Werner’s system

[Werner Berghofer]

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/desk1.jpg

The desk in my office.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/desk2.jpg

From left to right: LaCie 1 TB harddisk, connected via Firewire to a Mac Mini (1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM) running Mac OS X version 10.6.7, Beresford Caiman+ (http://www.beresford.me/PP/Digital_Audio_1.html) DAC (Toslink connection to the Mini), Fatman iTube (http://www.fat-man.co.uk/docs/product_07/iTube_ValveDock.shtml) valve amp, Q Acoustics 1000i (http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/1000i/1010i.htm) bookshelf speakers (the matching subwoofer 1000Si (http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/1000i/1000si.htm) is placed below the desk as shown in the first picture).

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/library1.jpg

My favourite location for headphone listening. Digital signal from an Airport Express is sent via Toslink to another Beresford Caiman+ which is connected to a …

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/library2.jpg

… Schiit Valhalla (http://schiit.com/products/valhalla/) headphone amplifier.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/living_room1.jpg

The floor-standing Triangle Zays Esprit (http://www.triangle-fr.com/en/esprit/antal/) loudspeakers in the living room upstairs.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/living_room2.jpg

From left to right: Loudspeaker detail, Apple Airport Express, Yamaha AX-592 integrated amplifier (bottom). Yamaha CDX-890 CD player (very rarely used), Yamaha T-550 tuner, Beresford Caiman, Sony DTC-790 DAT deck (top).

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/desk3.jpg

Wireless streaming can be routed to any point in the house, either from the Mac Mini on the desk or my Macbook Pro. The Mac Mini can also be controlled remotely via my iPhone. Currently my sound library contains 631 albums, all ripped to Apple Lossless format (mostly by using the XLD audio ripper).

During the last six months the most popular artists I listened to were Anouar Brahem, Lucinda Williams, Roy Orbison, Kraftwerk, Penguin Café Orchestra, Tord Gustavson Trio, Fabrizio de André, Keb’ Mo’, Diana Krall, Madeleine Peyroux, Rebecca Pidgeon, Tori Amos, Jan Garbarek, Bob Dylan and Neil Young.

Gear highlights of my analogue era were a Thorens turntable, a Revox A77 reel-to-reel tape recorder and a Nakamichi cassette deck, but this was long time ago. Can’t remember anymore the last time I played a vinyl LP.

[Rare Bird]

Looks like you have awesome view out of your window!

Do they make that Valhalla in Black?

[John]

Lovelly View and very tidy set up
If you can moght be worth moving out the speakers from the wall it should help, but might not be possible

[Werner Berghofer]

Do they make that Valhalla in Black?

No, unfortunately not :-( I would be the first customer buying a black version, but most of the time when I’m listening to headphones my eyes are closed anyway.

The view from the big window in the living room indeed is very nice.

[Werner Berghofer]

worth moving out the speakers from the wall it should help, but might not be possible

Yes, this is a good suggestion, but unfortunately it’s not possible to find another place for these speakers. It took a lot of effort to convice my girlfriend that these speakers really do sound much better than the micro system she used before we met :-)

When I’m alone at home I often place the speakers away from the window, turn them a little bit more to their sides and move the chair right to the sweet spot opposite to the speakers. It’s really a pity, because these speakers do sound excellent, but most of the time they are used for background music in the living room. My serious listening sessions take place either via headphones or in the near-field situation in my office.

In my flat in Vienna which I left seven years ago, these speakers were positioned in a much better way:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/flat/flat03.jpg

[Tim]

Beautiful place Werner, with styling I really like and as you know I'm not an Apple fan, but for you it really fits ;) I'm liking the headphone amplifier too and I'm looking for one at the moment, so thanks for the link.

Stunning view too, I would love to come home to a place like that after a hard days work.

[snapper]

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/living_room1.jpg




Sod the hi-fi,your house and THAT view look awesome.

:stalks::stalks::stalks::stalks::stalks::stalks:

You're a very lucky man,Werner.

:wow:

:respect:

[Alex_UK]

I'm not getting the images - looks like everyone else is, though... :scratch:

[keiths]

I'm not getting the images - looks like everyone else is, though... :scratch:

Yep, lovely photos of Werner's fabulous (though disappointingly curtain-free) room.

[Reid Malenfant]

Must agree about the house & view :wow: Looks like a condominium the kind of thing you'd get on a hillside in Hollywood.

Nice system Werner, great music, lovely place & a view like that... Must be a wonderful place to chill out :cool:


I'm not getting the images - looks like everyone else is, though... :scratch:
Has avatar covered your screen in paint Alex :lol:

[Werner Berghofer]

I'm not getting the images

Looks as if I unintentionally blocked a lot of IP adresses. You and anybody else should see the pictures now.

I beg your pardon for the inconvenience.

[Werner Berghofer]

Tim,


I'm liking the headphone amplifier too and I'm looking for one at the moment, so thanks for the link.

you’re very welcome. Exchanging of ideas, experiences and links are the most basic purposes of forums like this, and I’ll be more than happy if I can contribute something which is worth knowing for others too.


I would love to come home to a place like that after a hard days work.

Since I’m self-employed I spend most of my time downstairs in my office, but I appreciate the view from the living room the moment I enter it, even more after returning from a three or four day business trip.

[Alex_UK]

Yep, all good now! :) Lovely!

[Stefaan]

Lovely set-up Werner. I recognise the Ikea influence (I'm sitting in a Markus chair typing this) :).

No problems with WiFi? I tried it but my house (walls and floors) is so full of metal I would need to place two access points merely to cover the ground floor. I've had quite a good results with Ethernet-over-Power.

I still play LPs - there's so much rare stuff I have on LP (about 900 of them) that would be impossible or too expensive to acquire on CD or download. I like the ritual of getting the LP out of the sleeve, filling the Lencoclean, lowering the tone arm. It reminds me of my teenage years, discovering all kinds of music through the public LP library.

[Werner Berghofer]

Stefaan,


No problems with WiFi?

no, very rarely, perhaps once or twice in a month there are drop-outs, but they only last a few moments. My wireless network is heavily armed: one Airport Extreme base station downstairs in my office, one Time Capsule (base station with built-in 500 GB harddisk) upstairs in the living room, and four Airport Express stations in different rooms on different floors for music streaming and wireless printing.

The basic network is established by the Airport Extreme and joined and expanded by the other Airport gear. I’m glad that this works easily and free of troubles and hassles; it’s really convenient to remotely control my Mac Mini in the office while having a cup of tea, great music and the awesome view through the big window in the living room upstairs.

And yes: Ikea and Apple always are very easy on the eye (and on the system administrator), at least for me. Of course there’s a certain amount of haptic joy missing when going completely digital, but there are some advantages I certainly would miss if I returned to the analogue Thorens and Revox path to enlightenment.

[jandl100]

Yep - great view, great kit .... & I love the pussy cat! :)

[Werner Berghofer]

I love the pussy cat! :)

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/living_room1.jpg

Which one? The red one, the black one or both? ;-)

[Tim]

Which one? The red one, the black one or both? ;-)
:lolsign:

[s70rmp]

yeah ! another DAT owner !!!!

[Werner Berghofer]

another DAT owner !!!!

Owner yes, but not user anymore. The deck is standing there for sentimental reasons only. It was a nice unit, and once upon a time I also owned a Sony TCD-D8 portable DAT recorder for field recording, which I sold for a bargain seven years ago.

[s70rmp]

I used to have the D3 which I bought in NYC for £300 compared to the UK price of £700

I only use mine rarely these days but I cant take it out of the system, it feels wrong if it's not there.:scratch:

[Werner Berghofer]

very tidy set up

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/desk4.jpg

Thank you! In the meantime I cleaned up the mess a little bit. Now I’m really happy with my desk.

[Werner Berghofer]

My headphone listening location recently has been changed. I added a vintage Sansui SE-7 graphic equalizer which enables me to compensate a slightly different curved auditory canal in my left ear. According to my ear specialist my right ear’s hearing still is around 98 percent, which is quite good for a person of my age (54).

