This will not be a brief missive --- I warn you but make no apology in advance ...( skip to bottom is my advice - as it so often is !).. I like opinions as I am the worst kind of wammer ..... I am well intentioned ........and try to offer sincere advice, but with a little information I become dangerous - and was found out fairly comprehensively recently ( see post on iPhones !) --- but as Father Jack cuddled those puppies I felt we all emerged better people ... SO --- accepting I will annoy many on here, for me and only for me --- the following hold true:
I can believe 100% that side by side in a controlled environment system A will sound - even to my wax filled, and in the past, scotch numbed ears 'better' than system B.
However I rarely get the chance to hear --- and in my case truthfully, the inclination to prepare --- my system in an optimal environment ( this is not to belittle those who do --- quite the contrary I understand and recognise that desire, but right now its not possible )
So accept my views and comments in that context --- with the added and very material caveat that I used to be able to justify a system costing £7k used value - not unusual but still a material amount --- whereas now, for rather boring reasons, I am looking at £1,000 but continue looking for quality.
For me and me alone this has lead to me owning the following:
Zen ( Innuous server ) - bought new for £650 4 years ago - now worth £250 ?
Miniwatt n4 DAC - bought for £100 ( excellent )
Mistral 307 amp ( latest acquisition ) - bought for £110 ( so far - very impressed )
Upgraded tubes - £20
Electricbeach M1Nx standmounts with plinths - £295 ( amazing )
Stands £40
REL Q200 sub £120
1 * Temple interconnects £20
1 * Lindy USB £15
2 * 2m cat 5 cable £15ish
2 * power cables £30
Thats about a thousand quid and it honestly sounds very good to my ears --- NOT the very best
but in the context I have owned some of the following ( far from exhaustive )
AN Meishu
Metrum Octave Dac
Jolida Glass DAC
JK DAC24
Densen pre and power ( v nice )
MF 200 monoblocks
Big Chinese Pre
Telerium Q Green speaker cable
Blue Heaven USB
AN p2SE power amp ( I rated that as highly as the meishu )
Living Voice IBX R2
Focal ( in wall something )
AN Zero pre and power
Linn Akurate speakers
Schiit pre amp
etc etc
Anyway I know that one of this is earth moving equipment on a forum like this but to me it has been instructive that - by force of circumstance - I have had to 'downgrade' to my current set up and yet - possibly through wishful thinking ( hearing ) - I genuinely feel this set up is as good as any that I have owned.
I have become an agnostic on speaker cables, interconnects, USB, power cables and similar ---- I'm not saying I'm right - but just for me - money is much better spent elsewhere ---- to a lesser extent but still noticeable I doubt the ability of DACs to make much of a difference above the miniwatt level...
Accepting I am not a vinyl man ( budget forbids as i see it so much more open to genuine mechanical * differences )
* wrong term no doubt
So
I think a good server capable of stable FLAC delivery -- thus requiring a decent PSU
a £100 used DAC
My experience with Schiit passive pre costing £55 delivered was excellent
So i will risk wrath and say amps matter but a very good result can be had for little money --- this Chinese tube Mistral is great
All cables -- what is needed is well built with proper connectors
THIS IS MY QUESTION
I am drawn to aesthetics and genuinely feel that somethng that looks good --- be it food, a car, furniture, a partner, a pair of speakers --- has a material impact on my enjoyment - it cannot be everything but to ignore it is foolish.
HiFi HAS to look good for me to covet it --- I will sacrifice X% of sound quality for aesthetics -- I am that shallow per the Op
Therefore
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST WAY OF ME BUYING ( WHEN MY FINANCES IMPROVE ) A PAIR of HORN SPEAKERs IN THE AVANTGARDE UNO tradition... they re like sculpture to me and i am lucky that i have a nice room that will allow them to stand in their own space ..and to br admired as a piece of furniture/art as much as a music source.
i dont know if there are other manufacturers that offer a similar design ... if you assume i know nothing, it is not a bad place to start ....
btw...... name 3 'perfect' design families .... :
for me
recent aston martins and nearly all porsche 911's
navy armani suit
cary grant, david niven, bill nighy, & michael caine 's wardrobes with george clooney under advice !
rachel riley's maths
white cotton and linen bed sheets
a perfect espresso
tuna sashimi
vase of irises
b&b italia sofa
one of my paintings
a perfect cymbal, a double bass and a drum on this feckin hifi
... that time i interfered with myself and just about kept my eyesight ...
i'm digressing .... but is £2k possible/realistic for a pair of classic (external) horn speakers ? ( im just valuing a lung, kidney and half my liver on line .... my soul went years ago )
i'm even speaking to my good friend Steve at electricbeach to see if he'll build a kit for me .....
