Do You Miss Knobs and Dials and Switches?

[Snoopy]

Sorry, there is no Fosi, no Topping, no SMSL, no Wiim that can step to this.

Not even close.

#NoLittleKidsToys

I definitely regret my ASR „Gadget“ purchases. I should rather have gone with a Vintage amplifier/dac when I joined here, but in the end all is well and there is a reason some brands are around since forever.

But I actually realized that many people just want a device that fulfills a specific purpose as cheap as possible.

Next thing I will be looking into is a nice Vintage Tuner and maybe a Vintage Tube Preamp, just for the fun of it.

 

[JRowland]

But I actually realized that many people just want a device that fulfills a specific purpose as cheap as possible.

I just like to play around with cheap stuff that punches above its weight class. I didn’t go crazy on my main amplifier by any means. Just the one button though, the CD player and VCR make up for it.

For the 2 surround speakers I run this just makes it fun, for me. Letting the 4800 do something other than process would be the cheaper way but I like looking at knobs, dials, and switches

 

[Snoopy]

I just like to play around with cheap stuff that punches above its weight class. I didn’t go crazy on my main amplifier by any means. Just the one button though, the CD player and VCR make up for it.

View attachment 453106

For the 2 surround speakers I run this just makes it fun, for me. Letting the 4800 do something other than process would be the cheaper way but I like looking at knobs, dials, and switches

View attachment 453107

as long as it works for you but having a mini amp with a CPU cooler on top of it is not my idea of „HiFi“.

probably with a couple powerbricks around because they don’t fit in the unit . Also would be worried about the safety of that stuff to even leave it plugged in while leaving the house

 

[dualazmak]

View attachment 452566

Taking a bit of inspiration from @Snoopy 's photo.
View attachment 452589

I am too a little bit inspired by the above photos kindly shared by @Snoopy and @JeffS7444.
This post is, therefore, my turn.
I did, after-dark, after-dinner, photo session tonight...

and,

If you would be interested, please find here details of the latest setup of my PC-DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig.

 

[JRowland]

as long as it works for you but having a mini amp with a CPU cooler on top of it is not my idea of „HiFi“.

probably with a couple powerbricks around because they don’t fit in the unit . Also would be worried about the safety of that stuff to even leave it plugged in while leaving the house

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[Snoopy]

No idea where I’m shaming anybody now. That’s why I said as long as it works for you. I would have the same concerns if this was a several times more expensive topping amp for example.

 

[PristineSound]

I definitely regret my ASR „Gadget“ purchases. I should rather have gone with a Vintage amplifier/dac when I joined here, but in the end all is well and there is a reason some brands are around since forever.

Here are two threads that discussed this very topic.

Audibility of SINAD differences?

I guess this is a question for Amir. I’m curious if there’s a correlation between a specific amount of SINAD performance and an audible difference between the amps? Don’t know if I phrased that right but would an amp within a SINAD of 70 sound audibly different than one of 100 or would an 80...

audiosciencereview.com

Do You Regret Your Pre-ASR Audio Gear Choices of the past?

A common theme here on ASR is how many feel they managed to escape the ideas that drive the purchases of many other audiophiles. Getting rid of the woo-woo, no more being influenced by golden ear reviewers, getting off the gear merry-go-round, and finally making more knowledgable decisions that...

audiosciencereview.com

My view is that it is OK and inconsequential to get one zero less on THD+N in trade of aesthetics and the feel good factor.


Bottomline for me is, I'm at a point in my life where I have a bit more disposable income, where I am done buying budget audio gear for my main/reference systems just because it's budget friendly.

I'm not saying I am buying expensive luxury audio gear without the sonic performance, nor am I saying I won't buy budget audio gear if it fits the requirement and use case for applications outside of my main/reference systems.

 

[dualazmak]

As a follow-up of my above post #364, let me share one more photo generated by HDR (compressed High Dynamic Range) image-processing (Canon Digital Photo Professional 4) using three photos of same angle/perspective in three different shutter speeds (of course I used tripod and cable shutter-release).

The whole brightness and contrast of the HDR image were tuned so that simulating eye-view in dark/faint ceiling-lights for relaxing music listening.

