mkt
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2020
- Messages
- 366
- Likes
- 497
Can I blame/credit @Kal Rubinson? 5.1 has been my pandemic indulgence. Roland octo-capture (waiting for okto pro) + 3x8331 + 2x8320 + 7350.
-
WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Your Desktop Audio Setup?
- Thread starter Johan Liebert
- Start date
Katji
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2017
- Messages
- 2,988
- Likes
- 2,293
Yes, and so do about 1 billion Indians...and all other former colonies except the septic tank one.
Zensō
Major Contributor
My setup is: Macbook Pro as audio source (mainly Spotify, very little 'owned' music). Topping D10 -> Atom headphone amp -> HiFi man 4xx from Drop headphones. Really simple and transportable.
Like the headphones a lot.
Like the headphones a lot.
mkt
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2020
- Messages
- 366
- Likes
- 497
Great! My experience is that the improvements associated with multichannel are substantial and readily apparent. I can't think of a equipment change with such a positive impact. (Also it's hard not to sound like you just joined a cult.) Unfortunately there is relatively little source material and no streaming to speak of. Fortunately, I like classical and there's a lot (relatively) of that. I learned how to rip SACDs.
PS. I am not 100% sure what "natively recorded in 5.1" means when many recordings start with a gazillion of tracks anyway. Certainly some 5.1 mixes are better than others, and mixing choices may or may not match your personal preferences.
I see, I meant something recorded with multichannel in mind, not just upmixed from stereo. On that subject, how do you do for stereo content? Upmix or just use two speakers?Great! My experience is that the improvements associated with multichannel are substantial and readily apparent. I can't think of a equipment change with such a positive impact. (Also it's hard not to sound like you just joined a cult.) Unfortunately there is relatively little source material and no streaming to speak of. Fortunately, I like classical and there's a lot (relatively) of that. I learned how to rip SACDs.
PS. I am not 100% sure what "natively recorded in 5.1" means when many recordings start with a gazillion of tracks anyway. Certainly some 5.1 mixes are better than others, and mixing choices may or may not match your personal preferences.
Weeb Labs
Addicted to Fun and Learning
It's quite narrow but the distances were carefully measured, so my head is typically within the correct range by default.
Updated set up: Topping D90 and A90 stack, and some JBL LSR305 monitors with a LSR310S sub that I got on sale, and still too many headphones. Running Foobar and Tidal, been trying Audirvana and JRiver, but am happy with the free Foobar.
Would take a pic, but my desk is a frigging mess.
Would take a pic, but my desk is a frigging mess.
mkt
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2020
- Messages
- 366
- Likes
- 497
I don't really know how recordings are made.
With multi-track recording you can record instruments separately and then mix down those tracks to 2 channels or more. Even if multichannel was not the intention, the multi-track recordings might be enough for a good 5.1 mix. Like this (which I really like) https://www.mixonline.com/recording/talking-heads-51-375349
Or it can be more deliberate like this with an 11.1ch microphone array for 11.1 channel playback http://classicalmusicrecording.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-state-of-art-are-we-recording-score.html
For stereo, I just use two speakers, and it's nice too.
ernestcarl
Major Contributor
Although not lossless and limited, one can get multichannel audio from streaming sites e.g. Netflix, Microsoft store, etc. for movies, shows and concerts -- I use both and it works. Problem with using a PC is some streaming apps in Windows do not yet support it e.g. Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Youtube, Crunchyroll. One would need a separate streaming device like an Apple TV or Nvidia Shield and route audio to your mch DAC interface somehow, or maybe even use a separate receiver.
Frankly, I don't have space for a receiver... but I almost always upmix all stereo content to mch regardless -- that is, if I'm using my mch system.
Count Arthur
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2020
- Messages
- 2,749
- Likes
- 6,830
Mission Control
I'm not sure what to do about stands for the speakers. I currenty have them stood on foam blocks sandwiched between granite slabs; I think they're supposed to be chopping boards. It works, it decouples the speakers from the desk somewhat and makes them about the right height, and it sounds OK, but looks a bit Heath Robinson, not that i'm overly bothered, it's not the living room.
Dynaudio have a dedicated stand, it's quite industrial looking, which I actully quite like, but they're not cheap at over £300.00 for a pair:
I was also looking at some Isoacoustics stands:
These are a little cheaper at ~£250 a pair, but have some mixed reviews, it seems they work well, but the fit and finish isn't great and a few have remarked that they seem expensive for what they are.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
I'm not sure what to do about stands for the speakers. I currenty have them stood on foam blocks sandwiched between granite slabs; I think they're supposed to be chopping boards. It works, it decouples the speakers from the desk somewhat and makes them about the right height, and it sounds OK, but looks a bit Heath Robinson, not that i'm overly bothered, it's not the living room.
Dynaudio have a dedicated stand, it's quite industrial looking, which I actully quite like, but they're not cheap at over £300.00 for a pair:
I was also looking at some Isoacoustics stands:
These are a little cheaper at ~£250 a pair, but have some mixed reviews, it seems they work well, but the fit and finish isn't great and a few have remarked that they seem expensive for what they are.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Had good experience with the K&M 26772 and 26774 table stands, not too expensive, look cool and give you free desk space. Minimum height is 16 cm, though.
Count Arthur
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2020
- Messages
- 2,749
- Likes
- 6,830
I saw those, but they're too tall, but also perhaps a bit small. I need something about 100mm/4 inches high. The Core 7 is also quite bulky, 220 x 370 x 390mm WxDxH and 15kg.
Audioengine tilted speaker stands.
Count Arthur
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2020
- Messages
- 2,749
- Likes
- 6,830
I think they would be way too small, here's how they would be to scale with my speakers:
My speakers are quite big, about 370mm/14.5" deep. A lot of the shorter, smaller stands I've found have a top plate that is only 5 or 6 inches deep and I think my speakers might be a bit precarious perched on them.
In any case, I've ordered a pair of the Isoacoustics stands, I went for the lower cost plastic version: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/isoacoustics-iso200-speaker-stands-pair-black