I can believe 100% that side by side in a controlled environment system A will sound - even to my wax filled, and in the past, scotch numbed ears 'better' than system B.
However I rarely get the chance to hear --- and in my case truthfully, the inclination to prepare --- my system in an optimal environment ( this is not to belittle those who do --- quite the contrary I understand and recognise that desire, but right now its not possible )
So accept my views and comments in that context --- with the added and very material caveat that I used to be able to justify a system costing £7k used value - not unusual but still a material amount --- whereas now, for rather boring reasons, I am looking at £1,000 but continue looking for quality.
For me and me alone this has lead to me owning the following:
Zen ( Innuous server ) - bought new for £650 4 years ago - now worth £250 ?
Miniwatt n4 DAC - bought for £100 ( excellent )
Mistral 307 amp ( latest acquisition ) - bought for £110 ( so far - very impressed )
Upgraded tubes - £20
Electricbeach M1Nx standmounts with plinths - £295 ( amazing )
Stands £40
REL Q200 sub £120
1 * Temple interconnects £20
1 * Lindy USB £15
2 * 2m cat 5 cable £15ish
2 * power cables £30
Thats about a thousand quid and it honestly sounds very good to my ears --- NOT the very best
but in the context I have owned some of the following ( far from exhaustive )
AN Meishu
Metrum Octave Dac
Jolida Glass DAC
JK DAC24
Densen pre and power ( v nice )
MF 200 monoblocks
Big Chinese Pre
Telerium Q Green speaker cable
Blue Heaven USB
AN p2SE power amp ( I rated that as highly as the meishu )
Living Voice IBX R2
Focal ( in wall something )
AN Zero pre and power
Linn Akurate speakers
Schiit pre amp
etc etc
Anyway I know that one of this is earth moving equipment on a forum like this but to me it has been instructive that - by force of circumstance - I have had to 'downgrade' to my current set up and yet - possibly through wishful thinking ( hearing ) - I genuinely feel this set up is as good as any that I have owned.
I have become an agnostic on speaker cables, interconnects, USB, power cables and similar ---- I'm not saying I'm right - but just for me - money is much better spent elsewhere ---- to a lesser extent but still noticeable I doubt the ability of DACs to make much of a difference above the miniwatt level...
Accepting I am not a vinyl man ( budget forbids as i see it so much more open to genuine mechanical * differences )
* wrong term no doubt
So
I think a good server capable of stable FLAC delivery -- thus requiring a decent PSU
a £100 used DAC
My experience with Schiit passive pre costing £55 delivered was excellent
So i will risk wrath and say amps matter but a very good result can be had for little money --- this Chinese tube Mistral is great
All cables -- what is needed is well built with proper connectors
THIS IS MY QUESTION
I am drawn to aesthetics and genuinely feel that somethng that looks good --- be it food, a car, furniture, a partner, a pair of speakers --- has a material impact on my enjoyment - it cannot be everything but to ignore it is foolish.
HiFi HAS to look good for me to covet it --- I will sacrifice X% of sound quality for aesthetics -- I am that shallow per the Op
Therefore
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST WAY OF ME BUYING ( WHEN MY FINANCES IMPROVE ) A PAIR of HORN SPEAKERs IN THE AVANTGARDE UNO tradition... they re like sculpture to me and i am lucky that i have a nice room that will allow them to stand in their own space ..and to br admired as a piece of furniture/art as much as a music source.
i dont know if there are other manufacturers that offer a similar design ... if you assume i know nothing, it is not a bad place to start ....
btw...... name 3 'perfect' design families .... :
for me
recent aston martins and nearly all porsche 911's
navy armani suit
cary grant, david niven, bill nighy, & michael caine 's wardrobes with george clooney under advice !
rachel riley's maths
white cotton and linen bed sheets
a perfect espresso
tuna sashimi
vase of irises
b&b italia sofa
one of my paintings
a perfect cymbal, a double bass and a drum on this feckin hifi
... that time i interfered with myself and just about kept my eyesight ...
i'm digressing .... but is £2k possible/realistic for a pair of classic (external) horn speakers ? ( im just valuing a lung, kidney and half my liver on line .... my soul went years ago )
i'm even speaking to my good friend Steve at electricbeach to see if he'll build a kit for me .....