... and headphones, and home cinema, and anything like that. And clearly not anonymous either. For a tech forum, where there's clearly many such enthusiasts based on what regularly appears in the "latest purchases" thread, there's a disturbing lack of regular hi-fi related discussion. There used to be a handful of hifi/AV threads that bubbled up from time to time that are so old they're probably not worth reviving even if I could find them. Whether you're just getting started and have questions or need advice, or are well into the rabbit hole and need moral support, or are DIYing a sub and logging your research and progress @liratheal or you just have some borderline-pornographic photos of your gear to share... show me what you got. Please, just no cable debates. I'll open up with some good old-fashioned pr0n, and the result of a long term project by my own fair hand...
Well, seeing as I've been called out, I've been looking at DIY'ing a sub to better suit the aesthetic of the lounge. The aesthetic being, basically, wood. Wood, and some more wood. And some plants. It's not visible here, but to the left are a pine bookshelf, a wildbuche (??? german) cabinet doodad, and my lady's desk is some temporary nonsense until I buy the lumber to make a nicer one. I need to do more cable management, and some odds and sods are on order to do that too. Most of it is velcro tied and wrapped behind the TV stand, but after some fiddling some things have come unwrapped, and that needs rectifying. There used to be a Sony (SA-WP780) sub between the right speaker and the TV stand, but I had to move it because I was sick to the back teeth of looking at it. It's suffered in its ten+ year working life span, and umpteen moves. Given that I'm working on a more restricted budget, and haven't got the space to knob off a bunch of equipment into an adjacent room I'm not as far down the rabbit hole as @Mister_Tad I'm toying with the idea of building a longer TV stand that has general storage, and more purpose designed compartments so I can get a proper air gap around the receiver, and possibly introduce some airflow through it all, but that's not going to be cheap as it'd likely need to be made out of oak to pass muster with the lady. It would also allow for a much more thought out approach to cable management, and allow me to indulge in resolving placement issues for the centre speaker. Fronts are bi-amped Tannoy Mercury V4's, the centre is a Tannoy Mercury FC custom, and the 5.1's are some F1 customs. Or F4's, I can't quite remember. And they're upstairs, so. I'm looking at a 50-55cm cube with a Pioneer TS-A300S4 powered by a Behringer KM1700. It's not perfect, but if I'm reading WinISD right, it should be better than the Sony. Which is somewhat underpowered for the room it finds itself in now. The receiver is an old, janky, Onkyo TX-SR606 - But that's on the "list of things to replace" with a Denon AVR-X2700H when they become available (And if the various compatibilities between it and the Series X get tested before I buy). The Onkyo was bought because a friend had one given to him free, and the HDMI interface worked with all the guff I wanted (At the time) to plug into it. Because said friend had one and all the same guff. Since it hasn't broken, it's never been on the cards to replace. The TV was a cheap 40" 1080p jobbie via work. The one thing I like best about it is that it has no wifi, and no ethernet port, so my pihole isn't chock full of the TV phoning home. However, the TV is also on the cards for replacement as it's a smidge too small for the room, and more importantly, I want to dabble in 4k for the Series X later in the year. Owing to wanting the Series X, which has HDMI 2.1, and no solid word on what it needs 2.1 for the TV is on hold, although I expect I'll be landing in the realm of LG. Possibly in a 43" flavour. The current TV is 40" because Samsung like wacky sizes apparently. I want a Logitech Harmony Elite, because having a bunch of remotes is doing my tree in. And the Elite looks quite nice. My "listen to music" chair is downstairs, and currently using the same speakers as the fronts upstairs, but with the MAD-TA10-BT I bought off @Mojo some time ago. Although the MAD-TA10 is on the cards for replacement with an Elekit TU-8100, or if I feel fancy, a TU-8200R. Although the 8200R would be way over the top, given that I have a CD player plugged into it. The CD player is only a Cambridge Audio CD200mkII, but it plays CD's, so.. It's not on the cards for replacement. I pretty much make all my own cables bar HDMI. Mostly relying on Sommer cable, because no matter what I buy from Sommer, it's always nice to work with.
