I would like to get my daughter a mini system for her birthday.
Looking to spend about $75 - $150. I realize that this price range
will offend the true audio folks, but my daughter will not appreciate
the difference between a $100 system and a $10,000 system. Yet. Give
her time.

So, what is the best bang for the buck in the $75 - $150 range? It has
been 15 years since I have purchased audio equipment so I do not even
know what to ask about any more. She mostly wants to listen to CDs.
But also wants access to FM radio. Not sure what else to look for.
Equalizer? Does anybody even use tapes any more?

She would like to be able to carry the unit with her to her friends
house on occassion. The unit will normally be used in a room that is
12X14 and other times in a space that is 18X30 (and I am sure that
there are other places that it will go).

Can you help?

wrote:
I would like to get my daughter a mini system for her birthday.
Looking to spend about $75 - $150. I realize that this price range
will offend the true audio folks, but my daughter will not appreciate
the difference between a $100 system and a $10,000 system. Yet. Give
her time.

So, what is the best bang for the buck in the $75 - $150 range? It has
been 15 years since I have purchased audio equipment so I do not even
know what to ask about any more. She mostly wants to listen to CDs.
But also wants access to FM radio. Not sure what else to look for.
Equalizer? Does anybody even use tapes any more?

She would like to be able to carry the unit with her to her friends
house on occassion. The unit will normally be used in a room that is
12X14 and other times in a space that is 18X30 (and I am sure that
there are other places that it will go).

Can you help?

The clerk at Best Buys would be the most informed
as to what the best price of the day is.
he'll be young and speak the lingo.
Many boomboxes with various levels of flashing lights.

wrote:
I would like to get my daughter a mini system for her birthday.
Looking to spend about $75 - $150. I realize that this price range
will offend the true audio folks, but my daughter will not appreciate
the difference between a $100 system and a $10,000 system. Yet. Give
her time.

So, what is the best bang for the buck in the $75 - $150 range? It has
been 15 years since I have purchased audio equipment so I do not even
know what to ask about any more. She mostly wants to listen to CDs.
But also wants access to FM radio. Not sure what else to look for.
Equalizer? Does anybody even use tapes any more?

She would like to be able to carry the unit with her to her friends
house on occassion. The unit will normally be used in a room that is
12X14 and other times in a space that is 18X30 (and I am sure that
there are other places that it will go).

Can you help?

I'm an audiophile, so I'm gonna give you a response from the
perspective of an audiophile (otherwise, I can not consider the
question of buying any audio without regard for sound quality!). With
that in mind, I'd get a Sonic Impact T portable amp ($30), a cheap CD
walkman with FM radio that plays mp3's (about $50). You don't need
an equalizer for a kid's stereo! That's a very gearhead thing to
get. Finally, with what's left, get the best small bookshelf speakers
you can find, or say a good set of Logitech computer speakers (Sonic
Impact also have speakers that go with the portable amp) (or use the
computer speakers you already have, if your daughter has her own
computer). This should all fit within your budget, it will play CDs and
MP3s, its very portable (the amp can run on batteries), and if she ever
does get a high end $10k system, she can use the amp in that system.