If you would be interested, please find here details of the latest setup of my PC-DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig.

 

[Snoopy]

Your gear would look absolutely insane in a nice HiFi rack

Spinning vinyl is definitely fun.

 

[Sal1950]

…. Does anybody miss the look and tactile experience of using volume knobs/dials/switches, etc.?

I do mis-trust things like touch screens, and touch sensitive switching.
The speed switches on my H-K turntable were the first things on my old rig to start acting up.
LED readouts of function, etc on my Emotiva DAC are reading funky, etc.
The worse thing to usually get funky with mechanical switches and pots was them getting noisy, or poor contact that squirt or two of contact cleaner
would normally fix bing bang boom.

 

[Sal1950]

Spinning vinyl is definitely fun.

For me it's just an enormous PITA that delivers poor sound in return for all the cost and effort.
I dumped everything vinyl around 2000.

 

[Snoopy]

For me it's just an enormous PITA that delivers poor sound in return for all the cost and effort.
I dumped everything vinyl around 2000.

Deep down you probably would love to spin a LP through a old Receiver, while you are alone in your garage or basement where nobody is able to see you

And get those fuzzy warm feelings around your heart

 

[JeffS7444]

I am too a little bit inspired by the above photos kindly shared by @Snoopy and @JeffS7444.
This post is, therefore, my turn.
I did, after-dark, after-dinner, photo session tonight...

View attachment 453120

View attachment 453121

View attachment 453122

and,
View attachment 453123

If you would be interested, please find here details of the latest setup of my PC-DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig.

Good ole Sony: Not to put too fine a point on it, they not only designate theirs as "ES", but also "A-1" But it's the Accuphase which really catches my eye!

 

[Kal Rubinson]

The speed switches on my H-K turntable were the first things on my old rig to start acting up.

I think that's an easy capacitor replacement, IIRC.

 

[Sal1950]

Deep down you probably would love to spin a LP through a old Receiver, while you are alone in your garage or basement where nobody is able to see you

And get those fuzzy warm feelings around your heart

How do you know I'm not already doing it? LOL

 

[Sal1950]

I think that's an easy capacitor replacement, IIRC.

Very possibly and if I had any desire to remain spinning vinyl I might have attempted the repair.
I really did love that ole H-K ST8 straight line tracking table.
As it was the switches did still operate OK, all I had to do was moisten the tip of my finger by first touching it to my tongue and they worked a hoot. LOL

 

[Almatti]

I Do Not need to Miss Knobs and Switches because my current LR system still has them! Purchased in 1987 : NAD 1300 Preamp ; NAD 2600 Amp (stacked together like the Boobsy Twins !! ), a Dual CS5000 TT (now with a Ortofon Reed OM cartridge - OEM was a Shure V15) , Onkyo 6 disc CD player connected to a pair of KEF 104/2s Tower speakers .... No Subs, No EQ. Sounds great to this day. The NAD equipment is Buttons, & Knobs, no digital controls. Oh, forgot had a Teac Dual Cassette deck which bit the Dust a few years ago.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Very possibly and if I had any desire to remain spinning vinyl I might have attempted the repair.
I really did love that ole H-K ST8 straight line tracking table.

I felt the same about my ST7.

 

[BigVU's]

…. Does anybody miss the look and tactile experience of using volume knobs/dials/switches, etc.?

There is something to solid vintage dials that just feels good to turn! I'm not sure about switches, but I can tell you this, if it has VU's, I am all in. The bigger the better!

 

[dualazmak]

…. Does anybody miss the look and tactile experience of using volume knobs/dials/switches, etc.?

There is something to solid vintage dials that just feels good to turn! I not sure about switches, but I can tell you this, if it has VU's, I am all in. The bigger the better!

I essentially agree with you like I shared in my above posts #364 and #368.
If you would be interested in my DIY-built large-glass-face IEC 60268-17 ballistic-compatible 12-VU-Meter Array, please visit my post #535 on my project thread.
(Oh, looks I have said it to you before somewhere based on your handle name "BigVU's", if my memory is correct...)