If it's a hobby, then good, because clearly our hobbies should be nurtured and enabled. If it's an addiction, then also good. Because it's important to have a circle of support for any addiction. That looks like a really big space it opens into... the sub/power combo you've called out is nothing to sniff at, but is that even enough for that size of space? The off-centre centre is making me twitch - could be worth looking at a cantilever stand as well for the screen - i.e. build/buy an enclosed stand for the kit and freely plonk the centre on top with the TV floating above, since wall mounting clearly ins't an option. HDMI.next is turning out to be a real poo-show... I'm glad that by the time I'm in the market again for TV/Processor, the waters should be less muddy. Highly recommended - definitely a faff to set up, but worth putting the effort in to get it right. Make sure you set aside at least a few hours to get up and running to start with to make the most of it.
No room filling kit from me, I'm a headphones man. Posting here because I have just taken delivery, today, of a cable upgrade for my headphones. The original cable was too short and too stiff, I knew about this before ordering Focal Elegias, it's a common Focal failing but, easily fixed. New cable is a custom cable from Oidio Sound in Cheltenham, Oidio Mongrol Series. It is longer (2M rather than 1.2M) and much more flexible, nicely made, is the right colour and, makes no noticeable difference to the sound, so no downside. Cost £98.50 so, not a bad price for a high-end cable.
OK, here goes. Hi, I'm saspro & I'm an audioholic. No photos at the moment due to currently living in a 2 bed flat in London with a toddler & everybody working from home so it's a state. Currently running: TV - Cheap 49" Blaupunkt 1080p jobbie that cost something like £250 5 years ago. Literally only used as a display & the panel isn't bad. To be replaced shortly by either the 49" 9500 series LG Nanocell (as it;s got an eARC port) or the new C9 55" LG OLED (as it's got 4 HDMI 2.1 ports) depending on a bit of a furnature juggle and if my holiday booked for later this year is cancelled or not. TV Audio - Sonos Arc, Sonos Sub, 2x Play:3's. Sounds OK but really needs a better TV to get DD+ & Atmos working. In storage I've got an Onkyo 605 or 606, Mordaunt Short 906i, 905i, 902i & 309i but a lack of ability to hide wires (due to being a rented flat) means this isn't getting much love at the moment. Logitech Elite runs the front room (with Alexa integration) Home audio - 5 additional zones of Sonos (mainly Sonos One's in Stereo pairs). I've also got a B&O BeoCenter 3500 & BeoVox S45 combo sitting around (needs a new belt & a bit of love) that I need to find some space for. Was an impulse purchase & sounds lovely for the £50 it cost. Due to living in a flat, lockdown & the aformentioned toddler, listening to music on a dedicated system isn't really an option so my latest obsession/money pit has been headphones. Currently using an ifi Hip DAC, connected to Tidal/VOX on my MBP/iPhone/iPad with a few pairs in rotation. Modified Grado SR80 (G cushions, padded headband), Mondrop Starfields (with balanced cables), iGrado's, Grado iGi (with balanced connector mod) & a set of B&W PX7's for outdoor use. DT990 Pro's are due today to give them a listen to with another few pairs hovering around my shopping basket.
