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

[71 dB]

Good luck!  At least that doesn't sound like a difficult repair.

The Denon is "easy" as I have tinkered with it before. A few years back I boiled the belt for 15 minutes and it helped, but now the belt is too old I think. I don't know about the NAD.

[DavidW]

I strongly recommend everyone struggling with audiuophilia check out this site.

     https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?reviews%2F

     He measures things and investigates claims, IOW he is a very bad man.

Amir is great but he doesn't put enough effort into interpreting the results which is important.  Too often he will report a sinad and put it on a ranking which makes it look mediocre when nearly every device listed has inaudible distortion.  I don't really see that as being much different from the fine wine bs subjectivist articles.  Having a decent sinad is necessary but far from sufficient.

That being said when Amir shows a $$$$ Marantz sacd player performs poorly, he is truly doing a service to the community and putting the industry on notice.  But one of the best takedowns I've seen recently comes from Stereophile, when they showed that a $40k cd player measured extremely poorly.  That was great!
 

[drogulus]

Amir is great but he doesn't put enough effort into interpreting the results which is important.  Too often he will report a sinad and put it on a ranking which makes it look mediocre when nearly every device listed has inaudible distortion.  I don't really see that as being much different from the fine wine bs subjectivist articles.  Having a decent sinad is necessary but far from sufficient.

That being said when Amir shows a $$$$ Marantz sacd player performs poorly, he is truly doing a service to the community and putting the industry on notice.  But one of the best takedowns I've seen recently comes from Stereophile, when they showed that a $40k cd player measured extremely poorly.  That was great!
 

    Amir is good for checking out budget gear. It's fun when he unmasks the expensive mediocre stuff, but for me what's useful is seeing which low priced (relatively) equipment performs well.

[Todd]

Audeze makes some highly praised cans. I'd love to hear them, but not buy them!

They are good but overpriced.  I own the LCD2, which are currently in storage, and they sound a bit bass heavy but otherwise even.  With movies or (especially) TV, they can sound metallic, as in they sound like they ring.  I was able to listen to a couple higher up models before I bought the LCD2, and the bass lightens a bit, but the overall sound signature remains the same. 

But one of the best takedowns I've seen recently comes from Stereophile, when they showed that a $40k cd player measured extremely poorly.  That was great!

I stopped reading Stereophile years ago since they would routinely review gear that measures terribly yet garners B, A, or A+ recommendations.  Wilson speakers always come to mind in this regard.  After having heard multiple products that Stereophile touted as Class A that actually sound mediocre (eg, Sonus Faber towers) or bad (eg, some Wilsons), it became clear that many of the reviews have no real merit.  The best typically came from John Atkinson himself since they tended to be matter of fact, whereas writers like Michael Fremer tended to the florid.  I don't know who writes for the magazine anymore, so those may be dated references.  And Stereophile was easily the best of the audiophile magazines when I read them.

Audio Science Review is useful precisely because it publishes extensive measurements from which I can determine how gear may sound.  Commentary is not really needed.  Super Best Audio Friends has an older engineer posting under the name atomicbob who also publishes extensive measurements on some gear.  And John Krutke used publish extensive measurements of raw speaker drivers that helped demonstrate the silliness of audiophile claims.  More such sites and/or publications are needed.  I'd love to see frequency response measured at real listening positions, in particular.

[Daverz]

Amir is great but he doesn't put enough effort into interpreting the results which is important.  Too often he will report a sinad and put it on a ranking which makes it look mediocre when nearly every device listed has inaudible distortion.  I don't really see that as being much different from the fine wine bs subjectivist articles.  Having a decent sinad is necessary but far from sufficient.

I'm not sure what more you expect him to do.  He shows the SINAD in context using colored quartiles, and will recommend something if it's fit for purpose.

For me, the most valuable reviews are of speakers, though he's really slowed down his pace.  Stereophile measurements are primitive in comparison.  Erinsaudiocorner is even more detailed in his speaker reviews, but he's also slowing his pace way down, so it's kind of frustrating.

I'll have to check out that Stereophile review, but I find Atkinson often gaslights his readers and makes excuses for mediocre gear in his comments on measurements.

[Valentino]

Atkinson conceals well, yes. I don't get much out of Amir's speaker measurements. Erin is better there.

..

I've finally taken the plunge and ordered a MiniDSP Flex Eight to replace the sound card and PC I've been using for crossovers in my system since 2010.



No Dirac for me. Basic setup, measuring, adjusting, measuring, adjusting, listening,adjusting and enjoying, no change there. I still have't heard an automated adjustment that doesn't sound weird.

[Fëanor]

Amir is great but he doesn't put enough effort into interpreting the results which is important.  Too often he will report a sinad and put it on a ranking which makes it look mediocre when nearly every device listed has inaudible distortion.  I don't really see that as being much different from the fine wine bs subjectivist articles.  Having a decent sinad is necessary but far from sufficient.
 

