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

[jlaurson]

I prefer time-coaxial adherence conduits!
http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina42.htm

[mahler10th]

Likely so.  I've saved myself a lot of money by not springing for audiophile trends. You don't have to look far to find outrageous examples, e.g ...

Machina Dynamica's Brilliant Pebbles, HERE

I read about those brilliant pebbles.  Wow.  I'm going to enter that industry and make an absoloute fortune...all I have to do is come up with something crazy, like "Audio-Crystalization Sand" and sell little vials of sand for about forty bucks apiece.  I can get the sand from the banks of the Clyde just doon the road...The sand contains uniques crystals with fathoming capability, and this comes in the form of invisible radiation which 'crystalizes' any sound waves over x-db within a 60m radius, ensuring clean, cackle free sound maximised for shit sound systems.
Yes!  I'm off to make my fortune...

[DavidRoss]

I read about those brilliant pebbles.  Wow.  I'm going to enter that industry and make an absoloute fortune...all I have to do is come up with something crazy, like "Audio-Crystalization Sand" and sell little vials of sand for about forty bucks apiece.  I can get the sand from the banks of the Clyde just doon the road...The sand contains uniques crystals with fathoming capability, and this comes in the form of invisible radiation which 'crystalizes' any sound waves over x-db within a 60m radius, ensuring clean, cackle free sound maximised for shit sound systems.
Yes!  I'm off to make my fortune...

Don't forget the multi-dimensional vibrational fields!

[Coopmv]

Any new audio equipments for anyone over the holiday?

[bigshot]

My brother is giving me his custom built studio monitors from the 70s. That is going to be extra nice

[petrarch]

Not for me; my system is good as it is. Any "upgrades" I do will be improving the room acoustics.

[Daverz]

I've been thinking about getting this pre-amp:

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/364714

Right now I have my DAC connected directly to my amps.  I've been using the digital volume control on my Squeezebox Touch.

Wyred-4-Sound now offers a 15-day trial period, which is stingy but better than the 15% restocking fee they had before.

[Coopmv]

I've been thinking about getting this pre-amp:

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/364714

Right now I have my DAC connected directly to my amps.  I've been using the digital volume control on my Squeezebox Touch.

Wyred-4-Sound now offers a 15-day trial period, which is stingy but better than the 15% restocking fee they had before.

Thanks for the link.

Interesting products at reaonable prices, though I have never heard of the company before.  Moreover, all products are made in the USA, which is a big plus for me, as I generally avoid buying any made-in-China audio equipments ...

[petrarch]

I've been thinking about getting this pre-amp:

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/364714

Right now I have my DAC connected directly to my amps.  I've been using the digital volume control on my Squeezebox Touch.

Wyred-4-Sound now offers a 15-day trial period, which is stingy but better than the 15% restocking fee they had before.

Looks interesting. I have looked at their amps before, but being class D turned me off. Have you considered going for a tube preamp?

[Daverz]

Looks interesting. I have looked at their amps before, but being class D turned me off. Have you considered going for a tube preamp?

I've been using a tubed pre-amp, a BAT 3iX (the basic version with the optional phono card), for the last several years.  When I wrote that post, it was bothering me with a channel imbalance, but cleaning the tube sockets with Caig De-Oxit seems to have fixed that.  After that it was tube rush that was bothering me.   I replaced those tubes (some relatively expensive current production Gold Lion 6922s) with some cheaper Electro-Harmonix tubes, which are quieter, though there is still some audible hiss.  I may try some Amperex tubes I have tomorrow.  I'm probably sticking with it for now, but I do get tired of the fussiness of tubes.

[Fëanor]

Any new audio equipments for anyone over the holiday?

Not over the holidays, but recently.  I've been experimenting with equalization with good results.  Is this an option to expensive upgrades, in particular speakers??? Could be.

Almost all my listening is via computer files these days, so it is feasible to use a software-base digital equalization which is what I've done. I use Foobar2000, (the old standby), which allows a wide range of plug-in components.  There are several equalizers available, (including a relatively crude one that comes with the standard DPS set).  My favourite so far is AIXcoustic Creations' free, Electi-Q (Posifhopit edition). See their website HERE. Electri-Q does also require the use of George Yohng's Foobar2000 VST Wrapper, HERE.

