What is good hi fi for you

[davedotco]

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hifi.

Can you define what you mean by 'cheap' or 'mid-range'? Do you have a price in mind? And at what point does mid-range stop and hi-end start?

I've always set myself an arbitrary limit of about £500(ish) per component whether new of ex-dem. With digital components or amplifiers that's reasonably easy to achieve and the quality (from my point of view and usage) is really good. New speakers or esoteric components like a good valve amplifier might need a bit more money, but still within reach without spending thousands. I don't begrudge anyone who does spend that amount of money though in pursuit of their personal happiness .. each to their own.

The price point is relative but let us say first that we need 3 basic Hi Fi components. An amp, source and loudspeakers. Let us state that cheap means indeed 500 pounds pro component. For many people the mid range budget for all three is up to 2000 pounds. Now let's focus on the loudspeakers first. The lowest (original new price) for loudspeakers who are very well arranged , win the tests with getting max rating etc. hovers in 750 pounds up to 950 pounds for bookshelves. That means that loudspeaker engineers cannot design a speaker that ticks all boxes for 350 pounds because a loudspeaker for 350 pounds although still good ( max / good rating etc ) will never be designed in a professional way. If you pull apart a 350 pound speaker you will see how each component must cost and also bring the profit back. So 100 for casing ? 50 for tweeter ? 50 for woofer ? 50 for labour ? Even when less , 50 for all the rest plus time for work and design , distribution ? Can you design a good profi speaker for this price ? So to my opinion you need to set as said the lowest possible starting cost for a professional loudspeaker. That means that a profi loudspeaker needs also earn for itsels and the company ( I do not mean putting on extra ridiuculous fake pumped up prices that will make hi fi overpriced so that will only be bought by individuals etc. ) I mean only to achieve the basis including hours of engineering work etc. including. Then add to this a profi basic amp ( again count all the components ,profi labour , design etc. ) add the source etc. So coming to conclusion - a good profi hi fi starting point for me means that new components must more or less cost around 1000 pounds each. That is over 2000 pounds without cables etc. and that is not a low budget and that is also when mid range will start to fade. If you want "a good hi fi" new ,please count with 3 up to 5 Grand for starting point. My personal opinion.

I think it is very brave of you to try and put a 'price' on equipment that you think makes a decent stab at good reproduction and in some ways I think you have been very fair.

That said, I am far from in agreement, to my mind the criteria revolves the design and what the manufacturer is trying to achieve. Some even quite modestly priced components are built for performance, sound quality above all else, conversely some quite expensive components are built to other agendas.

One of my favourite amplifiers is the Croft integrated, in a suitable system it is way, way, better than it's £800 asking price would suggest, and with suitable speakers it can embarrass far more expensive setups.

This is my benchmark, the desire of the manufacturer to get the best possible performance within a particular brief, some manage that extremely well and whilst I understand the advantages in technology and production that a big manufacturer can bring, they rarely, in my opinion, hit the mark.

Yes, I'm not saying I'm right. That's why I said "personal". I believe you can have sth. cheap/er that will embarrass sth. much more expensive. But from my personal experience it's incredibly hard to built a new, "good hi fi system" with low money. To say it differently. You can go to a shop and buy a new very very good TV nowadays. A superb TV that will cost you 500 pounds. ONLY. The same TV could cost before ( only a few years ) 1800 or up to 3000 pounds when new. With laptops it is the same. Good ones can be bought for really small money. Other pieces of technology as well. BUT with hi fi - it never changes. Good Hi Fi was always expensive - is expensive - and will be expensive. I do not know myself why it is so , but it simply is. We have new great audio technology etc. but still. you cannot simply buy a good , thruthful professional sound for cheap. Simply, HiFi is extremely demanding piece of technology.

Technology certainly works for mass market product, TVs being a good example but as any 'enthusiast' knows, paying more for better performing, more specialised product is the way forward, be it TV, hi-fi or, say, bikes.

