Beginner's Guide to Building Your First Audiophile System
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2024
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Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 - $150)
Sony SSCS5 - Lively amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen - Laid Back
Neumi BS5 -Neutral amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ - Crystal Clear and Punchy emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Debut b5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/2WPNQxw
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 (In and Out of Stock) - Laid Back/Bassy/Detailed amzn.to/37W8hPA
JBL Stage A130 - Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Klipsch RP600M - Neutral amzn.to/3pBoXCf (This speaker’s price can fluctuate between $440-630 which is really dumb)
Jamo C93ii Bit - Boosted on Top amzn.to/3beIG6F (Can also be found cheaper at Crutchfield)
Q Acoustics 3030i - Neutral with Punch - amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500
SVS Prime bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference - Buttery but Detailed amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100 - Neutral
Aperion Novus - Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles
Recommended Amp List
Under $100
Aiyima A07 - Neutral and Full amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130
SMSL AD18 - DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250
SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400
Emotiva TA-100 - DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs - Balanced and Tasty emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark www.vista-audio.com/products.htm
Recommended DACs
Ifi Zen DAC amzn.to/2T3wuyY
FX D01 amzn.to/3d9GY6U
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/2SWTGiw
Denafrips Ares 2 www.denafrips.com/ares
Subs
Emotiva SE8 emotiva.com?aff=9
Emotiva SE12 emotiva.com?aff=9
SVS SB1000 Pro bit.ly/3scmwsc
#hifi #audiophile #stereo
0:00 Start
0:25 Intro
1:39 Sources
2:34 The DAC
5:06 The Turntable
7:20 The CD player/Transport
9:14 Streamers
10:43 Amps
14:25 Powered Speakers
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Hello Randy, enjoying your content as always. I have a question sir. You're a DIY guy do you know where to buy speaker grill frames or custom grills for monitors/bookshelf's? Thx 4 your time.
Randy,
I need a DAC/amp that will be for my desk but portable enough to put in a backpack. Something similar size to the Fiio K3 but my budget is £200 so was thinking iFi Hip Flask or Earmen Sparrow, what do you think?
I’ve got pairs of Grado SR80x and Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250ohm so something that won’t amplify the treble too much on these would be ideal
Thanks
Hey Randy, thanks for everything you do to make your videos on point. You're my cheap audio sherpa haha
Nobody came into this world knowing how to build a hifi system, but most of us take the winding path to middle-age just to figure out quality audio is a thing.
I learned about it at 18 and it made saving money a nightmare 😂
just getting into it at 14👍 ive already got myself a dx3 topping pro and a pair of hd599's and im hooked
@@Wagoogusjuniorrrr My best set of headphones is the HD650’s and I love them. I remember the first time they revealed something in audio to me that I never knew was there. Mind = blown.
im in the deep end at 16 already lol i have yamaha hs8's a pioneer cd player from the 90s and a bunch of vintage magnavox gear
Fantastic video. In the UK we have a famous chef. About two decades ago she had a television series on how to cook. People were critical that she devoted one programme on basics such as how to boil an egg. "Everyone knows how to boil an egg!" said some critics. No - everyone doesn't. I knew a guy in his twenties who couldn't make a cup of tea and relied on his mother. Videos such as yours are invaluable.
I like the way you talk and teach. Straight to the point, you allude to relevant material but don't get stuck on it, and there's none of this 'play it up for the camera' disingenuous persona-ing. It's refreshing.
St. Randy of Audiophilla, Thou art just in he eyes of the Stereo Gods. May they bless you, your children, and your children’s children. They will bestow you with rains in the appropriate season and correct speaker polarity. May they provide you with good health, bless you with great reviews, and smite malicious commentators.
Let's doth dost speaker placement be impervious to room modes. May thou listening sessions, void of fatigue in your mid-band sensitive hearing, stretch on for millenia into the sweet buttery goodness of soundstage and thou imaging
I'll get that outfit back to you, Dan. Thanks for letting me borrow it. I think the thumbnail turned out great.
@@cheapaudioman You can keep it. I've got a closet full.
