Newly retired, new house, rekindling an old flame (music)

[User211]

I played with DIRAC quite a while ago now.

I just think the concept is flawed.

When I play my acoustic guitar, do I need to room correct it?

No is the answer. It sounds like it does in the room I play it in.

Same applies to plonking a band in any room.

It also sounds odd to my ears.

[CageyH]

Have you contacted HiFi Hut in Dublin?

[Macca]

Dirac is a useful feature to have for fixing low frequency issues like bass boom but you'll still need to tweak it manually (letting it just auto-correct rarely works out because we don't hear the way a microphone does) and you'll still need a rug and other soft furnishings .

[Maelstrom]

Have you contacted HiFi Hut in Dublin?

Thanks for the suggestion. I haven't contacted HiFi Hut yet – but I've been doing a further bit of homework on the Dublin scene.

Here's my rough take on the main players in the Dublin area, based on what I've heard (and experienced firsthand):

HiFi Hut – I've heard good things, though I haven't visited myself. They stock Rega, Naim, Spendor, and a few others. People say they're knowledgeable and patient with mid-budget customers. I'd put them at the top of my list to try next.

Cloney Audio – I posted about my disappointing experience there a while back. Senior salesman seemed to lose interest when he heard my budget, and I got fobbed off to a Saturday lad who couldn't answer basic questions. Maybe I caught them on a bad day, but first impressions matter. Currently near the bottom of my list.

The Listening Suite – I think they're mostly high-end (Primare, Moon, Audiovector, etc.) – probably out of my budget and comfort zone. I've not contacted them.

So if I had to rank Dublin dealers based on what I know now, I'd say:

HiFi Hut (unproven but good reputation)

Cloney Audio (would only go back if absolutely necessary)

The Listening Suite (probably not for me)

I should probably give HiFi Hut a call. Have you dealt with them yourself? Any particular salesperson I should ask for?

Thanks again for the nudge.

Alistair

[Pigmy Pony]

I can understand your impatience Alistair, I would be the same too. I am also retired, and I came to the realisation that each passing year forms an ever-increasing percentage of the time I have left so I'd just be getting on with it.

Personally I wouldn't be tempted by an amplifier with a built-in streamer, for the same reason I would never have bothered with a music centre or stack system, ie when something fails you're screwed. Having said that, you could still add on off board streamer if you wanted to.

I think the Dirac room correction will only do anything from about 500hz down, so it's likely your room would still need some treatment. But these are things you can play with once you get your new kit home

[CageyH]

Thanks for the suggestion. I haven't contacted HiFi Hut yet – but I've been doing a further bit of homework on the Dublin scene.

Here's my rough take on the main players in the Dublin area, based on what I've heard (and experienced firsthand):

HiFi Hut – I've heard good things, though I haven't visited myself. They stock Rega, Naim, Spendor, and a few others. People say they're knowledgeable and patient with mid-budget customers. I'd put them at the top of my list to try next.

Cloney Audio – I posted about my disappointing experience there a while back. Senior salesman seemed to lose interest when he heard my budget, and I got fobbed off to a Saturday lad who couldn't answer basic questions. Maybe I caught them on a bad day, but first impressions matter. Currently near the bottom of my list.

The Listening Suite – I think they're mostly high-end (Primare, Moon, Audiovector, etc.) – probably out of my budget and comfort zone. I've not contacted them.

So if I had to rank Dublin dealers based on what I know now, I'd say:

HiFi Hut (unproven but good reputation)

Cloney Audio (would only go back if absolutely necessary)

The Listening Suite (probably not for me)

I should probably give HiFi Hut a call. Have you dealt with them yourself? Any particular salesperson I should ask for?

Thanks again for the nudge.

Alistair

I have not used HiFi Hut. I found them through a Google whilst in a meeting today.
They seem well rated.

To be honest, my last interaction with a dealer was during COVID, so things were different back then.
I also live in the South of France, so they are a bit far away.

My recent gear has either been bought second hand, or I have made it myself.
My most recent purchase - a Primare Pre32 - was researched before buying using AI to help.
I am not disappointed, as it is a quality bit of kit.

[Berni217]

Thanks for the suggestion. I haven't contacted HiFi Hut yet – but I've been doing a further bit of homework on the Dublin scene.

Here's my rough take on the main players in the Dublin area, based on what I've heard (and experienced firsthand):

HiFi Hut – I've heard good things, though I haven't visited myself. They stock Rega, Naim, Spendor, and a few others. People say they're knowledgeable and patient with mid-budget customers. I'd put them at the top of my list to try next.

Cloney Audio – I posted about my disappointing experience there a while back. Senior salesman seemed to lose interest when he heard my budget, and I got fobbed off to a Saturday lad who couldn't answer basic questions. Maybe I caught them on a bad day, but first impressions matter. Currently near the bottom of my list.