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/library3.jpg

Gear (top, from left to right): Beyerdynamic DT 990/600 Ω headphone, Schiit Valhalla amplifier, MacBook Pro (17"). Bottom: Beresford Caiman+ DAC, Sansui SE-7 graphic equalizer. Signal path: MacBook Pro via Toslink → DAC fixed line-out via RCA cable → equalizer → headphone amplifier → headphone.

If the laptop is not connected directly, the DAC still can be accessed wirelessly via an Airport Express, located below the coffee table. In this case I use the Caiman’s second Toslink input. No matter which connection method I use: the sound is just great, so I fear I have to spend the next two or three months re-discovering my music collection.

Werner.

[Marco]

Looking good, Werner, and top-notch photography as usual! :)

That ol' Sansui is a nice bit of kit (even though I'm not normally a fan of graphic equalisers). However, I realise what you've done, and applaud the lateral thinking you've used to assemble your system and obtain a great sound.

Yer also in not bad nick for 54, dude! You'd probably put some of the 40-year olds here to shame.... :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Werner Berghofer]

Marco,


even though I'm not normally a fan of graphic equalisers

me too; I never really understood the need of adding such a device to a good audio chain, but in my case there are really medical reasons for doing so. Two weeks ago I visited my ear specialist, and during this visit a hearing test was performed. I compared the graphs of my left and my right ear, spent three rather sad days without any listening to music – and luckily decided that it was time for action.

Since I really like the haptic appearance of high-quality vintage gear, I found great equalizers on eBay. To my desks audio chain I added a Sony SEQ-411 equalizer, which I could place nearly invisible in the shelf behind my desk. Within the next few weeks I plan to add a Yamaha EQ-550 to my system upstairs in the living room.

The day the Sansui equalizer arrived at my home and was connected to my system, I warned my girlfriend that my headphone seat in the library might look like Kraftwerk’s legendary “Kling Klang” sound studio in the late 1970’s, but the next day we visited the local IKEA shop in Innsbruck and found a matching coffee table which makes everyone happy :-)

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/kraftwerk_vocoder.jpg
Early 1970s vocoder, custom built for electronic music band Kraftwerk (source: Wikipedia)

In my left ear some higher frequencies and subtle details are missing, which becomes quite obvious when I turn my headphones around to hear the left channel with the right ear or if I remove the equalizers from the signal path.


Yer also in not bad nick for 54, dude! You'd probably put some of the 40 year olds here to shame

Well, thank you, and I’m really glad to still have a good hearing. And thanks also for the compliments regarding the photos I took. My original education and profession was photography.

Werner.

[idc]

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/desk1.jpg





Hi Werner, fabulous set ups you have there. One question, how do you find the speakers and woofer sound sitting on hard wooden surfaces? Have you tried some sort of stand?

[Werner Berghofer]

Ian,


how do you find the speakers and woofer sound sitting on hard wooden surfaces? Have you tried some sort of stand?

the bookshelf speakers have thin rubber feet at their bottoms, and the subwoofer is rested on spikes. I placed small coins between the wooden floor and the spikes. For me the overall sound is quite good, and so far I have not noticed any resonances or disturbing oscillations. Of course I clearly can feel the subwoofer’s rumbling when I place my arms on the desk, but that’s one reason why it is placed there :-)

However, for really intense – and yes, enlightening – listening sessions I prefer to use my headphones. One reason for this is because I think the Schiit Valhalla headamp and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 headphones offer the most outstanding music reproduction performance of my current amplifiers and sound transducers.

Loudspeaker stands would probably improve this setup, but I fear the space in my small office room is too limited to add stands in an aesthetically pleasing way. Like all wives my girlfriend is very critical in matters regarding the room furnishings, even more than usual since her profession is window dresser in four rather expensive fashion shops in the center of Innsbruck.

Werner.

[idc]

I thought as much, they can't be seen from the pictures. I wish the K702 came with the same stand the K701 comes with.

PS - we had our honeymoon in Austria, Vienna and Salzburg. I have visted Innsbruk and Kitzbuhel as well. Fabulous country.

[Marco]

Join the club - we had our honeymoon in Zell Am See! Yes, love Austria. The beer, food and scenery are fab - but I prefer it in the snow! My wife and I got married on Dec 22nd 1991 :)

It was bloody cold when we got to Austria, but very cosy in our snow-capped hotel ;)

Marco.

[webby]

Werner, is that Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes on the MacBook Pro?

Fabulous album!

[Werner Berghofer]

Ian,


I thought as much, they can't be seen from the pictures.

sorry if this is a misunderstanding, but what did you try to find on my pictures? The AKG K701? Here they are:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/library1.jpg

They also can be seen in the shelf behind my desk, just at the left side of the computer screen:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/desk4.jpg


I wish the K702 came with the same stand the K701 comes with.

The headphone stand only looks good; in reality it feels a little cheap, but it works and it’s a convenient way for placing the cans somewhere.


Fabulous country.

Thank you; Austria is well known for its beautiful landscapes, lovely environment and great hospitality.

Werner.

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


Werner, is that Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes on the MacBook Pro?

yes, it is – congratulations, you have great eyes! I love nearly every tone and every word from Tori Amos. The more often I hear her songs, the more I like them. For me it’s a great help to first read her lyrics, because occasionally she uses outlandish emphasis and intonation to sing her words.

Tori Amos is a big fan of Bösendorfer grand pianos, which have been manufactured in Vienna, Austria’s capital, since the year 1828.

Werner.

[webby]

Lee,



yes, it is – congratulations, you have great eyes! I love nearly every tone and every word from Tori Amos. The more often I hear her songs, the more I like them. For me it’s a great help to first read her lyrics, because occasionally she uses outlandish emphasis and intonation to sing her words.

Tori Amos is a big fan of Bösendorfer grand pianos, which have been manufactured in Vienna, Austria’s capital, since the year 1828.

Werner.

Oh yes, she is fantastic, but that first album is still my favourite, especially China. I think I'd recognise that cover at any size and angle! :)

I must admit I had a crush on her when that album came out, but her music blows me away! :)

[Jonboy]

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/living_room1.jpg



Only just stumbled acroos this thread, a view to die for and a very well posed photo

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


especially China

funny: this is also my favourite song of Tori Amos. In my collection there are six of her albums.

Werner.

[idc]

Hi Werner, I was meaning not being able to see the supports for the speakers and sub.

Have you seen these for the speakers. The wedge so that the speakers fire down twoards you.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Audioengine-ADS1-DS1-Speaker-Wedge/dp/B002ATK2OS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309172182&sr=8-1

[Werner Berghofer]

Ian,


I was meaning not being able to see the supports for the speakers and sub.

I see, now I understand. The tweeters of the bookshelf speakers are placed exactly at the same height as my ears when sitting in the chair (I am 6 feet and 6 inches tall). As far as I know this is the perfect height placement for a loudspeaker.

Werner.

[idc]

It is, it was not clear from the photos.:cool:

[Werner Berghofer]

A birthday present from the Missus:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/headphone_stand.jpg

Sieveking Sound (http://www.sieveking-sound.de/equipment/detail/id/16) Omega headphone stand in Zebrano finish.

Werner.

[Tim]

Very nice Werner and looking a lot better than my Orange ;)

[webby]

Beautiful Werner. She has fine taste.

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


She has fine taste.

undoubtedly – but it was me who suggested this present ;-) Apropos: did you have any chance yet to listen to Anna Calvi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SULv4bYhUc)?

Werner.

[webby]

Lee,



undoubtedly – but it was me who suggested this present ;-) Apropos: did you have any chance yet to listen to Anna Calvi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SULv4bYhUc)?

Werner.
Apropos. Now there's a fine word!

I did, but only briefly. Need to revisit that link. Thanks.

Re birthday requests: I have 'suggested' some Pineapple Thief CDs for mine later this month. A band I've just discovered.

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


Apropos. Now there's a fine word!

Sorry, it means nothing more than “by the way”. I thought “apropos” was also known in England, no?

