It's always refreshing to hear your well-considered thoughts, Tarun. Another advantage of buying used: for not much outlay you can mix 'n' match several components, hear the variations put out by different permutations and decide what sort of tonal characteristics you prefer. What doesn't float your boat you can always resell - or pass on to friends, and get them hooked on hi-fi!
Excellent video, exactly the type of advice I was looking for. Looking to build a system after being a lapsed audiophile for 20yrs and your advice on second hand gear was particularly welcome. Looking forward to more videos
Another brilliant video i liked the way you covered second hand Hi-Fi because there a lot out there with all these auction sites i myself own some second hand stuff so it was good to hear you mention it keep the videos coming great work
Thank you so much. Love watching your videos. I’m always on a limited budget but enjoy getting the best sound I can get out of the kit I can afford. Thank you for the advice.
I love your approach to the sound systems, well balanced in terms of value for money and a lot of thought behind it. Keep making brilliant subjective videos. Love it
Hi Tarun, great video as always. Agree completely with your points on used gear, especially on the point about new electrolytic capacitors. My advice to buyers is, spend a bit more on an amp with fresh caps, because if you want an engineer to do it after it will cost a lot more. Case in point is the NAD 3020, one of your classic warm sounding oldies, that regularly sells on eBay for between £100 and £130. A recapped amp will set you back £185, however, to have your pride and joy recapped will cost between £180 and £230. It's also worth mentioning that dried out old caps will continue to function long after they have dropped off spec, however, they will seriously compromise the performance of the system. Can't wait for the next one Tarun. Cheers Mark
Nice one Tarun, good solid advice as not everyone has a budget of thousands to spend on listening to music. I'm a fan of used but as you say one has to be very careful indeed when jumping in. I also like the idea of a series (or mini-series) of more personal, less scientific articles, at least for a short while.
Thanks for another great video. Always look forward to your videos, like an interesting discussion with another audiophile. A topic rarely addressed in audio circles seems to be the room. How the same system can sound so different in different rooms. Almost as if components had been changed. Glad to see you spoke to some of this in your earlier videos on amplifier power and speaker size. BTW, I can't seem to find a quid to $ conversion table. Kidding.
Thank you for a sensible, down to earth (and value) video. And thank you for specifying a range of sensible prices, I think that this part is the hardest for most CZcamsrs out there at the fear of losing business
Thank you Astro boy. Yeh, it is all to easy to get seduced by the expensive high end stuff as a reviewer but I feel passionate about promoting good hifi at sensible price points that most people can justify. Reviews of more affordable gear pending.... 😉👍
Hi Tarun sound advice as usual, I recently bought second hand from gumtree a Onkyo cr-515Dab plus monitor audio Br1 & about 40 feet of QED silver speaker cable with banana plugs for just £45 ,this sounds great a real bargain. Many thanks for the great video.
Great video as usual Tarun. Plenty to choose from at any price point depending on your taste. and budget. Not forgetting that if you want to build a music library of vinyl and cd's then put your money into it before getting too carried away with the pursuit of sound .
Really enjoyed listening to your thoughts. Watched a few of your videos and seldom I feel like you are trying to sell me something. Addition, you are not shy to put your thoughts out there to call out the brands what you like or not. Honest and clear, good stuff.
Thank you for your classy videos and commentary TARUN. I’ve been in the ‘audio game’ for a long time, and appreciate your measured approach. And once upon a time, I also had a pair of ProAc 1sc’s with a sub. But I think they were ‘too good’ for me back then, and I sold them, like many other quality pieces. Oh well, live and learn. I’ve made up for that move by buying the Tablette Tens recently, which are lovely. If I’m smarter (??), I’ll hold on to them. Please keep it up, and cheers from Canada!
Some good sensible advice her. I agree there are some good bargains out there in the used analogue field. I have to agree changing out drivers in used speakers is not likely going to work well but there is an alternative that I have used and that is to replace the surrounds. You can buy kits for various drivers for a reasonable price (or at least you used to be able to). They are relatively easy to install if you take a bit of care.
Some great advise there. I've bought two second hand amplifiers which I've been very pleased with. I have 2 systems and one 10 times more expensive than the other one. I enjoy both, both are good within their limitations and room acoustics. My experience is that you need to think about interconnects and the cheap Tacima mains conditioner you yourself recommend.
Great and grounded advice, this hobby is a tough journey, it is very easy to get trapped in the equipment or in the upgrade urge, sometimes forgetting to enjoy music with what you already have. Cheers from Arizona,.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I listen on PSBs too, it's the baby powered Alphas on proper stands, source is Marantz (used as dac and pre), weird I know, but sends anything below 80hz to a Rel T5i. I love the PSB sound, esp as it breathes so easily because of the Rel in the mix. My next one has to be a PSB, a modest step up to the new Alpha P5, unless new Imagine bookshelf options are due...I see current Imagine is all out of stock
Your content so mature. There is lots of misleading theory in audiophile industry .by audiophiles . just get best amp and speakers, you can effort and learn to enjoy what you got . There is nothing more ..other than sitting and listening.
While that is a fine approach and there is nothing wrong with it, for many people researching their next upgrade, listening to different gear, tweaking etc is what they enjoy and where the "hobby" part comes into play.
Some very useful info and tips from Tarun, I would also add that the best way to evaluate any system, speakers etc etc is to listen to them, maybe difficult in the current circumstances, try to use a dealer that has demo kit you can try at home as that is where you need to listen to it, showrooms/demo rooms are a start but at home is where you need to be. This is especially true for speakers as Tarun has already spoken about. Me, I've a mixture of 2nd hand, new and ex demo, a system that would cost circa £8500>£9000 I paid around £3500, (turntable I have had since the mid seventies which is still in great condition), make a list and see what happens...would I change anything I have now.... probably not as how much more on a percentage basis would I need to spend to get a 10% >20% better sound ?? I use 3 ways to listen to my music...Vinyl, CD, and Streaming.....I find they each have good and different points, but having the ability to use each is really good.
Great video. I would spend as much as i can afford on the source.Next the interconnects and speaker wire. Then the preamp, followed by the power amp and lastly the speakers. The goal is to degrade the signal as little as possible.
allways wondered this and maybe seemed to go over my spending budget when probably get as good for half price or less,dont get me wrong i do notice differances good and bad with tweeking the system,great vid
Hi Glen, I do believe you get what you pay for as long as you spend wisely but I think we all have a level of performance that we can live with and be happy. I could live with my bedroom system at £2k. Don’t get me wrong the main system at about £8k is better. It plays louder has better dynamic range, resolution and richer textures. Sometimes satisfaction in this hobby is realising what compromises you can put up with and what you can live without. Thank you for watching and commenting 😉👍
Hi Tarun. Yet again a useful video for the beginner audiophile and us oldies. It doesn't take a huge amount of money these days to put together a system that sounds very pleasing to the ear, as technology has moved forward so fast. I'm guessing your bedroom system will sound brilliant for £2000. I was watching Kevin from Upscale audio a while back, talking about the Prima Luna tube amp and he was saying that a very well known American audio reviewer has one for his main system and he has set it as his benchmark tube amp at any cost, and this guy could afford anything. The Onkyo A 9110 amp is a great starter amp for under £250. Good point about buying used hifi and checking to make sure you can get parts for them still. I'm still on my journey of building my system back up to where I want it to be. Waiting for the wife to allow me to go spend at the minute lol!
Hi buddy, always Greta to hear from you. I need to get hold of one of those Prima Luna tube amps at some point and take it out for a spin. I hope the Mrs approves your next purchase 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 The Prima Luna Evo 400 is the one I would want as its got the best speck. I'm a little nervous with getting a tube amp as I run my TV sound through an amp, which would use so many tubes. Could end up costly.
I very much endorse your observations on active speakers. They’ve been part of the pro scene for years, and I can’t understand why they don’t figure more in domestic setups. I’m currently running a Chord Mojo into a pair of AE1 active speakers (front end is streaming to Mac mini or Apple airport express via Roon or Airplay) and it is truly a very nice sound for a small to medium space. Total cost Dac and speakers around £1400-£1600 .
Hi Arthur, I run a Mojo into my system. I recently heard the AE1 Actives and was very impressed. Would love to get a pair in for review. Looks like you have put together a killer system for sensible money 😉
I bought the AE1's before I was aware of the Elac Narvis, and was on the point of auditioning the latter before lockdown intervened. I initially paired the AE1's with an MDAC, but was more impressed overall with the slightly warmer sound of the Mojo, which was lying around unused. I still intend to audition the Elac's but I'm not sure it would be a worthwhile upgrade. We'll see. I'm in the UK ( Manchester), I would be happy to lend you the AE1's for review for a few days if we could make the logistics work.
Great advice, especially as hi-fi can be a very confusing and expensive merry-go-round (which many end up calling a hobby as they continue to search for ever decreasing sonic improvements). Which is not a bad thing, but it can be a very expensive and frustrating rabbit hole But there are great ways to get a system and secondhand and old stock bargains are a good starting point - if you are careful and buy products you have already heard and like. Just make sure you test and hear it running before buying. Plus you can always sell them again later and not lose much money. In the digital realm however we are now truly spoilt for inexpensive but great sounding equipment...and not just from the mainstream brands you mentioned but also from manufacturers in other countries especially now emerging from China. I recently got a really well made headphone dac amp from yulong and it sounds far better than my peachtree integrated DAC amp (which I am now selling). I now use the yulong as my main pre-amp and dac - as it also has a better dac than my bluesound node 2i...although the bluesound is also a great product and starting point in itself. I also got a real surprise by demoing a friends Crown xls poweramp...which is a fabulous sounding amp for a few hundred pounds new. So got one I got some old stock Qacoustic 3050 speakers and some secondhand Gallo's subwoofers..and can't be happier all for about £1,300. The real thing to really save time and money is to spend some time listening and demoing stuff ...as ultimately it's our own ears and minds and of course budgets we are try to please. If you can demo stuff in your own room, even better as our room also have a big impact on sound too. Finally the truth is there will always be better sounding stuff out there no matter how much we can afford and spend and therefore the secret is knowing when to stop and just enjoy the music rather than being lost and frustrated in the nuances of sound. But I am happy for and respect those that can't stop..as I can then buy their old stuff as they upgrade and sell 😊
I think spending time to listen to as many systems as possible is a far better approach than buy/sell merry go around. Layman needs time to train hearing and taste in music reproduction - could take multiple years. This hobby is a marathon not a sprint.
@@zipperunamused9009 I totally agree, when I first started back in the 80's, I was lucky... as many of my friends and I got into hi-fi and we all shared and learnt together. Mind you back then there were loads of small local hi-fi shops and shows to investigate and explore. Funnily the friends with more money would naturally keep on upgrading while others on budget spent more time finding products that matched their personal sonic preferences (as that is important too, as some liked warm and musical sounds while others more neutral and clinical). Most of those who spent time getting their systems were generally happier and kept their gear far longer. Although admittedly some did also occasionally benefit when other friends upgraded and sold their old stuff on. I listened to many systems before finally buying my first, and happily kept it for 20 years - only servicing and changing cartridges, because it closely matched my personal preferences. And although I still would try other components from friends...I never felt the need to change as it already had the magic 😊
Glad you mentioned active speakers. My thoughts for a while have been to construct a hybrid active system, where you still use your conventional amps but with an active crossover and no passive crossover. At the moment, the move to active means junking your amps, so most don't want to go there.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You're welcome. Even your 'subjective' views are sensible and fair. Hi-fi is a minefield and you are wise to be careful. You have to keep an open mind and use facts and opinions with caveats. I think you do that.