This was awesome. Appreciate this! Wish this was available when I first started this journey. The upcoming stereo community and my friends will appreciate this content. Thank you!
Having 80's stereo knowledge, this clarified a few things that I was a little fuzzy on. My setup was complicated by running everything through an old digital Akai equalizer, which sweetens everything. Thanks for the video!
Old (late 70's) AKAI products are some of the most underrated vintage pieces out there. Incredibly good.
Watchmakers call upgrades “complications”.
@@hampyonce Not sure what to say to that....
@@toddwalker4301 just trivia
@@josephchamberlain3681 Akai receiver early 80s screaming bargain. I think paid little over 100. Tech HI Fi
in the 70s I had records, in the 80s I had a car, walkman and boom box and switched to cassette tapes, in the 90s I bought all my music a 3rd time on CD. Then had a child. 21 years of no music for me except on my phone. In 2022 I was confused as hell. Thanks for making it easier for me to understand how to play 50 years of music from record to cell phones on a set of Klipsch bookshelf speakers.
Thanks for computer to DAC to amp...no one else has said that. Connecting gear is an appreciated addition to YT vids.
I enjoyed the video even though I bought my first system in 1975. I was in the Navy and had my first real spending money. I bought a Sony TA 1130 integrated amp, an AR manual turntable and a pair of BIC Venturi speakers. The BICs weren't the greatest speakers out there, but they were the best for listening to Black Sabbath, which was most of my listening.
I appreciate this. I'm fortunate that I have friends that worked at Clair Brothers so they help me out with most of this stuff, but dialing back and learning the basics has definitely helped me understand it. Appreciate your content!
Great video and information helping people get set up to enjoy their music with better gear. Thanks, Professor Randy from Sith Audio University.
Love this video. Wish I had seen this a few years ago. Nice to see everything presented so well.
I'm an old guy so I grew up (and had fun) connecting all the boxes, but I've never been all that attracted to file-based music so now I find streamers (and the content-providing industry) to be the most intimidating part of hifi.
I am an old guy, too. I only play records, tapes and CD's. I don't do "streaming services" because I don't understand them and I get slightly confused sometimes. Young people can say that we are Baby Boomers and we are not conversant with the latest technology. At least for me, that's true. But wait until they are staring 70 years old in the face...
As a 70's analog guy this helped so much. I took the "extremely cheap" road ... probably not for everybody but works fine for these aging ears. Already had some Klipsch RB 61's, old BluRay player , an iPad and subscribe to Amazon Music. Wound up buying Aiyima D05 ($170) and Apple lighting to camera adapter ($30). Hooked up the iPad to camera adapter to PC USB cable into the Aiyima (24/192 output) . Also have optical connections between the BluRay and the Aiyima. Will be adding my powered sub soon to complete 2.1 system. Leaves me with RCA inputs for Turntable if I decide to add that. I wasn't looking for perfection but this is totally fine for my ears. Would have never considered Aiyima until Randy's review of the Aiyima D03. Thanks Randy!!!
I mean… does it ever really get better than this
What are your thoughts on the Moukey MAMP1?
Well done Randy! Great info for the basics. You’re the Everyman of Audio!
This video was great! Really breaks everything down. Now I know to put the Emotiva TA1 on my list so I can have it all in one.
It's amazing how complicated it seems when you have to explain it all, and yet it seems so simple when you know it.
This is a great primer. Thanks cheapaudioman!
This! I started as a teen with a 5 disc CD player, Receiver, and 2 speakers. 30 years later I'm like what the heck do I need and how do I hook these things up?
Thanks for your advice! I picked up a $120 set of the Sony speakers that you recommended, along side the Aiyima D05. I will be upgrading my turntable as well next month to probably a Fluance RT83 and use the Fluance preamp along side it. Thanks for the suggestions!
I love that classical pic of you holding the Linton speaker. perfect!!!
Just got a TASCAM CD A500, it's a dual cd cassette stereo player. Just bought those Sony ccsc speakers you recommended, that I can modify, thanks for that, so glad I found that video, prime day today, almost $50 off. Now I need an amplifier.
