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madjestikmoose
·I use Tidal as well, and I agree it's well worth the money. I would also not discount setting up your own music server - I've done that and I have some 24 but FLAC files that are just amazing.
For the Hi-Fi enthusiasts among us...
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scapa
·I build a lot of my own gear nowadays, but here's what we listen to en famille...
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Lazy_Lightning
·I could not agree more. There are certainly lots of snake oil products in the audio world, but cables (power, interconnects, and speaker) are not things I consider to be snake oil. In my last round of upgrades, the sales guy I've used for 20+ years (who I consider a friend) was over doing some tuning on the system one night while we had some pizza and beers. After making all the changes, he said "I'm going to suggest one more upgrade, and it won't cost a penny." My wife was very glad to hear that last part! I had been using a power conditioner on my system for years, both to condition the power for the source components, and to act as insurance for power surges. The upgrade was plugging the system straight into the wall, rather than going through the conditioner. The difference in the sound was clearly audible, and in fact much better.
This lead me to install a dedicated circuit just for the audio gear, straight from the panel. It also taught me that power draw is something to be paid attention to, in particular if you listen to music with a high dynamic range. When the system needs power, if it's not there you will hear the effects, so although I didn't buy any special cables (what came with the equipment is plenty good enough) it illustrates the point that all parts of the system need to be at least looked at.
But as you say, it will depend a great deal on the system. If your system is very muddy to begin with, these thigs likely won't make much difference. My current system is extremely transparent, so small changes can easily be heard. As for something digital being "all the same" well if you haven't heard how much difference a DAC can make in the sound of the same source material, it's something that should be experienced.
Any good shop will let you demo equipment in your own home, with your own sysrtem. I've done it many times with speaers, amps, sources, and the best component for your system is not necessarily the most expensive. If the system works together well is the key. Finding the right mix can take time, but when you get there it's pure musical enjoyment.
Cheers, Al
Al: I found that my amps sounded better connected directly to the wall as well, however, my digital gear benefited from a power conditioner (Synergistic Research PowerCell 10).
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BlackTalon
··This Space for RentAl: I found that my amps sounded better connected directly to the wall as well, however, my digital gear benefited from a power conditioner
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Engee
·Always enjoyed a good sound although my set up is pretty mid-range. I inherited a fair amount of kit from my grandfather that kicked the separates collection off. It’s been through a few changes since. The only piece remaining is the Quad 306 power amp which is teamed with Croft valve pre-amp. Croft is, or was, a one man operation somewhere in the English countryside.
The turntable is an entry level Pro-Ject - it’s next in line for upgrading. I quite fancy a Linn.
The CD player is a Musical Fidelity A3 and the headphone amp is also Musical Fidelity.
The last upgrade was the speakers. Like others have experienced, Mrs Engee told me the floor standing Rogers Studio speakers were taking up too much room so I sold them and put up a nice pair of compact B&W wall speakers.
The turntable is an entry level Pro-Ject - it’s next in line for upgrading. I quite fancy a Linn.
The CD player is a Musical Fidelity A3 and the headphone amp is also Musical Fidelity.
The last upgrade was the speakers. Like others have experienced, Mrs Engee told me the floor standing Rogers Studio speakers were taking up too much room so I sold them and put up a nice pair of compact B&W wall speakers.
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Bill Sohne
··Bill @ ΩFHi guys
totally fantastic .. if off I am not an audiophile !
I just really like this gear ..... my dad was sort of on rye business .... back in the 60/ 70’s was a RCA super tube distributor he rack tube testing machines up and down the east and west coast of the USA then later sold his company to Arrow Electronics ....
But back to listening
here a pic of my living room ..
https://ohmspeaker.com/news/how-big-is-a-big-room/
more later
best
Bill
totally fantastic .. if off I am not an audiophile !
I just really like this gear ..... my dad was sort of on rye business .... back in the 60/ 70’s was a RCA super tube distributor he rack tube testing machines up and down the east and west coast of the USA then later sold his company to Arrow Electronics ....
