Audiophiles Get In Here!

[Ah Pook]

So as not to further highjack another thread.

I'll add something later.



[DJ][Rock]

[def90]

Bose! Nothing beats it

[ruthabagah]

Bose are the "Lexus" of the audio world:they are not the more exiting choice, they are far from being the least expensive choice, but they are reliable and give an excellent sound year after year...

[hobowh]

Schnell all the way

[fly boy]

BLose! N E thing beats it

FIFY

Klipsch

[clublights]

Electro-Voice

[def90]

Schnell all the way

Do you mean Snell? If so I used to sell them years ago and they sounded great, too bad they aren't around anymore.

Denon used to be great and one of my favs until they started moving their production out of their own plants in Japan to China. DOA product and repairs skyrocketed at that point, now only their flagship receiver is made in Japan. They are now owned by D&M now as well as Marantz and McIntosh. If you take any of them apart the internals are nearly identical these days.

Blose.. don't even get me started, I can't figure out how they ever developed such a hardcore following, I guess mass marketing works for them.

Monitor Audio has some great speakers. NHTs are my favs for flat response monitor speakers, if you want to hear music as it was mixed in the studio get some NHTs. Genelecs sound good but I've seen too many go in for repair to support them anymore. B&W are great but you are going to put out some serious money for them. KEF has a great product line, they can be a llittle bright though. Klipsch, not sure why people think a horn tweeter in anything other than a high power stage monitor is a good thing.

[Teufelhund]

Currently have all Polk speakers in my home theater; they're the best bang for the buck IMO. If I could afford it, I would run all Dynaudio. Those are the best sounding speakers I've ever heard.

[sellersm]

Mark Levinson amps, or Krell. B&W speakers, especially the 801 series. Of course, a vacuum sealed turntable, tube preamp...and LOTS of vinyl!

[HoneyBadger]

Polk is where its at

[roberth]

Mark Levinson amps, or Krell. B&W speakers, especially the 801 series. Of course, a vacuum sealed turntable, tube preamp...and LOTS of vinyl!

Now you're talking, good gear that stages, provides depth, and sonic beauty.

I used to be into this at the low end, Audio Research LS-1, Rowland Model 1, Mirage M3SI (before they went el cheapo crappo). I still have my CAL Delta CD transport and a Theta DA, CAL is out of business. My plan back then was to move up to a pair of Dunlavy SCIVs, better amp, pre-amp, transport, and DA but it got too expensive.

[Gman]

Bose! Nothing beats it
All highs, no lows, must be Bose.

I likes me some audio conversation. I've been a fan of Onkyo for quite some time. They make good high-current amps.

My primary AV receiver is a flagship Denon from over a decade ago.

Main speakers are JBL L5s, CL505 center, a pair of Definitive Technology bi-polar sides, and a pair of JBL L1s in the rear. A Carver Sunfire TrueSub Signature completes the set.

Lost my HT TV late last year. Still looking for a replacement.


Sent from my electronic leash.

[Tim K]

Real men build their own.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/tkulin/IMG_0767_1.jpg (http://s27.photobucket.com/user/tkulin/media/IMG_0767_1.jpg.html)

[Graves]

Agreed!

[fullmann]

All highs, no lows, must be Bose.



I always thought it was NO highs, NO lows, must be Bose.

That at may have just been the car audio side though.

[Gman]

I always thought it was NO highs, NO lows, must be Bose.

That at may have just been the car audio side though.
Their satellite speakers weren't even able to do a decent job of mids. Somebody needs to let Bose know that a "subwoofer" should go below 20 Hz.

[Gman]

Real men build their own.
Oh, you wind your own coils, build your own cones, glue on surrounds...

What, put drivers in a box?

