Steve is an audiophile. Steve is not a snobby audiophile. Steve is a good audiophile. Be like steve.

Steve I think you are really good guy, you're one of the audiophiles that are respectful and understand different budgets.

STEP ONE: Go to Salvation Army or Goodwill and buy a used receiver. Wait until you find a good one at a good price. You can find an old Kenwood or Yamaha for $15 sometimes... Wednesday is half price. STEP 2: If you're lucky you can also find good speakers there. I got some Infinity Reference 6.5" bookshelf speakers to go with my used receiver. I think I paid $30ish for them. If you just can't find any used speakers for cheap, try something like a 6.5" round JBL coaxial car speaker. I think a pair will be $75-$150. Good sound and excellent stereo imaging (which is most important for 'audiophile' purposes). Slap them in a premade cabinet, or whatever. I happen to own a pair of speakers that were $2,000 each but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the sport of putting together a good system for the lowest price possible. My best was $22. $15 for a used Yamaha receiver and $7 for a pair of very decent bookshelf speakers. It would take about $400 to match or beat that system if you bought new stuff at a store. The secret is that you're doing the shipping and handling labor, by driving down to Goodwill. Shipping is the killer that makes ebay more expensive.

Thanks for being who you are! 💖 Caring Audiophile sharing his precious experiences with us without looking down upon those who can't afford the most expensive.

For people just getting into this stuff, recommendations like this are invaluable. Thank you so much, Steve, for helping so many along the way.

Thanks you for sharing your knowledge. A lot of work have gone into this list.

Love love love this video! Look forward to the next ones where you raise the price the little bit.

You're really stepping it up Steve. First off with the fascinating insights into recording with Engineer Alex and now this series. Strong work!

Thank you so much Steve. you have no idea how great idea this is. will help many people. Great if we could see your thoughts on 1k, 2k, 4k systems.

This by far is a great video to get people into audio gear.

Thank you Steve for this valuable information! Just what I was looking for for our 3 season Room/Sun Room coffee corner. Perfect!!

I love, love, love this series idea. This is what I've been waiting for! Thank you!

Hey man, I'm starting to learn about the audiophile world. I liked your vibe, cheers!

If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time you include images of the components you are talking about. Great work!

I showed this to all my friends! Thanks Steve!

Hats off for not skipping over theses very impressive ,yet very affordable components ! Nice to see someone as famous as you in the audio world show people they can get a really nice little system for not a lot of money. A friend saw my dads old McIntosh amps and Klipsch horns & LaScalla's and said to me "oh your an audiophile" Pleas dont call me that I said, I just dig great music and like it to sound as good ss possible to MY ears..that's it.

I bought my Elac Debut B6.2 speakers thanks to your earlier video, Steve. Never regretted that :)

I can't wait to start my journey into HI-FI music and this video helps a lot. Thanks

Awesome recommendations! Keep them coming. Thank you for this worthwhile list.

I went with the Dayton Audio blue tooth amp and speakers. Love it! thanks for the advice and info.

Really liked this type of video. Looking forward to the $1000 system version

Great video idea, Steve! We need more future audiophiles in the hobby and the idea of offering many choices that in various combinations could work for a price point. This has to be one of your best thoughts for a video. I can't wait to see the $1k, $2k $3k, $5k $10K system ideas. It's a lot of work to put together, but well worth helping newbies get in and grow in the audio hobby. I personally think that investing in music is one of life's greatest pleasures. Especially in today's crazy world, relaxing to your favorite music that sounds good, in your own home - for me it's the best pastime.

Thank you for this video. I really appreciate budget options.

Always love hearing your thoughts on things Steve. I've been following your for many years and, well, I guess that says it all. Thanks for this "affordable audiophile" overview.

