Recent content by ultraminiature

In January 1981 What Hi-fi listed LS3/5A versions from Chartwell and Rogers (30x18x16 cm) at £189. They would have been expected to be matched (by price) to amplifier like the A&R A60 (£190) and Cambridge P80 (£215). Speakers like the Kef 101 (£185, 34x19x18) and JR149 (£160, 37x23 dia) are...

I agree with others that internet radio is my choice having been listening to FM with a high quality aerial for decades. Radio 4, 4 Extra, Radio Three are among my main choices. So for most of my audio listening I can use a browser and pop out the current playing programme. My speakers are...

I only just realised that on another topic. These all appeared at the top of the list and I probably mis-read it for Feb 2024 as well.

Ruark Audio MR1 MKII because anything in a kitchen get damaged by the cooking so not wanting to spend too much. Up market to Kanto YU4 or YU6, Triangle L01A , Audioengine A5+ Personally I would use a Beosound Emerge however it is only in budget second hand as a single speaker. I have a pair...

£1500 today does not gets you one streaming DSP active speaker - it is £1599. Sure other choices are available. £1 in 1994 by inflation is £2.008 3 in 2024. So your £1500 ought to be starting at at £3012. One hi-fi manufacturer has raised their prices by 32-36% over the last 12 months and most...

I had a Meridian G55 five channel power amp. It sat there just doing it's thing never needing attentions just gone on with its job. First pre-amp/power amp I heard was the Meridian 101/105 and then the Naim back in 1979, Naim won with Isobaiks and on classical but the Meridian won out on nearly...

I have some ancient speakers that when working I have no need to better. Ove the passed 10 years they fail more frequently and have spent longer in for repairs. So I got some replacements and then two more so I have a working 5.1 system. These are also old and beginning to need fixes. So I...

A newly built house with rooms designed for audio particularly a good layout for a surround sound system where doors and windows are not where I want the speakers to be placed. Upgrade my 4K 65" touch panel to the 98" one ( 8k?). Smarts would suggest ceiling speakers and in wall speakers as...

Focusrite 8i6 is solid choice for stereo input. Al modern current cassettes players are low-fi. Cheap motors, cheap heads and the kind of things you might have used with a ZX81 in 1981. If you can allocate the time and do the transfer quickly you can buy a working deck at inflated price and...

Low frequencies are non-directional. I still know where the Bass in my 5.1 system is. Having a two way speaker makes the design easier than a 3 or 4 way speaker. Less parameters to handle. The room may have issues at some low frequencies which in turn may mean that placing the sub differently...

I bought several systems for my parents before getting my own first system. I was not happy and thought if I changed the cartridge (one small change) it would magically be better. A dealer asked me to bring in my entire system and we did side by side comparisons with systems at different price...

Various motherboards built in sound card have offered a low noise floor but after a time it got bad. I used Creative Sound blasters for years and then got a Terratec USB 6Fire external six channel box. It is not supported now (by Microsoft Win 10) and their current offerings are not a direct...

Bass needs then consider Devialet Phantoms. They may have too much bass and some say they need to be driven loud to hit the balance - at least louder than other systems might. For for small and cute and Future-fi few to compare. Gets rid of all the clutter and boxes streaming services, internet...

Family acceptable and extreme decluttering:- the record deck, CD and boxes have to go. Also the cables. Wireless streaming DSP active speakers are the Future-fi. Some are fixed to a stereo pair (B&W Formation Duo, Kef LS50, LS60) and some seem to offer lots of inputs e.g. phono stage, fibre...

You can get streaming services via a connected tablet, laptop or computer or even Chromecast from a mobile phone (avoid Bluetooth because it is lossy). If wanting to connect a TV then many wireless DSP active speakers have poor latency (lip synch) and most that have HDMI or suitable optical...