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

[Spineur]

The long journey to dematerialized music

I  started ripping all my CD collection and buying hires (96kHz/24bits or DSD64) recordings at the end of last year.  6 months later and over a Terabytes worth of data, I am near the end.  Considering the large of time necessary to convert this CD collection into flac files, I can no longer afford a disk crash.  This is why I just bought this NAS configured in RAID 5: (4-1)*3=9 Terabytes worth of usable space.  This ought to be sufficient for a while.  I had lots of hesitations between Synology vs QNAP options.  Time will tell if I made the right choice

This is unfortunately not the end of the road...

[Fëanor]

The long journey to dematerialized music

I  started ripping all my CD collection and buying hires (96kHz/24bits or DSD64) recordings at the end of last year.  6 months later and over a Terabytes worth of data, I am near the end.  Considering the large of time necessary to convert this CD collection into flac files, I can no longer afford a disk crash.  This is why I just bought this NAS configured in RAID 5: (4-1)*3=9 Terabytes worth of usable space.  This ought to be sufficient for a while.  I had lots of hesitations between Synology vs QNAP options.  Time will tell if I made the right choice

This is unfortunately not the end of the road...

All hard disks -- and all other media for that matter -- eventually fail:  backups are essential or you will loose your data.  Redundant backup and off-site backups are very desireable.

RAID level 5 seems like a bit of over-kill to me;  level 1, two fully duplicated disks, is good solution of most home users for daily operation.  However at least one additional backup is desirable, and it is a great idea that it be off-line and preferably off-site.

Window 10 offers a "Storage Places" option that allow various types of backup including what is essentially a RAID 1 option.  Unfortunately this isn't a 'NAS' option so you computer must be running and the relevant drive defined to permit access by other computers on your home network.  Unlike RAID, the drives used don't have to be essentially identical to each other.

I have my Win 10 "Storage Pool" consisting of two USB3, 5 terabyte drives which is more than adequate for my approx. 1 TB or music plus all my videos and other data.  I do have multiple other drives on other computer and portable drives on which occasionally back up all data for further redundancy;  I use the Free File Sync program to perform these additional backups, (see http://www.freefilesync.org/);  it's a GPU freeware program.

[Spineur]

I have a couple sound systems at home and I need to beam the media to one or the other or both.  Bluetooth or a network system is the only way to do this.  I still havent figured out whether to install a PLEX server or the Kodi apps on the NAS.  The idea is to get rid of any computer, attached drive etc... and pilot the NAS with the IR remote or a phone/tablet.

There is a dedicated sound card on this NAS with a RealTek ALC262 chip.  Its one of the cheaper hires DAC, but because of its dedicated sound card with its own regulators and filters, the result may not be too shabby.  If it is the case, I wont need to buy a second DAC.

This solution is somewhat expensive, mostly because NAS drives cost quite a bit more.  Probably because companies are such good suckers...

However, this means fewer boxes left.  For my main system, 1NAS, 1TV, 1 amplifier, and the speakers.  In addition the blue-ray/CD/HDD recorder/player is still necessary for the time being, but in the long run, it may become redundant.
For the second sound system, my network DAC and my active speakers is the only stuff I need.

In a while, I'll give you some feedback when everything is fully operational.

[jlaurson]

Latest on Forbes:


Headphone Exploration At Munich's HIGH END
The HIGH END trade fair in Munich, which takes place every May, is the place to be for audiophiles. If you are going there to be inspired, it helps to have deep pockets, of course – and if they are, they won't be deep for long, after having taken a whiff at all the new toys and gadgets that serve to empty them with the promise of aural bliss. But even in the audiophile segment of high prices and diminishing returns for value (think a pair of speakers for 20k or 200k or the like), there are pockets (as it were) for modest budgets...