But back to listening
here a pic of my living room ..
https://ohmspeaker.com/news/how-big-is-a-big-room/
more later
best
Bill
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gefmey
·Hi guys
totally fantastic .. if off I am not an audiophile !
I just really like this gear ..... my dad was sort of on rye business .... back in the 60/ 70’s was a RCA super tube distributor he rack tube testing machines up and down the east and west coast of the USA then later sold his company to Arrow Electronics ....
But back to listening
here a pic of my living room ..
https://ohmspeaker.com/news/how-big-is-a-big-room/
more later
best
Bill
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Lazy_Lightning
·Hi guys
totally fantastic .. if off I am not an audiophile !
Bil - great room. What are you using to power the Ohms?
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eatabagel
·I use Tidal as well, and I agree it's well worth the money. I would also not discount setting up your own music server - I've done that and I have some 24 but FLAC files that are just amazing.
I currently stream Spotify to my Chromecast Audio, and I'm well aware of how I'm streaming at a relatively low bitrate. Looking into Tidal, but Amazon is now also offering lossless "hi-def" streaming. Not sure who to go with.
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Bill Sohne
··Bill @ ΩFHi guys
I am back
I am friends with the owner of Ohm ( they are my next store neighbor! ).
my main room has the Walsh 5 that john upgraded to super Walsh 5 LE ....
running w Carver sevenT mono blocks solid state at 565 watts/ channel .... using a Node2 for streaming also have a oppo 205 for docs and local streaming ... TD-115 turntable ....
My home office using a pair of Walsh Super 2 s w a upgraded Carver M1.0t ( mk II opt II )by Greg at Neilon Audio 480 watts / channel .... another oppo bd-205 and a TD-124 mkii w sme 3009 series II .
Office
I have 5 more systems
dq-10 w mc 2105 c-28 , TD-150 , tandberg tcd-300 Logitech sqeezebox touch ...
Mc xr5 w mc 2205 mx113 , TD-124 , optimus CD-3400 , Node2 , and a modi 2 dac ....
retiliner 12 Sansui stereo seven , TD-125 w Rabco 8 tonearm .... another squeez ox a d a carver cd-390 t tube CD player ....
Dq-30i and Polk rta-12b on a nak SR-4a w Amazon dot
back offfice
Large advents w nak TA-4 ( not a 4a) so it’s a world wide unit multi power and made in Japan as opposed to the TA-4a Twain ... and another amazon dot.
and the beat goes on !
Good hunting
bill
I am back
I am friends with the owner of Ohm ( they are my next store neighbor! ).
my main room has the Walsh 5 that john upgraded to super Walsh 5 LE ....
running w Carver sevenT mono blocks solid state at 565 watts/ channel .... using a Node2 for streaming also have a oppo 205 for docs and local streaming ... TD-115 turntable ....
My home office using a pair of Walsh Super 2 s w a upgraded Carver M1.0t ( mk II opt II )by Greg at Neilon Audio 480 watts / channel .... another oppo bd-205 and a TD-124 mkii w sme 3009 series II .
Office
I have 5 more systems
dq-10 w mc 2105 c-28 , TD-150 , tandberg tcd-300 Logitech sqeezebox touch ...
Mc xr5 w mc 2205 mx113 , TD-124 , optimus CD-3400 , Node2 , and a modi 2 dac ....
retiliner 12 Sansui stereo seven , TD-125 w Rabco 8 tonearm .... another squeez ox a d a carver cd-390 t tube CD player ....
Dq-30i and Polk rta-12b on a nak SR-4a w Amazon dot
back offfice
Large advents w nak TA-4 ( not a 4a) so it’s a world wide unit multi power and made in Japan as opposed to the TA-4a Twain ... and another amazon dot.
and the beat goes on !
Good hunting
bill
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Lazy_Lightning
·I need to upgrade my friends.
