Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 I've got up to $1,000 saved to upgrade my system. This is the current setup: External USB hard drive -> no name USB cable -> 2011 Apple Mac Mini -> iTunes -> Audirvana+ -> no name USB cable -> Olimex USB isolator -> Audinst MX1 DAC -> Hosa RCA to 1/4†interconnects -> Yamaha HS80M active speakers I also use Audio Technica ATH-A500 headphones direct from the Audinst. I like listening to a wide range of music from concert, rock, jazz, 'new age', world, but most often than not, it's got an electro bent to it, ambient, chill, detroit, space, trance, some dance. So while I have no 'issues' with my current setup (also having no experience with anything better than I have right now), I have a little bit of money saved and interest to experience the next 'whoa!' moment. If anything I'd say I'm looking for more detail, more realism, more authority (ease/presence/?) and more musicality. An overall sonic improvement. I also feel like the soundstage on this system is a bit shallow and blurry but, I'm guessing, that could have as much to do with my room setup as anything. My thinking at the moment is possibly audio-gd Compass 2+Hifiman HE400. Most of the time music runs through speakers but those orthodynamics have me interested. I'm also considering going the extra mile and getting the Schiit Bifrost uber with gen 2 USB as an endgame DAC. Not sure if this would be overkill or a waste of money on my system, overcapitalising on the DAC where money could be better put into other parts of the system where the difference will be noticed more. Anyway, I don't have a lot of experience in hifi and I live in the country so will have to buy without hearing the gear first so any comments will be welcome to help guide me. Advice please!
Luc Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 (edited) I stopped reading at 'Apple'. I'll read on though when all the folk who know Apple arrive. Edit: Sorry, I was being a bit facetious, when you've done going through all the digital thingummies ect ect. Get a good TT and a reasonably priced amp(yes just like a reasonably priced car...) and an absolute sh.it load of vinyl and really enjoy the experience. I'm doing the exact thing at the moment and poo-poo-ing digital stuff and in some cases and some circles copping some flac. Edited March 29, 2014 by Luc 1
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 I stopped reading at 'Apple'. I'll read on though when all the folk who know Apple arrive.
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Simple. Upgrade your speakers. Do you have any suggestion for speakers under $1,000 that would outperform the HS80Ms?
henry218 Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Do you have any suggestion for speakers under $1,000 that would outperform the HS80Ms? keep the speakers. whats wrong with the sound?
WhakPak Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Do you have any suggestion for speakers under $1,000 that would outperform the HS80Ms? My comment was a generalization that when you are looking to upgrade and don't have much budget to play with you get the best return by putting all your money into better speakers. 1
BATMAQN Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 If you like the sound then save your money but if you really want to spend it upgrade your speakers to a nice set of floor standers and stick with Mac why would you take a backwards step to that Windows rubbish. 2
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 (edited) @@Luc. All good. Thanks for the suggestion but going to a TT would be too foreign a divergence for me at this point. @@brodricj. Thanks for the advice. Though I'm happy with the Yamahas, upgrading the speakers isn't out of the question. @@henry218. When I first heard the Yamahas I was really impressed. Loved them. Then I got the Audinst combination DAC/headphone amp I was surprised just how much difference it made, great addition to my system and the sound had much more clarity and realism by bringing the DAC function to a specialised unit. Then I got Audirvana. Whoa! It was like I had a whole new system. The sound had so much more presence, authority and again, another level of clarity. Very happy. Now I'm looking for my next 'whoa!' moment. @@BATMAQN. Yup, just keeping the current setup is also a 'sound' option hahaha..... I suppose I'm looking to lean on people with more experience to advise if there's something in my chain that's going to be letting down the SQ. Again, although there's no real problem I have I am sufficiently curious in hearing the next level of sound improvement. Perhaps I'm looking for 'more' instead of just enjoying what I have. Pretty common occurrence these days. While I ponder that, more advice please! Edited March 29, 2014 by Simon Jay
henry218 Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 tell me more about your setup, is it desktop or farfield seating?
