So I tried moving my speakers away from the wall like you suggested. They were originally about maybe less than a foot away but you suggested for serious listening sessions to move them 2 or three feet from the wall. maybe even further and right now I've got them about four feet from the wall. In the biggest thing I'm noticing right off the bat is it is a lot less fatiguing to my ears I'm getting a lot less harsh frequencies that were causing me to not want to sit and listen through an album. I'm sure with some acoustic treatment I could get an even better listening experience 👍thanks for the tip
Have you tried some kind of buffer/dampening I'd say about a foot directly behind your speakers? Could experiment with acoustic ceiling tiles on maybe a guitar stand .
No there isn't anything right now I would like to put a little bit. the ceiling is popcorn ceiling and it's carpeted floor and there's some couches in the room so it does have some stuff in its favour but having it brought out to 4 feet I had to toe the speakers in quite a bit for my listening position. the stereo seperation and sound staging was even better than it was before. There was a certain part of the song that I was anticipating coming up and it actually made me smile it was so good. I have pretty long speaker wire 12-gauge 25-foot I only needed like 20 feet when i installed it all but 20-feet wasnt enough (i was 6 inches short) so I had to get 25 so I had 5 ft of extra wire that I was able to move the speakers.
A used Lyngdorf1120 amp/dac with Room Perfect is Perfect for you. Speakers.. AudioNirvana full rangers, and home made cabs. I use their 8'' neo in Oris Horns. MAGIC.
My friends and I bought our starter systems (phono, amp, speakers) back in the late 70’s for $600. That’s around $2,500 today. I’d have to say you can get a pretty decent sounding system today for that money. And probably a lot more choices. It won’t be built as well, but it will sound superior to what was available then. Audio is still alive and kicking 🙂.
If you play DVDs you have a bad system that is inferior than what you heard in the 1990s , 440bit rate compresses the sound and you lose the harmonic content futher with inferior solid state preamp system ! I cannot listen to more than 1 DVD as it gets irratating to my nerves with that brittle sound ! You can find great sounding units from Cambridge audio - Rotel - Nad and no where else like Pioneer or others can reproduce music definition note that breath harmonic tone like those three ! The Nad has the most musical subwoofer sound you can get as a stand up bass note decays and vibrates the air so realistic its unreal !
@@ijamsum Which modern NAD units are we talking about? I'm one of the first buyers of the classic NAD 3020 from the early 80's. Love them and Cambridge Audio separates. Kinda leaning towards the all new Outlaw RR 2160 mkii.
t+a below 7-800 receivers etc. accuphase below 800 50-50 etc. more maybe much more decent timess. speakers are complic8ed. hellish expansive pövväir hungry etc. easilly 5 digitz!!!!! used to run my old magnetz tp 35 daytime no one ever complainett. at least 75 db i guess. 95 would have bin sö nice... well 65+ id slayy
Another great list Steve. Feel free to elaborate more. These are your bread and butter and I don't think your audience minds watching for a few more seconds to get your thoughts on each piece or recommended combinations. Another idea might be "If you had $4,000 and wanted to build a system to listen to Pop, Rock via vinyl and streaming what would you buy?" Perhaps do one system around high efficiency speakers and tube amp and another around low sensitivity bookies and high power amp.
This is what sets Steve apart from other reviewers. He doesn't just gets a piece of equipment and reviews it. He recommends set-ups that won't break the bank. Glad to see Triangle included. Even their entry level bookshelves smokes a lot of their competitors in the price range. The realism I get out of them is astonishing.
Steve is right about Magnepan speakers. I got the LRS. My electronics cost over 10x of the speakers price but these can scale up with better supporting gear. They are not the most transparent speakers out there, but the soundstage, imaging, and details out from these speakers are top notch. They rival my $10K Dynaudio speakers!!
@@gillian_seed8358 55 watt solid state is pretty marginal for them I had the LRS for a month or so and upgraded to the 1.7i. I ran the LRS with a small tube amps (25 watt and 50 watt ), but they weighed nearly 50 pounds. Solid state gave better bass response. Solid state, you probably need a solid 100 watts at 4 ohms. I'm running 450 watt monoblocks with the 1.7i in an 11' x 14' open-ended room. The biggest issue with Magnepans is having enough room. They need to be 5 or 6 feet in front of the front wall. Maybe you can get away with 4 feet, but more is better.
@@Old_Sailor85 my amp does 45 at 8 ohm and only 60 at 4 ohm, but I’m kinda wanting to eventually sell and get at least a Marantz pm8006 which is 70 at 8 ohm and 100 at 4ohm……pm8006 is looking like it would push just about any speaker i could ever imagine owning. Wish i would have just got it from the get go i guess thats what i get for thinking a 700 dollar amp (i paid 425 open box) would suffice for my tastes in listening…. But its not a bad amp right now its pushing elac debut 2.0 b6.2 i got for 260 on amazon (350 dollar speakers) and a Marantz cd5005 as my only source currently.
@@gillian_seed8358 probably not that well. Scotty we need More Power. I have mine with a Bryston 4BST 350 watts into 8 ohms. While the LRS dont play super loud they still want juice. They also need space. Kind of picky but given juice the bass is acceptable for example.
About a year ago, I took the plunge and purchased a pair of Dynaudio Emit M20 bookshelf speakers, so they are the bookshelf version of the floor standing M30 speakers you mentioned. Needless to say, I was very impressed with how good these speakers sound. Very laid back and smooth sounding, amazing pinpoint imaging and soundstage, with excellent bass for a speaker of it’s size, and fantastic clarity with those soft dome tweeters. Now I need to buy a better amplifier to get the best out of them. Now that I’m back into using cassettes, my requirements have changed, and it’s a bit hard to find an amplifier that has record line out, 2 optical outs, a phono stage and has the power my speakers need to drive them properly. Some amplifiers have some of these features, but not all of them.
This combination is a killer combination!!! RasberyPi 4B -> Topping D30 pro / D70s / Denafrips Ares2 -> Elekit TU8500 pream (some nice tubes) -> Crown XLS1502 -> Magnepan LRS. So whole system from bellow 2000USD and sounding like a much more expensive system.
@@keplermission4947 Setting the metaphor aside - I rather have an authentically steel watch than anything plated. haha. Yeah I once heard a Son of Ampzilla and it blew my mind. I experienced that same feeling last night trying out this Crown. My class D NAD though did not have enough power to provide proper dynamics and refinements.
Only thing missing that you normally cover, would be pairing suggestions. I know, it’s up to the consumer’s taste. That said, thank you for the info. It’s always a pleasure to watch and learn.
I own the Raganok 2 and the JBL 1600 speakers and They are a wonderful combination. Steve is right on the money as usual. I've also auditioned several of the other recommendations and we are so lucky to be in this period of excellent reasonably priced gear. It's created a bit of a play land for us to have fun.
Hello everyone this is my first post. So I'm 63 years young and just back into building my system around Thiel's CS 2.2. New Hegel H95 Amp, Rega P1 from earlier vintage using a Little bear phono tube preamp. Also the Rotel CD. Using MIT speaker & interconnects cbls. Tip of the day I just rinse off records in water and dry with microfiber towels. Reduces static noise. I can play at 90 level and records sound really nice. Also all running thru a power line conditioner. So it the smooth enjoyable sound you can't wait to play & listen to after work. Looking at Focus other speakers next.
I have a vintage amp, Marantz 2230, so I was looking for some new high sensitivity speakers. Bought the Zu Dirty Weekends and love them. They are so clean with a solid bass, have a responsive product support team, beautifully finished, well priced. Great speakers for vintage amps.
Can confirm Elekit TU-8600 is phenomenal that I bought primarily based on Herb's review. I imagine anything with his seal of approval I would be more than pleased with. It was my second Elekit, the first being the TU-8200 6L6GC single ended Pentode with some neat chameleon like character. Triode, Pentode and UltraLinear modes and auto bias allowing use of many Pentode power tubes, I have the 6L6GC, EL34 and KT88. I found it too mid-centric to be a daily driver, but excellent for certain moods/music. If the TU8600 sounds like your thing, be aware that they also just released the TU-8900 300b/2A3 amp with defeatable negative feedback or if these are more than you want to spend the TU-8800 is a tube rolling dream with 3 power levels accommodating 21 different output tubes.
i love my magni 3+ it sounds so much more than its price ,plugged my meridian mono blocks into it as a test for sound 3months ago ,its still there ,my usual preamplifier is fine but the life in the sound of the schitt magni wins me ,going to upgrade to there more exotic stuff when funds allow me to ,great videos steve i wish nothing but praise and plenty of joy to you and all that you do ..