Thank you, the older I get the less black and white I feel things tend to be. Not just hifi but life in general. I find the beauty is revealed in the shades of grey. Maybe the truth doesn’t exist, just our version of it.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I feel the the same, I am 50, an INFJ, and I read a lot of books which give new insights into reality/truth. At this time in history, so many things are being questioned and found wanting. Much needs to change imo and there is hope, but things can easily be overwhelming at the moment. I recently watched a scene from the film American Beauty which I think is one you either love or hate (very Marmite), it's called the Plastic Bag Scene, have a look...I love it.
Last year I purchased used HiFi - Yamaha A-S500 amplifier and B&W 685 S2 speakers from eBay. I got both of them for £434. It turned out to be fine and still using them. But yeah, it can go either ways. Would recommend the usual checks - seller ratings, how long they have been on the marketplace etc. Regarding powered speakers, they offer a great value, but it's all eggs in one basket. I had a pair of Audioengine A5 way back in 2010. Those speakers had a widespread issue with its amp. After that incident, was really skeptical going for powered speakers. Will definitely go with extended warranty if I ever buy powered or active speakers again.
You have become my main source of information on audiophile matters. A quick Q, for a system of around 2000 pounds you recommended an active system. What would you recommend for a amp and passive speakers combo? I really like the sound of Hegel H90 and looking for a good speaker to go with it, around 1000 pounds. Many thanks again Tarun.
Thank you Jay. I appreciate your support. It is hard to make specific recommendations but I can give you a steer if you can answer the following... 1. How big is your room? 2. How far away from your speakers will you be listening? 3. Does your room have a lot of reflective surfaces or does it have a carpet and a lot of soft furnishings? 4. What are you musical tastes? 5. What sonic characteristics do you want your system to deliver?
For 300 Adam Audio powered monitors are well worth a listen. The level of detail and imaging you get for the price is really good. Hooked up to a dragonfly red they have impressive dynamics. The T5v in particular with 5 inch woofer. If you think the 7v for 50 pound more is going to be better you would be wrong. Lose out on the midrange detail and punch. That's a key rule, get what you actually listen to! Don't assume that the model slightly more expensive will sound better or even as good. My friend bought round the T5v and comfortably outperformed my previous PMC FB1s with musical fidelity XA1 amplifier. I couldn't live with my system any more after that, sounded loose and compressed in comparison. Looked for T5v and saw a deal on the 7s. Put them in and the magic was not quite there. They improved on running in but although good the bass was more boomy and peaky. Possibly easier to make a good smaller speaker than a larger one. Ended up getting the 5s and using the 7s as TV speakers. With active speakers the main downside is how many inputs you have! In my case 1. You can buy an input selector but unless you're using a PC or input with its own volume there is no easy way of changing the volume. Studio monitors also sound best sat closer to them (may be an advantage in some rooms). I'd steer clear of most especially yamaha kit which are too fatiguing/revealing but Adam audio budget kit can be listened to for hours with no fatigue. Makes them less good as a monitor but surprisingly capable as a hifi speaker. Sweet spot is a bit smaller mind. I decided I could beat them using the musical fidelity amp but would probably spend hundreds or even thousands trying so just to get something that sounds as good in my room. With lots of active kit you are then limited to digital and cable upgrades. I suspect to beat the sound from the Adams the 20 year old MF amp would also need an upgrade and would cost far more. But then I tried that and found out the MF amp still outperformed 500 pound new amplifiers. The 15 year old PMCs were once great but are an example of what you might get 2nd hand for about 500. 1500 new I acquired them off family when they upgraded about 8 years back. They are extremely musical (make your toes tap like nothing else, the transmission line makes bass quick) but in terms of resolution, dynamics and tightness, bass depth, are comfortably outperformed by both sets of Adam audios which were 260 and 310 respectably and the 260 ones are the best to mine and my friends ears. Maybe they need a refurb, given them back to family now and they're being used as TV speakers. But the upgrade route is better with amps and speakers. But definitely audition stuff if you possibly can.
Start with the speakers and marking sure they fit your room. The easier to drive the better as it will offer more options regarding amplifiers. In the more affordable end, tube amps offer higher quality sound for their price. They offer less watts but higher quality, so make sire the speakers have a high enough sensitivity
Excellent well-presented video, full of useful information. One thought re: used equipment, don't know how easy this is given the smaller number of audiophiles compared to my youth (I'm 65), but it used to be that there were always people who were constantly upgrading their components and therefore selling their slightly-used gear. Especially if they needed to sell their used equipment to purchase the new pieces, you could get them for a good price.
Hi jjquinn2004, I bet it I still the case. I suspect many now sell them through the internet as opposed to trading them in to their local dealer. Thank you for watching 😉👍
Amplifiers are an existing one. That 20 year old musical fidelity XA1 amp was getting on a bit so I decided to audition a 500 pound WHAT HIFI award winning marantz amp with the PMCs a couple of years ago. The marantz (already ran in as it was 1 year old at the time) immediately sounded more compressed, less musical and less detailed. Sure it had a remote but that was its only advantage. Made me think I underestimated how good the XA1 was. So a used amp could still be good value if priced right.
Great video Tarun. I look forward to seeing other videos in this series. I think Good system setup with speakers appropriately placed in the room will go much further than a few extra pounds on components. I’m sure you are thinking about this for future videos in this series. I do agree with your point about digital devices having a limited shelf life compared to analogue products. Im guessing with streamers the platforms/supported streaming services could become obsolete or evolve, where hardcopies of media may have ageing issues, but will still be in the owners library.
One of the problems in determing spending is whether you live near to a reputable dealer. Making decisions on your own is challenging even if you put the effort in to travel 2 hours or so to a dealer, only to find you are not by what's on offer. I recall one big effort I put in back in the early 1980's was to travel on the bus from the north of England to London to audition the Linn Sondek and Pink Triangle turntables. This was the only dealers who stocked both!
Start low. A pair of '70's Kefs. A Nad integrated amp and receiver. A Denon cd player. ($200 Cadenza speakers Ebay,Nad 7130 from local recycle $20, Denon cd player same place $30. Also got a pair of Dali Concept with blown woofer,replaced with Peerless woofers $10 same place, new woofers $80 Ebay) That is the bedroom system,Cheap and cheerful. And you will hear improvement as you inevitably change components. Nice information to prevent buying expensive gear without knowledge at the start of a listening career. Cheers Tarun this is a good route to take, many will appreciate it. Do you think you could give some examples of old classics that will still be serviceable for a system today? Leak speakers in the high price range from the early '70's come to mind, 2060 and the 2075 (I think). Kind regards Allan
Hi Allan, thank you for watching and commenting. Unfortunately, I don’t have too much older or vintage gear around. If I get hold of more I will certainly post some videos about it.😉
Cool, sensible one mate -cheers. Got 2 systems myself, a quite elaborate one at GBP 25,000 or so and a modest, active little one at say 2,500. Guess which is the one I find myself listening to mostly...
The most powerful amp coupled with a nice pair of 50w bookshelf speakers (500w into 50w) yep the best dynamic range those little speakers will ever produce because the amp is just ticking along within its best range - no stress no peeks no distortion
I think it would be useful to discuss how much spend to allocate on each component for a given budget. Personally I would spend more on the speakers and amp. Most people buy components based on 5 star ratings. Of greater importance is component synergy to maximise system performance.
Generally spend a little more on the speakers than the amplifier but this is not always the case. You have to take a whole system approach. As you mention get the synergy right between components is the most important factor. Thank you for watching kjbiz 😉😂
Exactly my first system, NAD 3020, Mission 700, Dual 505 mk2 , Nagaoka MP11. I don’t think I knew how good it was at the time. Long gone of course, but in many ways that system was more enjoyable than the various replacements. My current system is a Frankenstein with a “temporary” Yamaha amp after my Linn went west 20 years ago.
Hi there - thanks for the great videos. Can I ask you a question, and apologies if I've missed a video on this subject! I would like to place my speakers either side of a fireplace as you have. Do you have any tips regarding the cabling? I don't want the cables trailing across the floor and they are too thick and heavy to hide under the carpet. The back wall is solid brick, not a cavity wall so it's tricky. I possibly could drop them under the floor and run them through a duct. I'd be interested in any thought you have. A bit like your set up, it would just be the cable for the left speaker as the right will be near the kit. Thanks!
Hi. I just, keep both cables the same length, even though the right hand run is short. I run my cables in a duct that runs behind the skirting and under the floor. It is a lot neater than having them trail along the floor. Thank you for watching 😉
Good advise, the system I currently have is 17 years with some sources 25 years old. When I Divorced I was going to put together a music and movies system that would keep me happy, without being bankrupted. Looking for speakers I found Infinity Interlude speakers on Harman audio Ebay Il 50s for $468 before plunking down my hard earned cash I looked at professional reviews and owner reviews mostly favorable so I bid and got them bought and delivered for that $468. Had a Rotel pre-amp processor and a 2 channel adcom amplifier and was happy but I wanted 5 channels for surround. Found a Carver av705x on Ebay for $450. Got it with one channel out. The seller offered to refund or send it to Carver for repair. The reviews were so good and I had owned some Carver before so I had it repaired. Still going strong today, picked up IL10 bookshelf and IL25C center for $275 from circuit city and my home theater was born for about $1200. On my 60th birthday my sons bought me a Marantz av7005 HT preamp and the system sounds even better than before. If you do your homework, you can cobble together a nice system whatever your budget. Sorry I was long winded, trying to impart my experience for newbies on the site.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I helped out younger people all the time when I worked in Home Depot introduced a bunch to good sound. Helped my 3 sons set up sound systems as well.
There are bargains on the second hand market. Unfortunately the older they are the more difficult and expensive to get repaired. Repaired units frequently need repairs not long after. Roughly anything under 10 years old is likely to work well and can be successfully repair for another 5 to 7 years. Anything 30 years or older may still be worth the effort to repair but will be in and out the workshop annually. I started out with source (turntable), pre-amp and active speakers. I added tuner and cassette tape decks. Still have the same speakers (from '82 which were £1500 Meridian M1MkII) but added two more (from '89 two rear) and an active sub-woofer and active centre channel speaker. All source is from and controlled by the computer via a USB external sound card (£150) with 5+1 analogue output. Coxial and Toslink outputs only carry stereo. £350-400 for the 3x70W tower speakers (Meridian D600). £450 for the B&W PV1 and £350 for a Meridian MC60 centre channel. The cost of 6 speakers mounts and the floor space increases with floor standing units. When the M1 need repairs the D600 double as front channel stereo otherwise smaller less expensive speakers would have been sufficient (e.g. M20, M30). There might be ways to achieve the same, even better, for less but have only heard as good for a lot more money. If buying new it is worth listening to a few set ups - mixed and matched - and with your own source media. Include some recommended systems to compare and consider if they are better; if a cheaper system satisfies as much; if the ascetics acoustically and visually is acceptable. Look elsewhere - you can always go back. Never buy the same day. Think about it. You might like to go an upgrade route but it is cheaper long term to get what you are happy with from the outset and not assume something more expensive is going to be so much better. It usually takes a while to get used to what can be achieved from a system. Initially they all sound bright shinny new but living with a unit might be very different. Good dealers may loan systems for you to review at home for a week. They want you to be happy with the kit, not pushing onto to you what you can't afford and what they have too much stock off as in chain stores. What is a good system? It doesn't have to be as perfect as you can get. When listening to a track, an album or watch a film with a well crafted sound track you can say that sounded good and you enjoyed the experience. If you don't then the source was rubbish or really the system was. If you can't enjoy the music through the system and have the hardware disappear from your mind it fails.
