Audiophile thread - All about sound

[Moe Wanchuk]

This is like the official HDTV thread in SLP VHS quality trying to use the tracking wheel to unscramble porn.

What's good for HT isn't for music listening.I have a Marantz 2270 with BSW speakers, a passive sub and a Sansui turntable I got from my uncle. That was audiophile back in the day. My HT is a Marantz 5006, Athena front towers, bookshelf surrounds, and a **** Polk 12" sub. For listening to music, the old 70's setup absolutely destroys my home theater. It's a one trick pony, but to me more people want every song ever written on their ipod, and compress the hell out of it. Sitting in a dark room and just listening to music is an afterthought now. That's a shame.

So you're telling me that the tracking wheel won't unscramble it?

There's a Denon 5.1 receiver on woot for 149 + ship. Its another "should I or shouldn't I" moment?

Help :shrug:

And yes, the compression/loudness war (as wiki has called it) has ruined a lot of music in the last 20 years.

Go for this one instead http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a- ... ver/1.html. That store is really good.

I never understood (even for entry level models) using spring clips for the center channel. Most of a movie tracks signal goes through it, and they skimp there?

[shmenguin]

ok...so my wife surprised me on my birthday with a pair of Bose QC3 headphones about 18 months ago. thoughtful gift. loved them. but they're Bose - so they broke within 2 years.

what noise cancelling head phones should i replace them with? i'm partial to Sennheiser, but i'm open to suggestions. i'm not afraid to go high-endish here.

[Factorial]

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/kli ... 0-mode.php

[shmenguin]

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/kli ... 0-mode.php

saw the engadget review. didn't seem like they loved them. i guess i might as well be a little more specific

-i want active noise cancelling
-prefer on the ear, but i don't mind over the ear
-don't want to have to use an amplifier
-noise leakage is important. don't want them to be loud to everyone around me

[shmenguin]

so i went with the safe (but stupid expensive) choice and got the sennheiser pxc 450's. holy crap they sound awesome compared to bose. unreal.

[meow]

I need a sound bar under $250. GO!

[pittsoccer33]

I need a sound bar under $250. GO!

LGs are pretty decent. Some have bluetooth connectivity, which makes playing from your smartphone easier. Sharp makes a pretty interesting looking one too.

Just out of curiosity, why are you considering a sound bar as opposed to other options?

[meow]

I need a sound bar under $250. GO!

LGs are pretty decent. Some have bluetooth connectivity, which makes playing from your smartphone easier. Sharp makes a pretty interesting looking one too.

Just out of curiosity, why are you considering a sound bar as opposed to other options?

Because I am extremley ignorant when it comes to home audio.

[Letang Is The Truth]

lol

[pittsoccer33]

I need a sound bar under $250. GO!

LGs are pretty decent. Some have bluetooth connectivity, which makes playing from your smartphone easier. Sharp makes a pretty interesting looking one too.

Just out of curiosity, why are you considering a sound bar as opposed to other options?

Because I am extremley ignorant when it comes to home audio.

Thats ok, you have to start somewhere.

Soundbars are nice because they are so easy to set up. There are a few main options you will look for.

-Is the subwoofer wired to it or does it talk to the sound bar wirelessly? a wireless unit will let you stuff the sub in a corner more easily.
-how many connections to your devices does it have and what are they?
1) the cheapest units have a headphone jack, just like your computer speakers. When I sold them to people I told them using that was the easiest way to connect it to your tv. All your devices plugged into the tv, and then a single wire to the sound bar
2) a digital optical or coaxial input. many tv's have this output option. you could also connect your cable box or dvd player's audio to it instead of to your tv
3) hdmi. this gives you more control options. you should be able to use your tv's remote to power it up and change the volume that way. to connect to your tv, one of your hdmi connections will have to support arc (it should be labled on the tv itself). if not you will have to connect to your audio source directly.

if simplicity is what you're looking for, you could even purchase an attractive pair of computer speakers and connect them the same way. thats what i do in my bedroom, though I wouldnt mind mounting a soundbar to my tv's wall mount.

[meow]

I need a sound bar under $250. GO!

LGs are pretty decent. Some have bluetooth connectivity, which makes playing from your smartphone easier. Sharp makes a pretty interesting looking one too.

Just out of curiosity, why are you considering a sound bar as opposed to other options?

Because I am extremley ignorant when it comes to home audio.

Thats ok, you have to start somewhere.

Soundbars are nice because they are so easy to set up. There are a few main options you will look for.

-Is the subwoofer wired to it or does it talk to the sound bar wirelessly? a wireless unit will let you stuff the sub in a corner more easily.
-how many connections to your devices does it have and what are they?
1) the cheapest units have a headphone jack, just like your computer speakers. When I sold them to people I told them using that was the easiest way to connect it to your tv. All your devices plugged into the tv, and then a single wire to the sound bar
2) a digital optical or coaxial input. many tv's have this output option. you could also connect your cable box or dvd player's audio to it instead of to your tv
3) hdmi. this gives you more control options. you should be able to use your tv's remote to power it up and change the volume that way. to connect to your tv, one of your hdmi connections will have to support arc (it should be labled on the tv itself). if not you will have to connect to your audio source directly.

if simplicity is what you're looking for, you could even purchase an attractive pair of computer speakers and connect them the same way. thats what i do in my bedroom, though I wouldnt mind mounting a soundbar to my tv's wall mount.

