I'm bored with hi-fi.

[Stuart83]

Same here, I have been using Bluetooth a lot less and using CDs more and for me the sound is so much more better. Real kick arse stuff.

I agree contrary to modern belief CDs always sound noticeably better to me regardless of streaming quality and platforms etc.

 

[davidf]

They're going to have their day again...

 

[JDL]

In my view, providing you have the right combination of equipment, which does not, I will add necessitate spending a fortune, I fail to see, or hear, to put it more accurately, how one could get a better sound than via the humble CD.

 

[Friesiansam]

In my view, providing you have the right combination of equipment, which does not, I will add necessitate spending a fortune, I fail to see, or hear, to put it more accurately, how one could get a better sound than via the humble CD.

The DAC in my headphone amp, does a fine job so, CDs ripped to my PC, is the way I will continue for a long time.

 

[JDL]

The DAC in my headphone amp, does a fine job so, CDs ripped to my PC, is the way I will continue for a long time.

Ah well, indeed I never think of headphones. My thoughts on the matter, presuppose the use of a system with speakers.
Of headphones and associated equipment I have no knowledge or opinions.

 

[plastic penguin]

I've had very mixed feelings regarding headphones. The headphone socket in the amp is very good.

I've owned Grado SR60i but drove me bonkers. The levels of detail was painful. Also owned a cheap set of Sennheiser, far more pleasant.

Currently have a cheap set of Sony, purchased from Tesco. Not great but do a job for my needs.

 

[Friesiansam]

Ah well, indeed I never think of headphones. My thoughts on the matter, presuppose the use of a system with speakers.
Of headphones and associated equipment I have no knowledge or opinions.

I've had very mixed feelings regarding headphones. The headphone socket in the amp is very good.

I've owned Grado SR60i but drove me bonkers. The levels of detail was painful. Also owned a cheap set of Sennheiser, far more pleasant.

Currently have a cheap set of Sony, purchased from Tesco. Not great but do a job for my needs.

My comment was really only about the fact that I get very good results from CDs and, will continue with CDs.

I only use headphones because, that’s just the way it has to be.

 

[DCarmi]

I only use headphones because, that’s just the way it has to be.

I used to stick headphones on in the front room when someone else was watching TV but I was repeatedly told I was "breathing funny". So I tried not to "breathe funny" but it ruined the whole listening experience.

Now, when the room is otherwise occupied, I just go upstairs and listen to music on my own and breathe how I like.

 

[Jasonovich]

I used to stick headphones on in the front room when someone else was watching TV but I was repeatedly told I was "breathing funny". So I tried not to "breathe funny" but it ruined the whole listening experience.

Now, when the room is otherwise occupied, I just go upstairs and listen to music on my own and breathe how I like.

I almost exclusively listen to my headphones, I only listen to speakers when I'm alone, basically less distractions but I do have a dilemma, do i listen to the Adam's in the study or Dali's in the bedroom, or the little Dali's in the dining room or Monitor Audio's in the lounge? Oh decisions decisions

 

[DougK1]

I almost exclusively listen to my headphones, I only listen to speakers when I'm alone, basically less distractions but I do have a dilemma, do i listen to the Adam's in the study or Dali's in the bedroom, or the little Dali's in the dining room or Monitor Audio's in the lounge? Oh decisions decisions

Far too much choice Jason, you need to ditch some of it

 

[JDL]

My comment was really only about the fact that I get very good results from CDs and, will continue with CDs.

I only use headphones because, that’s just the way it has to be.

Me too. I really enjoy listening to my CDs. I find them easy to manage. I enjoy the little ritual of choosing one, removing it from its case and placing it in the player.
It's not completely unlike the old records in its tactility. I do find those 'jewel cases' annoying, because some of the second hand ones are broken but I can live with that.
From all the reading I've done about even the most expensive ripper/player devices, people still complain (some of them) that the sound isn't as good as the CD. Therefore, my lack of computer skills may well restrict me to the continuing use of the CD.
I might get my head around using EAC to back up my collection but I have so many other things going on that it might remain a dream.

 

[daveh75]

From all the reading I've done about even the most expensive ripper/player devices, people still complain (some of them) that the sound isn't as good as the CD.

They are of course chatting 💩

Bit perfect rips are trivial.

 

[Gray]

Far too much choice Jason, you need to ditch some of it

✅That was precisely what I thought.
Any normal person would

 

[jjbomber]

do i listen to the Adam's in the study or Dali's in the bedroom, or the little Dali's in the dining room or Monitor Audio's in the lounge? Oh decisions decisions

I have a similar situation. Focal in the bedroom, Naim in the kitchen, Dynaudio actives in the Dining Room and Kef in the lounge. My headphone choice is similar as well, though I have the Quad planars to go with the Focal Elegia.

 

[crimson69666]

Still love the sound of my bundles, have used it sparingly over the last couple of weeks. Hope I'm not falling out of love with the kit. Perhaps I've had the amp too long, I don't really know - I'm scratching for an answer.