@@larrywe3320 oh I agree everything in your chain would be better than what I posted but for $1k it’s a helluva good starter option and would give someone a solid midfi performance.
I bought the Magnepan.7 with a Rogue Sphinx V3 and couldn’t be happier - under $4,000. The .7 speakers are incredible and the Sphinx integrated amp gets the job done. My uTurn Theory with the Ortofon cartridge completes the package.
There's so much Schiit in this review. Seriously, i am not a regular viewer of this channel, but I really do enjoy the videos i choose to watch. Thank you Mr. Guttenberg.
I added up my components and my system is in the $3500 or so range. 4 of the pieces are over 30 years old and still serving me well. The heart of the system is the Carver M500t power amp. The preamp is the Schiit Freya+. My system is perfect for the room I am in and I am very happy with the sound. I will always dream about owning something like the Gryphon Mephisto or a pair of huge mono blocks but stuff like that will stay as fantasies. Too easy to fall down into a rabbit hole with this hobby 🙂
BTW, I used the Dynaudio speakers with a Krell 400xi, Carver TFM-75 and a Creek OBH8-SE, fantastic sound! Been following and reading your reviews for decades!
Your enthusiasm is absolutely awesome. I love your channel, and man oh man would I love to spend a few hours testing some of that gear. I'm mostly a lurker on your channel because I'm at least a year or two away from rebuilding my system. Keep up the good work!
I have watched many of the component and system videos on this channel and several others and decided on a Musical Fidelity M3SI integrated, Dynaudio Emit 20, and Fluance BT85. $3k, plus cables, speaker stands, and isolation pieces I will be close to $4k. I hope to get some better speakers and table at some point, but this system will be pretty sweet in this 12 x 12 room for a good while.
Steve: I have to agree with you on the Rega turntables. I have had a Rega Planar 3 since the 1982/1983 timeframe and still love it. Amps and speakers have come and gone but the Planar 3 remains the heart and soul of my system. I'm definitely intrigued by the Zu DW and might just have to acquire a pair. Keep up the interesting and entertaining reviews.
I have the Zu DW and am glad i bought them...def different flavor for my current set up that i had Warfedale Lintons in there, but i was lucky to get them and now i can play the speaker swap thing. On the Planar 3, im looking at one at a local shop with a bunch of groovetracer upgrades. Its an older one tho before they added the brace thing, but do you still think just go for it? Ive been intrigued by them but never been able to listen to. Thanks!
I was planning to keep my new system in this range but I'm already pushing that with the CSS Criton 2TDX Tower speaker kit with superior crossovers and the Elekit TU-8600S 300B tube amp kit with Lundahl output transformers I just bought. I upgraded the amp with Dale resistors and Jensen coupling caps and am building the speaker cabinets from red oak. So I'm already pushing the 4K mark and still need a decent DAC and a preamp. Thinking of buying the Geshelli dac and the Elekit preamp. I'm too deep in the weeds to turn back now.. : )
I’m on the threshold of buying a DAC for around $10k, the Audiomat Maestro 4. I wish you would look at the small French audiophile company called Audiomat. It doesn’t have much of a footprint in the US, but I think it is worthy of paying attention to for its product line. All its products are hand built after the most meticulous engineering process for each product. I’m a fan but it’s impossible to find much in the way of reviews, let alone comparative opinions.
“Jewellery, it’s all jewellery” (phrase the instructor issued about hifi at a Rational Acoustics SMAART training event). And it’s true - but men need a hobby too right. Still, I would recommend you start here: ‘Music and Audio: A User Guide To Better Sound. (Mark Waldrep) ‘ ‘Audio/Video Cable Installer's Pocket Guide (McGraw-Hill Pocket Reference)’.
Hi Steve! I own an Outlaw 2160ll and am very impressed by how it performs! Power and detail with very low distortion. The phono stage is good, but I’m running an outboard phono preamp that sounds a little better. This amplifier continues to surprise me in how good it sounds, especially at the price!!! Thank you for including the Outlaw in your review.
If you are handy and can build kits I'm a huge proponent of single driver efficient speakers and tube-based integrated amps. I have the Madisound BK-16 speakers and Bottlehead Stereomour II amp. Source is an Audioengine Bluetooth streaming interface fed from my phone. The amp produces all of 3.5W/channel but with efficient speakers and a smaller room it is plenty loud and the sound is close to my much more expensive main system. Total cost ~$2300 and a few days of construction.
Neumann KH120 + KH750 + RME ADI 2 = 3.9k (incl Room Correction) or the KH80 DSP and youve a little bit Money left for the first steps in Room treatment (for example Measurement and creation of an Acoustic Concept by an Professionall)
$1250, ha I made that just flipping a few sets of speakers this year..... It has taken years to assemble this, The Denon and Totems were bought in July, and August of this year. Denon PMA 980R $20 Totem Mani 2's $30 (These speakers are sitting on top of a pair of Yamaha NS 1000's, $30 for those) Marantz CD 5001 $12 Pioneer PL 530 $20 (Needed Fuses, was DOA) I have more, but that is what I am currently using. The Denon is a beast. Not heavy build quality but just a beast. It could handle my Sansui AU 919 easily. Even the Yamaha 2040 I have. Both with superior build quality. But not overall performance.
Currently Running a Uturn Orbit custom with an ortofon 2m blue into a Lounge Audio lcr mkiii phono preamp, into a reisong a10, powering Zu Dirty Weekends. Thanks for all of your reviews and advice, I'm just happily spending money on records now, as I save here and there for a vpi.
@@1mctous the ZUs really do a great job showcasing upgrades in the signal chain. I've tried a couple of different carts with this rig and settled on the Ortofon 2m blue. I also did some tube rolling in the reisong and noticed the differences right away. I'm really happy with the current setup, I just want to eventually get the endgame table. No rush, just socking away a little here and there between vinyl hauls hahaha.
That moment when you realise none of your kit is on the list but you don't care because it all sounds awesome. Audio equipment has come a long way in my many years.
Yes, there's so much gear out there, even considering that "high end" audio is a niche market. I mean, look at all the bookshelf speakers in the $600 to $1700 range per pair these days that offer so much more than most high priced speakers did 25 years ago. I'm in the market for some floor standing speakers for a room 20 feet x 12 feet in the $2000 to $4000 range per pair, but the problem I find is how to choose without actually getting to hear them? I want something that sounds great at lower volumes, but can still crank it when I want with an amp 395W per channel into 8 Ohms. I'd like something not made in China if possible, but it seems only a handful of speakers sadly meet that criteria these days for less than double my budget.
@@keplermission4947 I'm refurbing some old Acoustic Research AR-9 speakers, but it is going to take time. Have to replace most of the capacitors in the crossover and it is a bear to get to and work inside the speakers...Hence my looking at something else to use NOW, and then maybe sell them later and keep the AR-9 models once they are done. Been looking at Dynaudio, SVS, and Martin Logan XTi60, and maybe the Polk Audio Reserve 700 model. But very hard to choose without hearing them. I have a good brick and mortar store about an hour away. One Saturday I need to get up early and go and check them out (they carry most of these models) and take good notes while auditioning them. Steve and other RUclips reviewers help point the way, but nothing compares to hearing something for yourself. But yeah, always was intrigued by the Maggies...(and the similar Martin Logan electrostatics)...and how all reviewers say how open they sound...The LRS or .7 look great. Just always wondered if you needed a subwoofer to round them out best?
