Any audiophiles in here?

[Augie]

On 1/7/2025 at 4:39 AM, Pete said:

Bluetooth has its place- like at the beach, tailgate, etc.

 

Give me hifi.  70s Marantz, Rega, 71 Pioneer speakers, massive sub, and vinyl galore.  Between hifi and Bluetooth- it’s a massive difference in audio quality

 

There is a time and a place for both. We had my old Yamaha receiver, Technic turntable and Advent speakers that doubled as furniture for many years. It was awesome and very hard to beat for sound quality. 

 

I’m older now, and a huge fan of convenience, so that stuff went to the farm. Like an old car, you eventually just have to put it down. The side benefit is my house doesn’t remind me of my old dorm rooms anymore.   😊

 

EDIT: I just realized that when we added the surround sound in the family room we did do the whole shebang with Marantz and the big subwoofer, etc, but we don’t use that when we listen to music. My wife just does the Sonos speakers nearest us. 

 

.

Edited January 9 by Augie

[DrDawkinstein]

Sonos if you want the best in what Wifi has to offer.

 

But I agree with others that said just get yourself a real nice blutooth speaker. I have one of these and it would be everything you need.

 

 

[Draconator]

We have 5 Amazon Echo's in our house. All on Alexa. We have our phones hooked up to Pandora. My wife uses it all the time. If she's in a mood, Taylor Swift is played all throughout the house on ever Echo device. If she wants to wind down before bed, she crawls into bed and plays her playlist of 80s ballads on our bedroom Echo device. She'll listen to a podcast on the bathroom Echo device while in the shower. If I am up late, I'll play the Rush album of choice, Porcupine Tree, a SiriusXM station, or Jazz.FM out of Toronto, all on my Echo on my desk. If you speak Alexa, you can play anything. 

Edited January 9 by Draconator

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

There is a time and a place for both. We had my old Yamaha receiver, Technic turntable and Advent speakers that doubled as furniture for many years. It was awesome and very hard to beat for sound quality. 

 

I’m older now, and a huge fan of convenience, so that stuff went to the farm. Like an old car, you eventually just have to put it down. The side benefit is my house doesn’t remind me of my old dorm rooms anymore.   😊

 

EDIT: I just realized that when we added the surround sound in the family room we did do the whole shebang with Marantz and the big subwoofer, etc, but we don’t use that when we listen to music. My wife just does the Sonos speakers nearest us. 

 

.

You might be surprised at the current value of well maintained 70s era audio gear 

[Augie]

1 minute ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

You might be surprised at the current value of well maintained 70s era audio gear 

 

If only it had been better maintained. I borrowed $1,000 (1977) from my father and worked to pay it off. This stuff went to college with me freshman year, and by my Junior year it was the music you heard on Animal House. Our house with a dozen guys in the only off campus housing between school and the only bar you could walk to. It was an ugly scene, and the house was briefly condemned when we moved out. 

 

The tweeters needed to be soldered but I held them together with Qtips and tape. The foam had turned to dust. Like an old dog, it was time. We got tired of moving it. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

If only it had been better maintained. I borrowed $1,000 (1977) from my father and worked to pay it off. This stuff went to college with me freshman year, and by my Junior year it was the music you heard on Animal House. Our house with a dozen guys in the only off campus housing between school and the only bar you could walk to. It was an ugly scene, and the house was briefly condemned when we moved out. 

 

The tweeters needed to be soldered but I held them together with Qtips and tape. The foam had turned to dust. Like an old dog, it was time. We got tired of moving it. 

That's like $5,500.00 today when adjusted for inflation.  How many families can afford to make a $5k loan to their kid?

"...Don't waste your money on a new set of speakers
You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers..."

 

😆 

[Augie]

1 hour ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

That's like $5,500.00 today when adjusted for inflation.  How many families can afford to make a $5k loan to their kid?

"...Don't waste your money on a new set of speakers
You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers..."

 

😆

 

I worked full time in season since I was 14. I did odd jobs offseason. I didn’t buy cheap, but it all lasted 25+ years with very high quality. 

[davefan66]

On 1/7/2025 at 4:39 AM, Pete said:

Bluetooth has its place- like at the beach, tailgate, etc.

 

Give me hifi.  70s Marantz, Rega, 71 Pioneer speakers, massive sub, and vinyl galore.  Between hifi and Bluetooth- it’s a massive difference in audio quality

 

I have decent audio equipment for my vinyl.  Mix of 80’s/90’s gear.  Nothing beats great equipment when listening to vinyl. Nothing beats vinyl for warmth and depth of music when able to sit back and enjoy.

 

That being said, when hearing your music versus listening, Bluetooth is just fine for causal listening when being active.

[Pete]

14 hours ago, Gugny said:

It’s a f*cking bathroom. 

Thats my opinion Mr Sunshine.  If you don't think hifi sounds better than blue tooth, than you are tone deaf.

 

ANY AUDIOPHILES HERE?