Werner.

[webby]

Lee,



Sorry, it means nothing more than “by the way”. I thought “apropos” was also known in England, no?

Werner.
Oh I know what it means Werner ;)

Also, it was used in the Sheryl Crowe song All I Wanna Do.

[Tim]

I thought “apropos” was also known in England
It is Werner, but very rarely used in everyday conversation - unfortunately (IMO) English language usage in this country has really become 'dumbed' down over the years and it is not uncommon to find second language speakers are more adept than the average user in the UK. It's quite embarrassing actually and I wince often at work when a lot of our younger element are 'talking'. As a nation most of us only speak one language and we can't even get that right these days :o

I'm attempting to get into Anna Calvi, tried a few times previously but failed, I may have another go later today.

[Werner Berghofer]

Tim,


As a nation most of us only speak one language and we can't even get that right these days

it’s very similar in Austria, and I think the language many people here use (and write!) can’t be called German. Maybe TV, Internet and touchscreen devices are to blame for this.

There’s a famous quote, hope I can translate it on the fly to something understandable in English: “Germany and Austria are two neighboring countries separated by a common language.”


I'm attempting to get into Anna Calvi, tried a few times previously but failed

It’s not easy, but the more I hear her music the more I like it. For me it sounds like a mixture of Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, Roy Orbison and some imaginary soundtracks of a movie by David Lynch.

Werner.

[Slippershod]

amongst a whole load of mightily impressive things, I think the following is the most so:

"During the last six months the most popular artists I listened to were Anouar Brahem, Lucinda Williams, Roy Orbison, Kraftwerk, Penguin Café Orchestra, Tord Gustavson Trio, Fabrizio de André, Keb’ Mo’, Diana Krall, Madeleine Peyroux, Rebecca Pidgeon, Tori Amos, Jan Garbarek, Bob Dylan and Neil Young."


not familiar with all of that bunch - but it's some play-list, and a very succinct testimony to the audio-dietary richness that digital's convenience so readily provides...

mind you, I would probably just sit on your balcony looking at the view, tbh :)

[Werner Berghofer]

Two weeks ago the Schiit Bifrost DAC (http://schiit.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=7) (non-USB version) was added to my headphone listening station.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/headfun.jpg

Bifrost DAC (bottom), Valhalla headphone amplifier (top), Beyerdynamic DT 990/600 Ω (right)

For me listening to music via headphones never before has sounded – and looked – that good.

Werner.

[DSJR]

That gear is really beautiful and I do hope that prices can be kept realistic as its popularity grows. The "C" section casework works really well too and aids the "seamlessness" of the styling I think.

[macvisual]

WoW lovely looking, very neat!

How does it sound?

[Werner Berghofer]

Peter,


How does it sound?

just very, very good and pleasing. Really can’t describe it in words, and wouldn’t dare trying this on this forum (I’m not a native English speaker). Anyway, a few words: Headroom is broad and wide, detail resolution is very fine, there’s a lot of power and grunt, but it’s handled in a quite relaxed and laid-back way and only present if needed by the music (guess that’s the amplifier’s part). The whole combination sounds very ralexed and not at all digital.

After a few minutes of listening I usually forget to take care about all the details and just get completely lost in the music. I’m very happy with this latest addition to my system.

Werner.

[Alex_UK]

Does look superb, especially for the money. Excellent. :)

[adventuresinhifiaudio.com]

A birthday present from the Missus:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/headphone_stand.jpg

Sieveking Sound (http://www.sieveking-sound.de/equipment/detail/id/16) Omega headphone stand in Zebrano finish.

Werner.

Lovely.

I saw these at the just past Whittelbury Hall NAS 2011 show but sadly I didn't get a chance to listen to them. The quality and build looked impressive. How does it sound?


Regards Neil

[Werner Berghofer]

Last week I added this set of powered KRK studio monitors to my desktop system:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/krk_speakers.jpg

KRK Rokit 5 (http://www.krksys.com/krk-studio-monitor-speakers/rokit/rokit-5.html) (left and middle), KRK 10s subwoofer (http://www.krksys.com/krk-subwoofers/10s.html) (right)

The speakers are powered by an integrated class A-B amplifier (45 watt each, 15 watt for high, 30 watt for middle and low frequency). The subwoofer has a built-in amplifier with 150 watt. On the back of the speakers there’s a huge array of connections available: unbalanced RCA, balanced 1/4" TRS and balanced XLR. This set replaces the Q Acoustics passive speakers and the Fatman iTube hybrid amplifier (2 × 15 watt) I used before.

Although I intentionally selected the smallest model of the Rokit series (5" woofer), volume and bass presence are stunning when compared to my former desktop setup. If I would have known their powerful sound signature before I probably would have omitted the subwoofer, but it adds a great, deep bass fundament. It took two or three days for me to get adjusted to the new sound, but then I realized: this setup certainly sounds better than my former system. The detail resolution is very fine, and the “sweet spot” listening area is wider than before.

I think the price is surprisingly low for the performance of this system: € 148.–/£ 127.– for each loudspeaker, € 444.–/£ 381.– for the subwoofer, prices including VAT.

A recent photo of my desktop shall follow as soon as the new DAC (http://schiit.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=7) and the headphone amplifier (http://schiit.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=3) are connected. Just received the shipping notification from Schiit Audio.

Werner.

[Werner Berghofer]

Here’s how my desk looks currently:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/desk_december_2011.jpg

Top: KRK Rokit 5 powered speakers. Middle: Apple iMac 27". Right: Schiit Valhalla headphone amplifier (top), Schiit Bifrost DAC.

For audio playback I use iTunes 10.5.2 with BitPerfect 0.32, the iMac runs Mac OS X 10.7.2 Lion. Ripping to Apple Lossless is done for the most part with XLD and occasionally directly in iTunes.

[Roy S]

Really good Schiit!

[Tim]

Despite my dislike for Apple as a company, there is no denying that Jonathan Ive does create things of beauty, which certainly goes with my preference for minimalist styling.

A lovely desk system indeed Werner and thanks for sharing again. The Schiit products sit very well with the iMac :)

[Marco]

Quality stuff, Werner! :respect:

Love the look of your desk - you have impeccable taste in modern design. If I lived in a new house, as opposed to an old lodge, dating from 1887, I'd design the interior in almost the same way as your place has been done.

Enjoy, mate, and have a lovely Christmas. You're living in one of my favourite places to be at this time of year! How much snow have you got? I bet that the Christmassy vibe there now is fantastic :cool:

Marco.

[Werner Berghofer]

Marco,


Quality stuff, Werner!

thank you! I appreciate hearing this from someone who I think prefers analogue equipment. All my audio chains are for computer based music playback.


If I lived in a new house, as opposed to an old lodge, dating from 1887, I'd design the interior in almost the same way as your place has been done.

I’m happy to live with a woman (a capricorn, by the way) with nearly identical preferences regarding room setting and furnitures. However, our music tastes are quite different, but I consider this a good and interesting combination.


How much snow have you got?

A lot – look at the landscape on the computer screen in my photo. It started to snow seriously on last Friday, and it looks as if we might have a true white Christmas this year.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/sky/06.jpg

Werner.

[webby]

Awesome new iMac Werner. What has happened to your mac mini and other speakers, q acoustics??

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


What has happened to your mac mini and other speakers, q acoustics??

although the Mac mini was only three years old, it looks as if the graphics card died. I always thought about buying the Apple 27" display to use the MacBook Pro as my main computer, but for safety reasons I prefer to have two independent computers available. I design and produce a lot of books, and I can’t risk to be unable to deliver my work at the scheduled deadlines due to a computer failure. In the long run, the consequences of schedule overdraft would cost my business much more than what I have to pay for a new computer.

In comparison to the MacBook Pro the Mac mini (3 GB RAM) felt a little slow and occasionally sluggish. In respect of financial both 2010 and 2011 were good years for me, I needed some operational expenditures, and so I decided to spend a few hundred € more and get the iMac 27", which is basically the Apple 27" display plus an integrated, fast computer. The model I purchased has four 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5 CPUs and 8 GB RAM. It offers a clearly higher performance than my MacBook (dual-core 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 with 4 GB RAM).