@@keplermission4947 I appreciate the advice, but I've researched this extensively regarding the Acoustic Research AR-9 speakers, and the old electrolytic capacitors used in the early to mid-1980s definitely need replacing (if they were manufactured by Callins, Inc). Their values change enough over time due to their drying out that you can blow tweeters and even midrange drivers, plus of course the changed values affect the sonic characteristics of the speakers. Replacing the capacitors with like value modern audio grade poly caps is the only route to go if you want to play the speakers safely and well to the original specifications. Given that no replacement tweeters are available for these models, at least not easily found, I want to be careful with them.
@@keplermission4947 as I've said, I've researched this extensively over the last FIVE years, and they'll be fine, back within specs and I won't blow the tweeters. This isn't something I just got into doing... Old electrolytic capacitors are not our friends. Modern audio grade polyester capacitors are....and should last another 50 years. For a speaker to sound as the manufacturer designed them, the values of the capacitors must match the original specifications. If you had a vintage automobile and the timing chain was worn causing valve timing issues, you'd get it changed.
@@keplermission4947 following the advice on several forums, and the electrical engineers I work with in my job, I'm replacing all capacitors with Mundorf oil EVO capacitors. I'm not messing with those in the woofers...just everything else. The total cost is about $400, but that is far cheaper than buying equivalent quality tower speakers. I might opt to use less expensive Axon True Caps in the lower midrange as an experiment. Even they are a step up in quality from the older Callings electrolytics. And yes, I plan on letting them run a while playing various types of music... My recently refurbished Carver M-500(t) has plenty of power to drive them. Looking forward to being able to safely use them again. Most forums say the ferro fluid used in the upper midrange and tweeters should still be fine, even after all these years, as long as the speakers weren't abused.
Sooooo much good stuff to check out! I’m glad I recently got back into audio. So much fun (and potentially expensive). Looking forward to a pair of Magnapans. Never heard them though. I’d be interested in a video like this for systems from $10k-$20k. Really curious what your recommendations would be. I just dropped a bit more than that on my new rig(still need a nice turntable) and I LOVE IT !! Good stuff Steve. Thank you.
Luv these type vids Steve. Truly remarkable you put these together with such enthusiasm and knowledge base. Ive learned tons from every vid of yours while on this audio boat. Thank you and keep up the amazing work!
my friend has magnapans. im not sure what model. but he needed an amp with lots of currant. not more watts but in this case current. it took him a while to find the right amp. at the end of the day he found a beutiful preowned naim supernait 2 integrated. and problems absolutely solved. and sounds amazing. those naim audio products are no jokes.
Steve you doing a great service, helping new audiophiles sorry about the podcast their hit or miss hope it picks up because it is very entertaining. I'm the Soundlab fanatic lol. Have you auditioned them yet if not you should give them a listen and you might change your mind a bit about electrostats.
@@fcamiola The Rogue Sphinx is a nice amp. Should par very well. Keep in mind the Zu's don't go deep, so if you really like bass will need a sub. Currently have mine off and I'm good. Zu give you a 2 month free return shipping trial. Zu's are fairly neutral speakers. Which I prefer.
@@gtric1466 Thx very much. I do have a B&W ASW 608 small sub which actually is perfect for my current speakers (B&W 602) and room size. I am also interested in the Omens at 2300, I wouldn't mind the extra dough if they are much better. I listened to the gamut from prog to classical to solo lute to jazz to Krautrock etc etc
Also worth considering if you’re on a budget are Pro-Ject turntables/tone arms. Mine’s 21 years old now. It came with a more than decent Ortofon MM, but I replaced that with an Audio Technica MC I purchased in the 1980s. The tone arm is carbon fibre and was very easy to set up.
Thanks to Pro-Ject and others who stuck with turntables through the analog drought. They've since become a victim of their own success because they paved the way for worthy competitors.
very informative! Steve, have you considered doing a video on the best vintage audio setup....amps, turntables, speakers, etc? i think it would be awesome to hear your vintage recommendations.
Thank you Steve for sharing your expertise. I come to this channel whenever I need advice and suggestions. Always love to see what can you build for $1000, $2500, $5000. $10,000+
Used K horn, JBL L300 ,Altec a5 with a Decware amp comes in around 4k and if you buy such and you want to later upgrade or just make a change you will get what you paid maybe even more. This allows you to upgrade without eating a 50-75% loss in value from new products. Plus these are timeless system choices that will not be obsoleted. And could be the last kit you need.
Best bang for the buck is $100 balanced dac/amp dongle (best one is $120) and $200 planar magnetic headphones. Mind blowing and unbeatable for $300 even from a smartphone.
Enjoying your channel Steve. Did you ever listen to Merlin TSM bookshelves and VSM floorstanders? The designer Bobby Palkovic achieved many best sound of shows with his VSMs and a modestly powered ARS Sonum integrated tube amp. I currently own a pair of ruby red VSM and love them.
I’m going for the Kef LS50 meta with Kinki Studio EX M1 plus int amp and Denafrips Pontus R2R DAC. You sold me on the Kefs in your review. You did the Denafrips Ares 2 and Terminator reviews , I’ll opt for something in the middle between the 2. The Kinki studio is more than enough power at 4ohms ( over 300W ). In my small - mid size room I think this the right set up.
Thanks Steve! You mentioned 2 items that I own and enjoy. I have the Zu DW speakers and the Rogue Sphinx V3 integrated amp. They are a wonderful match together!
Thoughts on the MartinLogan Motion series? I have the 15's and LOVE them. $800 a pair but I got mine for just over $700 on sale. Paired with a Yaquin MS23B (LesBox modded) phono stage and a PrimaLuna Prologue Premium Integrated Tube amp is pure bliss...
@@ufarkingicehole I bought the ML 60XT’s last year. Haven’t heard much to compare them to, but they sound nice to me. Playing with Parasound A21 amp and Schiit Freya+ preamp. Smooth.
As usual I enjoyed this video from Steve. I think I like his videos/his channel and the reviews come in second place (!). I like his tone his, demeaner, his rhythm or tempo, etc. Of course I like the reviews themselves. He doesn't seems to need to "push" any products, he is passionate about what he likes that is for sure. So all very enjoyable. Of course I would have liked to see an OB speaker in this list, but he does mention one or two tube amps that I like very much so, ok. Enough for now, I might just jump in the rabbit hole and peruse into all his videos to see if there are some I haven't watched yet, or forgot about and could watch again.
@@scottyo64 I'm a CD guy but since I got the Node I'm streaming more. I just take the digital stream into my DAC and bypass the DAC in the Node. Adding a good digital cable and you can get quite good sound and the convenience is of course fantastic. Sometime change is good. heh.
I think the usability of the node is so good and the ability to push it to the DAC of you choice makes it a great entry level to high end component. I would have no problem putting it in a 100,000 dollar system.
@@darrencosby8936 I just fond a very reasonable digital cable that sounds very good with the node. I ordered directly from Gotham Cable in Switzerland. As I recall it was around $40. Completely happy. I needed SPDIF at one end and BNC at the other. Delivery was very expeditious. They took PayPal.
Steve I feel like a good price point for a total system is $10k. Many of my friends in their 40-50s always ask me and this is their typical range. Would you consider doing a show on that ?
I agree I think more like 10k to 20k Distributed as follow. Turntable 5k Cartridge 4k Phono preamp 4k Speakers 4k Everything else 3k. Cd player or streamer,cables,Speaker stands. etcetera. Or half the money on Everything else So that people can get around 10k.
I would love to see some blind testing done on the 10k vs 2k vs 4k. My bet? Yeah, you can’t tell the difference one big reason is the degradation of your ears ability to pick up higher frequencies as you hit 40+.
Where I live I can get: - Custom built class A tube amp 1800€ - Bluesound Node 600€ - Custom built wide band single driver speaker towers (based on the Audax AM 21 driver) 2600€ That's 5000€ and it's as good as it gets. I also doubt that a standalone DAC would make a real difference. But if you think so, the option is always available.
For me, I used to have power supply, pre-amp, monoblocks, bookshelf speakers and sub. I've found a kind of happy nirvana now with just an integrated and bookshelf speakers (total budget about 4K). Music first! (Quad Artera Solus, Chord Company ClearwayX Speaker Cable, Linn Majik 109 speakers). Would never have auditioned the Linns without reading Robert Reina's write-up in Stereophile as I'm not crazy about that company's philosophy. But to me there is something about the sound of that "K2 array" supertweeter which the ribbon tweeters on so many recent speakers in that price range can't quite replace.