I responded to this, not a ***** bathroom,  Mr Congeniality.  Im not an audiophile, but I have a ***** ton of audiophile equipment that I enjoy, and I know that is much superior to Blue Tooth.  I can get into a technical discussion why hifi sounds better, but that sounds above your comprehension, and hostility. 

 

GO BILLS!

Edited January 10 by Pete

[Pete]

13 hours ago, rusty shackleford said:

Honestly, I do have a lot of high end audio equipment in a few rooms in my house, but the bathroom is not where I would want to spend any significant money or effort on anything high end or complicated.

 

A few years ago the motor in my bedroom's bathroom's exhaust fan burnt out and needed to be replaced. I spend probably ~150 bucks on one that had a Bluetooth speaker built in and multi-colored dimmable led lighting. The traditional fan wall switch was bypassed so the fan (and really, the speaker) have constant electricity going in. The traditional wall switch then gets replaced by a battery operated remote control that just looks like a switch but can control all the other features. Bluetooth from our phone works fine and its simple. Don't really need much more than that for having background music on while showering or pinching one off.

Like I stated, Bluetooth has its place.  Im not bringing DJ setup into the bathroom.  I bring a JBL waterproof bluetooth speaker, and I listen to it for 10m minutes when I shower.  Then I go back to hifi.  If flipping Vinyl record every 20 minutes is too much, make DAT tapes

[Pete]

7 hours ago, Augie said:

 

I worked full time in season since I was 14. I did odd jobs offseason. I didn’t buy cheap, but it all lasted 25+ years with very high quality. 

Some ways I am Frugal, but there are a few things that you get what you pay for.  Audio equipment, Mountain Bikes, Cheese, Tools, Kitchen Knives are a few examples.  Often with these things, if you cut costs, you get inferior product. Often, you have to buy again at a later date.   If you buy the aforementioned products, buying the most well made, you buy it once, and that should last you the rest of your life.

[Gugny]

56 minutes ago, Pete said:

Thats my opinion Mr Sunshine.  If you don't think hifi sounds better than blue tooth, than you are tone deaf.

 

ANY AUDIOPHILES HERE?

I responded to this, not a ***** bathroom,  Mr Congeniality.  Im not an audiophile, but I have a ***** ton of audiophile equipment that I enjoy, and I know that is much superior to Blue Tooth.  I can get into a technical discussion why hifi sounds better, but that sounds above your comprehension, and hostility. 

 

GO BILLS!

I bet your super duper hifi equipment could pick up the sound of a single finger emerging from a clenched fist. 

[Pete]

3 minutes ago, Gugny said:

I bet your super duper hifi equipment could pick up the sound of a single finger emerging from a clenched fist. 

I get along fabulously with people Mr Sunshine.  Ever heard of Dale Carnegie?  Im spinning Sabbath Bloody Sabbath this am, on a real stereo and it sounds awesome!

[Pete]

On 1/9/2025 at 9:38 PM, ExiledInIllinois said:

 

"...Don't waste your money on a new set of speakers
You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers..."

 

😆

Give me early 70s JBL 100's or a pair of Sansui's, and I will walk barefoot Mack Hollins style.  These are 2 beautiful speakers, and they have beauty and function,

 

Speakers are the one audio component that there has been an improvement in the 2000's, using CAD, and newer technologies.  Speakers today are much smaller, and pack punch above their weight class.

 

I can recommend 3 pairs of kickass speakers under $500 today.  Sneakers today cost $100-300.  Speakers are going to last lifetime. Bad advice Billy IMO, very myopic

Edited January 11 by Pete

[davefan66]

On 1/11/2025 at 8:11 AM, Pete said:

Give me early 70s JBL 100's or a pair of Sansui's, and I will walk barefoot Mack Hollins style.  These are 2 beautiful speakers, and they have beauty and function,

 

Speakers are the one audio component that there has been an improvement in the 2000's, using CAD, and newer technologies.  Speakers today are much smaller, and pack punch above their weight class.

 

I can recommend 3 pairs of kickass speakers under $500 today.  Sneakers today cost $100-300.  Speakers are going to last lifetime. Bad advice Billy IMO, very myopic

What speakers do you recommend?  
 

Love my 80’s Polk Audio speakers. Have a newer pair that I like, don’t love. Those were cheap for backups.

 

Listened to Klipsch, KEF and Wharfedale speakers a year or so ago at The Speaker Shop. Liked the Wharfedale the best, but wasn’t in love with them.

[Augie]

7 minutes ago, davefan66 said:

What speakers do you recommend?  
 

Love my 80’s Polk Audio speakers. Have a newer pair that I like, don’t love. Those were cheap for backups.

 

Listened to Klipsch, KEF and Wharfedale speakers a year or so ago at The Speaker Shop. Liked the Wharfedale the best, but wasn’t in love with them.

 

My first surround sound was Polk Audio in the 90’s, and it was great. Just having surround sound was eye opening! 

 

We recently added surround sound in our current house. I didn’t really research it, just trusted “our guy”. He added KEF and we really enjoy it, though we really just use that for TV while we use SONOS for music. It’s just what we got used to. 🤷‍♂️

[BillsFan4]

42 minutes ago, davefan66 said:

What speakers do you recommend?  
 

