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

[DavidW]

What I meant was that I fitted Node into my HR system, and the quality did not match my expectations, so I am seeking for an upgrade in that respect.

Are you using the Node's DAC or an external DAC?  I ask because the external DAC would provide better uplift in SQ than relying on the streamer (apparently the Node has a lousy DAC).

[Harry]

Are you using the Node's DAC or an external DAC?  I ask because the external DAC would provide better uplift in SQ than relying on the streamer (apparently the Node has a lousy DAC).

I use the DAC of my Quad, which is quite good.

[Spotted Horses]

I also remember them having a great seal, which should help in Spotted Horse's case.

I should try them, although my pair is probably 20 years old and getting a bit ratty. There is perhaps a reverse "audiophile" effect, that they are so reasonably priced there is a tendency to underestimate them.

Meanwhile I have been using the Bose Quietcomfort (most recent wired version) and find myself generally satisfied. When warm weather comes there will be no need to run the HVAC at night and I will presumably return to my open headphones.

[Harry]

Well I am almost Decided, it will be the Lumin T3 media Streamer, first listening gave me goosebumps when listening. Roon installed. Qubuz and Tidal used as test samples.
Marvelous stuff.

[71 dB]

Well I am almost Decided, it will be the Lumin T3 media Streamer, first listening gave me goosebumps when listening. Roon installed. Qubuz and Tidal used as test samples.
Marvelous stuff.

Cool looking device. Never heard of Lumin brand before. They don't seem to have representation in Finland.

[Harry]

Cool looking device. Never heard of Lumin brand before. They don't seem to have representation on Finland.

Thats true, but google them and you might find out more Poju

[71 dB]

Thats true, but google them and you might find out more Poju

I checked and I saw the price.  This is CEO audio not for normal people.

[Harry]

I checked and I saw the price.  This is CEO audio not for normal people.

I assure you that I am quite normal Poju.

[71 dB]

I assure you that I am quite normal Poju.

You are certainly not "quite normal." Not only are you better off financially than maybe 95 % of people, but you are also interested in sound quality 1000 times more than "normal" people. You may be normal in other aspects such as what yogurt you eat and what toothpaste you use, but you are not normal when it comes to audio products.

The most I have EVER spent on an audio device is 1.300 euros on NAD T758. I had not much choice because my old 1.000 euros NAD T762 broke for good and NAD T758 was the only option anywhere near my price range having the kind of connectors and features I need. It was a financial hit I had to take. That's "normal" to you.

The most I have spent on an electric device was my first 32" widescreen Panasonic TV in 2001 (1.600 euros). It was the best CRT 32" TV on the market at that point. Back then I was much more optimistic about my financial future.

[DavidW]

Well I am almost Decided, it will be the Lumin T3 media Streamer, first listening gave me goosebumps when listening. Roon installed. Qubuz and Tidal used as test samples.
Marvelous stuff.

Do you live near an audio store??   That was fast!  While you are auditioning it, you might want to check out reviews on the app and also really try everything you could possibly do with it.  Speaking from experience, the app makes or breaks the experience no matter the quality of the hardware.

I looked up reviews, and the exhaustive DSD support is impressive if you have any files of that type.

[DavidW]

The most I have EVER spent on an audio device is 1.300 euros on NAD T758. I had not much choice because my old 1.000 euros NAD T762 broke for good and NAD T758 was the only option anywhere near my price range having the kind of connectors and features I need. It was a financial hit I had to take. That's "normal" to you.

Just buying audio gear other than a wireless headphone is not normal imo.  Nobody but audiophiles buy amps, dacs, speakers etc. You and Harry are in the same minority group, the only difference is how much your budget is.  The intent is the same.  To have a stereo that provides an exceptional listening experience.

[71 dB]

Just buying audio gear other than a wireless headphone is not normal imo.  Nobody but audiophiles buy amps, dacs, speakers etc. You and Harry are in the same minority group, the only difference is how much your budget is.  The intent is the same.  To have a stereo that provides an exceptional listening experience.

I admit that even my audio purchases aren't "normal" to many people... ...but at least most people could spent as much as I spend IF they wanted. They just choose to spend their money elsewhere.

