How many still use a dedicated hifi just for music

Using seperates, but also have an Apple TV hooked up for when I'm not going to hunt for a CD. Just put it on random etc.

Seperates:
Meridian 506
Onkyo AV Amp
Kef reference speakers

Sounds awesome and had U2 Zooropa and Red Hot Chilli Peppers on the other night. Most of which are on my iTunes collection too for the car etc.
 
lucid said:
I've gone from dedicated Hi-Fi to a high-end AV system for everything and now back to dedicated Hi-Fi linked to a decent AV system, so I have the best of all worlds.

I listen to albums on CD and vinyl more than I do streamed/ripped music. Partly it's because IMO the quality of those sources outweigh what I get from ripped music even in FLAC, and partly because I enjoy the structure of albums.
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It can be quite difficult to play back quality audio from a PC. Usually you get re-sampling within Windows (from 44.1k to 48k), then there can be digital volume control which may or may not dither properly, inaccurately derived clocks (often a 48k multiple source and frequency synthesis used for anything else) and this is all just digital! The DAC process could be anything, and USB DAC isn't necessarily a perfect solution since some USB protocols add significant jitter.

However, get an asynchronous, dual crystal clocked USB DAC, playback with Foobar via Wasapi or Kernel streaming/ASIO and you should find you get exactly the same quality as the standalone CDP, when using FLAC rips.


I have a floorstanding 3-way tri-amplified system. It is impressive sounding but I often find I can't be bothered to use it! It's homebrew and is a bit complex to even turn on, and it makes the room hot tbh. I absolutely do like a dedicated Hi-Fi however, but my idea would be to use a PC source and create DSP crossovers within the PC for it and deliver a multi-channel output. Very DIY though, but potentially excellent.
 
Dumped my hi-fi a long old time ago, but I do miss the thundering sound my floor standing Mission 753's used to produce with my Audiolab pre and power amp.

Funnily enough, I've been thinking about a dedicated vinyl system and re-buying my top 100 albums on vinyl simply for the pleasure vinyl gives me.
 
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Dr.EM said:
It can be quite difficult to play back quality audio from a PC. Usually you get re-sampling within Windows (from 44.1k to 48k), then there can be digital volume control which may or may not dither properly, inaccurately derived clocks (often a 48k multiple source and frequency synthesis used for anything else) and this is all just digital! The DAC process could be anything, and USB DAC isn't necessarily a perfect solution since some USB protocols add significant jitter.

However, get an asynchronous, dual crystal clocked USB DAC, playback with Foobar via Wasapi or Kernel streaming/ASIO and you should find you get exactly the same quality as the standalone CDP, when using FLAC rips.


I have a floorstanding 3-way tri-amplified system. It is impressive sounding but I often find I can't be bothered to use it! It's homebrew and is a bit complex to even turn on, and it makes the room hot tbh. I absolutely do like a dedicated Hi-Fi however, but my idea would be to use a PC source and create DSP crossovers within the PC for it and deliver a multi-channel output. Very DIY though, but potentially excellent.
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Doesn't your idea of a PC based and DSP crossovers make another complex setup you wouldn't be bothered to use ?
I know a lot of people go the homebrew route looking to achieve a cheaper route to a high performing set-up. I ofen wonder how user friendly they are.... I need to have a set-up that the other half won't be frightened to use. Music should be for all to enjoy in the house....
Now it' case of picking up the iPad and with few clicks the system is power up, radio or playlist is set up and music is playing either upstairs or down, or both.
 
9designs2 said:
Doesn't your idea of a PC based and DSP crossovers make another complex setup you wouldn't be bothered to use ?
I know a lot of people go the homebrew route looking to achieve a cheaper route to a high performing set-up. I ofen wonder how user friendly they are.... I need to have a set-up that the other half won't be frightened to use. Music should be for all to enjoy in the house....
Now it' case of picking up the iPad and with few clicks the system is power up, radio or playlist is set up and music is playing either upstairs or down, or both.
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Haha, you may very well be right! Currently the 3 stereo amps do have relays and there's a temporary solution which starts them up in sequence from a single switch. I would opt for a 6-channel amplifier though which will be controlled by the pre-amp (a 6-channel USB 'sound card' plus 6-channel volume, remote control system etc) so it'd just be a case of switching on one device. Have to make the software easy to run though, probably a NUC or similar dedicated machine so it's always ready to go. Also would probably go for SMPS in the power amp since the toroids in these can buzz when the mains is dirty and also SMPS can lower the heat output quite a bit.

