Paul McGowan: We’re comfortable suggesting sound is subjective when it comes to our differences in perception, but then uncomfortable when we speak of it in absolute terms. In other words, we believe the source of sound to be absolute. The perception of sound a matter of personal choice. The dictionary describes subjective as a central philosophical […]
OPINIONS & DEBATES
A dialogue between audiophile enthusiasts
Found 763 results
Tom Service’s survey of the 50 symphonies that changed classical music Continues HERE
This is something new. I have had at least one Naim component in my system for the last 27 years. The result of all the swopping and changing ended with me having a LP12/Aro/Armagedden, CDX2, 52, Super, Snaxo, Hi, 250×2, SBL. Finally decided, enough is enough. Sold everything from 52 to SBL, only leaving my […]
When Alon Sagee was a wet behind the ears audiophile he spent his days hanging around stereo shops. Today he is the president of the San Francisco Audiophile Society. “At 20, I bought my first audiophile gear at HiFi Haven, a high-end audio dealer in my college neighborhood in New Jersey. This was definitely not a […]
Fantasy Music League, Group A: The Carpenters I love the Carpenters. Their beautifully crafted songs however, regrettably, remain deeply unfashionable, seemingly imprisoned forever within the impenetrable bunkers of ‘easy listening’ radio stations. Nonetheless, if you listen to ‘Singles 1969 – 1981’ (2005) on hybrid CD/SACD (produced for SACD by Richard Carpenter), it is a stunningly […]
Just wanted to dispel a forum myth. I have used ATC speakers for about 5 years now. I have tried many amps with varying degrees of success. I currently use the Michell Alecto Monoblocks, which I am pretty happy with. This week a friend wanted to borrow my amps, so he loaned me his Nait […]
I’d always fancied one of Alphason’s titanium tubed arms like the HR100S or a Xenon. The HR100S tends to be quite expensive (too much for a punt anyway) and I can’t say I’ve ever really heard one at its best as they mostly tend to have been wired with the horrible vdH cable throughout. A […]
As mentioned at the tale end of my write up on the history of the Leak Trough-Line FM tuner, I felt I should do a companion piece on the sound quality of Leak Trough-Line tuners, well here it is. This was an interesting and challenging project to embark on as it is the first time […]
In a recent post I relayed the story of being banned from playing the kind of music I liked on the family stereo. Not to be deterred, I set out to build my own stereo system so I could close the door to my room and play whatever I wanted. I figured all I would […]
Dear friends: who really needs an MM type phono cartridge?, well I will try to share/explain with you what are my experiences about and I hope too that many of you could enrich the topic/subject with your own experiences. For some years ( in this forum ) and time to time I posted that the […]
FYI: A thread – from a while back – that some might find contains interesting observations, advice and so on. Certainly worth dipping in and out of if you have only a few minutes to spare. Neil / editor in chief =========== I’ve been frequenting various hi fi shops recently, looking for ways to improve […]
I’m desperate to find a full-range driver, horn loaded designed, wood cabinet speaker in the next week or two. I’m depressed since having to sell my beloved Horning Agathon Ultimates and not being able to enjoy my music. I need speakers. Something to get me by for now but still satisfy my spoiled ears. I […]
A member writes … So moving coil cartridges are superior to moving magnet are they? Well, that’s common ground, but is it true….probably not. It’s yet another hi fi myth. To keep it short (ha!) the mc tends to have better detail, and thus superior soundstaging. But, and it’s a big ‘but’, that extra detail […]
I was a non-believer in capacitor service, until I came across this little NAD 310, which buzzed through speakers like hell, regardless of volume level. Still played music, so I thought – lets change caps and see… After power supply caps change (like for like, and with budget brand, to try if thinking was correct) […]
The audiophile hobby is loaded with myths, like the one about crazy expensive audio isn’t worth it. That’s true some of the time, but trust me on this, a well set up MBL101 X-Treme system that costs $250,000 will stomp all over any $20,000 speaker on the planet. Obviously most of us can’t afford it, […]
This is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Buy yourself a turntable outer rim-weight………brand doesn’t matter. These are the metal ring-type weights intended to keep the vinyl flat at the edges just as a centre clamp or weight is intended to keep the record flat at the centre. Now use it religiously on […]
Does anyone here have experience with this? Over on my recent “High-End (ahem!) British Amp” thread, I was advised that one solution to a budget ‘Power + SQ’ combo would be using a Studio-brand power amp at home, like Mc2 or Yamaha. Presumably fed by a decent pre-amp as I have multiple sources to connect. […]
Will someone please show illustrate to me why there is no point going beyond 16/44. Personally I cannot discern any difference, I would however appreciate knowing why, in detail. Many thanks.
If there is an interest I would be happy to provide ways to warm up with a variac, clean potentiometers and generally go about the cleaning and caretaking of a vintage amp to get it up to speed. This is not by any means a cure all but just a guideline for getting old tube […]
An old thread but still contains relevant and, occasionally, interesting info. Neil. I would appreciate suggestions for electronics that will work well with a pair of Harbeth 30.1s. Thank you. Dip in and out HERE
I have in the last couple of days acquired a Technics SL1210 MK2, with Paul Hynes external power supply, Funk mat and SME 3009 Series III tone arm, to which I have attached a brand new Shure M97XE cartridge. I bought it basically on a whim, and because it seemed a decent price, to […]
Have you ever gotten up for the day, flipped on your Hi Fi and thought it sounded especially good today? I have and probably most of you have too. Now imagine that the night before you had just installed a new mains power cord for your amp. Voila, you’re a believer in mains power cords. […]
Hi guys – I wondered if you guys would give me your opinions on this subject. I have an SME 3009 which was my grandfathers. I think it may need a bit of tlc to get it in working order, (although there’s nothing visibly wrong with it it hasn’t been used for at least 30 […]