Being a urban type of person living here in Tyrol’s rural seclusion, I spend most of my spare time with listening to music and improving my gear (if the budget allows it). After adding a Schiit Bifrost DAC and Valhalla headphone amplifier to my headphone chain earlier this year, I’ve been thinking about switching to powered speakers and adding another Bifrost DAC plus Valhalla headamp to my office audio setup, and eventually here I am near the end of the year with a completely new office setup. Only my desk and the bookshelves behind it remained unchanged.

The Fatman iTube amplifier, the Q Acoustics 2.1 speaker set plus one Beresford Caiman DAC were handed over to a good friend of mine as some kind of lifetime loan.

Werner.

[Ant]

Werner - Nice system, beautiful house :)




[snip] I design and produce a lot of books [snip]

Interesting, may I ask what genre of books?

Ta
Ant

[webby]

Shame about the mac mini Werner. I am glad to hear that you had a good year and are doing well in your business.

I am planning to set up my own mac support company in the new year but not just with the aim of providing tech support such as troubleshooting hardware and software fixes but also to provide those new to the mac a better knowledge of the platform and how to get the best out of their new machine. Boy, that was a long sentence!

In my short time in the job I had earlier this year I do beleive there is a market for this kind of work. Fingers crossed. I will need to get myself a MacBook of some kind for offsite work but apart from that I don't see the need for much initial setup costs.

Meanwhile, at home, I would very much like to add a second mac downstairs, but money is tight at the moment. I have been following a few iMac G4's on eBay. I think that a G4 would be quite happy with iTunes sharing and provide an attractive centrepiece to the lounge stereo. What do you think?

On that note, does anyone here have an old G4 iMac collecting dust?

P.s. Werner, each time I see your avatar I am reminded of Adam Clayton, the bass player in U2 :)

[Werner Berghofer]

Anthony,


may I ask what genre of books?

mainly medical books, historical books, books about art, philosophy, finance, real estate management for example. Very rarely literature – this kind of rather simple and standardized publications usually is produced in India and other countries with very low labor costs. I also create geographical illustrations, maps, financial and statistical charts, infographics and so on.

Werner.

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


I think that a G4 would be quite happy with iTunes sharing and provide an attractive centrepiece to the lounge stereo. What do you think?

that’s a good idea, I use an ancient (2005) G4 Mac mini for wirelessly streaming audio playback to the three audio chains throughout the flat and as fax server.


each time I see your avatar I am reminded of Adam Clayton, the bass player in U2 :)

Oh, now that’s an interesting, new variant. Most people believe this is an early picture of Leonard Nimoy, while actually this is just my face after a fresh haircut.

I wish you all the best for your future business plans, Lee. I really know how it feels if your business initially doesn’t work as planned. After leaving Vienna more than seven years ago it took approximately five years for me to establish new business connections and to be able to generate respectable revenues. It’s not easy, there is no scheduled leisure time or planned holidays, when in the middle of a production I usually work seven days a week and much more than eight hours per day, but after all that’s exactly the kind of work and life which suits me. Can’t imagine to live and work as an employed person.

Werner.

[webby]

Two weeks ago the Schiit Bifrost DAC (http://schiit.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=7) (non-USB version) was added to my headphone listening station.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/headfun.jpg

Bifrost DAC (bottom), Valhalla headphone amplifier (top), Beyerdynamic DT 990/600 Ω (right)

For me listening to music via headphones never before has sounded – and looked – that good.

Werner.
Werner, I have been meaning to ask, and maybe I've overlooked the answer in another thread, but what is the source for your headphone listening station? (Is station apt?)

Do you feed it wirelessly through an airport express?

Edit: ah, just flicked back to page 1 and found my answer; fed digitally via an airport express. What do you use for remote control? An iPod touch or iPad?

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


What do you use for remote control? An iPod touch or iPad?

neither, nor. I use the free “Remote (http://www.apple.com/itunes/remote/)” application available from the Apple AppStore on my iPhone 4. Works very fine and flawlessly, even with my “ancient” Apple G4 Mac mini (2005) music/fax server running Mac OS X 10.4.11 and iTunes 9.2.1 (the latest version for this machine). “Home sharing” needs to be turned on, and the iPhone with the remote control software must be paired with the computer to be accepted as remote control.

As you already found out, all three audio chains (living room, office/desk and headphone chair) in my home are fed digitally via Airport Express stations. Two Schiit Bifrost DACs are available, in the living room a Beresford Caiman+ DAC is installed. Additionally, the iMac on my desk is connected directly via USB to the office Bifrost DAC. WIFI streaming via Airport Express is “limited” to 16 bit/44.1 kHz, but I seriously doubt that greater bit depths or higher sampling frequencies are required for high-end playback (recording and studio work of course are different matters).

Werner.

[Ali Tait]

Not sure about that Werner. Some hi rez files do sound appreciably better than their SD counterparts. I agree most you would be hard pressed to tell the difference though. The original recording process is still the most important thing IMHO.

[Werner Berghofer]

If you have some 15 minutes to spare I recommend reading → this article on Head-Fi (http://www.head-fi.org/t/415361/24bit-vs-16bit-the-myth-exploded).

Werner.

[webby]

Lee,



neither, nor. I use the free “Remote (http://www.apple.com/itunes/remote/)” application available from the Apple AppStore on my iPhone 4.

Werner.

The iPad and Touch would use the same app. I have it on my iPad. Some of the sorting on the Remote app is a little frustrating but otherwise it works very well indeed.

[Ali Tait]

If you have some 15 minutes to spare I recommend reading → this article on Head-Fi (http://www.head-fi.org/t/415361/24bit-vs-16bit-the-myth-exploded).

Werner.

Aye, read that before. Doesn't change what I hear though. :scratch:

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


Some of the sorting on the Remote app is a little frustrating […]

funny: I like especially the sorting method of the Remote app :-) On my old iPhone 1 (2007) I had to use another application called “Remote Buddy”, but I was not happy with this software because it didn’t honour my custom sorting settings.

Werner.

[Ali Tait]

Werner, I'm still looking at the Bifrost. How's it sounding now it's had a chance to run in a bit?

[Werner Berghofer]

How's it sounding now it's had a chance to run in a bit?

So good that I already use two Schiit DAC boxes in my home. More listening impressions from Dominique (another Bifrost owner from Berlin) and me can be found in this thread (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14054&page=3) here on AoS. On Head-Fi.org a very long thread (http://www.head-fi.org/t/545842/schiit-dacs-the-information-and-anticipation-thread) with listening impressions and comparisons (for example with the latest CA DACmagic Plus) can be found.

Werner.

[Ali Tait]

Thanks Werner.

[webby]

Lee,



funny: I like especially the sorting method of the Remote app :-) On my old iPhone 1 (2007) I had to use another application called “Remote Buddy”, but I was not happy with this software because it didn’t honour my custom sorting settings.

Werner.
I think the iPhone version has some differences to the iPad version and sorting may be one of those differences. My particular bug bear is that I love the album view where it shows albums in alphabetical order with the album cover shown in grid view much like on iTunes, but I don't need to view albums by alphabetical order. It makes no sense to me. I want to view by artist so what I would love is to see the artist view also display albums in grid view with say one album cover representing each artist rather than the alphabetical list of artists.

Also, compilation artists are not honoured by the sorting in Remote app. They end up included in the artists list.

[Stacker45]

Very nice systhem,and beautifull pictrues

[Reid Malenfant]

Hi Serge, I'm not quite sure how come no-one has picked up on this until now, but could you please pop into the welcome area & introduce yourself :)

A little about your system & the music you listen to on it wouldn't go amiss :cool:


Thanks in advance ;)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Hi Serge, I'm not quite sure how come no-one has picked up on this until now,


Actually Mark, I spotted it the other day & left a message for Serge on his profile page. It seems I was misunderstood & he left a rather fine intro to himself there rather than on the Welcome section (which is here (http://theartofsound.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=15) if you're reading this Serge!)

