Are you absolutely certain that your hi-fi setup produces the type of sound you like the most?

[simple]

i also wondered if i started with a proper integrated, would i still have gone down the separates route.






wass;

can i ask did you listen to the martens at a88? always wanted to have a listen, but always found going into the shops and asking a bit stressful.

Hi Zephyr,

Yes, you will because you’ll be curious to know how much better can a pre/power be.

Not only Audio 88, some shops carry brands that I know is beyond me. So I won’t go in to “disturb” knowing I won’t be buying. Rather useless admiring from outside since these are meant to be listened, hence, I hardly go to Adelphi much.

 

[wasserklavier]

i also wondered if i started with a proper integrated, would i still have gone down the separates route.






wass;

can i ask did you listen to the martens at a88? always wanted to have a listen, but always found going into the shops and asking a bit stressful.

I think it was Marten Trio at Audio88. Think the Martens would be excellent for jazz and vocal, but since I listen a lot of classical it would not be good for me.

The integrated so far I've heard are very good, so I don't see the need to go separates. Tried Berlina with Perreaux 300ix, very impressive performance, as good as the 20k Aavik IMO for half the price.

 

[nexsky]

i also wondered if i started with a proper integrated, would i still have gone down the separates route.

It is good to experience various configurations, i came from Bi-amp, pre-pwd, pre-mono block, and integrated. Personally, as I get older I prefer simplicity. Having an integrated means i can have extra budget spending on good power cords and interconnects. Like wise if i stick with my earlier Naim setup with so many boxes how much do you think i need to spend on powercord alone?

For sure pre-pwd will sound better but having gone thru it before i do enjoy my current setup as i have maximise my money to get the best possible intergrated, power cords, interconnects, source and yet yield good sound. The end result to me is very satisfying.

 

[nexsky]

Hi Zephyr,

Yes, you will because you’ll be curious to know how much better can a pre/power be.

Not only Audio 88, some shops carry brands that I know is beyond me. So I won’t go in to “disturb” knowing I won’t be buying. Rather useless admiring from outside since these are meant to be listened, hence, I hardly go to Adelphi much.

Well, you can't afford it now doesn't mean you can't in the future. I recall going to the Magico showroom many years back to have a demo session. At that point in time, my setup wasn't capable of driving the speaker and neither i can afford it. I told the sales guy that I want to listen to what Magico sounds like and I can't afford it now. That sale guy was very welcoming and gladly demo it for close to 1 hour explaining the details about the speaker. I certainly enjoyed the demo session. and years later purchase my Magico from them. Thus sometimes it's good to ask but if they are not willing to demo then so be it. Hifi is a niche market and i don't think one can survive long base on regular customers.

 

[blue_starfish]

The good and passionate about this hobby salesmen will do a demo even though they well know I cannot afford to buy at this time. They cultivate relationships and know that one day, I will be a customer. I can tell from the way they conduct the demo whether or not they believe in their product and how to get the most of it in the always challenging showroom conditions.

The good salesmen know how to generate business. If one of their customers wants to upgrade and got a lesser model to trade-in, they will give a you a call to see if interested in a used item you auditioned. To the dealer being able to move used items is a pipeline to sell new items.

If a salesman shows no passion to demo to someone who cannot afford the product now, forget that shop. He will not support you once you buy.

 

[Francishuang]

i also wondered if i started with a proper integrated, would i still have gone down the separates route.






wass;

can i ask did you listen to the martens at a88? always wanted to have a listen, but always found going into the shops and asking a bit stressful.

When u want go? Find Kelvin. He very friendly 1.

Many good integrated nowadays. Pre power doesn't mean better.

 

[wasserklavier]

The good and passionate about this hobby salesmen will do a demo even though they well know I cannot afford to buy at this time. They cultivate relationships and know that one day, I will be a customer. I can tell from the way they conduct the demo whether or not they believe in their product and how to get the most of it in the always challenging showroom conditions.

The good salesmen know how to generate business. If one of their customers wants to upgrade and got a lesser model to trade-in, they will give a you a call to see if interested in a used item you auditioned. To the dealer being able to move used items is a pipeline to sell new items.

If a salesman shows no passion to demo to someone who cannot afford the product now, forget that shop. He will not support you once you buy.

Very true. The market for audiophile is quite niche and can't afford to piss off customers. I appreciate those salesmen who took the time to demo their stuff even though I clearly did not intend to buy anything yet. There was one time I wanted to demo a pair of speakers and the salesman said i should come back again when I was ready to buy from them. Suffice to say, I don't think I would buy from that particular dealer.

 

[synthesis]

Gauder Akustik, Vimberg, Marten, and a few other speaker manufacturers all use Accuton drivers. There's no doubt that each is tuned differently, but I wonder if there are any discernible similarities.

If you feel that DAC from different brands using the same chip would have certain same traits, it will be the case for speakers using the same drivers

 

[zephyr11]

I think it was Marten Trio at Audio88. Think the Martens would be excellent for jazz and vocal, but since I listen a lot of classical it would not be good for me.

trio too high end liao, want to listen to their stand mount ones, that's my dream speaker...

