Any audiophiles? (1 Viewer)

[KHarp1]

My first love was music, particularly live music, but, as a young kid fell in love with my older cousins separates system he had, along with the monster speakers he built. This was a rabbit hole, still is.
Just curious if there are any other audiophiles here? If so, what setups do you have? Do you prefer tubes or solid state? Analog or digital?

 

[Roslindale]

For my headphones, I have an AMP&SOUND tube amp. McKenzie. With Node 2.0 for dac/streamer.
Headphones are Focal Stellia.

I'll get some proper pics tonight. (Music is definitely my drug)

I have a 2 channel set up also.

 

[QueYo]

I have Schiit components with Magnepan 1.7i speakers. I'm pretty content with it. (Being content may disqualify me from being an audiophile.)

I've definitely turned to the digital side; use Qobuz for my streaming.

 

[djfayze]

Audiophile over here. Started collecting vinyl and building my system about 5 years ago. Still a student and should be making some big upgrades down the line, but love what I’ve got right now.

-Martin Logan Motion 40 tower speakers
-Fluance RT85 turntable
-Ortofon Blue cartridge
-Yaqin tube phono preamp
-Emotiva stereo amp/receiver
-Denon DVD3910 SACD player
-About 300 albums on vinyl, 20-30 on SACD

EDIT - Link to my collection on Discogs: https://discogs.page.link/zuV1

 

[KHarp1]

For my headphones, I have an AMP&SOUND tube amp. McKenzie. With Node 2.0 for dac/streamer.
Headphones are Focal Stellia.

I'll get some proper pics tonight. (Music is definitely my drug)

I have a 2 channel set up also.View attachment 1099253

And a pipe smoker

 

[Budha]

Yessir - going on 30 + years - lol. Tube and analog definitely preferred. Love the 50’s - 60’s era sound. They just don’t make iron like that anymore.

Primary System

I have a couple vintage systems, this one is my favorite. The vintage sound is amazing!!

 

[Defarse]

SVS subwoofer
Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 mains and center and HTM-200 surrounds

 

[TheYeti]

I really don't like the term "audiophile", for me it always conjures up $1000 cables, rocks you put on your CD player, and various other snake-oil products that pervade the audio industry. I've been in this hobby for over 40 years and believe me, I've seen it all.

I like to call myself an "audio enthusiast", and while my set up is geared more towards home theater, it also does music very, very well.

 

[Roslindale]

2channel set up with
NAD C-658 (streamer and dac)
Parasound 2125 (2 channel amp)
REL 812 (subwoofer)
Martin Logan 60xt (speakers)

The 2 channel is integrated with a 7.1.4 surround system
Marantz SR6014
Martin Logan 50xt (center channel)
Focal Dome flax (ceiling speakers)
Martin Logan motion 15 (surround speakers)

 

[Budha]

rocks you put on your CD player, and various other snake-oil products

Geoff Kait - lol.

I've been in this hobby for over 40 years and believe me, I've seen it all.

Same -

Guys like Kait are a joke, but I tend to think that’s the minority. Although they can be vocal- lol.

 

[KHarp1]

Which Dynaco's are those? Are they 70's? Are they running in mono? Didn't realize those ran in mono.

 

[TheYeti]

Geoff Kait - lol.


Same -

Guys like Kait are a joke, but I tend to think that’s the minority. Although they can be vocal- lol.

OK, I take it back, I have not seen it all.

Never heard of Geoff Kait, so I Googled him....this has got to be a joke, right??

 

[KHarp1]

I try not to associate the term audiophile with the gullible. As far as cables go, I was in the camp of they probably don't make much of a difference until I heard them make a difference. Its all relative, I wouldn't loom my quarter million dollar system with zip cord from Walmart, nor would I put a 100k loom on my big box HT receiver.

 

[TheYeti]

I try not to associate the term audiophile with the gullible. As far as cables go, I was in the camp of they probably don't make much of a difference until I heard them make a difference. Its all relative, I wouldn't loom my quarter million dollar system with zip cord from Walmart, nor would I put a 100k loom on my big box HT receiver.

Was it a double-blind listening test? If not, all bets are off. Expectation Bias is real, and quite powerful.