[NFATrustGuy]

I had a decent setup back in the late 80's:

NAD Tuner/Amp
Nakamichi cassette deck
Denon CD player
Thorens turntable
Ohm Walsh 3 speakers for the front
Boston Acoustic A60's in the rear

[Alpha2]

I have,
oh, wait, I've got 4 years of Morse code in headphones, same time of RTTY sigs blaring through speakers trying to get the wave just right, then 35 years of aviation noise, MUCH of it before the magic of electronic noise cancelling, then a bunch-o-years of firearms of numerous calibers, before the suppressors I have now, so, the thought of high quality audio massaging my ears, is kind of wasted on me. Considering the forum we're on right now, and with what I've read of most of y'all's jobs, we're all just pissing in the wind.

[hollohas]

Oh, you wind your own coils, build your own cones, glue on surrounds...

What, put drivers in a box?
I built my own too. I don't build the drivers, buts let be real, the enclosure is extremely important. It must be custom built to the correct dimensions to best suit the driver combonations and specs along with the crossovers. All my enclosures I have used software to design correctly.

I have however built my own crossovers including winding my own inductors.

[Gman]

I built my own too. I don't build the drivers, buts let be real, the enclosure is extremely important. It must be custom built to the correct dimensions to best suit the driver combonations and specs along with the crossovers. All my enclosures I have used software to design correctly.

I have however built my own crossovers including winding my own inductors.
That's pretty cool building your own crossovers. I built some of my own speaker enclosures back in the '80s. I had to use a book and some math to figure out issues with standing waves and resonant frequency.

[sellersm]

I dabbled with ribbon/planar speakers for a while (Magnepan) and really liked them.

One of the best things is to expose yourself to live music, preferably the kind with non-electronic instruments. That way you have a true reference. As a musician, I've got many years of exposure to "live " music which helps a lot in knowing how I want my music to sound.


Sent from my fat fingers using Tapatalk

[jerrymrc]

I see what I have done. [Flower] Still stand by what I said. Just to kind of reply to some of the comments in no particular order and some thoughts.

Some of the Polk products are not bad but I have not heard any of there newer speakers in awhile. I have some and have owned some but Polk started meeting a price point long ago.

Currently have 4 systems in the house. One setup is my own 2way design speakers that sounds good and has a Yamaha preamp, a GAS power amp, a Marantz tuner and Yamaha and Technics for the CD and TT.

Downstairs has a Yamaha amp driven by a Carver pre. Magnepan are the speakers. Garage system is a Yamaha receiver powering a set of HPM 700's or a set of NS-690's Reloading room has Yamaha, driving a set of Polk Monitor 4's. I also have a HT setup that currently has Polk speakers but I need to finish my Sat-Sub setup that uses JBL/Vifa drivers.

I am one of those people that grew up in the 60's-70's that spent $400 on my first true stereo in 72. It only got out of hand from there. I have heard speakers in the last few years that range all the way up to $6000 per pair and have to say some of them sounded pretty nice.

I like building things myself as well. [Coffee]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/oldgroup163Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/oldgroup163Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/oldgroup206Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/oldgroup206Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/oldgroup157Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/oldgroup157Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/oldgroup173Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/oldgroup173Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/oldgroup225Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/oldgroup225Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/oldgroup227Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/oldgroup227Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/canning328Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/canning328Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/canning324Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/canning324Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/canning342Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/canning342Medium.jpg.html)http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac44/jerrymrc/audio/canning355Medium.jpg (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/jerrymrc/media/audio/canning355Medium.jpg.html)

[NFATrustGuy]

I like building things myself as well.

That is some really cool stuff!

One of these days I'd like to talk with you via PM about what it would take to design a subwoofer system for my home theater setup in my basement. I'd like to incorporate it into a raised platform I built out of 2 x 12's for a stadium seating setup. I'd like to use the 2 x 12 box that's roughly 5' x 8' by 1' tall to house the amp and woofer(s).

When I finished the basement, I ran coax and 12 gauge speaker wire from my amp through the wall to my big box. My hope is to hide the subwoofer.

