POLL: Are you an audiophile??

[Viperoni]

Hey glen, you ever do any really low frequency measurements? like sub 20hz
You still need some webspace for those pics?

 

[erikiksaz]

<<Having a set of computer speakers does NOT qualify you as an audiophile>>

Hehe, that's what i was thinking too. But anyways:

Grado sr325
Grado sr60 (HAD these, but i lent them to my friend and he toasted the left transducer!!)
Creek ObH-11 Headphone Amp
Sony D25s PCDP
Straightwire Interconnects
Soon to be Kimber Interconnects

 

[glen]

<< And if you use MP3's and like the sound of them, you can't even start to say you're an audiophile! >>



Well, in truth folks can't tell the difference between mp3's and CD's

I suppose it is time to run another blind test.

Who is willing to host a couple of file and can set it up with the files and a poll which will let folks vote for which is the cd and which is the mp3 file?

 

[ViperVin2]

<< logitech z560s + acoustic edge >>

 

[ATLien247]

I would be, if I could afford to be.

I'd be an enthusiast for many different hobbies if only I had the cash flow...

 

[tweakmm]

I wish I had the money to be an audiophile, but I guess in a month im gonna be building some speakers, so its the first step

 

[VirusDub]

If I had the money, I would call myself an audiophile. Then again, I don't think I'd really need to go crazy and spend thousands of dollars on speakers. Sure, it'd be nice, but it's not my top priority.

 

[DaLeroy]

<<

<< And if you use MP3's and like the sound of them, you can't even start to say you're an audiophile! >>



Well, in truth folks can't tell the difference between mp3's and CD's

I suppose it is time to run another blind test.

Who is willing to host a couple of file and can set it up with the files and a poll which will let folks vote for which is the cd and which is the mp3 file? >>



This wasn't my intention with that statement I don't want to get into an argument on this one....

But, even listening to CD's hardly qualifies you as an audiophile. And true, listening to an mp3 on computer speakers and a CD isn't going to sound different. The term audiophile refers to high-end equipment, not computer speakers!

 

[Cyrus]

Computer:

Logitech z560 + Santa Cruz

Home Theater:

Paradigm CC300 Center
Paradigm 9SEMK3 Fronts
Paragigm ADP 350 Rears

Rotel RSP980
Rotel RB985

 

[mithrandir2001]

<<

<< And if you use MP3's and like the sound of them, you can't even start to say you're an audiophile! >>



Well, in truth folks can't tell the difference between mp3's and CD's

I suppose it is time to run another blind test.

Who is willing to host a couple of file and can set it up with the files and a poll which will let folks vote for which is the cd and which is the mp3 file? >>


I can come up with a few files that will kill MP3...or at least, low bitrate MP3/sh!tty encoder MP3. I can host the files...lemme get some stuff together.

 

[kgraeme]

Nope. I just own Paradigms.

 

[aphex]

my bad, fixed the title... and ANTnyc, get a life and grow up

 

[glen]

Here is what to do.
You need to have the CD.
Rip a song to mp3 using the latest and best LAME settings.
Convert THAT file back to WAV.
Host the original WAV and the one that was converted to mp3 and back.
Now, you have two files, both in WAV format and the same size.

 

[Harvey]

I design studio electronics, and self-styled audiophiles drive me nuts. The weirdest are the wire weenies who think 187 strands of 16 different guages of wire will make a difference, regardless of real physics or electronic theory. Then, there are the tube idoits who think a 14 watt single ended tube power amp must sound better than a well designed, well constructed solid state or tube power amp. I also know of guys selling very expensive power cords who tell you it will "lift the veil" of cloudy sound and other dufi (plural of dufus) who sell strange dots to stick on your walls, swearing they will absorb all the bad sound.

There are real, qualified audio experts, but these people are smoking something. From their smiles, I know it's good sh8, and they aren't sharing it. :Q

 

[DaLeroy]

<< I design studio electronics, and self-styled audiophiles drive me nuts. The weirdest are the wire weenies who think 187 strands of 16 different guages of wire will make a difference, regardless of real physics or electronic theory. Then, there are the tube idoits who think a 14 watt single ended tube power amp must sound better than a well designed, well constructed solid state or tube power amp. I also know of guys selling very expensive power cords who tell you it will "lift the veil" of cloudy sound and other dufi (plural of dufus) who sell strange dots to stick on your walls, swearing they will absorb all the bad sound.

