Any HiFi (as in proper high fidelity) freaks?

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  • 60cycles60cycles Frets: 72
    Budgie said:
    I suspect diminishing returns kicks in quite quickly.
    You're quite right.
    You're already on that level. You'd need double the money to maybe get a 20, 25, 30%. Much as we could ascribe flat figures to this anyway.
    Beyond that, it's pretty much an exponential relation :)
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  • prowlaprowla Frets: 4896
    60cycles said:
    Budgie said:
    I suspect diminishing returns kicks in quite quickly.
    You're quite right.
    You're already on that level. You'd need double the money to maybe get a 20, 25, 30%. Much as we could ascribe flat figures to this anyway.
    Beyond that, it's pretty much an exponential relation :)
    But on the flip side, being intensely into something magnifies the differences. 
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  • rze99rze99 Frets: 2261
    prowla said:
    rze99 said:
    I’ve got a Naim Separates set up. Does that count as high end?

    Depends if it's the high-end Naim kit...
    Not really. NAC202 NAP150 hi cap naim and  audio quest cables. I like the setup anyway. 
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  • BudgieBudgie Frets: 2099
    edited April 2021
    prowla said:
    60cycles said:
    Budgie said:
    I suspect diminishing returns kicks in quite quickly.
    You're quite right.
    You're already on that level. You'd need double the money to maybe get a 20, 25, 30%. Much as we could ascribe flat figures to this anyway.
    Beyond that, it's pretty much an exponential relation
    But on the flip side, being intensely into something magnifies the differences. 
    Indeed. Since I finished renovating a part of our house a few months ago. where the hifi stuff now resides, I think I’ve listened to mostly analogue music every evening since. I see it as being totally worth eking out as much quality as possible. I’m certainly gassing at the mo for a few things.
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  • prowlaprowla Frets: 4896
    rze99 said:
    prowla said:
    rze99 said:
    I’ve got a Naim Separates set up. Does that count as high end?

    Depends if it's the high-end Naim kit...
    Not really. NAC202 NAP150 hi cap naim and  audio quest cables. I like the setup anyway. 

    I was (sort of) joking! :-)

    Yours should be capable of rocking out rather nicely.

    Naim is a brand which divides opinion somewhat (as per some of the comments already made).

    They've traditionally been about the pace and excitement of the music, rather than smooth sounds to relax to.

    I guess it goes a bit towards what you think the essence of music is and what styles of music you like to listen to.
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  • TTBZTTBZ Frets: 2873
    edited April 2021
    I had some Mordaunt Short floorstanding speakers a good few years ago. I remember them sounding noticeably better than anything else I'd had before! I never got into messing with high end amps etc though.

    I ended up going down the active studio monitors route instead as I wanted to use them for recording too. I think I prefer that approach anyway so long as they're a bit nice and not too overly analytical/flat. I don't really want the speakers to flatter or enhance the mix much, I'd rather hear it as intended, good or bad. Mackie MR5s did that job for me. Sold them as I didn't have anywhere to put them when we moved house but wish I held onto them - would have been ideal for the amp/modeller home setup I'm planning!
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  • kaypeejaykaypeejay Frets: 776
    I have a Naim uniti playing through Totem model 1 signature speakers.  I have some ailing NVA A80 mono bloc amps and a P90 passive preamp that are languishing under the settee!

    Recently both the display and CD player on my uniti packed up do I am looking to get it repaired. However, I also fancy a change so I am looking at a replacement Unity Star or Nova, or I may go down the active wireless speaker route. I have my eye on either system audio or Buchardt A500s with a wireless hub. The room correction software interests me. 

    I want to keep things simple but also like the idea of treating myself to new kit as I have not bought anything for years. 
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  • rze99rze99 Frets: 2261
    prowla said:
    rze99 said:
    prowla said:
    rze99 said:
    I’ve got a Naim Separates set up. Does that count as high end?

    Depends if it's the high-end Naim kit...
    Not really. NAC202 NAP150 hi cap naim and  audio quest cables. I like the setup anyway. 

    I was (sort of) joking! :-)

    Yours should be capable of rocking out rather nicely.

    Naim is a brand which divides opinion somewhat (as per some of the comments already made).

    They've traditionally been about the pace and excitement of the music, rather than smooth sounds to relax to.

