GlobalKSP
Member
I've always been a fan of music and have always paid "just a little extra" for better audio quality. For example, a bit better headphone (Koss Porta Pros for a long time, Sony WH-1000MX3's now). A bit better car audio (currently a Nakamichi head unit with stock speakers). A bit better home audio (Sansui QRX-6500 + SR-535 TT + SP 150's). A bit better streaming service (Spotify premium). I've leaned toward vintage not for the audio quality, but for the subjective quality of aesthetic and "warmth", which, I feel is also aesthetic.
And now my good buddy has turned me onto (and shared, love him) Tidal HiFi and the world of DACs, open back/closed back headphones, etc.
Considering I "can't afford" this, have a look at the current listening setups and toss in your suggestions on how to step up the audio quality, incrementally, and on a budget. I'm doing my own research down this rabbit hole and have come up with some ideas myself, but will share them later.
A note on room listening... our home is small and wood paneled (think log cabin meets tree house and has baby in 1972 in Laurel Canyon) and the speakers are WAY too big for the space and thus are not placed properly to give decent staging. They're sitting on the floor, with the receiver on top of them, and the TT on top of that.
A credenza is in the works next month and the stereo will move rooms so...again...
Many thanks!
Headphone listening:
Pretty sure none of this matters as the Sony's are powered.
Sony WH-1000MX3 <== [corded] <== [iPhone SE2020] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Sony WH-1000MX3 <== [Bluetooth] <== [iPhone SE2020] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Sony WH-1000MX3 <== [Bluetooth] <== [MacBook Pro 2012] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Sony WH-1000MX3 <== [corded] <== [MacBook Pro 2012] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Room listening:
Sansui SP-150's <== Sansui QRX-6500 <== [Sansui SR-535 TT] + [Pickering XSV3000]
Sansui SP-150's <== Sansui QRX-6500 <== [3.5mm to RCA] <== [MacBook Pro 2012] / [iPhone SE2020] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Sansui SP-150's <== Sansui QRX-6500 <== [3.5mm to RCA] <== [Apple Airport Express] <== [WiFi] <== [MacBook Pro 2012] / [iPhone SE2020] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
My thoughts are...
New headphones (Akg k371, Beyer dt770, Sennheiser HD560S) + a DAC (iFi Hip DAC, FiiO K5, ?) that could be used both on the go and for the home system.
Your thoughts are... ?
And now my good buddy has turned me onto (and shared, love him) Tidal HiFi and the world of DACs, open back/closed back headphones, etc.
Considering I "can't afford" this, have a look at the current listening setups and toss in your suggestions on how to step up the audio quality, incrementally, and on a budget. I'm doing my own research down this rabbit hole and have come up with some ideas myself, but will share them later.
A note on room listening... our home is small and wood paneled (think log cabin meets tree house and has baby in 1972 in Laurel Canyon) and the speakers are WAY too big for the space and thus are not placed properly to give decent staging. They're sitting on the floor, with the receiver on top of them, and the TT on top of that.
A credenza is in the works next month and the stereo will move rooms so...again...
Many thanks!
Headphone listening:
Pretty sure none of this matters as the Sony's are powered.
Sony WH-1000MX3 <== [corded] <== [iPhone SE2020] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Sony WH-1000MX3 <== [Bluetooth] <== [iPhone SE2020] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Sony WH-1000MX3 <== [Bluetooth] <== [MacBook Pro 2012] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Sony WH-1000MX3 <== [corded] <== [MacBook Pro 2012] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Room listening:
Sansui SP-150's <== Sansui QRX-6500 <== [Sansui SR-535 TT] + [Pickering XSV3000]
Sansui SP-150's <== Sansui QRX-6500 <== [3.5mm to RCA] <== [MacBook Pro 2012] / [iPhone SE2020] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
Sansui SP-150's <== Sansui QRX-6500 <== [3.5mm to RCA] <== [Apple Airport Express] <== [WiFi] <== [MacBook Pro 2012] / [iPhone SE2020] <== [Tidal HiFi] / [Spotify Premium]
My thoughts are...
New headphones (Akg k371, Beyer dt770, Sennheiser HD560S) + a DAC (iFi Hip DAC, FiiO K5, ?) that could be used both on the go and for the home system.
Your thoughts are... ?