There are real, qualified audio experts, but these people are smoking something. From their smiles, I know it's good sh8, and they aren't sharing it. :Q >>




Hear! Hear! Well said Harvey!

BTW, if ya ever get hold of that stuff the're smoking, send some this way

 

[Harvey]

I almost forgot to mention -- The weirdest wire weenies (WWW's) are the guys who sell speaker wire with arrows indicating which end connects to the speakers. There are reasons for connecting some kinds of cable one way, but NOT speaker wire.

 

[joemamma]

nope. spent 150 on my little 80 watt shelf system that always skips and another 40 on muddy sounding headphones.

but i'm not about the equipment, i'd rather spend my money on records.

 

[mithrandir2001]

<< Here is what to do.
You need to have the CD.
Rip a song to mp3 using the latest and best LAME settings.
Convert THAT file back to WAV.
Host the original WAV and the one that was converted to mp3 and back.
Now, you have two files, both in WAV format and the same size. >>


I'll probably have this stuff available after the forums come back after midnight and use the forums' poll ability to track responses.

I'm a little hesitant to use the best LAME settings (--alt-preset insane) because most people do not use them for normal use...it's 320kbps CBR, after all. But if your point is to prove that it's possible for MP3 to be transparent, then that's the setting to use.

Actually, I may make a few files using different settings and have people rank them from 1-3 or 1-4, for instance.

 

[Viperoni]

<< I design studio electronics, and self-styled audiophiles drive me nuts. The weirdest are the wire weenies who think 187 strands of 16 different guages of wire will make a difference, regardless of real physics or electronic theory. Then, there are the tube idoits who think a 14 watt single ended tube power amp must sound better than a well designed, well constructed solid state or tube power amp. I also know of guys selling very expensive power cords who tell you it will "lift the veil" of cloudy sound and other dufi (plural of dufus) who sell strange dots to stick on your walls, swearing they will absorb all the bad sound.

There are real, qualified audio experts, but these people are smoking something. From their smiles, I know it's good sh8, and they aren't sharing it. :Q >>



The best are the ones with $2500 power wire connecting to a $100 outlet, that runs $0.20c a foot 14g solid core wire to a $10 circuit breaker, that conencts to a $50 back bone.
On the other side, the $2500 power wire connects to a $2499 amplifier that connecto the $2497 speakers with $2498 speaker wires

 

[TallBill]

not really an audiophile, but i love music.... got logitech z560's

 

[zeon]

sadly yes... i'm the sort whose mp3 collection is on average at 224kbps... with large portions being 320kbps... and is utterly confused by how their friends can listen to mp3s at 128 on crappy computer speakers... don't they hear distortion at the highend? can't they hear the fall off and coloring in the midrange? what about clear bass? i mean i like boomy subs in a car as much as the next guy.. but if i'm gonna listen to MUSIC, i wanna hear a cleary defined kickdrum! i also detest speakers... i prefer the audio separation of headphones... particularly my grado-sr125's.... mmmmm... i wanna get the sr250s and a headphone amp... i'd be a real audiophile then...

 

[mithrandir2001]

<< I'll probably have this stuff available after the forums come back after midnight and use the forums' poll ability to track responses. >>


Link to blind test thread

 

[BFG20K]

I have been interested in setuping up a mid-fi system for a while. This spring I will possibly be getting a Cambridge Integrated Amp, cheap Sony CD player and Mission speakers.

DaLeroy, u know of any good online sights in regards to hifi?

 

[DaLeroy]

<< I have been interested in setuping up a mid-fi system for a while. This spring I will possibly be getting a Cambridge Integrated Amp, cheap Sony CD player and Mission speakers.

DaLeroy, u know of any good online sights in regards to hifi? >>



Try HTF. It is one of the best forums around for high endish equipment.

There are a few others out there....AVS is pretty good.

I'll see if I can dig any others up for ya. I'm at work, so I don't have all my links....

 

[Z24]

If I was going for straight hifi (2 ch) right now, I'd seriously look at the Linn Classik (review) mated with some Linn speakers... Katan maybe (for bookshelf)

They have this in a store near me, and it sounds amazing.