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What you are doing sounds like a good idea. Are you able to find out what make and model speakers are used? IMHO the speakers are the most important part of the system.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maelstrom
Thanks for the update - many of us are following your journey with interest. Enjoy the music!
First one says their system is custom built, second one just says they have one of the best systems in the country. Not that they want to over-sell it or anything :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
Aren't all systems "custom built", whether by oneself, or with help from a dealer?
All I asked was if Alistair could see if the speakers were commercially available (as distinct from being specially designed and built), and if commercial the name of the manufacturer. Whether the staff in the two hi-fi cafιs know, or are willing to say is a separate matter.
Sounds like an amazing couple of venues there Alistair! I think we need to organise an AoS field trip!
Joking aside, it sounds like you are doing the right thing by taking your time. And enjoying the music!
Hey Alistair,Quote:
Originally Posted by Maelstrom
Your note reminded me the fond memories of evenings spent in Temple Bar when I used to travel regularly to Dublin years ago.
You are doing the right things: take your time, trust your ears and enjoy the music However the systems in those venues will likely be out of your budget as well as being professionally graded to handle the specific volume and performances levels.
Good luck with the search!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Afternoon all.
Quick update I've taken the advice and booked an audition at HiFihut for this Wednesday afternoon.
I'll be going in with an open mind, but I've asked them to set up something comparable to my Richer Sounds shortlist likely the Wharfedale Super Lintons with a Rega or other integrated amp in the same bracket. I'm curious to hear how a different room and different electronics change my perception.
I'll report back afterwards. Fingers crossed for clarity, not more confusion.
Alistair
Hi Alistair,
How did it go?
Morning all,
Following a recommendation from a fellow member, I decided to take a detour on my never-ending journey and pay a visit to HiFi Hut in Dublin. After my less-than-warm welcome at Cloney Audio, I wasn't expecting much. But from the moment I walked in, it was a completely different story.
They have a great setup just off the M50, and the team there were genuinely interested, asking about my room, my tastes (warm, engaging, non-fatiguing), and crucially, my £3-4k budget. They listened. No judgement, no pushing. Just a shared love of music.
I went in with a mission: to see if they could assemble a system from their stock to compete with my Richer Sounds front-runnerthe Cambridge Audio EXA100 paired with the Wharfedale Super Lintons. And they did, proposing a really intriguing alternative.
Here's the core system they set up for me:
Streamer: WiiM Pro Plus still the transparent, unbeatable value champion.
Amplifier: Rega Elex MK4 72W, built-in DAC, wonderfully musical and rhythmic.
Then we tried two different speakers with it.
First up: Spendor A2 Beautifully made, refined, detailed. But in that demo room, they felt a little polite for my taste. Nina Simone's voice was pristine but lacked a bit of chest. Classic rock (Zeppelin, Floyd) sounded clean but slightly restrained. I could admire them, but I didn't feel them.
Then: Wharfedale Super Linton Heritage And there it was. The same warmth and presence I remembered from Belfast. The Spendors told me what the recording sounded like; the Wharfedales told me how the music felt. They're not as precise, but they're infinitely more engaging. For my taste classic rock, female vocals, jazz they're just more fun.
The Rega Elex drove the Lintons beautifully a touch more nimble and open than the Cambridge EXA100, with a lovely rhythmic drive. That was the deciding factor for me.
So I bought it. The whole system WiiM, Rega, Lintons (with stands), and QED XT25 speaker cable as Derek recommended.
And here's the best part: Derek is delivering everything this afternoon. He's setting it up in my room and because I asked he's going to spend some time advising on acoustic treatment. Rugs, placement, maybe some simple DIY panels. He said with my 5x4m room and bare floors, a few cheap tweaks will get me most of the way.
For anyone in Ireland, I cannot recommend HiFi Hut enough. Ask for Derek he knows his stuff and is a genuine pleasure to deal with.
