I feel like a fool.

Discussion in 'Soundcards, Speakers HiFI & File formats' started by anticupidon, Apr 11, 2021.

  1. anticupidon

    anticupidon Ancient Guru

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    I "hate U" just for saying that. I've searched for it, and I don't need it.:rolleyes:
    I don't need.
    I don't need it.
    I needed it!o_O
     
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  2. Chastity

    Chastity Ancient Guru

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    As was said in the animated Spawn, "Here, have a drink, bend over, and take it."
     
  3. CPC_RedDawn

    CPC_RedDawn Ancient Guru

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    Just a quick (maybe dumb) question can you use those Edifier S350BD for multiple input sources? So could I connect them via bluetooth to my SSFPC and then use Optical for the TV and just switch between the two via the remote?

    Cheers, I really like the look of those speakers so considering buying them as our main TV has literally the worst audio I've ever heard from anything ever in the history of everness!
     
  4. AsiJu

    AsiJu Ancient Guru

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    Out of pure curiosity what DAC and which speakers?

    Jesus.... now tell me you paid in cash too :p
     

  5. Sabbath

    Sabbath Maha Guru

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    Hi CPC_RedDawn,

    Yes i would like too think so. They sound really nice too i use these for my laptop MSI GE75 Raider 10SGS, and Corsair SP2500 Sony "43" TV
     
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  6. CPC_RedDawn

    CPC_RedDawn Ancient Guru

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    thanks bro, much appreciated. now too try and convince the Mrs we NEED these :p
     
  7. Mufflore

    Mufflore Ancient Guru

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    They wouldnt accept boxes of notes via mail, forced to use a card :p

    Its the Holo Audio - May KTE DAC - R2R.
    https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/
    I bought this blind, before there were any real reviews, only measurements.
    Had to be brave, but those measurements are so wild it had to be done.
    I already had the Holo Spring KTE which is wonderful and wanted more of this.
    By god its a huge jump up, incredible micro detail, sound placement and 3D soundstage yet still easy on the ear!
    One of the few DACs that can expose 22bits of resolution and it sure does!

    Measurements of the Level 2 (mine is the Level 3 but they call it KTE [Kitsune tuned Edition])
    This is for those wanting to see the SINAD figure (and Level 2 dynamic range). The KTE SINAD is probably 3dB higher, among the very best of DACs.
    https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...may-probably-the-best-discrete-r2r-dac.10161/

    Measurements of the KTE, 140dB dynamic range, 10dB over the Level 2.
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/kte-may-technical-measurements.8933/

    Other reviews:
    https://www.stereophile.com/content/holoaudio-may-level-3-da-processor
    Aug 2020
    "An increase in bit depth from 16 to 24, with dithered data representing a 1kHz tone at –90dBFS, dropped the May's noise floor by 38dB (fig.10). This implies a resolution of more than 22 bits, which is the highest I have encountered, even exceeding that of the 21-bit resolution Weiss DAC502 that I reviewed in the August issue, and implying superbly low linearity error."
    "In almost every way, the HoloAudio May (Level 3) is the best-measuring D/A processor I have encountered, rivaled only by the Weiss DAC502 and MBL N31.—John Atkinson"

    https://www.stereophile.com/content...oloaudio-may-da-processor-intona-usb-isolator
    https://www.stereophile.com/content/recommended-components-fall-2020-edition-digital-processors
    https://twitteringmachines.com/review-holo-audio-kte-may-dac/

    User experiences
    https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/holo-audio-may-dac
    https://www.head-fi.org/threads/holo-audio-spring-r2r-dac.810065/ <- has info about the May DAC toward the end.

    ***********************

    Speakers are the KEF Reference 1 (not to be mistaken for an old version with the same name)
    3 way stand mount. The tweeter and mid are both in the same speaker unit.
    The speakers I built (3way ribbon tweeter, magnesium mid, 10" transmission line woofer -build log here: https://forums.guru3d.com/threads/new-speakers-omg.329128/) have a lovely 3 Dimensional soundstage where instruments/sounds pop out into the room.
    My brother knows my speakers well and had just bought the KEF Reference 1 and was extremely pleased at how much more sound was brought into the room.
    I knew I had to have them and he is right, sounds extend beyond the speakers, up next to me, and you can hear the room the recording was made in, as if you are in it!
    You have to hear them to believe them (with good partnering kit), well worth the audition.

    https://uk.kef.com/products/reference-1-bookshelf-speaker
    Low sensitivity (85dB/w) but the woofers drop to less than 4 ohm despite being labelled as 8 ohm so pull more power from the amp.
    The max amp rating of 200W @ 8 ohm is effectively 400W @ 4 ohm.
    (They are run from an Emotiva XPA-2, 300W 8 ohm, 500W 4 ohm.)