This is a Great source of information for anyone just starting out! I'll be sharing this video with my friends. Thank You!
This is good info, as always, well presented in a laid back way. I'd like to see some visual representations of this, all the various ways to go from source to speaker, but I know that's a bit of a pain to create.
HI Randy, I know you get A LOT comments and emails but I just wanted to thank you for your reviews and insight ... I just put together a nice little Audiophile system chiefly from your input ...
Emotiva PT1, with the A2 couple with a pair of Q Acoustic 3020is and my NHT twin 6.5 inch down firing Sub ... WOW and double WOW ... the best sounding system I've ever had. Again thanks, and keep up the great work.
I started with some powered speakers on a new turntable and ended up returning them. Decided a set of passive bookshelf speakers and a little amplifier with BT was the way to go. I am much happier with that. What ended up happening with the powered speakers was they had a built in protection mode to cut the amp's power in the event that a certain frequency is detected. On a record player, this happened way too often and was quite annoying and distracting.
I grew up with these components in the 90s. In the Philippines it was all aiwa brands. When we moved to California mid 90s my dad continued and now we still have the Sony’s vcr, 50 cd changer, receiver, dvd, and blu-ray. Two big box speakers and a wired subwoofer? It has no power to it? Prolly the receiver will power it. However moved to sound bar and blue tooth.
So glad of these videos because I think I’m going to make it work in my own place. Not sure about what goes to what but I’ll get it. Time to dust it off.
Subbed.
Great 101 on the subject matter Randy! Wish I had seen this a year ago when I had started my audio quest. Keep it up!
“Don’t binge watch anything on Netflix or Hulu, build your first hifi system, and binge listen and fill yourself with happiness”
You’re a legend mate
I got into hifi seperates in 1985. My first amp was a Rotel 25watts per channel.. i managed to run 3 pairs of 8 ohm speakers 12" 8" and 6" it got warm but coped. I know naughty hey, 2ohm load. Loved that amp.
Don't forget to look at second hand/vintage. Great deals to be had, bit more homework. But much better value if done right
Hi Randy,
Just here to let you know that i really appreciate your videos and replies to a few questions i had. Based on your advice i now have my PC feeding tidal mqa to the Aiyima T8 dac/pre amp to the wharfedale wh-d10 sub to Aiyima A07 and on to the wharfedale 12.2 speakers. And it sounds AMAZING. I find myself forgetting time and listening to entire albums of music - never mind the sound of movies!
For anyone curious about the appr. cost (T8=130, A07=90, D10=300, 12.2=320 and misc medium quality cables=60)
Thank you cheapaudioman!
That sounds like a really good setup, probably maximizing your $ for best sound. I have the t8 a07 as well for a bedroom system and have been getting some noise on the t8. Have you noticed this too or is it just my setup?
It's minimal but if you put your face in front of speakers you will hear faint noise/hum
@@erics.4113 Thank you:) yes i have actually! I found, that the A07 is the cause of the humming sound. If i adjust it to ~60% wattage it disappears entirely, but i left it at ~80% when it's barely noticeable for me. For this to make sense, I only adjust volume level on the t8 on regular use :)
@@dr3ss3 I was doing that too with volume. I notice it more on Klipsch rp600m than my ELAC as the Klipsch are more sensitive so they will amplify even smaller signals and wattage. I put my 07 around 12oclock position on volume as that's all I really need. If I power amp on first there is noticeable noise, then when the t8 switches on it nearly kills all of it, except for very faint trace. It doesn't really bother me, but if there was an inexpensive power supply option that killed it I would try. Or mains filter (if they even work).
I may go for an inexpensive power supply upgrade to see if I can kill it completely, but the more I've explored, it seems like this noise could be generated from inside the device itself. In that case, no amount of 'clean' power is going to completely solve the issue.
