Audio nuggets YOU have learned along the way...

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24

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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,603
    edited August 2018
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    1. There's definitely a point of diminishing returns.
    2. Room beats all.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,365
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    Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
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  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    edited August 2018
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    Tony M wrote: »
    verb wrote: »
    All good advice @Tony M I’ve got an SAE amp that’s been sitting in the box for years. Eventually I want to use it for my garage setup. Any startup advice?

    Use cheap speakers to start with. I hope it starts working from the get-go. SAE gear is pretty good aren't they?

    Start with a variac. Do not use without hooking it up to a variac.
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  • machone
    machone Posts: 1,588
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    Hot glass looks like cold glass :#
    Mojo Audio Illuminati v3>>Quantum Byte w/LMS>>Rpi/PiCoreplayer>> Starlight 7 USB >> Mojo Audio Mystique v2 SE>>ModWright SWL 9.0 SE Signature>>Hafler DH-500 Amp+ (Musical Concepts Fully Modded)>>
    SRS 2.3TL (Fully Modded)...Velodyne Optimum 8 subwoofer
    1KVA Dreadnought

    Marantz SA 8005
    Pioneer PLX-1000 Turntable - Shure SC35C/N35X - V15III/VN35HE
    Yamaha TX-540 Tuner...Sony BDP-S570
    Sony PS4

    Separate subpanel with four dedicated 20 amp circuits.
    1. Amplification 2. Analog 3. Digital 4. Video

    "All THAT IS LOST FROM THE SOURCE IS LOST FOREVER"
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
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    Quit obsessing over this stuff. Have fun, enjoy the music.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 12,016
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    kharp1 wrote: »
    Tony M wrote: »
    verb wrote: »
    All good advice @Tony M I’ve got an SAE amp that’s been sitting in the box for years. Eventually I want to use it for my garage setup. Any startup advice?

    Use cheap speakers to start with. I hope it starts working from the get-go. SAE gear is pretty good aren't they?

    Start with a variac. Do not use without hooking it up to a variac.

    Most of us don't have a Variac. I did think about that but didn't include it in my response to Dave's question. You're right. Maybe I should have.
    Dave might own one. ;)
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.

    “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
    --Mark Twain.

    “If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” - Steven Wright
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  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 2,021
    edited August 2018
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    1. Bigger speaker wire.


    2. I’ve often been surprised at the results of upgrading to bigger internal speaker to mid-bass & especially woofers. Further it’s practically a free performance improver.

    3. Dedicated multiple higher current power feeds.

    4. Heavier power cords

    5. Active power conditioning - all around for video & sound quality.
    Samsung 60" QN65Q7FAMFXZA QLED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer

    Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
    BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed” & “Plugged**”, inside* & out
    8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
    *soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)

    LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
    Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
    Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
    *all connected w/Premiere ICs
    5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”

    Power Conditioning & Distribution:
    4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,750
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    It's all in the source.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
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    Wattage ratings are often misleading. Current ratings are less misleading.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,759
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    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    NEVER, EVER allow anyone to carry your prized Tyler Lindbrook speakers down a flight of stairs. I wish I could find that picture....

    @treitz3
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    machone wrote: »
    Hot glass looks like cold glass :#

    Metal tubes are even worse in that regard :/
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,365
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    Don't peruse the fm section after having a few drinks. Heck any audio selling site for that matter.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    Tony M wrote: »
    kharp1 wrote: »
    Tony M wrote: »
    verb wrote: »
    All good advice @Tony M I’ve got an SAE amp that’s been sitting in the box for years. Eventually I want to use it for my garage setup. Any startup advice?

    Use cheap speakers to start with. I hope it starts working from the get-go. SAE gear is pretty good aren't they?

    Start with a variac. Do not use without hooking it up to a variac.

