356, a marantz cd player 5001, a Nacamichi bx 1 and a 1200 Technics turntable if I unplugged the equalizer my set up sound very dead. By the way my speakers are B&W DM 602 s2. What can I do?
Hi John, maybe you've commented on this before...but can you compare the Rotel A11 Tribute to the Audiolab 6000A? Appreciate your thoughts!
So cool to see my hometown Aarhus mentioned in the video. Come along and visit Buchardt as well.
I have these Dalis connected to a Denon receiver, sounds great. Next step will surely be an Sub
You do realise, the Topping E30 Volume can be turned off. It does improve the sound of the DAC.
I bought Rotel a 11 tribute and dali zensor 3. It's beautiful- thank you. Greetings from Poland.
Love the Spektors 2 they are accurate but fun. I have it pair with an Onkio A-910 also an inexpensive set up. But recently done with refurbish an old Harman/Kardon 430 twin powered... and yeah the warmer tone of the H/K just balanced well with the Spektor 2. Latin Jazz, female voices, salsa, everything acoustic sounds awesome. Amy Winehouse sounds sublime. The H/K was $20 plus $100 for a components kit for the rebuilt. We can get away with cheap great audio.
Great video. I live in rural western Kansas and there’s not a “hi-if” shop for hundreds of miles. I have educated myself by watching videos from you and others and have learned a great deal. I have put together a system, based on recommendations from a number of people, and am very pleased with where I have ended up. Love your content and the manner in which you present it. Keep up the great work!
I have these Dali speakers for a few years now and for the price I love them. I can confirm that adding a sub (I got the Dali one), makes a huge difference!!
I just got the Tribute for $650 on sale at Crutchfield. Paired it with some very nice Energy RC-10 bookshelf speakers I got used for $100, Klipsch 12 inch sub $150, Onkyo 6 disc changer with wolfson DAC open box Best Buy $125. Total $1025 sounds excellent!
The biggest gripe I have with the e30 is the audible pop when changing sample rate or when the Spdif signal is lost, it got so annoying watching tv, that I changed to the e50, which does have an input buffer for spdif.
This is something I’ve been looking for for ages!
I’m got a number of records on vinyl but I don’t have a turntable or a separates system so I need to start somewhere and this has given me some excellent ideas.
2 years ago everyone talked about the e30 dac, now it gets rarely mentioned, but why? Bang for the buck is still awesome there. Glad you mentioned it! Also love the Dalis, I hope the smaller ones are good too.
Wonderful advice, as someone who’s on system no. 3 and now friends with a boutique audio dealer (who sells everything I can’t afford) - all of this is worthy of the term ‘Golden Rules’.. I’ve bought some wonderful and worthless 2nd hand gear, and guilty of dropping way too much on cables! 😄
These golden rules are dead on! Especially the one about money and buying used. Getting stuck with something that pushed your budget that you don’t like or that broke if purchased used is almost soul crushing in this hobby.
And the experience is a great point too. I’ve learned so much in the years that I’ve been in the hobby and made more mistakes than getting it right.
Hello Darko, do you recommend me to replace the Dali with the wharfedale linton heritage ? I really love the look of this speakers and my wife already bought the rotel cd player. Thank you for your channel and everything you do.
Sorry for my English I’m French.😊
I use the Dali Spektor 2 on my desktop. Really nice speakers!
same here! they're absolutely lovely paired with my onkyo tx-8220
Great review! Any chance you still have KEF LSX? It will be great to see the comparisoin between this system vs LSX!
A Denon pma600ne and a pair of Triangle BR03 will set you back €600 (if you use some november deals), I wager it's a better deal. Add €150 for the E30 if you wish to upgrade the DAC.
I bet this sounds amazing
The E30 (and other Topping DACs that I have owned) have a menu option for 'DAC' (vs 'PRE') to set the output at a fixed level and disable the volume control. Regarding an upgrade: I have both the E30 and the D90. The E30 probably gives you 80% of the performance for about 15% of the price. The A90 will give you more detail and control in the low bass and high treble frequencies and better resolution of barely audible sounds. These are things that you probably won't notice unless you are listening critically. I don't think it would be worth the money to upgrade from the E30 to anything less than what the D90 would give you.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Put the DAC in DAC-mode and it will keep the sample rate visible. One advantage of the upscale E50 however is that it does have a much bigger screen and balanced outputs.
