What equipment do you use to listen to music?

Andybtsn

Andybtsn

Andybtsn

Don
Joined
23 Oct 2005
Posts
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Location
North Yorkshire
Hey guys,

After ideas really of what to use to listen to my music. I listen to my music collection most nights from my PC but find the sound quality to be pretty poor, I only have a HP dc7700 thin client pc with on board sound and the speakers I use aren't the best. All the music is just ripped to my hard drive.

I'm thinking of either upgrading to a "Verso" media PC from OCUK to listen to all my music from and maybe buying better speakers or going down another route, thats why I'm asking to get other ideas from how you listen to your music?

Cheers
 
Speakers (and amp) are going to be the things that make the single biggest difference. Beyond that a decent sound card, but that may not be an option with your thin client pc. Can't recommend any myself as I use headphones most of the time.
 
I don't have anything like the setup I'd like to have, but mine goes:

192kbps LAME Mp3 -> Audigy 2 -> Technics stereo amplifier -> Technics 100W Bookshelf speakers / Sennheiser HD555 cans
 
Creative X-Fi Fata1ty (I need a front bay for headphones as my amp is miles away from my desk)

->headphone amp -> Audio Technica ATH A900
-> Technics SU V660 Amp -> B&O Beovox 3800 floor standing speakers

I suppose it all counts, then also a logitech USB headset used for web calling.
 
I currently use an Xfi and a set of Aego 2.1's / HD555's.

If I lived somewhere that I was able to play music really loud without fear of neighbors complaining, I would definitely go with a good amp and speakers.

When I lived in Canada, I had a detached house so I could play my music as loud as I wanted. I had my pc connected to a decent amp and two 12" tower speakers, two 8" loudspeakers and a 12" sub. It was great. My windows would rattle.
 
james.miller said:
mines complicated lol
Click to expand...

x2 OFC copper tin cans and some silver plated copper string connecting them ?

Me, headphones, speakers, singing, whatever really. Headphones mainly at PC with headphone amp, or gf's logitech 2.1 speakers. Main listening in lounge with tv + cd player to my amp and speakers.
 
:p

it goes something like this:
Code: 
{sofa}
asus xonar D2 spdif > onkyo 805 > mission m71i's
                                > sub output > denon pma-100m > 15" JBL 1504d in a sealed box

{desk}
asus xonar D2 multi channel analogue > font out >JVC AX-R551 (getting changed) > GenEXXA pro x7 'mini monitors'
                                     > sub out > denon pma-100m > 15" JBL

erm. maybe a diagram would be easier lol. i use foo_convolver for foobar2000 to do a real-time eq based on the measured frequency response in either seating position (measured using room EQwizard and a corrected RS SPL meter) :)
 
Digital out -> DAC -> Headphone amp -> HD650s. Pretty simple setup but sounds very nice. :)

I have some Creative T6100 speakers but I don't use them because they sound so bad.
 
What is DAC?

Sounds like a stupid question but can you get external sound cards?? My 7700's pci slots are too small for normal sound cards to slot into, is it possible to get some kinf o external unit that connects via USB or anything like that?
 
Which DACs are you guys using, and how much did they cost?

Presently:
P35-DS3 analogue out > Headroom Airhead amp > Grado SR80 eargoggles

It's a work in progress. I've got a Cambridge Audio A500 and MS Avant 902s sitting on Atacama Nexus stands, but I'm waiting till I get my new soundcard and possibly a DAC before I put the PC into the picture.
 
An external DAC is usually just a better bit of gear, and it's not inside the PC where all kinds of things pollute the sound.


I'm still debating a DAC and after reading this, I'm not so sure.
Credit to cotdt from the head-fi forums.

"A sound card consists of a DSP, a DAC chip, and an analog output stage that consists of opamps. Opamps and capacitors are the two worst offenders of sound quality. With any soundcard you can change these opamps to far better ones, remove capacitors no longer needed due to the better opamp, and give it more power by increasing the size of the power supply filter capacitors on the sound card. The sound card also sits inside a computer which is full of EMI radiation that introduces noise and degrades sound quality (especially treble). That's why audiophiles use external DACs. But now you have better shielding technology so it's no longer an issue. You can put a silicon carbide/nickel board on the back of the card. Alternatively, there is this thing called ERS paper that is much easier to apply."
 
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