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Any BARF Audiophiles?

Thanks for the links, guys! I'm devouring as much info ask I can right now, but I'll hold off rolling till my speakers arrive. I'll post a pic once they get here.

Way way back in this thread someone asked about how to put together a system. This was a cool response to a thread I started on another site talking about a budget $1,000 system...

Your $1,000 budget is exactly what the Cheap & Cheerful circle is all about. Check it out. In my 40+ years in audio its never been a better time to be a frugal audiophile.

Quick suggestion for a very good (and compact) $1,000 system: Emotiva DC-1 ($500 DAC/preamp/headphone amp - well built, good sound, with remote); JBL LSR305s ($300 active speakers - no power amp needed, good sound, remarkably deep bass from a desktop speaker that can also fill the room, current street prices ~$200/pair); Monoprice XLR & USB cables ($30 shipped - all you'll need for this system); Tidal subscription service ($20/month access to 15,000,000 CD quality albums); and your computer. Stands can range from cinder blocks on up (a goo DIY project). From there you can add room treatments, a sub, and/or expand into vinyl.

Audiophiles often fixate on the cost of gear, but buying music can cost way more. A library of say 1,500 albums (0.01% of what is available from Tidal) can cost $7,500 - 30,000.
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No question, the choices for frugal audiophiles are better than they've ever been.

For example these $160/pair speakers brand new have the EXACT same drivers and crossover as their $430/pair speakers that the company sent me to evaluate and I really liked. Difference is the more expensive speakers have more inert cabinets and the tweeter is mounted to an aluminum plate both for improved detail.

A very B&W sound and build quality.

Most $80 speakers are pure shit these are far far from it.

https://www.qacoustics.com/bookshelf-speakers/2020i-bookshelf-speaker-pair.html

My main subwoofer has an MSRP of over $4k but in my secondary room (mostly for music but at times in 3.2 for sports) I have two of these little subs that play down to an honest 28hz and are rather musical, which was a surprise for a sub that costs $83 delivered. It's refurbished but I can't tell any difference from the first one I bought for $99 new.

So for $160+$83 you have a great little 2.1 system that plays from 30hz-22khz, (many floorstanders don't have that response) for an investment of around $250.

https://www.qacoustics.com/bookshelf-speakers/2020i-bookshelf-speaker-pair.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/mak...012-8-100-watt-powered-subwoofer-black/1.html
 
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Thanks, Geoff. My son's asked for speakers for Christmas. Those made the short list. Mine show up tomorrow. Can't wait to hook em up. :thumbup

I've held off getting anything else till I spend some time with what I've chosen so far. Damn it's nice having tunes again. Music is vastly under appreciated. :love
 
DReg350 said:
Thanks, Geoff. My son's asked for speakers for Christmas. Those made the short list. Mine show up tomorrow. Can't wait to hook em up. :thumbup

I've held off getting anything else till I spend some time with what I've chosen so far. Damn it's nice having tunes again. Music is vastly under appreciated. :love
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Are you getting the speakers or the sub?

The deals on AVRs with internal bass management are stunning if you are willing to go refurbished which many happy owners including myself have done.

I should have mentioned that sub is great but only if your amp has bass management as it lacks an internal crossover or speaker level hookups.

My apologies for not mentioning that; AVRs are inexpensive and let you set the proper crossover, (usually around 80hz), unlike integrated amps which lack them unless you are willing to pay $1500 or so which is flat out ridiculous.

This AVR coupled with the speakers above would make for a great system at a total cost ofaround $400.

http://www.accessories4less.com/mak...x-530-k-5.1-ch-x-80-watts-a/v-receiver/1.html

Another tremendous pair of inexpensive speakers that would be great if one didn't want a subwoofer would be these for $210/pair as they play down to 48hz.

http://philharmonicaudio.com/

For those looking to spend bigger bucks on speakers should definitely look at those with RAAL tweeters available from Philharmonic Audio, Ascend Acoustics and Selah Audio.

I paired two of those inexpensive Yamaha subs with some amazing for the money Martin Logan LX16s in my secondary room and couldn't be happier.

http://hifiheaven.net/shop/MartinLo...currency=USD&gclid=CIaOzc-m8tACFc9gfgodBsoPeg
 
TerryM said:
Wow! Those are great prices considerng the RAAL tweeters and ScanSpeak Revelators.
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Agreed.

I'm not getting rid of my Usher V602s anytime soon but if I did I'd definitely be looking at those three vendors for my next set of small towers.

Sadly Usher can only be auditioned in LA now, (store I bought mine at locally closed), as they have some fine products, but the distributor sucks.

I've heard the RAAL is better than Martin Logan's excellent Folded Motion tweeter which to my ears are excellent indeed for their detail, clarity and transient response with no "fatigue."
 
GAJ said:
...can only be auditioned in LA now, (store I bought mine at locally closed)...
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Yeah, seems to be the way it's going with brick and mortar stereo stores.

