Anyone here an audiophile?

[brncao]

Who here is an audiophile? Post your current audio setup!

AKG K701 (headphones)
Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 (audio interface)
M³ (headphone amplifier)
γ2 (DAC)

I plan on upgrading AKG K701 to Sennheiser HD800 in the future.

 

[Zangmonkey]

Anthem MRX
Paradigm Signature S4
Audio Technica ATH-W1000X

 

[leSLIe]

Having a Sennheiser HD800 qualifies my as an audiophile?

 

[DouglasteR]

Having a Sennheiser HD800 qualifies my as an audiophile?

At least a headphone audiophile

 

[asyork]

Schiit Bifrost
Schiit Lyr (Currently with a pair of Orange Globes)
Hifiman HE-500

 

[Syncade]

I have Sony MDR-7506's.

Back when they were shipped in silk and came with a real leather bag.

 

[Drudenhaus]

Senn HD-650:

AMB γ2 DAC

<pic forthcoming>

PPAv2 amp with STEPS PSU and AMB &#949;12

<pic forthcoming>

The electronics were DIY built.

 

[atarione]

i don't know (maybe?)

headphones Beyerdynamic DT770 pro 80, ATH-M50, Pioneer SE-A1000, Takstar HD5500, JVC HA-RX700 and vintage Akai ASE-45 and Hal Leonard 40-401

FiiO E07K/E09K also use a vintage Yamaha C-60 preamp with my headphones quite a bit.


speakers (currently hooked up to my pc): Monitor Audio Silver S1, NHT SuperZero's,Optimus PRO X44AV, and also DCM Timeframe TF250's

amps /receivers currently hooked up to pc: Pioneer SX-3600, Kenwood KR-V106R, Pioneer VSX-D1S and SMSL SA-S3 t-amp.

 

[brncao]

Senn HD-650
AMB &#947;2 DAC
PPAv2 amp with STEPS PSU and AMB &#949;12

The electronics were DIY built.

I didn't think I would see an audiophile and a DIYer here! Then you probably know AMB M³ and the famous &#946;22.

Anyone with Stax?

 

[DouglasteR]

A Beyer DT9900 600ohms
Connected to pioneer SC-35
On my pc i have an Auzentech HTHD sending the audio to the receiver by hdmi.

Flawless setup

 

[D-Wiz]

More Audio enthusiast than audiophile.

JH Audio JH13
Ultrasone Pro 750
Sony MA700

Ortonphon HD-Q7 amp

Essence STX
Onkyo 705

No speakers in my Japanese apartment (paper thin walls)

 

[B00nie]

That's head-fi not hi-fi. Many audiophiles do not count headphones as 'real' audio systems due to the comfort and sound imaging problems they have.

I know for one that I would never even consider having headphones for a main device of listening.

 

[Nenu]

Eastern Electric Minimax Tube DAC Plus (MK II) for stereo.
Oppo 105 BD player HDMI Optical and USB DAC for 5.1.
Home made USB cables (2 wire, signal only no power).
Home made silver interconnects to front stereo amp.

Emotiva XPA-2 and XPA-3 amps.
Van Damme 6.0mm Hi-Fi speaker wire, bi-wired to front, single to centre.
Van Damme Studio Blue wire 1.5mm to rear speakers.

Home made Transmission line (front) and Ribbon Tweeter (all 5.0) speakers.
Fronts on rubber isolators, mounted on floor spiked bases, are good down to 30Hz in my room, will do 22Hz in a better room.

BK Monolith Sub hooked directly to front speakers only.
Oppo BD player (used only for 5.1) re-routes 5.1 sub bass channel to front speakers.
Sub is used for 30Hz to 15Hz in all material, stereo or 5.1
(responds from 40Hz but is slightly anti phase to the front speakers so it doesnt boom at 40Hz)

Foobar 2000 with WASAPI exclusive mode for music playback.
Electri-Q high res EQ for music.
Reclock used to provide WASAPI exclusive mode for movie playback.

 

[Zepher]

I didn't think I would see an audiophile and a DIYer here! Then you probably know AMB M³ and the famous &#946;22.

Anyone with Stax?

I demoed a pair of Stax headphones back in 1990 with the Stax headphone tube amp and they were the most realistic sounding headphones I've ever heard.
The Demo CD had a lady talking as she walked around and you'd swear she was in the same room as you speaking to you live.
I didn't have the $4000+ for the setup.