Listen, for $200 that combo far exceeded any expectations. It sounds really dam good. And if anything, knowing what it costs and hearing it play makes me love it even more. I've got 3grand worth of another amp streamer DAC as separates and it's not like that totally embarrasses the aiyima combo
@@wwertyuio1843 I'm still using Spotify lol.. not holding my breath but their lossless is supposedly coming.
I've made serious upgrades to the system and if/when I check out lossless and it's a decent step up I'll be happy. I saw tidal has the trial now. But I suppose that's mostly MQA or is that qobuz using that (among other formats they offer?)
Your channel is blowing up! Very well deserved.
Short story; I purchased my first high end stereo in 1977. Yamaha CR 2020 and a pair B&o M100. I really wanted to purchase a pair McIntosh speakers but mortals could not afford them. I could have gone with a pair Mac XL 10s. They sounded great but the cabinets were covered in vinyl fake wood. The B&o’s were Beautiful African Rosewood and about the same money. Now fast forward to today , I have have many speakers since those days. Def techs, Klipsch, and so on. The best speaker I bought for cheap money, APM Sony ES 22’s. I never was able to get the XL 10’s out of my mind. So, when my buddy Jerry died who owned a pair, I purchased. They were in bad shape. I took them completely apart. New cones, new foams, updated the tweeters, and rebuilt the crossovers. They sound amazing. We now own 4 pair. All restored. The cabinets are not Beautiful but very solid. I still have the def tech’s and the B&o’s that we never listen to. In a few days we will have a pair of source 10ks. I will let you know
Been watching you for a year give or take and find myself searching for your older vids stay the way you are don’t sell out to big companies
Because of a review from Randy about the Aiyiama T9 I bought this together with a set of Fenton and a Vulkkano subwoofer, 289 euro. And it sounds as good as my JVC Receiver 5.1 with Eltax speakers and woofer which costed 1.000 euro.
The new and updated Mx5 is already out. Seems like an excellent all-in-one unit! An updated Mx3 all across the board.
This answered so many of my questions! Thank you! 🙏
Good points here. Randy keep Up the good content
I use a blu ray player, that can stream Spotify. Remote for player works, and I can control on my phone or on laptop. Coax/HDMI out for audio out to a AV receiver. AV receiver can upsample, decode, DAC, power speakers 100w/ch, and Room Correction. Also I can route to tv and play a movie since it’s in my office room. Pioneer BS22 speakers. All were bought used for under $250
the cdplayer/ transport section helped a LOT thanks bro
The thumbnail for this video is chef's kiss!
Whatever your budget is, I recommend you spend the most on speakers. That’s the heart of the system.
This
Actually that used to be the established mantra. The source is the most important - as in rubbish in rubbish out. The best source ie CD player you can afford, then amp, and lastly speakers. Good connects are also important.
@@thomasalexand well, that’s your opinion, but, the sound from the source is only going to sound as good as the speakers the sound is coming out of. I stick to my mantra. I’ll only believe the most money should be on the speakers.
Love the channel Randy. Been wfh for almost two years. Realized I could take off the Sennheiser headphones and build a desktop system.
Started with one the smsl units and GRR minis. Just this weekend found a great deal on used Vidar, modi3+, loki and a sys. Really happy and room to for sure grow.
Thanks for the wide range of content you bring us and showing you don’t need a trust fund to enjoy some quality sound.
You made this so easy to understand thank you!
Thank you for your input! I still use my Technics cd and amp since the 90s.
being a metal consumer mostly cds. Was thinking in some upgrade but I'm lost in todays hifi offering.
This was super helpful, thank you!
In the early to mid seventies, I found myself in stereo heaven. My first tour in Germany, I discovered (what is now considered) vintage audio in my local PX system, selling for a third or less of what I would have paid for it back in the states. Before I went to Germany I had absolutely no interest in owning a component system. But after listening to everyone's stereo systems throughout the barracks, I put my money down on a Pioneer SX 1080, a Pioneer P3A turntable. a Teac A-150 tape deck, HPM 100s amd HPM 60s (for the back channel) and a DBX noise reduction unit which all but eliminated the dreaded tape hiss during quiet passages of the music. Even back in 76, that DBX unit cost six hundred dollars, even at the PX. Up to that point, that was my dream system.
