Audiophile Thread

[Nickyboy]

It seems like Spotify is trying to develop a home music player to rival Apple's HomePod: https://www.macrumors.com/2018/02/20/spotify-job-listings-physical-products/

 

[Ojai Sam]

It seems like Spotify is trying to develop a home music player to rival Apple's HomePod: https://www.macrumors.com/2018/02/20/spotify-job-listings-physical-products/

Interesting. I wasn’t even aware of the HomePod. Sounds like a pretty cool product and it can play Spotify.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Interesting. I wasn’t even aware of the HomePod. Sounds like a pretty cool product and it can play Spotify.

The HomePod can only play Spotify via AirPlay. It can only do Apple Music natively.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

I think I mentioned that I occasionally indulge myself in wanting a better sound system. Unfortunately, my insistence on saving for retirement stands at odds with those thoughts. Nonetheless, can any of you recommend a reputable web site that researches and recommends lower cost, consumer level gear?

 

[patrikc325]

I think I mentioned that I occasionally indulge myself in wanting a better sound system. Unfortunately, my insistence on saving for retirement stands at odds with those thoughts. Nonetheless, can any of you recommend a reputable web site that researches and recommends lower cost, consumer level gear?

Here is a nice pair of speakers for a good price. http://www.avsforum.com/review-dayt...ontent-unsold&utm_source=AVSForum.com20180220

 

[axolotl]

I think I mentioned that I occasionally indulge myself in wanting a better sound system. Unfortunately, my insistence on saving for retirement stands at odds with those thoughts. Nonetheless, can any of you recommend a reputable web site that researches and recommends lower cost, consumer level gear?

My thoughts are not particularly helpful. I semi-irregularly hang out at www.audioasylum.com , but I do not know any sites off the top of my head, where you would not get too much opinion from both sides. That is, those saying that you get what you pay for, those saying there are low-cost options, and others saying everybody is crazy.

Maybe, Stereophile? One has to pick his proverbial poison.

 

[patrikc325]

I have the older version of this receiver. Its good for a low dollar figure. $399

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I think I mentioned that I occasionally indulge myself in wanting a better sound system. Unfortunately, my insistence on saving for retirement stands at odds with those thoughts. Nonetheless, can any of you recommend a reputable web site that researches and recommends lower cost, consumer level gear?

I don't really know of a site, but two brands you should consider are Emotiva and Schiit Audio. Not so much mainstream consumer mass-market, but both known for providing good quality for a reasonable price.

 

[axolotl]

I don't really know of a site, but two brands you should consider are Emotiva and Schiit Audio. Not so much mainstream consumer mass-market, but both known for providing good quality for a reasonable price.

I could not have said it better...

...at least not with this router.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Many thanks for the specific recommendations. I didn't expect to find good speakers for that low a price and the receiver does everything I need. (Well, except for FM radio. Do they include that in a low-cost receiver anymore?) I'll also check out the brands you mentioned, Unsom.

Thanks!

Edit: After checking several of the reco's, I see radio is not a lost cause. Good to know.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

These are the sounds left behind when you compress a song to MP3.

https://www.theverge.com/2015/2/19/8068923/mp3-compression-ghost-suzanne-vega-toms-diner

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

These are the sounds left behind when you compress a song to MP3.

https://www.theverge.com/2015/2/19/8068923/mp3-compression-ghost-suzanne-vega-toms-diner

Interesting. Although without the baseline, the missing sounds are kind of lost in space.

My eldest brother is a professional in the sound studio equipment industry. He had an interesting observation regarding analog vs. digital. "Digital isn't better than analog. You just trade one set of problems for another." It was a simple statement that was hard to forget. Nee, impossible, as I have not forgotten it 10 or 20 years later.

Maybe that's why I have this draw to live music. My sweetheart doesn't get that at all. On the other hand, she was salivating for the last Star Wars movie, so she certainly redeems herself.

 

[Nickyboy]

These are the sounds left behind when you compress a song to MP3.

https://www.theverge.com/2015/2/19/8068923/mp3-compression-ghost-suzanne-vega-toms-diner

I really like that "lost" track. It sounds like the bed for a track from BoC or Pantha du Prince.

 

[patrikc325]

Nice pair of bookshelf speakers on sale. http://www.avsforum.com/pioneer-boo...ontent-unsold&utm_source=AVSForum.com20180313

 

[axolotl]

I really like that "lost" track. It sounds like the bed for a track from BoC or Pantha du Prince.

I agree with your conclusion. The vimeo is interesting, too.

Right after the 2:00 minute mark, one can hear telltale artifacts that actually make it possible to identify "Tom's Diner."

 

[Unsomnambulist]

432 Player is a music app for Android and iOS that shifts the tuning from A=440Hz to 432Hz on the fly. Supposedly it sounds better. I just downloaded it for my iPhone (from the App Store) but I haven't tried it yet.

They also have a Windows version.

https://www.432player.com

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I just tried the app, listening to the Black Angels' Directions to See a Ghost. It certainly is noticeably different, but I don't perceive it as better. It kinda makes the music seem brighter.

 

[patrikc325]

I just put the 432 on my LG G6. The LG has a great DAC and this did make it brighter.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

 

[axolotl]

^ Sweet spot, there.