Question What's your next HiFi purchase?

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A-Line

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Feb 3, 2022
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Yes, I understand they're £7 each.

But I asked what it is that makes them 'better' than the factory supplied mains leads.
Sonically, because sonically is all that matters, these cords made the sound more 3D, cleaner sound, and broadened the sound stage. Not a lot of tweaks that can do all of that for £7.00.

Interpretations are mine of course but also not that a room full of people heard the same thing so having "golden ears" is not a requisite prior to a demo.
 

A-Line

Well-known member
Feb 3, 2022
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Sonically, because sonically is all that matters, these cords made the sound more 3D, cleaner sound, and broadened the sound stage. Not a lot of tweaks that can do all of that for £7.00.

Interpretations are mine of course but also not that a room full of people heard the same thing so having "golden ears" is not a requisite prior to a demo.
*note rather than not.
 

podknocker

Well-known member
Everybody's mains power comes from the same power station, wind turbines or solar panels, as everyone else in their neighbourhood. down the same power lines via the same sub station etc, then your own house wiring. That the last metre of cable might make a very noticeable difference, makes no sense.
Exactly. One of the cheapest and most effective ways of reducing noise is the careful use of ferrite rings. Spending a gazillion pounds on a mains lead, which just standard copper inside, is a daft idea. It's the same mindset that thinks expensive speaker wiring will be effective, when it's standard copper after the speaker binding posts. The signal leaves the amp and then gets 'polished' somehow, on its way to the speakers? Speaker terminals use various materials, but the crossovers and voice coil windings will be standard copper.
 
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Jasonovich

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Ok I didn't purchase the WiiM Ultra Streamer, I came close to, that was until I looked at the small detail, it won't play DSD. OK for most people this isn't a game changer but since my collection of music is stored on DSD format (about 17K+ songs), it was too much of a compromise. I wasn't really interested in using it primarily as streamer, I have the WiiM Pro Plus for that.

I wanted all that touch screen goodness, and it would have been the ideal replacement for my SMSL SD-9 network player, which is destined to be auctioned on eBay.
1721046672114.png
Shame it wasn't to be, but I did purchase the excellent Matrix Mini i-4, it doesn't come with a remote, I got this as well from the same vendor.

The original price was £650 but selling for little as £500, if you look around. The Eversolo DMP-A6 which were originally priced £850 are now going for £600ish. There's two on eBay for £649, I was really tempted but couldn't justify paying extra £150 over the Matrix, especially when the two are sonically matched, except the later, is more a minimalistic alternative to DMP-A6.
Doesn't have Bluetooth or WIFI, headphone socket or digital outputs. I don't care for that much, just want to play my SSD's at the highest quality.

I do have buyer's remorse but it's done, I will claim back a little from selling the SMSL. The delivery should take a couple of weeks.

1721047059805.png

View: https://youtu.be/41yHr6YgBjg?si=v329nb68vHFrqQhO

View: https://youtu.be/2cg-6roELr8?si=tfHa1zIVT8Ug7OUH
 
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podknocker

Well-known member

I've not heard of this brand and this model looks great and is on offer.
 

Jasonovich

Well-known member

I've not heard of this brand and this model looks great and is on offer.
Matrix make quality products, the one you mentioned has an integrated amp. Nice!
 

Dom

Well-known member
Don't you think the WHF review of the Roksan Attessa was late in coming.

Its a shame it only got 4 stars. :confused_old:

However, it still seems a quality amplifier, one I would happily own if I could afford it.
 

podknocker

Well-known member
Comparing the Roksan Attessa, the Leema Quasar and the Matrix Audio Streaming Element P together would have been interesting. Different amp topologies, apps and very different pricing, but still a good review if it had appeared.

If I buy a new streamer, I'm making sure it doesn't have things I don't need, like a phono input or CD player. It's not going to be a cosy sounding A/B amp and will be a Class D circuit, with a display. I don't need Dirac correction or any other DSP EQ etc.

These things also allow you to connect TVs and gaming consoles etc. One box solutions were dismissed a while back, but the 'many box' setup is not necessary in my opinion. Several separates and they are all around 70% fresh air inside, because of this idea that everything needs to be 'the standard' 44cm wide.

You can get all the chips and features inside a small, neat and tidy design now. The HIFI Rose RS520 for example. It's amazing, even at the cost and it allows the addition of an SSD for local storage.

 
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Jasonovich

Well-known member
Bit of an obscure brand and we don't see any reviews of these products. I'd like WHF to review the Element P streaming amp.
WHF usually sticks to their mainstream stuff, I'm not sure they can operate outside their comfort zone. Other publication and YT bloggers have reviewed Matrix products - See HiFi Choice review of the Element X below. - not the P, I'm sure somebody has reviewed it -


It's like the HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled, quite possibly the best headphone on the planet but it's lost to WHF!

 

DougK1

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Jan 4, 2024
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It's like the HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled, quite possibly the best headphone on the planet but it's lost to WHF!

And look absolutely hideous! Typical Chinese bling, not classy at all. I'm not sure if they know how to do understated and classy.

This is a prime example of a Chi-fi brand gaining traction in the market then thinking they can go stupid with pricing, taking punters for mugs. They're up against some world class leaders in this industry with years of experience and R&D. This headphone probably costs max about of 10% of the retail price to actually produce.

I'll stick with my usual tried and tested suspects for hi-fi: Japan, US, EU, UK. I'll only gamble with Chi-fi if it's cheap and these headphones do not fit in that category.

Just my opinion :)
 
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8 grand is mental for those headphones, although I should point out, it's the leather piece below the hard metal band, that is in contact with the head. It's a very bad design that leaves the drivers so exposed and vulnerable to damage. No way I would buy, no matter what they sound like.

Focal Stellias may get on the radar, one far off day...
 
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podknocker

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I see you have a pair of Sennheiser's, Pod, they know a thing or two about headphones. Got a few pairs myself, the most comfortable being the HD650 (y)
Had my HD600 cans about 20 years and they still sound amazing. They give me loads more ambience and detail than my HIFI. I listen to Spotify through the headphones, plugged into my PC and it's incredible. The layering, reverb and panning effects on tracks are much more obvious than through my Omnia and speakers. I want a HIFI that sounds a good as my headphones! They were half price at £150 and worth every penny. I think the latest version are £270 on Scan's site. Still a bargain. After a few tracks, I forget I'm wearing mine. So comfy.
 
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Roog

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May 20, 2016
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My next HiFi purchase will probably include DSP room correction so i suppose it could be a streaming preamp like the NAD M66 or Lyngdorf integrated 'all in one' plus my speakers or maybe even active speakers, so it could be a minor change of just the front end or a full scale change about!

Its a bit scary
 

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