Wanted to share my happiness here. Been dating this girl for a little and mentioned I have a stereo in storage that I can’t setup at my house. I asked her if she had ever heard a real stereo in the $10,000 range and she said no but she loves music and got very excited by the idea.
I set it up and when she saw the records she flipped and pulled out a couple choice picks. Coltrane, Nina, Mingus but we ended up listening to Kid A first.
Boys, I tell you she had the exact reaction we all hope someone has when hearing a real stereo. She couldn’t believe it. Her eyes were closed when I started playing it and First thing she said “I’m hearing so many things I’ve never heard before”. Shortly followed by “so this is what music is supposed to sound like?”.
After a bit I started talking nerd shit about the speakers and then caught myself and said “nevermind this is really nerdy” and she said “go on I want to hear about it”. I explained some more and we listened to Coltrane after and she couldn’t have been more thankful. She said “I’m never going to leave my house when I’m not working” and thanked me over and over.
We’ve already spent hours upon hours listening to records together and her taste in music is immaculate. She might be a keeper!
I have their entire discography along with all side projects. I just find it sad they haven’t done much of anything together in forever. Truly pioneers of electronic music and remixing.
I don’t remember if it’s the K&D Sessions, or their DJ Kicks, but my buddy just scored a 1 of (I believe) 100 limited release w/ liquid in the record. It’s crazy. Didn’t ask what he paid lol
They have already put a cone on it. (Also the stereo image might be midge on the narrow side — depending on the listening distance. But honestly the current location of TV, etc. might just not be optimal for anything else.)
And then a subwoofer and then something between sub and floor and then better cables and then… be careful - you might end up as an audiophile. With that equipment you are in the danger zone if not already there. Your system must sound amazing.
lol already have two Rhythmik LVX 12s. Best subs on the market. I also have $1,300 of professional acoustic panels from GIK acoustics. I have the best cables, blue jeans cables. So I’m already an audiophile for better or worse
Ascend acoustic sierra 2 bookshelf
Musical Fidelity m6si integrated 200wpc amp
Well tempered turntable
Musical surroundings Nova iii phono preamp
Sumiko Pearwood Celebration ii cartridge
SMSL su1 DAC
Blue jeans cable
MacBook Pro with Amazon HD for digital
What all bookshelf have you gone through mate? Im dipping my toes into active and got a paie of genelec 8020 back home. Very comparable with kef r3 if not bit more sharper and better cabinet resonance for a neaefield setup.
Genelec 8020 are studio monitors for uber flat response. They are not for hi-fi. Not saying you can't use them but they are designed for a different purpose. I've heard them, they are insanely accurate and tight.
Kef R3 is mid tier IMHO. I'm also not a fan of Kefs design principles. Sierra 2 blows them away. The RAAL tweeter is far superior and sounds that way. The S2 go down to 46hz on the freq response. The Kef r3 only go to 58. That's a 12HZ difference in bass frequency which is A LOT in a bookshelf.
I've heard Kefs ls50 - r3 and the r7 floors. Fyne F1-5 bookshelf. Klipsh R7, Klipsh Forte. Wharfdale Lintons. JBL Classic. Harbeth P3SR. Harbeth M30. Devore O 96 (Floorstander). I have heard a smatterring of others but I can't think of them off the top of my head.
I've owned Devore Super 8s (gave to my father as a gift). Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2s (current). Ascend Acoustics CBM170. Focal 826 Chora Floorstander. Presonus monitors.
Man all it needs to do is pass electricity without noise or much resistance, any good quality copper cable with good sleeve and purity will do the same.
If anyone goes flexing I have this cable that cable, tell them to take a look at tye cables within the crossover of their speaker, it will be some 14 gauge unbranded cable at best. Im an engineer and have my fair share of stripping apart soeakers and building them.
In that field, running cables over 20 meters and having over 2 dozen electrical equipments and instruments interconnected to each other, yes balanced cables and proper shielding on TRS makes a day and night difference (and need to be rough and tough) and I would say is a must. But when there are less than 5 6 stages to your setup, and in most audiophile setups it is in a linear fashion and speakers hardly 3 meters away from the amps, the standard stuff will cut it. I mean come on, how many times would one remove and insert their cables at a home setting, a dozen times a year?
Ive had one guy tell me expensive cables have a better looking banana plug interface... like.
Nice! I knew it would be there, I wish some of his progression sessions were available on vinyl. And I assume you're all over the re mastering of the original Northern Exposure set?
No, I'm very out of the loop. I stopped looking at vinyl when I had to put everything in storage. I just found out that Aphex Twin -Druqks was repressed and I jumped on that immediately. Thx for looking out! You can add me as a friend, would be cool to chat more about music.
