What audio gear have you gained lately?

Batty · 09-06-2011, 10:23 PM

Just received my latest purchase, an Audio-GD NFB-2 DAC.
It has optical, coax and USB inputs, I am using a Squeezebox Touch via the optical input and an old Pioneer DVD player as transport through the coax input.
Awesome sound improvement for $450 US.

Violent & Funky · 10-19-2011, 02:06 PM

Maybe I just don't understand, but isn't it ironic that speakers "blowout" when their entire existence is to emit loud noises? It's really annoying.

Anyways, I'm looking to buy some new speakers and was hoping somebody could give me a recommendation. I'm just looking for some decently loud speakers that won't cost too much but will be reliable and most importantly won't blowout...

Batty · 10-19-2011, 04:14 PM

Look at the RMS power rating, the higher the better in your case, but you won't get quality without paying for it.

Also if you have a low power amp and turn it up loud then you will blow almost any speakers because it's not the power that blows them it's the distortion.

I high power amp (100 Watts) running at 1/4 volume into medium power (50Watt) speakers is better than a 10W amp into 100 watt speakers.

Also look for high efficiency speakers as they require less watts to go loud, ie 80db speakers are not efficient while 95db speakers are and will be louder than the 80db ones.

I hope this helps.

I drive a pair of 120 Watt 92db speakers with a 20watt amp, loud enough for most occaisions but not parties.

s_k · 11-09-2011, 04:37 PM

Some new cables

Nothing fancy, but these plugs are definitely a lot better than what I had.
The Cables are the same, actually. Only the lenghts are a bit shorter.

I also rearranged my stuff so I won't have to rearrange it again when I hang the TV to the wall.

Soon everything will be a bit more to the left, not too far because these speakers need some space around them. The TV will be above the reel to reel deck, on the wall.

Batty · 11-09-2011, 04:47 PM

Yeah, speakers need a bit of space, mine are now 1 metre into the room and 2 metres in from the side walls. I also listen with the curtains open as they fit nicely behind the speakers and stop the sound reflecting off the windows.

s_k · 11-09-2011, 04:52 PM

I still have a serious problem with my room acoustics... Not sure what to do about that yet.

s_k · 11-09-2011, 04:53 PM

This here is the room and I cannot get my low end to sound right at my sweet spot, which is my couch.
I've not tilted my speakers slightly behind which seems to work, but it's always a choice; Punch OR Deep bass. Never both.
Obviously I have proper bass everywhere in the room except for on the couch...

Freebase Dali · 11-09-2011, 05:16 PM

Sounds like your couch is right where the bass frequencies are cancelling. Maybe you could get a subwoofer and put it at center, give it a crossover around 80-100 hz or so (or whatever ends up sounding right so that the cancelling lower frequencies are handled by the sub instead of the L/R channels), and let your L/R speakers do the punching, and your sub could handle everything lower. That should take care of the cancellation at the sweet-spot.

Dunno how you feel about subs, but you don't necessarily need them for sub-freqs. Just having one speaker handle the low end you do intend to put out will be better for the cancellation issues that arise when the longer wavelengths are coming out of two speakers.

I'm sure you already know all this, but I'm bored and I'm working very hard at getting you to talk to me, as you haven't since you've been back and I think you're mad!

s_k · 11-09-2011, 05:25 PM

Hahaha, I won't add a sub to speakers that already have better low end than most subs have. You're just creating an extra crossover point that shouldn't be there in the first place.

I used to have a sub with my old Tannoy Eatons. They needed it. In this case I should be able to manage by just tweaking the room.

Right in front of my couch is all the punch, behind it is the deep bass. It's ridiculous. I had EXACTLY the same problem in my former house and the setup is completely different now... ****ing annoying.

lucifer_sam · 11-13-2011, 07:43 PM

...or just use one speaker? Isn't that the common sense thing to do?

Alternatively you could use damping material like acoustic tile on the walls (there are some attractive styles) to limit reverberations back to the couch.

I gotta admit, I don't know shit about sound systems, but I don't see how this could be a logical fallacy.

09-06-2011, 10:23 PM	#141 (permalink)
Batty Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Australia Posts: 194	Just received my latest purchase, an Audio-GD NFB-2 DAC. It has optical, coax and USB inputs, I am using a Squeezebox Touch via the optical input and an old Pioneer DVD player as transport through the coax input. Awesome sound improvement for $450 US. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/Batt1958/charts Earworms Rool.

