GreenBuckanneer posted:I usually just listen to my DT990 that I inherited from the 90's? off of my motherboard. Fiio E10k used to be the easy answer to this but I don't know if anything has changed in the few years since I bought mine. (For my DT990s, in fact.) Also, there's a headphones thread.
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# ? May 27, 2020 18:49 |
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# ? Apr 24, 2024 07:17 |
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Dirt Road Junglist posted:You would think digital fidelity and "perfect reproduction" would mean something, but no, audiophiles love them some lossy, distorting, electrically unstable poo poo instead. Digital was more expensive, for a while. Then once it got cheap and what used to take a whole stack of gear [switching, preamp, EQ, crossover, conversion] could be done perfectly by a single $2 chip the industry pivoted back to the “good old days.” MQA is a brilliant effort to reintroduce the complexity and bullshit mystique of analog to digital. The same thing happened with wristwatches, when quartz first came out they were full on status symbols but they got super cheap the industry saved itself by romanticizing the “soul” and “heritage” of mechanical movements and jacking prices to the moon even though the best mechanical watch is less accurate and durable than a $10 Casio.
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# ? May 27, 2020 19:35 |
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Has anyone made the argument where recording engineers working in tube's heyday understood the colouration tubes brought to the sound of a record, so the only accurate way to play a record back is on a tube amp?
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# ? May 27, 2020 22:58 |
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qirex posted:The same thing happened with wristwatches, when quartz first came out they were full on status symbols but they got super cheap the industry saved itself by romanticizing the “soul” and “heritage” of mechanical movements and jacking prices to the moon even though the best mechanical watch is less accurate and durable than a $10 Casio. I think mechanical watches are cool as gently caress and I love to look at them, especially any that you can see some of the internal workings on. The better ones are incredibly amazing and precise engineering, and they're more beautiful pieces of art. If I had $infinite I'd buy one of those long before I bought any audiophile woo-woo. I don't think they're really in the same category, nobody is arguing that a mechanical watch keeps better time. Edit: I'd say it's a better comparison to "why do we need paintings if we have photographs?" although that's not really a great comparison either. I'm just saying a good mechanical watch is more a work of art. ssb fucked around with this message at 14:55 on May 29, 2020 |
# ? May 29, 2020 14:30 |
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shortspecialbus posted:I think mechanical watches are cool as gently caress and I love to look at them, especially any that you can see some of the internal workings on. The better ones are incredibly amazing and precise engineering, and they're more beautiful pieces of art. If I had $infinite I'd buy one of those long before I bought any audiophile woo-woo. I don't think they're really in the same category, nobody is arguing that a mechanical watch keeps better time. This Calatrava movement, for example, is super nice [and was legitimately hand made unlike almost every Rolex/Omega/Tag/Breitling/JLC/Tudor/Zenith/etc.] but it's the watch equivalent of a vacuum tube, something that looks really neat but is objectively worse and more fiddly because that's the mystique and romance of the whole thing. It's better because it's worse, that's what gives it "soul" or "character." There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at neat things but shiny gewgaws for wealthy people aren't generally art. Faberge eggs aren't held in the kind of esteem impressionist paintings are.
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# ? May 29, 2020 16:43 |
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(Men's) watches are just jewelry for men. Much like audiophile poo poo they exist to be expensive, however afaik they don't attract tedious dipshits who want to feel technological superiority while flaunting their wealth.
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# ? May 29, 2020 17:03 |
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Obviously some of you don't hang out on forums frequented by watch snobs. They generally ignore the fact that mechanical movements are inferior to quartz and focus on rationalizing what is clearly conspicuous consumption and elitism. There are tedious dipshits aplenty.
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# ? May 29, 2020 18:32 |
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Zorak of Michigan posted:tedious dipshits aplenty. That is an excellent band name
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# ? May 29, 2020 18:44 |
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Zorak of Michigan posted:Obviously some of you don't hang out on forums frequented by watch snobs. They generally ignore the fact that mechanical movements are inferior to quartz and focus on rationalizing what is clearly conspicuous consumption and elitism. There are tedious dipshits aplenty. I've seen posts, and frankly, entire threads, on watchuseek that make even the worst audiophiles look intelligent and well-reasoned. The crown jewel for me was some guy posted, totally without irony, that seeing a stepped second hand "made him sick to his stomach." I've also seen multi-page threads of people claiming that one brand ripped off another for something so spectacularly inane as how hour markers are oriented on the face of a watch.
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# ? May 29, 2020 18:54 |
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I've never delved into the watch thing, I'm glad to know it's just another sad little world where dudes gather and chat endlessly about things that are objectively worse performing at a particular job though.
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# ? May 29, 2020 19:35 |
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Zorak of Michigan posted:Obviously some of you don't hang out on forums frequented by watch snobs. They generally ignore the fact that mechanical movements are inferior to quartz and focus on rationalizing what is clearly conspicuous consumption and elitism. There are tedious dipshits aplenty. Can't say that I do, I had just hoped that watchmen were too rich to care about timekeeping.
