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Audiophile GAF

Stax SR-X9000

I can't give this a "glowing recommendation" solely due to its price in the face of such capable and far more affordable competition. It is a pinnacle product, but one whose cost is difficult to rationalize.

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HD 560s are here along with 598cs ear pads.

It's really really good almost matches HD 650, it's like one star behind. I can push a lot from them without loosing the mids on my Kenny.

They are gonna stay I think alongside FiiO and I'm calling it a day.
 

First Audiophile Computer Speakers (budget around 400 CAD)


Been using Logitech for years and its time for a change. Need a good 2.1 system that has great music quality and can deliver great dialogue in movie scenes.

Looking at Edifier but a lot of critical reviews say they have hiss. Also got recommended Kanto Oras but some reviews say they are muffled/flat. What would GAF recommended for an audiophile newbie? Also have a focusrite 2i2 (I'm guessing used as a DAC for my speakers).
 
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PrefectAboro said:

First Audiophile Computer Speakers (budget around 400 CAD)


Been using Logitech for years and its time for a change. Need a good 2.1 system that has great music quality and can deliver great dialogue in movie scenes.

Looking at Edifier but a lot of critical reviews say they have hiss. Also got recommended Kanto Oras but some reviews say they are muffled/flat. What would GAF recommended for an audiophile newbie? Also have a focusrite 2i2 (I'm guessing used as a DAC for my speakers).
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I had a set of Harman Kardon soundsticks that lasted me nearly 25 years until the rubber holding the speakers together started to corrode. Those things sounded great and looked way better than any other computer speakers (they used them as futuristic props in the movies AI and the Truman Show).

Replaced them with the more modern Soundsticks 4 earlier this year. Still sounds okay, although it's geared towards Bluetooth and the speakers go into standby even in wired mode if they don't get any input.

I'd definitely recommend considering them. They don't look or sound quite as good as the original versions but they're eye-catching and fit your budget.
 
calistan said:
I had a set of Harman Kardon soundsticks that lasted me nearly 25 years until the rubber holding the speakers together started to corrode. Those things sounded great and looked way better than any other computer speakers (they used them as futuristic props in the movies AI and the Truman Show).

Replaced them with the more modern Soundsticks 4 earlier this year. Still sounds okay, although it's geared towards Bluetooth and the speakers go into standby even in wired mode if they don't get any input.

I'd definitely recommend considering them. They don't look or sound quite as good as the original versions but they're eye-catching and fit your budget.
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Yeah I'm looking for a great system (wired). Some systems that need constant input and cut off the sound would annoy me especially during movie watching with dialogue. I gotta admit though they look stylish and lasting for 25 years? Geeze that's incredible!!
 
PrefectAboro said:
Yeah I'm looking for a great system (wired). Some systems that need constant input and cut off the sound would annoy me especially during movie watching with dialogue. I gotta admit though they look stylish and lasting for 25 years? Geeze that's incredible!!
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They don't cut out during movies, it's more like if the computer hasn't made a sound in 20 minutes and you decide to play a song, it takes about 10 seconds for it to wake the speakers.

Quite annoying, especially as I have no interest in usig the speakers wireless. But I've seen this mentioned in a lot of reviews of computer speakers, including more expensive ones. Maybe it's due to power saving regulations. I read something about a script that outputs a low level signal to keep any brand of speakers powered on.

The OG Soundsticks were better in every way, but these are still pretty good and they have the significant bonus of not looking like computer speakers at all. I keep the subwoofer on my desk, as it looks great. But it's also mandatory, as the volume buttons are on the sub.
 
Are the LCD-X worth it in the 2026 new for 1.2k?

I have rme adi 2 dac so eq is not a problem.

Cancelled my ary organic order a week ago,decided not to play the lottory after all.
 
I recently fell in love with a McIntosh CT500 SAC/CD transport that was on display here.

What an absolute god damn unit.

That said, I have to stick to my principles:

Buy once and cry once

McIntosh-mct500-cd-transport-1-lexicom-multimedia.jpg
 
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I'm still rocking my Hifiman Arya Stealth, great headphones.
I also have the AKG K701 which i always wanted to have back in the 2000's years. I have them and they are also magnificent headphones, unfortunately not that bass heavy which is why i like my Arya Stealth better, bigger more "fat" sound.
 
amigastar said:
I'm still rocking my Hifiman Arya Stealth, great headphones.
I also have the AKG K701 which i always wanted to have back in the 2000's years. I have them and they are also magnificent headphones, unfortunately not that bass heavy which is why i like my Arya Stealth better, bigger more "fat" sound.
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That's interesting. They were still manufactured in Austria around that time. I wanted them too (the white one) but settled for the model below that.
 
I've been pairing my bargain bin Superlux 660 closed back headphones with my dap. Because of the weather.

Surprisingly, not shit. For thirty Euro Dollars.

The clamping force does gets annoying after a few hours. The coiled cord is the perfect length. Pop the dap in your jacket pocket and you're gold. It doesn't get in the way.

I'm now looking at other closed back mid-fi alternatives.
 
I'm gonna open the box of pandora and ask you guys if you believe in Cable sound or not?
I personally don't believe in it but i'm getting a new cable tommorrow and i'm curious if i will be hearing differences but probably not.
 
Maiden Voyage said:
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Didn't watch the video yet but I find audiophiles funny who spend thousands and thousands of Dollars for their equiment (don't know about Vinyl since i don't have one) but they can get at a fraction of costs a system who sounds 90% as good as their 20000 dollar systems, with that i mean DACS and AMPS, Speaker can be more expensive and Headphones too.
 
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OverHeat said:
l8ltryVX5QAW5W6G.jpeg
Pure sex plug in my PC.
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That's the Sennheisser HDV 820. Shit, man. It's expensive and I wanted to get it and thought it would be affordable because of it's small size. Heck no. Shit is like 2+ thousand USD easily.
How does it sound? I have similar cans to yours, at least.
 
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amigastar said:
Didn't watch the video yet but I find audiophiles funny who spend thousands and thousands of Dollars for their equiment (don't know about Vinyl since i don't have one) but they can get at a fraction of costs a system who sounds 90% as good as their 20000 dollar systems, with that i mean DACS and AMPS, Speaker can be more expensive and Headphones too.
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When it comes to electronics, people will pay a lot. And the more expensive the gear, the fewer sales, but higher margin.

I used to work at an electronics company. Every product line followed the same strategy

Low priced tiers: Cheap, it looks kind of bland, performance was fine for the avg person

Top end tier. High price, it looks slick with buttons and LED lights, more features, performance is better. Most people wouldnt even notice it or use all the features. I remember one of the bosses even joked that if you add some blinking lights you can jack up the price. lol

The top end tier was literally up to about 8x the price of the bargain tier at stores. The COGs from the factory for the top models werent even double the manufacture price of the low end line. lol
 
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Dirk Benedict said:
That's the Sennheisser HDV 820. Shit, man. It's expensive and I wanted to get it and thought it would be affordable because of it's small size. Heck no. Shit is like 2+ thousand USD easily.
How does it sound? I have similar cans to yours, at least.
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Sound perfect natural sound skull fuck you lol
 
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