Search for the best recording quality releases and the most linear soundsystem. For me, it was really easy to select audio components, i'm in heaven when i listen to high quality recordings (Try with Patricia Barber as an example). Don't forget that your listening room , speakers placement and your listening position account a lot for the final fidelity.

 

[Jasonovich]

Far too much choice Jason, you need to ditch some of it

Yes true, I probably can get rid of the HiFi in the lounge, I hardly use it, except when friends come round. Ah all that empty space!

 

[Jasonovich]

I have a similar situation. Focal in the bedroom, Naim in the kitchen, Dynaudio actives in the Dining Room and Kef in the lounge. My headphone choice is similar as well, though I have the Quad planars to go with the Focal Elegia.

Nice. I do think (not something I do often) having different setups in different rooms, stops you from getting bored with HiFi.

Excellent choice with the Elegia's. I had no idea Quad made Planar Magnet headphones. Very Nice JJ

 

[Jasonovich]

Me too. I really enjoy listening to my CDs. I find them easy to manage. I enjoy the little ritual of choosing one, removing it from its case and placing it in the player.
It's not completely unlike the old records in its tactility. I do find those 'jewel cases' annoying, because some of the second hand ones are broken but I can live with that.
From all the reading I've done about even the most expensive ripper/player devices, people still complain (some of them) that the sound isn't as good as the CD. Therefore, my lack of computer skills may well restrict me to the continuing use of the CD.
I might get my head around using EAC to back up my collection but I have so many other things going on that it might remain a dream.

I never tried EAC, maybe worth looking into.
I use EZ-CD software to rip my CD's on to my SSD/NVME M.2, it allows you to upscale to higher frequencies, I usually convert it to FLAC 88kHz.
I won't say it sounds better but it's as every bit (no pun intended ) as good as the original.

 

[Friesiansam]

I never tried EAC, maybe worth looking into.
I use EZ-CD software to rip my CD's on to my SSD/NVME M.2, it allows you to upscale to higher frequencies, I usually convert it to FLAC 88kHz.
I won't say it sounds better but it's as every bit (no pun intended ) as good as the original.

Extra processing, just because you can, even though you don’t think it makes any difference, seems rather pointless.

 

[jjbomber]

Excellent choice with the Elegia's. I had no idea Quad made Planar Magnet headphones. Very Nice JJ

That's them; Quad ERA-1. they're great for serious music listening. Something like Led Zeppelin's Presence, on which you can pick out all the layers on Jimmy Page's overdubs. The album sounds very different then to playing it through the loudspeakers, up against the furniture and room dynamics. The obvious example is Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, which Gilmour says has 7 guitar overdubs on, but I can't count that high anyway!
The Elegia's are just for fun, toe-tapping rock tracks, where I don't have to do any thinking. Just crank it up and get lost in the music.

 

[plastic penguin]

Nice. I do think (not something I do often) having different setups in different rooms, stops you from getting bored with HiFi.

Excellent choice with the Elegia's. I had no idea Quad made Planar Magnet headphones. Very Nice JJ
View attachment 6816

I can't do that. We only live in a small two bedroom bungalow with a tiny kitchen.

 

[plastic penguin]

Search for the best recording quality releases and the most linear soundsystem. For me, it was really easy to select audio components, i'm in heaven when i listen to high quality recordings (Try with Patricia Barber as an example). Don't forget that your listening room , speakers placement and your listening position account a lot for the final fidelity.

Speaker position has always been constant. Anyway, as I've always said, the kit is superb for the money -- it's music in general I'm bored with.

 

[Friesiansam]

The Elegia's are just for fun, toe-tapping rock tracks, where I don't have to do any thinking. Just crank it up and get lost in the music.

That's why I like the Elegias and, why I kept them, after sending back Beyerdynamic T5Ps, that were too clinical for me and, isn't that the best way to listen to all music?

 

[Jasonovich]

Extra processing, just because you can, even though you don’t think it makes any difference, seems rather pointless.

You make a fair point. I'm looking at it from the perspective of storage, converting it from the original wav. format to FLAC frees up space on my SSD and thus, more music on the disk with no discernible differences in the sound quality.

 

[Jasonovich]

That's them; Quad ERA-1. they're great for serious music listening. Something like Led Zeppelin's Presence, on which you can pick out all the layers on Jimmy Page's overdubs. The album sounds very different then to playing it through the loudspeakers, up against the furniture and room dynamics. The obvious example is Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, which Gilmour says has 7 guitar overdubs on, but I can't count that high anyway!
The Elegia's are just for fun, toe-tapping rock tracks, where I don't have to do any thinking. Just crank it up and get lost in the music.

Fabulous .
Totally agree about the Elegia's, they're engaging and fun to listen to. When I was commuting yesterday to London, I took them on their maiden run. The looks I got on the train, yeah enjoy your plastic B&O's, your Beats, your *rap wireless, these are the real deal, hahaha!

Still I have to be really careful in London anything shiny will attract the Magpies