Then I heard that Phase Linear was discontinuing consumer-grade stereo components, I volunteered for a third tour in Germany just to buy this top of the line Phase Linear system. The only original pieces I kept was the tape deck and DBX unit. I brought that Phase Linear system home with me and had it on my console living room set until 1994, when one of my clients lost his mind and offered me a ridiculous amount of money for it. It was coming a time that I would need a complete capacitor upgrade so I took his money and even helped him load it into the car. My wife came home and when she saw all the blank space on the center piece she was pissed off.
Until I showed her the check.
Today, I am quite happy with my mid-fi headphoes, my Zen Dac II and my DC04 iBasso amp dac for my phone. It’s amazing I can spend less than an eighth I spent on my component system and still have the same quality of music it produced.
A fellow Metallica/metal fan talking all about affordable audio gear and how to set it all up... i am in heaven man thank you, i promise once i get my stuff set up, i'll donate to you lol
An excellent starter system: Elac 4" bookshelf speakers (BS41, currently $100) + "Linkfor" dac/speaker amp with ESS 9018K2M DAC (currently $51); only things you need additionally are speaker cables and a source (smart tv with optical output).
those still around? thought it was bs22
@@joelopez7459 Yup, now $76 on the big site, bs22 are pioneers, these are elac.
Good job Randy! You kind of forget how complicated this can be--and how many DACs there are in any system.
During my first year in high school 1978. With money I earned working at Steak N Ale. I bought a new Sansui G3000 stereo receiver at Pacific Audio for about $300. The hifi bug hit me about a year prior to that, when I heard my uncles McIntosh audio system. That low power Sansui G3000 was all I could afford back then. But it sounded awesome.
I bought my first Sansui AU 101 amplifier, entry level turntable and house speakers from Steketees Audio in GR, Michigan with money saved from my job working in a hospital kitchen ($1.60 hr.). Along with an album or two every payday. Record clubs help add to my collection. That was 1972-1973. A proud moment.
Thanks
Awesome breakdown. Appreciate your time and dedication.. Thanks!
Perfect screen shot 😆👌
I enjoy your videos and have subscribed. Keep up the fun.
Killer thumbnail for the video Randy! Love it
Love it Randy!
Smart phone, ifi GO Blue DAC, Moondrop KATO IEM’s…done 🥳
It doesn’t get any cheaper ( with great quality) than that 🍻
Great information sir thank you 😊
I APPRECIATE YOU AND THIS VIDEO, THANK YOU!!!
Liking the video cover.
There were some things that have always confused me thanks for making things easier
I would say every system is made of 4 things: Source, Amp, Speaker, and the Room (or the way of listening: small/ large room, open air, car, or earphones)
Best thumbnail ever!!
Very good review. I have been to other audio sites that when a question is asked or you just want to join in , out comes the snobby or sarcastic responses. I see a lot of your speakers are junk or your equipment isn’t up to our standards type attitudes. I don’t really get that vibe from your channel. Thank you for trying to help people out. That’s cool,
This guy is awesome straight up if he likes it he likes it if he doesn't then he doesn't and says so
I just finished my base bedroom system. Laptop - Schiit HEL2(w/AKM) - Aiyima A07 - Aiyima A3001 driving KEF LS50 Meta's and SVS Sb-1000 PRO
How did all of that work out for you? Satisfied with the sound/quality of the system?
@@jeffhanson664 Well, the path to here was interesting. After the gear was in place, I then went from cheap interconnects to better(not expensive) and I made sets of Canare 4S11 Star Quad Speaker cables, moving from regular cable. So it's either a Dragon I'm chasing or a rabbit hole I'm tumbling dowm. Every change has been beneficial though. Some subtle, some spectacular. Swapping out the cheap brick power supplies for an open cage was a huge change. Making power cables was also a thing. But not so much.
Next step, make some Mogami W 3104 cables and pit a clean supply onto the DAC... Satisfied? Hmmm. I hope so... Pleased? Definitely. Enjoying... You're damn straight.