Just hope you don't need to contact Dali for any reason. They do NOT respond to any emails... ZERO customer support. I'm a first and LAST time customer.
Hey man, I want a stereo system and Dolby Atoms setup for cinema simultaneously. I'm planning on getting 1 pair of B&W 606 S3 with Marantz Cinema 50 to start with. And later upgrade to full Atmos system with more speakers. Do you think I'll be missing anything by sticking only with Cinema 50 as my main Amp and Dac for music?
To answer my own question: After some research, I found out the more expensive Marantz models have better DAC's and amps in them, ie. better dynamic range.
I have the Rotel A14 as pre amp and Akitika GT102 as power amp. I really like the sound and build quality of Rotel. Love the reviews btw.
I am not interested in systems above 3000 EUR.
I bought vintage nad 5330 cd player today for 50 euros and it sounds beter than evrything i ever heard
I'd be inclined to toss a WiiM Mini into my cart while shopping so I'd be up and streaming ASAP. Videos like this are always fun. Thanks, John.
Loved the decor John . And the tv is literally invisible. Not a black mirror we all hate . 🙂👍
Comparing the Rotel to the NAD, which has the greater clarity, plus any other noticeable sound differences?
Rotel’s class A/B sound is creamier compared to NAD’s class D offerings ( I tried 3 of them).
Great content. I have the Topping E30 DAC ($150 USD) and it cannot play well (jitters a lot) via coaxial/Optical from a CD transport. I bought the Topping E50 ($270 USD) and all is good.
HI-FI is not a destination, it's a journey.
I didn't just buy everything at once. As Johnny Cash sang One Piece At A Time!! 😃😃😃🎸🎸🎸
Bought the Spector 2 quite some time ago based on people's review on the net. Didnt like it one bit. Too bright and lively for my taste. And that 84db sensitivity isnt a plus either.
2/3 brands are the same in my setup.
Rotel RA-10 (different integrated amp)
Topping E30
Rega RX1
and as playback:
rega rp1 record player
technica sl-pg480a cd player
raspi with volumio
all put on solidsteel rack & speaker stands.
If it wouldn't be for the furniture, the entire setup would also be ~1000 Euro.
And this is soooo much bang for the buck- I don't regret a cent.
Most of the purchases I've made blind as in: never heard the entire setup before, only components.
The little topping dac convinced me so much, that I chased down a topping mx3 for my workdesk setup right across the other side of the room.
One key feature of Dali speakers is that they are much easier to position as they are designed not to be toed in, which also saves space.
Cool
Probably all you need right there ( sub in future).
Excellent video . I have a Hegel h 95 and I’m looking for speakers and everybody tells me to buy expensive speakers but this video help me . Thanks
Make a friend of the local Hi-fi club and or online forum.
If you want the chance to test/ buy good equipment from members, or access to sales listings.
Do you like harman Kardon?
I would be curious how a SMSL A0200 (or DA-9) plus SMSL D0100 (or similar balanced DAC) and using the remaining funds +/-500 Euros for speakers would compare to this system.
I have an ao 200 with an su-9 DAC, they drive a pair of Wharfdale Evo 4.2. At the moment it's a little bit more than 1000 Euro but dude! I sold my Naim Nait 5i to try out this stack. Not because the smsl is pure better, but yeah, it does things better! (details, clarity, not so in your face presentation) The Naim was more dynamic, organic, and engaging, felt a bit more natural, but sometimes it was simply way tooo much. The smsl kontrolls the slower bass better, the mids are not overemphasized. For me, its a more balanced sound overall. And for the Wharfdales, you dont need a subwoofer.. they are hughe and they have plenty of bass. (unless you live in a Castle I guess 😁) So I dunno how this compares to the dali + rotel combo, but hell of a value for sure.
Hi interesting
I've only one question where's your sauce, surely that should be within the budget as it is a hifi system and it won't play music without one or is the television going to be the only sauce ?
I have to admit I have bought ex display hifi equipment at times and so I got better deals on the whole I did listen first before buying and ensuring there would be a guarantee factory or shop.
I do agree buying is trial and error I have bought a brand new Musical fidelity amp that sounded brilliant in the shop but got it home oh dear terrible it went back tut sweet.
