I'm definitely an audiophile in the true definition of the word, a music lover. I really like Wikipedia's definition too: "An audiophile, from Latin audio[1] "I hear" and Greek philos[2] "loving," is a hobbyist who seeks high-quality audio reproduction via the use of non-mass-produced high-end audio electronics." No where does it say the electronics have to be purchased or should inherently be expensive. High-end and non-mass produced do not have to be mutually exclusive. They just don't come out and call it DIY. My systems are under refurbishment or construction and I primarily listen to headphones, but... Here's the dining room console that is being retrofitted with my Pro-Ject 1.2 TT, Grado Green cartridge (with Gold here on my desk for an upgrade when my son is a little older), AudioSector DIY phonostage and Denon DCD-F101 mini CDP feeding an Aikido 24V preamp/headphone amp which then dumps the signal to a set of AudioSector Premium gainclones sending about 45W to the 8" woofers and Fostex FR drivers acting as Mids/Highs off a simple 12dB 2-way crossover. And my vintage Yamaha CR-620 receiver sitting on top of an original 1954 Magnavox mono console that has dual coax drivers, each with a 4" sitting on top of a 12" woofer powered by a P-P 6V6GT amp. The Maggie will be fully restored, recapped, and rewired. The Sony C2000ES will be modded and feeds my Yamaha as my primary headphone amp at the moment, but it does a fantastic job. Under construction is a balanced Pass Audio FirstWatt F5 that will be a 50W Class A speaker amp or dual 25W Class A single ended headphone amps for my inefficient, high impedance orthodynamic headphones. I'll eventually get around to building my CD transport and a set of Full Range speakers, either Fonkens or Castles. I have an AudioSector NOS USB DAC kit that will be fed off my new PC once I get both built. The DAC will feed the F5 and an eXStata DIY electrostatic headphone amp for the Koss ESP/950s or any Stax that should make their way into my house. I also have a set of quad 6V6GT monoblocks that need to be retrofitted to work with normal 8ohm speakers since the amps were originally designed for field effect coil speakers. The amps were rated for 35W IIRC. Later in the year construction will begin on a 40W-55W/ch SET valve amp, but it's a very high voltage amp at 800-900V, so the amps will be built into really nice wood cases like a few of the great PCs here.
OOh, hifi. Funsies! Hifi Setup: Amp: Pathos Calssic One Mk2 Speakers: ProAc Response 1SC DAC: Beresford, custom PSU Source: HTPC (finally with zero moving parts, so proper silent) running softsqueeze, coaxial S/PDIF out to the DAC, run a remote on my phone (Squeezer for Android) Target MR60 stands Home Brew Ikea lack-rack Home Brew power conditioner AV Setup: Amp: Denon 3808 Front: B&W 603 Centre: B&W CC6 (in dire need of an upgrade to LCR6/LCR600, but then I'd need a new stand) Rear: B&W 601 Sub: BK Monolith DF CD: Marantz CD63ki Sig, quite a few mods, though doesn't get used much any more in favour of the ipod dock. Should really set up soft squeeze on the HTPC Pictars: Pathos Valve porn ProAc driver porn Don't seem to have anby pics of the hifi in situ mind you AV setup: Sub hiding in the background, though its behind the far sofa now.
Like what? I have extensive knowledge of speakers, amps etc from my background in live sound. But I know nothing about hifi setups at all. I was going for some Aego Ms but is there anything better in my £150 ish budget. It's being fed from a pc and will be used for 75% music, 25% movies/tv. No gaming.
The Aegos are superb! Really tight, but plenty of weight and a real sense of musicality to them. Cope with everything from dynamic classics, to bouncing jazz, to pounding house. However, I've not heard the Logitech system properly with music. That said, personally I'd go with an amp and some nice bookshelf speakers. Go second-hand if you want. Bargains galore if you don't need brand new....
Yeah, and it lets you upgrade the different components separately. Take my setup for example: Xonar DX soundcard - £55 CA 540A stereo amp - £90 (second hand) Tannoy F1 Custom bookshelf speakers - £80 That comes to about the same price as the Logitech Z-5500's, then all you have to do is add a bit more for some speaker wire and you've got something that will sound much better than any computer speaker system. You won't have 5.1, and you may have to add a sub depending on what music you're into, but the benefits are worth it.
For music: SqueezeBox 3 (run from small file server), Audio-GD DAC-19MK3, Marantz PM7001, Wharfedale Diamonds 10.1 PC Speakers: Logitech Z680s... ________ Digital volcano
Forgot to say, my setup is a Rotel RA-931 amp with Acoustic Energy Aegis Evo One speakers and QED silver anniversary cable. Yes, it's fed by onboard sound, but I also have a Sony CD player and MD deck. Beats the crap out of any computer system or mini system I've heard. Articulate and weighty, whilst being on the brighter side of warmth. I love it!
Wow, there's lots of Cambridge Audio stuff here, not surprising really they make some great value entry level components. I started out with a CA A300 amp and CA D500SE CD player. Current setup is: Naim Nait 5i - loving it, Naim stuff just gets out of the way and lets you enjoy the music. Arcam CD72T CD Player - considering upgrading this next but sorely tempted by going the squeezebox + DAC route, and have all my music on my PC though... we'll see. Creek OBH-15 phono amp for the turntable and Stax 2050 II headphones / headphone amp for that late night listening Michell Tecnodec turntable with Rega RB250 tonearm and Denon DL-103 cartridge (on my third cartridge after my niece killed one and cat killed another - glad they're fairly cheap!) Ruark Sabre III speakers in cherry veneer, got these for a bargain actually, found a chap selling them on pink fish. Like I say I'm currently considering the whole squeezebox thing, but am worried about reliability / noise issues with a PC basically being my main source...
They're S2s I'm pretty pleased with them. I'd like something with more bass extension, but after a bit of tweaking I've got the Monolith working very well together with them. Can't even tell the sub is on with music, but you can tell its working, if you know what I mean. My comparatively tiny ProAcs have better bass than these though, which took some getting used to, but goes to show you get what you pay for. They match the amp nicely, they didn't sound so great on the Yamaha RXV-365 I had before the Denon. I eventually plan to roll the hifi and AV setup in to one and replace the B&W kit (with ProAc D38R fronts, response D centre and then the 1SCs I've already got for rears), but need to move somewhere to give it its own room before I spend all that cash on the speakers and then the amps to match them! (and probably need to work on the Mrs a bit more). Until then, they do the job nicely
I was scrolling down the page, paused on the above photo and immediately knew they were ProAc drivers without even seeing the caption. Is that sad?
Only a Logitech Z-5500 and a Grado SR80i for me folks... although I'm thinking of grabbing a Cambridge Audio A1 Stereo Amp, a Cambridge Audio DacMagic and a pair of bookshelf speakers. Is that a good way to go?
As above. It means you're awesome. Have a cookie. The DacMagic is pretty awesome for the money. I think I still have an unused A1 sitting around too, if you're interested in second hand.
I've just bought my first Hifi. Arrived a few days ago after I went shopping in richersounds. I initially went in thinking I would get a pair of wharfedale 10.1s but ended up with some mordaunt short mezzo 2s which frankly blew the wharfedales out of the water. I'm powering those with a CA azur 340a se. Extremely pleased with it even though it is in a less than ideal position Next thing I am thinking of is either a DAC (main source is my pc) or a phono stage ( just happen to have a thorens td 160 sitting around doing nothing )
Had a DACMagic for a few months when they first came out and then bought a ZeroDAC (at half the price) and compared both of them side by side and ended up keeping the ZeroDAC and selling the DACMagic...which (in my opinion anyway) is over priced and over hyped (sorry Mister_Tad)! If you are considering buying a DACMagic (@?220), for less money you could buy a Beresford Caiman (see Here for Caiman users), Musical Fidelity V-DAC (<?150), ZeroDAC 2009 (see also Here)... ________ SexSofia_Star cam
I didn't realise a DACMagic was £220 For some reason I seemed to think that they were £70-80! Agreed on the Beresford, Not heard the Caiman, but if it improves upon the standard 7510/7520, then It's certainly an excellent buy.