EDIT: Spotted your new thread there, thanks Serge

[webby]

Werner, is the desktop picture on your new iMac taken by yourself, and if so is that your home amongst the buildings on the left?

It's a beautiful scene with fabulous blue sky.

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


Werner, is the desktop picture on your new iMac taken by yourself, and if so is that your home amongst the buildings on the left?

the picture was taken by myself in a location near my home. The residential building where I live in is much more modern than the traditional farmhouses on the photo:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/tirol/tirol03.jpg http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/tirol/tirol04.jpg

I don’t use a desktop picture on none of my computers. Remember, I’m in the publishing business, and therefore I prefer a neutral, medium grey desktop, because any desktop image would interfere with the things I create and design on the monitor.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/sky/06.jpg

This deep blue, cloudless sky and the bright sun are typical for the winters here in Tyrol. Using Photoshop, I pasted the landscape photo into the monitor area of the photo from my desk, to imitate the glossy and reflecting appearance of the iMac’s monitor. Here’s another one with a lot of blue, Tyrolean sky:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/sky/12.jpg

And here’s → a link to more sky pictures (http://www.berghofer.com/photos/sky/) taken by myself.

Kind regards,

Werner.

[Thing Fish]

Great picture Werner...:)

[Reid Malenfant]

Werner, how much does the Schiit Valhalla cost? I have some crazy ideas floating about in my head :)

[Tim]

Werner, how much does the Schiit Valhalla cost? I have some crazy ideas floating about in my head :)

If you email Mark at HighEnd Workshop he can arrange a demo. I am on the list for a home demo of the Valhalla, so join the line Mark ;)

These are the only UK stockists, or you can buy direct from the US Shiit website;
http://schiit.com

These are their current UK prices, this list was supplied to me on 30th Dec 2011, so should still be current.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/greatgig/shiit.jpg

[Werner Berghofer]

Mark,


I have some crazy ideas floating about in my head :)

I see Tim has already told you the UK prices, but let me add the question: Which headphone do you plan to use with the Valhalla?

Kind regards,

Werner.

[Tim]

Hi Werner, happy New Year ;)

[Reid Malenfant]

Cheers Tim, just thinking of using one as a pre amp is all... Odd I know but it makes a hell of a lot of sense to :) Single ended triode output with zero feedback, can drive low impedances (32 ohms) - read long cables with no difficulty. Enough voltage swing as it can drive 600 ohm headphones :eyebrows:

A lot cheaper than a Croft...

Ok, so I'm nuts :D

[Werner Berghofer]

Dave,

thank you! My initial profession was photographer, my apprenticeship (don’t know if this is the right word) lasted from 1972 to 1975.

Werner.

[Werner Berghofer]

Mark,


just thinking of using one as a pre amp

well, then the only suitable model is the Schiit Lyr (http://schiit.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=3), because that’s the only one with with an RCA line-out on the back:

http://schiit.com/cart/images/lyr_02.jpg

Werner.

[Reid Malenfant]

Lovely pictures by the way Werner! I hope my previous post explains things. Might take a bit of thought to see where I'm coming from though, I do have some rather out of the box thoughts at times :eyebrows:

[Reid Malenfant]

Mark,



well, then the only suitable model is the Schiit Lyr (http://schiit.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=3), because that’s the only one with with an RCA line-out on the back:

http://schiit.com/cart/images/lyr_02.jpg

Werner.
No, I'm quite happy to take it out of the front & have the benefit of a much lower output impedance :) Besides which the Valhalla is cheaper :eyebrows: I reckon it'd give better performance to if driving more than one power amp.


There is method in my madness :hmm:


Cheers for the possible suggestion though! Very much appreciated :)

[Werner Berghofer]

Recently I added a new headphone amplifier.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/phonitor_and_t1.jpg

SPL Phonitor 2 (http://spl.info/index.php?id=3012&L=1), a decent match for my Beyerdynamic headphones (600 Ω).


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/phonitor_2_front.gif

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/phonitor_2_back.gif

Using the various crossfeed and angle settings the in-your-head 180° headphone soundstage can be narrowed and somehow moved out in front of the head, so that it more matches the sound perception of a pair of nearfield monitors. The Phonitor 2 also can be used as a pre-amp via the XLR outputs.

Werner.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Wow :eek: That looks like a series piece of kit.

[Werner Berghofer]

That looks like a series piece of kit.
Actually, it does: made in Germany — and it sounds even better. Unfortunately most of the time I keep my eyes closed when listening ;-)

Werner.

[struth]

Looks the business. Using an app I translated the page on my tablet , which was a first for me. Good app that. Specs etc look impessive

[Werner Berghofer]

Grant,

Using an app I translated the page on my tablet […]
strange that you had to do this, because I already provided a link to the English version of the product description (http://spl.info/en/products/headphone-amps/phonitor2/product-description.html) on the SPL website. However, in the upper right hand corner of the web page there’s a switch to toggle between German and English. Maybe this wasn’t visible or available in your tablet’s browser.

Werner.

[The Black Adder]

I would be too tempted with all the controls... lol. It would drive me potty. - Nice kit though. :)

[Marco]

Beautiful piece of kit, Werner. As usual, you have impeccable taste. I also thoroughly approve of anything fitted with VU meters! :respect:

Where did you buy the unit from - got a link to their website?

Marco.

[Werner Berghofer]

Marco,

Where did you buy the unit from - got a link to their website?
from Thomann (http://www.thomann.de/gb/spl_phonitor_2_silver.htm) in Germany. I hope this time the direct link to the product page in English works as expected.

As sexy as they might be looking, I have to confess I don’t really understand the need for VU meters on amplifiers. To me they add some kind of steampunk aesthetics which might work well on McIntosh or vintage Quad equipment, but not on a modern and functional frontplate like this. Doesn’t bother me that much, because as I already mentioned most of the time I listen to the music with eyes closed ;-)

Werner.

[Werner Berghofer]

Joe,

I would be too tempted with all the controls
I used them once to match my desk’s nearfield setup (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?11546-Werner%92s-system&p=276433#post276433) as close as possible, and that’s it. Most of the time the only control I use to tame this beast is the volume knob.

Werner.

[The Black Adder]

I agree, VU's are quite redundant on that unit but it looks great. I don't mind asthetic choices such as VU's on things that are well engineered. It's all about good design at the end of the day... it has a nice smiley face! :)

I don't use headphones so I'm just looking up at what the controls are for, interesting stuff. It's an area I have no knowledge in.

[Marco]

Marco,

from Thomann (http://www.thomann.de/gb/spl_phonitor_2_silver.htm) in Germany. I hope this time the direct link to the product page in English works as expected.

As sexy as they might be looking, I have to confess I don’t really understand the need for VU meters on amplifiers. To me they have some kind of steampunk aesthetics which might work well on McIntosh or vintage Quad equipment, but not on a modern and functional frontplate like this. Doesn’t bother me that much, because as I already mentioned most of the time I listen to the music with eyes closed ;-)


Yup, I agree with your comments on the aesthetics. However, I’m very much a retro man and so love VU metres with a passion! For me, they blend quite well into the appearance of the unit, but most importantly, my gut feeling says that the Phonitor would sound excellent - and my gut feelings are rarely wrong… ;)

Anyway, I’ve bookmarked the website for future reference, as I enjoy headphone listening and intend to add a high-end headphone amp to my set-up in due course :)

Marco.

[Werner Berghofer]

Joe,

I don't use headphones […]
in my opinion you should try it. I’m pretty sure you’ll discover new, sublime details in music you used to believe to know by heart for decades. Listening with high quality headphone gear is like using a high resolution microscope.

Werner.

[Marco]

I would have to agree. One of the best ways of setting up a turntable (and clearly hearing the effect of minute adjustments to VTA, azimuth, etc) is to monitor the results on high-quality headphones!

Marco.