Cheap? Not any more...
Great video! 👍👍
I started out wanting to listen to music on my gaming PC. I went with a cheap Sony 7.1 AVR and a pair of Bose 301's I had laying around for decades. They were horrible as mains so I found some cheap B&W 601s and KEF C-40s. They were much better, especially after I installed a sub. Upgraded the sub and then, lightning struck when I lucked into a pair of perfect aDs L810s and two Adcom 555's, with an Emotiva pt-100 preamp/DAC/tuner. Then the NAD 208 thx power amp arrived and it was even better than the Adcoms. Since the 208 is a balanced amp, I got a used Emotiva xda-2 balanced preamp/DAC to power the aDs 910s acquired a year after the l810s and found nirvana. The aDs 910s are my perfect loudspeakers. 28htz-25khtz @ 4ohms, 93db efficiency.
The 910s are my end-gamers.
Wish I would have watched this a year ago. Bought a Moon 240i and now I am looking at a HiFi Rose MA250 that is a streamer, with a DAC and a preamp. The 240 has a DAC and Preamp and a phono stage (?). Kind of looking at partially starting over! Lol
Great thumbnail sir, even better topic for a video.
Bro's Moukey MAMP1 well over 100 watts per channel/Blue tooth/2 types of Aux + USB less then 65 Biden bucks. Use for my computer with Sony SSCS 5, sounds real good to me.
Nice video! I’m hooked on your videos! I have learned so much in the last two months. I’m getting back into hifi after a 30 year hiatus. Don’t ask…Life happened. I have a pair of small Magnepans (SMGs) purchased in 1985 but they are shot and would like to see a review of the new Magnepan LRS speakers. And possibly recommend a good amp to drive them! Thanks! You’re doing good! Keep it up!
I used to go balls to the walls with expensive audio gear.
None of them surprised me like the ilouds did to the point where it made me question why all the gear I bought were so expensive when these crappy looking speakers can give me such an impressive sound for just $300. I mean, $300 is not affordable by any stretch of the imagination but holy crap.
I downsized soon after. And when I say downsized, I meant sold everything except my ilouds.
thx walter
I love that you’re giving material to all the new joiners out there! Welcome to the Hifi Community everyone! Today isn’t sponsored by Sith Audio toilet paper? Not only good for cleaning up after a large cup of coffee but a great replacement for speaker port bungs. Just don’t use one piece for both.
Lol
Thoughts on a solution for folks who want a clean stack with minimal visual clutter and easy to use interface? Thinking of the Bluesound Powerbar + or the Sonos Arc. I'm not as critical a listener as I was in my younger years, so I'm good with the built-in DAC on these devices, especially in exchange for less gear and cables. I most likely will not use any premium music services, but instead cast from my iphone, or use a home media server (Plex/FLAC) if they support it.
Thanks so much for these types of videos Randy. This is exactly what a beginner needs. Thanks to you, I'm enjoying my first hifi system. Based on your recommendations, I can now say I'm the proud owner of an SVS Soundbase, a pair of Emotiva B1+s, which I just noticed today have had a price increase to $299, and a Dayton Audio 10 inch sealed sub. Man, I can't tell you how awesome it sounds. "POWA!" is the first thing I said when I heard it for the first time. I'm in trouble though, I can't stop thinking of other speakers. This could be bad. Man, I tell ya though, I can't wait to get home from work to listen to it. I'm all in. Thanks again for the super helpful content. Also, wonder if your recommendation would change on the B1+ based on the new price?
this is also a good way of building a cheap computer system , mine cost me £100 all second hand :-) Tuner , amplifier , CD player , speakers .... computer was built by myself and cost about £400 with a ASUS sound card.
Hey Randy
Love all your content. Been looking at B1+ for a medium sized room 2 channel system but their price has recently went up. Also being in Canada need to pay for shipping. Kef Q150 are currently on sale and would be about $30 more compared to the total cost for the B1+ to get to my door. Are the Q150 worth spending a bit more?