Dear Steve, first of all let me congratulate with you for any review you made; you always give a clear and fair picture of the item with pros and cons; it really helpful. I’ve just moved; I’m looking to change my 10 y.o. all in one marantz melody M-CR 610 with a new streaming amplifier updated with the best in class digital source. The room is little difficult to manage(a 18 sq meters (3x6) in a L 30 sq meters sitting room with 2 big windows on the right and a bookshelf at the opposite of the speakers (2 Elipson Planet L and a sub Focal Air). In between it sits a long table with chairs. My pick would be in the range of Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 or Cambridge Audio Evo 150 or Nad C 700 or POWERMODE (2021). What do you suggest most? Thank you in advance. Keep on doing top notch reviews.
Would you change out your Kef recommendation to a KEF R3 over the LS50 Meta now? That seems the ideal endgame speaker for my ultimate high end system. I've only ever heard q350 and my current, q150 ...so just going by specs and reviews. But I just LOOOOVE that Kef sound. Using a cheap Fosi ZA3 atm, but shooting for a 500 Watt Hypex based class-D for my destination. Kef seem to love the imaging and super tight response that D can offer.
You are set without a doubt abiding in a nice place Steve...And for what can be SEEN on this video, me likey your Fidelity on Hi system, and the British LEAK too...Shema!!!
Hey Steve - looking forward to the Accuphase E280 review and what speakers you match them with (Kef Meta/Dynaudio?) Here in Tokyo the little Accuphase class As and Pass Labs (XA25) get compared a lot.
Bought the Kef LS50 metas with S2 stands with IsoAcoustic on the spkr spikes and Denafrips Pontus 2 DAC , pairing with my old SimAudio Moon i5 (80W 8ohm , 130W 4ohm ) atm. Sounds pretty good in my small room. Next I want to try class A 48W Willsenton SET R800i and the Kef KC62 sub ( have a Klipsch sub now ). And that’s about it. Thks Steve for all your insightful reviews.
Sorry to say, I ordered Zu "Omen Dirty Weekends" in March but I still don't have them due to wood shortages. Zu made them available again in July, which seems kind of weird and doesn't make me feel good about my purchase given they can't fill my March order. I'm sympathetic to shortages caused by Covide but is it time to request a refund? I don't feel good about that either given Zu is a family business, but it might be time to go in a different direction...
If they don't fulfill the back orders first, Sean Casey and company will create a PR nightmare. As most Audiophiliac viewers know, Schiit had many items backlogged for months and caught up with a first in, first out policy.
What are the Alpha's like? They intrigue me. Can't believe how small they are but love the concept. I have Motive SX3's in my secondary system and they are great for what I need them for.
@@Sunshine_Superman are yours tge small bookshelf ones... If so, they are awesome speakers... Full bass excellent bulid. My alphas, are very impressive, full and deep bass (for there size!) goes down to 32 hz. Soon I may add a suitable sub. Midrange is very good, treble is very fast and responsive due to planar magnetic tweeter (not like domes). Bass on hard floors can be boomy so with heavy bass tracks so I need bass traps. I also made my own stands based on the neat ones but better to lift them higher off the floor. Finish is excellent
@@mikemcguinness1304 thanks for replying Mike. Yes, mine are the little bookshelves. I am really limited for positioning in the room that system is in and needed small speakers that were unfussy with positioning and were more suited to low volume listening. They fitted the bill perfectly and have not disappointed. I wasn't expecting much in the bass, so was surprised that it's so clear and distinct even at low volume. I love them. I fell in love with the Alpha's first time I saw a picture of them. The first time I saw them in proportion to someones knee I loved them even more! I've read everything I can read on them and haven't seen one bad review. Hope I get to hear them one day. They are a speaker I definitely want to own at some point. I was a little bit worried that the downward firing bass might be too much for the neighbours though! Kudos on building your own stands. I hope you get many many years of enjoyment from your Alphas.
@@Sunshine_Superman your speakers are very good.. I auditioned them when I was choosing my speakers from Cheshireaudio in the UK.... Check out there videos on you tube sunshine
2021 is the age of Gallium amps, truely a end game amp. It's mind-blowing, like the viel has been removed. Starkrimson ultra wipe the floor off these 10+k amps that I've heard. No it does not sound like other class d. It's a class of it's own i think.
great info and presentation But it was very frustrating having to rewind rewind and pause to get a chance to actually look at the speaker. I wish it was on the screen a bit longer. even the entire duration of you talking about it! ty
Not much info out there on the outlaw. I tried to buy one last year and they were sold out and the used ones in ebay were going for over retail asking price. They seem to offer a lot for the $$. I am looking forward to the review
Nice Steve. Not really a "systems" episode, more a recommended components list....Just saying;-) Good to know which amps will drive Magnepan's current hungry speakers!
So I tried moving my speakers away from the wall like you suggested. They were originally about maybe less than a foot away but you suggested for serious listening sessions to move them 2 or three feet from the wall. maybe even further and right now I've got them about four feet from the wall. In the biggest thing I'm noticing right off the bat is it is a lot less fatiguing to my ears I'm getting a lot less harsh frequencies that were causing me to not want to sit and listen through an album. I'm sure with some acoustic treatment I could get an even better listening experience 👍thanks for the tip
Have you tried some kind of buffer/dampening I'd say about a foot directly behind your speakers?
Could experiment with acoustic ceiling tiles on maybe a guitar stand .
No there isn't anything right now I would like to put a little bit. the ceiling is popcorn ceiling and it's carpeted floor and there's some couches in the room so it does have some stuff in its favour but having it brought out to 4 feet I had to toe the speakers in quite a bit for my listening position. the stereo seperation and sound staging was even better than it was before. There was a certain part of the song that I was anticipating coming up and it actually made me smile it was so good. I have pretty long speaker wire 12-gauge 25-foot I only needed like 20 feet when i installed it all but 20-feet wasnt enough (i was 6 inches short) so I had to get 25 so I had 5 ft of extra wire that I was able to move the speakers.
A used Lyngdorf1120 amp/dac with Room Perfect is Perfect for you. Speakers.. AudioNirvana full rangers, and home made cabs. I use their 8'' neo in Oris Horns. MAGIC.
CBS CBS sans side ears B C z Ed TV CBC s.
Magneplans would be 6 feet from the wall.
My friends and I bought our starter systems (phono, amp, speakers) back in the late 70’s for $600. That’s around $2,500 today. I’d have to say you can get a pretty decent sounding system today for that money. And probably a lot more choices. It won’t be built as well, but it will sound superior to what was available then. Audio is still alive and kicking 🙂.
If you play DVDs you have a bad system that is inferior than what you heard in the 1990s , 440bit rate compresses the sound and you lose the harmonic content futher with inferior solid state preamp system !
I cannot listen to more than 1 DVD as it gets irratating to my nerves with that brittle sound !
You can find great sounding units from Cambridge audio - Rotel - Nad and no where else like Pioneer or others can reproduce music definition note that breath harmonic tone like those three !
The Nad has the most musical subwoofer sound you can get as a stand up bass note decays and vibrates the air so realistic its unreal !
@@ijamsum Which modern NAD units are we talking about?
I'm one of the first buyers of the classic NAD 3020 from the early 80's.
Love them and Cambridge Audio separates.
Kinda leaning towards the all new Outlaw RR 2160 mkii.
t+a below 7-800 receivers etc. accuphase below 800 50-50 etc. more maybe much more decent timess.
speakers are complic8ed. hellish expansive pövväir hungry etc. easilly 5 digitz!!!!!
used to run my old magnetz tp 35 daytime no one ever complainett. at least 75 db i guess. 95 would have bin sö nice... well 65+ id slayy
Outlaw: check. Fluance RT: check. Kef LS50: check. I did ok today! Great list Steve!
For us folks living in rural areas this is such a blessing Steve. I can’t thank you enough !
Another great list Steve. Feel free to elaborate more. These are your bread and butter and I don't think your audience minds watching for a few more seconds to get your thoughts on each piece or recommended combinations.
