Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Best thing about expensive speaker cable is the way it looks :)

I'm sure there's a market for a plastic shrouding that looks like really expensive speaker cable that can be cut to length and clamped around any normal cable (including figure-8 bell wire) to make it look like you've spent loads of dosh.

Then, because hi-fi stuff is so meta, you could probably charge a fortune for such shrouding with claims of it being oxygen free plastic, balanced/bi-directional and providing other magic 'neutral-shielding' type properties.

I'm still using twin-core mains cable with my Harbeth monitoring speakers. Sounds terrible!

I don't understand if these cables will make a difference. Or if matching length matters. Le sigh...

Banana plugs. Should I?

No and not really.

Someone call China, this is a Dragons Den pitch waiting to happen.

Yes. They're quite practical.

Might be interested in the AKG headphones - how old?

Two years old but very, very little use.

Price drops:

Cables £110
Headphones £75

£160 for both.

I'm going to stick them on (shudder) ebay soon as there might be more interest there.

Hi guys, I'm looking into connecting a Project Debut Carbon turn table to my Naim Mu-so QB.

What do I need to do this and what is the general opinion on the Debut Carbon?

Naim Mu-so>

Maybe look for a phono preamp with a built in DAC to convert to optical.

Otherwise, I wonder if you could connect a USB turntable or not. Audio Technica make one...

Ok, that's what I thought. I need Phono preamp to optical.

They seem to be thin on the ground so phono to USB looks more do-able.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntable-accessories/project/phono-box-usb-v/proj-phonobox-usb-va

Leads me to think you may be better off buying an already USB-capable turntable.

I'm not familiar with how you "mount" these USB devices on your HiFi. I'd presume plug and play.

I expect so, I've not actually used the USB interface @rodabod, I would agree that a USB output straight from the turntable would simplify things.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/turntables/project/essential-2-usb/proj-essen2-usb-blk

I doubt that the analogue-to-digital converters are going to be great quality though. Kind of defeats the object of having a turntable as a source.

They also do one with an optical output, I'm kind of swaying towards that one now.

The USB Essential also has a phono stage. Couldn't you used that with the 3.5mm analogue input on your Naim?

I guess I could!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001KEVSX8/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000Q6LSVS&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1SMGCXAN1W7BETXPH1K0

yeah - definetely use analogue inputs if it has them.

So just buy a phono preamp and a 2phono -> 3.5mm cable.

Turntables with USB output are likely to be crap as well.
Doing Analogue -> Digital -> Analogue is crazy

Didn't realise the Naim had an analogue input. Use that!

Ok, so I'm thinking project debut carbon - phono/phono cable - Project Phono box - phono / 3.5mm jack - Naim QB

It's going to be fun I think.

So you got a Muso? Best volume/control dial I've seen in a while. Sounds good too.

Yeah but the QB version, couldn't afford the bigger one.... couldn't really afford the smaller one but you only live once :)