With hi-fi it is pretty difficult, so much is about how you 'feel' about a product. To continue with my earlier example, as hi-fi I would far rather have the £800 Croft integrated than say the similarly priced PM8005, despite the latter extra functionality, finish etc. And that is without even doing a comparative demonstration, my inbuilt prejudges require the Croft to be better, that's just the way it is.

 

[Gazzip]

I have my own personal adage, " a good hi fi is when you play one of your worst bands you ever heard and it sounds amazing..."

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hi fi. Impossible ( unless bought new or second hand "hi end" ). Secondly, in comparison to other media like TV, Computers, Consoles etc. the biggest percentage of dissatisfied owners are owners of their Hi Fi systems. It's just because human sense of hearing is the least to be easily satisfied. So a good system is the one that is profesionally engineered from A to Z starting with lowest possible cost of this engineering.

I think this is definitely right when it comes to loudspeakers. However the statement when applied to the rest of the components is debatable.

I spent some of yesterday replacing the faulty transport mechanism in a CD transport that retails at £3000. The replacement like-for-like transport, which is actually an unmodified Asus OEM DVD writer drive, costs a whopping £11.82. I chose to upgrade to a Plextor mechanism which robbed me of an eye watering £29.99. Installation was plug and play via SATA cable, so there are obviously no mods to the drive and no bespoke software. Yes there was a linear power supply and some bespoke PCB in there, but nothing to warrant that price tag (which I didn't pay by the way). Basically it was a computer. I would surmise that the same quality of sound in a nice looking box could be had for £150. It was a PS Audio Perfectwave Memory Player in case you were wondering. Photo of the inside from the interweb below...

http://www.hifishock.org/galleries/electronics/ps-audio/source/music-server/perfectwave-transport-1-ps-audio.jpg

 

[Electro]

I have my own personal adage, " a good hi fi is when you play one of your worst bands you ever heard and it sounds amazing..."

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hi fi. Impossible ( unless bought new or second hand "hi end" ). Secondly, in comparison to other media like TV, Computers, Consoles etc. the biggest percentage of dissatisfied owners are owners of their Hi Fi systems. It's just because human sense of hearing is the least to be easily satisfied. So a good system is the one that is profesionally engineered from A to Z starting with lowest possible cost of this engineering.

I think this is definitely right when it comes to loudspeakers. However the statement when applied to the rest of the components is debatable.

I spent some of yesterday replacing the faulty transport mechanism in a CD transport that retails at £3000. The replacement like-for-like transport, which is actually an unmodified Asus OEM DVD writer drive, costs a whopping £11.82. I chose to upgrade to a Plextor mechanism which robbed me of an eye watering £29.99. Installation was plug and play via SATA cable, so there are obviously no mods to the drive and no bespoke software. Yes there was a linear power supply and some bespoke PCB in there, but nothing to warrant that price tag (which I didn't pay by the way). Basically it was a computer. I would surmise that the same quality of sound in a nice looking box could be had for £150. It was a PS Audio Perfectwave Memory Player in case you were wondering. Photo of the inside from the interweb below...

http://www.hifishock.org/galleries/electronics/ps-audio/source/music-server/perfectwave-transport-1-ps-audio.jpg

To look on the bright side at least it cost you peanuts to replace the transport mech. *smile*

I would be looking at a bill for $500 for a new mech if my Electro Cd transport ever fails. *sad*

https://www.encosystems.net/product/philips-cd-pro-2/

 

[Gaz37]

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hifi.

Can you define what you mean by 'cheap' or 'mid-range'? Do you have a price in mind? And at what point does mid-range stop and hi-end start?

I've always set myself an arbitrary limit of about £500(ish) per component whether new of ex-dem. With digital components or amplifiers that's reasonably easy to achieve and the quality (from my point of view and usage) is really good. New speakers or esoteric components like a good valve amplifier might need a bit more money, but still within reach without spending thousands. I don't begrudge anyone who does spend that amount of money though in pursuit of their personal happiness .. each to their own.

