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jtay
03-06-2011, 11:06
I've been a member on here since 2009, apparently :-) but never posted to the Welcome forum.

As I've just said elsewhere in a thread: "I'm not a newcomer to this forum - more an infrequent flyer. I dip my toes in, then I'll be off for weeks/months. My days of obsession with hifi have faded - not necessarily a bad thing for me. So I drop by as things crop up."

I've got about 4 systems around the house, been into hifi for ????? maybe 7 years, went through frantic exploration and impossible quest for something unattainable (and unaffordable) and have settled down. I'm a home computer buff too, so very interested in how hifi meets home computer technology. So, I stream video and audio through netbooks/dacs.

I'm an audiophile skeptic, these days. I love good music and good sound, but I question the spurious claims of many overhyped products and manufacturers. I am not averse to DIY - but not electronically savvy.

Favourite explorations and discoveries include:

T amps - extraordinary VFM and undermine IMO the cost of other overinflated equipment
My now damaged Castle Isis - some equipment just does its thing, lets you forget about it and enjoy the music.
Emu 0404 usb dac - if it wasn't such an ugly piece of...... plastic, people would pay hundreds for it IMO. Sometimes ousts my benchmark DAC1 in my main system!
Sugden a21a - just lovely sounding
Squeezebox duet - what a revelation and finally I have easy access to all the music on my dedicated server.
Leema Xeros - I don't get whey they're not more popular. Very fine speakers with the right equipment.
Benchmark DAC1 - I know it's good, but I'm still wrestling a little with it to find properly system synergy.

Next main search likely to be for floor standers to go on my main system - DAC1, nakamichi mb10, MF Pre and Power amps xp200, MAudio PMC 703. I'll likely go something a little warmer/smoother sounding.

Please remember I'm not always here, so might not see posts to me for some time.

Chris

John
03-06-2011, 13:07
Hi Chris
Suppose cannot say welcome a you been here for o long but feel free to pop in
As you know we are a noisy lot here so let us know what music you enjoy and a bit more info on your other systems

jtay
03-06-2011, 14:06
Setups:

Kitchen - Denon dm31 with Monitor Audio r90s

Lounge Technics 1210 with rega rb250 arm/goldring 1042, Benchmark Dac1, Nakamichi mb10, MF valve Buffer x10 V3, x pre and xp200 power amp, Monitor Audio pmc703

Other room: computer (Asrock ion netbook/win 7) Beresford 7510 (or 20?) sugden a21a, Leema Xeros

Bedroom: Squeezebox duet (no dac!) Roksan Kandy cd Mk111? Pioneer A300R precision, Wharfedale diamonds 8.1

Office: Acer revo netbook, Emu 0404 usb dac, Winsome labs T amp, Leema Xeros

I use an HP microserver and an Acer NAS to store music/videos for sharing/streaming on wired/wireless network - have been using netbooks to access media, till recently got duet. Also use WD hd tv media player/playstation 3 to feed dacs with music to good effect.

MUSIC TASTES - most genres, classical to electronic, upbeat trance to maudlin acoustic (but not Leonard Cohen)