Audiophile Thread

Ojai Sam said:
Axo, you raise a really good point. For folks who can drop thousands for a bottle of Petrus or a copy of Led Zeppelin III, it's not about either the wine or the music.

I had a client once who served me a $100 bottle of French wine with frozen pizza. Unhappiest guy I ever knew. :(
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That's sad - almost pathetic.

Audiophilia, like any other interest (even watching TV, because "what else is there to do?") can be a giant rabbit hole. Decay begins when we do stop moving forward.

That's why I love this group. :rolleyes:
 
Nickyboy said:
I would pay as much as $1,000 or more for a "ht" pressing of vinyl. I wonder where I could find some place to make such a purchase.
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Hmmm... Feel free to call on me. :) I give you great deal for half-price.

More to the point, my Linn Sondek LP-12 left for repairs today. My vintage audio guy came to my place and lovingly cradled my TT into the trunk of his Mercedes.

Somehow, perhaps miraculously, this departure allowed my Technics SL-1500 Mk.2 to start playing music, if only but a few hours ago. :banana:
 
eitr_front_1920(1).jpg


I just bought a Schiit Eitr (yes, they mispronounce it the way you think), a USB to S/PDIF converter.

Why do I need a converter doohickey? Well, Mike Moffat, the guy that does the digital side at Schiit has always hated USB, and consequently, I think Schiit DACs haven't sounded as good as they could via that interface. Of course they have USB, because that's what the market demands, but one gets the feeling that Mike would like to relegate USB to printing duty only.

However, they just came out with Schiit USB Gen 5, which they claim is a big breakthrough in sound quality. Going forward, all the bigger (upgradeable) DACs will have Gen 5 built in, and they are offering upgrades for those bigger DACs that have older Gen 3 USB.

The Modi line (including the Multibit, which I have) unfortunately doesn't have enough space for it. But they are offering the converter that does have Gen 5 and outputs a S/PDIF signal. Reports so far indicate that there is a pretty big sound quality improvement. I'll see (hear) when I get it. They do offer a 14 day return period if one is not satisfied.
 
Well, I received my Schiit Eitr earlier today. I've been listening for about an hour. The difference is not night-and-day, but the sound appears to be more organic (natural sounding), less harsh, more open (clearer) sounding with slightly increased soundstage. I was hoping for something miraculous (though I didn't expect it), but I'll take this. I've read so much criticism of USB the last few years that it almost gave me induced audiophile nervosa. This puts that to rest.

It should be noted that I never had major problems with USB on my Asus laptop and it already sounded pretty damn good.
 
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Unsomnambulist said:
Well, I received my Schiit Eitr earlier today. I've been listening for about an hour. The difference is not night-and-day, but the sound appears to be more organic (natural sounding), less harsh, more open (clearer) sounding with slightly increased soundstage. I was hoping for something miraculous (though I didn't expect it), but I'll take this. I've read so much criticism of USB the last few years that it almost gave me induced audiophile nervosa. This puts that to rest.

It should be noted that I never had major problems with USB on my Asus laptop and it already sounded pretty damn good.
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So, you Eit Schiit, and you liked it. No harm in that.
 
Ojai Sam said:
Axo, you raise a really good point. For folks who can drop thousands for a bottle of Petrus or a copy of Led Zeppelin III, it's not about either the wine or the music.

I had a client once who served me a $100 bottle of French wine with frozen pizza. Unhappiest guy I ever knew. :(
Click to expand...

He would have been much happier with a $100 frozen pizza and a bottle of Annie Green Springs.
 
Unsomnambulist said:
Well, I received my Schiit Eitr earlier today. I've been listening for about an hour. The difference is not night-and-day, but the sound appears to be more organic (natural sounding), less harsh, more open (clearer) sounding with slightly increased soundstage. I was hoping for something miraculous (though I didn't expect it), but I'll take this. I've read so much criticism of USB the last few years that it almost gave me induced audiophile nervosa. This puts that to rest.

It should be noted that I never had major problems with USB on my Asus laptop and it already sounded pretty damn good.
Click to expand...

Let me add several hours later: I'm realizing that the lack of harshness, compared to USB, means I can listen longer with the same level of enjoyment as when I started. It's not that I ever noticed listening fatigue before, but now I notice its absence.
 
Unsomnambulist said:
Let me add several hours later: I'm realizing that the lack of harshness, compared to USB, means I can listen longer with the same level of enjoyment as when I started. It's not that I ever noticed listening fatigue before, but now I notice its absence.
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How can you be a true objectivist if you keep giving-in to the subjective? :elisabs:
 
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^ Wish we had spoiler coffins. :mad:

I'd bury my poopy .gifs in one.

In lieu of that, I'll just make this post insufferably long, and hope you read it anyway.

I am pleased to say that I receive my primary LP-12 TT back from service tomorrow. :cool: :banana:

I am embarrassed to say that it was just that I needed a new belt. :confused:

ETA: The technician also upgraded a few other parts and cleaned the thing.
 
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