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I was privileged enough to write the first in what we hope will be a new series of blogs on The Audio Beat called "What I'd Recommend To A Friend." This blog will be about older, but still sonically worthy products that we, the TAB writers, would recommend to someone looking for better sound but either unwilling or unable to pay the price of new High-End gear. I think this is a great idea, so keep your eyes out. Who knows, you just might see something that works for you as the piece under discussion in this initial blog has for me.
Here's the link:
Just my (adjusted for inflation) $2
John Crossett
___
It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.
Follow Ups:
further muddles the AA tendency to confuse high-end products from mid-end products and take things out of context. This is especially problematic in digital file playback where audiophiles increasingly view using a noisy computer as a cheap way to get into the high end. This used to be a high end website: and although the current paradigm is understandable, - (given our current state of oppression), - it is lamentable.
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
"further muddles the AA tendency to confuse high-end products from mid-end products and take things out of context. This is especially problematic in digital file playback where audiophiles increasingly view using a noisy computer as a cheap way to get into the high end. This used to be a high end website: and although the current paradigm is understandable, - (given our current state of oppression), - it is lamentable. "We are just lowly audio slime who bow to your audiophile greatness...
Even your bike has STREAMERS!!!
Edits: 06/23/15 06/23/15
Pee Wee Herman is doing backflips even as we speak...
-RW-
""We are just lowly audio slime who bow to your audiophile greatness"'Naw, just inexperienced, - criticizing things that you choose to remain in ignorance of.
Maybe some day, you'll grow up and stop crying......
Nice bike by the way, (competing with Ivan)?, would love to have that one in my stable to go with my glider.
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
Edits: 06/23/15
However, looks like it hasn't been ridden in quite a while judging from the (lack of) air in the tires...[g]
-RW-
You misunderstand the purpose of the blog - it's to offer suggestions to people who otherwise might not find out what high-end audio is all about by offering ideas (older but still excellent) on audio items that one can buy cheaply and enjoy great sound. It won't be limited to high-rez, but encompass all aspects of a system.....at least that's the hope.
Just my (adjusted for inflation) $2
John Crossett
___
It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.
Do you consider it noisy? Also, if we could define our terms a bit, what exactly do you mean by high-end vs. mid-end (with examples, if possible)? (TIA!)
Sure....
Thanks for asking.....
Below are my opinions, based on my experience, that I don't expect to have any value to anyone else...and I endeavor to be open minded, understanding that my opinions are going to change in light of new experiences.
Computer:
It's a noise box for sure. I optimized one of my squeezeboxes and after careful listening, could hear differences, and the Mini beat it: but the differences weren't dramatic. Any commercial computer is essentially a "noisebox." For PCs, it's the power supply, PCI bus, Hard Drive controller, and motorized hard drive. Chip fans? OMG!!! EMI is through the roof. CD/DVD drives are incredibly noisy, there's no damping materials in the case, cheap USB buses that have variances in their output, video cards, - sometimes with fans, some built into the mainboard... MACs are not much better, and have similar issues. i believe that one can drop north of $5K or $6K on computer mods and by disabling almost all aspects that make it fit the definition of "computer," (so it in essence becomes exclusively a digital file player), and still have it not equal the better network players. I believe a computer can be modded to give one very good sound: but not worth it, comparatively.
Over the weekend, a friend gave me his Auralic Aries, and i have been comparing it to the Mini, - first impression is that it's significantly better than the Mini, - especially in dynamics & soundstage.
Traditionally, the high end was separated by a rough, general, loose, moving, (how many qualifiers can I use)? {Cause I take S$&T when I say it} classifying price of $1K per component. I think that there are several items that cost less than $1K and several that suck that cost more than $1K, that are hi-end, mid-end respectively. (That largely came from Stereophile).
The companies of NAD & McIntosh, no matter how expensive, are mid-fi companies that make mid-fi products. NAD cuts treble, McIntosh can't make treble sound right, and boosts low mids to an unnatural level. Oppo is a mid-fi company. Their SACD players sound OK with SACD, but their redbook playback is mediocre at best. Some high-end companies like Wadia, Meridian, etc. make both SOTA products, as well as low cost products.
In general, (I agree with TBone, many reviewers, and others who've heard a lot of products), {Not saying that I have as much experience as many of them}; that there's a significant separation between the Audio Aero's, Wadia's, Linn, Meitner, Berkeley, Lindeman, Ayre, Cary, Zanden, APL, Esoteric, and the Sony's, Marantz, Project, Cambridge, Anthem, Oppo, Yamaha, Pioneer etc..
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
Like you, I'm speaking for myself here, and I just replaced my four-year-old Mac Mini with a current, tricked-out Mac Mini about a week ago. Neither of these Mac's made/make as much noise as the fan in my Marantz UD8004 does, and, regarding the various internal noises and interferences leaking out into the audio stream, I've yet to hear it, even if I try headphones (or putting my ear up next to the speakers!), with and without music playing.
Regarding the brands you mention, I try to keep in touch with what I can at the California Audio Show each year. Most of the time, I feel that there's a difference in the sound, but I'm not convinced that a given difference necessarily translates as an improvement in the sound. (The constrained environments of a show usually don't allow for optimum presentation of the SQ in any case.) I'd probably have to live with a component for awhile before coming to any conclusion. (You mention Meridian, and, as a multi-channel kind of guy, I've consistently been impressed by the Meridian exhibits I've heard though.) I also feel that, because of economies of scale, one can potentially get better SQ at a given price point with one of the larger manufacturers you mention (Sony, Marantz, etc.) than with a smaller, more esoteric manufacturer. I suppose you could argue that perhaps the smaller companies don't have the overhead of the larger ones though. As JM likes to say. . . FWIW and YMMV.
Nice write up!
I am about to unbox my still factory-sealed DV-79AVi that I purchased, brand-new, for $150.00 when they were being cleared out. You didn't see the thread I started on SHF on this machine?
And I've contributed to most of them.And thanks for the nice words.
Just my (adjusted for inflation) $2
John Crossett
___
It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.
Edits: 06/15/15
Quick, tell me, while the oppo fan boys still not within earshot.....
Hahahaha, outside of the fact that its an older model that was DVD/SACD/DVD-A, nothing really. It's enjoyable, but missing the detail and refinement of the better player - like the Pioneer. Plus the drawer was starting to have troubles opening and I didn't feel like fixing it when I could get a better sounding piece for the cost of the repair.
Just my (adjusted for inflation) $2
John Crossett
___
It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.
. . . although, truth to tell, I don't listen to it much these days since I've been spoiled by the convenience (and, I must say, sonic superiority) of rips and downloads played back by a variety of software, such as Audirvana, HQPlayer, and VLC (and also since I acquired a newer model Marantz player for when I do need disc playback). In its glory days, I used to use the dv79avi (and, previously, a dv59avi) connected to my Pioneer receiver via the Firewire input: 5.1 24/96 on a single cable, producing what I (and some reviewers) considered superior audio quality (compared to the analog connections). That was living! ;-)
which Marantz spinner- Chris?
Rest of main system below:
Picked up a nearly germ-free DV-9600 of ebay for about $300 a couple years ago and couldn't be happier.
Wife uses it to spin DVD's from the library and I spin an occasional SACD/CD in it with decent results.
Blows away my older disk spinner, the venerable Marantz CD67SE.
I use the Pioneer Elite 59AVi for DVD playback and have heard that the 79AVi is the better player for music playback.
Very nice! JMC.
(nt)
Just my (adjusted for inflation) $2
John Crossett
___
It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.
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