Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Ah, fair enough.

For me, I learn all about them from the internet. The sharing of knowledge has made doing things like this sooooo much easier IMO as people are willing to help.

Couple of new decks announced by Technics. SL1200 Mk7, should be less than £1000 on release, eventual street price should be lower than that. Nice black finish on deck and arm if you like the murdered out vibe.

It looks bloody lovely too!

I've got a couple of warped (concave) records.
Until I get around to attempt straightening I thought a record weight might improve matters.

Something with a lip along the periphery of the label would push the raised part of the record down towards the platter, I would think.

Anyone got suggestions? I prefer cheap and/or DIY.

Just been given some free stuff.
Marrantz Pm 310 integrated amp, works, but pots are all corroded and even once cleaned it just tortures the top end, voice coils hated it on anything but about as low as it will go. Ebay people pay upto £80 for them so maybe thats what I'll do with it.

Trio (kenwood?) KA 3055 integrated amp, works, pots also corroded but fixed one pretty good quite easily with a quick clean out and swab with vaseline (yeah yeah yeah, it was free!), now this isn't terrible. Has a working phono stage that also doesn't sound terrible, looks and feels solid and it was free. So need some small book shelf type speakers for it to make its way into the brickhouse to help the TV make some better sounds I think.
Used speakers under £50 you commonly see on gumtree that might suit? Its like 30w per channel usable maybe less.

I’ve got some tannoy 605s I was keeping as spares...

Folks, I've got a Cambridge audio Topaz somethingorother CD player which I got new about a year and a half ago. It wont read any CDs, wont even spin them, just says 'no disc'. Is there any hope of fixing this or should I just bin it, I'm 99% certain my daughter is behind it rather than product error, think it's out of warranty and it was a gift so not sure.

Anyone interested in buying a Minidisc deck? Will also throw in a few hundred minidiscs and a portable minidisc player (not 100% if that is working).

3 Attachments

What's a good hdcp2.2 4k av receiver with built in chromecast for under 500 notes?

Depends on the deck but you need to be careful how much weight you put on some bearings. I use one occasionally, its a Project weight that came with the RCM, it doesn't make a huge difference, nothing unplayable becomes playable, some dished records look flatter though!

tldr, cheapest DIY option is to forget about it.

The mat on my techie is dished slightly and I’d supposed to be used with a weight. It does seem to flatten out wobbly records, but it is an expensive solution. Go with ^ and ignore it

I'm in Glasgow, not much good stuff up here unless you like 80s Linn stuff

There’s a pair of Ruark Sceptres going on a hifi forum for £135 if anyone wants a pair of excellent little speakers. Quite rare. £700idh new and awesome. The pair I heard were on the end of a pioneers a400.

I need some advice, my knowledge about hifi is very limited and am far from an audiophile. I do like nice stuff though and like my stuff to last.
I have been using an old NAD 3020 for about 25 years paired with some unknown bookshelves. They have been with me through various moves and setups and everything has held up pretty well.

The latest incarnation is in the living room connected to the TV and a MacMini, using the TV as a thourgput. We only use the TV for Plex and it always has to be switched on to get audio from the MacMini to the NAD. I know I can connect the MM directly to the NAD, but that would result in no audio from Plex on the TV speakers.

We are redecorating the living room and want to replace the TV with a projector and still want to use the MM for audio. In an effort to simplify and declutter we would like a really simple basic stereo amp and a set of discreet speakers. I came across the NAD AMP1 (which seems to be an EU only model) and a set of Dali Spektor 2’s on some floorstands.

All our content in the living room is digital and the AMP1 seems to be a good option, I really like the clean look of it prefer it over D3020V2 too. I can connect the MM over optical and the members of the household can beam audio over it via Bluetooth.

I have only looked at NAD because of my good experience with the 3020, it still works today and will be retired to the study. With the current budget the AMP1 and Spektor 2’s seem like the most price/quality I can go without eating into the projector budget.

Is there any other stuff I need to be looking at?

I have been looking at little amps recently around that budget (new) and, of the ones I have heard, the Quad Vena and PS Audio Sprout100 stood out.

What will the source (ie. plex client) be for the projector? ATV4 or MM?
What will deliver audio when you're watching Plex / TV?

It sounds like the AMP1 will be over-specced for 2 channel audio as you don't need analogue and phono inputs. Is the built-in chromecast audio useful to you?
There are a few people on here using the Yamaha WXA50 for this kind of setup, though the NAD does look nice. If you like the half-size form factor and only need optical you could also look at a second hand Cyrus Streamline v2 for about the same money and add a decent BT receiver. I'm sure there are other options...

good suggestions :)
also the Teac AI-101DA

I’m always banging on about the sprout. I love it.

I have an allergy to buying new though.

Is a remote essential?

Quad Vena looks like a valid alternative, although a bit more pricey. Will have a closer look over the weekend.

Thanks!

The source for audio and video will always be the MM, using the digital out for audio to the amp and the hdmi for video to the projector.

Most of the inputs and the chromecast will probably never get used. But it is nice to know that I would have the ability to add something in the future.

The Yamaha and the Sprout also look like valid contendors, need to investigate more!

It looks like I'm definitely going to be shifting my B&W 602 S2 speakers.

They are 20 years old, and have a few battle scars on the cases, but still surprise me with their sound. Absolutely brilliant speakers, with great bass extension for stand mounts. Their tweeters borrowed heavily from the Nautilus snails that B&W developed at the time. Also, the yellow Kevlar drivers are indestructible and look the business.

If anyone is interested, I am after £120 including spiked stands that I have filled with dry sand for added stability.

Collection from Herne Hill.

(There is also a B&W CC6 centre speaker available, that I would like £50 for.)

Pictures if there is any interest.

Everyone had interest! Put the pics up! Else we know it's not real.

They are bi-wire and I don't have the little linkage pieces. I can include some Gale bi-wire speaker cable, not sure of the lengths, circa 3.5m and 1.5m, I think.

8 Attachments

Pop round for listen testing.