Another idea might be "If you had $4,000 and wanted to build a system to listen to Pop, Rock via vinyl and streaming what would you buy?" Perhaps do one system around high efficiency speakers and tube amp and another around low sensitivity bookies and high power amp.
My Canton Ergo 22 DC’s are just simply amazing. Thank you for being one of the first reviewers to put them out there.
This is what sets Steve apart from other reviewers. He doesn't just gets a piece of equipment and reviews it. He recommends set-ups that won't break the bank. Glad to see Triangle included. Even their entry level bookshelves smokes a lot of their competitors in the price range. The realism I get out of them is astonishing.
I experience the same thing with special 40 dynaudio. To me it sounds almost as good as speakers costing twice as much.
Steve is right about Magnepan speakers. I got the LRS. My electronics cost over 10x of the speakers price but these can scale up with better supporting gear. They are not the most transparent speakers out there, but the soundstage, imaging, and details out from these speakers are top notch. They rival my $10K Dynaudio speakers!!
Been eyeing those for awhile. They are about $700 right? I just wonder how well my Marantz pm6006 integrated could push them in a small room
@@gillian_seed8358 55 watt solid state is pretty marginal for them I had the LRS for a month or so and upgraded to the 1.7i. I ran the LRS with a small tube amps (25 watt and 50 watt ), but they weighed nearly 50 pounds. Solid state gave better bass response.
Solid state, you probably need a solid 100 watts at 4 ohms. I'm running 450 watt monoblocks with the 1.7i in an 11' x 14' open-ended room.
The biggest issue with Magnepans is having enough room. They need to be 5 or 6 feet in front of the front wall. Maybe you can get away with 4 feet, but more is better.
@@Old_Sailor85 my amp does 45 at 8 ohm and only 60 at 4 ohm, but I’m kinda wanting to eventually sell and get at least a Marantz pm8006 which is 70 at 8 ohm and 100 at 4ohm……pm8006 is looking like it would push just about any speaker i could ever imagine owning. Wish i would have just got it from the get go i guess thats what i get for thinking a 700 dollar amp (i paid 425 open box) would suffice for my tastes in listening…. But its not a bad amp right now its pushing elac debut 2.0 b6.2 i got for 260 on amazon (350 dollar speakers) and a Marantz cd5005 as my only source currently.
@@gillian_seed8358 probably not that well. Scotty we need More Power. I have mine with a Bryston 4BST 350 watts into 8 ohms. While the LRS dont play super loud they still want juice. They also need space. Kind of picky but given juice the bass is acceptable for example.
Never met a Magniapan speaker that I didn’t like.
About a year ago, I took the plunge and purchased a pair of Dynaudio Emit M20 bookshelf speakers, so they are the bookshelf version of the floor standing M30 speakers you mentioned. Needless to say, I was very impressed with how good these speakers sound. Very laid back and smooth sounding, amazing pinpoint imaging and soundstage, with excellent bass for a speaker of it’s size, and fantastic clarity with those soft dome tweeters. Now I need to buy a better amplifier to get the best out of them. Now that I’m back into using cassettes, my requirements have changed, and it’s a bit hard to find an amplifier that has record line out, 2 optical outs, a phono stage and has the power my speakers need to drive them properly. Some amplifiers have some of these features, but not all of them.
This combination is a killer combination!!!
RasberyPi 4B -> Topping D30 pro / D70s / Denafrips Ares2 -> Elekit TU8500 pream (some nice tubes) -> Crown XLS1502 -> Magnepan LRS.
So whole system from bellow 2000USD and sounding like a much more expensive system.
@@keplermission4947 Lou Reed Animal Serenade, Chris Rea, Jeff Goldblum Me and my shadow, Amira Medunanjin, John Coltraine, Paul Simon... too many!!!
I mostly listen to my girlfriend saying 'turn it down' but other times I don't listen to that at all
@@erics.4113 Headphones help to not hear negative ideas...
How do you like those LRS? I just picked up the XLS1002 and wondering if I should go up one more model? I am barely pushing this amp with my old SMG's
@@keplermission4947 Setting the metaphor aside - I rather have an authentically steel watch than anything plated. haha. Yeah I once heard a Son of Ampzilla and it blew my mind. I experienced that same feeling last night trying out this Crown. My class D NAD though did not have enough power to provide proper dynamics and refinements.
Only thing missing that you normally cover, would be pairing suggestions. I know, it’s up to the consumer’s taste. That said, thank you for the info. It’s always a pleasure to watch and learn.
Go watch the reviews for each of the products in this video. Steve talks about the equipment paired with each speaker in his reviews.
Hmmm. Looks like an Accuphase review is coming. Lovely.
I own the Raganok 2 and the JBL 1600 speakers and They are a wonderful combination. Steve is right on the money as usual. I've also auditioned several of the other recommendations and we are so lucky to be in this period of excellent reasonably priced gear. It's created a bit of a play land for us to have fun.
Hello everyone this is my first post. So I'm 63 years young and just back into building my system around Thiel's CS 2.2. New Hegel H95 Amp, Rega P1 from earlier vintage using a Little bear phono tube preamp. Also the Rotel CD. Using MIT speaker & interconnects cbls. Tip of the day I just rinse off records in water and dry with microfiber towels. Reduces static noise. I can play at 90 level and records sound really nice. Also all running thru a power line conditioner. So it the smooth enjoyable sound you can't wait to play & listen to after work. Looking at Focus other speakers next.
I have a vintage amp, Marantz 2230, so I was looking for some new high sensitivity speakers. Bought the Zu Dirty Weekends and love them. They are so clean with a solid bass, have a responsive product support team, beautifully finished, well priced. Great speakers for vintage amps.
Can confirm Elekit TU-8600 is phenomenal that I bought primarily based on Herb's review. I imagine anything with his seal of approval I would be more than pleased with. It was my second Elekit, the first being the TU-8200 6L6GC single ended Pentode with some neat chameleon like character. Triode, Pentode and UltraLinear modes and auto bias allowing use of many Pentode power tubes, I have the 6L6GC, EL34 and KT88. I found it too mid-centric to be a daily driver, but excellent for certain moods/music. If the TU8600 sounds like your thing, be aware that they also just released the TU-8900 300b/2A3 amp with defeatable negative feedback or if these are more than you want to spend the TU-8800 is a tube rolling dream with 3 power levels accommodating 21 different output tubes.
i love my magni 3+ it sounds so much more than its price ,plugged my meridian mono blocks into it as a test for sound 3months ago ,its still there ,my usual preamplifier is fine but the life in the sound of the schitt magni wins me ,going to upgrade to there more exotic stuff when funds allow me to ,great videos steve i wish nothing but praise and plenty of joy to you and all that you do ..
I highly recommend giving the Bifrost 2 a try. I have never heard a big difference in DAC’s until I bought this thing
Steve, you're brilliant! Long may you reign.
Bluesound Node 2i --> S.M.S.L SU-9 (DAC)--> Schiit Freya+ --> PS Audio S300--> KEF LS50 Meta...
Bluesound Node (new model has improved dac) -> Adam A7V ~ $1000
@@aceofspades6667 Correct... However by most all accounts the S.M.S.L SU-9 is still a step or two above in SQ
@@larrywe3320 oh I agree everything in your chain would be better than what I posted but for $1k it’s a helluva good starter option and would give someone a solid midfi performance.
I love vintage equipment! Marantz 2220b receiver $300, Kenwood 2000 Turntable $100, ATE95 cartridge $50, Pioneer Rt 701 Reel to Reel $290, Teac 3300-10 Reel to Reel $300, Pioneer book-shelf speakers $35.00, Advent -3 $25, Onkyo speakers $12.00 Total $1,122.00
I bought the Magnepan.7 with a Rogue Sphinx V3 and couldn’t be happier - under $4,000. The .7 speakers are incredible and the Sphinx integrated amp gets the job done. My uTurn Theory with the Ortofon cartridge completes the package.
There's so much Schiit in this review.
Seriously, i am not a regular viewer of this channel, but I really do enjoy the videos i choose to watch.
Thank you Mr. Guttenberg.
I would love to see another video like this for a higher price point. Maybe $4-6K or $6-8K. Great video! Keep up the good work!
