"Audiophiles" not welcome!
(no Voodoo allowed, plus being deaf without knowing's not an excuse when you persist in having an "educated" opinion)
A very dear subject to me and one i've devoted my life to, but it can get dodgy or downright ludicrous, after all we live in the era of digital recordings, SMD-ridden Chinese crap and iPhone music listening. So dear as the subject may be, one does learn restraint; and care regarding when and where to mention it ^^
But i've been itching to ask and i saw this 'turntable recommendations' thread here so..
Now obviously, HiFi means different things to different folks, so to put it into context and unlike the above thread, think Techdas, Furutech, old Electrocompaniets, old Audio Researches, old McIntoshes, Nakamichi, Stax, etc. etc.
Don't be shy to speak up.
/crickets, lol
Comments
Hifi is about enjoying quality recording to the best of your budget, whatever that may be.
My current setup consists of:
- Cambridge Audio Azur 340C CD player
- Kenwood KA-3020 SE amplifier
- Mission LX-2 loudspeakers
I don't think any of that qualifies as 'high end' but it sounds great to me and it makes me happy.Currently:
Technics SL1000 MK2 (SP10)
Rothwell indus passive pre
The Radford/Tannoy pairing is amazing. I had to step back as it is easy to go full nerd.
Rega P3
Rega mm fono
Icon audio 20pp
Q acoustic concept 20
bayerdynamic dt990
Does that qualify me? Probably not.
My Rega and B&W setup is very good standard amongst the budget end of things. Often looked at upgrades, but at the end of the day, I think I'm at the point of diminishing returns and decent upgrades would need more money than I have, so I'm content to just buy records. I do need a new cartridge though, and at some points a speaker overhaul.
I'd never have the money to justify for real high end kit, but certainly can appreciate it when I hear it. Thankfully I'm lucky to appreciate what I have though as its good enough for me.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
When I moved into new house I set it up again..... set off buying some new kit, Olson power supply (great value buy), then Rega RP10, Aphete 2 cart and then PMC Fact 8 speakers to compliment my existing Music Fidelity A5 Amp and MF A5.5 CD player. The RP10 is stunning, kicked off buying lots of vinyl.
Thinking of upgrading the amp, nothing in mind, but would like to hear quality valve amp.
Avondale Arcam Alpha 5 CD
Naim nac72 pre-amp + NJM replacement boards + Avondale Spx1 external power supply
Naim nap140 power amp
Linn Keilidh speakers
Also have a Linn Axis turntable and Naim Nait3 amp sitting in the attic
At some point I'll switch to a streaming solution
Steve
I bought those Kans (Mk I) new, back in the 80s; I live in a fantasy world where one day I'll get the LP12/Nait/Kans set up again...
Linn Isobark DMS speakers
Tube Technology Valve Power Amp
ELV Preamp
Project DMXperience 2 turntable
Ortofon Black
Marantz CD6700
https://i.imgur.com/HJUiyHs.jpg
I'd like to think I know what live acoustic instruments sound like.
For me, my 35 year old Rega TT (with Denon cartridge), Marantz PM66KI, ancient Technics MASH CD player and Tannoy speakers sound as close to that as I've heard.
If it can't make a piano sound like a piano, it's worthless, no matter how expensive or 'high end' it pretends to be.
Brass band stuff is a great test - you can go and hear good brass almost everywhere. Does your system reproduce the detail, power, soundstage and dynamics of a good band?
Spoken vocals are a great test as well.
If it can't reproduce the simple things, a violin or a drum kit, it might be a nice system, but it ain't HiFi.