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 The speakers are currently sitting on some side tables in my lounge room waiting for me to build some speaker stands for them. Listening sofa is about 3/3.5m from each speaker. The Yamahas are rear ported so once the stands are built there'll be a bit more space to bring them out of the corners of the room. I haven't done anything in the way of room setup such as dampening reflection points, etc. Also, I have timber floors and the rear wall is made up of two glass sliding door. From my understanding this is not very helpful. However, this is still the best place for them in the house at this stage.
henry218 Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 ok, so the stand should be your first priority. glass door at the back in general not good, but since its sliding door you can always open it when you are listening. suspended floor usually lossy for bass, so ask around here for some pointers, i think @@KenTripp have some solution for that.
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 (edited) Okay, great. Thanks! My thinking with the stands has been mainly to improve the look and ease of movement of the speakers. Do you think they could improve the sound too? At this stage I'm planning on essentially making a solid timber column the width and depth of the speaker and attaching rubber caster wheels. My (limited) understanding is that the rubber would help to isolate the vibration from the timber floor and would be better than using spikes. Any thoughts on the above design henry218? Edited March 29, 2014 by Simon Jay
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Also, thanks for the pointer on the floor. I'll follow that one up with KenTripp.
henry218 Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 i have not build stand yet, anything sturdy with cavity to fill wirh something heavy should be fine. less moving parts usually better, but casters are handy if you need move often
BATMAQN Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Try putting a lounge in the space to help with bass and maybe a decent sized rug in front of the speakers I did that because my floors are tiles and that did help and it wasn't too dear made the place look pretty good too as a bonus. 1
LogicprObe Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 If the speakers are in the corners of the room, this may not be the best positioning for them. Maybe make getting some stands a priority and find the best spots for them and go from there. 1
WhakPak Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 ok, so the stand should be your first priority.. +1.
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Thanks everyone. Seems unanimous that getting the stands sorted first is the priority. I'm impressed by how quickly and positively everyone has responded and that the advice is a practical and cheap (I have all the materials already) one that didn't rely on just buying more gear. Glad I joined this forum! I'll post some photos of the stands and my room setup when done. 1
Telecine Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Get the speaker stands. I suggest buying some commercial offering and filling them. You want the tweeters to be at ear level when you are in the listening position. The next step is to optimise the speakers positioning. There are a number of guides online as to how to do this (Cardas springs to mind). 2
buddyev Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Agree with everyone about stands as priority. They need to be set at right height and position to work best. Im not sure about castors -you want the stands to be as rigid as possible without any forward/backward/lateral movement - any movement will mess up the imaging. If you don't want to use spikes then some thin solid rubber feet would probably be better. 1
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Telecine, thanks for the input. My wife absolutely hates standard issue speaker stands. HATES them. So, I'm going to build some out of timber that, at this stage, meet with her approval. These things are going to be the width and depth of the speaker with no cavity, just absolutely solid timber. Basically making one continuous column with the speaker with a neoprene layer between the speaker and the stand and rubber casters between the stand and the floor. I think they'll do the job but I'm no pro so it's a case of suck it and see. Ear height tweeters, check. I've been onto the Cardas website recently and got their speaker positioning guide. Unfortunately the room is a little small, odd shaped, and has some non-ideal features so placement/treatment will be.... interesting. 2
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Thanks buddev. These castors are lockable so the stands shouldn't move around when in place. One I've got the speakers properly placed I'm planning on marking the floor to indicate the stand's ideal position. I hadn't considered rubber feet. If the speakers do move from the spots marked on the floor I'll swap them over for rubber feet as you suggest.
WhakPak Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 ?... These things are going to be the width and depth of the speaker with no cavity, just absolutely solid timber. Basically making one continuous column with the speaker with a neoprene layer between the speaker and the stand and rubber casters between the stand and the floor. The base needs to be wider than the speaker to give it lateral stability. There is no commercial monitor speaker stand that I know of that uses a neoprene layer between the speaker and stand. A small ball of blu-tac in each corner is an option. 1
Simon Jay Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 The base needs to be wider than the speaker to give it lateral stability. There is no commercial monitor speaker stand that I know of that uses a neoprene layer between the speaker and stand. A small ball of blu-tac in each corner is an option. When you say 'lateral stability', do you mean the stand having enough stability it doesn't topple over if nudged/pushed? The neoprene is something I read on another forum a long time ago and is meant to have the same/similar effect as blu-tac or rubber rings. I might try both/all and see what works best.
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