By tonight, I'll have music in my house for the first time in years. I'll post photos once it's all in place.
Thanks again to everyone who pointed me in this direction.
Alistair
Hi Alistair,
You've made a sound choice there I feel. I have a WiiM Pro and an Elex Mk4 and I've been a fan of the Rega house sound for some years now, having recently replaced my Brio R with an Elex. I have heard the Linton's as well, good speakers and very good value, so I can't see you being unhappy with that combination, especially if you have been without a system for so long. The Linton's are a very non fatiguing speaker so you can listen to them for hours without them starting to get edgy - perfect for jazz and female vocal.
Happy days then and a great city to live in too. I always pop into Neary's for a pint when I'm in Dublin, can't beat a Neary's Guinness
:cool:
I thought you might procrastinate some more so well done for making the decision and going for it.
Look forward to seeing the pics of it all set up.
Hi Tim
Thanks for an almost vote of confidence in the direction I'm going!
Ah, Neary's! Yes, it's an absolute gem. It's on Chatham Street, just off Grafton Street. Dark wood, old gas lamps, no TV, no piped music. Just good pints, good conversation, and a crowd of actors from the Gaiety Theatre next door. I've had some brilliant nights in there – lively after a show, peaceful on a quiet Sunday. One of my favourite spots in Dublin. Highly recommended.
Alistair
Sounds like a nice result.
I hope they price matched RS on the speakers?
I have a friend who sometimes plays on the open mic nights in Neary's. I think those gas lamps on the bar are some of the oldest working gas lamps in Ireland.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maelstrom
Did I not sound enthusiastic enough? I think that's a great system you've chosen, I could happily listen to it all day long :)
Brilliant to read, Alistair - glad you've found the right system and I'm quite excited for you! So goodness knows how you must be feeling! I'm, a long time Wharfedale fan (though not had the modern Lintons) and Rega just do it right. I'm definitely interested in looking at the Wiim option, so it will be good to read how you get on with everything in your own place. Have fun! (And let us see some pictures!)
Really pleased you've got yourself sorted Alistair, well done :) There's a lot of love for Rega's amps, I bet they'll work a treat with the Super Lintons. And it's nice that Derek will be coming round to set up and advise on room treatments - I reckon that'll make the difference between a good system and a great one :) Looking forward to some pics too.
Kudos to Martin for recommending the selected speaker.
I don't really understand why I have never heard a pair. Probably because I never see Wharfedale at shows, I guess. Or at least notice them if they are there.
Enjoy.
Great choice Alistair. I have heard that exact system a few weeks ago and it is very impressive. I actually use the Wiim Pro Plus and bought the Rega Elex Mk4 recently to use in one of my systems and it sound excellent.
The Super Lintons are fabulous speakers and after listening to them with the Rega Elex Mk4 I may well buy a pair myself!
Enjoy your new system!
Yes, well done in taking your time and coming up with a system which will give you much musical pleasure. Today's going to be a landmark day for you! :)
We are indeed looking forward to seeing the photographs, and hoping you will post here regularly telling us of the music you are enjoying.
Again we'll done.
Alistair doesn't seem to be listening to us this afternoon, he must be busy with something :)
Can't think what that might be - gardening perhaps?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
:D That'll be it - diggin' some quality sounds man :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
Was there a bit of a late night listening session?
Does the system live up to your expectations now that you have got it home?
Morning Kevin,Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
You know what I didn't even ask for a price match. And that's not like me, normally I'd haggle over a fiver.
But honestly? The overall package was so good that I didn't feel the need. The system came in very close to my budget top end maybe a hair over but when you factor in the free delivery, Derek spending a good chunk of his afternoon setting everything up in my actual room, and the hour or so of free advice on acoustic treatment (rugs, placement, the works)... it felt like incredible value.
Could I have saved a few quid shopping the individual components online? Probably. But I wouldn't have had someone standing in my living room, listening to my room, moving speakers an inch at a time, and telling me exactly where to put a rug. That's worth paying for.