I added up my components and my system is in the $3500 or so range. 4 of the pieces are over 30 years old and still serving me well. The heart of the system is the Carver M500t power amp. The preamp is the Schiit Freya+. My system is perfect for the room I am in and I am very happy with the sound. I will always dream about owning something like the Gryphon Mephisto or a pair of huge mono blocks but stuff like that will stay as fantasies. Too easy to fall down into a rabbit hole with this hobby 🙂
BTW, I used the Dynaudio speakers with a Krell 400xi, Carver TFM-75 and a Creek OBH8-SE, fantastic sound! Been following and reading your reviews for decades!
Your enthusiasm is absolutely awesome. I love your channel, and man oh man would I love to spend a few hours testing some of that gear. I'm mostly a lurker on your channel because I'm at least a year or two away from rebuilding my system. Keep up the good work!
I own the Sphinx V3....you forgot to mention that it is absolutely STUNNING sounding! :) An amazing amp.
I have watched many of the component and system videos on this channel and several others and decided on a Musical Fidelity M3SI integrated, Dynaudio Emit 20, and Fluance BT85. $3k, plus cables, speaker stands, and isolation pieces I will be close to $4k. I hope to get some better speakers and table at some point, but this system will be pretty sweet in this 12 x 12 room for a good while.
Steve: I have to agree with you on the Rega turntables. I have had a Rega Planar 3 since the 1982/1983 timeframe and still love it. Amps and speakers have come and gone but the Planar 3 remains the heart and soul of my system. I'm definitely intrigued by the Zu DW and might just have to acquire a pair. Keep up the interesting and entertaining reviews.
I have the Zu DW and am glad i bought them...def different flavor for my current set up that i had Warfedale Lintons in there, but i was lucky to get them and now i can play the speaker swap thing. On the Planar 3, im looking at one at a local shop with a bunch of groovetracer upgrades. Its an older one tho before they added the brace thing, but do you still think just go for it? Ive been intrigued by them but never been able to listen to. Thanks!
@@Mike_Jones68 I'd go it, I think you will like the turntable.
I was planning to keep my new system in this range but I'm already pushing that with the CSS Criton 2TDX Tower speaker kit with superior crossovers and the Elekit TU-8600S 300B tube amp kit with Lundahl output transformers I just bought. I upgraded the amp with Dale resistors and Jensen coupling caps and am building the speaker cabinets from red oak. So I'm already pushing the 4K mark and still need a decent DAC and a preamp. Thinking of buying the Geshelli dac and the Elekit preamp. I'm too deep in the weeds to turn back now.. : )
The new algorithm has really messed up my learning about triode amps. But yes that one looks like a gem.
@@keplermission4947 I definitely love the new Technics AND some or most of the old stuff.
I’m on the threshold of buying a DAC for around $10k, the Audiomat Maestro 4. I wish you would look at the small French audiophile company called Audiomat. It doesn’t have much of a footprint in the US, but I think it is worthy of paying attention to for its product line. All its products are hand built after the most meticulous engineering process for each product. I’m a fan but it’s impossible to find much in the way of reviews, let alone comparative opinions.
“Jewellery, it’s all jewellery” (phrase the instructor issued about hifi at a Rational Acoustics SMAART training event).
And it’s true - but men need a hobby too right.
Still, I would recommend you start here:
‘Music and Audio: A User Guide To Better Sound. (Mark Waldrep) ‘
‘Audio/Video Cable Installer's Pocket Guide (McGraw-Hill Pocket Reference)’.
Hi Steve! I own an Outlaw 2160ll and am very impressed by how it performs! Power and detail with very low distortion. The phono stage is good, but I’m running an outboard phono preamp that sounds a little better. This amplifier continues to surprise me in how good it sounds, especially at the price!!! Thank you for including the Outlaw in your review.
I just got the Naim Uniti Atom and the Tekton Lore Reference
Love Tekton. Just got the MOAB. Wow...it sounds crazy good!
I only have the Evo 4.2 and I love them. Been changing speakers every 2 months for 4 years and finally got stuck on these.
If you are handy and can build kits I'm a huge proponent of single driver efficient speakers and tube-based integrated amps. I have the Madisound BK-16 speakers and Bottlehead Stereomour II amp. Source is an Audioengine Bluetooth streaming interface fed from my phone. The amp produces all of 3.5W/channel but with efficient speakers and a smaller room it is plenty loud and the sound is close to my much more expensive main system. Total cost ~$2300 and a few days of construction.
A very physics based approach.
very cool how you lay things out right at the beginning such as: speakers prices are for pairs of speakers.
Neumann KH120 + KH750 + RME ADI 2 = 3.9k (incl Room Correction) or the KH80 DSP and youve a little bit Money left for the first steps in Room treatment (for example Measurement and creation of an Acoustic Concept by an Professionall)
The yearning for.......
It NEVER ends.
Surprised to see Canton. For some unknown reason RUclips audiophiles tend to neglect this brand.
$1250, ha I made that just flipping a few sets of speakers this year.....
It has taken years to assemble this, The Denon and Totems were bought in July, and August of this year.
Denon PMA 980R $20
Totem Mani 2's $30 (These speakers are sitting on top of a pair of Yamaha NS 1000's, $30 for those)
Marantz CD 5001 $12
Pioneer PL 530 $20 (Needed Fuses, was DOA)
I have more, but that is what I am currently using.
The Denon is a beast. Not heavy build quality but just a beast. It could handle my Sansui AU 919 easily. Even the Yamaha 2040 I have. Both with superior build quality. But not overall performance.
Currently Running a Uturn Orbit custom with an ortofon 2m blue into a Lounge Audio lcr mkiii phono preamp, into a reisong a10, powering Zu Dirty Weekends. Thanks for all of your reviews and advice, I'm just happily spending money on records now, as I save here and there for a vpi.
You already have the basis for really good sound. Hopefully you can either hear your intended turntable upgrade or at least have return privileges.
@@1mctous the ZUs really do a great job showcasing upgrades in the signal chain. I've tried a couple of different carts with this rig and settled on the Ortofon 2m blue. I also did some tube rolling in the reisong and noticed the differences right away. I'm really happy with the current setup, I just want to eventually get the endgame table. No rush, just socking away a little here and there between vinyl hauls hahaha.
Steve, one of your best reviews of real world value components to get the best audio experience without breaking the bank.
I’ll be waiting for the outlaw review
That moment when you realise none of your kit is on the list but you don't care because it all sounds awesome.
Audio equipment has come a long way in my many years.
Yes, there's so much gear out there, even considering that "high end" audio is a niche market. I mean, look at all the bookshelf speakers in the $600 to $1700 range per pair these days that offer so much more than most high priced speakers did 25 years ago. I'm in the market for some floor standing speakers for a room 20 feet x 12 feet in the $2000 to $4000 range per pair, but the problem I find is how to choose without actually getting to hear them? I want something that sounds great at lower volumes, but can still crank it when I want with an amp 395W per channel into 8 Ohms. I'd like something not made in China if possible, but it seems only a handful of speakers sadly meet that criteria these days for less than double my budget.
@@keplermission4947 I'm refurbing some old Acoustic Research AR-9 speakers, but it is going to take time. Have to replace most of the capacitors in the crossover and it is a bear to get to and work inside the speakers...Hence my looking at something else to use NOW, and then maybe sell them later and keep the AR-9 models once they are done. Been looking at Dynaudio, SVS, and Martin Logan XTi60, and maybe the Polk Audio Reserve 700 model. But very hard to choose without hearing them.
I have a good brick and mortar store about an hour away. One Saturday I need to get up early and go and check them out (they carry most of these models) and take good notes while auditioning them. Steve and other RUclips reviewers help point the way, but nothing compares to hearing something for yourself.
But yeah, always was intrigued by the Maggies...(and the similar Martin Logan electrostatics)...and how all reviewers say how open they sound...The LRS or .7 look great. Just always wondered if you needed a subwoofer to round them out best?
