Most people think 'HiFi' is synonymous with the word "expensive," but it's perfectly possible to make a system that's cheaper than one of the best smart speakers — a Sonos Era 300.
It's easier said than done, of course, but with some strict budgeting and some clever spending, you can build a full system for under $450. So let's get started.
Hot tips
Buying a completely new system can always seem daunting, so to make life a bit easier for you, I've laid out some tips to help you get the best bang for your buck.
- Tip #1: Buy second-hand
If you don't mind buying older devices, this is a really good way to save some money.
Just remember that legacy audio systems probably have experienced their fair share of wear and tear. That's extra risky because there aren't any after-sales help systems when you buy second-hand, so you need to be extra cautious. Make sure you look out for clear images and highly reviewed sellers.
- Tip #2: Combine components together
If you had unlimited money, you'd be buying separate components out the wazoo. It's the best way to get the best sound possible, but it gets expensive fast.
When you're trying to get the best sound possible, you want to combine components so that you don't have to buy multiple things — an amplifier with a built-in streaming device, for example.
- Tip #3: Spread the cost out over time
Don't buy everything all at once. Start with what you need — an amplifier and speakers — and then buy extra things like turntables and CD players later on down the line.
That means you've got more money at the start for the core of your system, and then you can save for nice separates later on.
The system
So with all those tips in mind, let's put together a system that beats out the Sonos Era 300, while sticking to that $450 price tag. It's not easy. There aren't many devices out there that will land within our budget, but we'll do our best.
We'll start with the amp. I want to make sure we've still got that streaming system from the Sonos Era speaker, but I don't want to buy a separate device for it to work. With that in mind, I've opted for the Wiim Amp. It's got plenty of power to drive some great speakers, and the Wiim smart system is very good indeed.
Then we need some speakers. This was trickier — our $299 amp has only left us with $150 — but we've got some great options out there.
I've opted for the Polk Audio Monitor 15, a fantastic pair of bookshelf speakers that are going to sound spectacular.
Listen privately with some headphones
Alternatively, you could forgo a home stereo system for a pair of critical listening headphones. If you go this route, you'll get even better sound with more intimacy and immersion. The trade-off? You can't share it with your friends or visitors.
So we've got $450 to find some headphones and a way to connect them to our device. We're going wired — sound quality is our priority — and that means we'll need to find some sort of dongle so that we can plug them into our phone. That's easy enough.
We'll go with the iFi Go Link Max, a little USB-C dongle that acts as a high-quality DAC, as well as adding that all-important headphone jack. It's not much, $79, but it's one of the coolest little devices I've had the pleasure of testing.
Now we're going to need some headphones. We've got $370 to play with after buying our dongle DAC, giving us plenty of cash to drop. See what I mean about this being much cheaper than buying a full system?
My headphones of choice at this price are the classic and venerable Sennheiser HD 600. They're the audiophile headphones of choice the world over, providing spectacular sound and a stunning soundstage.
This is cheating a little. Full price, they'd be out of our budget, but they're generally found for around $299. That means they leave us with a little change so that you can get a really nice bottle of whisky for those listening sessions. Just remember that the HD 600s are open-backed, so you're going to hear everything going on around you — and everyone nearby is going to hear what you're listening to.
Remember that this is a hobby
Hopefully, I've shown that you don't need to blow the budget, however. Even better, once you've started your home audio system, you can add more devices as and when you can afford them. A CD player, for example, or one of the best turntables.
The most important thing to remember is that this is all supposed to be fun. Cheap stuff can sound great and get you closer to your music. I know how easy it is to glance at more expensive equipment with jealous eyes. But the best music system is the one that you've got right now — don't let anyone stop you from enjoying your tunes on a system that you think sounds good.
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