Amazon has the Marantz BD7004 Universal Blu-ray Disc Player (Black) for $399.99 with free shipping and handling. That’s in line with the new retail pricing for this model, which previously sold for twice as much (and which is still being sold for the old retail price elsewhere). This player received a 5 out of 5 star review from What Hi Fi?
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 Something a little different that may appeal to the DJ’s out there (or those who just want pretend they’re DJ’s). Musician’s Friend has the Numark DDS-80 CD and Media Player  6ave.com has the Denon DVD-3910 Universal DVD/SACD player for $398 with free shipping and handling. This player has received rave reviews from Audioholics, Sound+Vision, and Audiophile Audition. This retailed for $1,500 originally, and although unable to play blu-ray discs, it is still a top notch audio and dvd player.  Amazon.com has the Denon RCDCX1 CD/Super Audio CD Receiver  ,288.16 with free S&H at Amazon.com">Leave a comment  cd players, mini-systems, stereo receivers  Denon  Newegg.com has lowered its price on the Polk Audio SurroundBar 360 DVD Theater System to $249.99 with free shipping and handling (use coupon code “AUDIO3265″ get this price)(coupon expires 3/31/10). Cnet rated it 3.5 (out of 5) stars in its March, 2009 review. There’s another decent review (3 our of 4 stars) at bigpicturebigsound.com. This originally retailed for close to $1200. For those of you seeking cutting edge video performance, this probably isn’t for you — there are no HDMI inputs, and the unit doesn’t play blu-ray discs (just DVD and CD). Be sure to read the cnet review and product description so you know what you are (and aren’t) getting. That said, it’s a pretty nice self contained receiver, dvd/cd player, and speaker system. I’ve had polk speakers for 24 years (and purchased another set in 2003) and have always been pleased with them. ORIGINALLY POSTED 2/10/10; UPDATED 2/24/10; UPDATED 2/27/10; UPDATED 3/28/10  Amazon.com has the recently released OPPO BDP-80 Blu-ray Disc Player with SACD and DVD-Audio (Black)  Amazon has the Yamaha DVD-S1800BL 1080p Upconverting DVD SACD Player Sub-$1500 system – Epos ELS8 Speakers, Target Stands, NAD components, Audioquest Cables $1,490 totalI’ve wanted to build a system around the Epos ELS8 speakers for some time. They (and their predecessors) have been highly regarded for many years, often earning kudos as the best speaker out there for under $500. These run for $495 just about anywhere they’re sold (boutique audio shops). I’ve decided to build the system with components from AudioAdvisor.com because their prices on the rest of the system are reasonable and they stock components on the lower end of the audiophile scale (read: cheaper models). If I could build any system right now for a private listening space somewhere in the house, this would be it. Speaker stands: Target – HS Series Speaker Stands – Pair (24″) can be filled with sand or lead shot to improve stability. Currently priced at $189 at AudioAdvisor.com. Amp: The NAD C-315BEE amplifier runs $349 at Audioadvisor.com. NAD makes available an extensive review of this model (in pdf format) conducted by Britains’s www.hifinews.co.uk. CD Player: The matching NAD 515CEEE cd player runs $299 at AudioAdvisor. Rated 5 stars by the UK’s What Hi Fi? Cables: Audioquest Type 4 speaker cable (no frills version), is available in multiple lengths at AudioAdvisor.com. I’ve selected this 10 ft pair which is going for $119.
For the interconnects to hook the cd player to the amp, try the Audioquest G-Snake, also available in multiple lengths. A 1 meter (3ft) pair is $39 at AudioAdvisor.com.