@@keplermission4947 I appreciate the advice, but I've researched this extensively regarding the Acoustic Research AR-9 speakers, and the old electrolytic capacitors used in the early to mid-1980s definitely need replacing (if they were manufactured by Callins, Inc). Their values change enough over time due to their drying out that you can blow tweeters and even midrange drivers, plus of course the changed values affect the sonic characteristics of the speakers.
Replacing the capacitors with like value modern audio grade poly caps is the only route to go if you want to play the speakers safely and well to the original specifications.
Given that no replacement tweeters are available for these models, at least not easily found, I want to be careful with them.
@@keplermission4947 as I've said, I've researched this extensively over the last FIVE years, and they'll be fine, back within specs and I won't blow the tweeters.
This isn't something I just got into doing...
Old electrolytic capacitors are not our friends. Modern audio grade polyester capacitors are....and should last another 50 years.
For a speaker to sound as the manufacturer designed them, the values of the capacitors must match the original specifications.
If you had a vintage automobile and the timing chain was worn causing valve timing issues, you'd get it changed.
@@keplermission4947 following the advice on several forums, and the electrical engineers I work with in my job, I'm replacing all capacitors with Mundorf oil EVO capacitors. I'm not messing with those in the woofers...just everything else.
The total cost is about $400, but that is far cheaper than buying equivalent quality tower speakers.
I might opt to use less expensive Axon True Caps in the lower midrange as an experiment. Even they are a step up in quality from the older Callings electrolytics.
And yes, I plan on letting them run a while playing various types of music...
My recently refurbished Carver M-500(t) has plenty of power to drive them.
Looking forward to being able to safely use them again. Most forums say the ferro fluid used in the upper midrange and tweeters should still be fine, even after all these years, as long as the speakers weren't abused.
Sooooo much good stuff to check out! I’m glad I recently got back into audio. So much fun (and potentially expensive).
Looking forward to a pair of Magnapans. Never heard them though.
I’d be interested in a video like this for systems from $10k-$20k. Really curious what your recommendations would be.
I just dropped a bit more than that on my new rig(still need a nice turntable) and I LOVE IT !! Good stuff Steve. Thank you.
Yessss,
that’s my favorite way of you wrapping up your reviews.
Luv these type vids Steve. Truly remarkable you put these together with such enthusiasm and knowledge base. Ive learned tons from every vid of yours while on this audio boat. Thank you and keep up the amazing work!
my friend has magnapans. im not sure what model. but he needed an amp with lots of currant. not more watts but in this case current. it took him a while to find the right amp. at the end of the day he found a beutiful preowned naim supernait 2 integrated. and problems absolutely solved. and sounds amazing. those naim audio products are no jokes.
Steve, your reviews are the best!
Steve you doing a great service, helping new audiophiles sorry about the podcast their hit or miss hope it picks up because it is very entertaining. I'm the Soundlab fanatic lol. Have you auditioned them yet if not you should give them a listen and you might change your mind a bit about electrostats.
Great video Steve. Agree with you that LS50s need a lot of power to start working.
don't forget the cables Steve. Hi-Fi isn't wireless yet. :)
Was going to fall of my chair if you didn't mention the Zu DW's.. surprisingly smooth with a touch of liveliness without being bright. imho..
Are they an amazing speaker? Would they pair well with the Rogue Sphinx V3? Cheers.
@@fcamiola The Rogue Sphinx is a nice amp. Should par very well. Keep in mind the Zu's don't go deep, so if you really like bass will need a sub. Currently have mine off and I'm good. Zu give you a 2 month free return shipping trial. Zu's are fairly neutral speakers. Which I prefer.
@@gtric1466 Thx very much. I do have a B&W ASW 608 small sub which actually is perfect for my current speakers (B&W 602) and room size. I am also interested in the Omens at 2300, I wouldn't mind the extra dough if they are much better. I listened to the gamut from prog to classical to solo lute to jazz to Krautrock etc etc
@@fcamiola Honestly wouldn't know how much difference the Omens would make. Use the same drivers. I went with the Clarity cap upgrade.
Also worth considering if you’re on a budget are Pro-Ject turntables/tone arms. Mine’s 21 years old now. It came with a more than decent Ortofon MM, but I replaced that with an Audio Technica MC I purchased in the 1980s. The tone arm is carbon fibre and was very easy to set up.
Thanks to Pro-Ject and others who stuck with turntables through the analog drought. They've since become a victim of their own success because they paved the way for worthy competitors.
very informative! Steve, have you considered doing a video on the best vintage audio setup....amps, turntables, speakers, etc? i think it would be awesome to hear your vintage recommendations.
Thank you Steve for sharing your expertise. I come to this channel whenever I need advice and suggestions. Always love to see what can you build for $1000, $2500, $5000. $10,000+
I love my Wharfedale EVO 4.2's!
Fantastic episode. Thank you Sifu Steve.
Used K horn, JBL L300 ,Altec a5 with a Decware amp comes in around 4k and if you buy such and you want to later upgrade or just make a change you will get what you paid maybe even more. This allows you to upgrade without eating a 50-75% loss in value from new products. Plus these are timeless system choices that will not be obsoleted. And could be the last kit you need.
Absolutely like buying the 50k used Lexus.
Best bang for the buck is $100 balanced dac/amp dongle (best one is $120) and $200 planar magnetic headphones. Mind blowing and unbeatable for $300 even from a smartphone.
Great system Darren!! Love the B&K sound.
We love your review style, so honest! Did you ever do the Outlaw review?
I reviewed the original outlaw receiver, but I passed on doing the new one.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thank you, I understand.
Enjoying your channel Steve. Did you ever listen to Merlin TSM bookshelves and VSM floorstanders?
The designer Bobby Palkovic achieved many best sound of shows with his VSMs and a modestly powered ARS Sonum integrated tube amp. I currently own a pair of ruby red VSM and love them.
Ascend Acoustics Sierra should absolutely be on this list.
I’m going for the Kef LS50 meta with Kinki Studio EX M1 plus int amp and Denafrips Pontus R2R DAC. You sold me on the Kefs in your review. You did the Denafrips Ares 2 and Terminator reviews , I’ll opt for something in the middle between the 2. The Kinki studio is more than enough power at 4ohms ( over 300W ). In my small - mid size room I think this the right set up.
As usual ..Brilliant stuff Steve chilled out and knowledgable ..The best around ..Thanks 👍
Thanks Steve! You mentioned 2 items that I own and enjoy. I have the Zu DW speakers and the Rogue Sphinx V3 integrated amp. They are a wonderful match together!
Thanks! I'm considering that pair
I actually have the Sphinx V3 with a Bifrost and LS50 (Not Metas) and I’m very pleased with the results.
Bluesound Node (new model has improved dac) -> Adam A7V ~ $1000
Thoughts on the MartinLogan Motion series? I have the 15's and LOVE them. $800 a pair but I got mine for just over $700 on sale. Paired with a Yaquin MS23B (LesBox modded) phono stage and a PrimaLuna Prologue Premium Integrated Tube amp is pure bliss...
The 60s are great!!! With Anthem FMJ gear sounds amazing
@@ufarkingicehole I bought the ML 60XT’s last year. Haven’t heard much to compare them to, but they sound nice to me. Playing with Parasound A21 amp and Schiit Freya+ preamp. Smooth.
As usual I enjoyed this video from Steve.
I think I like his videos/his channel and the reviews come in second place (!).
I like his tone his, demeaner, his rhythm or tempo, etc. Of course I like the reviews themselves.
He doesn't seems to need to "push" any products, he is passionate about what he likes that is for sure.
So all very enjoyable.
Of course I would have liked to see an OB speaker in this list, but he does mention one or two tube amps that I like very much so, ok.
Enough for now, I might just jump in the rabbit hole and peruse into all his videos to see if there are some I haven't watched yet, or forgot about and could watch again.
What! Steve no klipsch speakers in the speaker lineup in this review. Im comming to New York
🤣🤣🤣
Surprised me also...
For streamers, a Bluesound Node would be a nice front end.
Love my Node 2i
@@scottyo64 I'm a CD guy but since I got the Node I'm streaming more. I just take the digital stream into my DAC and bypass the DAC in the Node. Adding a good digital cable and you can get quite good sound and the convenience is of course fantastic. Sometime change is good. heh.