I'm open for other options beside the soundbar, as long as it is wireless. Where the tv is in the living room is fairly isolated - between a doorway and the fireplace - so I don't want to run cables everywhere. I would be able to do the hdmi connection straight to the tv. The thing has like 4 hdmi ports, 1 of which is being used.

[count2infinity]

anyone with experience with TDK? I'm considering getting this for the house to play music or on the deck as well...

http://www.woot.com/offers/tdk-wireless-sound-cube

[shmenguin]

anyone with experience with TDK?

less holes in it than TDKR

[count2infinity]

anyone with experience with TDK?

less holes in it than TDKR

THANKS FOR THE GREAT ADVICE! I'LL DEFINITELY BUY IT NOW!

[Letang Is The Truth]

finally made the jump and bought a bluetooth portable speaker. i went with the jabra solemate over the the jambox as the price point was lower and it is much sturdier in terms of construction. i went to best buy and was fiddling with both of them and i worry the jambox would damage easily. solemate has performed well so far.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... Caps%2C123

[eddysnake]

I'm installing new ceiling speakers at my in laws on their covered porch. The old speakers cutout size is 10.5" x 7". I was looking at Polk Audio RC55i and their cutout size is 9.63" x 6.25". Does anyone have any experience replacing in wall/ceiling speakers. Obviously those would fit in the already cut out hold, but will the difference in space make a difference? Other option is bumping up to the RC65i which has a cutout size of 10.88" x 7.38". That would require more cutting and the ceiling is very nicely finished planked boards and I'm not sure I want to screw around with more cutting....

[cma3585]

I bought a pair of Audio Technica ATH-ES7's refurbished from JR's about 3-4 years ago for 60 dollars. They retailed for 150-200 and right now, b/c they're no longer made and there's still a demand for them, they're selling for 200-250 now. The cord on mine after years of falling asleep in them and rolling around and doing damage to it finally partially severed and I'm getting sound in both ears only when it's placed at an exact position. I called Audio Technica and asked if I could get it replaced and they gave me an estimate of 25 dollars plus shipping. I was so utterly thrilled. They could have easily said "we no longer service that product because it's not manufactured anymore" and attempted to force to me to buy another AT product. Instead, they're basically making them like new again for about 30 dollars. I know, cool story bro.

[pittsoccer33]

http://gizmodo.com/5981823/beat-by-dre- ... -the-world

really interesting article about the history of Beats by Dre and how badly Dre and Jimmy Iovine screwed Monster out of a fortune

I still haven't heard a pair. I'm on my 2nd pair of Sony MDR AS50G headphones and they wont last forever. I like in ear but attached to a headband. Buds don't stay in my ears at all

[pittsoccer33]

finally made the jump and bought a bluetooth portable speaker. i went with the jabra solemate over the the jambox as the price point was lower and it is much sturdier in terms of construction. i went to best buy and was fiddling with both of them and i worry the jambox would damage easily. solemate has performed well so far.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... Caps%2C123

Are you still happy with your Solemate?

I went to Best Buy and played with a few of these last night. I'd like to buy one before I go to Florida in a few weeks, but I'm having such an awful time swallowing the price. The best two I listened to were a JBL at $120 and a Sony at $130, and my $25 computer speakers still sound better than either of them.

[Troy Loney]

I got the bose bluetooth yesterday. so far so good.

[PensFanInDC]

I got the bose bluetooth yesterday. so far so good.

I had an experience with one back in January. I loved it.

[Letang Is The Truth]

I got the bose bluetooth yesterday. so far so good.

which one did you get?

[Troy Loney]

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/sho ... src=K22350

[Letang Is The Truth]

finally made the jump and bought a bluetooth portable speaker. i went with the jabra solemate over the the jambox as the price point was lower and it is much sturdier in terms of construction. i went to best buy and was fiddling with both of them and i worry the jambox would damage easily. solemate has performed well so far.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... Caps%2C123

Are you still happy with your Solemate?

I went to Best Buy and played with a few of these last night. I'd like to buy one before I go to Florida in a few weeks, but I'm having such an awful time swallowing the price. The best two I listened to were a JBL at $120 and a Sony at $130, and my $25 computer speakers still sound better than either of them.

i dont mind it. i wish i would have waited until the new bose soundlink mini came out. i think its head and shoulders above the competition

[count2infinity]

I got this one a while back:

http://www.amazon.com/G-Project-Portabl ... mbang+g-go

I just keep it in my kitchen for while I'm cooking or while we're eating. I have zero complaints. The sound is good, the connection is easy. It's really nice too because I have it positioned where I can listen in the kitchen and my back deck, so while I'm cooking/grilling/just hanging out on the deck, it can be used for music. I think I got it cheaper than $60 too... was at walmart on sale for $40 or something like that.