What is Best High End HI FI?

[lindsayt]

In practise it can.

If, for example, you have a source with up to 4.4 volts output then a resistor based passive pre-amp will have all the drive of an active or TVC (Transformer Volume Control) pre-amp. Whilst being more transparent than the active and having better bass and treble than the TVC.

Voltage alone does not make a circuit, you need current too!

OK then, for example a source that can deliver 4.4 volts into a 200 ohm load will give you enough current to make a resistor based passive pre-amp the highest-end pre-amp you can get in that system.

Happy now?

 

[Anonymous]

OK then, for example a source that can deliver 4.4 volts into a 200 ohm load will give you enough current to make a resistor based passive pre-amp the highest-end pre-amp you can get in that system.

While I'm sure someone, somewhere can find such a system passive only pre-amps always seem to be a bit lifeless. There is no particular theory why, unless perhaps dynamic heating of the carbon track causes compression.

 

[hortensio]

the fact the we can share everytyhing in this forums prove that "things are not 100% subjective"....one can improve his/her quality of listening...our ear ( as human body in general)is very flexible and adaptable...it will "learn" how to hear SQ better than what he/she used to hear....it takes time...

 

[CnoEvil]

the fact the we can share everytyhing in this forums prove that "things are not 100% subjective"....one can improve his/her quality of listening...our ear ( as human body in general)is very flexible and adaptable...it will "learn" how to hear SQ better than what he/she used to hear....it takes time...

The way a system sounds is not subjective, but the interpretation of the way it sounds is. When people share information (which is great), it is always tainted by the "taste" of that person.

People naturally fall into rough groups ie. Those that like a very neutral, detailed, forward, exciting and slightly brighter sound (Cyrus, ATC, Focal) vs warmer, smoother, more organic, fluid and emotional sounding (Class A, Valves, Lavardin, Electrocompaniet, Sonus Faber, Harbeth). Once you know what group you fall into, it makes it easier to know who to listen to.

Generally speaking, everybody thinks that they are right and advise accordingly. The arguements that arise on here, are when people believe that their opinion is "more right" than others......it all just highlights how subjective this hobby is.

 

[lindsayt]

While I'm sure someone, somewhere can find such a system passive only pre-amps always seem to be a bit lifeless. There is no particular theory why, unless perhaps dynamic heating of the carbon track causes compression.

In your system they may well be a bit lifeless, in which case we're back to the "Less is more if you can get away with less." In your system it sounds like we can't. So we need an active pre-amp.

There's no carbon track in the high-end (soundwise) resistor based passive pre-amps I'm talking about which are either: stepped attenuators or LDR's.

 

[lindsayt]

The way a system sounds is not subjective, but the interpretation of the way it sounds is. When people share information (which is great), it is always tainted by the "taste" of that person. People naturally fall into rough groups ie. Those that like a very neutral, detailed, forward, exciting and slightly brighter sound (Cyrus, ATC, Focal) vs warmer, smoother, more organic, fluid and emotional sounding (Class A, Valves, Lavardin, Electrocompaniet, Sonus Faber, Harbeth)...

A system with genuinely high-end sound will combine: neutrality, detail, excitement with organic, fluid and emotional sound. All of which adds up to a high proportion of recordings sounding vaguely like a live band / orchestra playing in your room.

 

[nopiano]

All of which adds up to a high proportion of recordings sounding vaguely like a live band / orchestra playing in your room.

Or better still, like you are in the venue where it was recorded. I'd not want to hear anything much stronger than a solo flute or violin in my listening space, but I do expect to hear some semblance of Abbey Road, the Concertgebouw, or Madison Square Gardens, as the case may be.

 

[Anonymous]

In your system they may well be a bit lifeless, in which case we're back to the "Less is more if you can get away with less."

Less can be more - true. That's why I don't use a pre-amp at all, the signal from the pin of the DAC goes (via a 100k pot!) into grid of an Amperex ECC88, which drives a 6N2P-EV driver pair that drives the output pentodes.

And I regard the short wire from the ECC88 anode via some russian PIO + silver mica capacitors far superior to the usual electro cap + a bunch of phono plugs and cables with dissimilar metal contacts and general corrosion 😉

My next amplifier will avoid any mechanical attenuation by driving the beam deflection grids of some 6AR8 tubes, as even the best stepped attenuator or transformer preamp has extra parts than that.

 

[Anonymous]

Internet Radio Streaming is already taking off. It enables users to choose gadgets that can play various computing apps like iTunes, Napster and many Online Radio stations on other gadgets like the ones in this list.AirPlay is a protocol developed by Apple that allows devices to wirelessly stream audio, video, and photos. Apple has begun to license the audio-streaming portion of the technology for use in third-party devices.Other companies have come with similar technologies. Some of the Hi Fi systems are purposely built to connect to multiple Online services. See this site which list Hi Fi's that already have have this capability.

 

[Ultima893]

Hahaha, so true. Pro tip: If the missus ever complains about what ever soundsystem you've got cooking in your house, just let her have a butcher's at Kipnis' Snell THX reference system and she'll love what you've got! :rofl:

 

[CnoEvil]

The way a system sounds is not subjective, but the interpretation of the way it sounds is. When people share information (which is great), it is always tainted by the "taste" of that person. People naturally fall into rough groups ie. Those that like a very neutral, detailed, forward, exciting and slightly brighter sound (Cyrus, ATC, Focal) vs warmer, smoother, more organic, fluid and emotional sounding (Class A, Valves, Lavardin, Electrocompaniet, Sonus Faber, Harbeth)...

A system with genuinely high-end sound will combine: neutrality, detail, excitement with organic, fluid and emotional sound. All of which adds up to a high proportion of recordings sounding vaguely like a live band / orchestra playing in your room.

You make a good point, but imo the groups get a lot closer but don't quite meet. In my case, the high end gear would always be valve/class A, probably Audio Note or Pathos with some SF Phoenix or AN speakers. As soon as you replaced the speakers with say Focal Grande Utopia EMs or Kef Muon, I wouldn't get the same enjoyment. Recently I heard £110k worth of kit which was very good indeed, but it wouldn't be how I would have spent it.

So what I'm trying to say is that no SS amp that isn't Class A, no matter how expensive, would meet my ideal. Also putting certain speakers on the end of my perfect system, would end up taking the shine off.

Anyway, at the end of the day, it's all hypothetical and only my POV. 🙂

 

[CnoEvil]

Hahaha, so true. Pro tip: If the missus ever complains about what ever soundsystem you've got cooking in your house, just let her have a butcher's at Kipnis' Snell THX reference system and she'll love what you've got! :rofl:

Yup. You came up with it, so it should be known as the "Ultima Solution!" 😉

 

[Ultima893]

Hahaha, so true. Pro tip: If the missus ever complains about what ever soundsystem you've got cooking in your house, just let her have a butcher's at Kipnis' Snell THX reference system and she'll love what you've got! :rofl:

Yup. You came up with it, so it should be known as the "Ultima Solution!" 😉

That just gave me an idea. 😀 I'll be saving poor audiophile husbands worldwide 🙂

Edit: Here's a link to Stereophile's review of the Type A Reference (hi-fi version of Snell's THX reference system)

http://www.stereophile.com/content/snell-acoustics-type-reference-loudspeaker-page-3

Apparently it ships in cartons weighing 300 pounds lol :doh: