Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Source is turntable and and amp.

The plan started when I got a pair of bluetooth headphones to use with my phone and pc and wanted to find a way to use them with my stereo at home too. This made me think I could use the same tech to finally get sound in the kitchen too.

Don't expect to have synchronisation between the two speaker sets.

Is there an audio equivalent of those Poweramp things that run ethernet over mains cable?

Could be an option.

Looks like there isn't. Not that cheaply anyway.

hmm. never thought about the synchronisation, but the way we intend to use them, I think we'll manage.
Just found this receiver unit: http://www.marmitek.com/en/product-details/listen/wireless-music/wireless-amplifiers/boomboom-460.php
Looks like what I'm after - and with aptx, thanks turtlerecall!

Any recommendations for a cheap ebay bluetooth receiver? Something I can plug a 3.5mm speaker jack into.

I think I'll be getting this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nobsound-Mini-Bluetooth-Headphone-Amplifier-TPA3110-stereo-High-power-Gold-F900-/251742454616?hash=item3a9d050358:g:9kgAAOSwFnFV-VIg

if anything, just for the name.

That also looks lovely.

"Nobsound"..... sniggers.

It's kind of a muted thud.

Or I can make mine go "BOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGGGGGGGGGGGGG!" sometimes.

Also helicopter noises.

Just about to go buy this, any reason I shouldn't?

Reasons for: zone 2 with independent inputs, phono in, app remote, spotify connect. Don't need 4k / bluetooth or any of that jazz.

I've found that the generic no-name bluetooth receivers and transmitters that I've tried tend to be a bit crap.

I'd be tempted to go with an apt-x dongle, the difference in quality is noticeable (or used to be, newer stuff may be better). http://www.aptx.com/category/receivers-transmitters

I have a slightly older version (RX-V775) which appears to be mostly identical in function and appearance. It's very good.

Nice one. It seems to have everything I need and a whole load more. Only thing is whether it'll fit on my shelf, it's pretty huge!

Yeah that's a point, also bear in mind there will be an absolute forest of wires hanging out of the back adding depth. I can't really fault the amp in any way, other than it always seems to want to do a software update (and thus won't connect to the app remote) in the hour or so before a party.

A bit of a specific request. I'm looking for a small mp3 player that sd/micro sd cards and has apt-x bluetooth. Anyone suggest one, or a phone matching the criteria that I can pick up 2nd hand?

I have a pair of Jamo U40T bookshelf speakers. I think I paid about a tenner for them. On the back there's a rotary switch like this. Well, it's exactly this:

What does it mean, and why is there a click between 10W and 8 Ohms? I don't understand how those values are supposed to be options at all. If is said 2 Ohms, 4 Ohms, 6 Ohms, 8 Ohms maybe I'd get it.

It's to do with the 100V line bit of it.

If you are running it off a standard home amp just put it on 8 ohm and leave it be.

100V line systems

Cheers. They've been sat in use at 8 ohms for 6 years without me noticing!

Okay here's an interesting one - I have the chance to make a small 'second system' in my kitchen. The kitchen is tiny, so the only possibility is some ceiling mounted speakers - fortunately I am having a new suspended ceiling in a fortnight's time, with downlighters, at which point it should be relatively straightforward to ask a couple of extra holes to be put in for some ceiling mounted speakers. So Q1 is - any recommendations for those?

Secondly, the amplification needs to be small as I plan on hiding it in the ceiling void also. Q2 - does anyone have any experience or recommendations for Gainclone vs Tripath T Amps or anything else relevant? Low maintenance and low heat dissipation so no valves.

Q3 - the most interesting probably - what about the source? In the main system, I listen to vinyl, FM and CD. Here I'd probably like ipod and radio, which could be DAB (I've got a little portable unit with a headphone out). So the easiest thing would probably be a female headphone jack input, maybe mounted on a wall socket... but the future is probably some kind of wireless streaming, which all makes my head hurt, but if any of you clever people have ideas hit me, oh and I'd quite like to use a Raspberry Pi too, because reasons, thanxbai

Headphone jack is a good idea, gives you options. Then you could use a cheap tablet or a squeezebox installed on a PI as a source in the future.

I have had squeezebox running on Jogglers in the past that worked and looked ace. Binned now I have moved to Sonos.

Oh, you could just get Sonos. No good for vinyl though.

have a look at a Raspberry PI with an IQ Audio DAC/AMP setup. they are tiny, and from all reports, pretty good. I can vouch for the PI/DAC combo sounding great. can be set up as an airplay receiver too.

[edit - not sure how you'd get around the vinyl issues]

i can show you my set up* with the PI/DAC if you are anywhere near south london

*( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

I looked into this a while ago. Richer Sounds had a variety of reasonable looking speakers from recognisable brands but finding reviews was difficult.

There are a variety of Raspberry Pi options for streaming, although personally I'd be tempted to cheat and go with a chromecast audio.

Alternatively, stick a tablet to the wall and lead the audio up from that. Can use that for streaming music, radio, etc (this makes quite a nice solution, also has the bonus of being able to look up recipes, etc).

Either RCA or headphone jack would be useful too for plugging in other stuff.