The price point is relative but let us say first that we need 3 basic Hi Fi components. An amp, source and loudspeakers. Let us state that cheap means indeed 500 pounds pro component. For many people the mid range budget for all three is up to 2000 pounds. Now let's focus on the loudspeakers first. The lowest (original new price) for loudspeakers who are very well arranged , win the tests with getting max rating etc. hovers in 750 pounds up to 950 pounds for bookshelves. That means that loudspeaker engineers cannot design a speaker that ticks all boxes for 350 pounds because a loudspeaker for 350 pounds although still good ( max / good rating etc ) will never be designed in a professional way. If you pull apart a 350 pound speaker you will see how each component must cost and also bring the profit back. So 100 for casing ? 50 for tweeter ? 50 for woofer ? 50 for labour ? Even when less , 50 for all the rest plus time for work and design , distribution ? Can you design a good profi speaker for this price ? So to my opinion you need to set as said the lowest possible starting cost for a professional loudspeaker. That means that a profi loudspeaker needs also earn for itsels and the company ( I do not mean putting on extra ridiuculous fake pumped up prices that will make hi fi overpriced so that will only be bought by individuals etc. ) I mean only to achieve the basis including hours of engineering work etc. including. Then add to this a profi basic amp ( again count all the components ,profi labour , design etc. ) add the source etc. So coming to conclusion - a good profi hi fi starting point for me means that new components must more or less cost around 1000 pounds each. That is over 2000 pounds without cables etc. and that is not a low budget and that is also when mid range will start to fade. If you want "a good hi fi" new ,please count with 3 up to 5 Grand for starting point. My personal opinion.

Mmmmh, pressed report by mistake. Hope that doesn't go further.

Don't worry - you were not alone! It's that sort of post which drives so many away even though it was only a personal opinion.

Exactly , a personal opinion so if you do not like then no further comments necessary. Simple.

So you're allowed to express a personal opinion but nobody is allowed to contradict it with theirs?

 

[Gazzip]

I have my own personal adage, " a good hi fi is when you play one of your worst bands you ever heard and it sounds amazing..."

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hi fi. Impossible ( unless bought new or second hand "hi end" ). Secondly, in comparison to other media like TV, Computers, Consoles etc. the biggest percentage of dissatisfied owners are owners of their Hi Fi systems. It's just because human sense of hearing is the least to be easily satisfied. So a good system is the one that is profesionally engineered from A to Z starting with lowest possible cost of this engineering.

I think this is definitely right when it comes to loudspeakers. However the statement when applied to the rest of the components is debatable.

I spent some of yesterday replacing the faulty transport mechanism in a CD transport that retails at £3000. The replacement like-for-like transport, which is actually an unmodified Asus OEM DVD writer drive, costs a whopping £11.82. I chose to upgrade to a Plextor mechanism which robbed me of an eye watering £29.99. Installation was plug and play via SATA cable, so there are obviously no mods to the drive and no bespoke software. Yes there was a linear power supply and some bespoke PCB in there, but nothing to warrant that price tag (which I didn't pay by the way). Basically it was a computer. I would surmise that the same quality of sound in a nice looking box could be had for £150. It was a PS Audio Perfectwave Memory Player in case you were wondering. Photo of the inside from the interweb below...

http://www.hifishock.org/galleries/electronics/ps-audio/source/music-server/perfectwave-transport-1-ps-audio.jpg

To look on the bright side at least it cost you peanuts to replace the transport mech. *smile*

I would be looking at a bill for $500 for a new mech if my Electro Cd transport ever fails. *sad*

https://www.encosystems.net/product/philips-cd-pro-2/

Luckily for you it would take a thermonuclear event to make a CD Pro2 fail, so your dollar is safe!

 

[ellisdj]

I have my own personal adage, " a good hi fi is when you play one of your worst bands you ever heard and it sounds amazing..."