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Evitzee
·here a pic of my living room ..
https://ohmspeaker.com/news/how-big-is-a-big-room/
more later
best
Bill
Edited:
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Bill Sohne
··Bill @ ΩFI've got a pair of Ohm speakers similar to yours that I bought about 12 years ago. Ohm had a pair of 1974-era Ohm F Brazilian rosewood cabinets fitted with their newest Walsh-style drivers. Beautiful sound, too bad most people aren't aware of them or the concept behind them. You get a lot for your money.
Your right about that one !
check out the “ beta “ products ohm F-5015 !
walsh series 5 driver with 15 inch powered subs !!
What is really great about the product line ..
It’s not. good, better , best ....
Depending on the size of the room your looking to fill with music you need a different size Walsh driver !! Same sound experience .... just bigger for a bigger room they all have the same great level of sound ...
I don’t mean to sound like a sales guy .... but the way they present .... some people dont get it ...
at the ny audio show
they showed a old pair of what looked like Walsh 2 from the 1980s but they were actually factory upgraded to Walsh Super 2 s! And weee be driven by a Carver M1.0t that was upgraded mkii option at 480 watts aside ! And a upgraded carver c-1 preamp . I happen to know this detail as I loaned them the Carver equipment for the show !
showing that you can put a nice rig together without breaking the bank ....
It’s thought to demo 3 k speakers using 15k with of amps and such ... kind of silly
so the carver rig is about 1600. And super 2 are like 2600 a pair.....
you Might be able to go cheaper by finding a non work m1.0t and getting it upgraded by Neilon Audio ! And same with finding a old c-1 you can get him to bring it back to life !
mon the Walsh 2 ... you can find an old pair locally and buy them . then Either trade them in towards a new set of Walsh speakers or get the. Do upgrade them to spire 2s!!!!
really amazing stuff
good hunting
bill
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.Cables, and many other component changes, make an enormous difference when swapped in an out of system.
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sxl2004
·To me HiFi is all about how the music makes me feel. i give a crap about truthfulness. If the music makes me cry (for joy and emotions) or dance along (though nobody is to see this) the system is right. That what I liked about DYI: you tune it to what you like.
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larryganz
·I had a very similar headphone setup: Eddie Current ZDS with PS Audio DirectStream DAC. I had various headphones; Audeze, Grado, etc. but the least expensive pair (HD 600) sounded the best.
Nice - But when you say "had" I assume it's all gone now?
I still occasionally use my HD600, but have not unboxed my HD6XX yet (Drop.com version of the HD650, but I was never a big fan of the 650 and it's veiled treble). The new HD660s are quite nice sounding for the lower price than flagship headphones - if you like the HD600 you should like the HD660s and you don't need an upgraded amp to drive them!
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BlackTalon
··This Space for RentI'm interested to hear how you like the HD6XXs. I have not used headphones for quite a few years, but I am hoping to play around with a setup at my PC using a Dragonfly and I'd prefer not to fork out $1k for a set of headphones if there are some decent ones for a bit less. I've followed the Drop on an off for the last few months but reviews are all over the place.
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larryganz
·I'm interested to hear how you like the HD6XXs. I have not used headphones for quite a few years, but I am hoping to play around with a setup at my PC using a Dragonfly and I'd prefer not to fork out $1k for a set of headphones if there are some decent ones for a bit less. I've followed the Drop on an off for the last few months but reviews are all over the place.
I'll have to unbox the HD6XX this weekend after thanksgiving, but I suspect that I'll still prefer my older HD600 (I bought 11 years ago) or the newer HD660s that I tried at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest last September (at the same time I bought my HD800s and now my son has my HD800). The HD660s are definitely a good sound for the price - audiophile quality bang for the buck. My old HD600 are great but just like the HD650 they require a good amplifier with a high voltage swing to drive them - they suck out of an iPhone unlike the HD660s.
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berlin90
·
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.To me HiFi is all about how the music makes me feel. i give a crap about truthfulness. If the music makes me cry (for joy and emotions) or dance along (though nobody is to see this) the system is right. That what I liked about DYI: you tune it to what you like.
