Integrated Amp and Speakers for a teenager?

I'm guessing the DVD/CD player is budget and would suggest a quick upgrade of a small DAC like a $125 Assemblage or MSB, something better than the $3 DAC chip in most players.

Next, the Brio is great or maybe Audio Refinement. Speakers could be the Axiom M3Ti for $200 used or JM Labs Chorus 705.

So: DAC 125
coax or toslink 75
integrated 500
speakers 200

Yeah, that works. Good luck.

I would second the recommendation for the Vandersteen 1c's for speakers. For an integrated the Rotel RA970, 971 or 972 would all be great matches. That should even leave you money for cabling like Kimber PBJ's for interconnects and maybe Audioquest speaker cable. I have found using a single run of Type 4 to each terminal, one positive and then one for negative, gives great performance on a budget. Good luck and nice going. You deserve a nice system, you've earned it.

I've got the NAD 320BEE($299) integrated and PSB Image 2B($299) speakers. I'm not an audiophile, but I am a musician and I love every minute of my listening. This is a good combination for listening at softer levels.

I second the Cambridge Azur 540 or 640, if you want to go for a new amp. Another possibility are Yamaha-integrateds. In your stead, however, I would search the archives here and on audioasylum.com for $1000 amps, and look ot here on audiogon which ones you can find used.

For the integrated amp, you can purchase a NAD C320 BEE ($400 new). I can not think of a better integrated amp for the money. More than sufficient power (50 wpc); excellent with all types of music; well built and reliable; and it will sound good with a wide variety of speakers and cables. I have used the NAD every day for a year and a half now, and have not had any problems.

If you would prefer to go with a receiver, look at the Denon DRA 395 ($350 list). Very nice unit for the money.

As for speakers, there are some outstanding bookshelf speakers out there. For starters, you can try the Wharfedale Diamonds 8.1 ($200); the NHT SB2 ($400); or the EPOS M 5 ($550 - just received a killer review in What Hi Fi Magazine). These 3 speakers will also all sound good if placed near a wall. Another way to go, are the speakers made by Axiom Audio . Look at the M3ti ($275) or the M22ti ($400). Axiom products are available only through the internet and they usually pay for the shipping.

Don't go crazy with cables ... in fact, if you are spending more than $75 ... you are spending too much. Radio Shack's gold series interconnects and mega speaker cables are very serviceable and do a decent enough job. Don't get hung up on cables, until you are working as an investment banker.

I tried to steer you towards purchasing new equipment, because you would be covered by the manufacturer's warranty in the event that your units ever require servicing. Reliability is my number one concern. Accordingly, for each manufacturer that I recommended, I have owned their products before. Also, you should be able to find these products locally or to make a web purchase and possibly save sales tax and shipping.

Regards, Rich