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hi fi. Impossible ( unless bought new or second hand "hi end" ). Secondly, in comparison to other media like TV, Computers, Consoles etc. the biggest percentage of dissatisfied owners are owners of their Hi Fi systems. It's just because human sense of hearing is the least to be easily satisfied. So a good system is the one that is profesionally engineered from A to Z starting with lowest possible cost of this engineering.

I think this is definitely right when it comes to loudspeakers. However the statement when applied to the rest of the components is debatable.

I spent some of yesterday replacing the faulty transport mechanism in a CD transport that retails at £3000. The replacement like-for-like transport, which is actually an unmodified Asus OEM DVD writer drive, costs a whopping £11.82. I chose to upgrade to a Plextor mechanism which robbed me of an eye watering £29.99. Installation was plug and play via SATA cable, so there are obviously no mods to the drive and no bespoke software. Yes there was a linear power supply and some bespoke PCB in there, but nothing to warrant that price tag (which I didn't pay by the way). Basically it was a computer. I would surmise that the same quality of sound in a nice looking box could be had for £150. It was a PS Audio Perfectwave Memory Player in case you were wondering. Photo of the inside from the interweb below...

http://www.hifishock.org/galleries/electronics/ps-audio/source/music-server/perfectwave-transport-1-ps-audio.jpg

To make matter worse arent plextor drives just oem drives now days, I am pretty sure gone are the days that plextor made higher performing drives. I used to always use plextor - not any more I thought asus were the better of the drives as well ?

 

[stereoman]

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hifi.

Can you define what you mean by 'cheap' or 'mid-range'? Do you have a price in mind? And at what point does mid-range stop and hi-end start?

I've always set myself an arbitrary limit of about £500(ish) per component whether new of ex-dem. With digital components or amplifiers that's reasonably easy to achieve and the quality (from my point of view and usage) is really good. New speakers or esoteric components like a good valve amplifier might need a bit more money, but still within reach without spending thousands. I don't begrudge anyone who does spend that amount of money though in pursuit of their personal happiness .. each to their own.

The price point is relative but let us say first that we need 3 basic Hi Fi components. An amp, source and loudspeakers. Let us state that cheap means indeed 500 pounds pro component. For many people the mid range budget for all three is up to 2000 pounds. Now let's focus on the loudspeakers first. The lowest (original new price) for loudspeakers who are very well arranged , win the tests with getting max rating etc. hovers in 750 pounds up to 950 pounds for bookshelves. That means that loudspeaker engineers cannot design a speaker that ticks all boxes for 350 pounds because a loudspeaker for 350 pounds although still good ( max / good rating etc ) will never be designed in a professional way. If you pull apart a 350 pound speaker you will see how each component must cost and also bring the profit back. So 100 for casing ? 50 for tweeter ? 50 for woofer ? 50 for labour ? Even when less , 50 for all the rest plus time for work and design , distribution ? Can you design a good profi speaker for this price ? So to my opinion you need to set as said the lowest possible starting cost for a professional loudspeaker. That means that a profi loudspeaker needs also earn for itsels and the company ( I do not mean putting on extra ridiuculous fake pumped up prices that will make hi fi overpriced so that will only be bought by individuals etc. ) I mean only to achieve the basis including hours of engineering work etc. including. Then add to this a profi basic amp ( again count all the components ,profi labour , design etc. ) add the source etc. So coming to conclusion - a good profi hi fi starting point for me means that new components must more or less cost around 1000 pounds each. That is over 2000 pounds without cables etc. and that is not a low budget and that is also when mid range will start to fade. If you want "a good hi fi" new ,please count with 3 up to 5 Grand for starting point. My personal opinion.

Mmmmh, pressed report by mistake. Hope that doesn't go further.

Don't worry - you were not alone! It's that sort of post which drives so many away even though it was only a personal opinion.

Exactly , a personal opinion so if you do not like then no further comments necessary. Simple.

So you're allowed to express a personal opinion but nobody is allowed to contradict it with theirs?

No , and you know what I meant , I meant questioning by others the posting of opinion , not argument exchanging : "pressed report by mistake".