GAJ said:
I've heard the RAAL is better than Martin Logan's excellent Folded Motion tweeter which to my ears are excellent indeed for their detail, clarity and transient response with no "fatigue."
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I had large panel electrostats for many years (7' tall Acoustat 2+2s) that eventually failed the wife acceptance test. Everything I've had since has just been an attempt to get the same fatigue-free clarity and speed without the problems crossovers add. Ribbons sound good to me.
 
TerryM said:
...I had large panel electrostats for many years (7' tall Acoustat 2+2s) that eventually failed the wife acceptance test...
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No your wife failed the audiophile test. I have a small nearfield system stuffed into a small separate room. That helps keep my wife happy. BTW, have you seen the new Martin-Logan Electromotion ESL-X? Not cheap but a good replacement for the 2+2s and very easy to drive.
 
TerryM said:
Wow! Those are great prices considerng the RAAL tweeters and ScanSpeak Revelators.
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Indeed, Selah Audio wants $1000 more for a pair of their speakers with similar specs and drivers.

Philharmonic Audio is more a labor of love than a money making venture as the owner has stated more than once on the AVS Forum.

He also sells a pair of bookshelves for $210/pair with remarkably flat frequency response within its parameters.
 
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=490147

Started that thread a while back and it never really took off. Maybe I should have posted it here heh.

Lots of good info in this thread I wish I could just start buying everything and trying it all out to see which I like more. So far I'm pretty happy with my Klipsch 2.1 PC setup for my room, Bose system for the living room (I know, I know...not exactly audiophile, but far better than most of the "in a box" systems I've heard, compact, and does everything I need). It's more than loud enough for an apartment or single bedroom.
 
My Meadowlark Swifts showed up. Wow. Great condition. Damn good match for my Jolida 202a and Wireworld Eclipse 6 speaker cables. Very very pleased. It's pretty easy to tell a good recording from a bad one now. :laughing

It's interesting how dimensional they can be. moving them further apart, closer together, closer or further from the wall really changes how they sound depending on what I'm listening to. The PSB Alphas weren't nearly this sensitive, and I can't overpower the Swifts the way I could the Alphas.

Purchase decisions were all based on separate reviews, not auditions, all the above was purchased used, and I came in under budget. I admit being a bit worried. Not anymore.

Time to sign up for a Tidal HiFi subscription. :party
 
DReg350 said:
My Meadowlark Swifts showed up. Wow. Great condition. Damn good match for my Jolida 202a and Wireworld Eclipse 6 speaker cables. Very very pleased. It's pretty easy to tell a good recording from a bad one now. :laughing

It's interesting how dimensional they can be. moving them further apart, closer together, closer or further from the wall really changes how they sound depending on what I'm listening to. The PSB Alphas weren't nearly this sensitive, and I can't overpower the Swifts the way I could the Alphas.

Purchase decisions were all based on separate reviews, not auditions, all the above was purchased used, and I came in under budget. I admit being a bit worried. Not anymore.

Time to sign up for a Tidal HiFi subscription. :party
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Congratulations!
 
Oh, I love my Swifts so much.

As loud as you can...

[youtube]ysGjmm648ds[/youtube]
 
What do you guys use for music sources?

I started buying CDs again and ripping them to a lossless format. Which particular songs/albums do you use when auditioning audio equipment?
 
Most people are using music servers now. I'm old school and still use media (CDs). I like holding the physical media and it never crashes or gets dumped. As far as favorite demo music. I always recommend using the music you like to listen to. That's what you will be using so it should sound good. I do have some real audiophile recordings and they sound unbelievable but it's not what I listen to on a normal basis and they don't sound anything like the recordings I'm likely to buy.
 
russ69 said:
Most people are using music servers now. I'm old school and still use media (CDs). I like holding the physical media and it never crashes or gets dumped. As far as favorite demo music. I always recommend using the music you like to listen to. That's what you will be using so it should sound good.
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I do this as well. But my musical preferences run the gamut from Classical to Country to Rock, but my collection is far from "yuge". So, I'm wondering what the people in this thread listen to. :)

russ69 said:
I do have some real audiophile recordings and they sound unbelievable but it's not what I listen to on a normal basis and they don't sound anything like the recordings I'm likely to buy.
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Have you tried music from HDTracks.com? I got a sampler from them a while back, and it was pretty good. A bit on the pricey side though. They do send 10,15,20% off coupons regularly via email.

It's 15% off storewide there right now. :)
 
Hoho said:
What do you guys use for music sources?

I started buying CDs again and ripping them to a lossless format. Which particular songs/albums do you use when auditioning audio equipment?
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I signed up for Tidal.com's HiFi subscription. Huge library. About $200/year, but I don't have to warehouse that library. Plus, I can be impulsive about what I listen to. It contains much more music than I would ever buy or could ever afford. Records and CDs also take up a ton of room. I run it from an iPad through a Jitterbug into a DAC and into the amp. Pretty happy with the quality.

I need to spend another $400 to get the new CD transport I want or upgrade my turntable with a new cartridge and preamp. Tidal is causing me to hold off on both because it has so much and sounds that good. :thumbup
 
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