Any BARF Audiophiles?

[Hoho]

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.

My main issue with most streaming services is that they usually use lossy compression algorithms. I'll have to look at Tidal and see what they offer. But damn, $200/year is nuts.

 

[GAJ]

Which particular songs/albums do you use when auditioning audio equipment?

I stumbled across this and used it to compare two speakers that were both great.

It helped determine the 5% that made one better than the other in terms of detail. Each track is prefaced by an announcer telling you what you are trying to listen for...the one used for Holographic Imaging was amazing.

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Demonstration-Disc-Critical-Listening/dp/B00002MXUH

Another great resource is to find a recording similar to an acoustic concert you have been to.

That helped see which one delivered vocal tonality exactly as I heard it in concert.

 

[Hoho]

I stumbled across this and used it to compare two speakers that were both great.

It helped determine the 5% that made one better than the other in terms of detail. Each track is prefaced by an announcer telling you what you are trying to listen for...the one used for Holographic Imaging was amazing.

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Demonstration-Disc-Critical-Listening/dp/B00002MXUH

Another great resource is to find a recording similar to an acoustic concert you have been to.

That helped see which one delivered vocal tonality exactly as I heard it in concert.

Nice! I like that that particular CD has Rebecca Pidgeon singing Spanish Harlem... I think I'll get a copy for myself.

I've already got Dr. Chesky's Sensational Sensational Fantastic & Simply Amazing on FLAC to demo binaural recording. Great for checking out separation and spacing.

 

[DReg350]

... But damn, $200/year is nuts.

It's the same as 12 to 16 new CDs or 5 to 7 new records. Tidal gives me access to millions. Granted you can get more if you shop Streetlight or Rasputin.

It's lossless, not compressed.

 

[TerryM]

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?

I'm still using CDs, LPs, even an FM tuner. My last CD player purchase included a USB input to the DAC, so I plan to eventually rip everything over to a lossless format stored on a NAS and get rid of the physical stuff. Assuming I can bring myself to get rid of albums I've had since the '60s.

I usually just audition with whatever music I've been recently listening to. If I'm judging something specific, I may pick CDs or LPs that I know highlight whatever I'm looking for. Audiophile stuff is great for setup, but prefer regular stuff for auditioning.

 

[johnkol]

Which particular songs/albums do you use when auditioning audio equipment?

Use material that you enjoy and are very familiar with. Using music that is audiophile-approved but do not really like will not provide any positive results.

But damn, $200/year is nuts.

Can't really tell whether you feel this is expensive or a bargain.

 

[danate]

This thread and the other headphone one inspired me to bring my little headphone setup to work today. Hoping for a slow day to listen to some tunes.

AKG K702 phones
iPod Classic 160gb running RockBox with my FLAC library (ripped from my CDs)
FiiO Mont Blanc amp

 

[DReg350]

That's the spirit!

 

[Hoho]

Use material that you enjoy and are very familiar with. Using music that is audiophile-approved but do not really like will not provide any positive results.

I don't know about you, but I enjoy all types of music, I've got classical, rock, jazz, country, disco, new wave, folk songs, and even broadway musical recordings as part of my collection. I'm always looking for new music, no matter the genre. Getting audiophile recommended music just means that the music is typically recorded/mastered well.

Can't really tell whether you feel this is expensive or a bargain.

It's not bad, considering it's supposed to be lossless streams.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

This thread and the other headphone one inspired me to bring my little headphone setup to work today. Hoping for a slow day to listen to some tunes.

AKG K702 phones
iPod Classic 160gb running RockBox with my FLAC library (ripped from my CDs)
FiiO Mont Blanc amp

I can't be the only one cringing at those headphones and amp in front of that keyboard and laptop...am I?

 

[Cycle61]

I can't be the only one cringing at those headphones and amp in front of that keyboard and laptop...am I?

I need to get a docking station for my X1 Carbon, the area in front of the keyboard is worn smooth now after two years of heavy use.