Steve, thank you for your video "consultations!" After the divorce and a move into a small condo, the K-horns and tube amps ended up in the garage - so sad. But I have found a $500 dollar system that makes my small space sing! From your short review on the Dayton Audio MK442T loudspeakers, I jumped on a pair on a special. Not the highest resolution around, but warm and lively. It has enough bass to satisfy without pulsing through the walls to annoy my neighbors. In one of your videos you recommended trying something new as apposed to "leveling up" with more of the same type of gear. So what's the opposite of my beloved 7 Watt 300B SET amp? An open box special crown SLX 1002 power amp - 350 watts a side to power those slender tower speakers. They were also featured in one of your guest presentation videos. Rounding out the gear is an inexpensive (found on Jeff's Online Emporium) DAC/Pre/Bluetooth box as an input (with happy little tubes sticking out of the top). The "system" sounds great - thanks again for the advice.

Great idea! Can't wait for your $3000 System recommendations!

Just came across this video! I was into medium high end audio for 30 years! Spent loads trying to find perfection! Ended up listening to imperfections rather than the music! Ended up selling it all a few years ago but really miss one of my only pleasures in life! I love your style and will be working my way through your videos 👍 Subscribed! Looking forward to buying a lower end system as money is an option these days! Thanks again for your effort in making these videos. Barry

Great video Steve! Hilariously this really spoke to me because I have the Andrew jones pioneer full set up surround speakers, Audio Technica turntable you mentioned and the mani and Modi. I've also had good luck with used Sony CD players on eBay. Glad to know my research over the last year has accidentally paid off with some great products! Looking forward to the next video so I can keep an eye out on some things to upgrade to

I love this guy he’s honest always has a variety of audio stuff and comparable models. Keep up the good work and the good vibes !!!

Great video. All the options are nice. I got the Klipsch bookshelf/subwoofer combination for $300. Good full range sound; and amazing value.

This is absolutely great and is much needed in this hobby of ours to bring more people in. Keep this up Steve.

Very very helpful. Need more like this. Thank you.

Funny, I like it already, from your "...This is going to be good!'

My set up is composed of a 35 year old Harmon Kardon RECEIVER, EPI speakers and a technics turntable and a Sony CD player and a Panasonic duel cassette player. Vintage yes, and sounds amazing still.

Thanx Steve, appreciate this video too, I ll be able to refer people to this when they ask me about putting a good budget system together

Thanks for sharing this! I enjoyed it as much as I learned from it! Keep it coming! All the best!

This is perfect video to help with a cheap decent setup for that family member or friend that always showed a little bit of interest in audio.

Amazing video Steve! Its great to see audiophiles such as you recommending budget speakers like these. Its great because people from third world countries can get into the hobbie without sacrificing all their money (because shit is expensive here, i tell you) Currently using a pair of BS22LR with the Yamaha R-S202 receiver, great combination, love it!

Thank you Steve, this video is a gem for us non-Audiophiles music aficionados

Good to see the audio engine stuff getting a look in. Managed to pick up some A5s for an absolute steal and paired with an airplay receiver. Sounds and looks great in my living room! Agree that they are very forgiving and listenable.

In the eighties, AIWA was still a thing. One day I walked past a electrical store they had a AiWA mini stereo playing some music, the stereo imaging was stunningly good. In those days I visited a lot of showrooms for speakers, the most impressive ones were Tannoy, some theaters in Hong Kong also use giant Tannoy speakers but that AIWA mini stereo was really impressive. The main part of the stereo was no bigger than the iPad display.

I love the fact that you tried super hi fi system and you are still able to appreciate a good cheap system

Thank you.. i want to start getting in audio equipment these videos very very helpful

Steve, you're my favorite audiophile on KZfaq. I really enjoy your cheerfulness and sincere enthusiasm about all things audio, and it's clear that you want to help others with your knowledge. Thanks for another great video!

