Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Flog the cds and

Agree, ripping CDs is the way to go if you haven't completely gone over to Spotify type arrangements.

I did this and use laptop -> dac -> amp but that's only cos I'm a bit hifi geek.

I put all my CDs in boxes in the loft rather that sell them but that's only cos I don't agree with mass breech of copyright.

I put all my CDs in boxes in the loft rather that sell them but that's only cos I don't agree with mass breech of copyright.

Still illegal but who's going to know?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/12021607/Why-in-2015-is-ripping-CDs-still-illegal-in-the-UK.html

I didn't know that... How bizarre!

Where does Amazon stand with their mp3 download available as soon as you buy a cd, I wonder?

You pay extra IIRC for the digital content or, as you are buying both at the same time, it's 'legal'.

Google allows you to upload your own music to its servers so you don't get the sanitised radio releases. No one seems to be taking them to court, however.

Ridiculous state of affairs to be honest.

And... The idea that mp3 is still seen as a valid format for music nowadays is nuts. Digital storage prices are now so cheap you should be getting .flac files as standard.

Yes, which is why I don't bother with the Amazon mp3 offer and just rip the CD to flac when it arrives.

Although LAME variable bit rate output sounds ok.

Haven't tried LAME usually rip to OggVorbis from .flac

My CD collection of about a thousand albums stopped being added to abruptly in around 2008 when I started downloading and streaming. At that point my iTunes library consisted mainly of stuff ripped from CD. I'd probably done around 70% of my collection. I switched over to Spotify and used iTunes less and less until I found listened to almost all of my music on Spotify. The CDs have been in the attic for about 5 years now.

I wanted to listen to something that wasn't on Spotify at the weekend and opened up iTunes for the first time in ages. Was immediately struck by how varied my old library was. And so much stuff not available on streaming services. All that Drag City goodness for a start! Seems like the Spotify algorithms have been chipping away at the more esoteric edges of my taste and subtly steering me back to the same kind of things again and again. It was a bit of a wake-up-call to be honest.
Think i'm going to get the CDs out and make sure I've ripped all of them before having a bit of a rethink about how I consume digital music again...

I've found exactly this.
We were renovating a house and my record collection was in storage, when I got them back I was blown away by the variety and even stuff that may be on spotify but I'd never think to look it up.

This is what I did before I switched to Streaming. I uploaded all my vinyl and CD to Google Music.

Try finding the 'You Slosh' album anywhere else but original 12" plastic for example.

When your hifi is these, you keep your CDs. That mixer drives two bridged Rotel RB-971 amps, each pushing a Mission 702e floor standing speaker. The sound is great. There's another Rotel RB-971 driving the little monitors by the decks. I'm still buying CDs.

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If your CD player is bigger than your speakers, I'd say you're doing it wrong :)
Edit. Rtfa now it makes sense.
Having monitoring for home DJing is pro af

But how does one convert old mp3s to flac if you dont have the original in any format other than mp3?

this is loads... I find that if you dont pay attention, you're lead down the path to the same stuff which after a while become obvious until youre oblivious

You don't. You can only go one way (you can do it but it's pointless).

That mixer is one of the worst sounding mixers ever made…

Well, that's pissed on his bonfire alright.

Having monitoring for home DJing is pro af

I used to play out in clubs, and run a weekly internet radio show. I still have flight cases for the decks & mixer, and a portable 2.4kw sound system (for parties etc), but really my decks and mixer are just my hifi now.

That mixer is one of the worst sounding mixers ever made…

They have a reputation and can be ropey, especially when abused by idiots (who think they can DJ) driving everything in the red in a club environment. However, when maintained and used with respect, they sound pretty good.

Bloated, muddy bottom end, hideous screechy tops and a truly painful midrange and that's when they're not in the red.

That's when they're connected to club limiters and bloaty sound systems with muddy bottom end cabs and screechy tops (horrid pa horns).

I've thought of replacing it with a Rane, Urei or something digital, but the DJM600 sounds pretty good, trust me.

The most over-rated club mixers IMO are Allen & Heath, which work so badly, but have a mythical reputation. Their PA mixers were all shit, so why people rate their DJ mixers is beyond me.

If you want to hear it (DJM600) through some hifi components, you're welcome to come round and have a listen, you won't be disappointed. Message me.

I once put a DJM600 though quad mono blocks into klipsch heresy iii and it sounded as if someone had put a towel over my speakers.

I currently have this as my preamp/mixer

That set up Sir, is "The Mutt's Nuts!" You're still restricted though by using 1210s, unless you heavily modify them. What amp?

Have you checked out what Spiritland do with their decks and amplification? They are quite exceptional ... http://spiritland.com/

Seriously though, I would still challenge you to come listen to my system (ain't no towels here). I'd actually love to hear yours too!

Edit: The towels were your towels, put there by Technics SL1210s and the turntable pre on this mixer.

I've been pissing around with a trial version of dirac the last few weeks. not had much spare time, but I have ran three of four lots of measuring and cocked around with curves.

i don't have too much of a problem with the hf stuff, but have no real bass up to about 35hz then a big hump (+15db) at 50hz (I sound like I know what I am doing, eh?)

with the filter applied, it def makes a difference. it really takes some getting used to, hearing a smooth response curve with tight, level bass, rather than the big humped bass.

I am not sure I can stump up the fairly significant cost of it all, but it is interesting, and if you are using your computer for your audio you should try it.

/csb