TOTAL PRICE: $1,490
For those of you with $1,000 to drop on a new system, I’ve tried to put together something a little more exotic: Speakers: PSB Alpha B1 bookshelf speakers (in black), which are going for $279 with free shipping at AudioAdvisor.com (they are also offered in a wood-tone “Sienna“). These speakers been rated very highly by Stereophile and others. My favorite quote from the review: “Considering its price, the PSB Alpha B1 is quite extraordinary in its way. Even if not in the market for a cheap mini, audiophiles should buy them for their Bose-owning friends and family, to give those unfortunates more than a taste of what a true high-end loudspeaker is capable of.” They were a Stereophile “Budget Product of the Year” in 2007. Components: I’ve gone with a pairing of an integrated amplifer and dvd player from Cambridge Audio. The Cambridge Audio Azur 340A integrated amplifier (in silver) is available for $269 at AudioAdvisor.com and should drive the PSB Alpha B1′s without problem (couldn’t find the amp for less than $329 elsewhere). For aesthetic purposes, I’ve paired it with the Cambridge Audio DVD-89 player (also in silver) on sale (43% off) for $199 at AudioAdvisor.com. Cables: Audioquest Type 4 speaker cable (no frills version), is available in multiple lengths at AudioAdvisor.com. I’ve selected this 10 ft pair which is going for $119. For the interconnects to hook the cd player to the amp, try the Audioquest G-Snake, also available in multiple lengths. A 1 meter (3ft) pair is $39 at AudioAdvisor.com. Speaker Stands: Stands are highly recommended for bookshelf speakers — the goal is to place the tweeters at ear level (when seated). To stay within the budget, I’ve picked these Sanus Euro Speaker Stands (24″), which are $69.99 at AudioAdvisor.com. Heavier stands (which can be filled with sand or lead shot) would be preferable if you have a few more bucks to spend. Total Cost: $974.99. There seem to be a fair number of people out there seeking advice on how to get started with building their first stereo system. Confronted with a seemingly endless selection of electronic components, sources, and speakers, they’re not sure where to begin. I will be posting some suggested setups at different price points — starting with this post trying to put together a system for under $500 (including cables). Audio is one of those areas where you can always spend more, and in most cases, the incremental increase in cost will be accompanied by an incremental increase in sound quality (though not always). As I put together these proposed combinations, I will use the following guidelines whenever possible: (1) the ability to purchase from a single retailer; (2) best total cost; and (3) matching components (at least on the lower end systems — more for aesthetics than any perceived synergy achieved by using the same brand). That said, here’s the sub-$500 setup: Receiver: The Onkyo TX-8255 Stereo Receiver Speakers: The Polk Audio RTi4 High Performance Bookshelf/On-Wall Speakers (Pair, Black) CD/DVD Player: The Onkyo DV-SP406B Single Disc DVD Player (Black) Speaker Cables: Monster Cable THX SP 16-50 Standard THX-Certified Speaker Cable (50 Feet) Interconnect cables: Not much left to spend, but you can get the Phoenix Gold Audio Signal Cable 1 Meter GRAND TOTAL: $498.20 Next up, a $1,000 system. |
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Spirit Sound (via Amazon) still has the 
Spearit Sound (via Amazon) has the 
for $1,288.16 with free shipping and handling (down another $32 since last week). That’s the lowest price I could find by over $200. Denon seems to keep a tight rein on dealers, so its prices (particularly on the higher end items) are rarely discounted. It’s also $1,100 less than buying the functionally equivalent Denon separates on which this unit is based: the 
currently sells for $1,199 on Amazon, and the 
sells for $1,199 on Amazon. It received praise in this 
in stock for $289.99 with free shipping and handling. There isn’t a better price out there. The OPPO disc players have received uniformly positive feedback for both video and sound quality (as well as their ability to handle sound only formats such as SACD and DVD-Audio). This is a step down from the BDP-83 model (which goes for $499), but it promises to have almost the same level of performance at a far lower price.
for $79.99 with free shipping and handling. Many of the reviewers on Amazon praise the sound quality of this unit when used as a CD player. It sold for close to retail of $249 until about six months ago, when it was discontinued in favor of newer blu-ray models. Amazon seems to have the last of these in stock, and is selling them for a bargain price. It has some good audio processing on-board: Four two-channel Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit audio DACs and an “Audio Direct” mode.
for $194.00 with free shipping and handling from Amazon.com. I have an earlier model of this same receiver, and have found the sound quality to be comparable my higher end receivers by Denon and Harman Kardon.
are still available from J&R through Amazon for $149.99 with free shipping and handling. I wrote about these last week and they are still available. (NO LONGER AVAILABLE AT THIS PRICE 2/23/10)
is available from Amazon for $121.82 with free shipping and handling. This is a fairly entry level player, and won’t play blu-rays or Super Audio CD (SACD), but sound quality should be more than adequate with this system.
is $23.41 with free shipping and handling at Amazon.com. Nothing special about this cable. Good quality. At this price, no banana connectors (just bare wire), but this will do the job.
for $8.98 with free shipping and handling from Amazon. Or you can save $9 and use the interconnect included with the DVD/CD player.