So no price match. Just a very happy customer who feels like he got a fair deal from a decent human being.
Cheers,
Alistair
Morning everyone,
I'm writing this with tired eyes and a very full heart. The system arrived yesterday afternoon. Derek from HiFi Hut delivered it himself, set everything up, tweaked the speaker positions, and gave me a proper room tutorial (rug down, first reflection points, the works).
And then he left. And I pressed play.
I honestly don't know where the evening went. I started with Nina Simone I Put a Spell on You. My God. Her voice was right there, full of pain and power. Then Joni Mitchell's Blue. Then some John Coltrane. Then, because I couldn't resist, Led Zeppelin's When the Levee Breaks. The Super Lintons just kept delivering. Warm, engaging, never harsh. The Rega Elex MK4 drives them with such rhythmic energy my foot hasn't stopped tapping.
I kept saying "just one more track" until I looked at the clock and it was past midnight. I finally tore myself away around 1am. Best kind of sleep deprivation.
I want to thank every single one of you who commented, offered advice, shared dealer recommendations, or just kept me company during the confusion. This forum has been a lifeline. I walked into this as a newly retired widower in a quiet house, not sure where to start. Now I have music again. Real music. And it feels like coming home.
Photos to follow once I stop listening long enough to take them.
With genuine gratitude,
Alistair
I am glad to see that you have a system that truly delivers what you were looking for.
A great result. Enjoy it...
That sounds like a huge win to me . . .
Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, Coltrane and Zeppelin . . . get in, what a playlist.
My experience with the Elex was it gets even better after a few days . . . she's a warm lady compared to my Brio, so you now have an extra heater for the winter.
Enjoy and I can almost see the grin on your face from Wales :)
I think you have said all that we at AoS would like to say on Alistair's successful journey. Here's to many, many happy hours listening to music.Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
You know when your system is delivering what you want when you can't stop listening.....:)
Afternoon all,
First, thank you again for all the encouragement and advice. The system is in, it's singing, and I've barely left the room.
But a question has been niggling at me and I suspect some of you will have strong (and different) opinions.
Right now, I have the WiiM Pro Plus connected digitally coaxial from the WiiM into the Elex's coaxial input. That means the Elex's internal Wolfson DAC is doing the conversion. And it sounds wonderful. No complaints.
However, I keep reading about the WiiM's own AKM 4493SEQ DAC, and all the features I'm missing out on by bypassing it. Things like the 10-band graphic EQ, parametric EQ, 26 preset EQ profiles, bass/treble adjustments, and room correction all of which are only available when using the WiiM's analogue RCA outputs. Apparently, this flexibility is one of the main reasons people rate the Pro Plus so highly, but I'm not accessing any of it right now.
So my question is twofold:
Is it worth experimenting with an analogue (RCA) connection? I'm aware that would let me access the EQ and other features, making the WiiM a more active part of the system. But would that actually improve things in my room? Or would I just be introducing more processing into the signal path?
Which DAC is likely to sound better? The WiiM's AKM 4493SEQ is widely praised though some on the WiiM forum say that with gear as resolving as the Rega, RCA can sound excellent too. But equally, the Rega's Wolfson DAC is no slouch. I've also read that the Elex's analogue section is completely unaffected by its digital inputs, with galvanic isolation keeping things clean.
I know the real answer is: buy a £10 cable and try both. And I probably will. But before I do and before I potentially fall down another rabbit hole I'd love to hear from anyone who has tried both approaches, or who has thoughts on whether the extra processing features (EQ, etc.) are genuinely useful or just a distraction.
Is this a worthy experiment, or should I just leave well enough alone and enjoy the music?
Grateful for any thoughts or experiences.
Alistair
I'd give it a few weeks first and see if anything crops up in the sound that you don't like. You need to go through a wide variety of music for that. Just take your time with it.
