What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[vandermolen]

Onkyo CD players are good. I like my c370. It's a changer which had build issues at first, resulting in bad reviews and a low price. But it's very fine indeed. It has a good DAC, which you need for your older amp.

Thank you. 

[The new erato]

Thank you. 

You are sure you wouldn't rather buy an OK DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter), hook it up to your computer and play discs throught the computers drive? Seems to me in this day and age that would be more futureproof as a good DAC also will play other formats, streaming audio from the net, and, if needed, provide audio output from televison sets, Bluray players etc?

I'm fond of CD players myself, but I'm gradually realising that their time is past.

[Ken B]

Thank you. 

Welcome. Note my correction though. I actually have the c390.

[Daverz]

For now: a lot of my music is FLAC/MP3 on laptop or external HD. Will this add to the equipment necessary for a basic setup, getting music from computer to speakers?

You could get an integrated amp with a built-in USB DAC that can be hooked directly to the computer, but I think it's more flexlible to get a sepearate outboard DAC that feeds an integrated amp.

[Ken B]

I noticed a bit of weakness with my highs at low volume with my new speakers, so I decided to bi-amp. It seems to have made a difference, maybe because there is now just more power to the drivers.  Placebo effect? I don't think so, but then one never does with the placebo effect.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

You needn't spend a fortune.  Entry level NAD electronics and B&W speakers, for instance, would work just fine. 

Exactly what I have, and I'm real happy with them (plus a Pro-Ject turntable).

[Jay F]

Exactly what I have, and I'm real happy with them (plus a Pro-Ject turntable).

Which B&W speakers, Velimir?

[Daverz]

I noticed a bit of weakness with my highs at low volume with my new speakers, so I decided to bi-amp. It seems to have made a difference, maybe because there is now just more power to the drivers.  Placebo effect? I don't think so, but then one never does with the placebo effect.

This is why receivers used to have a loudness control.

These are the Paradigm 9s?  How are you bi-amping?

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Which B&W speakers, Velimir?

B&W 685:

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Home_Audio/600_Series/685.html

[Ken B]

This is why receivers used to have a loudness control.

These are the Paradigm 9s?  How are you bi-amping?

Yes, P9s.
A and B left to left, and A and B right to right.
The amp has a loudness button but it didn't quite give me what I wanted.

[Moonfish]

Yes. I went on eBay and got half list price plus shipping for a gently used one. List is 700, and they seem to be getting it; not many discounts, and some places sold out. Anyway, I am a happy camper.

It has fairly low power, 45 a channel, less than half the Technics, but it drives my Paradigm 9s perfectly without getting as far as one third volume. It can bi amp too.
No fancy DSP. Just straight pass thru or bass and treble knobs, and a loudness buton.
Two channel, no sub woofer.

The PM6004 is the early version, and for years was generally seen as the stereo amp to beat under 1k. The reviews say this is noticeably better, but the 6004 may turn up cheap.

Wasn't the previous version Marantz PM5004 rather than 6004?   How do you think Marantz PM5004 compares to the PM 6005?

[Moonfish]

So my amp, Technics SA-AX6, started buzzing the speakers. It has done this before but this time I could only get it down to a low hiss.
First I tried a well reviewed Yamaha surround system, but after a few days it had to go back.  Might be a great movie amp, but the frequency range just wasn't good enough. So I decided on just a stereo amp, and picked the Marantz pm6005. It arrived today. I am happy so far. It is just that little bit quicker than the Technics, and of course hiss-free.

[asin]B00EE18LQG[/asin]

Next up is new speakers, Paradigm Monitor 9.

Ken,
Does your Marantz PM 6005 power the Paradigms well?  It seems like the amplifier is underpowered (2x45W) relative to the Paradigm 9s or does it matter? How are your Paradigms sounding with your new amplifier?

[Ken B]

Ken,
Does your Marantz PM 6005 power the Paradigms well?  It seems like the amplifier is underpowered (2x45W) relative to the Paradigm 9s or does it matter? How are your Paradigms sounding with your new amplifier?

It works very well now that I have, depending on which definition you use, bi-amped or bi-wire. The softness in the highs I found at moderate to low volume is gone, no problems at all with volume. So everything sounds great. I don't crank the volume past 1/3 of the dial.

I connected A and B right to the right speaker, which the manual says works out to 60 amps per channel, as opposed to 45 uniwired.  So 2x60 now. Of course that means no second set of speakers but I wasn't planning on that anyway.