 

[Gazzip]

I have my own personal adage, " a good hi fi is when you play one of your worst bands you ever heard and it sounds amazing..."

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hi fi. Impossible ( unless bought new or second hand "hi end" ). Secondly, in comparison to other media like TV, Computers, Consoles etc. the biggest percentage of dissatisfied owners are owners of their Hi Fi systems. It's just because human sense of hearing is the least to be easily satisfied. So a good system is the one that is profesionally engineered from A to Z starting with lowest possible cost of this engineering.

I think this is definitely right when it comes to loudspeakers. However the statement when applied to the rest of the components is debatable.

I spent some of yesterday replacing the faulty transport mechanism in a CD transport that retails at £3000. The replacement like-for-like transport, which is actually an unmodified Asus OEM DVD writer drive, costs a whopping £11.82. I chose to upgrade to a Plextor mechanism which robbed me of an eye watering £29.99. Installation was plug and play via SATA cable, so there are obviously no mods to the drive and no bespoke software. Yes there was a linear power supply and some bespoke PCB in there, but nothing to warrant that price tag (which I didn't pay by the way). Basically it was a computer. I would surmise that the same quality of sound in a nice looking box could be had for £150. It was a PS Audio Perfectwave Memory Player in case you were wondering. Photo of the inside from the interweb below...

http://www.hifishock.org/galleries/electronics/ps-audio/source/music-server/perfectwave-transport-1-ps-audio.jpg

To make matter worse arent plextor drives just oem drives now days, I am pretty sure gone are the days that plextor made higher performing drives. I used to always use plextor - not any more I thought asus were the better of the drives as well ?

Asus may well be the better disc spinner on paper, but any increase in information retrieval associated with that (which I doubt there is) pales in to insignificance if the drive sounds like a jet engine full of gravel winding up when playing, as the Asus does... The Plextor drive runs silently hence my choice to go with that make/model.

 

[chebby]

I have my own personal adage, " a good hi fi is when you play one of your worst bands you ever heard and it sounds amazing..."

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hi fi. Impossible ( unless bought new or second hand "hi end" ). Secondly, in comparison to other media like TV, Computers, Consoles etc. the biggest percentage of dissatisfied owners are owners of their Hi Fi systems. It's just because human sense of hearing is the least to be easily satisfied. So a good system is the one that is profesionally engineered from A to Z starting with lowest possible cost of this engineering.

I think this is definitely right when it comes to loudspeakers. However the statement when applied to the rest of the components is debatable.

I spent some of yesterday replacing the faulty transport mechanism in a CD transport that retails at £3000. The replacement like-for-like transport, which is actually an unmodified Asus OEM DVD writer drive, costs a whopping £11.82. I chose to upgrade to a Plextor mechanism which robbed me of an eye watering £29.99. Installation was plug and play via SATA cable, so there are obviously no mods to the drive and no bespoke software. Yes there was a linear power supply and some bespoke PCB in there, but nothing to warrant that price tag (which I didn't pay by the way). Basically it was a computer. I would surmise that the same quality of sound in a nice looking box could be had for £150. It was a PS Audio Perfectwave Memory Player in case you were wondering. Photo of the inside from the interweb below...

http://www.hifishock.org/galleries/electronics/ps-audio/source/music-server/perfectwave-transport-1-ps-audio.jpg

According to PS the files are written to an internal SSD then played from that through it's DAC, rather than direct from the CD transport.

So not really a traditional set-up where all the files are played in 'real' time. A cheap DVD/CD transport is all it really needs.

Goodness only knows why it's $3000 (is that right?). Bespoke DAC? Solid metal construction (20lbs)? Shiny, hand polished top-plate?

Oh well, if it makes someone happy.

 

[Gazzip]

I have my own personal adage, " a good hi fi is when you play one of your worst bands you ever heard and it sounds amazing..."