Electri-Q permits very refined, transparent, and phase shiftless equalization. I use it to correct system response as measured at 3 feet (1 meter) from each speaker. The free Electri-Q version doesn't allow different equalization for each channel, but my speakers' responses are similar enough that this isn't much of an issue.

OK, so how do do I measure the speakers' responses?  Well unfortunately you need separate hardware & software to do it.  I use Parts Express' OmniMic to do that: see HERE. This does a great job.

So ... as intimated, I measured L & R speakers at a distance of 3 feet; this approach emphasizes the direct sound from the speaker versus a lot more reflected sound which you get at the listening position.  The human ear is actually able to differentiate direct vs. reflected sound so, IMO, I feel it is better to equalize for the direct sound.

This is the measurement I got for the right speaker; (the left was very similar) ...



Accordingly this was the correction I made with Electri-Q ...



N.B.B The above correction rolls off the high frequencies starting about 4 kHz.  This is important for two reasons:

• Even at only 3 feet from the speaker, there is a good deal of reflected sound, and there is typically less high frequency reflection in a typical (e.g.) well furnished living room such as mine, and
• IMO, a high proportion of classical recordings are simply too bright; (you might not agree -- but don't until you've taken measurements in you own listening room).

In general, with this equalization, I feel I'm getting a more naturals sound (with most recordings), truer instrument timbres, and stronger stereo imaging.

[Kontrapunctus]

I've extensively upgraded mine:

Martin Logan Theos front speakers, ML Abyss subwoofer, ML Motif center speaker, Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 surrounds, Parasound Halo A51 5-channel amp, Sony STR 6400ES pre/pro, Oppo 95 SACD/DVD player, and Stax SR 404/SRM 717 electrostatic headphones.

The only item I want to change is the Sony 6400ES, which is an AVR, to a stand alone pre/pro. I'm seriously looking at the new Marantz 8801, but I want to read more reviews of it first.

[Coopmv]

I just added a Grace internet tuner to my study after the New Year, though the first listening I did today was entirely via my Sennheiser HD-600 headphones since the unit is not connected to my tube preamp yet; it is only connected to my wireless network.  It may be a few months since I am still exploring my options for a tube amp.  I am however, surprised at BBC Radio 3 only streams its classical music broadcast at 48 kbps.  However, a radio station from the Middle East actually streams its broadcast at 128 kbps ...

 

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Almost all my listening is via computer files these days, so it is feasible to use a software-base digital equalization which is what I've done. I use Foobar2000, (the old standby), which allows a wide range of plug-in components.  There are several equalizers available, (including a relatively crude one that comes with the standard DPS set).  My favourite so far is AIXcoustic Creations' free, Electi-Q (Posifhopit edition). See their website HERE. Electri-Q does also require the use of George Yohng's Foobar2000 VST Wrapper, HERE.

All very good choices. I did some production a couple of years ago and I remember that EQ was very well known in the VST scene.
What soundcard do you use? In my living room, I use a dedicated notebook (Thinkpad T23) which has a fullscreen fb2k setup and which is fully remotely controllable; soundcard is sb audigy 2 zs notebook.

[Fëanor]

All very good choices. I did some production a couple of years ago and I remember that EQ was very well known in the VST scene.
What soundcard do you use? In my living room, I use a dedicated notebook (Thinkpad T23) which has a fullscreen fb2k setup and which is fully remotely controllable; soundcard is sb audigy 2 zs notebook.

I'm using an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 sound card in Vista Home Basic computer. I use the card's S/PDIF output to an external DAC, a SMSL SD-1955, available from eBay sellers, (e.g. HERE), which is astonishingly good for the price.

My stereo system configuration is diagrammed HERE.

[mahler10th]

I recently bought this 1994 Kenwood seperates system, billed in its entirety as an HD 600.  To it I have hooked up a set of 5.1 speakers at 'regulation' angles, positions and distances.  Despite its age, this little system, cased in metal, not plastic, produces an fabulously clear quality of sound.