[mahler10th]

Bi Amped 1998 Jura freestanding speakers to a venerable but very good solid state 1994 Kenwood Amp w/ pre amp.  Marantz CD Player CD6000OSE (KI Signature Edition). 

[Todd]

For Christmas, I bought myself the family a new, bigger TV.  The picture is better than on the old set, but the sound through the TV speakers is positively horrid, and the analog output relies on a Y adapter and whatever electronics the manufacturer threw in, so while better than the TV speakers, it left more than a bit to be desired.  But the TV has an optical digital out, so I used this opportunity to buy my first ever DAC.  I thus decided to move from shitty sound to Schiity sound, and bought the Schiit Modi 2 Uber.  I do like my Asgard, though I use it rarely, and the small form factor of the Modi 2, combined with its versatility, and the basically fun fact that it is built in the USA for only a hundred and fifty bucks, all made it an easy purchase to make.  Sound is definitely noticeably better than from the TV's analog outs.  Mids and voices are clearer and smoother and warmer.  High frequencies are much smoother - no hash now - and bass is much better controlled and cleaner.  Sitting on the sofa it doesn't seem like the bass output is much greater, but my wife complained of the increased rumble radiating through the floor from the sub when in another room.  I rate the Modi 2 a success. 

[Fëanor]

For Christmas, I bought myself the family a new, bigger TV.  The picture is better than on the old set, but the sound through the TV speakers is positively horrid, and the analog output relies on a Y adapter and whatever electronics the manufacturer threw in, so while better than the TV speakers, it left more than a bit to be desired.  But the TV has an optical digital out, so I used this opportunity to buy my first ever DAC.  I thus decided to move from shitty sound to Schiity sound, and bought the Schiit Modi 2 Uber.  I do like my Asgard, though I use it rarely, and the small form factor of the Modi 2, combined with its versatility, and the basically fun fact that it is built in the USA for only a hundred and fifty bucks, all made it an easy purchase to make.  Sound is definitely noticeably better than from the TV's analog outs.  Mids and voices are clearer and smoother and warmer.  High frequencies are much smoother - no hash now - and bass is much better controlled and cleaner.  Sitting on the sofa it doesn't seem like the bass output is much greater, but my wife complained of the increased rumble radiating through the floor from the sub when in another room.  I rate the Modi 2 a success.

Good move, Todd.  No surprised that the Modi 2 is a big improvement over TV decoding.  BTW, the same sort of improvement would be got replacing computer analog outputs, (at least those based on the usual Realtek audio chips).

For more serious listening than TV, I recommend Schiit's Bifrost Uber.  I had the original Modi feeding my main stereo system for while but replaced with the Bifrost.  The Modi was very nice but the Bifrost Uber is a BIG step up in transparency and imaging.

[Todd]

I decided to do some more tube rolling with my headphone amp, just for fun.  I changed out my modern build 274B rectifier for some 1950s era GE and Raytheon 5U4G tubes.  I started with the GE, and the sound is more tube-y.  That is, the lows and (especially) highs are noticeably rolled off, and the sound is softer.  It's like a good, old-fashioned tone control, attenuating at 1 KHz and probably 500 Hz or so.  I expect the same from the Raytheon.  The best part is that the tubes are pretty cheap, and much less expensive than boutique models.

[toledobass]

Anyone have experience with the Marantz CD5004? I need a new CD player and am seeking feedback on this one.

Thanks!
A

[marvinbrown]

Anyone have experience with the Marantz CD5004? I need a new CD player and am seeking feedback on this one.

Thanks!
A

  I own the Marantz CD6004 player, the next model up I believe and it is very good. It features an iPod connection ( the 5004 apprently doesn't) and is very reasonably priced. I have not had the need to replace it. Marantz CD players have very good DACs you won't be disappointed.

  marvin

[Daverz]

I added spiked outriggers to my Vandersteen Quatros



(pic of different speaker from http://soundocity.com )

The effect is surprising, like getting whole new speakers.

The Quatros have cones in the front and a single spike in back for tilting the speakers.  The cones are not sharp and aren't able to penetrate to the floor under my thick carpet, so the speakers tend to "float" on the carpet, which really muddied the sound.  The speakers were also difficult to level and not at the same height, which played havoc with the soundstage, and makes the optimum tilt difficult to get right.  The outriggers allow me to "ground" the speakers to the subfloor and level them, making them very stable, and eliminating the height difference.  I expected this to clean up the bass and even out the soundstage, but was surprised by how much it cleaned up the midrange.