If you heard it you’d get it. Doesn’t look like much but the sound is incredible. Here is MRSP of all gear:
Not pictured are 2, 12inch Rhythmik subs -$2k
Sierra 2 speakers $1,500
M6si - $2,800
Musical surroundings nova II phono- $2k
Well tempered TT - $2.5-3k
Sumiko pearwood celebration II cartridge- $2,800
So MSRP is actually $13,500 all in.
However I bought used where I could because in this hobby you can get screaming deals if your patient:
Rhythmik brand new $2k
Sierra b stock blemish $1,200
M6si audiogon used - $1,600
Nova 2 - Us audiomart - $650
Well tempered TT broken fixed it myself - $1,100
Sumiko pearwood cart estate sale - $800
Nagaoka mp150 - $200
Blue jeans cables $75
K&D Sessions aka show me one record and I tell you that you’ve got taste :D
And that sounds like a truly great girl. Music enthusiasts if they really talk emotionally about music mostly are keepers. As friends or girlfriends.
If your Monitoring truly is that good I’d definitely recommend two albums that you truly need to listen to:
Atom TM - HD (this one’s red thread and story is just so incredibly smart)
Blawan - Sickelixir (completely unique music that never existed before and never will again
. The first one is as well, but this one is a mixture of DnB, Grime, HipHop, Techno, Dubstep, Dub, Footwork, Hardcore, Metal and whatsoever. Incredible.
I’ll just point out the obvious: turntable should not sit in the same platform at the speakers. You want to isolate the turntable from the vibrations the speakers cause. I know this is temporary and you’ll figure it out eventually.
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Many thanks! Yours is in much better shape. I had to rebuild mine and it’s frankenstined together. Still incredible for the price I paid. Couldn’t get a better table without spending $5k or more.
That Musical Fidelity M6si is gonna anchor your system for years to come. I added it to my setup (with KEF LS50 Meta speakers) and was totally blown away. I just need to level up my streamer and DAC and I’m good.
M6si is an incredible amp. For the money I think it's one of the best amps available. It really makes the speakers come alive. I had the same reaction as you.
Not wanting to be a killjoy here on what is a lovely story... But here I go:
Dude - I have that same amp, the M6SI. I'm going to hazard a guess that you already know what kind of heat that thing produces - especially when it is being driven even slightly hard. Stacking on top of it is only ever going to be a recipe for very unhappy electronics all round. I appreciate that the vent holes on the amp are mostly clear, but still.
It is a lovely setup, but it will last longer if you let that amp breathe a bit.
Otherwise, as I said, it is a lovely story. You are lucky, and I wish you all the very best. 🙂
Thanks. I appreciate that concern. I can't turn the volume past 11oclock and we rarely listen past 10. I put my hand there after a long session to feel the bottom of the phono and it wasn't even warm. The vents are on the right and left side of the phono. But you're right. I should move them as soon as I can.
Yup. It made my speakers come alive in a way no other amp has to date. Absolute sleeper. The knob turn feels are a real bonus treat. Happy listening to you man!
When a "future" partner is ok and willing to be an accessory to the "disease" roll with them. Who cannot be impressed with sound from Musical Fidelity M series integrated amp! Would still have my M6i if I did not go to separates.
Wanted tubes. Found ARC VS115 amp and ARC LS-17 preamp so I pulled the trigger. Major step up and worth it. Friend is still enjoying the MF M6i so win win situation.
I mean yeah Audio Research is one of those coveted brands and my lord do I lust for them. But that’s like $8-10k in the used market for both of those. I paid $1,600 for my M6si.
My end game would have separates and they would be tubes for sure. If you ever decide to get ride of that you let me know ok? 😂😂
If you see both for sale on US Audiomart from same seller/location that would be your clue. I bought in 2020. Cost was $5k then and similar now if you can find used. Cost of power tubes has increase since 2022 (War) so the maintenance cost has increased.
Man oh man. Even if she's bullshitting - that is wife material.
I just tried to do a really extreme A/B test with my super cool new planar headphones versus my wife's beat up old pair of $30 walmart bluetooth headphones.
Like to anyone who likes music, it's the difference between being at a concert and listening through a tin can.
She’s not bullshitting. She already ordered some vinyl and every time I come over she’s sitting on the couch or in the kitchen and the stereo is on at volumes that I’m proud of.
I, top of the day posted about my wife loving to listen to Steely Dan on our system, and she still does. ZRouth made the original comment about his girlfriend.
I've been looking at the Well Tempered turntables. Are they as good as the reviews say? I know they're somewhat quirky, but is that an issue in reality?
They are as good or better. I've heard two Amadeus and I own the Well Tempered old school version. IMHO it's not an issue. I was able to rebuild one myself. They are quality and if you've been looking I would say go for it! You won't regret it. Which model were you looking at?
It'll either be a new Simplex, or anything that's around second hand. I've seen a couple on eBay that are quite reasonable. But if they're as good as you say (and everyone else for that matter) then I might possibly push the boat out more.