If after a few weeks you decide that it could be better, then you could think about using the various digital correction options.
Bear in mind the best way to do this is to get measurement mic and software and measure the response of the speakers in your room. It's not that hard but it is a lot of work and a learning curve.
Using the automatic room correction via phone mic very rarely gives good results, you'll just end up switching it off again. This is why you'll see people claiming that processing degrades the sound. You have to use it properly or not at all. 'Properly' means manually calibrating it based on reliable measurements.
The digital processing of room correction or parametric EQ will not degrade the signal in itself, this is the advantage of digital processing.
Alistair,
I can only half answer your question as I have the WiiM Pro and the DAC on that is IMO inferior (vastly) compared to a Rega DAC. It sounds flat with a compressed soundstage that just extends right to left between the speakers, not front to back as well. However I understand the Pro had a DAC upgrade, so if it has that may have changed.
I have both COAX and Optical available as outputs into the Elex, same as with the separate Rega DAC, but I pretty much always use COAX from the WiiM. Do they sound different? I think so, but I wouldn't bet a pint on winning a blind test. All I can say is that subconsciously I seem to prefer COAX as it never seems to stay on Optical for long, but that is a very subjective view. You might sit in my seat and think I'm wrong.
But you have answered your own question - there is really only one answer and that's to try it out for yourself and see which you prefer, especially if it's something you're wondering about?
I'm a great believer in that opinions on what's better is only something you can answer. You may often hear a difference when you change something, but does that mean it's better - or is it just different? I would wait awhile before changing things too - then go back again to see which you like the most.
My personal opinion is the Rega is a better DAC, but that's better for me as I prefer it. I am also used to the Rega DAC sound as I've used a Rega DAC for 15 years now and I like how it sounds. But I don't tend to change gear very often, in fact I find it stressful - when I hear something I like I tend to stop and just enjoy the music.
I had a Brio R and separate Rega DAC for 15 years before the Elex and I understand the DAC chip and circuitry is the same in the Elex.
As to the extra processing features - I've just looked at the EQ section in the WiiM app . . . crikey look at that lot! I think I've looked at them before, but that's as far as I've ever got.
That probably doesn't help at all . . . !
Personally, I would see if I could borrow a decent RCA cable from HiFi Hut, and try it out myself.
You may find that the AKM is more accurate, but the Wolfson gives you the soul of the music, which is what you were looking for.
Afternoon all,
A quick update for those who've been following along and another request for the collective wisdom.
The system has been in place for just over a week now. I've been listening every evening, and I'm still absolutely delighted. The Rega and Lintons continue to put a smile on my face. I've been working my way through old favourites (Nina Simone, Zeppelin, Joni, Coltrane) and even dabbling in some new discoveries via the WiiM. No regrets. None.
So, all is well. Or it was, until yesterday.
My daughter-in-law who is lovely, thoughtful, and knows I've been rediscovering music heard I'd bought a new stereo (her words). She turned up yesterday with a gift wrapped in colourful paper. "I know you love music, and I saw this and thought of you," she said.
I opened it.
It's a vinyl record. A nice one, too the 2022 reissue of Joni Mitchell's Blue. Beautiful sleeve. Heavy weight vinyl. Clearly chosen with care.
And of course, I don't have a turntable.
I smiled, thanked her warmly, and said it was perfect. Because it is perfect just not for my current system.
So now I have a problem. A nice problem, but a problem.
Do I:
A) Gently tell her next time that I don't actually have a record player, but I'll treasure it anyway, and maybe use it as wall art?
B) Take this as the nudge I've secretly been wanting and scratch the itch of adding a turntable to my system?
I'll be honest. I've been wondering about vinyl for a while. There's something about the ritual, the artwork, the physicality. And my system is already warm and engaging a turntable might just complete the picture.
But I've spent my budget. I'd have to save up, or look for a good used deck. And I know little, now, of phono stages, cartridges, alignment the whole vinyl world.