Man that shirt is so dope
Dear God let’s get on Microsoft paint and start drawing diagrams. I understood most of what you said and I still wish you had a diagram bc it took me a couple of rewinds to follow along
Hey Randy, Thanks for all the info you provide us on affordable home audio. I would like to set up a 2 channel system for myself strictly for listening to my CD collection. I would like to run my CD player into my Aune X1S DAC/Headphone Amp (has volume control) and analog out into amp to speakers. I'm considering the Vista Audio Spark as it appears to be the best sounding / quality piece of gear for the money sub $500. If I choose the Spark, could you or anyone else recommend several bookshelf and floor standers sub $600 that the spark could drive? I do listen to mostly hard rock, (some metal Iron Maiden type) blues and jazz. I'm not a bass head and don't need party volumes. Room 15 x 15. Thanks.
Very helpful! Thanks for the great content! What about if I have an amp with NO subwoofer out and want to add a subwoofer in the future? Is there a specific device I can count on, or simply need to look into another amp? Anyone?
If you get a subwoofer with speaker level connections you can run an extra set of wires from the speaker connections on the amp to the sub or even from the speakers to the sub. You would need to set the levels on the sub controls. Some people prefer this type of connection to the sub out. Randy actually has a video on this very topic.
I got my schooling 1973 from my roommate that had just got back from Germany. Had next to the top of the line Sansui speakers and a large Sansui receiver. I can't remember what brand the reel to reel or turntable was. I knew a guy that had a record player in his early model Barracuda, 8 tracks hadn't come out yet 🤣
I'm new to the channel and LOVE IT! Your down to earth personality and reviews are outstanding. I have an extra pair of Sony sscs5 and extra subwoofer...should I build a hifi system or continue to listen to music on my home theater (infinity primus speakers). Would it sound any better? Would love your thoughts and which dać/amp to purchase such as Ayima D03 or D05 if hifi setup would improve my music listening experience versus using my existing home theater.
The beauty of this hobby is that any one of us can be simultaneously experts and beginners. If you're new, don't sweat it. Keep it fun, unless you're a sociopath in which case please pick up basket weaving instead.
So if anyone is stuck on hardware questions, punt and consider software and use-case questions. How and where do you want to listen? What will be your sources? Let that drive hardware answers. It's OK to swap out hardware as decisions and values mature, later. It's not a contract, even though I'll be paying Affirm for my Bluesound Powernode for quite a while. 0% interest FTW!
Is there any device that attenuates a line level signal from a CD player or streamer so it can be plugged into a phono input of an older style amp?
My first audio setup was the zen Dac with JBL 104 speakers and pc38x.
Currently, I'm the same Dac with 6xx, focal elega, Harmonic Zeus, and I recently just got Adam t5v.
thanks for the all the info. Being new to the digital music world (I'm showing my age)i have a couple remedial questions. would i still benefit from having a dedicated DAC even though my receiver has an integrated DAC or is that redundant? Secondly, would it be beneficial to have a DAC when using an Airply to play music from a mobile device through the receiver? thank again, love the channel.
i've been dumb and happy streaming music through my smart tv and my home theater.now i've built a music room above my workshop and am learning all of this over again like i'm 18. i have older 5.1 speakers,an ancient cd/dvd player and a mid 90's receiver with no modern inputs. i just ordered a bluetooth receiver and dragged one of my big screen smart tv's up there so i can stream youtube music videos.i think it's time to junk most of it and start collecting vinyl and going old school analog again.
Thank you for wearing a Metallica shirt! I've always felt rather discouraged from the audiophile community because of my music taste which focuses more on heft and energy instead of crispness or whatever. Yknow it's like Talk Talk vs. Pustulated. But regardless, I want to listen to both in absolute musical purity.
In my day, late 70s, the advice was to put the most money into the transducers: phono cartridge and speakers. Every thing else was where one could economize if necessary.
Cool video, think maybe should of mentioned 2 things but it may of been getting to deep and not for this video but the next step up. Anyway the 2 things are watt’s for amps and speakers so people don’t buy to small an amp to power to big of speakers. Also maybe expanded on integrated amp as opposed to what is a pre amp and amplifier seperate.