In truth, no good hi fi can be bought new and cheap. You can forget about being happy with low to mid range hi fi. Impossible ( unless bought new or second hand "hi end" ). Secondly, in comparison to other media like TV, Computers, Consoles etc. the biggest percentage of dissatisfied owners are owners of their Hi Fi systems. It's just because human sense of hearing is the least to be easily satisfied. So a good system is the one that is profesionally engineered from A to Z starting with lowest possible cost of this engineering.

I think this is definitely right when it comes to loudspeakers. However the statement when applied to the rest of the components is debatable.

I spent some of yesterday replacing the faulty transport mechanism in a CD transport that retails at £3000. The replacement like-for-like transport, which is actually an unmodified Asus OEM DVD writer drive, costs a whopping £11.82. I chose to upgrade to a Plextor mechanism which robbed me of an eye watering £29.99. Installation was plug and play via SATA cable, so there are obviously no mods to the drive and no bespoke software. Yes there was a linear power supply and some bespoke PCB in there, but nothing to warrant that price tag (which I didn't pay by the way). Basically it was a computer. I would surmise that the same quality of sound in a nice looking box could be had for £150. It was a PS Audio Perfectwave Memory Player in case you were wondering. Photo of the inside from the interweb below...

http://www.hifishock.org/galleries/electronics/ps-audio/source/music-server/perfectwave-transport-1-ps-audio.jpg

According to PS the files are written to an internal SSD then played from that through it's DAC, rather than direct from the CD transport.

So not really a traditional set-up where all the files are played in 'real' time. A cheap DVD/CD transport is all it really needs.

Goodness only knows why it's $3000 (is that right?). Bespoke DAC? Solid metal construction (20lbs)? Shiny, hand polished top-plate?

Oh well, if it makes someone happy.

No DAC in it, it's just a transport! The partnering DAC is another £5500...

Edit: To be honest this is the first time I have really, properly questioned true value in this hobby.

 

[ellisdj]

<

Asus may well be the better disc spinner on paper, but any increase in information retrieval associated with that (which I doubt there is) pales in to insignificance if the drive sounds like a jet engine full of gravel winding up when playing, as the Asus does... The Plextor drive runs silently hence my choice to go with that make/model.

Worth 30 notes all day for silence, I hadnt thought of that. last time the disc was spinning while I was listening was a good while ago.

FWIW I have a Jcat usb isolator coming today - I will let you know if its any good. For me looking at the innuos as I said before its a no brainer but I will let you know how it fairs in my audio pc setup which is already far more comprehensive

 

[Gazzip]

<

Asus may well be the better disc spinner on paper, but any increase in information retrieval associated with that (which I doubt there is) pales in to insignificance if the drive sounds like a jet engine full of gravel winding up when playing, as the Asus does... The Plextor drive runs silently hence my choice to go with that make/model.

Worth 30 notes all day for silence, I hadnt thought of that. last time the disc was spinning while I was listening was a good while ago.

FWIW I have a Jcat usb isolator coming today - I will let you know if its any good. For me looking at the innuos as I said before its a no brainer but I will let you know how it fairs in my audio pc setup which is already far more comprehensive

Wow. That thing is £310 quid. You sure it will be worth that? I look forward to reading your review!

 

[ellisdj]

Thats peanuts in the world of serious hifi dude you know that

 

[Gazzip]

Thats peanuts in the world of serious hifi dude you know that

Indeed I do. Just feeling sore after my recent spending spree... *blush*

 

[ellisdj]

You said that before, you said no more upgrades.

You have since changed everything pretty much.

I am not digging you out i am just as bad.

Whats audiophiles worst nightmare.

9pm still no UPS - do they not know how an audiophile gets when he has to wait all day for his new toy. I think its up there with chinese water torture.

Seriously though its terrible service to have tracking details promise delivery and then just no show

 

[Gazzip]

You said that before, you said no more upgrades.

You have since changed everything pretty much.

I am not digging you out i am just as bad.

Whats audiophiles worst nightmare.

9pm still no UPS - do they not know how an audiophile gets when he has to wait all day for his new toy. I think its up there with chinese water torture.