Hi Tarun, thanks for some great insights. I'd love to know which stands you're using with your PSB Imagine Minis, as I have a pair myself, but can't find the original stands to pair with them? Thanks Dave
Love your channel. I'm fairly new to this world and cannot follow much of the technical details, but easy does it. Perhaps you have some piece of advice for me, often when looking for speakers I find some detail in how they work (or not) in small spaces. However, I'm dealing with a big concrete room (5,20m wide and 8,20m deep) but do not seem to find any info about speakers concerning this. Is having the speakers in and testing the only option? Or is there a way to refine my search?
I bought my main setup second hand. Monitor Audio RS6 + NAD c356bee + Argon dac. Costs me 350 euro. I think I will need to spend a lot of money to get a better performance, so it's tough for me to upgrade.
Thank you Uncle Tarun. I decided on the LS50s when I realized that all the major reviewers use them as a reference and JA chose them for his home system :-) (REL subs help to make them a full range system). You are helping me to get off the fence on the Aries 2 as a replacement for my older musical fidelity x-dac/x-psu/ x10v3 setup. I think they still sound great but digital technology must have improved in the intervening 18 years, right? (Or are the ASR guys right?) How much of an improvement can I expect? Sources are Bluesound Vault2 & Node2i
Thank you Carlito. You are putting together a nice system. I would upgrade the amp next. It will have more of an impact on the sound. However, the only way to really draw conclusions is from your own direct experience 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I didn't say, but in this system I'm using a Musical Fidelity XP100 pre and a pair XP-200v3 bridged amps... As you said in this video, class AB amps improve very gradually, I thought you'd steer me to a more modern DAC? The X-Dac v3 is certainly much better than the built in Bluesound ones;-) I may look into a different amp for my LRS system (see thumbnail). It's using a Mu-Fi X-150v3 as my tube amp couldn't touch them!
@@carlitomelon4610 apologies Carlito. I misread your previous post. I thought you were using a basic MF amp. I never heard the XP100/200 but they had a good reputation at the time. I would expect them do do a fine job with the LS50s. As you correctly point out, class AB amps have improved incrementally over the last 20 years. You should be working your way back down the signal path. The DAC would be the next priority. The X-DAC was a very good entry level DAC. I haven’t heard it with the external PSU and the x10v3 tube buffer. I would suggest you audition some modern DACs. Try something like the Chord Mojo. It will be interesting to see how the old MF setup compares. This will give you a yard stick to judge whether the Denafrips Ares II is worth going for as you are unlike to be able to audition that DAC. Basically, if the Mojo is better then buy the Ares II with confidence. If the old MF setup is better I would stick with what you have. Sorry for the confusion. I hope this helps 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for walking that back, Tarun. The X-Dac v3 combo measured superbly back in the naughties, and Stereophile recommended it. $1000 then plus psu and tube stage put it at double the Ares2 price currently. (I have two;-) Unfortunately I don't have any local dealers in Montana. It seems that the Ares sells on eBay for more than the MSRP, so the initial risk is low;-) Anyone else out there have experience with this "upgrade"? Are the differences really so huge?
Hi Tarun You’ve mentioned balanced interconnects a few times. I am curious as to which version of Chord cables your are using in your system? Are you hearing transparency? Or an influence on frequency? Thanks in advance!
Hi Thomas, I use Chord Signature cables. Very transparent but tonality just on the bright side of what I would consider neutral. Balanced cables best used for long runs 10m+ or with fully balanced components 😉👍
Used gear can be an issue like you stated. Especially speakers! The surrounds that are foam are just trash as foam may last five years at the most. After that, surrounds made of foam are problematic and start to disintegrate. Another issue with speakers is coil formers that have been abused from being overdriven. This is an easy find by placing two fingers on the cone of the speaker and pressing and releasing the cone straight back and feeling for a dragging going back or forward. If you feel any dragging, resistance in movement, of the driver element in either direction, that driver is damaged by abuse. Even if there is no dragging, there may be spider damage also. That is best observed with the driver removed from the cabinet. Separation can occur over time particularly when abused. Just some things to feel and look for. A test run using music you are intimately familiar with is always a good idea. If they don’t allow a listen, walk away. Better than getting burned! I have seen my fair share of trashed gear come in when it was supposed to be flawless. Buyer beware on used gear purchase. Avoid any gear that cannot be tested prior to purchase. Don’t get emotional over it. Be sensible, not sorry!
Had 15 year old Pmc speakers and over the last 5 the sound definitely got worse especially the bass. Not sure what the cause was but foam falling out of the bottom of the transmission line system probably doesn't help
So this evening I watched an interesting little video Paul McGowan of PS Audio put out today on why some speakers sound great and others don’t and why it depends a great deal on the designer’s own preferences to a much greater degree than other components in the audiophile chain. My knee jerk comment went like this: “Maybe instead of all the rubbish speaker reviewers talk about “transparency” and “colour” could we not talk about flavour? Like coffee or wine - “full bodied” (PS Audio), lean (B&W), fast and crisp (Linn), bloated (name withheld for their protection). Wouldn’t that be much more useful, especially in these pox ridden stay-at-home-stay-safe days?” I am copying this to you because I love your reviews and am a huge fan, and I hope that in some small way this thought will add to your palate.
Good to hear fo4m you buddy. Thank you for the suggestion. Even I talk about colour all the time. I guess some old audiophile habits die hard. You are absolutely right of course.
Enjoy your videos, the understanding and depth, and your organization of thoughts. I have to wonder: Isn't you main listening room awfully live? It surely sounds like it from the audio on your vlogs. My ears would be bleeding on some playbacks. Keep on keeping on.
Hi Jim, in some of the earlier videos I was using an adapter to convert the 3.5mm mic output to USB C which created this reverberant distortion. I still have to use an adapter but found a better one. The sound is far from perfect but much better on the newer videos. Thank you for putting up with it 😉
Greetings from across the pond. While those versed in the hobby might see general overview vids as not worth their time I appreciate the community comments they engender and what we can share out that might have been off the radar. For example- I wasn’t aware of the electronic parts issue mentioned by one of the commentators from 1999 - 2007 ( wiki citation for what it’s worth). Imma look more into that...
Due to size constraints in my living room, I've been trying to get a 2-channel stereo hifi sound which will also be able to process a 9.2 channel setup! after auditioning a couple of Denon amplifiers I'm still not satisfied because I can still hear the electrical interference! I've now come to the conclusion, the only way iam going to get good quality hi-fi sound, there's not much of a choice other then to go for the arcam! If I save for another 6 weeks I'll be in a better position to barter for the arcam avr550 with his matching 2-channel power amplifier, Plus the KEF ls50 s all to go with my my rel t5i, it seems like a long wait but I know in the end it will be worth it! Thanks for posting your videos and any advice from you or anyone else for that matter would be most welcome.
Hi, I Kef regularly demo their speakers using Arcam. I have heard this combo on many occasions and they work well together. I think you are thinking along the right lines. Arcam bridge the 2 channel and multichannel divide better than most. I think you have got this pretty sorted out. The AVR550 has been replaced by the AVR20 so you should be able to get the 550 for a substantial discount at the moment. The new one does 9 channels but I thought the 550 only did 7.2. Just check before you purchase. Live with the receiver for a while before adding the 2 channel PA240 power amp. It is a significant addition outlay. You need to be totally familiar with your system before you can properly assess whether it is worth the upgrade. Good luck and thank you for watching 😉👍
3:10 yes, I can totally see how 2k is a lot of money for a sound system; you made me realize how advanced my system is, compared to that of the average consumer. Once you are into this, cartridges like 500 bucks become quite normal and I know plenty people who think that's entry level. But when I imagine an average consumer randomly spending 500 quid, just for some sound on the background... 9:15 Yes, analog equipment retains its value much better and because of that, it can be considered an investment; especially turntables. 10:17 Usually, electrolytic capacitors last for about 20 years until the first start to degrade, except for capacitors that have been victim of the great capacitor plague. So it's worth looking up how old the amplifier is and of course if possible, ask to demo the amplifier. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague
Hi Tarun, another very interesting video. I purchased a hifi rack system from Atacoma which made everything tighter.The only trouble was when I tapped my foot near the rack the t/table jumped. I put washing machine isolators under the feet( as your video for speaker stands), this made it 90% better( still have sum work on t/table isolation). I’m going to make mains leads, shorter and better cable as your video. Would it be worth making shorter better(?) interconnection leads( the amp connections are XLR supplied by Linn) When I was reading about cables i came across speaker cable lengths.I thought the cables had to be the same length.Chord say 3mts and 5mts is ok. I would like your thoughts on this as I have 3mts of cable wound up under the rack( I followed your suggestions on speaker cable Regards Richard
Hi Richard, the reality is that the resistance of your speaker cable is going to be negligible compared to the load of your speakers. However, I would always advise people to keep the cables the same length for left and right channels. It is only when you cables get longer than 5m you need to start to be concerned with the length of the run and even this is debatable. Again, all things considered, I would advise people to keep cable runs as short as possible. The only exception being that some amplifiers need cables to be a minimum of 4m as they expect to see a certain load. Older Exposure and Naim amplifiers are like this because the have a lack of impedance networks on the output stage and rely on the correct length and type of speaker cable to provide this. I hope this helps. Good luck and thank you for watching 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun, I have been in touch with Linn and as you suggested they recommend 2x4mt cables. Once again thanks for your suggestions. Regards Richard
You did not mention... vintage... equipment from 20 years ago is not vintage, how do you feel about 70s receivers and such? I have a modern not so cheap NAD... my old Marantz and Pioneer... even a JVC I have from that era do some mighty nice things versus it. I really enjoy your thoughts!!
Hi Jerry, I dint have much experience with 70s receivers. If I get my hands on one, I would love to do a video about it. Thank you for watching and commenting 😉
Great video, again. You mentioned audiolab. Long story short I’m not entirely happy with my marantz amp and looking to upgrade. I mainly stream using tidal and was wondering if you had an opinion on the audiolab 6000a play. I must add 800 is my absolute top budget
Hi, I'm currently looking for an integrated amp at the moment have you done a comparison between Nad c368 and Cambridge Audio cxa 81 or could you suggest I look at something else around that price point, please?