[destroysall]

Gorgeous amplifier, Werner! I definitely love the retro look it has. How does it compare with your Schiit amplifiers, if I may ask?

Cheers,
Chris

[Werner Berghofer]

Marco,

Anyway, I’ve bookmarked the website for future reference, as I enjoy headphone listening and intend to add a high-end headphone amp to my set-up in due course :)
if you don’t need the pre-amp functionality and a motorized, monstrous volume knob which can teached to understand any IR remote control, the SPL Phonitor mini (http://www.thomann.de/gb/spl_phonitor_mini.htm) might be a great choice for a very fair price. But be warned: this model comes without VU metres ;-)

Werner.

[The Black Adder]

Joe,

in my opinion you should try it. I’m pretty sure you’ll discover new, sublime details in music you used to believe to know by heart for decades. Listening with high quality headphone gear is like using a high resolution microscope.

Werner.

Yeah, you have got me thinking there, Werner.



I would have to agree. One of the best ways of setting up a turntable (and clearly hearing the effect of minute adjustments to VTA, azimuth, etc) is to monitor the results on high-quality headphones!

Marco.

Hey... didn't think of that, Marco... lol - I'z gone soft. :)

[Marco]

Cheers for that, Werner :)

Marco.

[Werner Berghofer]

Chris,

How does it compare with your Schiit amplifiers, if I may ask?
tough question. Writing about music reproduction in English (not my native language) is quite difficult without using too much of these well-known stereotypes and phrases everyone is familiar with from reading audio publications and websites. Anyway, I’ll give it a try and I ask your forgiveness in advance.

Well, from the outside the Schiit stack which used to be placed next to my comfortable listening chair looks beautiful, clean, stylish and minimalist:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/headfun.jpg

Compared to this the SPL Phonitor 2 looks quite big and has the charisma of a professional, high-quality precision tool, which is what it is actually:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/phonitor_and_t1.jpg

The missus was quite irritated that evening she came home and saw this tool for the first time. Daniela works as window dresser for fashion stores in the nearby city of Innsbruck. And me too: I missed the small footprint and the restrained exterior of the Schiit boxes. But the unusual sight really became insignificant after the first ten or fifteen minutes I spent listening to my new amp. Both the Valhalla and the Lyr amp are very powerful and drive my high-impedance Beyerdynamic DT 990 and T1 headphones without effort. In terms of raw power and “beef” the SPL Phonitor seemed a little bit weaker for me at first glance, so I had to crank the volume more past the 12 o’clock position than I was used to with the Schiit amps. But after a short while I noticed I needed to lower the playback volume, and after four days of listening with the SPL the volume knob most of the time is placed between the 9 and 10 o’clock position.

Although these effects are subtle, I found that using the angle knob to place the virtual loudspeakers at a specific angle to the head and fine-tuning the perspective with the crossfeed knob really help to achieve a more realistic listening experience. Keep in mind: the SPL Phonitor is not an effect device. After a while for me the ultra-stereo 180 degree in-your-head soundstage of traditional headphone listening always has been fatiguing, and I found that I can listen much longer with the new amp. This is one of the reasons I purchased it.

The “resolution” of the sound, the attention for details, the effortlessness and grace in reproducing music with a really big dynamic range and the apparently infinite “headroom” and power reserves of this amplifier are different from and superior to my Schiit amps. I don’t know if this is caused by the 120-volt technology or the solid state architecture used in the SPL Phonitor. The Schiit Valhalla is a pure OTL valve (tube) amp, the Lyr a valve/transistor hybrid model. With the Lyr amplifier, there was a certain background noise and hum audible if the volume was cranked up and no music was playing. I’ve read that this has been reduced or even removed with the second generation of the Schiit Lyr models. The SPL Phonitor is absolutely silent, even with the volume knob turned to the maximum. The music seems to appear from the background of a “black” vacuum.

After all, I’m just a music lover, but no engineer or technically skilled and knowing person. Undoubtely this new amp sounds better than anything else I’ve heard via headphones until now. In order to remain fair it must be mentioned that the SPL Phonitor is more expensive than the Lyr or the Valhalla. Even after adding customs, import VAT and express shipment costs I found nothing comparable in the price range of these Schiit amps. Recently I replaced the Lyr with a solid state Schiit Asgard 2 (http://schiit.com/products/asgard-2) I use as pre-amp and headphone amplifier on my desk, since I don’t like the idea of valve wear in an amplifier which most of the time is used to control my powered Rokit nearfield monitors. At the time I discovered the Schiit products, the Lyr was the only model with RCA outputs, usable as a pre-amp too.

Werner.

[destroysall]

No apologies needed, Werner. I think you did a fantastic job of describing this new "beast" of an amplifier. :)


Although these effects are subtle, I found that using the angle knob to place the virtual loudspeakers at a specific angle to the head and fine-tuning the perspective with the crossfeed knob really help to achieve a more realistic listening experience. Keep in mind: the SPL Phonitor is not an effect device. After a while for me the ultra-stereo 180 degree in-your-head soundstage of traditional headphone listening always has been fatiguing, and I found that I can listen much longer with this new amp. This is one of the reasons I purchased it.

The “resolution” of the sound, the attention for details, the effortlessness and grace in reproducing music with a really big dynamic range and the apparently infinite “headroom” and power reserves of this amplifier are different and superior to my Schiit amps. I don’t know if this caused by the 120-volt technology or the solid state architecture used in the SPL Phonitor. The Schiit Valhalla is a pure OTL valve amp, the Lyr a valve/transistor hybrid model.

After all, I’m just a music lover, but no engineer or technically skilled and knowing person. Undoubtely this new amp sounds better than anything else I’ve heard via headphones until now. In order to remain fair it must be mentioned that the SPL Phonitor is more expensive than the Lyr or the Valhalla.I must have overlooked any statements you made in your previous, first post regarding this amp; my apologies. I had no idea of the functionality created by this amp. I too have begun to grow quite fatigued with the "in-your-head" soundstage that most headphones reproduce, including my very own Beyerdynamic DT 990. It is perhaps one of the reasons I grew incredibly interested in loudspeaker listening as of recent. It's nice to see a company release a solution product catered to the few who perhaps feel the same fatigue. I've always thought the Schiit amps (the Valhalla especially) would be the end of road for headphone amplifiers in my history, but I think I will have to push for at least a demo of the SPL Phonitor 2 based on your opinions. If the music sounds good and is reproduced according to taste, why bother with any of the technicalities? :)

Cheers,
Chris

P.S.- I have to compliment your photography, Werner. If you don't mind, I even took the liberty to look through your photography portfolio on your website and must comment that as a growing photographer and lover of art, I found many of your photos to be truly inspiring.

[Werner Berghofer]

Chris,

It's nice to see a company release a solution product catered to the few who perhaps feel the same fatigue.
I think the SPL Phonitor’s target audience are (traveling?) audio and recording engineers and musicians who need or want to mix and check their recordings using headphones and look for a sound as close as possible to their familiar nearfield monitors. The SPL products obviously are intended for audio and recording professionals. This company designs and manufactures rugged studio equipment, but no dedicated Hi-Fi gear.


I think I will have to push for at least a demo of the SPL Phonitor 2 based on your opinions.
Thank you for trusting me that much, but don’t be crazy and try the SPL Phonitor mini (http://www.thomann.de/gb/spl_phonitor_mini.htm) (US$ 731) first! After all I know this amp should sound nearly identical to the much more expensive (US$ 1,711) Phonitor 2. And thank you for viewing my photos and even liking them. Most of these were taken many years, even decades ago.

Here’s a link to the SPL USA online store (http://www.spl-usa.com/category_s/1819.htm). I see that the Phonitor mini isn’t available yet in your country, but I think it has been announced already.

Werner.

[destroysall]

This company designs and manufactures rugged studio equipment, but no dedicated Hi-Fi gear.

Based on the looks, it does appear to be a strong piece of equipment. I can only wonder what they would do in a dedicated Hi-Fi amplifier or DAC.