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# ? May 29, 2020 19:41 |
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GonadTheBallbarian posted:That is an excellent band name Actually Inferior to Quartz is the band. Tedious Dipshits Aplenty is their third album.
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# ? May 29, 2020 20:09 |
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Did somebody say tedious dipshits?quote:Nah, just common sense. When you take a photo with higher resolution, the more detail you will see. Similarly, the better the quality of your components, the more details that get through. These are subtle, you do have to be the type of person who closes their eyes and LISTENS to music. e: found a better one quote:Let's take 100 tiny un-insulated strands of wire, lay them out each 1" apart, then connect them together only at each end (*) -- we'll call that "wire A".
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# ? May 29, 2020 20:29 |
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qirex posted:Did somebody say tedious dipshits? I like the first one more, personally. Nobody hates blind testing more than professional reviewers, because blind testing shows that they're completely full of it. Being a professional reviewer is much more about being a skilled writer (and, these days, video producer) than about being able to hear well. I mean, I like this stuff. I like cool-looking tube amps. I like listening to massive speakers that cost more than my house. But I get really tired of this idea that money = quality. I especially get tired of this idea that old technology (tubes, vinyl, etc.) is inherently superior. Just admit that you think it's fun, you like it, and that's how you want to spend your money. There's literally no shame in that. Heck, it's honestly more empowering than claiming superiority, because it tells people that you really, truly don't care what they think. I mean, if people honestly cared about fidelity to the source above all other things, we'd spend a lot more time talking about active speakers and room correction, and way less time talking how a NOS Mullard tube really opened up the soundstage. We'd also spend a lot of time talking about the Circle of Confusion, and why mastering really needs to have a standard target curve so that we know what we're getting. One of these days I'll sit down and write out some of the BS that's been fed to me at audio shows, as well as the few times that the manufacturers were actually honest about things.
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# ? May 29, 2020 20:59 |
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It would be so simple to just say "I like the sound of my system the best" and be done with it but the hardcore audiophile craves that smug self satisfaction of their dollars resulting in objective superiority being confirmed by a professional reviewer or some guys on a forum who all spent 5 grand on the same DAC [or heard it at a show] circlejerking about it.
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# ? May 29, 2020 21:02 |
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Zorak of Michigan posted:Obviously some of you don't hang out on forums frequented by watch snobs. They generally ignore the fact that mechanical movements are inferior to quartz and focus on rationalizing what is clearly conspicuous consumption and elitism. There are tedious dipshits aplenty.
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# ? May 29, 2020 21:09 |
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Zorak of Michigan posted:Obviously some of you don't hang out on forums frequented by watch snobs. They generally ignore the fact that mechanical movements are inferior to quartz and focus on rationalizing what is clearly conspicuous consumption and elitism. There are tedious dipshits aplenty. No, I don't. I just like mechanical watches and think a lot of them are pretty Whether they meet the definition of "art" or not I dunno, I think they can. I'm not pretending they're worth the money, which is why I said I'd get one if I had $infinite, and I'm certainly not claiming they're better in any way. I also don't really feel that strongly about this. I've always just liked watches somewhat. I've never had a watch that cost more than about $275, and these days I wear a ZeTime that my wife got me.
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# ? May 30, 2020 00:56 |
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I have no idea if it's audio woo or not... but the wikipedia article isn't doing it any favors: https://houston.craigslist.org/ele/d/sugar-land-jbl-paragon-c44-speaker/7126529305.html $17,500 40 year old speaker I noticed it and figured I'd share here. screenshotted in case it's gone:
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# ? May 31, 2020 04:57 |
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Reminds me of these: http://duntech.com/products/sovereign.html
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# ? May 31, 2020 05:54 |
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Would look lovely next to my Cray.
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# ? May 31, 2020 05:54 |
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My current phone has almost 50x the processing power than that Cray supercomputer displayed in Sneakers.
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# ? May 31, 2020 07:09 |
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The JBL Paragon commands ridiculous prices because it’s rare and it’s gorgeous. Those pictures don’t do it justice at all. I’ve always wanted to hear one, and if I was ridiculously wealthy I’d probably own one. It would be an awesome conversation piece. https://youtu.be/IglVJbfDEGM shows a nice refinished one.
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# ? May 31, 2020 08:32 |
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I initially thought the tweeters were adjustable until I clicked the ad to take a closer look. It's using the front curved panel as a reflector a la Bang & Olufsen's acoustic lens but like 50 years sooner. It also has a couple of things (ring radiator overtone reproducers...?!) just inside the mouth which look on drawings to be too small to be mids but they certainly seem to be wired in and doing something! Fascinating speaker and at 2.7m long, it's a big fucker too.
Olympic Mathlete fucked around with this message at 13:15 on May 31, 2020 |
# ? May 31, 2020 13:12 |
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Yeah that thing owns and I’d buy it if I had that cash.