 

[DReg350]

As johnkol predicted I'm getting closer to start flushing hard earned greenbacks down the proverbial toilet in pursuit of perceived audio perfection.

How does one do this? Tube rollin'. Still getting up to speed though. If you have any 12AU7s or 12AX7s in your rig, this is a damned good write up...

Joes Tube Lore covering 12AU7s, 12AX7s, 5751s, and more

 

[russ69]

...I'm getting closer to start flushing hard earned greenbacks down the proverbial toilet in pursuit of perceived audio perfection. How does one do this?...

Pretty easy, keep upgrading, until your credit card begs for mercy.

 

[Mandle]

I got a bunch of old stuff, nothing fancy.

ADS L880 speakers, B&W DM600 S3

Technics SL1500 w/ Grado cartridge

Sansui 2000x
NAD 3080
Kenwood KA-7100

On the work bench queue:
Adcom GFA-5300 power amp (creaky bias adjustment pot killed the left amp, waiting for replacement matched mosfets, replace all adjustment pots w/ sealed units, maybe replace power cord with IEC socket, cap upgrades)
Dad's Marantz 4270 - Power supply caps are toast
Marantz 2252B - rebuild power supply/amp board, replace lamps, for sale after refurbishing.

Most music is played from the PC w/ a gd-audio DAC or the turntable.

 

[DReg350]

You have some cool equipment, Mandle. One of these days I'll get my Pioneer SX-780 back up. Loved that receiver.

I finally settled on and found a phono preamp. I went with a Parks Audio Budgie tube preamp. It uses two 6DJ8/6922, so more tubes! They retail for $399, but I found a used one in pristine condition for $185. Less than a Bellari VP-130. Should have it in a few more days. Still vacillating on which new cartridge. But, still leaning towards the Denon DL-110. We'll see.

Now I'm starting to focus on CD players/transports. I'm looking primarily at small footprint and a few larger. So far the list of contenders include...

• Teac PD-501HR
• Deion DCD-50
• Pro-Ject CD Box
• Pro-Ject CD Box S
• Cambridge CXC
• Marantz CD6005 or CD6006
• Cambridge Sonata if I could even find one

 

[ndirienzo]

Alight BARF, any suggestions on some decent earbuds in the 30-50 range? I normally use my ATH-M50's at home, but I'm doing more and more lab work these days and want something a bit smaller and more portable. I mainly listen to metal if that factors into the suggestion.

 

[TerryM]

Now I'm starting to focus on CD players/transports. I'm looking primarily at small footprint and a few larger.

Bel Canto made a good small footprint player - the CD-2. Out of production but can be found used sometimes. Good as a transport and top-loading, so not for everyone. Their replacement CD3t seems to be transport only.

 

[DReg350]

Bel Canto made a good small footprint player - the CD-2. Out of production but can be found used sometimes. Good as a transport and top-loading, so not for everyone. Their replacement CD3t seems to be transport only.

Thanks for the heads up. Looked it up. Nice transport and I love the design. Doesn't look like they come up often though. Looks like between $1,650 and $2,000 used? A bit rich for my budget, but I'll keep looking and see if I can spot a bargain on one.

What are your thoughts on the Emotiva ERC-3? I'm not a fan of the aesthetic, but the price and features look interesting.

 

[russ69]

...Emotiva ERC-3? I'm not a fan of the aesthetic, but the price and features look interesting.

I tried an early Emotiva CD player and returned it. It was rather dry and lifeless.

 

[brichter]

I'm a "pretend" audiophile, love music and hate teh attitude.

Oppo, Sony, and B&W in the living room for the HT setup. Technics TT, old Klipsch speakers and a sh!tload of McIntosh for the 2 channel setup in the office. I use Sonos Connects for sharing the home library.

I found you can spend more than motorcycles on this if you're not careful, I tend to buy used as much as possible.