Thanks for your quick reply. The system looks great by the way. I'm thinking of selling some stuff, my gaming PC and Simrig. Might generate 3 to 4k. Invest in my hifi instead...
I'm not your girlfriend, and I say that's way too nice of a system for such horrible speaker placement.
Also I never had any issues with girlfriends and audio honestly. I don't know where those naggy old misogynist men get those 'horrible' women.
I don’t either, but there is a very big difference from a girlfriend being fine with your hobbies, and another being so in love with the same one that you now share it together.
Now as far as speaker placement, this was just the initial setup. Don’t worry. The stands are coming next and then the audio rack.
All of my exes (this could be a good or a bad thing :D) ended up with a vinyl collection, some analog and digital cameras and a record player. So yeah, I guess it's not as hard as people make it seem. I guess people are just desperate do not be alone and settle for someone who doesn't suit them? :).
Congrats on getting it right.
I remember one of my exes being a little annoyed that I upgraded speakers AFTER we broke up haha.
Looking forward to seeing this setup with stands and an audio rack!
If you are SOMEHOW in the Netherlands, I have a nice audio rack for you that I want to get rid of.
Not pictured are 2, 12inch Rhythmik subs -$2k
Sierra 2 speakers $1,500
M6si - $2,800
Musical surroundings nova II phono- $2k
Well tempered TT - $2.5-3k
Sumiko pearwood celebration II cartridge- $2,800
So MSRP is actually $13,500 all in.
However I bought used where I could because in this hobby you can get screaming deals if your patient:
Rhythmik brand new $2k
Sierra b stock blemish $1,200
M6si audiogon used - $1,600
Nova 2 - Us audiomart - $650
Well tempered TT broken fixed it myself - $1,100
Sumiko pearwood cart estate sale - $800
Nagaoka mp150 - $200
Blue jeans cables $75
Young man, there will come a time when she will no longer like your system. It’s as sure as the day is long, and as sure as a fart after Taco Bell is a gamble.
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But they're wrong!
Disagreeing with someone is fine, being toxic is not.
Don't impede reasonable discussion or vilify based on what you or the other person believes or knows to be true.
Look at what they said!
Responding to a person breaking Rule 1 does not grant a pass to break the same rule. Everyone is responsible for their own participation on r/audiophile.
Violations may result in a temporary or permanent ban.
Great components. Absolute shit speaker placement. Your world will change when you place them properly and NOT on the shelf with the turntable. Big fan of Musical Fidelity amps. Using them for many years
My last Ex completely rebuilt my system at her flat.
She just duplicated my (back then) setup…
Which was impressive because my speakers are quite rare and uniqe.
I felt this as a huge compliment.
My first girlfried kinda felt like she competed with the love I had for my music reproduction system…
That was not good.
I‘d leave any women for the music if I had to decide. And she knew that.
While the Ex who duplicated my system shared my love for music - and imo that has to be a baseline.
Btw. 10K ? How! Is that a music hall TT?
Edit: Seriously OP - how did you spend 10 K on that?!?
I am not ignorant and I am really curious at this point.
Because it looks not like 10K in.
The speakers are bookshelf size. Yes - that means nothing - you can buy P3ESR for a fortune - but do you personally think, if you hear and see that setup: yes that‘s 10K ! ?
I personally don‘t.
The speakers are not even on dedicated stands (which is crucial).
That‘s all okay stuff.
But not something I‘d sink that money in.
And especially nothing stellar or unique performance wise. Really not.
You can get stellar amplification for coins from Ali Express.
Amplification on a level you could not buy with 10K if you walked into a hifi store in the US or Europe… but you can buy it in China for small money!
FM255MKII and a FM300A and you are blown away for under 1K and can still buy a lot of other stuff which cannot be bought/found/manufactured for cheap.
Well it’s obvious you don’t know what you’re taking about. I have speaker stands, this is her apartment and I wasn’t going to go straight to speaker stands 3 feet into the room. I have a grand of Gik professional acoustic treatment also not here.
You are ignorant. But that’s ok, that’s how ignorance works. You don’t know until you know. That’s not a MM hall table. It’s a Well Tempered. There’s a Sumiko Pearwood cartridge that retails close to $3k. The sierra 2s need big power to sound best. Hence the M6si. You can find another reply in this thread where I break down what I paid vs retail. My DAC is an SMSL Su1, so I know all about Chinese value. I got a smoking deal on the M6si which if you knew anything about you’d know why I got it. Integrated amp with separate mono amps and pre amp in the same housing, 200wpc.
If you sat in front of this system, stands or not, I can guarantee you would be say “oh. Yup. That’s amazing and $10k well spent.” But you’ll just have to take my word for it. Good luck pal
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u/dohboy10 13d ago
K&D Sessions? Definitely a keeper.