High Fidelity

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Gerry D
Posts: 1078
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:25 pm
Location: Dublin

High Fidelity

Post by Gerry D »

I’m listening right now to a WiiM Ultra streamer, Tidal, through a LFT PAO power amp (ancient) and Harbeth P3Esr’s and thinking that this is actually as good as setups I’ve been through that cost multiples of this one that I’ve had over the years.

I still play my LP’s through my 300B integrated and various other experimental speakers, keep going back to the Dubhs ( thanks Fran) and a small subwoofer for the bliss moments but was just thinking how good this very moderately priced stuff has come on in the last couple of years.

Anybody else contemplating the real value of €€€ digital front end upgrading versus the onslaught of budget overachievers?
Or am I just turning into a grumpy and stingy oul fella ? 🎶
"Quality means doing it right when no one is looking" - Henry Ford
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Fran
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Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:03 pm

Re: High Fidelity

Post by Fran »

We're all turning grumpy and stingy!!

I'm still amazed at how often I use bluetooth streaming - its probably the dominant proportion of my listening. My other rule of thumb is that good sound is good sound - the age of the amp etc is almost irrelevant. Sit back and enjoy is the main thing.
Do or do not, there is no try
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hudo
Posts: 233
Joined: Mon May 14, 2018 11:04 am

Re: High Fidelity

Post by hudo »

My office setup is Fosi ZA3 amp, Schiit Modius DAC, Sound Artists LS3/5, Rel tZero sub, so fairly entry level stuff mostly purchased second hand, more than 10-20x less money than my main setup. Latest addition was cheap small Fosi amp (100€), i just rolled new op-amps (~30€), and that amp is giant killer i think - for near field listening i don't don't feel the need for upgrades any more! Its amazing what you can get these days, specially if you're willing to wait a bit for second hand market.

Also, added Wiim Mini to main setup as 2nd streamer just for Tidal Connect, and to be honest i don't hear difference from my upgraded Pi2AES streamer with LPSU. Its enough for 99% systems, don't know how crazy gear/room you need to have for Wiim to be a bottleneck!
♪♫ sound sommelier ♪♫
Main: Pi2AES ⁘ Holo Spring 3 KTE ⁘ Michell Gyro SE ⁘ PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid ⁘ ATC SCM40
Office: Schiit Modius ⁘ Schiit Asgard 3 MB ⁘ Fosi ZA3 ⁘ Audeze LCD2 ⁘ Sound Artists LS3/5

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Ivor
Posts: 4245
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 11:21 pm

Re: High Fidelity

Post by Ivor »

Gerry D wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:05 pm Anybody else contemplating the real value of €€€ digital front end upgrading versus the onslaught of budget overachievers?
Or am I just turning into a grumpy and stingy oul fella ? 🎶
No, but it's nice to think there's some body out there grumpier than me! ;)

DACs etc are fine for causualy listening, while I'm doing something else, but for serious listening it's going to be vinyl.
Vinyl -anything else is data storage.

Thorens TD124 Mk1 + Kuzma Stogi 12"arm, HANA Red, Gold Note PH 10 + PSU. ADI-2 Dac, Lector CDP7, Wyred4Sound pre, Airtight ATM1s, Klipsch Heresy IV, Misc Mains, RCA + XLR ICs, Tellurium Q spkr cable
block
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 2:32 pm

Re: High Fidelity

Post by block »

After changing my speakers I think I need to upgrade my amplifier and probably my streamer followed on by my speaker cables.

It's going to be a big chunk of change. I will take a big hit on my amplifier and I will spend a fair bit on the amplifier.

Do I need it? No. It's like a carousel I'm not sure if I want to get on and just be happy with what I have.
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