It's.. Not small. I actually don't know the square meter measurement of the floor plan, but the lounge is basically in the "loft" space. It's probably about a third of the downstairs again floor plan wise, and the ceiling is vaulted as mentioned, it's maybe three, three and a half meters at the peak. Man, it makes me twitch every time I sit down. Without putting the BR player directly under the TV (Which I have tried, and somehow I hate it more than the off-centre centre..) there's not a simple combination for this stand - Which, admittedly, was bought in a moment of "Oh, balls. A TV needs somewhere to stand other than the floor" lack of foresight and planning. Which is another reason the desire to build something is quite strong. This TV is also an arseache in that it was basically the bum-end of the budget line, so there's bugger all options. Believe it or not I don't think it even has VESA, which is how I ended up with it if I remember rightly. Eugh, tell me about it. Part of me (A large part..) is tempted to just buy stuff now and live without whatever the 2.1 stuff on the Series X is for. Yeah, I figured it wasn't going to be a walk in the park to set up, but after checking whether stuff is supported out of what I already own, and have on my potential buy list the Harmony just makes the most sense. I like headphones! I have a pair of, lately seldom used, AKG K550's that've had a couple of modifications made to them to combat the somewhat bum-level bass. I have an Astell&Kern Jr for travel, although I do also have a FiiO E11k as well, but that's not often used.
I still have my AKG K550s, they seem to work best for users with a big head, like me. My dac/headphone amp is an Audiolab M-DAC.
Definitely, I also have something of a large head and it was a point of concern until I tried them on as a review had mentioned that folks with smaller heads might be a little.. Bassless.
Loving the colour scheme. How do you find the M-DAC? I had one briefly, and actually ended up replacing it with an Arcam Rpac... that I kind of got on a whim, and ended up preferring it. Traditional wisdom suggests that comparison shouldn't have been favourable, so I can't help but think there was something weird going on. I wasn't using it with 'phones, just using the phono out. My whole office setup at the time was a bit broken/wrong/compromised though - so that can't have helped. I've gone decidedly more compact with my earwear: The first step is admitting you have a problem. Well done. Maybe I'll go next It may as well be the only option IMO - the "All for one" style learning remotes, whether they're standalone or something like an AVR remote that learns aren't worth the hassle using. On the other extreme side of the scale, the home control systems from the likes of Crestron or Control4 are infinitely more complex and vastly more expensive. Logitech has somehow managed to entirely dominate this sweet spot.
There were 24 colour options for the sleeving so, something for everybody. To my ears, the M-DAC is excellent, digs out lots of detail, is well balanced and gives the music I listen to most often the punch and energy it deserves, the Focals seem to be a good match for it. No measurements, just my subjective view. I like the sound they deliver so, all is well and no need for further upgrade........yet! Both good things there but, in-ears are not for me despite the excellence of those Shures.
I liked it too - and then I got the rPac and thought "this is fine", and couldn't think of any compelling reason to keep the MDAC. I always look back and think it was one of those things I should have held onto though. Onto my confession. I'm Mister_Tad, and I'm an audioholic. It started early on, my dad had always been an enthusiast and that's where I learned it. Having used a variety of PC cube surround systems through uni and then graduating and getting a real job, my first splurge was the amp and speakers that I'm still using today (and the CD player, though that's not really used any more) Pan-household stuff: Roon Core, VM, library of all of the discs I have, but mainly streaming Tidal these days Plex Server, VM, movie library, mostly BD, though trending towards more UHD-BD Big-ol-NAS(TM), for aforementioned libraries 2ch System: RoPieee Chord 2Qute DAC Pathos ClassicOne Mk2 Hybrid integrated ProAc Response 1SC, Target MR60 stands BK XXLS400 DF, set up to provide "barely there" bass as opposed to anything more hooliganny Largely disused Marantz CD63 KI-Sig, heavily modified (clock, power, output... I can't remember specifics) Home Cinema: Sources: Apple TV 4K - for all of the streaming services Shield TV (2017) - for Plex when I CBA to sift through discs (since ATV doesn't pass through lossless/Atmos) Panasonic UB820 - for when I can be arsed to sift through discs, rarely PS4 Pro - gaming only Bluesound Node2i - Music via RAAT Denon AVC-X8500H as the brains of the operation, and powering all but the fronts NHT Power2 feeding the front L/R, considering a 3ch Nord NC500 or similar to replace 5.1.6 Speaker config Front L/R: Bowers & Wilkins 804S Centre: Bowers & Wilkins CDM-CNT, actively seeking an HTM3S replacement Rear: Bowers & Wilkins CDM-1NT Height: Bowers & Wilkins CCM663 x6 LFE: SVS SB13 Ultra (rev 2, STA-1000D model), contrary to the 2ch sub, absolutely a hooligan when it needs to be 75" Sony XE94 And a Harmony Elite, because no thank you with 5 sources. Office: RoPieee NAD D3045 (I love this little thing) PSB Imagine Mini BK XLS200 FF Mobile: Just the Tidal app on iPhone Chord Mojo Shure SE846 Other household AV: Snug/Playroom: 65" Samsung F-something or other, former main TV. Bluesound Pulse Soundbar, Apple TV Kitchen: 55: Samsung Frame, just using onboard streaming which is pretty comprehensive and user friendly, 2x Bluesound Pulse2 (stereo), double duty on TV sound, and music. Sometimes finicky with auto-switching though. Elsewhere: Bluesound Pulse Mini, Flex 2i, Sonos One, Play:1 - planning on replacing the latter two for Bluesound (or just Roon Ready devices) as and when, but control is largely seamless via Roon anyway.