This site is pretty cool. Lots of experience in lots of things.

[Hound]

+1 but I also like my Bose.


FIFY

Klipsch

[Tim K]

Oh, you wind your own coils, build your own cones, glue on surrounds...

What, put drivers in a box?

I'm still a rookie working wood, but I found the curved transverse laminated boxes fairly challenging.

There's a build thread here:

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?229889-Curved-cabinet-Overnight-Sensation-build

And another detailing the sub.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?230762-OS-MTM-s-and-matching-Exodus-Anarchy-Sub

[sellersm]

Jerrymrc, which model Magnepan speakers?

IMHO Polk was ok at first. Same with Carver.


Sent from my fat fingers using Tapatalk

[hobowh]

I did my phone nicely auto corrected...


Do you mean Snell? If so I used to sell them years ago and they sounded great, too bad they aren't around anymore.

Denon used to be great and one of my favs until they started moving their production out of their own plants in Japan to China. DOA product and repairs skyrocketed at that point, now only their flagship receiver is made in Japan. They are now owned by D&M now as well as Marantz and McIntosh. If you take any of them apart the internals are nearly identical these days.

Blose.. don't even get me started, I can't figure out how they ever developed such a hardcore following, I guess mass marketing works for them.

Monitor Audio has some great speakers. NHTs are my favs for flat response monitor speakers, if you want to hear music as it was mixed in the studio get some NHTs. Genelecs sound good but I've seen too many go in for repair to support them anymore. B&W are great but you are going to put out some serious money for them. KEF has a great product line, they can be a llittle bright though. Klipsch, not sure why people think a horn tweeter in anything other than a high power stage monitor is a good thing.

[davsel]

Still have my Polk Audio SDA 1Cs from 1989 - Purchased tax free from the BX in England. Added a DBX BX-3 Power Amp and fared well in the dormitory stereo battles.
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHPPgQBxjLwoJ5M4or6SPWHeMDVzs8g gSvX4BAymgC7rwABt245Q

http://home.earthlink.net/~web-police3/D3.jpg

My father-in-law recently passed away and left us some Marantz and McIntosh tube amplifiers, turntables, and various high-end (for the time) equipment.
I'll probably be putting the vintage stuff up for sale once I figure out what we've got.

[sellersm]

I remember the SDA 1Cs! Always liked McIntosh equipment!

[GilpinGuy]

Kraco for the car. Audiovox for the house.
[Coffee]

[jerrymrc]

Still have my Polk Audio SDA 1Cs from 1989 - Purchased tax free from the BX in England. Added a DBX BX-3 Power Amp and fared well in the dormitory stereo battles.
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHPPgQBxjLwoJ5M4or6SPWHeMDVzs8g gSvX4BAymgC7rwABt245Q

http://home.earthlink.net/~web-police3/D3.jpg

My father-in-law recently passed away and left us some Marantz and McIntosh tube amplifiers, turntables, and various high-end (for the time) equipment.
I'll probably be putting the vintage stuff up for sale once I figure out what we've got.

Love that AMP. Had a set of rt11's back when. If you need any help with your stuff head over to Audiokarma.


Jerrymrc, which model Magnepan speakers? SMG, SMGa, 3, 3a, MMG and 2.5r. and others. When I moved the WAF did not like the 2.5r in the basement so I sold them and bought another set of MMG. I now regret that so one day I want another set.

[Honey Badger282.8]

I'm a big fan of internet-direct companies because they offer way more value for the dollar than big name speakers.

Samsung PN50B650 Plasma
Onkyo TX-SR806
SVS PB-2000 Sub
EMPTek R56Ci
EMPTek E55Ti

I'm still using some older Polks for surrounds but I'll be replacing them with EMPTeks soon.

[electronman1729]

[QUOTE=jerrymrc;1858479]I see what I have done. [Flower] Still stand by what I said. Just to kind of reply to some of the comments in no particular order and some thoughts.

