Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

I think my question is really, would things be better acoustically in this small room sitting just above 2 speakers pointing in the same direction or sitting below 2 speakers facing inwards?

I have a bit of a sense I might be asking should I sit on the saddle or the handlebars...

I think wall mounted speakers would be better, as having speakers on the same unit as the TT isn't ideal, and it would also give a little more distance between speaker and listener.

Deck update. My mum lent me her LP collection which is a box of 50+ LPs from late 60s to early 70s. Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, through some early Hendrix re-pressings, Rolling Stones, Led Zep, Cream etc, Deep Purple and some prog rock that I didn’t know she was into. A pal has lent me his ultrasonic record cleaner as some of them are filthy. Makes a massive difference.

I’m now on the lookout in the charity shops for early jazz records. There’s a probably mid-60s Stephane Grappelli LP waiting at one of the charity shops near work that I need to grab and I picked up an early 70s 2-disc best of Henri Mancini earlier for 50p.

It’s very chilled listening to records compared to other media. I haven’t played a record for well over 25 years. I’d forgotten what they were like.

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In case you were wondering what I did with the DIN to RCA/phono conversion, which I’m pretty sure you’re not, I didn’t want the plugs sticking out the back so I recessed them. Some random monster-size 4.8m long Cambridge Audio phono lead I’ve got which you’d think was waaaaay too long but works perfectly well and means there’s enough cable that the kids don’t rip the whole thing off the wall when they’re playing records.

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I often wonder whether an album cleaner like that would make a difference to my listening pleasure. I have a lot of poorly recorded/iffy condition records.

I got Lagom studio to make mine to my specs (specific length, and one of the sections adjusted with a shelf to take an amp above and 7's below). Was circa £800 or my 190 cm length unit from memory. Very happy with it. Super nice guy. sent some screenshots of CAD rendering before hand to check the layout of shelves was how I wanted. Can be made up to 3M in length i think.

https://lagom-studio.co.uk/product/manga-two-tier-vinyl-cabinet-for-collectors/

Thanks for posting this! Just what we’ve been looking for.

It won't make a difference to poorly recorded albums or scratches, but a good cleaner makes a huge difference to surface noise.

Bejasus that's a £524 piece of kit! Lorra money to wash down your records!

Ha! My pal works in the industry so always has stuff like this knocking around. Maybe best I don’t look up how much some of it costs!

Devon goes basic bitch. This GQ piece is hilariously gushing.

https://archive.ph/MNV4r

I'd love to hear a side-by-side comparison between the starting point Heresy & Devons re-rubbed/horned versions and see if it justifies the extra £££.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9vDGO-h3SU

I like Devons approach to audio and all that but the hypebeast sphere that he is intertwined in is and can be pretty cringe.

Right I've finally decided to invest in some proper speakers. I've done a bit of thinking and believe that ~1k is a decent price point for used/refurbished bookshelf speakers able to fill my office (a 6x5m space with pitched ceiling).

I'm pretty much decided on a second hand pair of KEF's LS50s, having been around the houses on the LSX ii's which I doubt will fill the room. But I wanted to post here for a final sense check. Here are my needs:

• Must be active, and support AirPlay, but expandable into a modular system
  
• power appropriate to a 6x5m room that could also do double duty as monitors for production (I use a set of AiAiAi studio 'phones currently)
  
• Aestetically they need to fit in a minimalist/natural vibe, lots of raw oak, white/black or ink/yellow contrasts.
  
  

Thoughts appreciated, looking to buy this month.

PS my neighbour is a professional musician and has successfully convinced me that paying extortionate amounts for speakers these days isn't worth it, as the loss is so often in the recording (did you let the mic warm up for 24 hours before using it etc etc). I won't hear your calls to spend significantly more because you've sold fewer albums than him.

minimalist/natural vibe, lots of raw oak, white/black or ink/yellow contrasts

You'll be wanting these then..

https://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/products/ae1-active/

What musicians hear in the studio isn’t really what home hifi is about though is it? although there is plenty of direct crossover from the likes of ATC/Dynaudio/PMC most of those are over 1k.
Bernard Matthews has sold more chickens and turkeys than he has albums and nobody would ask him how to cook to perfection...

There is a professional musician on this forum who’s in the RFH/RAH/Barbican nearly every week or 2 who listens to sonos at home :-)

get a sonos!

Yeah but he's a right proper dickhead.

are you in London? i am looking to sell my LS50 (og) Black edition (black matte) .. have the official stands too

Fame does that to people.

His other line is you don’t want studio speakers because they’re all flat as hell so, as much as you it might irk you, you agree 👍

I’ve not really looked into the Sonos as I think of them as a bit standard but will. Will check out the acoustic energy’s too.

I always recommend to separate the digital/streaming stuff from the speakers themselves.
a WIIM pro plus whatever amp&speaker combo is a good start. Decent speakers and amps will last decades, streaming standards will change.

If you're dead set on double duty monitors and home listening, maybe something like output frontier? I think that more standard studio genelecs and focals have a really crispy midrange that is often wearing when just listening.

^ good advice.

The Wiim amp looks nice and well priced. I imagine it sounds the same as any other decent class D module, ie, like nothing.

Sorry I was being facetious re the Sonos (the musician bit is true though)
One thing I will say is the system be it all in one or separates really hang on the interaction of speakers and the room, if that’s not right the source/amp are not going to sing.
I have a tiny pair of diminutive leema xero speakers that somehow work in my 6x5 m room of concrete/brick with a slightly sprung floor over thin joists/concrete slab and sound better than bigger more expensive speakers I had (PMC TB2s) in a smaller room with a Victorian bouncy floor.
Sealed box/front port/rear port plus the position against the wall/close to the wall/free space all need to be considered.
Those KEFs are obviously well regarded but the room and position will have a say in getting the best out of them.