Love my 80’s Polk Audio speakers. Have a newer pair that I like, don’t love. Those were cheap for backups.

 

Listened to Klipsch, KEF and Wharfedale speakers a year or so ago at The Speaker Shop. Liked the Wharfedale the best, but wasn’t in love with them.

What are you looking for from your speakers? (ie: want to listen very loud. Or want accuracy/a flat response., etc)

 

Bookshelf or floor standing?

 

Will you be running them with a subwoofer? If so, what brand/model? If not, you should get one! (a good one can make any speakers sound better, and sometimes drastically better)
 

What’s the rough budget?

Edited January 12 by BillsFan4

[BillsFan4]

I don’t have any recommendations for Bluetooth in ceiling speakers. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of choices out there for them so if that’s what you’re after I’d just go with the best ones you can find.

 

i could recommend some regular in ceiling speakers but that would require a separate receiver (or amp + pre amp) to power them. I’m not sure that’s worth it for a bathroom. Unless you wanted to install a system in other rooms of the house too.

[davefan66]

1 hour ago, BillsFan4 said:

What are you looking for from your speakers? (ie: want to listen very loud. Or want accuracy/a flat response., etc)

 

Bookshelf or floor standing?

 

Will you be running them with a subwoofer? If so, what brand/model? If not, you should get one! (a good one can make any speakers sound better, and sometimes drastically better)
 

What’s the rough budget?

Hate high jacking this thread, but should still be relevant.
 

Book shelf. Small room for my “man cave”… bottom level of a tri level home.

 

I want hear every nuance of the music. Every background instrument available.  Either at low level or a bit higher them medium level. Love loud, but don’t listen to my music that way for extended periods.  Like to truly listening to my music.
 

Bought polks and a Yamaha receiver in the late 80’s. Dennon turntable. Was amazed at the background instruments on Pink Floyd The Wall when I first used the whole system! That’s what I want.  Now have a 90’s dennon receiver for that turntable with those Polk speakers (bought a replacement as one tweeter was out which I have since purchased a used tweeter but have not installed it). Have a Douk audio Bluetooth amp with twin tubes for Bluetooth.

[BillsFan4]

2 hours ago, davefan66 said:

Hate high jacking this thread, but should still be relevant.
 

Book shelf. Small room for my “man cave”… bottom level of a tri level home.

 

I want hear every nuance of the music. Every background instrument available.  Either at low level or a bit higher them medium level. Love loud, but don’t listen to my music that way for extended periods.  Like to truly listening to my music.
 

Bought polks and a Yamaha receiver in the late 80’s. Dennon turntable. Was amazed at the background instruments on Pink Floyd The Wall when I first used the whole system! That’s what I want.  Now have a 90’s dennon receiver for that turntable with those Polk speakers (bought a replacement as one tweeter was out which I have since purchased a used tweeter but have not installed it). Have a Douk audio Bluetooth amp with twin tubes for Bluetooth.

ok cool. Those are realistic expectations, especially when talking bookshelf speakers. lol

 

I would say to check out the Chane L series. Their A series and 700 series are also great speakers. But the L series is their speaker meant for the most critical listening. They use high end speaker components (woofers, tweeters, crossover parts, cabinets) and are very reasonably priced.

 

 

 

https://www.chanemusiccinema.com

 

Another good one to check out is Ascend Acoustics. They make some really nice speakers that would be classified as detailed with good instrument separation. Especially any of their speakers with the RAAL tweeters. If you are looking for exquisite detail, the raal tweeter’s are great.

 

https://ascendacoustics.com

 

even some of the lower end ribbon or AMT tweeters are great for detail.

 

Emotiva is a good more budget oriented speaker brand. Their AMT tweeters provide a lot of detail.

 

Problem is that all of these speakers are direct to customer online retail. They all have free in home trials of some sort. But IMO they are where the true value is at. You typically get a LOT more speaker for your money.

 

Typically, the better the woofer and tweeter quality, the better the music quality. Also, solid well built speaker cabinets matter. The more inert/dead, the better. 
Then crossover design also matters a lot. I don’t buy into the high end crossover components being all that worthwhile but better crossover components don’t hurt.

 

you usually get higher quality speaker components and cabinets with online speaker manufacturers. Retail speakers are often built quite cheap.

 

If you really want to get a lot of speaker for your money you could do something like an “assemble it yourself” speaker kit.

 

For ex:

 

https://www.css-audio.com/online-store/Kits-c29751664

 

that’s a great one. Any of the Criton or Criton X kits would blow you away. I believe they still sell the cabinet flat packs too so you just glue it together basically.

 

There are other AIY kits out there too from DIY sound group, Parts Express and others. 
 

 

Also, to really get the most out of your speakers they need to be set up properly. Assuming you don’t have a measurement microphone and know how to use Room EQ wizard, the best you can do is play with the placement (distance between them, toe in, toe out, how far from the wall, etc) and see what sounds best

 

and wall/room treatments can also make a big difference when it comes to instrument separation and stuff like that.