Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

On the tv connection thing, that TV is a Hisense Roku and seems to be rigged to be unable to connect to any device other than OEM stuff. It refuses to connect to Bluetooth and won’t output to the amp via RCA (why are they there then!?). Bit of research says optical or HDMI outs are the only way. Any ideas how to get that output into a 70’s receiver?

Optical to RCA adapter for a tenner worth a go?

I go TV > optical > DAC > amp. Wouldn’t expect great results from a cheap optical/RCA converter, tbh

It’s a little scooty-thing for the toddler. You can flip the bottom part and it turns into a rocking thingy.

Ta. Got any recommendations for DAC?

DACs should all be transparent these days. I’m very much in the camp of just picking one with the right inputs for a sensible amount of money (no more than £100 ish).

Topping make stuff that’s cheap and measures well but you can probably go cheaper.

I don’t understand multi-thousand £ DACs at all.

no more than £100 Ish... I don’t understand multi-thousand £ DACs

That's quite the leap. I'm no defender of stupid-money audiophilia, but a DAC is a sufficiently sensitive piece of instrumentation that I'm prepared to accept that you might be half an order of magnitude out with your estimate of where gains roll off from real to imaginary. But all that said, you're 99% of the way by the time you get to £100

I use a Schiit Modi+ with the TV and I’m very happy, but Topping and SMSL make some great alternatives (just make sure they have an optical input - the Topping D10 for example has an optical output, but only USB input)

Speaking of DACs, I discovered today that my laptop won't recognise my USB DAC. What a pita.

I've messed around with it a bit and can't get it sorted. I'll try a few more things but thinking I might just get another DAC.

Anyone have a Topping? They look decent for the money. USB in RCA out is the minimum requirement.

Anyone have a Topping?

I have a DX3 pro and a DX7 pro, both prev gen versions. No complaints, I've been totally satisfied with both.

I'm actually missing a trick running my "mid-sized" Genelecs from the DX7 analogue out since this means extra DA/AD conversion (the speakers have built-in room correction), but honestly, my ears are happy as is.

Thanks. DX3 is more in line with current budget.

E30 and D70 here. No complaints either.

E30 seems like the way forward 👍

They're alright for a tenner (I might have one if you want it?), but if it's got a headphone socket use that.

Cex might be your cheapest place for an airport. I've got a Mac Mini that has all my music on it, and connecting directly into the amp sounds better than over air play, and ripped CDs sound better than playing them on the NAD cd player I had.

In such a small room you might want to be looking at getting some near field monitors and probably an active pair would be good as they should give you more bass and clarity (around the crossover frequency). Edifier are supposed to be good value for money.

I'd buy a WiiM pro
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BJDY6D1W
A fosi amp
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fosi-Audio-V3-Amplifier-Component/dp/B0C36S8DCT?ref_=ast_sto_dp

And these for £50
https://www.richersounds.ie/p-203655-fyne-audio-f300-walnut-walnut-speakers-per-pair.aspx

Upgrade the speakers with something second hand later.

A fosi amp

Is the power supply bigger than the amp?

I dunno about Fosi et al, I just don't like the way they look, and all of their products come in a different sized chassis, with awful anodising, and a terrible name. It's like they're a rebrand away from greatness.

It's an cheap chip amp. Does it matter what it looks like?

Depends on if that's a criteria for you. There's plenty of options in the second hand market for similar money that are better looking with the transformer in the chassis. I will caveat this though - I've got a Fosi phono pre amp, and despite its looks and it's outboard power supply, it does sound great for £45.

That's the kind of thing I want.

Chi-fi is upsetting this market and good, quality sound gets cheaper and cheaper.

Although I'd still buy £5K a pop Genelecs if I had the money.

well thanks all. I don't really speak your language, but have looked up what has been mentioned. I suppose just buying active speakers would be a slight cop out, and it would be more interesting/"better" to buy separate boxes. I still do not quite understand the different ways the signal can get wirelessly from my apple device to the speakers, and I don't know whether I would notice a shortcoming in basic bluetooth streaming cf other wireless or wired. But as I am learning, it would probably be sensible to go modular, with the option to upgrade later when I know more. The people who reviewed that Fosi amp were amazed at its VFM. Seems possible to get a really good set up for starters for well within my budget. Thanks a lot so far.

Still need a preamp!

I would get these, they’re very well reviewed, do everything you need and they mean you don’t have to go down the hifi rabbit hole which is best avoided if you’re indifferent to it anyhow.

https://www.kbaudio.co.uk/products/edifier-r1280db-studio-speakers-with-dual-rca-inputs-bluetooth-wood?variant=39567412297774&dfw_tracker=140324-shopify_GB_3961051840558_39567412297774&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=active_speakers&gclid=Cj0KCQjw84anBhCtARIsAISI-xcL7tj3CSDZt9Q5QMwk9oWxnJMH4ZubGyS9St52BmKmvA1EXhTeJmgaAmoJEALw_wcB

https://youtu.be/LHAai9FYgbg?si=RkZXT1GUgSU6YJd1

If I were putting them on a desk I'd go for the near field monitor option with a half decent cable from your Mac.

If you put a cheap Bluetooth receiver in the mix it'll sound cheap. Bluetooth isn't great anyway in terms of quality, airplay is better for sure, and then a streamer will be better again.

you don’t have to go down the hifi rabbit hole which is best avoided if you’re indifferent to it anyhow.

Bloody is when it comes to speakers.

Edit - just had a look at Edifier and those ones are powered rather than active but you don't have to go far into the range to get active ones, and the active ones are going down to 52hz which is good for a pair of £150 speakers.

I've got a pair of Edifier MR4 2.0 powered monitors which I use as computer speakers and they're bloody good considering they cost £90.