Randy, I apologize if I'm rehashing some of what you said, but here's how I would put it...
All music other than electronic synths start out with at least a semi-analog source. One might even argue that an electronic keyboard is analog in part because the player has to press the keys. That action get's converted to something digital immediately.
The speakers or headphones (which are actually just tiny little speakers) are always analog.
So the need for a DAC (either internal to a device or a standalone device) is only required if the source is digital, or at some point, the signal has been converted from analog to digital (ADC.)
The trick is, being able to translate what one sees on a device in the way of connections. Probably the most confusing for most consumers is the fact that an RCA connector usually means analog input or output, but in the case of digital coax, that also uses an RAC connector. Most others are pretty obvious until one gets into esoteric gear, older gear or pro audio gear.
It seems like you brought up several topics all at once. But since you are digging deep into brain teasers, your fourth paragraph is not entirely true. The example I am thinking of is the case where an acoustic instrument is recorded on analog tape. Then, for mixing purposes, it is converted into digital files. Then, it is converted once again into an analog signal so that a vinyl record can be produced. So, in this case, the signal has been converted from analog to digital at some point. Yet it was converted back again and so no DAC is needed for the source. 🧐
@@greenbeginner3353 Thank you. The key word here would be "required." My point was that despite it become more and more rare, there are examples of completely analog paths, and certainly in the past that's all that was available.
Thanks for making this video for us newbs. I was looking at getting some Emotiva speakers but I was confused on what I needed to drive them the way they are meant. I am from the old days when you just went to the store and bought a receiver and some speakers and you called it a day. Was embarrassed that I didn't know how to setup a system. Now I can let go of my shame! 😛
glad you got some value from it. I don't like it when people talk down to others. we all learned
It's relatively unchanged from what you remember. Integrated amps are what you think of as receivers, but name changed because receiver implies am/fm tuner or receiver and those are now more rare (but still included in some integrated amps such as Cambridge axr100 for $600)
They've added new input types as you'd expect, but all the old favorites are still there. Analog RCA plugs, speaker binding posts and coax digital inputs are still everywhere.
I suppose the bigger change is the streamer vs CD player. But they can still use the same connection methods that your old CD player would have used. So just think of standalone streamers as CD players that contain every CD instead of that one that's scratched to hell and won't play right anymore 😜
So if any can help me out with this question I would appreciate it. Can I set up a system as follows: Phone bluetooth ----> T8 -----> A07 ------> passive bookshelf speakers. If this setup works would I be getting any goodness from the tube element of the T8? Or would it be better easier to just go Phone bluetooth ----> T8, T9 or T10 ------> passive bookshelf speakers? I have a dragon fly DAC which I could also add into this set up if that would add value. Thanks
I’m new in this audiophile world. I would appreciate your opinion on this set up. I’m between the Emotiva TA1, Cambridge AXA 35 or Denon PMA 600NE. To pair it with the ELAC Debut Reference DBR62, Polk R200 or KEF Q350. With an ELAC sub 1010, Jamo S810 or Polk Audio PSW10. And to finish my set up, I want to go with either the NAD C538 CD player or the Yamaha S303 CD player. Thanks for your help!
I wonder if you could get your hands on a pair of Peachtree M24 or M25 powered speakers to review. I really like mine but I wonder how they compare to passive systems in the same price range.
I have a question. I’m putting together my living room setup which includes a PS5 and CD Player and a receiver. I plan on getting the Emotiva B1+, a DAC, and maybe a 10-12 inch sub. I think I understood your explanation of the order for the cd player setup but what do I do with the receiver in the mix?
for the cd lover,here is one system:
yamaha cd s303 cd player 380.00
yamaha r n303 stereo receiver @100 wpc 330.00
klipsch rp 160 bookshelf speakers with 6.5 woofer 374.00
crutchfield 14 gauge speaker cables 10 feet 2 pair:40.00 total
audio quest tower interconnects 32.00
audioquest forest coaxial cable 40.00