    Reviews:
    https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/807-kef-reference-1-loudspeakers
    http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/kef-reference-1-standmount-loudspeaker/
    https://www.hifitoday.com/kef-reference-1-speaker-review/
    https://www.hifireport.com/kef-reference-1/
    https://www.whathifi.com/kef/reference-1/review
    https://www.cnet.com/news/maximum-fidelity-the-kef-reference-1-speaker/

    User comments
    https://www.audioshark.org/kef-143/kef-reference-1-omg-5877.html?s=1456a91889548c69279d1febf4f18c96
    https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/kef-reference-1-monitors.664395/


    I'm using my trusty old BK Monolith subwoofer to get down to 15Hz but this week will get a couple of SVS 3000 subs for stereo infrasonics ;)
    I'll keep the Monolith for the LFE channel an my AVR.
    That should perfect my setup :D
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2021
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  8. anticupidon

    anticupidon Ancient Guru

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    Looks like I've opened some kind of Pandora sound box.
    :confused::cool:
     
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  9. Sabbath

    Sabbath Maha Guru

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    :)o_O:confused::mad: good luck
     
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  10. Mufflore

    Mufflore Ancient Guru

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    Run away, quickly.
     
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  11. AsiJu

    AsiJu Ancient Guru

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    I can see you are passionate about this stuff, simple product links would have sufficed :)

    I on the other hand am happy with my Logitech Z-906 driven by Sound BlasterX AE-5 (analog).

    Although I do have Bang & Olufsen 2-way wall mounted speakers as front and Eltax Jupiter 3-way towers as rear.
    Nothing as center though, I felt it sounded worse than just having fronts play center, so using EQ APO to mute center and direct it equally to front left and front right (so I can still just set it up as 5.1).

    The B&O's are surely as old as me, they were originally bought by my parents as part of stereo set.
    I then "inherited" them when that set was otherwise long gone and mother said she has no use for those "stone tablets".
     
  12. RealNC

    RealNC Ancient Guru

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    Get a suitable cable then. You can use the DAC you bought somewhere else then. And I'm pretty sure Edifier speakers pack a DAC that's better than a "Sharkoon", lol.

    Edit: Assuming your mainboard has an optical out, that is :p They seem to have fallen out of fashion lately.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2021
  13. anticupidon

    anticupidon Ancient Guru

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    Those Edifier speakers have them hooked to my HTPC, which is the As rock X300/DeskMini that doesn't feature an optical output.
    That's why I started with that DAC, was a cheap viable alternative to onboard sound provided, which now sounds awful compared to the aforementioned solution.
    But from now on, sound and dedicated sound gear will get attention, because gives such a better value to a computer or multimedia device.
     
  14. Mufflore

    Mufflore Ancient Guru

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    At first I did but mfr links dont say anything about how they sound and kept adding more info ...
    Its not that I'm passionate (that comes with the territory), its that I hear so much I really like and want more of.
    I didnt ever see myself as someone who would buy gear at this price level but have slowly bought better and better gear and found each uprade gave me a lot, so kept going.
    It really has been worth it for me despite the cost.
     
  15. anticupidon

    anticupidon Ancient Guru

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    Got a Asus Xonar DX 7.1 for 25€. Came in a generic cardboard, no signs of corrosion nor oxidation. Also, no physical damage or user misuse. Mint condition.
    Hooked it up (man, floppy 4 pin connector?) and test it under Linux, without any modification to the sound settings.
    Sounded so way better compared to the integrated sound that MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX sports.
    Well, I feel like I got a wholesome deal, same card goes around eBay for triple the price, at minimum.
    So yeah, I am making baby steps into the sound gear world.
     
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  16. Mufflore

    Mufflore Ancient Guru

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    Nice!
     
  17. liviut

    liviut Member Guru

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    what do you think about hifiman sundara on alc1220?
     
  18. Chastity

    Chastity Ancient Guru

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    Not a big fan of the Sundara. And any planar love voltage, and will benefit from a good amp vs line-out on onboard audio.
     

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