[Fëanor]

You are certainly not "quite normal." Not only are you better off financially than maybe 95 % of people, but you are also interested in sound quality 1000 times more than "normal" people. You may be normal in other aspects such as what yogurt you eat and what toothpaste you use, but you are not normal when it comes to audio products.

The most I have EVER spent on an audio device is 1.300 euros on NAD T758. I had not much choice because my old 1.000 euros NAD T762 broke for good and NAD T758 was the only option anywhere near my price range having the kind of connectors and features I need. It was a financial hit I had to take. That's "normal" to you.
...

There, there: we must cut Harry some slack.  He is quite normal for a well-heeled audiophile.  Such only moderately high-end gear as the Lumin T3 is a normal sort of thing for that crowd.

I'm an audiophile myself but not a well-heeled one, accordingly I am very much constrained to seek high value products rather than "high-end" ones.  An example would be my Topping D90 DAC, (see ASR review), not a cheap DAC but not anything regarded as high-end.  But with all distortion products below -130 dB it's doubtful what substantial sound improvements are possible.

[Harry]

You are certainly not "quite normal." Not only are you better off financially than maybe 95 % of people, but you are also interested in sound quality 1000 times more than "normal" people. You may be normal in other aspects such as what yogurt you eat and what toothpaste you use, but you are not normal when it comes to audio products.

The most I have EVER spent on an audio device is 1.300 euros on NAD T758. I had not much choice because my old 1.000 euros NAD T762 broke for good and NAD T758 was the only option anywhere near my price range having the kind of connectors and features I need. It was a financial hit I had to take. That's "normal" to you.

The most I have spent on an electric device was my first 32" widescreen Panasonic TV in 2001 (1.600 euros). It was the best CRT 32" TV on the market at that point. Back then I was much more optimistic about my financial future.

To correct you a little though, Poju, not until I was 40 I had enough money to buy such stuff, and that is my only hobby, so maybe I might be forgiven. When I buy new stuff I distribute my old expensive equipment to those that are not able to spend that kind of money. They are normal people like I am. Please refrain from mention this all the time, I am not different from you. The fact that I have more money does not make me less normal.

[drogulus]

    I'm thinking about upgrading my old Sony AVR to decent budget model from one of the usual suspects, namely Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo or Pioneer.

    Marantz is overpriced and their lowest price model got a bad review which moved me to tears. You're paying for a once great name.

    I lean slightly towards Onkyo because of the amps.

    The most important consideration is that I not choose the 17 pounder at the bottom. Every company makes one or more of these. This is a far more important indication of quality than power rating. You can pay more and get much less.

    It goes like this. AVRs need a heavy transformer to feed lots of power to several channels. Onkyo has several budget models that weighs 18.1-18.5 lbs. Above them models weight at least 21 lbs.

    The price doesn't tell you where the serious range starts, the weight does. One model that sells for a mere $499 weighs 21.7 lbs. This, not any of the other of the low priced models is the optimal budget choice.

[71 dB]

To correct you a little though, Poju, not until I was 40 I had enough money to buy such stuff, and that is my only hobby, so maybe I might be forgiven. When I buy new stuff I distribute my old expensive equipment to those that are not able to spend that kind of money. They are normal people like I am. Please refrain from mention this all the time, I am not different from you. The fact that I have more money does not make me less normal.

I'm sorry Harry, I didn't know how important it is for you to be normal.

[71 dB]

The price doesn't tell you where the serious range starts, the weight does.

This is a good point. My NAD T758 is 15.4 kg / 34.2 lbs.

[drogulus]

This is a good point. My NAD T758 is 15.4 kg / 34.2 lbs.

     Yup, there's no cheating on the ability to produce gobs of clean power.

     Once you clear the power hurdle you can evaluate other factors.

     I only use the pure or direct mode for both music and video. Many AVR reviews lean heavily on the kind of room correction used. That doesn't affect me.

[Daverz]

You don't need a lot of weight to get a lot of clean power with modern switching power supplies like those in Ncore and Purifi amps.

[Valentino]

This. Properly designed smps is cleaner power, less space, less weight, less heat.