Being an ex sound engineer and having had a recording studio before and set up many sound systems and been a dj since 1993 I can say the best, cheap'ish way to have good sound is to get yourself a pair of studio monitors like say the JBL 306P mkII and then buy some acoustic foam to put on your walls and use speaker stands that you can fill with sand using gaffa tap to seal any holes in the stands and put acoustic foam underneath the studio monitors to absorb resonance. You can easily get some thin strips of wood and some material the same colour as your walls and you simply put the wood around each foam tile and then cut the material to stretch over each tile and then staple the fabric to the wood strips at the side of each tile kind of encasing each tile in a wooden frame. Then you use no nails or something to secure the wooden frames to your wall. Then you'll have less sound reflections within your room increasing stereo image and sound quality and the aesthetic impact of the foam panels will be very minimal thanks to the material covering them which is the same as your wall colour. There is no better way to get an accurate representation of how the artists who made the tracks you listen to wanted their tracks to sound than using acoustic treatment and good quality studio monitors. Many audiophiles think they know a lot about sound but know very little and many items such as phono cables and power cables costing hundreds or thousands of pounds or dollars are nothing more than a waste of money and manufacturers know most people who buy them will be tricked into thinking their audio system sounds better when it doesn't. It's called the placebo affect. Do a blind test and you won't notice any difference between a pair of say Van Damme phono cables costing £30 to a pair of cables costing £2,000.

Thanks, Steve. I like how you don't have brand snobbery.

Thank you so much for this video! Looking forward to the $1,000 video next!

This is the best video Steve has made because these products apply to me. Thank you so much!

This was easily one of my favorite video and I am really looking forward to seeing this series continue. I noticed that the Micca speakers weren't on your list, curious as to why. Regardless, please keep these coming, as they are extremely helpful and informative.

Many thanks for this. Too many audiophiles go only for obscenely expensive gear.

Interesting you would publish this today. After much research, this week I'm planning to buy the Elac Debut B6.2 speakers and the Yamaha receiver you mentioned. You've confirmed the wisdom of my choices. Although I could spend more, those components should completely satisfy my needs now. Thanks much!!

Thanks so much for covering a budget that is not often covered. I would hardly call a $1200 amplifier a starter amplifier as some people do.

I absolutely love my Elac B6.2. Paired to a NAD C326BEE amp. Great setup. I also have the Pioneer BS22. Absolutely wicked speakers!

First time checking out this channel. I walked into Best Buy and asked if they carry Shit Manny and got a lot of confused looks.

Steve I've been waiting anxiously for your thousand dollar plus systems and your $2,000 plus systems loving this type of video please keep up the format it was excellent pictures prices and websites🙏🎉🍾🍻🍻👍👍👌👌👏👏😁😁😍😍😍😍

Thank you Sir. This kind of advice was exactly what i was looking for.

This is heaven. As I have always maintained - it is all about music first and music last. Given that, a little search will always get you heaven within your constraints of hearing bias and budget and space and availability and serviceability.

Unlike so many ‘experts’ in audio, you know your stuff, and are able to put yourself in your viewers’ position.

Great video. I'm looking forward to the other price brackets in this series.

Thanks, Steve. One of your best videos ever!

Great Start to what I think will be a great series, my plan is to get something low cost to start with I want to go with vinyl as my source. if I have something low cost to start out with and it be complete I will save each month until I can afford to replace a piece. as I live on a fixed income I am looking at this as my finished stereo system. Fluance RT84 Nagaoka MP 110 Cartridge Schiit audio MANI VIDAR FREYA + Magneplanar LRS this is my end goal for a dream system that I can save for

Please do this for dac/headphone amp combos.

Fantastic that you put all this knowledge in one place for us beginners. Thanks man!

Thanks for the list and links, nice picks!

Great job Steve, down to earth, real world prices for those wanting to take their first steps into the world of the audiophile. We will both be criticized for using the word audiophile for such inexpensive gear, but you've got to start somewhere. A lot of young people have not experienced the loudspeaker yet. They want to Bluetooth the music library held on their phones, so be it, believe me they will grow.

Great suggestions for our budget minded music loving friends. Cheap fix if you can't stand the sound of a friend's system. Wedding gifts?! Thank you!