So, forum: what would you do? And if I go down the turntable path, where on earth do I start with a budget of, say, £500-800? Used Rega? Pro-Ject? Something else?
I wasn't expecting this twist. But maybe that's how these things are supposed to happen.
Alistair
Get a Rega Planar 3 with Nd3 cartridge and enjoy your records trouble free. The Elex has a good internal phono stage so the Rega turntable will plug right in - no worries, no complications.
I'd pick option 'A' :)
If you only have the one record just consider the cost of amassing more. Decent used copies of anything are £10. Anything popular second hand is £20 to infinity. New pressings are £25 to £200 a go.
My recommendation would also be either a Rega Planar 3 as suggested by Dave or a Project Debut Pro.
Nah, we all know the answer is B)! Itches are meant to be scratched, and Hifi_Dave knows his onions or rather his Regas - you won't go wrong with that advice.
(What a lovely daughter-in-law and thing to do!)
Martin's point is correct, the days of digging through charity shops and getting excellent albums at 50p a pop are long gone, but if you're not going crazy with the purchases it doesn't need to deplete the pension fund completely, and, at the end of the day, life's too short to not be enjoying yourself now you've finally retired. My opinion, of course, but go on, you know you want to!
Rega Planar 3 - no competition at that price point. If you use the cartridge hifi_dave has suggested, you'll have no worries about cartridge alignment or vertical tracking angles, just put Joni on, sit back and smile.
That's probably the easiest decision you've had to make so far and if you buy the two suggested items together, you won't even have to fit the cartridge!
Already owning the Elex MK4 makes it a no brainer IMHO :)
Hello Alistair,
You may be entering a whole, new and not inexpensive path with your interest in vinyl replay. But here goes:
Take Dave's advice and go for a Rega 3 with the N3d cartridge. The two are designed for one another and it is as close to a "plug and play" set up as you can find, and it is just within your budget at £800 - £850.
Go back to HiFi Hut and see if they have one. Sometimes dealers take in items as part exchange. If you are lucky they may have a used sample which they could sell to you. You would need to be assured that there is little stylus wear. And although I described the combination as 'plug and play', it would be best to have dealer set it up for you to achieve optimum performance.
So that is the encouraging part. The less than encouraging part is to pay heed to what Martin has said: new vinyl is expensive and buying used LPs is a minefield when it comes to sums paid and checking the condition of the record; visual appearance is not the only indicator. Also vinyl is a delicate medium: it has to be handled carefully, cleaned carefully and an eye kept on condition of the stylus. But if you find this routine attractive then there is little to stop you.
The phono stage in the Rega Elex Mk4 is superb so should sound excellent with the Rega planar 3.
Don't forget you will need somewhere to put the TT as well, and depending on your house, you may need a wall mount.
Don't forget to factor in that your friends and family would then have a much easier time deciding what to get you for Christmas/birthday/Father's day :)
For no logical reason whatsoever, I'll say go for it - when it comes to regrets it's always the things you didn't do that get you.
Technics SL1200 Mk7 is a very viable alternative to the Rega at that price level.
I'm going to advise against it.
Why? Because I think decent vinyl replay requires high precision mechanical engineering that just costs a lot of money before you start to get acceptable results.
You'll soon hear the flaws with a budget setup. And while a very expensive set up can sound absolutely fantastic with some pressings, you'll still hear the flaws with substandard pressings and the surface noise.
I'm just saying it's a dangerous route to take as a retiree.
Just being honest as I see it. It's potentially a huge money pit.
I agree, but it's still very possible to enjoy the pleasure of playing records without ever needing to jump into that money pit :)Quote:
Originally Posted by User211
It's not our call, really.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim
Up to the OP to listen to our opinions. Only he knows his priorities and cash reserves.
If you tried hard as a retiree you could probably make money with buying and selling vinyl. Plenty of time for that!