Hi David, I haven’t done a comparison between those two but they are both good brands. Lost of great option out there. You should try to narrow the search down based on the features and sonic character you desire 😊
You are correct to point out that the more money you spend, the better the quality of the system (up to a point, beyond which you approach the point of diminishing returns). However, I would be shocked to hear a good sounding system for $2500. Even for twice that, I don't see how a system could be considered true high fidelity. The problem arises from the sizable markup from manufacturing costs to retail outlet to consumer, which as I have heard amounts to about 400 percent (100 percent markup at each of those two stages). You are also correct to not only start with the speakers, but to consider a entire system as being built around the speakers. And the most important part of good sounding speakers is the quality of the drivers, then the quality of the crossover, and thirdly the quality of the boxes. Because of the giant markups involved, great sacrifices have to be made in the building of the speakers in order to produce a product that is affordable to most people. So high end speakers (and these are really entry level high end) costing $3000 a pair have to be manufactured for one quarter of that, or @ $750. Consider that build cost against the high quality drivers I would select for a true high fidelity system, costing @ $150 each, or about $900 total for a three way system, and this includes just one tweeter, one mid driver, and one bass driver, which is ideal in my opinion vs multiple drivers per range, but that's another comment. And whereas the drivers are most important, crossovers second, and boxes third, speaker manufacturers tend to focus the bulk of their budget on the boxes first, and the drivers and crossover take a back seat in terms of expense. I have seen this with every factory speaker I have had the opportunity to take apart. If you really want high quality speakers, unless you have a tremendous budget, the only alternative is to build your own. And most folks, including myself, are not able to tackle building a proper passive crossover. One solution is to purchase a kit at the same cost you would spend on completed speakers, and get a great more quality for your money. The other alternative I favor is building active systems, which eliminates the passive crossover completely, which both bypasses my inability to build one and removes a source of great restraint on the quality of the speakers, esp when poor quality parts are used. My completed three way active system costs me @ $5000 because that's what it takes to get into true high fidelity, and this with all entry level high end electronic components costing around $500-$600 each. I understand not everyone can do what I'm doing (whereas just about everyone can pursue what you are doing which is great), but nonetheless I wanted to offer this perspective for folks.
Hi Speaker Builder, I really enjoyed reading your comments and perspective on things. I feel passionate about promoting affordable hifi that most people can afford. I encounter a lot of people out there that could massively improve their listening experience for a little outlay if they only knew what to buy and from where. Powered speakers are a great step to transition people from their Sonos or Bose speaker into the world of hifi. Once they are in, there will be a bunch of people who will want to upgrade and spend more money for more performance but we have to somehow get their attention first. Thank you for watching and sharing 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 And you are offering a great service by getting the entry level enthusiast to focus on speakers first and making suggestions that I could never offer as I have no experience with factory speakers.
Speaker Builder if you don’t mind me asking, are you in the UK? I have been watching Danny Ritchie’s channel, which is named GR Research. I’d love to have a go at building one of his speaker kits, but shipping and taxes to the UK will increase the price significantly. I’d be interested if someone offered kits in the UK
I'm seriously considering replacing the crossovers in my (budget) speakers. I'm assuming if I just recreate the original design with higher quality components, soldered point-to-point, I can't mess anything up. I might as well move them outside the cabinet whilst I'm at it, which will open up the possibility of going active in the future. Even if I can't hear any improvement on performance it'll be a fun project and a good excuse to learn more.
$2000 -$3000 for an entire system is spot on for me also. Buying used helps. After that curve turns steep towards diminishing returns. Just my experience.
You can certainly put together a great system for that price as long as you can live with a couple of limitations. You can either go for excellent resolution but limited scale and dynamics or excellent scale and dynamics but limited resolution. If you want both then it costs a lot more. Thank you for watching and commenting 😉
Hi! Could you please touch upon how important and how big difference the support for the turntable is? I see many who are into HiFi testing out different woods, different isolators under the wood etc etc. But I´m having my turntable ontop of my receiver which is directly on an IKEA shelf standing on the floor, and my speakers are standing ontop of similar shelves on the floor, and I´m not really noticing that the bass would be interfering with the sound at all? I am playing as loud as my wife and neighbours let me. I have no subwoofer but I think the woofers in the speakers are doing a well enough job. I just dont see a reason why I would need to isolate my turntable at all, but enthusiasts seem to go nuts about it?
Hi bingoberra18, I am probably the wrong guy to ask as I sold my turntable many years ago. Purely from a science and engineering perspective, a turntable is probably the most sensitive component to external vibrations. There is a point when your system gets to a level where you need to pay attention to minimising these vibrations. If you want an affordable solution, look for some Silicone feet to put under the turntable. Just check with the manufacturer that they are designed to cope with the weight of your turntable, i.e. your need the right size of feet. Good luck 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks, I get that vibrations are bad, but I cant tell any difference in sound even as I am walking around on the floor its basically standing on, its a very basic system though so probably the differences show on better and more fragile (?) equipment and settings.
@Kris Moodley Thanks, im in a small flat atm but moving to house in a few years, thats when I´ll be investing in a proper setup and thats when I´ll be able to crank it up to a nice level :) Probably gonna need that cherrywood laminated with birch support for my turntable as well
Sensible prosaic advice and after watching a few of your instructional videos. I came away with the impression that you would only recommend a ceiling equal that you have chosen for yourself. I remember there was a certain hifi magazine (which still exists with an extended title) here in the UK which pandered to the budget/starter segment. It would write reviews along the lines of “the NAD 3020 amp etc is a giant killer and can outperform product 5x the price”. (They never named those products though) a certain cartel of UK brands were always favoured. Products from abroad- (and I’m not talking about China) were all but ignored. Readers on a budget lapped it up. I moved on and took HiFi News & Record Review instead! The Hi End of hifi exists. It can be thrilling and aspirational and I for one have enjoyed going beyond budget equipment. But I accept that It may not be for every hifi enthusiasts own budget or tastes. But to ignore it completely would be akin to a Car magazine pretending Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin don’t exist.
Hi Jerry, thank you for watching. I would not place a ceiling on what I think people should spend. Some of my videos are aimed more at people new to the hobby or the general public who just want a hifi system fit for purpose. In this case, I would suggest that they are sensible with what they outlay until the develop this critical listening skills and determine what kind of sound and performance they want from their system. It is a bit like you wouldn’t give you child a Ferrari as their first car after passing their test.
A British Audiophile Hi Tarun, I get that you are targeting newbies. As with anything, it’s best to do a bit of research to avoid expensive mistakes. It’s nice to know that there are still people interested enough to desire a better sound quality. Sadly I think the public at large have no interest or idea beyond TV and earbuds. Most folk will already have a laptop they can use as a cost efficient digital player with a standalone dac to get started as a digital source. However hard drives can fail and the best backup is the good old physical CD which are cheaper than they’ve ever been. When a “full fat”digital music library becomes larger and funds allow I would advocate a dedicated music server connected to a usb dac. This still gives access to Tidal and Qobuz etc but sidesteps streaming from remote NAS drives and the compromises of a PC and its peripherals.
It's always refreshing to hear your well-considered thoughts, Tarun.
Another advantage of buying used: for not much outlay you can mix 'n' match several components, hear the variations put out by different permutations and decide what sort of tonal characteristics you prefer. What doesn't float your boat you can always resell - or pass on to friends, and get them hooked on hi-fi!
Very wise and sagely advice my friend. Always a pleasure to hear from you 😉👍
One of the most sensible hifi advisors on CZcams keep up the good work.
Thank you David 👍
Excellent video, exactly the type of advice I was looking for. Looking to build a system after being a lapsed audiophile for 20yrs and your advice on second hand gear was particularly welcome. Looking forward to more videos
Thank you Heddwyn 😉👍
Entirely well reasoned. You covered a surprisingly wide range of issues, painting with a long but wide brush - and in a positive way.
Thank you Jim, that was what I was hoping for 😉👍
Another brilliant video i liked the way you covered second hand Hi-Fi because there a lot out there with all these auction sites
i myself own some second hand stuff so it was good to hear you mention it
keep the videos coming great work
Thank you Technics68. Can I take a guess as to your favourite vintage brand ? 😂
Thank you so much. Love watching your videos. I’m always on a limited budget but enjoy getting the best sound I can get out of the kit I can afford. Thank you for the advice.
Thank you for watching and supporting the channel Steve 😉👍
Man your videos are really insightful and easy to digest for a lot of us
Thank you sleeper1023. I appreciate your support 😉👍
Just learn something new every time I listen to your videos. Keep up the great work Tarun.
Thank you 😉👍
I love your approach to the sound systems, well balanced in terms of value for money and a lot of thought behind it. Keep making brilliant subjective videos. Love it
Thank you Vitaly. I appreciate your support 😉👍
Great start for the series. Thanks for sharing knowledge and honesty
Thank you Felipe 😉👍
Hi Tarun, great video as always. Agree completely with your points on used gear, especially on the point about new electrolytic capacitors. My advice to buyers is, spend a bit more on an amp with fresh caps, because if you want an engineer to do it after it will cost a lot more.
Case in point is the NAD 3020, one of your classic warm sounding oldies, that regularly sells on eBay for between £100 and £130. A recapped amp will set you back £185, however, to have your pride and joy recapped will cost between £180 and £230.
It's also worth mentioning that dried out old caps will continue to function long after they have dropped off spec, however, they will seriously compromise the performance of the system.
Can't wait for the next one Tarun.
Cheers
Mark
Well said Mark and thank you for your support 😉👍
Nice one Tarun, good solid advice as not everyone has a budget of thousands to spend on listening to music. I'm a fan of used but as you say one has to be very careful indeed when jumping in. I also like the idea of a series (or mini-series) of more personal, less scientific articles, at least for a short while.
Thank you Keith. I will be doing the regular stuff along side this series. 😉👍
I really enjoy your down to earth, no BS videos.
Thank you Marc 😉
Practical and succinct information. Especially on used gear. Nice job.
Thank you Ridire 😉👍
Thanks for another great video. Always look forward to your videos, like an interesting discussion with another audiophile.
A topic rarely addressed in audio circles seems to be the room. How the same system can sound so different in different rooms. Almost as if components had been changed. Glad to see you spoke to some of this in your earlier videos on amplifier power and speaker size.
BTW, I can't seem to find a quid to $ conversion table. Kidding.
Good to hear from brown-eyed man. Thank you for sharing 😉
Thank you for a sensible, down to earth (and value) video. And thank you for specifying a range of sensible prices, I think that this part is the hardest for most CZcamsrs out there at the fear of losing business
Thank you Astro boy. Yeh, it is all to easy to get seduced by the expensive high end stuff as a reviewer but I feel passionate about promoting good hifi at sensible price points that most people can justify. Reviews of more affordable gear pending.... 😉👍
It's always a pleasure to view someone acting on their passion.
Hi Tarun sound advice as usual, I recently bought second hand from gumtree a Onkyo cr-515Dab plus monitor audio Br1 & about 40 feet of QED silver speaker cable with banana plugs for just £45 ,this sounds great a real bargain. Many thanks for the great video.
