Upgrading to an entry-level audiophile setup - Advice

Grant said:
i simply clicked the link.
i have no fancy software or vpn to bypass things
(im using a macbook pro and "brave" browser)
also opens using safari & ms edge
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Strange, as Qobuz is not available in ZA...

I'm sure I've mentioned it elsewhere, but I'm in Portugal for the next 3 months, happy to help setup Qobuz for anyone who wants it.
 
Dolby said:
When I said a month ago that the upgrade path is going to be fast, I didn’t expect that fast …
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Upgraditis bug bit hard :p

I advise people NOT to get into hifi and also golf. Both become very expensive very fast, both are incurable and golf on top of all is exceptionally difficult. The third dangerous 'bug' which bit me is motorcycles. All bancrupts one quickly, and one is never satisfied with what you have.
 
Pax said:
Upgraditis bug bit hard :p

I advise people NOT to get into hifi and also golf. Both become very expensive very fast, both are incurable and golf on top of all is exceptionally difficult. The third dangerous 'bug' which bit me is motorcycles. All bancrupts one quickly, and one is never satisfied with what you have.
Click to expand...
Tried golf, wasted money, new anger issues I never thought I had, words said I never used in my life -> Sold everything a year later and never looked back.
 
chrisc said:
Try these Tidal playlists, they have been created for music demos at club meetings and the CT Audio Expo

tidal.com

TIDAL - High Fidelity Music Streaming

TIDAL is the first global music streaming service with high fidelity sound, hi-def video quality, along with expertly curated playlists and original content — making it a trusted source for music and culture.
tidal.com

tidal.com

Demo two

Playlist - Demo two - 38 items
tidal.com

tidal.com

Hi-Fi Experience 2022-1

Playlist - Hi-Fi Experience 2022-1 - 18 items
tidal.com

View attachment 1821176

Demo 2 is more classical

View attachment 1821179
Click to expand...
Thank you for this, appreciated
 
Naks said:
Strange, as Qobuz is not available in ZA...

I'm sure I've mentioned it elsewhere, but I'm in Portugal for the next 3 months, happy to help setup Qobuz for anyone who wants it.
Click to expand...
What do you need to help set it up - Just the basic front and back images of my credit card sir?
 
Bewlen said:
That is a very good option. After seeing your setup, I am inclined to offer an alternative suggestion, as a better speaker might do better in a larger space, and the current ones seem to do well in your small space? Why not get the Wharfedale 12.1 or even the MA Bronze 100 to then do duty in the front rooms-scenario? Just a thought... controlling bass in a 4x4m space can be very tricky.
Click to expand...
Changing my whole desk layout at this very moment

- 3D printer has been dropped into the cupboard right below it
- Speaker stands are out
- PC will move to the far left (wall side)
- Monitors are stacked and smallest screen is flipped 180
- Speakers will go on the desk and be moved further away from each other and have a small tilt upwards to position them towards my listening position ( 1.4m distance between them now )

Just to create a more open space and separation on the desk - And having the speakers better positioned
 
Pax said:
Upgraditis bug bit hard :p

I advise people NOT to get into hifi and also golf. Both become very expensive very fast, both are incurable and golf on top of all is exceptionally difficult. The third dangerous 'bug' which bit me is motorcycles. All bancrupts one quickly, and one is never satisfied with what you have.
Click to expand...
Yup. All 3 of those for me. F*ktog.

🤣
 
B-1 said:
Hobbies are expensive. Its even worse when you change hobbies often or have multiple concurrent ones. I don't recommend that.
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I’ve noticed when I get bored at work, I google and start thinking how nice X or Z will be to have…. That night, in bed… ek slaap f-kkol, i just work out what is needed to get it.

So, recently got stuck in with work and focusing on automation in my department, that’s been a great help to stop searching for kak I don’t need.

Yes, hobbies are insanely expensive, then adding more hobbies on top of the first just destroys the pockets.

Hell, i’m a PC geek, I love tech, PC Builds, phones etc. Computers alone are bloody expensive, as well as the peripherals.

Then came CrossFit, golf, the bike, the sound, more tech in between, running (shoes), sound equipment

…… my fk, wait, no wonder I have no money left
 
  • Haha
Reactions: B-1
ViciousClone said:
I’ve noticed when I get bored at work, I google and start thinking how nice X or Z will be to have…. That night, in bed… ek slaap f-kkol, i just work out what is needed to get it.

So, recently got stuck in with work and focusing on automation in my department, that’s been a great help to stop searching for kak I don’t need.

Yes, hobbies are insanely expensive, then adding more hobbies on top of the first just destroys the pockets.

Hell, i’m a PC geek, I love tech, PC Builds, phones etc. Computers alone are bloody expensive, as well as the peripherals.

Then came CrossFit, golf, the bike, the sound, more tech in between, running (shoes), sound equipment

…… my fk, wait, no wonder I have no money left
Click to expand...