[Todd]

A few weeks ago, my seven or eight year old el cheapo Insignia executive system all-in-one box gave up the ghost.  I use it in the garage whilst exercising, so while I had to replace it, the new unit had to meet three criteria: it had to be cheap, reasonably reliable, and cheap.  Why not Insignia again, I thought?  The NS-STR514 is a $130 stereo receiver, and it more than fit the bill.  Rated at 100 Wpc - though I would not test that claim with my speakers - it has four analog inputs, a built in Bluetooth receiver, and, of course, a tuner section.  The main laminated core transformer is surprisingly beefy.  Sound is more than good enough for my needs.  And the pleasant surprise here is the tuner section.  It has better selectivity than the stand alone Rega and Naim units I use in other systems, and sound is good.  The tuner alone is worth the meager asking price.  I'm hoping to get seven to eight years out of this.  I may even buy a backup.

[andolink]

My newly reconstituted two-channel gear:

Stereo: Audiolab 8200CD >>Simaudio Moon Nēo 340i >>Dynaudio Confidence C1 II's + SVS SB12-NSD

Headphones: Audiolab 8200CD (balanced XLR) >>Balanced Cross-feed X6B >>Audio-gd NFB-6 (balanced XLR) >>Norse Skuld 2 Litz UPOCC >>HiFiMan HE-500

[The new erato]

Dynaudio is top notch gear.

[andolink]

Dynaudio is top notch gear.

My ears are teling me you're right.   Excellent synergy with the Simaudio amp.

[71 dB]

My newly reconstituted two-channel gear:

Stereo: Audiolab 8200CD >>Simaudio Moon Nēo 340i >>Dynaudio Confidence C1 II's + SVS SB12-NSD

Headphones: Audiolab 8200CD (balanced XLR) >>Balanced Cross-feed X6B >>Audio-gd NFB-6 (balanced XLR) >>Norse Skuld 2 Litz UPOCC >>HiFiMan HE-500

Hi Andy! Nice to see the crossfeeder as part of your great system. 

What's with all those hands? The colours are a great match with the painting. Looks nice.

[Rinaldo]

I thought you guys were serious about audio quality but now I know you're all losers!

Japan's music fanatics want personal grid connection; 'electricity is like blood'

[Spineur]

I thought you guys were serious about audio quality but now I know you're all losers!

Japan's music fanatics want personal grid connection; 'electricity is like blood'

Yes I had read that article.  Amazing! Clearly for this guy, extreme is the word.  Actually I would be interested to see his music library.  If you invest into your own power source, you better have some pretty amazing recording.  Another issue is the quality of silence in your home.  How many teenagers in the neighbourhood ?

[Fëanor]

Has anyone done any dabbling in hi-fi DIY?

Recently I completed a stereo pair of speakers that ended up in my home theatre system.  These are of my own design utilizing Dayton Reference 7" mid/woofers and Reference 1.25" soft-domed tweeter.  Used Harris Tech's X-over Pro and Bass Box Pro software to design the crossover and cabinets respectively.  (The pair are pictured below in my stereo system, not my HT system where they've ended up.)



I'm currently working on  slightly more ambitious pair based on Scan-Speak drivers;  they are based on Zaph Audio's 'ZRT' design, (see HERE).  i will use completed crossovers supplied by Madison.com, (see HERE).  These picture show the nearly completed, but empty cabinets, here pictured in my workshop.

[andolink]

Hi Andy! Nice to see the crossfeeder as part of your great system. 

What's with all those hands? The colours are a great match with the painting. Looks nice.

Hi Poju,

Just today saw your reply today.

The hands are, mostly, industrial glove molds--one of my wife's interior decorating ideas as is the dress form just to the right.  The color scheme is also my wife's choice but I selected the painting.

Your crossfeeder is still working perfectly BTW. 

[71 dB]

Hi Poju,

Just today saw your reply today.

The hands are, mostly, industrial glove molds--one of my wife's interior decorating ideas as is the dress form just to the right.  The color scheme is also my wife's choice but I selected the painting.

