re: Two channel audio/cd 'hi-fi' on a budget

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Already blown away and no tuning or anything yet.

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There’s nothing like your first exposure to a good hi-fi system.

I distinctly remember mine:

I was listening to computer speakers (a JBL 2.1 setup) on an HTPC in my living room. I upgraded to some Sony SSF-7000 floorstanders ($200/pair. Still use them as rears. They’re not great. But they introduced me to what an actual floorstander did vs a computer speaker. I’d still take them over the majority of soundbars out there)

I got introduced to a Krell Class A 400 WPC stereo amp pumping b&w 800 Nautilus.

Among the sources was an Oppo disk player with some blu ray concert recordings. There was a CD player/DAC that I believe was Krell as well. There was also a Sonos Port which had such noticeably poorer sound quality on those components. The owner has tossed the b&w - they had replaced some Wilson Watt/puppy towers he lost during Katrina, and he went ahead and bought a newer Wilson loudspeaker setup (I think Sophia 2. Could have been Sasha, but I forget- I was invited to hear the upgrade but never was able to make it).

The setup was approximately $100,000 all in (I’ve obviously left off several parts). I was so blown away that I found a pair of b&w 803 Matrix for $800 and jumped on the pair immediately. They’re still my “main rig”

Since then, I’ve heard a few higher-end setups (most of the “big room” in a few Magnolia centers, I’ve been to the New York Stereo Exchange, House of McIntosh and listened to every system on display). I do want to upgrade. I don’t have a room or the time to justify it just yet. I look forward to 5-10 years from now when I can legitimately put ear to some real high-end stuff and really decide on what I want. But damn it if I don’t love my low-end/modest set up.