I think the usability of the node is so good and the ability to push it to the DAC of you choice makes it a great entry level to high end component. I would have no problem putting it in a 100,000 dollar system.
@@darrencosby8936 I just fond a very reasonable digital cable that sounds very good with the node. I ordered directly from Gotham Cable in Switzerland. As I recall it was around $40. Completely happy. I needed SPDIF at one end and BNC at the other. Delivery was very expeditious. They took PayPal.
Steve I feel like a good price point for a total system is $10k. Many of my friends in their 40-50s always ask me and this is their typical range. Would you consider doing a show on that ?
I agree I think more like 10k to 20k
Distributed as follow.
Turntable 5k
Cartridge 4k
Phono preamp 4k
Speakers 4k
Everything else 3k. Cd player or streamer,cables,Speaker stands. etcetera.
Or half the money on Everything else
So that people can get around 10k.
I would love to see some blind testing done on the 10k vs 2k vs 4k. My bet?
Yeah, you can’t tell the difference one big reason is the degradation of your ears ability to pick up higher frequencies as you hit 40+.
Where I live I can get:
- Custom built class A tube amp 1800€
- Bluesound Node 600€
- Custom built wide band single driver speaker towers (based on the Audax AM 21 driver) 2600€
That's 5000€ and it's as good as it gets. I also doubt that a standalone DAC would make a real difference. But if you think so, the option is always available.
For me, I used to have power supply, pre-amp, monoblocks, bookshelf speakers and sub. I've found a kind of happy nirvana now with just an integrated and bookshelf speakers (total budget about 4K). Music first! (Quad Artera Solus, Chord Company ClearwayX Speaker Cable, Linn Majik 109 speakers). Would never have auditioned the Linns without reading Robert Reina's write-up in Stereophile as I'm not crazy about that company's philosophy. But to me there is something about the sound of that "K2 array" supertweeter which the ribbon tweeters on so many recent speakers in that price range can't quite replace.
Dear Steve, first of all let me congratulate with you for any review you made; you always give a clear and fair picture of the item with pros and cons; it really helpful.
I’ve just moved; I’m looking to change my 10 y.o. all in one marantz melody M-CR 610 with a new streaming amplifier updated with the best in class digital source. The room is little difficult to manage(a 18 sq meters (3x6) in a L 30 sq meters sitting room with 2 big windows on the right and a bookshelf at the opposite of the speakers (2 Elipson Planet L and a sub Focal Air). In between it sits a long table with chairs.
My pick would be in the range of Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 or Cambridge Audio Evo 150 or Nad C 700 or POWERMODE (2021). What do you suggest most? Thank you in advance. Keep on doing top notch reviews.
Would you change out your Kef recommendation to a KEF R3 over the LS50 Meta now? That seems the ideal endgame speaker for my ultimate high end system. I've only ever heard q350 and my current, q150 ...so just going by specs and reviews. But I just LOOOOVE that Kef sound.
Using a cheap Fosi ZA3 atm, but shooting for a 500 Watt Hypex based class-D for my destination. Kef seem to love the imaging and super tight response that D can offer.
I still have my Rega Planar 3 for over 30yrs. 👌
Fun fact about the Thiel 2.2 speakers. They had to be renamed to ‘2 2’ because Bose had the copyright for 2.2 and enforced it.
Jesus wept...
You are set without a doubt abiding in a nice place Steve...And for what can be SEEN on this video, me likey your Fidelity on Hi system, and the British LEAK too...Shema!!!
If we could bottle up your passion and sell it it we could all make a fortune😀 love the vids keep them coming. Thanks
Hey Steve - looking forward to the Accuphase E280 review and what speakers you match them with (Kef Meta/Dynaudio?)
Here in Tokyo the little Accuphase class As and Pass Labs (XA25) get compared a lot.
Bought the Kef LS50 metas with S2 stands with IsoAcoustic on the spkr spikes and Denafrips Pontus 2 DAC , pairing with my old SimAudio Moon i5 (80W 8ohm , 130W 4ohm ) atm. Sounds pretty good in my small room. Next I want to try class A 48W Willsenton SET R800i and the Kef KC62 sub ( have a Klipsch sub now ). And that’s about it. Thks Steve for all your insightful reviews.
Steve, what product is the silver-faced receiver? behind your right shoulder? Looks really nice.
Sorry to say, I ordered Zu "Omen Dirty Weekends" in March but I still don't have them due to wood shortages. Zu made them available again in July, which seems kind of weird and doesn't make me feel good about my purchase given they can't fill my March order. I'm sympathetic to shortages caused by Covide but is it time to request a refund? I don't feel good about that either given Zu is a family business, but it might be time to go in a different direction...
If they don't fulfill the back orders first, Sean Casey and company will create a PR nightmare. As most Audiophiliac viewers know, Schiit had many items backlogged for months and caught up with a first in, first out policy.
My system that includes some b&w speakers and a denon 3808 is by no means audiophile quality but I enjoy the crap out of it.
Viewers Poll- Steve's best shirt. My vote- Todays!
My system is. Rega p6, rega elex r, neat iota alpha speakers, trilogy 906 phono stage, at ptg33 2 cartridge
What are the Alpha's like? They intrigue me. Can't believe how small they are but love the concept. I have Motive SX3's in my secondary system and they are great for what I need them for.
@@Sunshine_Superman are yours tge small bookshelf ones... If so, they are awesome speakers... Full bass excellent bulid.
My alphas, are very impressive, full and deep bass (for there size!) goes down to 32 hz.
Soon I may add a suitable sub.
Midrange is very good, treble is very fast and responsive due to planar magnetic tweeter (not like domes).
Bass on hard floors can be boomy so with heavy bass tracks so I need bass traps.
I also made my own stands based on the neat ones but better to lift them higher off the floor.
Finish is excellent
@@mikemcguinness1304 thanks for replying Mike. Yes, mine are the little bookshelves. I am really limited for positioning in the room that system is in and needed small speakers that were unfussy with positioning and were more suited to low volume listening. They fitted the bill perfectly and have not disappointed. I wasn't expecting much in the bass, so was surprised that it's so clear and distinct even at low volume. I love them.
I fell in love with the Alpha's first time I saw a picture of them. The first time I saw them in proportion to someones knee I loved them even more! I've read everything I can read on them and haven't seen one bad review. Hope I get to hear them one day. They are a speaker I definitely want to own at some point. I was a little bit worried that the downward firing bass might be too much for the neighbours though!
Kudos on building your own stands. I hope you get many many years of enjoyment from your Alphas.
@@Sunshine_Superman your speakers are very good.. I auditioned them when I was choosing my speakers from Cheshireaudio in the UK.... Check out there videos on you tube sunshine
@@Sunshine_Superman ruclips.net/video/zSJTcgMUYaY/видео.html Cheshire audio
Hello Steve very nice video. Enjoyed the one
Audio companies that seem to be going down, seems to be a trend. Just like Hi-Fi stores closing. Very sad.
2021 is the age of Gallium amps, truely a end game amp. It's mind-blowing, like the viel has been removed. Starkrimson ultra wipe the floor off these 10+k amps that I've heard. No it does not sound like other class d. It's a class of it's own i think.
Evo 4.3 are really good. Got mine for €830 on a German ebay shop!
Glad to see someone else using B&K, so sad they went under years ago.
great info and presentation But it was very frustrating having to rewind rewind and pause to get a chance to actually look at the speaker. I wish it was on the screen a bit longer. even the entire duration of you talking about it! ty
How about pairing, I have the Ragnarok and I suspect my 22 year old B&W 601s need a crossover rebuild.
Hi Steve. No mention of pairings, i.e. which amp works best with which speakers, etc? This is very important when building systems.
Not much info out there on the outlaw. I tried to buy one last year and they were sold out and the used ones in ebay were going for over retail asking price. They seem to offer a lot for the $$. I am looking forward to the review
Your reviews are very informative and lively. I’d like to hear your thoughts about room treatments. I’m dealing with reverberations.
Nice Steve.
Not really a "systems" episode, more a recommended components list....Just saying;-)
Good to know which amps will drive Magnepan's current hungry speakers!
Wharfedale Evos are top. Very well priced!