    I guess it goes a bit towards what you think the essence of music is and what styles of music you like to listen to.
    Yes. It’s like guitars what works for you for what you want. 

    I used to drum and I still do sometimes. So the ability to convey drums and percussion matters. And guitars of course.  

    About 25 years ago when I was young free and single I trawled round London hi hi shops with a bunch of cash listening to stuff. I ended up buying some used Naim separates and good cables and I didn’t change a thing for years.  It just sounded the best to me by some margin for the money I had. 

    A few years ago we had an electric storm and it damaged the old Naim kit. I had to get a Naim specialist to verify the damage. Unbelievably, the home insurance coughed up “new for old” though had to be the same make equivalent, no cash.  

    To my elation I got many thousands of pounds worth of new Naim kit delivered. It sounds absolutely fantastic. 

    I know there is higher end kit but I’ve really no desire to ever change it. 


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  • Winny_PoohWinny_Pooh Frets: 7734
    I never went the separates route for very long, had an older Nad and some Mission speakers then went to a pair of Neumann KH120 which kill most hifi setups. I would not change them unless I happen to get 4k in cash by magical means.
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  • Paul_CPaul_C Frets: 7672

    rze99 said:


    I know there is higher end kit but I’ve really no desire to ever change it. 


    That's been my approach for the last 36 years :)

    I got my set up for my 21st birthday ( Heybrook HB1 speakers, QED amp, Thorens turntable, Yamaha cassette deck ).

    The door stopped opening properly on the cassette deck so that's in the loft, and the QED amp died - replaced by a Pioneer with a similar approach, in that you can have it with or without tone controls (I have them switched off).

    I use the amp and speakers daily as they are connected to my PC, and I'm listening to some of my music on Bamdcamp as I type.

    I like what I have (what's left of it) and have never felt the need to change.

    "I'll probably be in the bins at Newport Pagnell services."  fretmeister
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  • ZoolooterZoolooter Frets: 886
    While we’re on the subject can anyone recommend a decent used pair of standmounts or bookshelve speakers. Out of all the speakers I’ve had in the past I liked Proac 110’s through Audio Research and Cairn monoblocks. I’ve been out of listen on decent gear for a long time, hence asking. Room size is 18’ x 15’, speaker placement  very close to wall. Cheers
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  • RockerRocker Frets: 4947
    I never went the separates route for very long, had an older Nad and some Mission speakers then went to a pair of Neumann KH120 which kill most hifi setups. I would not change them unless I happen to get 4k in cash by magical means.

    I had an online look at Neumann KH120 and they look impressive.  I note that they have balanced analogue inputs, what are you using in front of the actives?
    Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. [Albert Einstein]

    Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

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  • prowlaprowla Frets: 4896
    rze99 said:
    prowla said:
    rze99 said:
    prowla said:
    rze99 said:
    I’ve got a Naim Separates set up. Does that count as high end?

    Depends if it's the high-end Naim kit...
    Not really. NAC202 NAP150 hi cap naim and  audio quest cables. I like the setup anyway. 

    I was (sort of) joking! :-)

    Yours should be capable of rocking out rather nicely.

    Naim is a brand which divides opinion somewhat (as per some of the comments already made).

    They've traditionally been about the pace and excitement of the music, rather than smooth sounds to relax to.

    I guess it goes a bit towards what you think the essence of music is and what styles of music you like to listen to.
    Yes. It’s like guitars what works for you for what you want. 

    I used to drum and I still do sometimes. So the ability to convey drums and percussion matters. And guitars of course.  

    About 25 years ago when I was young free and single I trawled round London hi hi shops with a bunch of cash listening to stuff. I ended up buying some used Naim separates and good cables and I didn’t change a thing for years.  It just sounded the best to me by some margin for the money I had. 

    A few years ago we had an electric storm and it damaged the old Naim kit. I had to get a Naim specialist to verify the damage. Unbelievably, the home insurance coughed up “new for old” though had to be the same make equivalent, no cash.  

    To my elation I got many thousands of pounds worth of new Naim kit delivered. It sounds absolutely fantastic. 

    I know there is higher end kit but I’ve really no desire to ever change it. 



    Wow - that was a result!