Thank you Rob 😉👍
Always like what you have to say Tarun. Great advice especially for new buyers getting into hifi.👍😊
Thank you James😉👍
Great video as usual Tarun.
Plenty to choose from at any price point depending on your taste. and budget. Not forgetting that if you want to build a music library of vinyl and cd's then put your money into it before getting too carried away with the pursuit of sound .
Good advice filofilo 😉👍
14K subs!. Wow.
You deserve every one of them and more!. Keep it up my man
Thank you Albeshr. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😉👍
Really enjoyed listening to your thoughts. Watched a few of your videos and seldom I feel like you are trying to sell me something. Addition, you are not shy to put your thoughts out there to call out the brands what you like or not. Honest and clear, good stuff.
Thank you Patrick.
Every time I watch your videos I realize how much I don't know! (Sigh.) I enjoy your presentations very much. Thank you.
Thank you K.B. 😉
Thank you for your classy videos and commentary TARUN. I’ve been in the ‘audio game’ for a long time, and appreciate your measured approach. And once upon a time, I also had a pair of ProAc 1sc’s with a sub. But I think they were ‘too good’ for me back then, and I sold them, like many other quality pieces. Oh well, live and learn.
I’ve made up for that move by buying the Tablette Tens recently, which are lovely. If I’m smarter (??), I’ll hold on to them.
Please keep it up, and cheers from Canada!
Thank you Rob. I appreciate you watching and your support. Those Tablette 10s are pretty special by all accounts. 😉👍
A British Audiophile they are :)
Some good sensible advice her. I agree there are some good bargains out there in the used analogue field. I have to agree changing out drivers in used speakers is not likely going to work well but there is an alternative that I have used and that is to replace the surrounds. You can buy kits for various drivers for a reasonable price (or at least you used to be able to). They are relatively easy to install if you take a bit of care.
Thanks Jim 😉
Evening Tarun , thanks for another great video , btw chord c made significant improvements to sound from my Dac to headphones cheers
Great, thank you for watching Atri 😉
Outstanding video. Thank you sir.
Thank you Ibdam1 😉👍
Thanks for those thoughts. And it's true - there can be tremendous value in second hand analog equipment.
Thank you for watching and commenting kirlu50 😉
Some great advise there. I've bought two second hand amplifiers which I've been very pleased with. I have 2 systems and one 10 times more expensive than the other one. I enjoy both, both are good within their limitations and room acoustics. My experience is that you need to think about interconnects and the cheap Tacima mains conditioner you yourself recommend.
Good to hear from you B Shah. Thank you 😉
Great and grounded advice, this hobby is a tough journey, it is very easy to get trapped in the equipment or in the upgrade urge, sometimes forgetting to enjoy music with what you already have. Cheers from Arizona,.
Thank you Jorge. I have fallen victim to “upgradeitus” myself. It has been raining here all week. I wish I was in Arizona 🥵
A British Audiophile 110 degrees here will make you wish otherwise!!
Thanks for the education!
You are most welcome 😊👍
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I listen on PSBs too, it's the baby powered Alphas on proper stands, source is Marantz (used as dac and pre), weird I know, but sends anything below 80hz to a Rel T5i. I love the PSB sound, esp as it breathes so easily because of the Rel in the mix. My next one has to be a PSB, a modest step up to the new Alpha P5, unless new Imagine bookshelf options are due...I see current Imagine is all out of stock
Hi winstondhanraj, I am hoping to get the new ones in for review when they eventually come out 😉
I take that as a subtle hint to wait 🙂 ...and so I will, thanks Tarun
Your content so mature. There is lots of misleading theory in audiophile industry .by audiophiles . just get best amp and speakers, you can effort and learn to enjoy what you got . There is nothing more ..other than sitting and listening.
Thank you KVR
👍
While that is a fine approach and there is nothing wrong with it, for many people researching their next upgrade, listening to different gear, tweaking etc is what they enjoy and where the "hobby" part comes into play.
@Gary M : and whole time we do A/B testing listening only ...
Some very useful info and tips from Tarun, I would also add that the best way to evaluate any system, speakers etc etc is to listen to them, maybe difficult in the current circumstances, try to use a dealer that has demo kit you can try at home as that is where you need to listen to it, showrooms/demo rooms are a start but at home is where you need to be. This is especially true for speakers as Tarun has already spoken about. Me, I've a mixture of 2nd hand, new and ex demo, a system that would cost circa £8500>£9000 I paid around £3500, (turntable I have had since the mid seventies which is still in great condition), make a list and see what happens...would I change anything I have now.... probably not as how much more on a percentage basis would I need to spend to get a 10% >20% better sound ?? I use 3 ways to listen to my music...Vinyl, CD, and Streaming.....I find they each have good and different points, but having the ability to use each is really good.
Great advice. Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Peter 😊👍
Great information.. Thank you so much.
Thank you pvravi 😉👍
Great video. I would spend as much as i can afford on the source.Next the interconnects and speaker wire. Then the preamp, followed by the power amp and lastly the speakers. The goal is to degrade the signal as little as possible.
Thank you for watching Rob 😊👍
allways wondered this and maybe seemed to go over my spending budget when probably get as good for half price or less,dont get me wrong i do notice differances good and bad with tweeking the system,great vid
Hi Glen, I do believe you get what you pay for as long as you spend wisely but I think we all have a level of performance that we can live with and be happy. I could live with my bedroom system at £2k. Don’t get me wrong the main system at about £8k is better. It plays louder has better dynamic range, resolution and richer textures. Sometimes satisfaction in this hobby is realising what compromises you can put up with and what you can live without. Thank you for watching and commenting 😉👍
Hi Tarun. Yet again a useful video for the beginner audiophile and us oldies. It doesn't take a huge amount of money these days to put together a system that sounds very pleasing to the ear, as technology has moved forward so fast. I'm guessing your bedroom system will sound brilliant for £2000. I was watching Kevin from Upscale audio a while back, talking about the Prima Luna tube amp and he was saying that a very well known American audio reviewer has one for his main system and he has set it as his benchmark tube amp at any cost, and this guy could afford anything. The Onkyo A 9110 amp is a great starter amp for under £250. Good point about buying used hifi and checking to make sure you can get parts for them still. I'm still on my journey of building my system back up to where I want it to be. Waiting for the wife to allow me to go spend at the minute lol!
Hi buddy, always Greta to hear from you. I need to get hold of one of those Prima Luna tube amps at some point and take it out for a spin. I hope the Mrs approves your next purchase 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 The Prima Luna Evo 400 is the one I would want as its got the best speck. I'm a little nervous with getting a tube amp as I run my TV sound through an amp, which would use so many tubes. Could end up costly.
According to,our friend Kevin, the Prima Lunas don’t run too hot which extends the life of the tubes 🤔
@@abritishaudiophile7314 so very true. I'd forgotten about that. Hmmm seems even more tempting now. 🤔
I very much endorse your observations on active speakers. They’ve been part of the pro scene for years, and I can’t understand why they don’t figure more in domestic setups. I’m currently running a Chord Mojo into a pair of AE1 active speakers (front end is streaming to Mac mini or Apple airport express via Roon or Airplay) and it is truly a very nice sound for a small to medium space. Total cost Dac and speakers around £1400-£1600 .
Hi Arthur, I run a Mojo into my system. I recently heard the AE1 Actives and was very impressed. Would love to get a pair in for review. Looks like you have put together a killer system for sensible money 😉
I bought the AE1's before I was aware of the Elac Narvis, and was on the point of auditioning the latter before lockdown intervened. I initially paired the AE1's with an MDAC, but was more impressed overall with the slightly warmer sound of the Mojo, which was lying around unused. I still intend to audition the Elac's but I'm not sure it would be a worthwhile upgrade. We'll see.
I'm in the UK ( Manchester), I would be happy to lend you the AE1's for review for a few days if we could make the logistics work.
I hope you do a review of the Buchardt A500 / A700 active speakers when they are released. Thanks
I have had a chat with Mads Buchardt about them. Thank you for watching 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Yes I would like to hear more on these speakers as well...thank you.
I join the others here in enjoying your videos. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you E.Kent.D 😉👍
Great advice, especially as hi-fi can be a very confusing and expensive merry-go-round (which many end up calling a hobby as they continue to search for ever decreasing sonic improvements). Which is not a bad thing, but it can be a very expensive and frustrating rabbit hole
But there are great ways to get a system and secondhand and old stock bargains are a good starting point - if you are careful and buy products you have already heard and like. Just make sure you test and hear it running before buying. Plus you can always sell them again later and not lose much money.
In the digital realm however we are now truly spoilt for inexpensive but great sounding equipment...and not just from the mainstream brands you mentioned but also from manufacturers in other countries especially now emerging from China.
I recently got a really well made headphone dac amp from yulong and it sounds far better than my peachtree integrated DAC amp (which I am now selling).
I now use the yulong as my main pre-amp and dac - as it also has a better dac than my bluesound node 2i...although the bluesound is also a great product and starting point in itself.
I also got a real surprise by demoing a friends Crown xls poweramp...which is a fabulous sounding amp for a few hundred pounds new. So got one
I got some old stock Qacoustic 3050 speakers and some secondhand Gallo's subwoofers..and can't be happier all for about £1,300.
The real thing to really save time and money is to spend some time listening and demoing stuff ...as ultimately it's our own ears and minds and of course budgets we are try to please. If you can demo stuff in your own room, even better as our room also have a big impact on sound too.
Finally the truth is there will always be better sounding stuff out there no matter how much we can afford and spend and therefore the secret is knowing when to stop and just enjoy the music rather than being lost and frustrated in the nuances of sound.
But I am happy for and respect those that can't stop..as I can then buy their old stuff as they upgrade and sell 😊
I think spending time to listen to as many systems as possible is a far better approach than buy/sell merry go around. Layman needs time to train hearing and taste in music reproduction - could take multiple years. This hobby is a marathon not a sprint.
Great advice John, thank you for sharing 😉
@@zipperunamused9009 I totally agree, when I first started back in the 80's, I was lucky... as many of my friends and I got into hi-fi and we all shared and learnt together. Mind you back then there were loads of small local hi-fi shops and shows to investigate and explore.
Funnily the friends with more money would naturally keep on upgrading while others on budget spent more time finding products that matched their personal sonic preferences (as that is important too, as some liked warm and musical sounds while others more neutral and clinical).
Most of those who spent time getting their systems were generally happier and kept their gear far longer. Although admittedly some did also occasionally benefit when other friends upgraded and sold their old stuff on.
I listened to many systems before finally buying my first, and happily kept it for 20 years - only servicing and changing cartridges, because it closely matched my personal preferences. And although I still would try other components from friends...I never felt the need to change as it already had the magic 😊
Glad you mentioned active speakers. My thoughts for a while have been to construct a hybrid active system, where you still use your conventional amps but with an active crossover and no passive crossover. At the moment, the move to active means junking your amps, so most don't want to go there.
Thank you Coneman3
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You're welcome. Even your 'subjective' views are sensible and fair. Hi-fi is a minefield and you are wise to be careful. You have to keep an open mind and use facts and opinions with caveats. I think you do that.