 

[LeninGHOLA]

No.

Denon 1712
Hsu HB-1 mk2 x4
Hsu HC-1 mk2 x1
Hsu STF-2

Clean and flat. Sounds amazing for the $1500 or whatever I put into it.

 

[B00nie]

I demoed a pair of Stax headphones back in 1990 with the Stax headphone tube amp and they were the most realistic sounding headphones I've ever heard.
The Demo CD had a lady talking as she walked around and you'd swear she was in the same room as you speaking to you live.
I didn't have the $4000+ for the setup.

Headphones do not produce 'in same room' effect they produce 'in your head' effect which is most annoying to many.

Demoed staxes with some high-end tube headphone amps in Bonn last summer. They're nice but they're not as nice as proper speakers.

 

[jbltecnicspro]

Schiit Bifrost
Schiit Lyr (Currently with a pair of Orange Globes)
Hifiman HE-500

Holy schiit! (sorry, had to! ).

I have a pair of HD-650's, Headroom Micro Amp, and Marantz universal player/iPod lineout/PC as my DAC. I'm probably an audiophile, as I do care tremendously about my audio quality, but I'm not above listening to my Honda CR-V's stock stereo.

 

[ThinJ]

Schiit Modi
Schiit Asgard 2
Hifiman HE-400
MrSpeakers Mad Dog

I'll probably jump to a Bifrost at some point to slot into that setup and pick up a Magni or a Vali to pair with the Modi and use that pair next to my couch or bed. At that point though, I don't know what else there is for me to bother with. I'm super happy with the HE-400's as my open pair and love the MrSpeakers Mad Dogs for my sealed headphones.

I've reached a point where other than maybe stepping up the DAC, I'm kind of done.

I recently sold six other sets of headphones because I just don't ever listen to them anymore.

 

[Sixthsense]

Define audiophile

 

[brncao]

Define audiophile

haha I knew somebody was going to ask that question at some point

If I look at the word literally, it would mean one who "loves audio." In what way? That's anyone's interpretation of what it truly means to love audio. It could be sound reproduction or colored for pleasure.

To me, to be an audiophile, you would have to be seeking more pleasure and enjoyment out of your listening experience (that could be sound reproduction or coloration, whatever makes YOU happy). You would have to be conscious about it. For example if I lend someone some Stax headphones or some high-end speakers, but they have no opinion about it, don't care about improving their listening experience, sound is just a subconscious afterthought, and any (yes even the iBuds) are fine with them, then they wouldn't be considered an audiophile.

 

[bexamous]

Gotta spend at least $300 on power cables or any cable sending a digital signal. That is my definition.

Guess I don't qualify but FWIW Audio GD Fun and HE-400 w/MrSpeaker's Alpha pads.

 

[ClutchAutomatic]

Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
KRK Rokit 10-3
Audio Technica ATH-M50
4 wire Canare cable and Neutrik connectors.

 

[Megalith]

Kenwood Clock Radio
Sony Walkman
Onkyo Earbuds

 

[Sixthsense]

haha I knew somebody was going to ask that question at some point

If I look at the word literally, it would mean one who "loves audio." In what way? That's anyone's interpretation of what it truly means to love audio. It could be sound reproduction or colored for pleasure.

To me, to be an audiophile, you would have to be seeking more pleasure and enjoyment out of your listening experience (that could be sound reproduction or coloration, whatever makes YOU happy). You would have to be conscious about it. For example if I lend someone some Stax headphones or some high-end speakers, but they have no opinion about it, don't care about improving their listening experience, sound is just a subconscious afterthought, and any (yes even the iBuds) are fine with them, then they wouldn't be considered an audiophile.

ok

SRX 725S x4
SRX 728S x2
SRX718S x4
RCF 3 Series

QSC Powerlight 340 x2
QSC Powerlight 380 X2
Crest CA series x2

DBX Driverack 260 x2

PreSonus StudioLive 1642 x2

(I keep forgetting if the middle console is analog or digital)




Some outdated gear that I need to upgrade

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032942337&postcount=19

Monitor Audio Silver series

EDIT:

I guess I could post my HT setup lol

 

[LeninGHOLA]

Sixthsense has some gear. Clean looking stuff, man.