Thank you for trusting me that much, but don’t be crazy and try the SPL Phonitor mini (http://www.thomann.de/gb/spl_phonitor_mini.htm) (US$ 731) first! After all I know this amp should sound nearly identical to the much more expensive (US$ 1,711) Phonitor 2.
Thank you, Werner, for sharing this with me. I will have to keep my eyes open for it's release. At a discount of a $1000, it makes the SPL Phonitor mini even more appealing. I look forward to trying it. :D

[Werner Berghofer]

Since Daniela decided that some parts of the flat required new furniture and an overall new design, I had to rethink our needs regarding the audio and video setup. Here’s what our system looks and how it works at the current time.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-office.jpg

That’s the view behind me when I’m sitting at my desk downstairs in my former office. The poster on the wall says something like ”One can renounce a lot of things in life, but not cats and literature“.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-macbook.jpg

Apple MacBook Pro with 13 inch screen and 1 TB internal harddrive, the central source for our music. The audio files are in ALAC format, iTunes is used as the playback software.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-airport_extreme.jpg

Schiit Modi Uber DAC with optical connection to the MacBook, on the right hand an Apple Airport Extreme base station, establishing the WLAN for the flat. Below a few obsolete audio CDs, which are not used for playback anymore. Once they’re ripped to lossless audio they collect dust or are distributed to relatives, friends, libraries and other folks who might have a use for them.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-office-tivoli.jpg

Tivoli Audio Model One, AKG K712 headphones for use in my desktop system.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-desk.jpg

Front view at my desk. KRK Rokit active studio monitors, Apple iMac 27 inch, Schiit Asgard 2 headphone amp/preamp, Schiit Bifrost DAC. Located below the desk is a Yamaha EQ-550 graphic equalizer, the KRK S-10 subwoofer is placed at the left side behind me. All connections between computers, Airport Express stations and DACs are optical S/PDIF TosLink, I don’t use USB or coaxial connections for audio.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-headgear.jpg

Right next to my office on the same floor: My place for headphone listening. SPL Phonitor 2 headamp/preamp, Schiit Bifrost DAC, Beyerdynamic T 1 headphones, yet another Tivoli Audio Model One for optional “out of the head” mono listening. An ancient Sansui SE-7 graphic equalizer is placed below, music is received wirelessly via an Apple Airport Express. Not in the picture, nevertheless very important: A comfortable Ikea “Poäng” chair.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-living_room.jpg

In a corner of the living room upstairs: Tivoli Audio Model One, Schiit Bifrost DAC, Apple Airport Express.



http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-ipad.jpg

This is my Apple iPad Air with an optional Logitech keyboard cover attached to it. The MacBook Pro “music server” downstairs in my office is remotely controlled via Apple’s “Remote” software available for iPads and iPhones.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-tv.jpg

The TV console in the living room. A second pair of KRK Rokit active monitors, Schiit Modi Uber DAC, Apple Airport Express, Toshiba TV, Apple Airport Extreme base station to extend the WLAN upstairs. Below the TV: Pro-Ject tuner and preamp, Western Digital media player with two USB harddrives attached, Edision satellite receiver. The Pro-Ject boxes are used for FM radio, wireless music streaming and to control the sound volume from the TV to the active monitors. A TosLink splitter at the back of the TV is used to connect both the TV and the Airport Express to the Schiit DAC. Sat receiver, media player and TV are connected via HDMI.

There’s no CD player and no DVD/Blu-Ray player anymore in our setup. Once the content has been ripped from optical media, it is stored on harddisks. In my opinion listening to music and viewing movies never has been more comfortable. I don’t see a need for surround setups, and I prefer the analytical and clear sound of active studio monitors.

Werner.

[Barry]

Excellent photos Wener! Judging by the professional looking ball-socket camera tripod mount, I assume you are a professional photographer.

[Werner Berghofer]

Barry,


Judging by the professional looking ball-socket camera tripod mount, I assume you are a professional photographer.

you’re right, this was my originally learned profession, but after a few years I decided I wanted to “know it all” and moved on to typography, book typesetting, infographics design and electronic image processing and editing. I did this self-employed until my retirement in September 2014.

Did you recognize the Nikon F3 right to the camera tripod mount?

Werner.

[walpurgis]

Judging by the professional looking ball-socket camera tripod mount, I assume you are a professional photographer.

I have a couple of those. Doesn't make me a professional though. :)

I like that setup Werner. Very smart indeed.

[Mala]

Amazing setups, and such clean photos! I really like it :)

[Werner Berghofer]

Kjell,


Amazing setups, and such clean photos! I really like it :)

thank you and everybody else in this thread for your kind words. To complete the impressions of our flat and to provide you probably with a little bit “vibe” please allow me to add a few more photos, this time not so much focused on the gear.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-living_room_1.jpg

View from the dining table towards the terrace. Scratch and climb furniture for the cats at the end of the stairway.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-living_room_2.jpg

View into the living room from the stairway’s end.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-living_room_3.jpg

The dining table. On the wall some resting places for the cats.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-living_room_4.jpg

Looking towards the stairs to the lower floor. The Buddha statue was not my idea, I often place crazy things in its hands and call these statues “modern garden gnomes”, but the missus doesn’t appreciate me talking nasty like this ;-) Seriously: I don’t like religious and national symbols, they cause trouble, grief and suffering. The picture on the wall was painted by Daniela.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-holy_stuff.jpg

The only “holy books and relics” I can accept. Please keep this secret, but this is actually Van Gogh’s left ear ;-)


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-breakfast.jpg

Snooping around other music forums, but of course there’s no place like The Art of Sound Forum.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-terrace.jpg

The terrace, Mr Mogli and a few mountains reflected in the living room’s windows.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-mr_mogli.jpg

Mr Mogli.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-mrs_luna.jpg

Mrs Luna.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-library.jpg

Lower floor: Looking in the direction of my former office.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-office_1.jpg

My desk.


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-office_2.jpg

Bookshelves, a subwoofer and some other stuff.

That’s it! Thank you for your interest and your patience. I promise I won’t be posting any new photos within the next two years.

Werner.

[Mala]

Beautiful cats :D I have two of my own! Got to have some cats! Great pictures and a very nice living space :)

[Marco]

Hi Werner,

Love your set up, and above all, cute cats! We've got three, two of which are similar to yours, the long-haired ginger tom and black and white. Cats are great fun and such independent and intelligent creatures. For me, a home isn't a home without a cat :)

What I like about your hi-fi set up is that you know exactly what you wanted to achieve, and how to achieve it, by applying a little lateral thinking and being focussed on your goals. Respect :thumbsup:

Now what we really need to see is, if I remember correctly, the spectacular view from your balcony! ;)

Essentially, what you see in front of you when sitting looking out here:


http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2016-06-terrace.jpg


Let's see more of those mountains in all of their glory....

Marco.

[Werner Berghofer]

Marco,


Now what we really need to see is, if I remember correctly, the spectacular view from your balcony! ;) […] Let's see more of those mountains in all of their glory...

as soon as the weather permits it, I’ll take some photos and add them to this thread. Currently it’s raining cats and dogs, and I fear the weather won‘t change much during the next few days. Noted only in passing: Of course I’ll do you the favour, but asking me to take beautiful pictures of mountains in all their glory is a little bit like hoping a vegetarian would make beautiful photos inside a slaughterhouse — or asking a homosexual photographer to take pictures of Monica Bellucci, if you prefer this metaphor :-)

Thanks a lot to you and everyone for your attention,

Werner.

[webby]

Werner, I love your space, and your kit. Excellent.

It's a shame you cannot display your album art larger on the macbook pro isn't it?

[Werner Berghofer]

Lee,


It's a shame you cannot display your album art larger on the macbook pro isn't it?

yes, it would not hurt if a larger view were possible, but most of the time when listening to music I don’t sit in front of the computer to watch what’s currently happening on the screen ;-)

Werner.

[Floyddroid]

Wow on every account.

[Eisener Bart]

Nice space, Werner!