Thank you, the older I get the less black and white I feel things tend to be. Not just hifi but life in general. I find the beauty is revealed in the shades of grey. Maybe the truth doesn’t exist, just our version of it.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I feel the the same, I am 50, an INFJ, and I read a lot of books which give new insights into reality/truth. At this time in history, so many things are being questioned and found wanting. Much needs to change imo and there is hope, but things can easily be overwhelming at the moment.
I recently watched a scene from the film American Beauty which I think is one you either love or hate (very Marmite), it's called the Plastic Bag Scene, have a look...I love it.
I haven’t seen that film in years it will make a change from being forced to watch Peppa Pig 😂🐷🐷
Last year I purchased used HiFi - Yamaha A-S500 amplifier and B&W 685 S2 speakers from eBay. I got both of them for £434. It turned out to be fine and still using them. But yeah, it can go either ways. Would recommend the usual checks - seller ratings, how long they have been on the marketplace etc.
Regarding powered speakers, they offer a great value, but it's all eggs in one basket. I had a pair of Audioengine A5 way back in 2010. Those speakers had a widespread issue with its amp. After that incident, was really skeptical going for powered speakers. Will definitely go with extended warranty if I ever buy powered or active speakers again.
Thank you for posting this Sujit. Very insightful 😊
You have become my main source of information on audiophile matters. A quick Q, for a system of around 2000 pounds you recommended an active system. What would you recommend for a amp and passive speakers combo? I really like the sound of Hegel H90 and looking for a good speaker to go with it, around 1000 pounds. Many thanks again Tarun.
Thank you Jay. I appreciate your support. It is hard to make specific recommendations but I can give you a steer if you can answer the following...
1. How big is your room?
2. How far away from your speakers will you be listening?
3. Does your room have a lot of reflective surfaces or does it have a carpet and a lot of soft furnishings?
4. What are you musical tastes?
5. What sonic characteristics do you want your system to deliver?
For 300 Adam Audio powered monitors are well worth a listen. The level of detail and imaging you get for the price is really good. Hooked up to a dragonfly red they have impressive dynamics. The T5v in particular with 5 inch woofer. If you think the 7v for 50 pound more is going to be better you would be wrong. Lose out on the midrange detail and punch. That's a key rule, get what you actually listen to! Don't assume that the model slightly more expensive will sound better or even as good. My friend bought round the T5v and comfortably outperformed my previous PMC FB1s with musical fidelity XA1 amplifier. I couldn't live with my system any more after that, sounded loose and compressed in comparison. Looked for T5v and saw a deal on the 7s. Put them in and the magic was not quite there. They improved on running in but although good the bass was more boomy and peaky. Possibly easier to make a good smaller speaker than a larger one. Ended up getting the 5s and using the 7s as TV speakers. With active speakers the main downside is how many inputs you have! In my case 1. You can buy an input selector but unless you're using a PC or input with its own volume there is no easy way of changing the volume. Studio monitors also sound best sat closer to them (may be an advantage in some rooms). I'd steer clear of most especially yamaha kit which are too fatiguing/revealing but Adam audio budget kit can be listened to for hours with no fatigue. Makes them less good as a monitor but surprisingly capable as a hifi speaker. Sweet spot is a bit smaller mind. I decided I could beat them using the musical fidelity amp but would probably spend hundreds or even thousands trying so just to get something that sounds as good in my room. With lots of active kit you are then limited to digital and cable upgrades. I suspect to beat the sound from the Adams the 20 year old MF amp would also need an upgrade and would cost far more. But then I tried that and found out the MF amp still outperformed 500 pound new amplifiers. The 15 year old PMCs were once great but are an example of what you might get 2nd hand for about 500. 1500 new I acquired them off family when they upgraded about 8 years back. They are extremely musical (make your toes tap like nothing else, the transmission line makes bass quick) but in terms of resolution, dynamics and tightness, bass depth, are comfortably outperformed by both sets of Adam audios which were 260 and 310 respectably and the 260 ones are the best to mine and my friends ears. Maybe they need a refurb, given them back to family now and they're being used as TV speakers. But the upgrade route is better with amps and speakers. But definitely audition stuff if you possibly can.
Hi Paul, I really enjoyed reading about your experiences. Thank you for watching and sharing 😉
Really enjoying your videos Tarun. You’re up there with the best of them and there’s no BS , good work
Thank you Andy 😉👍
Thanks a lot, man.
Thank you Apisak 😉👍
Excelent approuch to this important subject.
Mature presentation as always.
Very useful indeed for newcomers in audiophile community.....Bravo Tarun!
Thank you Hrvoje. I appreciate your support 😉👍
Start with the speakers and marking sure they fit your room. The easier to drive the better as it will offer more options regarding amplifiers. In the more affordable end, tube amps offer higher quality sound for their price. They offer less watts but higher quality, so make sire the speakers have a high enough sensitivity
Thank you Stephen 😉
Dali Zensor 3 Speakers are incredible for the money esp great with Marantz.
I like them too 😉
Absolutely loving your reviews and information. From a female audiophile!
Thank you Coral. Very much appreciated 😊👍👍
Excellent well-presented video, full of useful information. One thought re: used equipment, don't know how easy this is given the smaller number of audiophiles compared to my youth (I'm 65), but it used to be that there were always people who were constantly upgrading their components and therefore selling their slightly-used gear. Especially if they needed to sell their used equipment to purchase the new pieces, you could get them for a good price.
Hi jjquinn2004, I bet it I still the case. I suspect many now sell them through the internet as opposed to trading them in to their local dealer. Thank you for watching 😉👍
Hi Tarun, I like your balance between money and quality of sound . Just subscribed your chanel and waiting for new videos. Rgds Jacek
Thank you Jacek, I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 My pleasure
Amplifiers are an existing one. That 20 year old musical fidelity XA1 amp was getting on a bit so I decided to audition a 500 pound WHAT HIFI award winning marantz amp with the PMCs a couple of years ago. The marantz (already ran in as it was 1 year old at the time) immediately sounded more compressed, less musical and less detailed. Sure it had a remote but that was its only advantage. Made me think I underestimated how good the XA1 was. So a used amp could still be good value if priced right.
Thank you for watching and commenting Paul
Have some Bowers and Wilkins 606 with a Cambridge axr100 and I'm blown away hehe
Thank you for sharing Shelly 😉
Great video Tarun. I look forward to seeing other videos in this series. I think Good system setup with speakers appropriately placed in the room will go much further than a few extra pounds on components. I’m sure you are thinking about this for future videos in this series. I do agree with your point about digital devices having a limited shelf life compared to analogue products. Im guessing with streamers the platforms/supported streaming services could become obsolete or evolve, where hardcopies of media may have ageing issues, but will still be in the owners library.
Well said Shahid. Good to hear from you by the way 😉👍
Yes i do like this kind of videos, grtz from the netherlands 🇳🇱
Thank you buddy, stay safe 😉
One of the problems in determing spending is whether you live near to a reputable dealer. Making decisions on your own is challenging even if you put the effort in to travel 2 hours or so to a dealer, only to find you are not by what's on offer. I recall one big effort I put in back in the early 1980's was to travel on the bus from the north of England to London to audition the Linn Sondek and Pink Triangle turntables. This was the only dealers who stocked both!
That was quite a commitment by you to travel down to London from the north to demo hifi equipment. Thank you for watching 😉
Start low. A pair of '70's Kefs. A Nad integrated amp and receiver. A Denon cd player. ($200 Cadenza speakers Ebay,Nad 7130 from local recycle $20, Denon cd player same place $30. Also got a pair of Dali Concept with blown woofer,replaced with Peerless woofers $10 same place, new woofers $80 Ebay) That is the bedroom system,Cheap and cheerful. And you will hear improvement as you inevitably change components. Nice information to prevent buying expensive gear without knowledge at the start of a listening career. Cheers Tarun this is a good route to take, many will appreciate it. Do you think you could give some examples of old classics that will still be serviceable for a system today? Leak speakers in the high price range from the early '70's come to mind, 2060 and the 2075 (I think). Kind regards Allan
Hi Allan, thank you for watching and commenting. Unfortunately, I don’t have too much older or vintage gear around. If I get hold of more I will certainly post some videos about it.😉
Cool, sensible one mate -cheers. Got 2 systems myself, a quite elaborate one at GBP 25,000 or so and a modest, active little one at say 2,500. Guess which is the one I find myself listening to mostly...
Let me guess F. Troiani, the one at £2,500?
@@abritishaudiophile7314 spot on :)
At last sense in a short video, thank you.......
Thank you for watching Paul
The most powerful amp coupled with a nice pair of 50w bookshelf speakers (500w into 50w) yep the best dynamic range those little speakers will ever produce because the amp is just ticking along within its best range - no stress no peeks no distortion
Thank you for watching and sharing ssgeek45 😉
Wow, man. That statue is sooo disturbing! Content is excellent.
Apologies but thank you for watching 😊
Psb, Paradigm, etc. Canada has some very nice speaker brands.
Totem, Anthem, Bryson, Classe. The NRC really helped to put Canadian hifi brands on the map.
I think it would be useful to discuss how much spend to allocate on each component for a given budget. Personally I would spend more on the speakers and amp. Most people buy components based on 5 star ratings. Of greater importance is component synergy to maximise system performance.
Generally spend a little more on the speakers than the amplifier but this is not always the case. You have to take a whole system approach. As you mention get the synergy right between components is the most important factor. Thank you for watching kjbiz 😉😂
My first system in the 80s was a NAD 2030, Mission 700s, and a Dual turntable. Since then I've sent 1000s but I'm pretty happy now.
Thank you for sharing 😉
Exactly my first system, NAD 3020, Mission 700, Dual 505 mk2 , Nagaoka MP11. I don’t think I knew how good it was at the time. Long gone of course, but in many ways that system was more enjoyable than the various replacements. My current system is a Frankenstein with a “temporary” Yamaha amp after my Linn went west 20 years ago.
Hi there - thanks for the great videos. Can I ask you a question, and apologies if I've missed a video on this subject! I would like to place my speakers either side of a fireplace as you have. Do you have any tips regarding the cabling? I don't want the cables trailing across the floor and they are too thick and heavy to hide under the carpet. The back wall is solid brick, not a cavity wall so it's tricky. I possibly could drop them under the floor and run them through a duct. I'd be interested in any thought you have. A bit like your set up, it would just be the cable for the left speaker as the right will be near the kit. Thanks!
Hi. I just, keep both cables the same length, even though the right hand run is short. I run my cables in a duct that runs behind the skirting and under the floor. It is a lot neater than having them trail along the floor. Thank you for watching 😉
Love the bronze 😉🏴
Me too but my wife hates it. It is called “The Slave” and he has his hands tied behind his back. I wonder why she objects to it so much ? 😂
@@abritishaudiophile7314 apposite, just now Tarun ji...
