Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Makes sense. I might change it up when Spotify HiFi eventually comes out. Been looking at HifiBerry + DAC, building it all into a custom pre-amp with phono stage but as far as I can see it won't have the convenience of voice control and Google Home integration.

I'm using Tidal + Roon which is a nice but expensive solution.

To me, Tidal is better value than Roon but so far I'm too lazy to get rid of Roon and go back to something like JR Media Centre.

No HDMI arc so volume will be a separate control.

Get a Harmony universal remote. Probably the best AV purchase I've made.

Good, but have heard it has terrible Lip-sync issues

Most TVs have an audio delay setting. Can be incredibly frustrating to set up though and you're never quite sure you have it right.

Worth considering where things will be. If your tv isn't evenly between your speakers it will sound weird.

I was looking for the same thing with a similar shortlist. My original plan was a Quad Vena II Play which is nice and neat with great reviews.

I eventually ended up a Marantz PM6007, as I got a great deal with some Dali Oberon 1 speakers thrown in, and just use a Chromecast for the streaming stuff.

Thanks. I had thought of a universal remote. There is more appeal in buying seperates, but also need to keep it minimal as I'm trying to not have clutter and cables everywhere. Apparently, by mid October our shops will be open so I can actually listen to a few options then.

All my wiring is concealed in cupboards and run through the chimney breast so it's all nice and uncluttered with no visible cables.

Universal remote is very useful in being able to customise stuff, getting it all to turn on and off together and seamlessly incorporating different components.

Cheap Tannoy Devons if anyone fancies a resto job.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274967685991

wow, tannoys are really going for silly money, aren't they?

Very ropey pair of Chevs just went for £1080 on eBay!

Second coat of oil + refurbing / recapping the crossovers today.

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Looking good. I know you're pretty deep into the joinery. Have you ever used or can you recommend a 'grain filler'? I've been looking to try it on my next varnished piece.

Never used one I’m afraid. My finishing consists of Osmo or Fiddes Clear Glaze, a large factor is that they just work and don’t require grain filler.

Osmo water based fillers say they can be used as a grain filler but I’ve never tried it.

I've done tabletops with Manns gloss varnish before but it's never piano finish gloss. I've sprayed and sanded/buffed sprayed paint to piano finish for a piece before.

Kinda PSA

I was speaking with a London based hifi dealer yesterday about purchasing a new cartridge (Sumiko or Nagaoka were my preferred choics) and he mentioned very long delays in getting new stock in. Like 3-6 months maybe. Obvs due to Covid-related backlog combined with global shipping disruptions.

#buy50yearoldBritish

Any super obvious things that would lead to one channel dropping in and out, then finally giving up (slowly over months) on an old Cambridge AV amp (rotary encoder type volume dial). Would occasionally pop back in and work fine if you just jumped the volume up to almost full parallel.

Some sound still comes through the dead channel, would say its like hearing the stereo offset from the other channel in it if that makes sense. So figured it was maybe a grounding issue.

I was just routing around my 'vintage hifi and camera equipment' cupboard. I have a Rega Planar 3 with a NAD branded RB250 tonearm, and an (ugly green) acrylic mat on a MDF(?) platter. I packed it away when I got another turntable.

Obviously I started looking at some small fixes and upgrades for it, before thinking maybe that wasn't necessary since it's definitely going back in the cupboard afterwards. Instead, I wondered if there was any interest here in finding it a new home?

Sounds fantastic as is, I would argue the platter wants replacing with a clear or black acrylic one, but only for aesthetics.

i picked up a pair of these this week. most impressed with them. 7cm full range drivers in frugal horns. point source wins again.

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interesting look. what are they?

Noice. I’ve got a pair of the paper cone Alpair drivers in the attic. Never got around to building specific cabs for them. Crazy how well a good full range driver images.

@ChasnotRobert they’re Alpair 7 drivers in a very fancy piano finish Frugal Horn kit build.

Literally just finished reconing these. Gotta let them dry over night then I can actually have a listen 😆

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amazing! great work.

Tannoys looking great.

I didn't realise frugal horns was a design, thought it was just a description of how they work! Must pay more attention :)

lol

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Woo. How do they sound?

To quote a hifi nerd I know "heroic"

Bass is so balanced, no boom so far. Top end is crystal clear too. I had DSP on to tame the top end of the IIILZ and they sound so dull now! They're running off my little ~10w class D just now so I can do A/B comparison. I imagine they'll be next level when I hook them up to the 250w Hypex.

Piano sounds stunning. Can't wait to sit around in my pants and listen to all my favourite tunes.