Some of the Polk products are not bad but I have not heard any of there newer speakers in awhile. I have some and have owned some but Polk started meeting a price point long ago.

Currently have 4 systems in the house. One setup is my own 2way design speakers that sounds good and has a Yamaha preamp, a GAS power amp, a Marantz tuner and Yamaha and Technics for the CD and TT.

Downstairs has a Yamaha amp driven by a Carver pre. Magnepan are the speakers. Garage system is a Yamaha receiver powering a set of HPM 700's or a set of NS-690's Reloading room has Yamaha, driving a set of Polk Monitor 4's. I also have a HT setup that currently has Polk speakers but I need to finish my Sat-Sub setup that uses JBL/Vifa drivers.

I am one of those people that grew up in the 60's-70's that spent $400 on my first true stereo in 72. It only got out of hand from there. I have heard speakers in the last few years that range all the way up to $6000 per pair and have to say some of them sounded pretty nice.

I like building things myself as well. /QUOTE]

Pretty Cool! I like the vacuum tubes!

[ANADRILL]

Bowers an Wilkens 800 series, with nad audio reciever and amp:) amazing sound on this end:)

[OctopusHighball]

Am I an audiophile if I think XM sounds like music played under a backtrack of two cats screeching while making sweet, sweet luv?

Or if I think most albums today sound like a tin speaker in a fuzzbox?

Or if the first time I heard my favorite album on CD I was all WTF?

Or if I cry like a baby at classical music played live in a concert hall?

Am I an audiophile if I refuse to spend more than $500 for any system?

Or if I don't need to refinance my house to get a pair of speaker wires?

Or if I don't have any tube vacuum amps?

Or if the best headphones I have are a pair of Grado SR80s?

[jerrymrc]

Am I an audiophile if I think XM sounds like music played under a backtrack of two cats screeching while making sweet, sweet luv?

Or if I think most albums today sound like a tin speaker in a fuzzbox?

Or if the first time I heard my favorite album on CD I was all WTF?

Or if I cry like a baby at classical music played live in a concert hall?

Am I an audiophile if I refuse to spend more than $500 for any system?

Or if I don't need to refinance my house to get a pair of speaker wires?

Or if I don't have any tube vacuum amps?

Or if the best headphones I have are a pair of Grado SR80s?

The above has nothing to do with it. My take is that it is more a state of mind than the amount of money spent. Many of the things above have no place here and I will send any one that even starts to play the snob game packing because I can. Just saying.[Flower]

[brutal]

Vintage is where it's at baby.

Tracking thread for when I have time to post pics...

[Bitter Clinger]

Rookies.....My Samsung wally world special is BEAST! lol

I have my grandpas Marantz set up. STILL sounds pretty damn good for being made in the late 70's.

Need to figure out custom car audio, I bought a set of Focal's for my 47'. Gonna need to be a custom job as there is nowhere for the speakers to go, plenty of room, just no "stock" place for them.

[sellersm]

Bowers an Wilkens 800 series, with nad audio reciever and amp:) amazing sound on this end:)

B&W speakers rule! Try them with something like a Krell or Levinson power amp! They'll literally come alive... Congrats on the 800 speakers, they're awesome!

[crays]

Any of you a-philes do repair work? I have an infinity bookshelf speaker that's blown, and a denon receiver that the tuner is out.
PM if you can/would like to help.
Thanks in advance.

[Gman]

I went through my vinyl days outside of this state. I can't imagine dealing with the static and dust in CO.

[Honey Badger282.8]

The biggest thing I've noticed since getting into the audio hobby is that the quality or type of AV components you have takes a back seat to the source material. Since the loudness wars have taken hold of the recording industry there is a lot of music that sounds like crap even in a lossless format. I've also noticed that recordings done digitally tend to sound better digital and the older analog recordings sound better on an analog format.