 

[slurpeee]

Was it a double-blind listening test? If not, all bets are off. Expectation Bias is real, and quite powerful.

I come to this forum to escape the cable debates

 

[surfik]

AudioNote speakers, Musical Fidelity E11, Rotel CD and custom vacum lamp amplifier from Ukraine....
Over 500 Cds and not enoug time to listen

 

[surfik]

I come to this forum to escape the cable debates

Northen Pole is a place I recommend..

 

[Klobberer]

Good enough for my 55 year old ears...

And yes, there is a second speaker. Tape deck, CD player and graphic equalizer are still in storage.

 

[Klobberer]

You know why music sounds better on vinyl?

It was better!

 

[Budha]

View attachment 1099409
Which Dynaco's are those? Are they 70's? Are they running in mono? Didn't realize those ran in mono.

They are MkII mono blocs. There is also the MkIII version.

Similar to the ST70, but beefier x-formers, power supply, etc.

 

[Budha]

OK, I take it back, I have not seen it all.

Never heard of Geoff Kait, so I Googled him....this has got to be a joke, right??

Nope - it’s for real - lol. I used to seriously get into with him back in my AudioAsylum days - lol.

 

[wickedwonka121]

My first love was music, particularly live music, but, as a young kid fell in love with my older cousins separates system he had, along with the monster speakers he built. This was a rabbit hole, still is.
Just curious if there are any other audiophiles here? If so, what setups do you have? Do you prefer tubes or solid state? Analog or digital?

My depth in this hobby is mostly the design (number of speakers, frequency response, speaker power rms vs amp power, crossovers, and eq tuning). I haven't jumped down the hole of type of amps and building my own speaker boxes. I have built my own subwoofer enclosures. I don't want to jump down that rabbit hole. I need to sleep at some point. Attached is what happens to my cars about 6 weeks after I get them to the house.

 

[KHarp1]

No, I'm not going to get into any debates about cables, if you can't hear any differences then don't spend the money. Please don't try and tell me that I can't hear a difference on the system I've spent many years piecing together. I'm in my late 50's and have been in and around the business since my very early 20's. I've critiqued many pieces, and spent long hours traveling great distances to gain experience and knowledge. I don't care what you listen to as long as you're enjoying the time you spend in front of your system. Simple as that. I'll respect your journey, hopefully you'll respect mine.

 

[Budha]

My depth in this hobby is mostly the design (number of speakers, frequency response, speaker power rms vs amp power, crossovers, and eq tuning). I haven't jumped down the hole of type of amps and building my own speaker boxes. I have built my own subwoofer enclosures. I don't want to jump down that rabbit hole. I need to sleep at some point. Attached is what happens to my cars about 6 weeks after I get them to the house.

Nice! I’m a car audio guy as well - lol.

I’m a sucker for the old school 90’s Rockford Punch class A amps! Also run a few OG JL’s as well.

 

[KHarp1]

My current system is:
Main
MastersounD Evolution 845 SET Integrated
Rosso Fiorentino Siena speakers
PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC and transport
Wireworld Eclipse loom
PS Audio P5 powerplant

2nd system
Joule Electra LA 150 highly molded by Rick Brkich at Signature Sound
Odyssey Audio Stratos Dual Mono Extreme
Various streaming pieces on loan for review
LSA signature bookies

 

[FlushBlack]

Went tubes around 10yr ago..if you think chip prices have gone stupid, try finding good NOS tubes. (like leaded chips)

 

[KHarp1]

Yeah, I'm probably going to be moving away from tubes when what I have now goes out. Got turned on to a company called Norma, solid state that will make me not miss tubes.

 

[wickedwonka121]

Nice! I’m a car audio guy as well - lol.

I’m a sucker for the old school 90’s Rockford Punch class A amps! Also run a few OG JL’s as well.

View attachment 1099467

The hardest thump, just behind the jl audio w2s from way back in the 90s, was a Rockford setup my buddy's dad built. I believe it was four 8" subs under the seat of a Ford f250 4 door. That thing was so nice! Rockford is very solid. "High five".

 

[ovo]

always thought speakers were king, bought near top of line polk back in 89, they still sound great

 

[ovo]

always thought speakers were king, bought near top of line polk back in 89, they still sound great

but now, I'd rather spend money on poker chips