Hi-Fi Rack - what it really says

[DaveF]

Honestly, the way things are at the moment if I could get really good sound from one box and never think of it again I'd be all over it.

I thought you liked your shiny boxes. I dont believe you! :-)

[Diapason]

I liked them during the Celtic Tiger. Now they just taunt me!

[Ken Moreland]

Tom, I could certainly live with the minimum number of boxes especially when they are something like the Devialet amp which is recognised as top flight but the reputation of the Meridian speakers would cause a lasting niggling doubt. In the digital music world things are moving very quickly and small developers are producing cutting edge hardware and software all the time. For example Jplay has produced 2 updates already and there's another one on the way(updates are free following the initial purchase) . Also on the hardware side there is rapid development of USB/SPDIF converters and DACs. These and the player software are inexpensive and give outstanding sound quality and to stay ahead of the development curve some parts need to be updated/replaced but it's achievable. So I'd like to keep some flexibility to get the best sound from the front end but I'd be happy to have top quality active speakers.
KM

[DaveF]

In the digital music world things are moving very quickly and small developers are producing cutting edge hardware and software all the time. For example Jplay has produced 2 updates already and there's another one on the way(updates are free following the initial purchase) . Also on the hardware side there is rapid development of USB/SPDIF converters and DACs. These and the player software are inexpensive and give outstanding sound quality and to stay ahead of the development curve some parts need to be updated/replaced but it's achievable.KM

I've absolutely no doubt in what you are saying Ken. The technology on the digital side is both shrinking sizewise and becoming more cutting edge with outstanding sound quality. But the major stumbling block for me is the computer interface whether its a server, an all in one Naim type or a Sonos system. Not because I'm a technophobe but because of the way I like to have a physical music collection and the interaction and involvment in cueing up a recording before sitting back to listen to it.
For this reason alone, I'll have a rack full of equipment for years to come. I wont be downsizing anytime soon. Yes, it may be the expensive route when compared to what's acheivable from computer based audio but its something I'm willing to put up with.
So my hifi rack says that I'm a bit of a fool perhaps!

[Fran]

Here's my problem with active speakers:

the amps are always a compromise, and are typically class D units - often not with the best implementation. So no matter how good the drivers, cabinet etc etc, the amps are always going to be a let down.

So if you accept that point, then you are, at a minimum, back with an amp and 2 speakers. After that, the next question is how small can I make the front end. Seems to me a CDP with built in volume control, kinda like the wadia/resolution audio systems are the most minimal. The other way to go might use a laptop and USB dac direct to power amp. And to cap it, only in the last 2 years this area has moved hugely forward, massive jumps in SQ in that short time.


Fran

[Ken Moreland]

To illustrate the point about the fast moving digital development, since I posted at 10.26am today I saw from JK's website https://sites.google.com/site/hifacemod ... acedevices the he has discovered that the Hiface gives better SQ using the driver from the Young Dac, I've already downloaded and installed it and the sound quality is better! All free and done in a few minutes.

On the subject of physical media, all the CD's I have ripped are still here (for now) but I've rarely looked at the covers as I listened. When I first started ripping to PC I thought I would miss the fun of finding something to play etc but not at all, so while I still need a few boxes to play the tunes I'd be happy to see the back of the CD's (E2 music maybe!)

[Fran]

Here's your new minimalist system:

[DavidMc]

Or you could go this way,

no boxes, exceptin' the one you keep it in...