King_Eddy Posted December 25, 2007 Posted December 25, 2007 2 months ago i spent practically ALL my money on my first high(ish)-end system. My folks help me out finnancially...however the other side of that deal was that i had to wait for chirstmas before i could open it. Well...as far as i coud tell today was christmas, so i finally got to break open the boxes!:D I've been sculking around this site for most of these previous 2 months, but i figured now that i have actually got a system it was time to properly introduce it and myself. The system as it is: Sources: *Phillips DVD player (don't know the exact model) with 24bit/192khz audio dac. *PC AMP: *NAD C325BEE integrated Speakers: *Paradigm Esprits. _________________________________________________ Panning on buying in the near future: *Squeezebox *better CD (possibly + DVD) player, looking at the Denon DVD1920 *A turntable (under $600ish...suggestions?) *a Good Quality DAC for squeezebox/DVD player to run into. _________________________________________________ General enviroment info: *Very small room (like 2.7X3.5) *Despite size, nice room accoustics. Not at all echo-y (probably cos its barely as big as a wardrobe, lol) but then again its not too dry either. *well furnished (with concern to accoustics) curtains behind listening pozzy, oddly shaped walls, carpet, soft couch etc. __________________________________________________ The most important part...the photos... _________________________________________________ The Sound: Pretty damn good considering what it cost (around $1200, not including the laptop or the DVD player, which is a couple of years old). if i was to criticise i would say its bit lacking in the mid-range, high end is very crisp and yummy, bass pretty reasonable. in terms of musicallity, i find it (after 4 hours of listening) is getting a little bit trebbley. But i am listening to west side story, which has loads of high pitched muted trumpet and clarinets, so maybe thats the culprit more than anything. _________________________________________________ I'd love to hear your feedback. As stated, i'm very new to this, and my only knowledge is the stuff i've read in these here forums, so your advice in possible improvements would be greatly appreciated. :)Merry Christmas to all!
Gainz Posted December 25, 2007 Posted December 25, 2007 Nice work... the esprits look great. I would be hinting at a new audio rack for your amp and future cd player for your birthday....keeping everthing level and isolated makes great improvements to any systems sound.
johnnyrs Posted December 26, 2007 Posted December 26, 2007 grex;54642 wrote: those paradigms look sexy dude enjoy ! I agree - v nice. King Eddy, I'd suggest looking for a decent CD player now. Cambridge & NAD come to mind to suit what you've got. There might be some specials in the boxing day/January sales if you're lucky. Given your screen, I'd say you wouldn't see much of a difference visually with a Denon 1920 and a 1/2 decent cd player would beat it sonically. I'd only go for a good DVD player if you're planning on getting a better screen. Welcome to the never ending world of upgrading
King_Eddy Posted December 26, 2007 Author Posted December 26, 2007 I'd only go for a good DVD player if you're planning on getting a better screen. haha, i kinda forgot that tv was in the photo...embarrising... my folks old one that i stole for myself...its old as. i forogt to put a new TV on my wish list. Cheers for the player ideas... I'm looking at the denon dvd player 2nd hand for $400. i've done some reading about it and i came to the conclusion that it might well sound better than a new CD player of the same price...would i be right in this, or not? i am arranging to listen to it as soon as the seller is back from holiday...so i guess ill hear the answer then. I'm not really a home theatre man in terms of HD TV etc (thats far to expensive a hobby for me), so i suppose i could just get a crappy dvd player to serve up my movies, then get a high quality CD player. I dunno. anyone got any suggestions for a sub-$600 turntable? cheers, Eddy
Gainz Posted December 26, 2007 Posted December 26, 2007 Sub 600 tt the only go is the project debut at that price. The GR 1.2 (Goldring) is a better table at 800. Shore hifi has both
Citroen Posted December 26, 2007 Posted December 26, 2007 Crongrats on the new system! As for turntables, you can't beat a Pro-ject Debut 3 for a mere $500. leaves you $100 to buy more vinyl too... Have owned one of these and was very impressed by the musicality of the TT. Enough to tempt me to upgrade to another Pro-jectTT! Also spotted was a pro-ject rmp-1 StereoWolrld have a Pro-ject RMP1 for $399 http://www.getfrank.co.nz/pro-ject-rpm-1-genie-turntable-39/ http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=rpm1&cat=turntables&lang=en no idea what it sounds like but it looks way more than its $399 asking price.
King_Eddy Posted December 26, 2007 Author Posted December 26, 2007 wow, those pro-ject TT's look great...which, although says nothing about the sound, its always a good start. cheers for that mate!, i shall certainly look into it. Cheers for all the advice you guys! Just listening to Jefferson Airplanes "Surrealistic Pillow"...the imaging is great...such an amazing change from my little old sony system i used to listen to.
Tonto Posted December 27, 2007 Posted December 27, 2007 My brother runs my old NAD T750 h/t amp with that exact DVD player! My 2cents I would heavily recommend a dedicated CD player NAD/Cambridge as above leaving the new DVD for when a new TV is on the cards. Project have brought out a new budget aswell not sure if available in NZ yet. Apart from the basics - stand, cables , positioning - buy music! and lots of it!
