If you actually like music (not just bass that can stun a possum), skip the one-box wonder and go for separates.
A good starter recipe is streaming DAC/amp plus honest passive bookshelf speakers, or if the room’s bigger, floorstanders—positioned away from walls like they’ve got trust issues.
Add a sealed subwoofer for low-end that doesn’t wobble like jelly, and use room correction or at least a tape measure and your ears.
Prioritise lossless streaming (FLAC/ALAC), keep cables sensible, and spend most of the budget on speakers; they’re the bit that actually moves air.
For apartments or late-night sessions, high-impedance open-back headphones plus a tiny DAC/amp will sound gloriously antisocial.
Audition before buying—your room and your ears are the final judge, and they’re both far fussier than spec sheets.
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