The Listening Suite – I think they're mostly high-end (Primare, Moon, Audiovector, etc.) – probably out of my budget and comfort zone. I've not contacted them.

So if I had to rank Dublin dealers based on what I know now, I'd say:

HiFi Hut (unproven but good reputation)

Cloney Audio (would only go back if absolutely necessary)

The Listening Suite (probably not for me)

I should probably give HiFi Hut a call. Have you dealt with them yourself? Any particular salesperson I should ask for?

Thanks again for the nudge.

Alistair

Hey Alistair,
Welcome and thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Building a new hi-fi system takes time but is very rewarding when we get it right. No doubt that you will get there.

Only my first system was bought brand new (Arcam CD/Amp and Quad speakers), however I regretted not buying second hand or ex-demo as I would have had so much more quality gears for my money. I have done this since and have not regretted it! Unfortunately, most hifi equipments are like cars: they depreciate from the moment you left the shop.

As you have time, my suggestion would be to go and audition a system at twice your budget from the Listening Suite and compare with your reference/budget system. You could then source the items second hand or ex-demo. This may take a little longer but the reward will be worth it.

Just a thought …


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[Wakefield Turntables]

[QUOTE=Berni217;1403464]Hey Alistair,

As you have time, my suggestion would be to go and audition a system at twice your budget from the Listening Suite and compare with your reference/budget system. You could then source the items second hand or ex-demo. This may take a little longer but the reward will be worth it.

/QUOTE]

This is a good idea for two reasons. firstly, yes you can get stuff a lot cheaper, secondly but more importantly you'll start to learn the lesson of deminishing returns and soon realise that cheaper can sometimes (and more than often than not) outperforms expensive twoddle. Remember hype is not your friend.

[Barry]

I would like to confirm my distrust of adaptive electronic room equalisation facilities such as DIRAK. I went through a similar trial using a Klark Technic 32-way 1/3 octave equaliser in a vain attempt to improve the low frequency response of my speakers. They are Quad 57s, which have a limited response below 40Hz; the bass is there but with limited 'weight'.

I found that I was fiddling with the sliders covering the bottom end each time I played a record or CD - each time it was different, and each time I wasn't satisfied with the sound. Worse of all I wasn't really enjoying listening to the record, so in the end I removed the equaliser from my system and got on with enjoying the records as before and accepting the low end limitation of my speakers.

Sometimes the less is more.

I also agree with Martin that you should listen to some more speakers, and make note of those parts of their sound reproduction that you don’t like. Obviously the aim is to choose a speaker where the "likes" outweigh the "dislikes".

[Maelstrom]

Hey Alistair,
Welcome and thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Building a new hi-fi system takes time but is very rewarding when we get it right. No doubt that you will get there.

Only my first system was bought brand new (Arcam CD/Amp and Quad speakers), however I regretted not buying second hand or ex-demo as I would have had so much more quality gears for my money. I have done this since and have not regretted it! Unfortunately, most hifi equipments are like cars: they depreciate from the moment you left the shop.

As you have time, my suggestion would be to go and audition a system at twice your budget from the Listening Suite and compare with your reference/budget system. You could then source the items second hand or ex-demo. This may take a little longer but the reward will be worth it.

Just a thought …


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That's a really interesting thought – and honestly, not something I'd considered.

I suppose I've been thinking in very linear terms: set a budget, find the best new system within it, buy it, be done. The idea of auditioning at twice my budget and then hunting for second-hand bargains... it feels a bit like cheating, if I'm honest.

And that's where my unease comes in. I'd feel a little dishonest walking into The Listening Suite, letting them spend time with me, maybe even bringing in my own music, all while knowing I have no intention of buying new from them. They're running a business. They have bills to pay. I'm not sure I could look a salesman in the eye and ask for a proper demo if I was already planning to buy elsewhere.

Maybe that's naive. Maybe everyone does it. But it doesn't sit quite right with me.

The second-hand question is another layer. You're absolutely right about depreciation – and I've seen some beautiful ex-demo and used gear on forum classifieds at tempting prices. But I'm also a bit nervous. I've been out of the game so long that I wouldn't know what to look for – worn pots, dry capacitors, mismatched drivers, signs of abuse. And if something went wrong a month later, I'd have no comeback.

I know that's what the forum's "private sales" section is for – trusted members, honest descriptions. But as a newcomer, I don't have that trust built yet.

So I'm torn. Part of me loves the idea of getting, say, a £6-7k system for £3-4k. Part of me just wants a new box, a warranty, and a dealer I can call if something goes wrong.

I suppose I could split the difference – look at ex-demo from a reputable dealer. Still a discount, still some comeback.

Either way, thank you for the suggestion. It's made me think differently, even if I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try it.

Alistair