Hifi, Lofi - Show us What you Listen With…...
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Hey everyone. This thread is pretty cool. I’m a big Audio guy so here is my set up!
So I use my MacBook Pro to make and listen to music. It’s gets sent through my Apogee Duet to Focal Alpha 55s propped up on some Auralex foam. And if I need to be quiet that I listen on my DT880 open back head phones. Hope you enjoy
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No school like the old school.
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Considering some upgrades…..
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Some nice Bowers and Wilkins floor standers added. Next a new amp I think, maybe a Bluesound streamer.
I added a Tidal subscription too, well worth it.
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Ooh, nice, I only have BW headphones but they are very good. Any pics soon?
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Upgraded my system this week… Rega Apollo CD player and Rega DAC R. The combination sounds incredible, the DAC really tightens the low end up. Sounds like a live performance in my living room. Saving for a Rega Brio R integrated amp next. 99% of their materials are sourced from the UK, and the casing, transformers, and other components are manufactured and built 5 miles from my home.
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B&W 683s2 and CA-CXA60
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@organisys nice set up. How are the Bowers & Wilkins speakers? I have Rega rx3, but I'm in the market for an upgrade. Also is that a record clamp on top of the speaker?
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Speakers are a big upgrade from my previous 30 year old Wharfdale Deltas. Better control, detail and separation of instruments, especially at the very top and very low end. My tastes are mostly electronica and the B&W excel at detail and control so they suit me, especially as I enjoy subtle and detailed production on tracks.
The Cambridge compliments this, has a very open and clean sound. Built in DAC was a big benefit for me as I am using Digital Coax out from a Sonos Connect to play FLAC files. Plus I can connect my TV using SPDIF. I streamed Wonder Woman (4k) at the weekend for a bit of light entertainment and the soundtrack sounded great!
I also have a Misson Subwoofer, but it's not really needed anymore…cut off set to 40hz and low gain. Only comes into play sometimes for movies or Dub or some Drum and Bass.
How's your new amp ?
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I didn't get a new amp yet. I'm running my new , Rega Planar 6, Rega Apollo, and Rega DAC R through my Cyrus 6 SE using a Chord Company coax.
The DAC brings everything together and tightens the bass nicely. It sounds much less woolly than my previous Cyrus 6 SE CD player. The sound stage produced by the Apollo is beautiful. I'm working my way through favourite discs as it's like hearing them again for the first time.
Nest up is a Rega Brio R integrated amp. I auditioned the Apollo through a Brio R, and it was (for my budget and tastes) perfection.
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Sorry, I misread your post. Only issue I have is with some of my favorite older discs or rips is that now I can hear bad production or mastering more easily, which has disappointed on occasion…
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@organisys I finally bought a new integrated amplifier. I went with the Rega Elex R and a Lehmann Linear phono pre amp.
I spent 2 hours in the audition room at my favourite hifi store. Pure bliss. It has really elevated and brought everything together. I like the natural sound the Rega components bring. It works well with Rock, Jazz, Soul, classical, anything I throw at it really.
Like you have found though, it isn't kind to poor or damaged recordings. The flip side though is it is like listening to familiar recordings all over again. It keeps making me literally jump when I notice minor details that were lost before.
I'm purely an analogue person, so don't own a streamer (I don't understand the concept of not owning a physical copy… What will people listen to in 30 years when the tech and downloads are obsolete? I just sold 1200 cds for 4 figures - good luck investing in downloads people).
I'll try and upload some picks later.
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Nice! Glad to hear it has worked out well for you. I do own a lot of CDs and some older vinyl. With my favorite or often played music I prefer to buy the CD and rip myself using FLAC, and then store on a NAS drive (server).
Myself and the wife (and now kids) can access all of the music, plus Tidal using Sonos. The convenience is great. One thing I like is the ability to build playlists of tracks from multiple sources and shuffle through them at leisure. Plus you can sync the music in multiple rooms.
Only downside to Sonos is the resolution tops out at 16bit/44khz on the DAC, and there are obviously affordable more high resolution streamers available now…......maybe later...
I was listening to some Drum and Bass yesterday, and like you say it is nice to find new details and nuances is familiar tracks.
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^ Delicious set up ^
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@organisys
I'm purely an analogue person, so don't own a streamer (I don't understand the concept of not owning a physical copy… What will people listen to in 30 years when the tech and downloads are obsolete? I just sold 1200 cds for 4 figures - good luck investing in downloads people).All physical media degrade–many of those CDs you sold won't work in 30 years either.
Best bet is probably some kind of checksummed digital transcription (like FLAC) that's archived on a redundant system.
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@organisys
I'm purely an analogue person, so don't own a streamer (I don't understand the concept of not owning a physical copy… What will people listen to in 30 years when the tech and downloads are obsolete? I just sold 1200 cds for 4 figures - good luck investing in downloads people).All physical media degrade–many of those CDs you sold won't work in 30 years either.
Best bet is probably some kind of checksummed digital transcription (like FLAC) that's archived on a redundant system.
I have cds issued in 1987, and vinyl records issued in the early 1960s.ive also owned 78s issued in the mid 1920s. If cared for and stored properly they retain their integrity.
Go look at the artistic licence for digital media. You own neither the format nor the content, even if you have paid for and downloaded it.
The music and media companies have done an amazing job of convincing the public that they should pay the same for less. It is pretty much a given in the audiophile world that hi res digital is purely about convenience, not quality or longevity.
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https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-digital-content-20160513-snap-story.html
It is contributing to the upsurge in vinyl record sales, and now also CD and cassette sales.
Rip music you own in a physical format as well, go for it. Only buy the digital format, who knows when it might be removed.
The litmus test to this discussion will only be realised in 30 years, when I am still playing my records and cds without issue, and passing the increasingly valuable ones on to my son (who thankfully loves music too).
Ultimately, like most things, the important thing is to remain informed, then make a decision as to what is the right choice for you individually.
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Finally completed my hifi system upgrade with a pair of Klipsch RP 4000 Fs. Solid copper wound ceramic woofers and a cone tweeter. They kicked the butt of £2000 speakers I auditioned and sound so great…
