Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Is there any real 'killer' reason to use Tidal?

Sound quality? Although I prefer Qobuz. Isn’t YouTube for video?

I remember watching a free Wilco concert on youtube a couple of years ago that had fantastic video and audio.

What's the big fuss about Wilco? Sound like another boring college rock band to my tin ears.

Request for advice: For the last few days the speaker system I have connected to my tv (TV -> Optical -> DAC/Volume -> Power Amp -> Speakers) has sounded really muffled. We've gone from a usual listening volume of -50db on the DAC to -30db to be able to hear voices properly, though now lower-frequency sounds are much too loud.

The only event that has taken place recently was getting a smart meter fitted on Monday (ie potential power surge - are they even a thing?)

If it was a power surge, whats the most likely affected component? The sound isn't distorted, more like someones changed the EQ - but none of the individual components have an EQ.

Possibly blown tweeters on the speakers (if they have them).

Edit: if you haven’t already, it would be worth turning everything off and on again, particularly the DAC and TV. The TV may well also have an EQ or sound profiles, so worth checking what that’s currently set at.

Figured that was a possibility (they do). You never think it'll happen to you.

A loud pop from everything turning on would do it, depending on the setup!

I dunno.
Took me awhile before I liked them and their best albums (like most bands) are earlier ones, still a fan though.

I’d like to get a CD player, ideally Cyrus (to match the amp) and I’m quite sceptical of differences in sound between CD players, so looking at the older models. Is there any reason not to? Or other options to consider <£200?

I’d like to get a CD player

That's an odd ambition in 2021. The best a CD player can ever be is the equal of the same data on an SSD, but bulkier and less convenient.

But it will play CD's, which if you have CD's is a handy thing to be able to do!

Think you can get a TT adaptor

Normally when you look down this route you end up with the argument that all transports should be the same but most d->a stages are different.

Cyrus made some models with a good reputation for analog output so if you are going to use the analog output rather than the digital output and a separate dac you should do ok in their older range.

Of course there's always the risk that power supply capacitors are old, displays can fail and the mechanicals might have wear and tear.

it will play CD

There's this thing the young people are talking about called "ripping". Might be worth looking into.

lol

@nick_warner - that looks amazing.

Some serious weight with all of the records in!

I tend to Royal Trux in the 2000s indie wars!

Will have a look, thanks.

Isn’t YouTube for video?

It used to be but Google merged Google Play and YouTube together for their music service.

It's a bit annoying as Google maps use YT to stream but Waze (which Google also owns) uses Tidal.

I'll probably sack Tidal off, all my music playlists (and hours of uploading my music collection to Play) means The Big G has me by the balls now.

Hard to play cds with a SSD.

The worst of both worlds there, plus I’d need a CD player to carry out said ripping.

Thanks, probably not going too old but intending to use the digital out.

Hard to play cds with a SSD.

Also virtually impossible to skin up on them too.

That's the only thing I miss about LP's.

skin up?

Rolling a cannabis cigarette.