Thanks for your reviews Steve, you obviously put a lot of careful research into it, it's great to get the inside scoop on audio stuff!! :)

Great video Steve, I'm looking forward for the next complete audio systems.

gotta save this for when I finally get my own place

This is great.i may invest in bedroom system

Excellent guide, thank you from an audiophile newbie!

Great video, Steve! If this video had been around before I built up my current system, I bet I could have built up something for a lot less money and, honestly, I'd be happy. I like your selections here.

Great start of a series for hitting price points. I would not hesitate in suggesting Schiit Audio and Elac gear to anyone starting/restarting a system.

One of my many "hobbies" is answering people's questions on Quora, for topics I know stuff about. Audiophile on a budget comes up seemingly once a month. Going to simply link to this video, a better answer than I can come up with on my own.

Great how you are giving such big attention to budget audio. Where the folks are. Love it.

Thanks Steve! Great delivery of easily digestible Audio information. Based on your advice I bought the Andrew Jones Pioneers SP BS22 LR, the Audio Technica AT-LP60 Turntable, the Schiit Mani and the Yamaha R-S202! Very happy with my budget system spinning some Velvet Underground 'Loaded' and Dire Straits 'Making Movies' this afternoon! Be like Steve!

PLEASE! PLEASE! Steve, get those records on that top shelf vertical. I'm dying here!

I love your hair! And glasses! And shirt! I guess you are just awesome in general!

Thank you so much for this video! Excellent info and many choices for any budget!

I’m astonished how affordable equipment money can buy that also sounds good! I’m looking for new speakers and your video definitely helped me on the way, thanks!

Fantastic premise - missing only a disc player (CD/BR) recommendation (I'm probably not going back to vinyl. In the meantime, I'll use my Sony Blu-ray or my Mac.

I remember when $15 bought you a hit of acid and a ticket to a Hendrix concert..

❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍 OMG this is exactly what we needed I personally will go for the $2000 plus system but you covered every price range especially for 500 or less you cannot beat it so looking forward for more great job Steve 👍👍👌👌😎😎😘😘 #theaudiophiliac

I just got and set up my R-S202. I'm very pleased with this little monster. Unfortunately due to Covid I won't see my Dayton's until the end of April. So much for Amazon Prime. Thanks for all the valuable information that you provide .

The Edifer r2000db and Auduiengine A2 for the price these power speakers have great sound.

Steve, would love to see a tour of your apartment!

Thanks for your cornucopia of knowledge. I'm a fairly new subscriber and I have been nerding out on your videos. Keep up the outstanding work.

Good video. So glad to see someone who like to give solid advice for people on small budgets.

Yes! Hifi for everyone:)

When I think audiophile, I think of this guy.

Great summary, I've forwarded your review to all my kids and grandkids . Current Onkyo TX 8020 stereo receiver has a sub out so should work with Klipsch sub.

Wonderful video, great suggestions. Some of these can be put together for a budget desktop system or basement/workshop/garage system if you already have a primary set up.

Alternatively, buy used vintage gear - there are fantastic bargains to be had if you're patient. I recently picked up a Panasonic SL-H350 (re-badged Technics SL-3) linear tracking turntable for £25 ($32) via eBay - didn't even need a new belt or stylus. Trio/Kenwood and Hitachi made some very nice amps and receivers circa 1980, which can be found for under $100, and Technics' sweet little aluminium-cased SB-F1 speakers often go for about the same.

Why not buy a vintage system i did under 500 complete toshiba 330 and a set of chario speakers This realy make me enjoy my albums again thx

i genuinely enjoyed watching this video and this is the first video i’ve watched of yours! keep up the good work!

Thanks steve that's what I was asking for much appreciated.

I still can't believe nobody gives the NHT Super bookshelves any credit for being a great budget line brand. Specifically the SuperZero 2.1 and SuperOne 2.1. Both for under $100 a speaker on Amazon and will compete with any of the budget line speakers mentioned here.

I still have my four Fisher speakers from 1969. They still work just fine.

Now this is a really great video. Thank you!!!

Steve, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.