[Don Dadda]

There's a few on the bay that haven't been bidded on with a day or so to go still at starting price of £0.99 which are collection only, but if asked some are willing send by courier at the buyers cost. So your quest is still possible.

stereo amplifiers | eBay

[paulfoley]

Yep I have a long eBay list but many go mad in the last few minutes and quite a few sellers have replied stating a £15 slow courier delivery cost

[ollyjay1982]

If the weather stays nice this weekend try your luck at a car boot sale. Last summer I picked up a Cambridge audio a1 amp in great nick for £5!

[scorpion88]

Originally Posted by ollyjay1982

If the weather stays nice this weekend try your luck at a car boot sale. Last summer I picked up a Cambridge audio a1 amp in great nick for £5!

What the hell do you expect for a merge £50?

[ollyjay1982]

Merge £50??

[cornish]

Originally Posted by paulfoley

Yep I have a long eBay list but many go mad in the last few minutes and quite a few sellers have replied stating a £15 slow courier delivery cost

i think you should relax the rules you put upon yourself. the courier charge! if you can obtain an amp for 10 or 12 quid then that's great how much do you pay for parking to go and audition an amp cdp or whatever if it was for yourself? plus the travelling costs..... i think you are being a little unfair on yourself with the challenge.

sometimes the internet age doesn't help, as 20years ago people on the dole could get fairly good set-ups second hand for a fraction of the new price... or maybe it was cos it fell off the back of a lorry.... but the point being that the market has opened up substantially.

[cornish]

Originally Posted by ollyjay1982

Merge £50??

inebriated keyboard

[dablk]

Originally Posted by scorpion88

What the hell do you expect for a merge £50?

Little harsh that is it not?? Would have expected better from someone with a senior member tag.

Considering the many positives lessons and an 11 year old doing the buying on a tight budget. Yes £200 quid would buy a better and more easy to find system. The lad doesn't have £200... He's 11.

Paul.. I see you have sourced an amp... Well done. Look forward to a photo of this £50 setup.

[paulfoley]

Originally Posted by dablk

Little harsh that is it not?? Would have expected better from someone with a senior member tag.

Considering the many positives lessons and an 11 year old doing the buying on a tight budget. Yes £200 quid would buy a better and more easy to find system. The lad doesn't have £200... He's 11.

Paul.. I see you have sourced an amp... Well done. Look forward to a photo of this £50 setup.

Cheers Dabik, it should all be here by Tuesday. Photos and impressions soon.

[Don Dadda]

Its more to do with the challenge and the promise.

Originally Posted by paulfoley

.. . I confidently promised, get him a much better sounding but uglier "Basic Separates System" for his £50 (using collected lots from ebay and freeads).

( why oh why did you promise )

Its not expected to sound fantastic or look state of the art but sound better than the argos alternatives than the OP's son was eyeing up. And to prove to his son what can be got on a limited budget if spent wisely. Its a good life lesson. Ok, he could be back here in a year or 2 looking for replacements, but the point would of been proven.
Also as dads, we don't like to back down when we set a challenge, even when we are staring defeat in the face. That's when we 'divert the rules' slightly to help us out. Dad's prerogative Lord knows i've been there.

So Paul, What was the forfeit if you didn't make the £50 or is that's another of dad's prerogatives? (another life lesson ).

Gotta give credit where credit is due. He achieved the challenge with change to spare - lets hope it sounds as he hopes

[paulfoley]

There wasn't a forfeit agreed, I was pretty confident I'd do it even if it took a month of waiting for my luck to change. As for sound quality I feel 100% sure that the Rotel, Panasonic, Sansui, JPW machine will sound better than this thing did:

http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/d...uctInformation

[ollyjay1982]

If you take your time you can really find some great bargains, I found a pair of musical fidelity mc 2's in mint condition at a second hand shop. Along with some other bits and bobs I only paid a tenner! Bet your set up will sound great and better than any of his mates stereos! I built my little sister a similar set up when she was about 14 and hand built her some floor standers and they absolutely knock the socks off all her friends cheap rubbish! What are you short of now as I think I may have a few bits floating around the garage...

[paulfoley]

Originally Posted by ollyjay1982

If you take your time you can really find some great bargains, I found a pair of musical fidelity mc 2's in mint condition at a second hand shop. Along with some other bits and bobs I only paid a tenner! Bet your set up will sound great and better than any of his mates stereos! I built my little sister a similar set up when she was about 14 and hand built her some floor standers and they absolutely knock the socks off all her friends cheap rubbish! What are you short of now as I think I may have a few bits floating around the garage...

The only things we could really do with are interconnects, I found two in the loft but they look like they cost around £2 each from Tandy in 1987

[simplicity96]

I'm thinking a hamster having the life squeezed out of it would have sound better tbh (just a joke and no hamsters were harmed in this sentence)

Congrats on the completion of the task paul I think as others have said this teachs some valuable lessons. I remember my first stereo that I 'knocked together' all those years ago that brought about my love for music and the equipment today look forward to seeing the verdict.