You're crossfeeder is still working perfectly BTW.

Hello Andy!

I like your wife's interior decorating ideas (the hands more than the dress form).

The painting is well selected. 

Good to hear the crossfeeder is working and hopefully giving value for your money.

[The new erato]

Has anyone done any dabbling in hi-fi DIY?

Recently I completed a stereo pair of speakers that ended up in my home theatre system.  These are of my own design utilizing Dayton Reference 7" mid/woofers and Reference 1.25" soft-domed tweeter.  Used Harris Tech's X-over Pro and Bass Box Pro software to design the crossover and cabinets respectively.  (The pair are pictured below in my stereo system, not my HT system where they've ended up.)



I'm currently working on  slightly more ambitious pair based on Scan-Speak drivers;  they are based on Zaph Audio's 'ZRT' design, (see HERE).  i will use completed crossovers supplied by Madison.com, (see HERE).  These picture show the nearly completed, but empty cabinets, here pictured in my workshop.

Very nice handywork!

[71 dB]

Has anyone done any dabbling in hi-fi DIY?

My loudspeakers (5 * "Hifi 6/2" + a passive subwoofer "Hifi 55/2") are kits designed by a Finnish guru for Finnish Hifimagazine. The wooden cabinets were pre-made (I can't do much wood work myself) so it was about soldering the crossovers and putting the electrical parts together in the cabinets.

Recently I completed a stereo pair of speakers that ended up in my home theatre system.  These are of my own design utilizing Dayton Reference 7" mid/woofers and Reference 1.25" soft-domed tweeter.  Used Harris Tech's X-over Pro and Bass Box Pro software to design the crossover and cabinets respectively.  (The pair are pictured below in my stereo system, not my HT system where they've ended up.)

Designing loudspeakers is very difficult and requires experience. So many things has to go right. For example, your speakers might suffer from uneven directivity of the two drivers around crossover frequency. Depends on how high or low the crossover frequency is. How about the balance of power response and frequency response on the radiation axis? How about the phase on crossover frequency? How about the bass reflex port tuning and the size of the cabinet? How about the resonances created by crossover capasitors and driver voice coil inductances? There is so much that can go wrong in less experienced hands. I am not saying your speakers suffer from these problems. When you are aware of them, you can try to avoid them.

I'm currently working on  slightly more ambitious pair based on Scan-Speak drivers;  they are based on Zaph Audio's 'ZRT' design, (see HERE).  i will use completed crossovers supplied by Madison.com, (see HERE).  These picture show the nearly completed, but empty cabinets, here pictured in my workshop.

These loudspeakers of yours look very nice! Especially the red ones look awesome!  0:)

[Fëanor]

Designing loudspeakers is very difficult and requires experience. So many things has to go right. For example, your speakers might suffer from uneven directivity of the two drivers around crossover frequency. Depends on how high or low the crossover frequency is. How about the balance of power response and frequency response on the radiation axis? How about the phase on crossover frequency? How about the bass reflex port tuning and the size of the cabinet? How about the resonances created by crossover capasitors and driver voice coil inductances? There is so much that can go wrong in less experienced hands. I am not saying your speakers suffer from these problems. When you are aware of them, you can try to avoid them.

This is all very true.  Using tools such as Bass Box Pro and X-Over Pro makes it a lot easier, however one must be aware of the issues and use common sense selecting the drivers and crossover points.  2-way systems are a easier to design than 3-way which I haven't attempted.

My first speakers were of my own design but the good news is that many designs of experts are available online -- you alluded to one instance.

These loudspeakers of yours look very nice! Especially the red ones look awesome!  0:)

These second speakers, as I mentioned, are based on a published design from Zaph Audio, though I used a slightly small cabinet than the ones specified; (in used Bass Box Pro to ensure the right vent port length).