But I then found a Rega Elex-R wow that blows my socks off it wasn't even twelve months old with a full factory warranty . I have to admit I've spent £4000 as of today on the whole satisfied. The only thing I would choose to upgrade at the moment is the CD transport Audiolab 6000 CDT as I'd like a top loading machine in black and Rega is out, over a grand for their cheapest model.
The machine I do like the look of a SMSL P200 but only comes in silver I know I'm being picky but I want it to match everything else..
I’m on my third set of Dali speakers, gone from Opticon 6 to 8, then Wilson Benesch ACT with Torus sub and amp and now my Epicon 8’s. The 8’s are my end game speakers. No doubt. Best I’ve heard.try them if you can
Biggest seller's regrets: my Dali Spektor 2. (Will buy them again 😂 guarantee). Did pair them with older Rotel and Cambridge AXA & cxa: XXX Rated sound, never mind budget. For funny bass ☺️ nad 3020A (recapped).
If you're new to hifi, you are lucky to live in a time when high quality music reproduction has never been more affordable and at a quality that would cost triple digits only a decade ago.
good advice here…a month ago i almost ended up getting these same Dali’s but went to get Evoke 10’s instead and am building from there up…so bye bye €1000 dollar system for me😂
Would love to hear how the Topping E30 is doing compare to the Schiit Modi.
Another great video, was just looking at the Dali's.. decided to go with the q acoustics 3050 towers to pair with the audiolab 6000
I have assembled systems for my front room and desktop over the past two years. Everything I currently have was purchased online. I was a lot of buying and returning (or reselling) until I was satisfied. I retuned the one piece that I purchased from a local audio store and they charged me a restocking fee.
For my front system I just kept trying components until I got the sound I wanted. My desktop system started as computer speakers that outperformed the analog output from my computer. So I added a DAC to maximize their potential, and the process spiraled out of control from there.
Totally agree with John’s admonition about where to spend the money at this price level. Entry level DACs and speakers have gotten so good that they don’t really stand in the way of an enjoyable listening experience. I recently purchased the iFi Air DAC for my bedroom and was surprised at how it sounded for the price to the extent that I even use my Sennheiser HD800 headphone with it despite the huge disparity in price.
What happened to your 43” Samsung QLED 📺? I see you got a bigger TV and mounted it on the wall.
It is Samsung 55” Frame 2022 model .. just Qled not OLED
I moved interstate last year and sold my hifi gear. While my home was being built i needed something small for the rental i was in. I grabbed the Rotel A10 int. Amp with Wharfedale diamond 9.1 speakers off facebook marketplace for a few hundred AUD$. Such an amazing little system and the phono input on the Rotel wasn’t to bad either. Mates that are getting into hifi i recommend something very similar to this with an audio technica LP60X Turntable.
I bought the Rotel Tribute CD player about 6 months ago. Great.
Find a friend is an excellent way learn and research towards putting together a first system. Better yet find and join a local community of enthusiasts. This way one can hear systems in real world environments, to get advice, and even to get loaner components for reasonable listening times.
I had Dali’s Spektor 2 before upgrade them with another Dali speakers…Opticon 2 MK2….they are with an excellent sound quality for that price point and above….the another fun fact is that they looks way more expensive in terms of finish, compared to the 5 times more expensive Opticon’s..🤔😉
I got also the mk2 with powernode 21 great great combination.2000 eu System but worth it
I did the same for my second system. Same Dali speakers and Power Node 2i and Chord speaker cables and AudioQuest mains cable and audiophile fuse. Love the result. Speakers are designed to be close to the back wall.
An audiophile fuse? They don't really sell such things do they?? 🤣
Its a good system. I was looking last year and really wanted the Rotel gear but like others had mentioned wanted a digtial input on the amp. For a primarily digital audio setup, USB from PC to Topping D10s, optical to Yamaha RN303D connected to Wharfdale 11.1 all came in under £1000. This system sounds great.
I see you've opted for the Samsung Frame TV and mounted it. Much better look. I'm only at the beginning of this video in case you mention it later.
This has got me looking at that Rotel amp. It’s £349 in the uk at the moment.
Can anyone give me an idea how good are the AudioPro A36 Floorstanders all in one speaker compared with a system like this £1000 setup ?