 

[Sixthsense]

Thanks LeninGHOLA , but I think your HT setup puts mine to shame

 

[brncao]

ok

SRX 725S x4
SRX 728S x2
SRX718S x4
RCF 3 Series

QSC Powerlight 340 x2
QSC Powerlight 380 X2
Crest CA series x2

DBX Driverack 260 x2

PreSonus StudioLive 1642 x2

(I keep forgetting if the middle console is analog or digital)




Some outdated gear that I need to upgrade

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032942337&postcount=19



Monitor Audio Silver series

EDIT:

I guess I could post my HT setup lol

Gearslutz? That's some sick gear. How much did it cost you?

 

[Sixthsense]

i visit there, but I frequent the prosoundweb forums more often

 

[bleagh]

Not sure I would even want to be considered an audiophile...
LOL

Current setup:
E-MU 0404 USB (pro audio DAC)
Emotiva mini-X a-100 (amp)
KEF HTS6001 (left-right speakers)
Velodyne Optimum 8 (subwoofer)

Full list of 2-channel speakers I have for computer use:
Audioengine A2
KEF HTS3001 SE
KEF HTS5001.2
KEF HTS6001
Snell CR7

I liked the Audioengine A2. For the money I think they are great speakers. They are even better if they are used with a subwoofer and a high-pass crossover at 100-120 Hz.

I didn't really like the KEF HTS3001 SE speakers for computer use. They were hard for me to listen to for nearfield use. They cost twice as much as the A2 and also needed an amp, but just not near as good for computer use. (They seem better at greater distances.)

The KEF HTS5001.2 and KEF HTS6001 are very similar as they use exactly the same drivers. The main difference is the 6001 uses four 3inch woofers per speaker and the 5001.2 uses only two. Both also have a 3inch midrange with a small tweeter mounted at the center of the midrange. So they are 3 way satellites and require a subwoofer. They seem very nice both near and far. (I haven't yet figured out how to remove the grills. They may sound even better once I do!)

The Snell CR7 are the best speakers I have for computer use. They MUST BE USED WITHOUT THE GRILLS for best sound. I haven't yet gotten proper stands and they are not quite high enough on my desktop. (Which is why I am currently using KEFs.)

Not sure I will ever find anything better than the Snell CR7, though I will likely try...

Other speakers I would like to try:
Emotiva airmotiv 4
KEF X300a
Anthony Gallo Strada 2

 

[John721]

Define audiophile

An audiophile uses content to listen to their equipment. Everyone else uses their equipment to listen to content.

 

[bleagh]

An audiophile uses content to listen to their equipment. Everyone else uses their equipment to listen to content.

This is an opinion that I simply do NOT agree with.

Personally I think a true audiophile would be more like the following:
A key goal of audiophiles is to capture the experience of a live musical performance in a room with good acoustics.

 

[Nenu]

An audiophile uses content to listen to their equipment. Everyone else uses their equipment to listen to content.

Naa, its someone who wants to get the most from their music because they really appreciate the differences some upgrades give.

 

[af22]

This thread needs more pictures. I read over all the equipment people posted with no idea if they are speakers, amps, or DAC's.

 

[wonderfield]

Perhaps a true audiophile is one who, rather than debating the definition of the term, listens to and enjoys music.

 

[Nenu]

This thread needs more pictures. I read over all the equipment people posted with no idea if they are speakers, amps, or DAC's.

To go with post #13

Home made speakers + projector in the dark (speakers need veneer finish adding)
With flash
Emotiva XPA-2 & XPA-3 amps, Minimax + Oppo DACs

 

[Nenu]

Perhaps a true audiophile is one who, rather than debating the definition of the term, listens to and enjoys music.

When someone asked to define it, rather than being ignorant, I chose to answer.
I dont see how that means I am not an audiophile and dont listen to and enjoy music.

 

[Drudenhaus]

This thread needs more pictures. I read over all the equipment people posted with no idea if they are speakers, amps, or DAC's.

I'll update my post tonight

 

[MrCrispy]

I don't see any $10k vacuum enclosed audio cables, power conditioners, shakti stones or magic markers.

You people call yourselves audiophiles ?

 

[MrCrispy]

Perhaps a true audiophile is one who, rather than debating the definition of the term, listens to and enjoys music.

An audiophile is one who when they hear a naked girl singing in the shower, puts their ear to the keyhole.

 

[brncao]

A true audiophile has to have "golden ears" just as a videophile has to have "golden eyes". That's fact

007 GoldenEar. hmm...