    (Tots up system, gets lighting conductor prepared for next system...., Kaboooom!!!!, "It's alive!")
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  • 60cycles60cycles Frets: 72
    Zoolooter said:
    can anyone recommend a decent used pair of standmounts or bookshelve speakers
    https://amphion.fi/enjoy/products-home-audio/argon1-bookshelf-loudspeaker/
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  • beed84beed84 Frets: 2403
    In the past, I've had some reasonably nice hi-fi equipment, but nothing majorly "high end", such as Rega Planar 3, NAD 3020s, Arcam Alpha stuff, KEF speakers, and so on. I was super pleased with the results but had to part with my last set-up due to a house move and no space to put it. I was pretty miffed at the time. I flogged all my records too. But ...

    ... That was almost 4 years ago, and I don't necessarily miss it. It's fun stuff to have, and I would happily build a new system if I had money and space, but I'd say I'm less precious than I was then. I'm due to move into a one bedroomed house next week, and I'm looking at getting one of the Bose Wave systems. It will do me until I have the luxury to build a nicer system.
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  • 60cycles60cycles Frets: 72
    edited April 2021
    It depends on the level of fidelity one aspires to.
    If you want a system terminating in a pair of headphones, space isn't an issue at all, you're golden anywhere. You can get pretty damn crazy with headphones, both in quality and budget! And i do mean crazy :)

    (but nothing beats a proper speaker system; that slam and sense of presence.. nigh impossible to emulate)
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  • Winny_PoohWinny_Pooh Frets: 7734
    @Rocker said:
    I never went the separates route for very long, had an older Nad and some Mission speakers then went to a pair of Neumann KH120 which kill most hifi setups. I would not change them unless I happen to get 4k in cash by magical means.

    I had an online look at Neumann KH120 and they look impressive.  I note that they have balanced analogue inputs, what are you using in front of the actives?
    You can use an adaptor cable from a single source but I use a mini souncraft mixer so that I can have a phone, TV DAC out, recording interface or Suhr Reactive load (into Neunaber iconoclast) all plugged in. 
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  • vizviz Frets: 10647
    edited April 2021
    @Rocker said:
    I never went the separates route for very long, had an older Nad and some Mission speakers then went to a pair of Neumann KH120 which kill most hifi setups. I would not change them unless I happen to get 4k in cash by magical means.

    I had an online look at Neumann KH120 and they look impressive.  I note that they have balanced analogue inputs, what are you using in front of the actives?
    You can use an adaptor cable from a single source but I use a mini souncraft mixer so that I can have a phone, TV DAC out, recording interface or Suhr Reactive load (into Neunaber iconoclast) all plugged in. 
    What model of Soundcraft desk, may I ask?
     
    Roland said: Scales are primarily a tool for categorising knowledge, not a rule for what can or cannot be played.
    Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
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  • Winny_PoohWinny_Pooh Frets: 7734
    @viz said:
    Rocker said:
    I never went the separates route for very long, had an older Nad and some Mission speakers then went to a pair of Neumann KH120 which kill most hifi setups. I would not change them unless I happen to get 4k in cash by magical means.

    I had an online look at Neumann KH120 and they look impressive.  I note that they have balanced analogue inputs, what are you using in front of the actives?
    You can use an adaptor cable from a single source but I use a mini souncraft mixer so that I can have a phone, TV DAC out, recording interface or Suhr Reactive load (into Neunaber iconoclast) all plugged in. 
    What model of Soundcraft desk, may I ask?
     
    Notepad 124
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  • vizviz Frets: 10647
    @viz said:
    Rocker said:
    I never went the separates route for very long, had an older Nad and some Mission speakers then went to a pair of Neumann KH120 which kill most hifi setups. I would not change them unless I happen to get 4k in cash by magical means.

    I had an online look at Neumann KH120 and they look impressive.  I note that they have balanced analogue inputs, what are you using in front of the actives?
    You can use an adaptor cable from a single source but I use a mini souncraft mixer so that I can have a phone, TV DAC out, recording interface or Suhr Reactive load (into Neunaber iconoclast) all plugged in. 
    What model of Soundcraft desk, may I ask?
     
    Notepad 124
    Ah :) 
    I might have helped make that! Hope it’s serving you well!
    Roland said: Scales are primarily a tool for categorising knowledge, not a rule for what can or cannot be played.
    Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
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