I wondered how long it would be before this thread came along. So. I'm a hifi enthusiast. That's as far as I am going for now. Let's see. I have a dedicated Roon ROCK, a Plex server, and two large NASes (is that the plural of NAS?) which are in dire need of 10GbE (that's another thread, right?) Roon includes all of the media I own on CD, all that I buy in high res, and feeds from Tidal Plex includes all of the HD and UHD blu ray media I own, and lots of DVD TV shows too In the kitchen, I have: NAD D3045 (it's just so good) Auralic Aries Mini (fed by Roon) B&W 686s REL T-Zero In the office I have: Meridian 501 pre Meridian 556 power Meridian 504 tuner Chord 2Qute Ropieee(ee?) B&W 603S2 2 Technics 1210M5G, shod in Shure M-447s, and a Rane TTM57mkii A sub is destined to go with this stack. And the speakers might see an upgrade, and I might upgrade my Auralic Aries so it might go in here. Do I have a problem? In the main AV/listening area I have: Roksan K3 Integrated Roksan K3 Power B&W 683s fed, biamped, by the Pre and Power (which also acts as the 2ch front for my 5.1.2 system) REL T/9i Meridian 506 20-bit CD Player (as a transport) Auralic Aries (fed by Roon) Chord Qutest Technics 1210M5G wearing an Ortofon OM Bronze and set up for hifi listening (I'm contemplating the Chord huei pre) Denon 3300 B&W 685 rears B&W HTM61 centre PSB Imagine Atmos XA Apple TV for all of the streaming services Shield Pro 2017 for Plex PS4 Pro (REZ Infinite. That is all) XBOX ONE X (bought on a whim) PC (that's what this forum used to be about didn't it? Titan XP/6700K/ that sort of thing) Sky Q Silver Samsung 55" 8000 Series UHD panel Harmony Elite. It makes my life simple. Plus Alexa. My desk includes my Chord Mojo and a pair of DT770 Pro 250Ohm There's also a smattering of a few bits of Sonos left, a playbase under the 40" 1080p Samsung panel in the office (which also has an Apple TV and a Sky Q Mini). And a couple of sets of KRK monitors. Ahem. Who's next?
I didn't realise you had the 2Qute and the Qutest - thought the Qutest was a replacement. Have you side-by-sided them? Interested in what you think. Also not interested in what you think because I'm entirely content with my 2Qute. Are those mine? Or rather, were those mine?
I do have both. I never got around to selling the 2Qute and then found a use for it. The Qutest thrashes the pants off the 2Qute. I've been delighted with it. And yes, they were your 603S2s. Still going strong!
This give me the warm and fuzzies, that I had many good years with these, and they're continuing to live on. Group hug. This does not give me the warm and fuzzies. Perhaps ignorance was bliss.
A quick search and a translation from Norwegian, suggests the link is to a metal door manufacturer. I'm not going to click the link to confirm.