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# ? Jun 1, 2020 02:48 |
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One of my favorite audiophile product categories are things that only exist to solve problems created by other audiophile products. I present: C-LOCKquote:Many of today’s High-End audio components claim to reach for perfection. However, with power cable connection, “perfectionism” usually ends…But in fact, everything begins right here — as your components and/or Power Conditioner are supplied with essential energy through this connection! Therefore, this connection must be maintained absolutely secure. Now you may think this looks like a Tonka truck Tire glued to a 99 cent Home Depot outlet cover but discerning customers don't want short transients caused by poorly connected oversized power plugs interfering with true audio enjoyment of your favorite jazz records recorded on a 75 dollar mixing console in a basement in 1962. qirex fucked around with this message at 17:43 on Jun 1, 2020 |
# ? Jun 1, 2020 17:40 |
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Uh... what? Do they expect the plug flying out of the socket when you turn the amp up to 11?
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# ? Jun 1, 2020 19:02 |
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Combat Pretzel posted:Uh... what? Even better. They bought an $8000 power cable that is filled with sisal rope and lead and can't stay plugged in because it's so loving heavy.
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# ? Jun 1, 2020 19:10 |
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GnarlyCharlie4u posted:Even better. They bought an $8000 power cable that is filled with sisal rope and lead and can't stay plugged in because it's so loving heavy. Its actually not the stupidest thing I've heard of, because I can imagine this is a real issue with some of those audiophile power cords. Still a rip-off at any of the prices they're charging, but when your cord is 5 figures its cheap enough to look like a no-brainer.
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# ? Jun 1, 2020 19:50 |
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Some Goon posted:Its actually not the stupidest thing I've heard of, because I can imagine this is a real issue with some of those audiophile power cords. Still a rip-off at any of the prices they're charging, but when your cord is 5 figures its cheap enough to look like a no-brainer. I mean I have twist lock outlets in places to prevent cables from being erroneously unplugged but that's for power delivery systems and servers and poo poo. At just twice the price and not requiring a special cable, this seems like a pretty good bet to prevent my 2 year old from unplugging my desktop... But I'm guessing that someone who spent $100000 on an amp likely doesn't have that problem.
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# ? Jun 1, 2020 21:06 |
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This thread makes me wish I had tried to snag one of the 480v 3phase cables that powered our p795 when we decommissioned it. Rated for 110amps at 480. Probably about 10lb/foot.
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# ? Jun 2, 2020 00:54 |
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Audiophiles have clearly never heard of Neutrik PowerCon connectors. Install the chassis connector versions in your wall and save yourself hundreds of dollars.
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 11:14 |
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Lol, if you’re not soldering your power cord directly to your house mains
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 15:02 |
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Closed circuit audiophile renewable energy. Solar power to make the brightness more natural. Wind for more airiness and enhanced woodwinds. A generator attached to a bike for better pace and timing (rider dependent). No worries about dirty power and you can shut down all the 'what about all the wire on the power lines / in your house' arguments.
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 15:47 |
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Some Goon posted:Closed circuit audiophile renewable energy. Solar power to make the brightness more natural. Wind for more airiness and enhanced woodwinds. A generator attached to a bike for better pace and timing (rider dependent). No worries about dirty power and you can shut down all the 'what about all the wire on the power lines / in your house' arguments. I know one guy that operated his entire system off of a bank of car batteries. I mean, he lived in Haiti, and their power grid was so flaky that he had to use batteries to guarantee power delivery. He was a very early adopter of switching amps, since it let him listen for longer.
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 16:31 |
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There's a whole universe of audiophile power garbage up to mains boxes in the low 6 figures for people who don't know what a switching power supply does. I've heard of people using batteries in the US too just because of weird ideas about AC power.
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 17:32 |
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namlosh posted:Lol, if you’re not soldering your power cord directly to your house mains Lmao if you're not like that Japanese guy who got his power company to install a fully separate drop from the grid
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 17:34 |
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Malcolm XML posted:Lmao if you're not like that Japanese guy who got his power company to install a fully separate drop from the grid Ugh, wish I was rich enough for something like that. Trying to run a recording studio in my apartment loving sucks.
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 18:05 |
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Dirt Road Junglist posted:Ugh, wish I was rich enough for something like that. Trying to run a recording studio in my apartment loving sucks. A couple power conditioners and a UPS solved any problems I had with recording, although I'll grant I do it as a hobby and not on any sort of large scale - what issues are you running into that need more than that?
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 18:07 |
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shortspecialbus posted:A couple power conditioners and a UPS solved any problems I had with recording, although I'll grant I do it as a hobby and not on any sort of large scale - what issues are you running into that need more than that? I've got Furmans, but no UPS. My studio space's outlets share the same circuit as things like bathroom fans, which like to send spikes that jam up my soundcard. It's not horrible now that I've got beefier Furmans, as long as I don't crank the volume too much. I'm a little worried about something getting damaged, because I have some older rack gear, but it is what it is. I can't afford to move, and the studio is in the only part of the apartment where it fits. I can't afford an external space. On the upside, the label I'm on encourages the punk/DIY aesthetic. Got any UPS suggestions?
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 18:12 |
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# ? Apr 24, 2024 07:17 |
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Some Goon posted:a no-brainer.
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# ? Jun 3, 2020 18:59 |