The cheap challenge

Rega tend to make enjoyable systems. So an old P3 with a Brio or Elex amplifier and a pair of Kytes. Probably cost about £300 at a complete guess.

Personally, I'd grab a "built like a tank Japanese CD player, an Audiolab 8000A, and a pair of Jim Rogers JR149's. probably cost no more than £500.

These may not be the cheapest you could pick up, but they'd cleanly sound good. If you look through last budget separates (£100-200) you'd probably pick up something for about £100.

Define enjoyable

I have a Marantz  PM44 SE and come KEF Cresta 10s in my kitchen . The speakers were £49 new from richer and the amp was £40 off the bay.  I wouldn't have it in my living room but its thoroughly enjoyable whilst I wash up or fix my bike.

Rega Planar 3............£150

A&R A60.......................£80

Goodmans Maxim.....£14.50

This was a system I owned around 1980.....prices taken off ebay after a very quick search, so could probably be got cheaper.

Sansui AU-217 - £33 delivered.

Marantz CD52 MkII SE - £35 near mint

Mission 752 - £80

£148.  (Still) works a treat.

Yep, Cnoevils, or the RecordSpots systems would give you enjoyable music for less than £200. I'd go for their systems or some variation of their systems. It would all depend on what I saw good deal on first. It would also depend upon whether I fancied doing some basic repair work or not, such as a basic service to a Lenco or refoaming some speaker surrounds.

Maybe £1750 - Audio Analogue Enigma REV2.0 and Sonos Faber Concertinos?

My current system in my signature was about ~£450, best VFM system I have had so far!

Sony DVP-S9000ES | Sony TA-F770ES | KEF Reference 104/2

Cheepest I have had that I have also enjoyed were:

Philips CD-850, Sony TA-F670ES, Keesonic Kolt ~£270

Philips CD-850, Amptastic T-Amp, Keesonic Kolt ~£200

Philips CD-850, Arcam AVR200, Keesonic Kolt ~£170

Teac VRDS 10SE, Teac A-BX7R, Tannoy Mercury S ~£400 (With Rega Jura as well)

Sony QS CDP, Rega Brio3, Rega R1 ~£300

Sony S9000ES, Puresound A10, Keesonic Kolt ~£370

All of that was S/H apart from the Brio3 bought cheap when they were phasing it out for the new model, and the T-Amp which was on loan.

Lots of variations on those as well that have been tried over the past few years.

If you are willing to buy faulty, you probably could put something decent together for 30 or 50 pounds. It should certainly be possible to build a nice little system for £100 otherwise.

If you're aiming a little higher but still cheap in the greater scheme of things, Hoopsontoasts 'your system' thread is a good inspiration.

regards

Thank you, I have found that the most fun has been with playing around £300 mark or less for a component, sometime its nice to be supprised by a very cheap item that I would not expect to like.

I just bought a Harmon Kardon HK6550 and CD player for £150 and i'll run through some free Kefs (off a friend) think they about £50 new.. Will report how it sounds using my mac mini and eventually a Sonos connect as source 

I'd go for a technics slq210 for around 60, marantz cd 63 KI2 for 60, marantz pm 6010 for 120 and quad 12L for 150 great system imo.

Good shout with 6550 - if it's anything like the 6850 I have you'll be a happy chap!

Well you can buy for around £120, Marantz 63SE, Arcam Alpha 3 amp and Mission Cyrus 780SE speakers. Not a bad system.

Thanks only heard good things so thought i'd give it a go.. May even sell all my high end and go Sonos and release some cash 

I like your style!

To answer mp, I think about £250 or less, as you can often get decent items for about £50 a go - amp, cdp and speakers, leaving £100 for cables (only joking).