On 22 Dec 2011 at 10:42pm SOM wrote:
Are there any budding HI-FI / Music lovers in Lewes ?
any interest in maybe forming a club ? looking at peoples HI-FI Systems listening to all types of music, testing units,speakers,cables etc....
On 22 Dec 2011 at 11:44pm Dicy wrote:
Could well be interested mate.
On 22 Dec 2011 at 11:52pm Lopster wrote:
does anyone still "do" HiFi?
surely its all MP3 players tiny headphone buds and laptops with YouTube now
whatever happened to the Quad electrostatic speakers, monster cable (DIRECTIONAL cable in fact), gold plugs, Nakamichi Tape decks, ADC Accutracs and water cooled power amps of my youth?
On 23 Dec 2011 at 11:45am zac dunk wrote:
ive been intrested an owned some great reƔl hifi over the last 25 years
On 23 Dec 2011 at 12:06pm Deelite wrote:
Go Naim. You can't beat it. Naim with Shahinian Arc speakers even makes music you hate sound good.
On 23 Dec 2011 at 12:13pm Castle Gate wrote:
Innovations in loudspeakers, particularly computer-assisted design to help achieve a wider, flatter frequency response; increased efficiency in semiconductor output stages; widespread knowledge of ways to create stable miniature designs; and the ubiquity of digital storage and reproduction: all have caused tweaks to pale into insignificance. Whereas 35 years ago, a transistorised output stage of perhaps an average of 30W RMS per channel was easily damaged by an inappropriate load, and speakers were designed by hand to balance efficiency with frequency response considerations, today's speakers can afford to be inefficient to allow the bass response to be extended: and output stages can be more powerful. Today, hi-fi is easier to design and obtain compared to the 1970s, so perhaps it's now more about people enjoying the sound than thinking about the technique?
On 23 Dec 2011 at 2:12pm Deelite wrote:
Funny how that with all this precision modern stuff the sound of a vinyl record played through a valve amp still cannot be beaten. :-)
On 23 Dec 2011 at 3:54pm Castle Gate wrote:
Clearly, I remember some years ago hearing an LP played on a Sondek through valves, compared directly to a CD of the same master played through semiconductors, and noting how much more melodious and rhythmical the performance sounded. Vinyl (if one can disregard the ticks-and-pops, rumble and off-centre wow) and valves introduce distortions which the ear can regard as rather beautiful, without a doubt. But they are unfortunately still distortions.
On 24 Dec 2011 at 4:24pm Maxdrum wrote:
Valves and vinyl you can't go wrong. It sounds more musical to me. Im using a valve amp with a squeezebox and that works pretty well too if you rip CDs at the right bitrate and play them through a dac. I'm much preferring valves to solid state, you end up just listening to the music.
On 24 Dec 2011 at 7:28pm Deelite wrote:
Hi Maxdrum.
Can you tell me if you plug your Squeeze device directly into your valve amp and if so, which valve amp you use? I'd also be interested to know about your speakers.
On 24 Dec 2011 at 9:16pm SOM wrote:
Sounds like a few interested HI-FI fans here ! I love the Ayon Valve amp Deelite ..
The Spark III is an intergrated amp with all mod connections and Remote control you might find it interesting as it has a USB audio connection Idea for plugging in something like a Squeeze Box who said that the latest tech couldn't work will with the traditional...
On 24 Dec 2011 at 11:35pm Deelite wrote:
Thanks. Squeezebox has anslogue line out or digital line out. I'm not sure that USB input is useful. I am interested to know of a valve amp that will take a direct connection from a Squeezeboi (impedence/levels etc with no pre-amp)
On 25 Dec 2011 at 5:43am Maxdrum wrote:
Hi Deelite. The valve amp is a primaluna prologue 1. The squuezebox is the duet and runs through a perpetual p1a and p3a dac using a chord interconnect. You could also run a squeezebox direct but the internal dac isn't as good. If you rip lossless it's better than a cd player. The perpetual was an eBay buy as they are rare these days. It's a really good sounding dac which also gets used with a wadia itransporter so you can get hifi sounds out of an ipod.
Speaker are dynaudio audience 42s. The valve amp is about 35w and uses el34s. I can't recommend the dynaudios enough. Tiny little things but they sound great with a valve amp.
On 25 Dec 2011 at 5:50am Maxdrum wrote:
Forgot to say that you don't need a preamplifier. The output from squeezebox duet will go direct into most valve amps. The primaluna has four standard inputs and I ran it direct before getting the dac. It doesn't have a phono stage so you need one of these for playing vinyl. The squeezebox is the height of convenience, no more searching for CDs you can also get a controller for the iPad which works as a huge remote control.
On 25 Dec 2011 at 5:57am Maxdrum wrote:
I was wondering if anyone has good recommendations for moving coil cartridges be interested to hear what people have tried out and rate.
On 25 Dec 2011 at 8:38am Deelite wrote:
Cheers Maxdrum. I'd be looking to run my Touch or my SB+ through a valve amp. I already have a pair of ancient Quad IIs, but the power amps need a bigger signal than the SB stuff outputs and the preamp that comes with the Quads is crap. However, although quiet the stuff does sound great, even through this old and out of range amp. I'll have a look at the amp you use. I like a lot of volume and bass though so am not certain small speakers would do it for me. Funny, before getting a Transporter (and then a SB+) I used to run my SB3 (aka Classic) throught the same DAC set up you are. I still have to P1 (digital correction unit) somewhere.
On 25 Dec 2011 at 8:50am Deelite wrote:
Btw. The Touch has been available on Amazon for an amazing £135 for a few days. Unfortunately the price has just risen though, but worth keeping an eye on the Squeezebox Touch community forum (i.e, not the Logitech Squeeze forums). as good prices are often posted to it.
On 25 Dec 2011 at 12:05pm Maxdrum wrote:
I think the touch at 135 is a bargain. Works really well and easy to setup. The primaluna is worth checking out as it's got good bass for a valve amp and the typical midrange excellence. The dyns kick out a lot of bass for a small speaker good enough for listening to old dub plates....
I really like the perpetual. Another flea bay bargain.
On 25 Dec 2011 at 12:54pm Deelite wrote:
£135 for a Touch is indeed a bargain. I like my Touch but think as a product it's misconceived and the internal server is also useless. The best thing is the high quality of the analogue outs (noticeably better than any of the other Squeeze line, barring the Transporter) and it plays hi-res too.