    Most of us don't have a Variac. I did think about that but didn't include it in my response to Dave's question. You're right. Maybe I should have.
    Dave might own one. ;)

    WARNING, WARNING! THREAD CAREENING TEMPORARILY OFF-TOPIC!

    tumblr_ojg6csj2fL1ri5ljho1_500.gif

    If you don't feel like buying a Variac, you can make one (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) with parts you can (still) get at your nearest Home Despot or Lowes or even local hardware/electrical supply store (if you're lucky enough to have one).

    Google "Dim bulb tester" for instructions & info.
    Here's one example, to get you started :)
    https://antiqueradio.org/dimbulb.htm

    szzt0fp04wke.png


    The goal with these devices, by the way, is to ease the components back to life rather than slamming them with AC mains voltage & wakin' 'em up with a jolt. The DBT can also help diagnose problems (short circuits, e.g., in the power supply or even downstream of it) without toasting fragile and sometimes expensive components inside the device being tested/reawakened.

    This is (FWIW) more of a must-have for vacuum tube hardware (with high voltage power supplies) than for solid state stuff, but on the other hand, the use
    of solid-state rectification in any component

    The main idea is to use lower input voltage to reform the component's electrolytic capacitors, particularly the "filter" caps in the power supply. This is, at the least, a do no harm exercise, and can rescue capacitors that might otherwise be (more or less) toasted by a hard start up.

    This said, electrolytic capacitors are pretty brute force solutions to a couple of problems (the need for large values of capacitance at high-ish voltages, in a compact package and cheap). Two factoids (strongly held opinions, empirically informed) about electrolytics. 1) any that are more than about three decades old have outlived their usefulness and should probably be replaced and 2) the ones you can buy today really are better than the ones you got three, four, or more decades ago.

    Just sayin'.

    OK IT'S SAFE TO RETURN TO THE THREAD NOW. MOVE ALONG, NOTHING TO SEE HERE.

    ;)

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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 9,399
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    Upgrading audio is like making love in the sand. You don't want to stop, but you have to.

    Eventually you may reach a point where you say I can't afford or don't want to afford upgrades.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,661
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    1. Take your time, don't buy whatever you can find. Wait for the right piece for you at the right price, it will save you money down the line.

    2. Vintage gear is cool but chances are you will pay just as much if not more than the asking price to get it working like it should.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
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  • tonyp063
    tonyp063 Posts: 1,157
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    Trust your own ears.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
    edited August 2018
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    Attend an audio show if you haven't ever been to one.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,365
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    Its OK to make mistakes just don't repeat the same one over and over.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    Willow wrote: »
    Its OK to make mistakes just don't repeat the same one over and over.

    N.B. This aphorism may be provisional in the case of mistakes made working on vacuum tube amplifier high-voltage power supplies
    In those cases, there may not be an opportunity to repeat the mistake.

    :(


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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited August 2018
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    I have another one, and it's a biggie...

    Better to cry once, then cry TWICE. Don't let excitement rush a purchase of a lesser item, because you don't have the money at the moment for what you REALLY want.

    I don't want to even know how many tens of thousands of dollars I have wasted, "settling" on a lesser item that I later sold at great loss. I am embarrassing myself for YOUR educational/monetary benefit. You are Welcome.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 12,016
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    Make sure your Pos. and Neg. wires are hooked up to their proper outputs and inputs.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.

    “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
    --Mark Twain.

    “If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” - Steven Wright
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited August 2018
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    Check your speaker driver mount screws, you'll be shocked how loose some of them are. Make it an annual thing.

    Buy some ty-wraps and do some cable management; it lower your noise floor. Keep IC's away from digital, and AC away from everything.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,721
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    Beer makes music sound better.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,710
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    Tube gear isn't as finicky as people want to think.

    Wattage isn't the major factor in determining a good amplifier.

    Best listening enjoyment is found in the sweet spot

    Everything matters.

    Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know.

    Very few giant killers truly exist, despite hubris stating otherwise.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,365
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    mrbiron wrote: »
    Beer makes music sound better.

    Music makes beer taste better.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    The more you drink the better I look
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,802
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    erniejade wrote: »
    The more you drink the better I look

    And your getting darn near sexy at your B-day party.....
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