(Please note this is a picture from a different source, and my system is much cleaner than this and does not have clarty fingerprints everywhere on it.) 

To test my ears, I played Mahlers 5th, by Neumann and the CzPO.  A long time ago I gave Neumanns Mahler a hard time, wondering what there was in it that could interest anybody.  I was advised by a learned mentor that I should listen for the amazing intricacies and sonorities achieved in Neumanns Mahler, some of which you can hardly hear in other any other conductors' Mahler.  Well, I did find these intricacies at the time, but it took some listening.  So I put it on again on this 'new' hotch potch setup of mine and good God, I could hear all manner of things which seemed clouded before.  This turn of events has led me to completely re-evaluate absolutely everything I have, because something in this setup is delivering music to my waxy lugs in a completely different way.  And I DO NOT use any equalisers or any other filter(s) to change things.
I even put on some Weber, and discovered a whole new sense of spatial awareness!  LOL.  Very strange, but the dimensions in which the music comes to me have changed a great deal, and only in the past month since I set this little lot up.  My 2008 Philips player has been relegated to the bedroom, where it languishes not even plugged in, and I am going through a very long and enjoyable period of re-evaluating everything and anything.

[Coopmv]

I recently bought this 1994 Kenwood seperates system, billed in its entirety as an HD 600.  To it I have hooked up a set of 5.1 speakers at 'regulation' angles, positions and distances.  Despite its age, this little system, cased in metal, not plastic, produces an fabulously clear quality of sound.



(Please note this is a picture from a different source, and my system is much cleaner than this and does not have clarty fingerprints everywhere on it.) 

To test my ears, I played Mahlers 5th, by Neumann and the CzPO.  A long time ago I gave Neumanns Mahler a hard time, wondering what there was in it that could interest anybody.  I was advised by a learned mentor that I should listen for the amazing intricacies and sonorities achieved in Neumanns Mahler, some of which you can hardly hear in other any other conductors' Mahler.  Well, I did find these intricacies at the time, but it took some listening.  So I put it on again on this 'new' hotch potch setup of mine and good God, I could hear all manner of things which seemed clouded before.  This turn of events has led me to completely re-evaluate absolutely everything I have, because something in this setup is delivering music to my waxy lugs in a completely different way.  And I DO NOT use any equalisers or any other filter(s) to change things.
I even put on some Weber, and discovered a whole new sense of spatial awareness!  LOL.  Very strange, but the dimensions in which the music comes to me have changed a great deal, and only in the past month since I set this little lot up.  My 2008 Philips player has been relegated to the bedroom, where it languishes not even plugged in, and I am going through a very long and enjoyable period of re-evaluating everything and anything.

Nice!  Sounds like your iPod will be relegated to collecting dust ...

[mahler10th]

Nice!  Sounds like your iPod will be relegated to collecting dust ...

Yes!  And while I was at it, I hooked up a Hard Drive full of nicely sorted MP3 files to an unused 3 year old SUMO media box by USB, and fed the TV audio output into the above 1994 Kenwood.  The sheer QUALITY of sound I am getting from both these and CD's, with the CD playing 'direct' to output is just great.   I would say that although there is a long way to go, this is by far the 'best' and 'most vivid' Classical / audio experience in my own home my ears have ever witnessed.  Phew!   

[Coopmv]

Yes!  And while I was at it, I hooked up a Hard Drive full of nicely sorted MP3 files to an unused 3 year old SUMO media box by USB, and fed the TV audio output into the above 1994 Kenwood.  The sheer QUALITY of sound I am getting from both these and CD's, with the CD playing 'direct' to output is just great.   I would say that although there is a long way to go, this is by far the 'best' and 'most vivid' Classical / audio experience in my own home my ears have ever witnessed.  Phew!   

I have never owned an iPod and doubt I will ever.  There are other ways to enjoy your music much more than through those earbuds.

[mahler10th]

I have never owned an iPod and doubt I will ever.  There are other ways to enjoy your music much more than through those earbuds.

Agreed.  I have never owned one either, but only suggested I did to illustrate the drama of my wee story.  LOL