I visit AudioScienceReview regularly.  Basically I do so because I believe there is a strong correlation between measurements and subjective experience.

Two issues with a one-number SINAD, (THD+noise) results are, (IMO):

• A crude SINAD result at one frequency, (say 1000 Hz), and at one output power level is not really sufficient.  I mean you ought to look at distortion at more frequencies and power levels.  In fairness Amir often provides SINAD versus these levels.
• The other problem is the spectrum of harmonic distortion.  Some researchers have determined that 2nd and/or 3rd order harmonics are quite benign subjectively;  some have also argued that higher order harmonics, (4th and higher), sound irritating and harsh.  Also, harmonic spectra can vary depending on frequency and power level.  These are aspects not adequately covered by Amir.

I and many believe that 2nd/3rd order distortion not only sounds no worse than benign in itself but also masks disagreeable higher order harmonics.

The reality, (IMO), is the many listeners not only tolerate but actually prefer relatively high levels of 2nd/3rd order harmonic distortion.  Note that relatively high 2nd/3rd order harmonics are associated with tube equipment.  Listeners are perfectly entitled to prefer such equipment and their choices can be enlightened and guided by properly interpreting harmonic distortion spectra.

(For my part I prefer the lowest possible distortion because high SINAD and harmonics definitely reduce detail and transparency;  this impression is corroborated by most audiophiles of my acquaintance.)

[DavidW]

Atkinson conceals well, yes. I don't get much out of Amir's speaker measurements. Erin is better there.

You might like Audioholics instead.  They are far more comprehensive with their speaker measurements and do a much better job describing and interpreting the results.

[Valentino]

Thanks. Shall have a look.

[Fëanor]

You might like Audioholics instead.  They are far more comprehensive with their speaker measurements and do a much better job describing and interpreting the results.

Humm ... Audioholics' reviews make for fun reads, but are inconsistent at best when it comes to measurements.

[Mookalafalas]

just ordered a pair of Hifiman Arya V3s and an ifi Uno Dac/Amp.

  I do most headphone listening (at work) on a pair of Sennheiser 6XX headphones, which I love, but decided to splurge...

I ended up sending the Hifiman Arya's back. They were supposed to be new, but were not. Also, for whatever reason, I was not impressed at all with the sound. They were not better than the older model Hifiman Sundaras, at least to my ears, and were worse than my Sennheisers. Actually, I think there must have been something wrong with the pair I got.  Quite a disappointment, but as I couldn't afford them anyway, I suppose it's a good thing  

[Florestan]

I couldn't afford them anyway

Then why did you order them in the first place? 

[DavidW]

Then why did you order them in the first place? 

Audiophilia nervosa is a heck of a thing!

[Mookalafalas]

Then why did you order them in the first place? 

  Because I'm an idiot. 
   Of course I have the money for them, but my wife has gone back to school and my oldest daughter is just starting college, so I really shouldn't be making this kind of self-indulgent purchase. Not that I wouldn't do it again, if there was something tempting enough...

[Holden]

What was wrong with the sound for you? You liked the Sundaras and I'd imagine that the sound signature of all the Hifiman cans is similar. It's taken me a while to grow into the Anandas after the Audeze LCD1 but it's getting there.

[Mookalafalas]

What was wrong with the sound for you? You liked the Sundaras and I'd imagine that the sound signature of all the Hifiman cans is similar. It's taken me a while to grow into the Anandas after the Audeze LCD1 but it's getting there.

  I had asssumed they'd be similar as well--but noticeably better. Mysteriously, the opposite seemed to be true. They were very comfortable to wear, but had less clarity and body than either my Sundaras or my Senn 6xx's. What was really weird, is the bass was weaker, and that's supposed to be one of the strengths of the Aryas (they're as big as the side of my head!).
   

[Florestan]

I really shouldn't be making this kind of self-indulgent purchase. Not that I wouldn't do it again, if there was something tempting enough...

  

[71 dB]

Audiophilia nervosa is a heck of a thing!

It is. Get yourself Sennheiser HD599 and a headphone amp with cross-feed. Stop worrying about if there's something better out there. You'll see that's all you need to be happy (audio-wise) and your audiophilia nervosa goes away. Remember, it was audio marketing that gave you audiophilia nervosa in the first place.

[DavidW]

Because I'm an idiot. 
   Of course I have the money for them, but my wife has gone back to school and my oldest daughter is just starting college, so I really shouldn't be making this kind of self-indulgent purchase. Not that I wouldn't do it again, if there was something tempting enough...

I just bought some audio gear despite knowing that I need to buy a riding mower soon!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I just bought some audio gear despite knowing that I need to buy a riding mower soon!

Whoopsie!

And be good about wearing some ear protectors when you do get that mower; you want to be able to enjoy your music afterwards!

PD