10-19-2011, 02:06 PM	#142 (permalink)
Violent & Funky FUNky Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 2,482	Maybe I just don't understand, but isn't it ironic that speakers "blowout" when their entire existence is to emit loud noises? It's really annoying. Anyways, I'm looking to buy some new speakers and was hoping somebody could give me a recommendation. I'm just looking for some decently loud speakers that won't cost too much but will be reliable and most importantly won't blowout... __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/ohio0808 sometimes I don't thrill you sometimes I think I'll kill you just don't let me fuck up will you 'cause when I need a friend it's still you

10-19-2011, 04:14 PM	#143 (permalink)
Batty Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Australia Posts: 194	Look at the RMS power rating, the higher the better in your case, but you won't get quality without paying for it. Also if you have a low power amp and turn it up loud then you will blow almost any speakers because it's not the power that blows them it's the distortion. I high power amp (100 Watts) running at 1/4 volume into medium power (50Watt) speakers is better than a 10W amp into 100 watt speakers. Also look for high efficiency speakers as they require less watts to go loud, ie 80db speakers are not efficient while 95db speakers are and will be louder than the 80db ones. I hope this helps. I drive a pair of 120 Watt 92db speakers with a 20watt amp, loud enough for most occaisions but not parties. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/Batt1958/charts Earworms Rool.

11-09-2011, 04:37 PM	#144 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	Some new cables Nothing fancy, but these plugs are definitely a lot better than what I had. The Cables are the same, actually. Only the lenghts are a bit shorter. I also rearranged my stuff so I won't have to rearrange it again when I hang the TV to the wall. Soon everything will be a bit more to the left, not too far because these speakers need some space around them. The TV will be above the reel to reel deck, on the wall. __________________ Click here to see my collection

11-09-2011, 04:47 PM	#145 (permalink)
Batty Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Australia Posts: 194	Yeah, speakers need a bit of space, mine are now 1 metre into the room and 2 metres in from the side walls. I also listen with the curtains open as they fit nicely behind the speakers and stop the sound reflecting off the windows. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/Batt1958/charts Earworms Rool.

11-09-2011, 04:52 PM	#146 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	I still have a serious problem with my room acoustics... Not sure what to do about that yet. __________________ Click here to see my collection

11-09-2011, 04:53 PM	#147 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	This here is the room and I cannot get my low end to sound right at my sweet spot, which is my couch. I've not tilted my speakers slightly behind which seems to work, but it's always a choice; Punch OR Deep bass. Never both. Obviously I have proper bass everywhere in the room except for on the couch... __________________ Click here to see my collection

11-09-2011, 05:16 PM	#148 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	Sounds like your couch is right where the bass frequencies are cancelling. Maybe you could get a subwoofer and put it at center, give it a crossover around 80-100 hz or so (or whatever ends up sounding right so that the cancelling lower frequencies are handled by the sub instead of the L/R channels), and let your L/R speakers do the punching, and your sub could handle everything lower. That should take care of the cancellation at the sweet-spot. Dunno how you feel about subs, but you don't necessarily need them for sub-freqs. Just having one speaker handle the low end you do intend to put out will be better for the cancellation issues that arise when the longer wavelengths are coming out of two speakers. I'm sure you already know all this, but I'm bored and I'm working very hard at getting you to talk to me, as you haven't since you've been back and I think you're mad!

11-09-2011, 05:25 PM	#149 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	Hahaha, I won't add a sub to speakers that already have better low end than most subs have. You're just creating an extra crossover point that shouldn't be there in the first place. I used to have a sub with my old Tannoy Eatons. They needed it. In this case I should be able to manage by just tweaking the room. Right in front of my couch is all the punch, behind it is the deep bass. It's ridiculous. I had EXACTLY the same problem in my former house and the setup is completely different now... ****ing annoying. __________________ Click here to see my collection

11-13-2011, 07:43 PM	#150 (permalink)
lucifer_sam Unrepentant Ass-Mod Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,921	...or just use one speaker? Isn't that the common sense thing to do? Alternatively you could use damping material like acoustic tile on the walls (there are some attractive styles) to limit reverberations back to the couch. I gotta admit, I don't know shit about sound systems, but I don't see how this could be a logical fallacy. __________________ first.am