Question Suggestions for foundational parts of a longer term vinyl setup

[Entrigo]

In my experience, it's got to be worth a go with hearing aids. If you're in the UK, then places like Specsavers do tests for free, but if you had a test at the hospital, then they'll likely just reaffirm the results of that test.

I've worn mine for the past 8-10 weeks now and as my audiologist said at my follow-up last month, "you just have to wear them to get used to everyday sounds; they don't work stuck in a drawer. The more you rehear and relearn sounds, the less strange they'll seem". I was tested again and there's no change from 6 years ago. I undoubtedly hear better with them than without, and the huge bonus is that they do not interfere whatsoever with listening to music through headphones, so I've opened up a whole extra layer of detail there.

In my specific case, I was being a bloke, being vain, I was too quick to dismiss hearing aids after a rough start with them and I was probably hiding from the truth a bit. If specialists tell you your hearing is dodgy, then they're right. I knew my hearing wasn't great but the stigma of hearing aids deterred me to the point of shooting myself in the foot by not wearing them. I just had to put my big boy pants on and the funny thing is that a few people have since taken me to one side to ask about them, the whole hearing test process etc., as they too have been struggling with their hearing!

I can't comment on tinnitus (the audiologist at whichever specialist you visit probably can), but if you spend a mid-range amount of about £1,000 you'll get a small, rechargeable pair and they will make a difference. But you WILL get surprised by the racket when you put a coat on for the first time, step on that creaky floorboard, do up your flies.....

Pleased to hear it is working out for you.

Yeah, it's pretty much the same here "I'm 50, I'm too young for hearing aids", "it will look stupid", "I can do without" etc...

Will need to follow this up anyway as I should have heard from them. Definitely on the radar.

 

[RTHerringbone]

Neat Petite Classics 10% off at Doug Brady. Hmm.

Hmm indeed.

Yeah. I'm not missing out on this. Neat Petite Classics arrive next week - probably Tuesday or Wednesday.

When I listened to them last year I loved them at the Audio T demo room and they outshone the other options I compared them to. I didn't bite the bullet then because my KEFs sounded great in the demo room too and I wasn't 100% sold on the incremental value I'd see.

However, I *knew* that these were always going to be my (for now.....) end-game part of the downstairs set-up, and 10% off adds up and caught my eye. So I went back to Gumtree to try and shift the LS50 Meta. Plenty of interest and a few enquiries and cheeky offers, but nothing quite good enough to swing the deal.

I've just had a chat with Doug Brady and they initially shied away from a Trade-In as their view was that the LS50s hold value and usually sell at ~75% of RRP, so they thought they couldn't offer a tempting enough price. I dangled a carrot a fair few quid above the highest offer I had privately on Gumtree and they've gone for it, so I just pounced because there's no need to hold fire on a deal which I'm happy with, and which should see Doug Brady easily able to flip the Meta's for an easy bit of money too.

 

[Revolutions]

Starting 2026 as you mean to go on? I like it 😎

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Yeah. I'm not missing out on this. Neat Petite Classics arrive next week - probably Tuesday or Wednesday.

When I listened to them last year I loved them at the Audio T demo room and they outshone the other options I compared them to. I didn't bite the bullet then because my KEFs sounded great in the demo room too and I wasn't 100% sold on the incremental value I'd see.

However, I *knew* that these were always going to be my (for now.....) end-game part of the downstairs set-up, and 10% off adds up and caught my eye. So I went back to Gumtree to try and shift the LS50 Meta. Plenty of interest and a few enquiries and cheeky offers, but nothing quite good enough to swing the deal.

I've just had a chat with Doug Brady and they initially shied away from a Trade-In as their view was that the LS50s hold value and usually sell at ~75% of RRP, so they thought they couldn't offer a tempting enough price. I dangled a carrot a fair few quid above the highest offer I had privately on Gumtree and they've gone for it, so I just pounced because there's no need to hold fire on a deal which I'm happy with, and which should see Doug Brady easily able to flip the Meta's for an easy bit of money too.

Absolutely fantastic speakers......and they'll take a couple of amplifier upgrades along the way, mine really started singing with the Electrocompaniet eci6 mkii.

 

[RTHerringbone]

Starting 2026 as you mean to go on? I like it 😎

Yeah, in a roundabout way I was a bit inspired by your decisive action in your downsizing thread. Difference circumstances here, but I still use it as justification 😆

Absolutely fantastic speakers......and they'll take a couple of amplifier upgrades along the way, mine really started singing with the Electrocompaniet eci6 mkii.

Nobody would believe me if I said this was the last destination on this journey, so I won't even pretend it is. I'm really looking forward to getting them - midweek can't come too soon.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Yeah, in a roundabout way I was a bit inspired by your decisive action in your downsizing thread. Difference circumstances here, but I still use it as justification 😆


Nobody would believe me if I said this was the last destination on this journey, so I won't even pretend it is. I'm really looking forward to getting them - midweek can't come too soon.

The little Neats should also sound very nice with the Nait 50....!Naim and Neat are excellent bed fellows, so I've heard.....I have owned A Naim Superuniti in the past but never had a chance to hear it with the Neats unfortunately.