King_Eddy Posted December 27, 2007 Author Posted December 27, 2007 ...buy music! and lots of it! ...oh i plan too!!!!! cables are pretty good i think; QED QUDOS. is that good? i know nothing about cables, but these lots (lots for me), like $90 for two 3m lenths, with banana plug things at the end. Is there anything i can do witht the spare lenth that is better than just leaving it on the floor? i am reluctant to shorten them as that would be hell annoying if i am to move my stereo to a bigger space. Or is that highly recommended? The concencus here definitely seems to be dedicated CD player...so i think ill do that. Cheers Fulla's
waricle Posted December 27, 2007 Posted December 27, 2007 Congratulations on your new system! Nice one!! On the subject of a dedicated c/d player, go for a new one if possible as they do wear out and a laser replacement can often cost as much as the new price of the player or just be uneconomical. My Meridian 506-20 laser died and I don't know if i can even get it repaired.:mad: Fold your spare speaker cable in a serpentine form rather than coil it and stick it out of sight. ( a coil may add inductance) I had a NAD 540 c/d player and though nice sounding had an infuriatingly slow tray action. The newer models are faster i believe. Wait till you hear Jefferson Airplane on vinyl on your new system- I love it!!!
King_Eddy Posted January 5, 2008 Author Posted January 5, 2008 So after my first month of my amazing new job (CD and DVD store...yee-ah!) i got a lovely suprise on thursday finding a nice wee christmas bonus. well i obviously couldn't leave this just sitting in my bank account collecting dust:D, so i rushed out and bought: *Pro-Ject Debut 3 TT *Pro-Ject Phono Box II *Very Cr*ppy, but all i need, 14" DSE TV *Shelving materials. $800 later and i'm finally starting to really think my system looks great... The shelves are made of think ply wood and unbelieveably heavy (carrying 9 of them up the stairs isn't fun) breeze blocks. The weight of them means that the shelves don't move at all, i can jump heavily and the needle doesn't move. Kinda scared for my floor though...hoping like hell it doesn't end up down stairs. lol I'm now able to finally listen to my mums old record collection, plus the few new pressings i've bought. I'm starting to think my mum actually had reasonable taste in music back in the day... so far i've found Dark side of the moon, some early Jethro Tull (the good stuff), Alan parsons, the wall... Its pretty much all amazing (note the huge box i'm working my way thru ) ...and boy-o-boy does the debut do a greatjob of playing them. I've never heard the first tenor sax solo in "us and them" from dark side sound so amazing. Oh well...back to the music...
Owen Y Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 That's a good retro setup you got now... The good ol' conc blocks + planks of wood... Jethro Tull... :cool: Owen
King_Eddy Posted February 4, 2008 Author Posted February 4, 2008 OK, so now i've added a NAD C542 CD Player (the one that matches the amp), the good folks at The Listening Post in Chch hooked me up with a slightly second hand one for a steal. I accompanied this with QED Quinex 1 interconnects, which i found via testing, make some amazing improvements. my first experience with good interconnects...wowee I also bought this wicked CD rack from work, only cost me $40 through work. Thought i'd just update here cos i can, even though these advancements aren't very exciting.
johnnyrs Posted February 4, 2008 Posted February 4, 2008 Eddy, I guess you've noticed some improvement in sound over your DVD player?
King_Eddy Posted February 5, 2008 Author Posted February 5, 2008 lol, its pretty subtle...and by subtle i mean unbelievabley obvious and amazing. lol. THe bass is way clearer and generally more balanced with the rest of the system I played the Bjork greatest hits earlier, the first track of which has some unbelievably low bass in it, bass which is bearly audible on the dvd player...but on the CD player it is crisp and lovely. very happy customer!
johnnyrs Posted February 5, 2008 Posted February 5, 2008 Let me guess, one old cd is brought out to try the new sound. Just one track, then another cd comes out... and then another.... Each with new and previously unheard nuances. Happy days...
Ivors Bitch Posted February 16, 2008 Posted February 16, 2008 Very entertaining thread - watching the system develop all in one 'read' as I catch up. Glad you are enjoying the music - and I note also getting benefit from the forum!
King_Eddy Posted May 12, 2008 Author Posted May 12, 2008 Captains Log, 12-05-2008 Well i decided to make a move to a completely different (and much bigger) room, (as some may have read the discussion on in the hifi forum section). After spending an hour or so putting up all my posters i figured i'd post some pictures on here, so ya'll can admire my brilliant selection of posters, if nothing else. Attached files
little blue penguin Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 Oh, I don't know..... that screen looks awfully small. How many weeks till next Christmas? Seriously, that looks much better, but more importantly are you happy?
Ross F Posted May 12, 2008 Posted May 12, 2008 Hey Eddy, That "shitty" little TV has got to go, mate. And as soon as possible. I have a similar problem in that I bought bigger speakers which I also use for the TV (but only two channel) and the 27" flatscreen looks absolutely pathetic. The picture cannot match the sound. Oh well, only another 7 months until Christmas
Siriosys Posted May 13, 2008 Posted May 13, 2008 For Christ's sake guys...He Can't possibly get a bigger TV as it will cover those posters:D:D:D ......Have you thought about an even bigger room:D:D:D
nixon76 Posted May 13, 2008 Posted May 13, 2008 I think the TV has the kind of retro look about it . Especially the rabbit ears. Is it just me or does the room have an exceptionally tall stud (and I mean room height!)?
King_Eddy Posted May 14, 2008 Author Posted May 14, 2008 For Christ's sake guys...He Can't possibly get a bigger TV as it will cover those posters ...someone give that man a chocolate fish!!! I think the TV has the kind of retro look about it . Especially the rabbit ears. Is it just me or does the room have an exceptionally tall stud (and I mean room height!)? yeah...retro...thats what i was going for...!!! Yea the roof is kinda high, it has a pointed roof too, which i think changes the sound alot. but i think the photo kinda gives the wrong idea of how big the room is...looking at it now it looks huge! I'll see if i can get a better picture which shows the whole room.
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