Good advise, the system I currently have is 17 years with some sources 25 years old. When I Divorced I was going to put together a music and movies system that would keep me happy, without being bankrupted. Looking for speakers I found Infinity Interlude speakers on Harman audio Ebay Il 50s for $468 before plunking down my hard earned cash I looked at professional reviews and owner reviews mostly favorable so I bid and got them bought and delivered for that $468. Had a Rotel pre-amp processor and a 2 channel adcom amplifier and was happy but I wanted 5 channels for surround. Found a Carver av705x on Ebay for $450. Got it with one channel out. The seller offered to refund or send it to Carver for repair. The reviews were so good and I had owned some Carver before so I had it repaired. Still going strong today, picked up IL10 bookshelf and IL25C center for $275 from circuit city and my home theater was born for about $1200. On my 60th birthday my sons bought me a Marantz av7005 HT preamp and the system sounds even better than before. If you do your homework, you can cobble together a nice system whatever your budget. Sorry I was long winded, trying to impart my experience for newbies on the site.
Thank you Donald for sharing your experiences 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I helped out younger people all the time when I worked in Home Depot introduced a bunch to good sound. Helped my 3 sons set up sound systems as well.
One is often intrigued about high end components. How would they sound? Audiophiles tend to do this.
Thank you for watching and commenting Faluda😉
There are bargains on the second hand market. Unfortunately the older they are the more difficult and expensive to get repaired. Repaired units frequently need repairs not long after. Roughly anything under 10 years old is likely to work well and can be successfully repair for another 5 to 7 years. Anything 30 years or older may still be worth the effort to repair but will be in and out the workshop annually.
I started out with source (turntable), pre-amp and active speakers. I added tuner and cassette tape decks. Still have the same speakers (from '82 which were £1500 Meridian M1MkII) but added two more (from '89 two rear) and an active sub-woofer and active centre channel speaker. All source is from and controlled by the computer via a USB external sound card (£150) with 5+1 analogue output. Coxial and Toslink outputs only carry stereo. £350-400 for the 3x70W tower speakers (Meridian D600). £450 for the B&W PV1 and £350 for a Meridian MC60 centre channel. The cost of 6 speakers mounts and the floor space increases with floor standing units. When the M1 need repairs the D600 double as front channel stereo otherwise smaller less expensive speakers would have been sufficient (e.g. M20, M30). There might be ways to achieve the same, even better, for less but have only heard as good for a lot more money.
If buying new it is worth listening to a few set ups - mixed and matched - and with your own source media. Include some recommended systems to compare and consider if they are better; if a cheaper system satisfies as much; if the ascetics acoustically and visually is acceptable. Look elsewhere - you can always go back. Never buy the same day. Think about it. You might like to go an upgrade route but it is cheaper long term to get what you are happy with from the outset and not assume something more expensive is going to be so much better. It usually takes a while to get used to what can be achieved from a system. Initially they all sound bright shinny new but living with a unit might be very different. Good dealers may loan systems for you to review at home for a week. They want you to be happy with the kit, not pushing onto to you what you can't afford and what they have too much stock off as in chain stores.
What is a good system? It doesn't have to be as perfect as you can get. When listening to a track, an album or watch a film with a well crafted sound track you can say that sounded good and you enjoyed the experience. If you don't then the source was rubbish or really the system was. If you can't enjoy the music through the system and have the hardware disappear from your mind it fails.
Hi Gerald, thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed reading about your experiences and you offer some sensible advice 😉
The British version of Andrew Robinson. 😉😬 Has a great way of explaining these sometimes complex topics!😇
Thank you Big Jay. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 😉👍
Hi Tarun, thanks for some great insights. I'd love to know which stands you're using with your PSB Imagine Minis, as I have a pair myself, but can't find the original stands to pair with them? Thanks Dave
Hi David, in the bedroom I have them on desk top stands and sound isolation foam. I suggest you look for a 70cm stand with a small top plate.
I like this information , 😉
Thank you John 😉
Love your channel. I'm fairly new to this world and cannot follow much of the technical details, but easy does it.
Perhaps you have some piece of advice for me, often when looking for speakers I find some detail in how they work (or not) in small spaces. However, I'm dealing with a big concrete room (5,20m wide and 8,20m deep) but do not seem to find any info about speakers concerning this. Is having the speakers in and testing the only option? Or is there a way to refine my search?
Hi Andre, I did a video on choosing speakers. It may help...
czcams.com/video/MAY--D_K0Cc/video.html
I bought my main setup second hand. Monitor Audio RS6 + NAD c356bee + Argon dac. Costs me 350 euro. I think I will need to spend a lot of money to get a better performance, so it's tough for me to upgrade.
You are right. You have put together a nice system 😉
Thank you Uncle Tarun.
I decided on the LS50s when I realized that all the major reviewers use them as a reference and JA chose them for his home system :-)
(REL subs help to make them a full range system).
You are helping me to get off the fence on the Aries 2 as a replacement for my older musical fidelity x-dac/x-psu/ x10v3 setup. I think they still sound great but digital technology must have improved in the intervening 18 years, right?
(Or are the ASR guys right?)
How much of an improvement can I expect?
Sources are Bluesound Vault2 & Node2i
Thank you Carlito. You are putting together a nice system. I would upgrade the amp next. It will have more of an impact on the sound. However, the only way to really draw conclusions is from your own direct experience 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I didn't say, but in this system I'm using a Musical Fidelity XP100 pre and a pair XP-200v3 bridged amps... As you said in this video, class AB amps improve very gradually, I thought you'd steer me to a more modern DAC? The X-Dac v3 is certainly much better than the built in Bluesound ones;-)
I may look into a different amp for my LRS system (see thumbnail). It's using a Mu-Fi X-150v3 as my tube amp couldn't touch them!
@@carlitomelon4610 apologies Carlito. I misread your previous post. I thought you were using a basic MF amp. I never heard the XP100/200 but they had a good reputation at the time. I would expect them do do a fine job with the LS50s. As you correctly point out, class AB amps have improved incrementally over the last 20 years. You should be working your way back down the signal path. The DAC would be the next priority.
The X-DAC was a very good entry level DAC. I haven’t heard it with the external PSU and the x10v3 tube buffer. I would suggest you audition some modern DACs. Try something like the Chord Mojo. It will be interesting to see how the old MF setup compares. This will give you a yard stick to judge whether the Denafrips Ares II is worth going for as you are unlike to be able to audition that DAC. Basically, if the Mojo is better then buy the Ares II with confidence. If the old MF setup is better I would stick with what you have.
Sorry for the confusion. I hope this helps 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314
Thanks for walking that back, Tarun.
The X-Dac v3 combo measured superbly back in the naughties, and Stereophile recommended it. $1000 then plus psu and tube stage put it at double the Ares2 price currently. (I have two;-)
Unfortunately I don't have any local dealers in Montana. It seems that the Ares sells on eBay for more than the MSRP, so the initial risk is low;-)
Anyone else out there have experience with this "upgrade"? Are the differences really so huge?
Hi Tarun
You’ve mentioned balanced interconnects a few times. I am curious as to which version of Chord cables your are using in your system? Are you hearing transparency? Or an influence on frequency? Thanks in advance!
Hi Thomas, I use Chord Signature cables. Very transparent but tonality just on the bright side of what I would consider neutral. Balanced cables best used for long runs 10m+ or with fully balanced components 😉👍
Used gear can be an issue like you stated. Especially speakers! The surrounds that are foam are just trash as foam may last five years at the most. After that, surrounds made of foam are problematic and start to disintegrate. Another issue with speakers is coil formers that have been abused from being overdriven. This is an easy find by placing two fingers on the cone of the speaker and pressing and releasing the cone straight back and feeling for a dragging going back or forward. If you feel any dragging, resistance in movement, of the driver element in either direction, that driver is damaged by abuse. Even if there is no dragging, there may be spider damage also. That is best observed with the driver removed from the cabinet. Separation can occur over time particularly when abused. Just some things to feel and look for. A test run using music you are intimately familiar with is always a good idea. If they don’t allow a listen, walk away. Better than getting burned! I have seen my fair share of trashed gear come in when it was supposed to be flawless. Buyer beware on used gear purchase. Avoid any gear that cannot be tested prior to purchase. Don’t get emotional over it. Be sensible, not sorry!
Thank you Mark. Always a pleasure to hear your professional insights 😉👍
Had 15 year old Pmc speakers and over the last 5 the sound definitely got worse especially the bass. Not sure what the cause was but foam falling out of the bottom of the transmission line system probably doesn't help
So this evening I watched an interesting little video Paul McGowan of PS Audio put out today on why some speakers sound great and others don’t and why it depends a great deal on the designer’s own preferences to a much greater degree than other components in the audiophile chain. My knee jerk comment went like this:
“Maybe instead of all the rubbish speaker reviewers talk about “transparency” and “colour” could we not talk about flavour? Like coffee or wine - “full bodied” (PS Audio), lean (B&W), fast and crisp (Linn), bloated (name withheld for their protection). Wouldn’t that be much more useful, especially in these pox ridden stay-at-home-stay-safe days?”
I am copying this to you because I love your reviews and am a huge fan, and I hope that in some small way this thought will add to your palate.
Good to hear fo4m you buddy. Thank you for the suggestion. Even I talk about colour all the time. I guess some old audiophile habits die hard. You are absolutely right of course.
Enjoy your videos, the understanding and depth, and your organization of thoughts. I have to wonder: Isn't you main listening room awfully live? It surely sounds like it from the audio on your vlogs. My ears would be bleeding on some playbacks.
Keep on keeping on.
Hi Jim, in some of the earlier videos I was using an adapter to convert the 3.5mm mic output to USB C which created this reverberant distortion. I still have to use an adapter but found a better one. The sound is far from perfect but much better on the newer videos. Thank you for putting up with it 😉
Greetings from across the pond. While those versed in the hobby might see general overview vids as not worth their time I appreciate the community comments they engender and what we can share out that might have been off the radar. For example- I wasn’t aware of the electronic parts issue mentioned by one of the commentators from 1999 - 2007 ( wiki citation for what it’s worth). Imma look more into that...
Thank you for watching and commenting PuertoRican Audiophile
Due to size constraints in my living room, I've been trying to get a 2-channel stereo hifi sound which will also be able to process a 9.2 channel setup! after auditioning a couple of Denon amplifiers I'm still not satisfied because I can still hear the electrical interference! I've now come to the conclusion, the only way iam going to get good quality hi-fi sound, there's not much of a choice other then to go for the arcam! If I save for another 6 weeks I'll be in a better position to barter for the arcam avr550 with his matching 2-channel power amplifier, Plus the KEF ls50 s all to go with my my rel t5i, it seems like a long wait but I know in the end it will be worth it!
Thanks for posting your videos and any advice from you or anyone else for that matter would be most welcome.
Hi, I Kef regularly demo their speakers using Arcam. I have heard this combo on many occasions and they work well together. I think you are thinking along the right lines. Arcam bridge the 2 channel and multichannel divide better than most. I think you have got this pretty sorted out.
The AVR550 has been replaced by the AVR20 so you should be able to get the 550 for a substantial discount at the moment. The new one does 9 channels but I thought the 550 only did 7.2. Just check before you purchase. Live with the receiver for a while before adding the 2 channel PA240 power amp. It is a significant addition outlay. You need to be totally familiar with your system before you can properly assess whether it is worth the upgrade. Good luck and thank you for watching 😉👍
Dynaudio also make great active speakers
The Neo range right? I will have to check them out.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 There are the Xeo budget range and the focus Xd which are top of the range and quite expensive.