Definitely I like my simple desktop setup which I used at Uni though, press of a button and it's there right away, ready for casual youtube video watching etc. With a proper living room though, the Hi-Fi is great to have as dedicated music playback.
 
I seem to have gone full circle, from a separate music-only system, to a mixed music/AV setup, and recently back to a music-only setup in a different room.
Unfortunately the room is really too small for the speakers (Kef 104/2) and has some noticeable room modes, so I'll have to have a look at what options there are for bass traps and/or digital room correction.
 
michell gyrodec with orbe platter - phono x + psxr - synology nas - streamX - cdxtse + psxr - audiolab m-dac with Mcru psu - AS Passion passive - wad valve power amp - sony bdp s780 bluray also into the dac - - pmc tb2+speakers - with rel sub - dab 8 - fm 7.5
 
a1ex2001 said:
Album art, don't get me started and such a pain since album art exchange banned British IP's!
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Pay for Bliss, absolutely fantastic bit of software and i don't know what i'd do without it.

Raymond - If you use a decent ripper program you should get all your artwork embedded anyway :)
 
wonko said:
I seem to have gone full circle, from a separate music-only system, to a mixed music/AV setup, and recently back to a music-only setup in a different room.
Unfortunately the room is really too small for the speakers (Kef 104/2) and has some noticeable room modes, so I'll have to have a look at what options there are for bass traps and/or digital room correction.
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Oh yes room improvements are a must.... Search for my room project thread for a few ideas..... I can point you in the right direction if want some tips.
 
9designs2 said:
Oh yes room improvements are a must.... Search for my room project thread for a few ideas..... I can point you in the right direction if want some tips.
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Thanks, I'm pretty sure I've seen your thread (impressive if it's the one I'm thinking of) but shall go back and have another look for ideas.

The room isn't a personal 'man-cave' so the looks will feature in the sound quality/cost/looks compromise. I've got all the bits I need to try DRC (measurement mic, USB interface, inguz plugin for Logitech Media Server) so that will probably be the first thing to play with, but obviously it's not fixing the problem 'at source'.

Edit: Yes, it is your thread I was thinking of, and what you've done is very impressive! Would you have an idea how much you have to do (in terms of panel area) to start to make a significant difference? (And I realise this is probably an impossible question to answer as all rooms will be different!)
 
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I use a dedicated hifi system for music.

PC streaming FLAC files off a server, played with JRiver MC, USB to Ciúnas DAC, to my Arcam FMJ A38 to KEF R500 speakers.

For movies The A38 becomes a power amp driving the R500 still, Anthem MRX300 drives the centre and rears.
 
Haven't had a proper hi-fi setup for nearly 10 years now. I used to spend a fortune on kit and it was my main hobby. Then slowly it became just more convenient to have music on my PC - with a good sound card and quality headphones it was more than acceptable. When I moved to the US I sold all my hi-fi kit and have never replaced it. I miss it though :(
 
MArantz KI sig 63 mk2, Naim Nait 5i, Acoustic Energy Evo 3, Rel sub. Still buy all my music on CD and was considering buying a record player.

Amp is used to drive the front two speakers as part of my AV rig too, a big Yamaha AV doofer driving the other 5 speakers. Mostly playing games through this system though.
 
70/80's Technics gear in my playroom.
Mid 90's Marantz kit in the bedroom

Plus 5.1 setups in the lounge and playroom too.

I tend to add bits here and there, but haven't settled on one setup or another in total. It depends on what I want at the time.
 
I have a pretty decent 5.1 system in my lounge but have a classic 90's Sony ES setup on my bedroom with some Tannoy DC6 standmounts.

I use the CD/MD deck very rarely though, mainly use Spotify at Extreme quality through my Soundblaster X-Fi USB audio card to it. It does sound amazingly clear, the clarity is superb. Much better than my downstairs setup.
 
So I went to Sevenoaks today with a budget of £500 for amp and speakers and £100 for stands and cables. First tried the bx2 and Marantz pm6004 combo. Very nice although my brother thought the sound was thin and lacking in bass. I was unsure really so we tried the NAD c316bee and wow, the sound got a lot more 'full' and there was more meat on the bone yet it still sounded very detailed. Next up we tried the wharfedale 122 and even better they were a brand new pair and so weren't broken in but they sounded fantastic. I knew I wanted them and that's what I got. I'm very happy with my purchase everything sounds amazing on them.


Got them on some Atacama nexus I in metallic silver £20 off ex display and 2x2m cable.
 
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