Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Detailing all the streamer chat a bit but ny recommendations on a hifi DAC to run either Chromecast / iPhone / android phone and TV (optical out) before going into my old HK amp?

Ideally looking for something of the Fiio or topping but more geared towards hifi use not headphones - otherwise the expensive Chords look good, but are they worth it?

ny?

Edit: any

Are Chromecast Audio's still worth buying even at $50 from eBay?

Not that up on all the alternatives, but I really like mine and I keep meaning to buy a couple more - one for my outhouse, and a spare.

I've been staying at my folks for a bit and really miss it so may buy one to leave.

Also if you don't have a huge place and have a Google hub mini you can often voice activate it. Our hub is in the kitchen (as a kitchen speaker) then when I go to the sitting room I move it, or if needed shout down the hall to pause etc. if I go upstairs or to the door.

Yeah, I can't really find an alternative. I haven't considered the Home Mini purely because I'd like the optical output of the CCA. Will just bite the bullet and get one me thinks.

I think my chromecast audio is great, never had a complaint

Yeah, I know they're decent, just wanted to know if paying above retail was worth it.

@rogan - did you figure out your speaker conundrum in the end?

Topping D50.
As I understand it what the Chords do really well is to reduce jittter with some clever resequencing software, but this also introduces quite a lot of delay. As an alternative people seem to be reporting good results using an IFI USB iPurifier which is considerably cheaper.

Will check it out, thanks!

Not sure I am aware any jitter at the moment, so that does seem to argue against the Chord (plus they aren't cheap)

Apparently I can airplay to an airport express (from my new apple TV - well received, kids love it, just need to add another account to it) and then rca to amp. I really like the look of the small puck ones, I think that's a two? Does anyone know anyone who wants to sell one/ has one I could borrow to test?

Ta in advance

I really dno. I know I want something that sounds better but I just don't know what.
I dont want a huge amp, but I dont think my current cheap chip amp is going to drive any decent speakers to good quality. but the choice of powered speakers is fairly poor.

The 2 (A1378) only has optical on the audio port side. You can convert Toslink to Coax. Toslink is great for electrical isolation which can be a problem for some of the cheaper converters.

I have one on my desk at the moment but I'm going to try it myself before I decide what to do with it.

I have a 4K, I went all in....
This suggests I can go airplay to airport to audio in amp (airport express works like a chromecast in this case)
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208728
https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/08/29/how-to-connect-apples-airport-express-to-any-router-to-make-an-airplay-2-streaming-target

What was your budget again?

£500 max? i guess?

R-51/41PMs fit the bill but kinda want to demo them

Here's another option: http://www.harrowaudiohifi.co.uk/en/dali-zensor-1-ax

Really like Dali. Nothing to do at work today. More suggestions to follow...

Would either of these work? The Marantz is bigger than it looks, but it's still pretty dinky. Much better value than any sub £500 active's IMO.

https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/mini-hi-fi-system-deals/marantz-mcr611-black-and-monitor-audio-bronze-2-black.html

https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/mini-hi-fi-system-deals/marantz-mcr611-melody-media-q-acoustics-3020i.html

maybe i should go into richer.. good shouts thanks JB

I have nothing but good things to say about Richer Sounds. Six year warranty too. So long as you're not looking for anything too exotic, it's great. Good deals this week as well.

They're still below retail on ebay over here in case anyone is visiting you / you returning for the summer.

I keep missing them because I'm being too cheap setting a load of snipes at £15.

Iirc there's something else similar which is meant to have some other features - it's called something like audio cast and I saw it in a comparison article with a load of similar devices. I'll see if I can find it.

Also as your amp has an optical-in, you might want one of those cables too.

Demo'd at richer sounds some Dalis I didn't like and MA bronze 2's that i did like, but didnt 'wow' me.

They were really busy so im going to go back to compare the MA bronze 2s with Q Acoustics 3020i.
They didnt have any klipsch in store but reviews seem like the MA bronze 2s tend to come out better

Perhaps just keep saving till you get something that does wow you? :-)

I had the same problem. Nothing made me really smile till I got to the $500 and up range.

I had same issue demoing speakers I ended up going slightly beyond what I intended and got a pair of Dali Spektor 6 and really love them - Richer Sounds were brilliant

Further to my speaker upgrade question earlier; I got the Q Acoustics 3020i's. They sound great, really happy with them!

If anyone is looking for some entry level/small room speakers I now have some Wharfedale Diamond 9's for sale...

Beautiful speakers!