I guess you have beautiful house.

[Werner Berghofer]

Sergio,


I guess you have beautiful house.

thank you (and all the others), but your compliments should be addressed to my Daniela, my partner. We don’t live in an independent house, but a condominium in a house plant. Daniela is the owner of the flat, I’m some kind of lodger. If I were the owner or main tenant, there would be no Buddha statues here ;-)

[Werner Berghofer]

In my new home on the North Sea coast in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany: room and system reduced to the max.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/2017-10-room.jpg

From left to right: Beyerdynamic T1 headphone, AKG K712 Pro headphone, Schiit Bifrost DAC (optical connection to the iMac), Yamaha EQ-550 graphic equalizer, Triangle Zays Esprit XS Grand Angle floor-standing speakers, Apple iMac 27", SPL Phonitor 2 pre-/headphone amplifier, four external harddisks (Firewire connection, 4 TB capacity per disk), Yamaha AX-592 in power amplifier mode with internal pre-amp disconnected.

No WAF, no cats, just huge floor-standing loudspeakers without front ;-)

[Canetoad]

Hi Werner,

Nice photo. I lived in Flensburg for 2 years. Whereabouts are you now? I always enjoyed visiting the North Sea coast.

[Marco]

What happened to the WAF and cats, Werner? I loved your old place! :)

Marco.

[Werner Berghofer]

Bernie,
Whereabouts are you now?on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein, in a small village called Epenwöhrden, located three kilometres from Meldorf, the next city. It takes approximately ten minutes by bicycle to reach the North Sea shore. Wonderful!

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2017/Helmsand_Abendsonne.jpg

[Werner Berghofer]

Marco,
What happened to the WAF and cats, Werner?they stayed in Tyrol and live there very happy and peacefully. Daniela has her job, her family and friends and is deeply rooted in her homeland. I just needed to move away from the really bad air in Tyrol and the mountains. The air pressed my lungs, the mountains were oppressing my soul, the yearly rising high temperatures in summer (between 95 and 104 °F) in Central Europe became more and more unbearable for me.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2017/Nebel_bei_Burg.jpg

During the last few years I was a sad, unpleasant and nervous person. Being from Vienna, I never felt at home in Tyrol. After my illness-related retirement and a previous 18-month trial concerning my justified pension entitlements, I certainly missed my profession as book designer, graphic artist and typesetter. The days I spent in the company of sometimes fighting cats without doing anything, surrounded by threatening, oppressive mountains, were endless. I even could not stand myself anymore and felt a deep desire to live alone in a quiet environment, with an open view into the wide, beautiful landscape without any mountains. The Northern Sea air is salubrious for my lungs.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2017/Deich_und_Wolken.jpg

I plan to visit Daniela every two or three months, but I will spend most of my (remaining) time here in the absolutely flat landscape very close to the shore, reading books, listening to music and riding my bicycle whenever possible. From June 16th to September 20th I cycled approximately 2,500 miles, which is a good thing for my body, my mind and my interest in history, architecture and meeting people.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2017/Helmsand_Sonnenuntergang.jpg

[montesquieu]

Wow. Magnificent. Definitely need to visit the area on my next trip over.

[brian2957]

That looks stunning Werner . I'm lucky in that I've always liked the area where I live and the home which I have at the moment is surrounded at the rear by fields , trees , and has a small river too . If I want to visit the sea I'm only a 40 minute drive away , or we can take a foreign break .

I think that we have to look after ourselves , not just mentally and physically , but spiritually too . You are very lucky to have found what looks like to be your spiritual home by the North Sea . Good luck and stay well sir :)

[Werner Berghofer]

Brian,
I think that we have to look after ourselves , not just mentally and physically , but spiritually too .these are very wise and also very kind words. Many thanks, I really appreciate what you said to me.

After two or three weeks here, at the end of June or the beginning of July, I very much felt at home, safe and secure even when cycling back to my holiday home at 2:30 a.m. I met many interesting, interested, friendly and kind people here. It has been many years since the last time I looked forward to certain plans, explorations and excursions that lie ahead of me as I do now again. Spent 45 minutes this morning chatting with the owner of a tea shop where I purchase my favourite black tea (Darjeeling and Ceylon), although it is raining cats and dogs the whole day long and I was on the road with the bike.

Life is good.

[Macca]

Very flat isn't it? The polar opposite of where you used to live. Glad to hear it is doing it for you, Werner.

[ovlov854]

Tag Werner
I have only just come across your thread....what a fascinating read.
I spent my early years in Hamburg,Schelswig H and Insel Sylt so your pictures bring back floods of happy memories.
I also lived and worked in Mayrhofen which must be nearby to were you in Tyrol.
Daniela works in Innsbruck??
Glad you have found balance in your life
Good music helps too

[Werner Berghofer]

Martin,
I also lived and worked in Mayrhofen which must be nearby to were you in Tyrol.Mayrhofen is near the end of the Zillertal, approximately 34 miles located from Baumkirchen, where I used to live. i often went there with my bicycle. May I ask what kind of work you did in Mayrhofen?

Daniela works in Innsbruck??Yes, she’s decorator and shop window designer for five fashion shops in the old town of Innsbruck.

Good music helps tooThis is definitely true! I just listen to Diana Krall’s latest album “Turn up the quiet” and enjoy every moment of it playing through my 19 years old amplifier and my 17 years old loudspeakers.

During breakfast most of the time I just listen to music and watch the dawn through my apartment’s large windows. There’s even a small terrace which I use for my daily morning routine of Qi Gong and breathing exercises which my physiotherapist has shown me. I suffer from lung emphysema, but the air here makes it much easier for me to handle it. In the early hours of summer days I have done my exercises directly on the coast, surrounded by salt and iodine fresh sea air and the screaming of the seagulls and other birds. Life here is very close to nature.

Many thanks for your interest in my story, Martin.

[ovlov854]

Mayrhofen was part of my mis-spent past! I worked there as a Holiday Rep and Tour Guide so I got to know the area quite well with all the usual places, and in Italy as well.

There was one particular nightmare airport transfer to Basel and back. Over the Arlberg Pass, Feldkiirch along the Zurichsee finally to Basel and the back after picking up a flight inevitably delayed ::doh:
As this was back in the 70's it was well before the present day motorways and fast roads of today.
The first time I made the trip as a green rookie was inthe June of that year and the Arlberg was covered in snow huge drifts either side of the road
The job did have it's compensations!!:lol:

[Werner Berghofer]

Martin,
The job did have it's compensations!!:lol:a friend of mine, who used to work as a steward on cruise ships, often says that too when telling stories from his mis-spent past.

Werner.

[Puffin]

Hi Werner, in this day and age is it rare, but very refreshing to see people talk about their vulnerabilities. I cycle as much as I can for MH issues. Sometimes I think I would go mad without that release. Some days I have to force myself to lave the house and then have serious doubts that I have done the right thing.

We holidayed in Austria some years ago and went to Innsbruck, the most fascinating thing was that in the height of summer the Bergisel Ski Jump looked so weird. A lovely holiday staying near Lake Aachen.

[Werner Berghofer]

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/more_space.jpg

I finally moved from my tiny flat in a village to a bigger flat in a small town. There is more room here, even for the speakers. Listened to the great album “Chicken Skin Music” by Ry Cooder as I took this photo.

[Audio Al]

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/more_space.jpg

I finally moved from my tiny flat in a village to a bigger flat in a small town. There is more room here, even for the speakers. Listened to the great album “Chicken Skin Music” by Ry Cooder as I took this photo.

Where are you hiding the record player :scratch:

[Werner Berghofer]

Where are you hiding the record player :scratch:
Sold my Thorens TD 160 in summer 2004. I prefer to listen to music instead of clicks, pops or wow and flutter ;-)

[Frazeur1]

Very nice, Werner! Enjoy your new space, and music too! Always good to hear from you!

[Werner Berghofer]

I cleared out, cleaned up, shortened signal paths, just bent some things and brought out the trash.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/even_more_space.jpg

Now I feel better.