[Don Dadda]

Originally Posted by paulfoley

The only things we could really do with are interconnects, I found two in the loft but they look like they cost around £2 each from Tandy in 1987

I've included a box standard pair with the Pioneer winging it way to you and will get you going. In fact if the 2 in loft are in decent conditions, with the pair on its way to you, i wouldn't spend any more on new cables.

The standard pair should be good enough for the requirement.

[ollyjay1982]

I've got a pair I made myself somewhere from silver cable... I'll have a good look tonight and see if I can find them. Can't promise I've still got them but I will look

[dodo007]

Hi i have just made my system is a cambridge audio a1 with some sony speakers i payed 35 for the amp and 1.20 for the speakers and it sounds excellent

[paulfoley]

Originally Posted by dodo007

Hi i have just made my system is a cambridge audio a1 with some sony speakers i payed 35 for the amp and 1.20 for the speakers and it sounds excellent

Congrats bud, what are you feeding the amp with?

[dodo007]

my pc i listen to the radio over internet which may not be a great source but i am serprised how good it sounds

[cornish]

Originally Posted by dodo007

my pc i listen to the radio over internet which may not be a great source but i am serprised how good it sounds

no problem with playing cd then, using the pc's cd/dvd drive as transport! before i bought my tuner i was satisfied with internet radio through pc.

[paulfoley]

Sorry its late, but I now have the Interconnects and have connected them up. In a word WOW, the sound is tight, punchy and very, very nice, I'd say at least 5 times the quality of the Phillips mini system it replaced. It isnt the prettiest thing in the world but you cant really call it ugly ether!

Thanks again for all your help, advice & (cheaper than usual) sales, my son is made up with it

[ollyjay1982]

I'd say it was a good looking bit of kit that! But then I am a sucker for retro hifi separates. Glad the interconnects sound ok for you
:Smashin:

[scorpion88]

Originally Posted by paulfoley

Sorry its late, but I now have the Interconnects and have connected them up. In a word WOW, the sound is tight, punchy and very, very nice, I'd say at least 5 times the quality of the Phillips mini system it replaced. It isnt the prettiest thing in the world but you cant really call it ugly ether!

Thanks again for all your help, advice & (cheaper than usual) sales, my son is made up with it

Apologies for earlier aberration and am impressed with your perseverance and brilliant result. In this context 'pretty' is less important than SQ or at least in the eye of the beholder and keyboard operator

[Don Dadda]

Originally Posted by paulfoley

Sorry its late, but I now have the Interconnects and have connected them up. In a word WOW, the sound is tight, punchy and very, very nice, I'd say at least 5 times the quality of the Phillips mini system it replaced. It isnt the prettiest thing in the world but you cant really call it ugly ether!

Thanks again for all your help, advice & (cheaper than usual) sales, my son is made up with it

Glad the boy likes it

I don't think it looks ugly at all. I must say the Pioneer blends in and matches well

I have a rotel Tuner that would fit nicely in that setup, if in future you are in need of one

[scorpion88]

Originally Posted by Don Dadda

Glad the boy likes it

I don't think it looks ugly at all. I must say the Pioneer blends in and matches well

I have a rotel Tuner that would fit nicely in that setup, if in future you are in need of one

I agree it does not look ugly at all. I refuse to grovel any more.

I am sure the Rotel would compliment even further if that's possible.

[paulfoley]

Originally Posted by Don Dadda

Glad the boy likes it

I don't think it looks ugly at all. I must say the Pioneer blends in and matches well

I have a rotel Tuner that would fit nicely in that setup, if in future you are in need of one

Cheers again bud, he's got a nice Sansui Tuner in there at the mo but should it go I'll be in touch

[paulfoley]

Just to summarise the final equipment list:

2 x Black JPW Monitors (£12.50)
Black Rotel Amp (£16)
Black Sansui Tuner (£6.50)
Black Pioneer CD, DVD and MP3 player (£15)
Home made silver interconnect (Free, cheers ollyjay)
Tandy stereo phono lead (found in loft)
Black 4GB USB Stick (Free, donated by a friend)

He can play everything he wants, he doesn't own any vinyl, in fact the only upgrade we have planned is to get another quality interconnect for the Tuner as the Tandy one is somewhat pants when compared to the silver homemade one

[Alty08]

Just noticed this thread and what a great idea, maybe if you're still looking at it possibly add 'where' you got each item from to help others.

My stuff in the loft is made up of:

Pioneer SA-540 (Amp - Freegle)
Aiwa F-450 (Tape - Freegle)
Wharfedale XP2 (Speakers - Freegle)
Sony DD T/T (Brother in Law)
Apple Mac G4 Quicksilver (MP3 and CD duties - Found at the tip)

and aquired all for free and downstairs are:

Marantz CD 41 (CD - Freegle)
Denon TU-660L (Tuner - £10 ebay - Local pick up)
KEF Q30 (Speakers - Freegle)

The rest I had to pay for....grrrr...