Same problem here... Luckily work is keeping me busy at the moment so I'm not going down any rabbit holes although I have to admit I've been staring at equipment to replace my lounge sound system after getting a 85" tv.
 
chrisc said:
Try these Tidal playlists, they have been created for music demos at club meetings and the CT Audio Expo

tidal.com

TIDAL - High Fidelity Music Streaming

TIDAL is the first global music streaming service with high fidelity sound, hi-def video quality, along with expertly curated playlists and original content — making it a trusted source for music and culture.
tidal.com

tidal.com

Demo two

Playlist - Demo two - 38 items
tidal.com

tidal.com

Hi-Fi Experience 2022-1

Playlist - Hi-Fi Experience 2022-1 - 18 items
tidal.com

View attachment 1821176

Demo 2 is more classical

View attachment 1821179
Click to expand...
Thank you, enjoyed listening to these.

On a technical side it sounds like the harmonics for violin / guitar / voice are not present, and may even have been folded into the lower registers. These typically occur at 8 to 10 kHz. I was listening to these on my PC speakers (Linn 5110s) which are quite detailed in this range, so maybe this would not be an issue normally. This is also quite normal with streaming.
 
Pax said:
Upgraditis bug bit hard :p

I advise people NOT to get into hifi and also golf. Both become very expensive very fast, both are incurable and golf on top of all is exceptionally difficult. The third dangerous 'bug' which bit me is motorcycles. All bancrupts one quickly, and one is never satisfied with what you have.
Click to expand...
Fortunately never got into golf, and with motorcycles decided that nothing would ever be enough, so to be happy with what one has.

Audio does however require some more discipline and thinking carefully about what one wants to achieve. Recently returned to a previous endeavor of using low latency OSs to reduce the jitter in the signal to the DAC, which has given good results. The plus side is that this will run on almost any old PC that is lying around spare.
 
ViciousClone said:
Changing my whole desk layout at this very moment

- 3D printer has been dropped into the cupboard right below it
- Speaker stands are out
- PC will move to the far left (wall side)
- Monitors are stacked and smallest screen is flipped 180
- Speakers will go on the desk and be moved further away from each other and have a small tilt upwards to position them towards my listening position ( 1.4m distance between them now )

Just to create a more open space and separation on the desk - And having the speakers better positioned
Click to expand...
uh oh
ive seen this movie before

the slope down the rabbit hole is very slippery !
 
ViciousClone said:
Same, sold the bike a year ago, that beautiful thing would have been the death of me

All black BMW S1000R (not the RR) - Miss that beauty
Click to expand...
hmm

when i was a kid i had a honda 200R

about 10yrs back - for some unknown reason - decided i needed a bike again, despite having 3 cars.
off i went - auto atlantic bmw, at the waterfront.
later that day a bmw dakar was delivered to my home !
 
Grant said:

​

​

Tracks on the playlist​

Click to expand...
Thanks!
The lists posted by Chris above have some very good tracks, in fact, was it not the music was so bad, I may have liked all tracks but 2. One recording is not good imho, the other is a great recording of horrible music. That Wellermen track was new to me and really great!

At the end of the day, the tracks demonstrate what a audiophile system can and should do. It may likely break a cheap amp (Lol) and speakers though. Very demanding on the equipment, and any shortcomings will easily show. Thanks Chris!
 
ViciousClone said:
I’ve noticed when I get bored at work, I google and start thinking how nice X or Z will be to have…. That night, in bed… ek slaap f-kkol, i just work out what is needed to get it.

So, recently got stuck in with work and focusing on automation in my department, that’s been a great help to stop searching for kak I don’t need.

Yes, hobbies are insanely expensive, then adding more hobbies on top of the first just destroys the pockets.

Hell, i’m a PC geek, I love tech, PC Builds, phones etc. Computers alone are bloody expensive, as well as the peripherals.

Then came CrossFit, golf, the bike, the sound, more tech in between, running (shoes), sound equipment

…… my fk, wait, no wonder I have no money left
Click to expand...

Best steer clear of smart homes then…
 
ViciousClone said:
Changing my whole desk layout at this very moment

- 3D printer has been dropped into the cupboard right below it
- Speaker stands are out
- PC will move to the far left (wall side)
- Monitors are stacked and smallest screen is flipped 180
- Speakers will go on the desk and be moved further away from each other and have a small tilt upwards to position them towards my listening position ( 1.4m distance between them now )

Just to create a more open space and separation on the desk - And having the speakers better positioned
Click to expand...
Ok done, some decent separation and I've made enough space for the Monitor Audio Bronze 100's

I've kept the speaker cables and amp's cables in their own sleeve, and the desktop's power cables run underneath

WhatsApp Image 2025-05-18 at 19.45.17.jpeg
 
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