Seriously though its terrible service to have tracking details promise delivery and then just no show

I have simply changed back to where I was 18 months ago. More a very expensive mistake than a wholesale upgrade. Honestly I am completely happy back in this position. I basically have the same system as I had back then, but with a different DAC which has made a subtle, yet significant difference in hifi terms.

I feel your UPS pain having been let down by them before. Very interested to hear from you how the USB isolator performs. Let me know!

 

[ellisdj]

If you want more info on it look up intona usb.
The jcat isolator is one with a better case.

There is a lot users of the intona and techinical information about what it does.

 

[Gazzip]

If you want more info on it look up intona usb. The jcat isolator is one with a better case.

There is a lot users of the intona and techinical information about what it does.

Did it/UPS show up? Have you got it in your system? If yes any initial thoughts?

 

[ellisdj]

Hi Gazzip

Unfortunately not mate total nightmare.

It was never loaded onto a van and ups have lost it in the local depot somehow - 8 day investigation to find it started yesterday.

Jplay being great shipped me a new unit yesterday for delivery friday.

However i just found out the short usb cable i also ordered wont be here until later as they sold out so i cant use it how i wanted to i.e straight insert even on friday.

Obviously i could just use any usb cable but it's the cable from the isolator to the dac that is important so i would want to use a good one, hence the reason i bought a jcat iso usb cable specific for the duty.

Bad luck all round dude i am afraid.

 

[Gazzip]

Hi Gazzip

Unfortunately not mate total nightmare.

It was never loaded onto a van and ups have lost it in the local depot somehow - 8 day investigation to find it started yesterday.

Jplay being great shipped me a new unit yesterday for delivery friday.

However i just found out the short usb cable i also ordered wont be here until later as they sold out so i cant use it how i wanted to i.e straight insert even on friday.

Obviously i could just use any usb cable but it's the cable from the isolator to the dac that is important so i would want to use a good one, hence the reason i bought a jcat iso usb cable specific for the duty.

Bad luck all round dude i am afraid.

Sorry to hear that mate. Nothing frustrates me more than shipping delays, especially when it comes to hi-fi stuff. I bought an Audio Research valve amp from Germany a few years ago which got lost in transit by DHL. It arrived two weeks later (yippee!), but two weeks of bumping around the near continent in a transit van had not seen it arrive in good health. Full of broken valves and capacitors, which had made successful bids for freedom from the PCB. Not cool at all.

However these are very much first world problems to have. Life could be much, much worse!

 

[ellisdj]

Life could be much, much worse!

Very politically correct dude 🙂

 

[matthewpiano]

I look for a system that is musically persuasive and engaging. Mine certainly is at present.

The other thing I increasingly look for is flexibility of access to music. CD and vinyl are, and always will be, my main sources, but I really want to have DAB and internet radio, and the ability to use Spotify etc. through the system. That's where my current set-up falls down, and an SX-N30DAB receiver might turn out to be the answer as funds allow, but it may not live up to the A400 on sound...

 

[iMark]

We played some very well recorded classical piano music today. It almost sounded like the piano was in the room. For us that's good enough. We also use our stereo system when we watch TV. So we can hear all dialogue (even when the sound is alledgely poor) and all sound effects. A good system doesn't tire you over long periods of listening. I think I found the speakers for that over 15 years ago and I have no intention of changing them. The same goes for our Cambridge Audio DACMagic through which all our digital sources, including the Airport Express and our TV, are processed. Terrific piece of kit and worth every penny I paid nearly 10 years ago.

In HiFi there is clearly a law of diminishing returns, snake-oil and misinformation. You don't have to spend a fortune to piece together a nice sounding system. Every decent seperates system will sound better than a dock.

 

[stereoman]

Full of broken valves and capacitors, which had made successful bids for freedom from the PCB. Not cool at all.

However these are very much first world problems to have. Life could be much, much worse!

Oh my....

 

[iceman16]

A good hifi system IMO is one that grabs my attention with emotion and always makes me feel so excited before turning it on