Speaking of the cabinets, I purchased these in knock-down form for Parts Express, (see HERE).  The reason is that I don't have a table saw which is more or less necessary to get the required precision, especially for larger panels.  As well as cutting the driver openings, I radiused the edges with a router, and I did fabricate the bases myself.

[mahler10th]

I have a quick question two quick questions for our resident Audiophiles.
Like John (MI), I have come to favor Sony equipment, mostly because I've spent buckets on all manner of mid-range stuff the past four years, and Sony always comes out very well.
However...
I am playing from a Sony BluRay disc player via optical out into a Marantz Amp out through excellent 1998 Rega Jura speakers.  I have Sony 5.1 speakers/amp hooked up also (seperate channel), and I cannot make my mind up if I should relinquish the Sony Surround (inc SWoofer) idea in favour of the more 'forward' sounding Jura speakers.  I am prone to think that the Rega speakers due to their so called 'high end' quality should be my choice of output, but the 5.1 setup does make the music 'full'.  I have plenty of DVD's and dongles with lots of digital music on, and I like to put them on too, which is why I have the BluRay...so...

Q1:  If I buy a dedicated CD player (probably Sony) would this be better than using a BluRay player for playing my CD's?  My concern is it will make no difference at all, but if its a dedicated CD player it may have a better DAC for CD music without BluRay and DVD infestation??   
Q2:  I am not sure that a 5.1 setup with all its Dolby and sound modes gives a natural sound - it is somehow more like studio sound.  5.1 Sony or the standalone Rega Juras?

God knows if I can be helped.  But thanks for reading all this palaver anyway...

[Parsifal]

I have a quick question two quick questions for our resident Audiophiles.
Like John (MI), I have come to favor Sony equipment, mostly because I've spent buckets on all manner of mid-range stuff the past four years, and Sony always comes out very well.
However...
I am playing from a Sony BluRay disc player via optical out into a Marantz Amp out through excellent 1998 Rega Jura speakers.  I have Sony 5.1 speakers/amp hooked up also (seperate channel), and I cannot make my mind up if I should relinquish the Sony Surround (inc SWoofer) idea in favour of the more 'forward' sounding Jura speakers.  I am prone to think that the Rega speakers due to their so called 'high end' quality should be my choice of output, but the 5.1 setup does make the music 'full'.  I have plenty of DVD's and dongles with lots of digital music on, and I like to put them on too, which is why I have the BluRay...so...

Q1:  If I buy a dedicated CD player (probably Sony) would this be better than using a BluRay player for playing my CD's?  My concern is it will make no difference at all, but if its a dedicated CD player it may have a better DAC for CD music without BluRay and DVD infestation??   
Q2:  I am not sure that a 5.1 setup with all its Dolby and sound modes gives a natural sound - it is somehow more like studio sound.  5.1 Sony or the standalone Rega Juras?

God knows if I can be helped.  But thanks for reading all this palaver anyway...

If you are using "optical out" on your blu-ray player the signal is entirely digital and is being converted to an audio signal by a DAC in your Marantz amplifier. The blue ray player is doing nothing but passing the digital data without any alteration. If you switch to a CD player and continue to use optical out there will literally be no difference. It is possible that a CD player connected using analog cables could have a better DAC than your amp, but Marantz is a highly regarded brand, so it would probably have to be a high-end CD player.

As for the speakers, let your ears be the judge. If the 5.1 setup gives you more pleasure go with it. If you have the space, there might be an advantage in having both sets of speakers available, you may find that some recordings sound better on one set of speakers and some recordings sound better on the other.

[mahler10th]

If you are using "optical out" on your blu-ray player the signal is entirely digital and is being converted to an audio signal by a DAC in your Marantz amplifier. The blue ray player is doing nothing but passing the digital data without any alteration.

Many thanks Scarpia.  Your opening two sentences alone help me understand a lot more as to what to do!  I should've known this about Optical Out, but alas, I did not.  But now I do!