For sure pre-pwd will sound better but having gone thru it before i do enjoy my current setup as i have maximise my money to get the best possible intergrated, power cords, interconnects, source and yet yield good sound. The end result to me is very satisfying.

interesting! and yes, all the power cords and IC are also very impt, really love what my plixir does to my setup.

Well, you can't afford it now doesn't mean you can't in the future. I recall going to the Magico showroom many years back to have a demo session. At that point in time, my setup wasn't capable of driving the speaker and neither i can afford it. I told the sales guy that I want to listen to what Magico sounds like and I can't afford it now. That sale guy was very welcoming and gladly demo it for close to 1 hour explaining the details about the speaker. I certainly enjoyed the demo session. and years later purchase my Magico from them. Thus sometimes it's good to ask but if they are not willing to demo then so be it. Hifi is a niche market and i don't think one can survive long base on regular customers.

yes! the magico store, the guy is very nice, he invited me to go for a listen thru the forum, and took time to explain and share with me about a1 and s1 (the 2 i auditioned), i still don't have the money or space to own them, but if there's a chance to own the s1, how nice it would be.

The good and passionate about this hobby salesmen will do a demo even though they well know I cannot afford to buy at this time. They cultivate relationships and know that one day, I will be a customer. I can tell from the way they conduct the demo whether or not they believe in their product and how to get the most of it in the always challenging showroom conditions.

The good salesmen know how to generate business. If one of their customers wants to upgrade and got a lesser model to trade-in, they will give a you a call to see if interested in a used item you auditioned. To the dealer being able to move used items is a pipeline to sell new items.

If a salesman shows no passion to demo to someone who cannot afford the product now, forget that shop. He will not support you once you buy.

yes, that is sometimes what enquire about too, but i've got funny looks at me before so a bit paiseh, now never go stores and ask if there's any old stuff to sell or try, only see on carousell and most times have to buy blind, based off reviews and videos.

struggles of wannabe audiophile, hahaha....

 

[zephyr11]

When u want go? Find Kelvin. He very friendly 1.

Many good integrated nowadays. Pre power doesn't mean better.

wah chief boss jio, must go. text you again.

Zephyr11, go listen at A88, and if it's good, come back here and tell us. Let me tell you something: you might still remember several years ago when you went to Simplicity Control and later wrote a positive impression about the Magico A1 and S1 on Xtremeplace. I told Simon that because of your positive write-ups, I walked into his shop. I discovered the wonderful Albedo cables and EMM Labs, and now these components make up an important part of my system.

didn't know i managed to leave such a lasting impression, good to know that i managed to help his store in some other way (aside from me buying stuff from him).

 

[synthesis]

I think it was Marten Trio at Audio88. Think the Martens would be excellent for jazz and vocal, but since I listen a lot of classical it would not be good for me.

The integrated so far I've heard are very good, so I don't see the need to go separates. Tried Berlina with Perreaux 300ix, very impressive performance, as good as the 20k Aavik IMO for half the price.

I'm quite happy with my modest setup and sometimes wondering if the sound will be acceptable for an audiophile professional musician like you if you listen to it.

 

[wasserklavier]

I'm quite happy with my modest setup and sometimes wondering if the sound will be acceptable for an audiophile professional musician like you if you listen to it.

Well, it's not about the price. I've listened to cheap speakers below $1000 that I still rather enjoyed. Depend on your musical preference and taste.

 

[Bloody Chowbotak]

For me I'm sure. When considering all other setups I have heard in homes and shows so far, I still prefer my own. Not that mine is anywhere near the best but it's that it plays most of my music to my satisfaction. I'm sure there must be some that would suit me even better but in no hurry to hunt it out

 

[blue_starfish]

Well, it's not about the price. I've listened to cheap speakers below $1000 that I still rather enjoyed. Depend on your musical preference and taste.

Absolutely. I have a pair of TDL Nucleus 1 that cost me $200 when bought in the late 1990s. After I modded the cross-over, it sounds so fun. I still use them in my third system for casual listening at bed time.

 

[wasserklavier]

When it comes to invitations to visit others' home setups, it's never really about comparing whose setup sounds better. In most cases, the outstanding hospitality they offer greatly exceeds the performance of any high-fidelity audio equipment. Therefore, I only have good things to say about their systems.

Hifi setup is like wife, lol. One man's meat is another man's person. Some like airports, some like dinobus.

 

[wasserklavier]

For me I'm sure. When considering all other setups I have heard in homes and shows so far, I still prefer my own. Not that mine is anywhere near the best but it's that it plays most of my music to my satisfaction. I'm sure there must be some that would suit me even better but in no hurry to hunt it out

Same, even when I've heard a very nice setup outside, when I came home to my setup I still would feel most comfortable. Maybe a bit of sunken cost fallacy?

 

[Francishuang]

Who here thinks other girls are more attractive than their spouses?

/me preparing to screenshot

 

[Cash]

Who here thinks other girls are more attractive than their spouses?

Definitely!!! Hehehe!!!

 

[Bloody Chowbotak]

Which other girls? Neighbours? Colleagues? Most of our wives are not members here so u can expect honest answers

 

[wasserklavier]

Come, come, I get the ball rolling. The most beautiful woman in the world IMO (after my wife of coz)

https://www.instagram.com/mone_kamishiraishi/