3:10 yes, I can totally see how 2k is a lot of money for a sound system; you made me realize how advanced my system is, compared to that of the average consumer.
Once you are into this, cartridges like 500 bucks become quite normal and I know plenty people who think that's entry level.
But when I imagine an average consumer randomly spending 500 quid, just for some sound on the background...
9:15 Yes, analog equipment retains its value much better and because of that, it can be considered an investment; especially turntables.
10:17 Usually, electrolytic capacitors last for about 20 years until the first start to degrade, except for capacitors that have been victim of the great capacitor plague. So it's worth looking up how old the amplifier is and of course if possible, ask to demo the amplifier.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague
Thank you Qorax
Keep on trucking ..........
Thank you Oscar 😉
Hi Tarun, another very interesting video. I purchased a hifi rack system from Atacoma which made everything tighter.The only trouble was when I tapped my foot near the rack the t/table jumped. I put washing machine isolators under the feet( as your video for speaker stands), this made it 90% better( still have sum work on t/table isolation).
I’m going to make mains leads, shorter and better cable as your video. Would it be worth making shorter better(?) interconnection leads( the amp connections are XLR supplied by Linn)
When I was reading about cables i came across speaker cable lengths.I thought the cables had to be the same length.Chord say 3mts and 5mts is ok. I would like your thoughts on this as I have 3mts of cable wound up under the rack( I followed your suggestions on speaker cable
Regards Richard
Hi Richard, the reality is that the resistance of your speaker cable is going to be negligible compared to the load of your speakers. However, I would always advise people to keep the cables the same length for left and right channels. It is only when you cables get longer than 5m you need to start to be concerned with the length of the run and even this is debatable. Again, all things considered, I would advise people to keep cable runs as short as possible. The only exception being that some amplifiers need cables to be a minimum of 4m as they expect to see a certain load. Older Exposure and Naim amplifiers are like this because the have a lack of impedance networks on the output stage and rely on the correct length and type of speaker cable to provide this. I hope this helps. Good luck and thank you for watching 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun, I have been in touch with Linn and as you suggested they recommend 2x4mt cables.
Once again thanks for your suggestions.
Regards Richard
👍Thanks
Likewise 👍
Excellent reviews and tips, question, sometimes your speaker stands are raised up, what do you use?
Thank you Peter. I just use EVA blocks to raise the speakers when I need to. Thank you for watching 😉👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 many thanks for the assistance, will be getting buchardt S400 tomorrow, so I'll be raising my stands accordingly.
You did not mention... vintage... equipment from 20 years ago is not vintage, how do you feel about 70s receivers and such? I have a modern not so cheap NAD... my old Marantz and Pioneer... even a JVC I have from that era do some mighty nice things versus it. I really enjoy your thoughts!!
Hi Jerry, I dint have much experience with 70s receivers. If I get my hands on one, I would love to do a video about it. Thank you for watching and commenting 😉
Great video, again. You mentioned audiolab. Long story short I’m not entirely happy with my marantz amp and looking to upgrade. I mainly stream using tidal and was wondering if you had an opinion on the audiolab 6000a play. I must add 800 is my absolute top budget
What speakers are you using John and which Marantz amp do you currently own?
A British Audiophile the amp is the pm6005 paired with monitor audio bronze 2’s
Hi John, the Audiolab 6000A will a step up in performance. I was impressed with it when I heard it and I am hoping to get one in for review.
But beware of the lack of gapless playback - this is a complete deal breaker for me.
Hi. Is your left speaker toed in a little bit more than your right Tarun? Thanks!
Just a touch 😉
Used speakers are the champions of value for money. Right??
They can be if you buy the right product, from a reputable source and have them checked out for damage and abuse before you spend your folding 😉
Hi, I'm currently looking for an integrated amp at the moment have you done a comparison between Nad c368 and Cambridge Audio cxa 81 or could you suggest I look at something else around that price point, please?
Hi David, I haven’t done a comparison between those two but they are both good brands. Lost of great option out there. You should try to narrow the search down based on the features and sonic character you desire 😊
Good video mate!
Gotta say though, you look like an Indian Dave Chappelle. 😁
I wish I had his front of camera skills and his money for that matter 😉
What’s nice about this hobby: buy pieces one at a time, when you have extra money.
Good advice woodhunter 😉
You are correct to point out that the more money you spend, the better the quality of the system (up to a point, beyond which you approach the point of diminishing returns). However, I would be shocked to hear a good sounding system for $2500. Even for twice that, I don't see how a system could be considered true high fidelity. The problem arises from the sizable markup from manufacturing costs to retail outlet to consumer, which as I have heard amounts to about 400 percent (100 percent markup at each of those two stages). You are also correct to not only start with the speakers, but to consider a entire system as being built around the speakers. And the most important part of good sounding speakers is the quality of the drivers, then the quality of the crossover, and thirdly the quality of the boxes. Because of the giant markups involved, great sacrifices have to be made in the building of the speakers in order to produce a product that is affordable to most people. So high end speakers (and these are really entry level high end) costing $3000 a pair have to be manufactured for one quarter of that, or @ $750. Consider that build cost against the high quality drivers I would select for a true high fidelity system, costing @ $150 each, or about $900 total for a three way system, and this includes just one tweeter, one mid driver, and one bass driver, which is ideal in my opinion vs multiple drivers per range, but that's another comment. And whereas the drivers are most important, crossovers second, and boxes third, speaker manufacturers tend to focus the bulk of their budget on the boxes first, and the drivers and crossover take a back seat in terms of expense. I have seen this with every factory speaker I have had the opportunity to take apart. If you really want high quality speakers, unless you have a tremendous budget, the only alternative is to build your own. And most folks, including myself, are not able to tackle building a proper passive crossover. One solution is to purchase a kit at the same cost you would spend on completed speakers, and get a great more quality for your money. The other alternative I favor is building active systems, which eliminates the passive crossover completely, which both bypasses my inability to build one and removes a source of great restraint on the quality of the speakers, esp when poor quality parts are used. My completed three way active system costs me @ $5000 because that's what it takes to get into true high fidelity, and this with all entry level high end electronic components costing around $500-$600 each. I understand not everyone can do what I'm doing (whereas just about everyone can pursue what you are doing which is great), but nonetheless I wanted to offer this perspective for folks.
Hi Speaker Builder, I really enjoyed reading your comments and perspective on things. I feel passionate about promoting affordable hifi that most people can afford. I encounter a lot of people out there that could massively improve their listening experience for a little outlay if they only knew what to buy and from where. Powered speakers are a great step to transition people from their Sonos or Bose speaker into the world of hifi. Once they are in, there will be a bunch of people who will want to upgrade and spend more money for more performance but we have to somehow get their attention first. Thank you for watching and sharing 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 And you are offering a great service by getting the entry level enthusiast to focus on speakers first and making suggestions that I could never offer as I have no experience with factory speakers.
Speaker Builder if you don’t mind me asking, are you in the UK? I have been watching Danny Ritchie’s channel, which is named GR Research. I’d love to have a go at building one of his speaker kits, but shipping and taxes to the UK will increase the price significantly. I’d be interested if someone offered kits in the UK
Thank you 😉
I'm seriously considering replacing the crossovers in my (budget) speakers. I'm assuming if I just recreate the original design with higher quality components, soldered point-to-point, I can't mess anything up. I might as well move them outside the cabinet whilst I'm at it, which will open up the possibility of going active in the future. Even if I can't hear any improvement on performance it'll be a fun project and a good excuse to learn more.
$2000 -$3000 for an entire system is spot on for me also. Buying used helps. After that curve turns steep towards diminishing returns. Just my experience.
You can certainly put together a great system for that price as long as you can live with a couple of limitations. You can either go for excellent resolution but limited scale and dynamics or excellent scale and dynamics but limited resolution. If you want both then it costs a lot more. Thank you for watching and commenting 😉
Hi! Could you please touch upon how important and how big difference the support for the turntable is? I see many who are into HiFi testing out different woods, different isolators under the wood etc etc. But I´m having my turntable ontop of my receiver which is directly on an IKEA shelf standing on the floor, and my speakers are standing ontop of similar shelves on the floor, and I´m not really noticing that the bass would be interfering with the sound at all? I am playing as loud as my wife and neighbours let me. I have no subwoofer but I think the woofers in the speakers are doing a well enough job. I just dont see a reason why I would need to isolate my turntable at all, but enthusiasts seem to go nuts about it?
Hi bingoberra18, I am probably the wrong guy to ask as I sold my turntable many years ago. Purely from a science and engineering perspective, a turntable is probably the most sensitive component to external vibrations. There is a point when your system gets to a level where you need to pay attention to minimising these vibrations. If you want an affordable solution, look for some Silicone feet to put under the turntable. Just check with the manufacturer that they are designed to cope with the weight of your turntable, i.e. your need the right size of feet. Good luck 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks, I get that vibrations are bad, but I cant tell any difference in sound even as I am walking around on the floor its basically standing on, its a very basic system though so probably the differences show on better and more fragile (?) equipment and settings.
@Kris Moodley Thanks, im in a small flat atm but moving to house in a few years, thats when I´ll be investing in a proper setup and thats when I´ll be able to crank it up to a nice level :) Probably gonna need that cherrywood laminated with birch support for my turntable as well
Thanks Kris
Sensible prosaic advice and after watching a few of your instructional videos. I came away with the impression that you would only recommend a ceiling equal that you have chosen for yourself.
I remember there was a certain hifi magazine (which still exists with an extended title) here in the UK which pandered to the budget/starter segment. It would write reviews along the lines of “the NAD 3020 amp etc is a giant killer and can outperform product 5x the price”. (They never named those products though) a certain cartel of UK brands were always favoured. Products from abroad- (and I’m not talking about China) were all but ignored. Readers on a budget lapped it up. I moved on and took HiFi News & Record Review instead!
The Hi End of hifi exists. It can be thrilling and aspirational and I for one have enjoyed going beyond budget equipment. But I accept that It may not be for every hifi enthusiasts own budget or tastes. But to ignore it completely would be akin to a Car magazine pretending Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin don’t exist.
Hi Jerry, thank you for watching. I would not place a ceiling on what I think people should spend. Some of my videos are aimed more at people new to the hobby or the general public who just want a hifi system fit for purpose. In this case, I would suggest that they are sensible with what they outlay until the develop this critical listening skills and determine what kind of sound and performance they want from their system. It is a bit like you wouldn’t give you child a Ferrari as their first car after passing their test.
A British Audiophile Hi Tarun, I get that you are targeting newbies. As with anything, it’s best to do a bit of research to avoid expensive mistakes. It’s nice to know that there are still people interested enough to desire a better sound quality. Sadly I think the public at large have no interest or idea beyond TV and earbuds.
Most folk will already have a laptop they can use as a cost efficient digital player with a standalone dac to get started as a digital source. However hard drives can fail and the best backup is the good old physical CD which are cheaper than they’ve ever been. When a “full fat”digital music library becomes larger and funds allow I would advocate a dedicated music server connected to a usb dac. This still gives access to Tidal and Qobuz etc but sidesteps streaming from remote NAS drives and the compromises of a PC and its peripherals.