Another thread about downsizing

[tuga]

I have just moved and, for the first since I have left my parents’ home, I have decided not to arrange the sitting area in our new sitting-dining for optimal stereo reproduction.
It has been a very difficult choice to make and one that I am still not comfortable with but we are finally renting a house which is fit for entertaining our friends and for professional networking.

The main culprits are the chimney breast and particularly the very deep hearth which take over one of the short walls and quite a bit o the immediately surrounding floorspace.
Ironically the fireplace isn’t even working.
At the studio we’ve just had a few houses designed for a developer which requested that we put fake plastic chimneys on the roof and a dumb plasterboard fake chimney breast in each sitting room. How deranged is that???

Anyway, this means that I may will have to give up sound quality for convenience and get myself a pair of all in one speakers - probably small standmounts or narrow front floorstanders.
I have re-read the Active Speakers thread and now need to decide whether I give up completely and go without a DAC/Preamp, and what I will be using for streaming.
I prefer to stream locally because I have a huge music library, the sound quality is better, the environmental impact is smaller and I would not be able to justify (to myself) the cost of another streaming service since we already have Spotify family for kids and wife…
It would still be nice if the whole family could use the system which nas currently been using a dedicated wired-only network that is not connected to the web.

The first step is to get my head around the options:

a) all in one’s with wi-fi

b) streamer/DACs with properly implemented digital volume

c) keep the mac mini into a DAC pre and use analogue actives

d) another low box count setup I have not listed? Like wi-fi DACs or digital-input amplifiers?

The router sits unfortunately too far in the entrance lobby so there is no way that I can use my microrendu endpoint. It would be a perfect option because it takes streams from both HQPlayer and Spotify.
Maybe I should start by looking for an endpoint with Wi-Fi but I am away on holiday for a couple of weeks.

apart from the step down in sound quality it will be painful to not to used iTunes/Music as my music browser that…

In retrospective I should have done this when I gave up my perfectly fine system and moved to the UK 8 years ago. It would have saved a lot of money and the hassle of lugging the stuff around (4 moves in 8 year).

 

[tuga]

I should have mentioned that I won’t have a hi-fi rack, any electronic boxes will have to be small and few/one.

 

[Ceko]

I think I’d be happy with just a Marantz PM7000N and a couple of small Klipsch. Model depending on room size. But so many people so many tastes right?

 

[JANDL100]

Oh wow.
I feel for you, Ric.

I'm not sure I could do that.

If I had to downsize in that way, I'd be heading down the Headphone route in a very serious way.
I think I'd just keep a generic midfi system for the family.

 

[bigrod]

I have always been of the view that If you live in a shared space with a partner/ kids then how you listen to music should form part of that lifestyle.. that’s why I always loved the stereogram of my early years . Everything in one cabinet away from sticky fingers and a focal point in the room for the family . No wires dangling everywhere to get caught up in the hoover ..A place to store your records .. They can still be brought quite cheaply and retro fitted with your own kit …if your kit is behind a door it doesn’t matter if it all looks different .There are modern equivalents by the likes of Ruark if you’ve got the cash …a HiFi system should reflect the aesthetic of the room and your lifestyle..
To that end when Diane and I found this house we commissioned a unit to fulfil that “look” but also to give me the quality of music I was used to…… Music is not just audible but visual too .. A bit like we eat with our eyes ..A go to lots of shows and Demos and look at what’s sat in front of me and think . As good as it sounds I couldn’t live with it visually …

 

[bobovox]

The router sits unfortunately too far in the entrance lobby so there is no way that I can use my microrendu endpoint. It would be a perfect option because it takes streams from both HQPlayer and Spotify.

I used to use Ethernet over power plugs. These worked nearly faultlessly; very occasionally Qobuz would skip mid-track but Spotify and local streaming were fine so would suit your application. No noise or other problems (I must lead a charmed life). They’re sat in a box doing nothing so happy to send them if you want to try them. That would give you plenty of options for integrated amp with built in DAC.

At the studio we’ve just had a few houses designed for a developer which requested that we put fake plastic chimneys on the roof and a dumb plasterboard fake chimney breast in each sitting room. How deranged is that???

Did they also want fake blocked up windows so it looks like the houses were around in the time of the window tax?

 

[savvypaul]

But what will friends say when they arrive at the home of the Wikipedia (Tugapedia) of hi-fi and then realise that you don't even own one?

I've got a 1980s Saisho micro system in the garage that you can have for £250. Measures great...I'm just doing the graphs now. PM to buy.

 

[tuga]

I have always been of the view that If you live in a shared space with a partner/ kids then how you listen to music should form part of that lifestyle.. that’s why I always loved the stereogram of my early years . Everything in one cabinet away from sticky fingers and a focal point in the room for the family . No wires dangling everywhere to get caught up in the hoover ..A place to store your records .. They can still be brought quite cheaply and retro fitted with your own kit …if your kit is behind a door it doesn’t matter if it all looks different .There are modern equivalents by the likes of Ruark if you’ve got the cash …a HiFi system should reflect the aesthetic of the room and your lifestyle..
To that end when Diane and I found this house we commissioned a unit to fulfil that “look” but also to give me the quality of music I was used to…… Music is not just audible but visual too .. A bit like we eat with our eyes ..A go to lots of shows and Demos and look at what’s sat in front of me and think . As good as it sounds I couldn’t live with it visually …

I had not considered those units, thanks for pointing them out.

What is interesting about this living room is that despite its reasonable size, 24m2, the location of the room entrance doo, chimney and huge folding four-door glazing make it difficult to place the system and optimise sitting area and make use of the view of the garden.

 

[tuga]

I used to use Ethernet over power plugs. These worked nearly faultlessly; very occasionally Qobuz would skip mid-track but Spotify and local streaming were fine so would suit your application. No noise or other problems (I must lead a charmed life). They’re sat in a box doing nothing so happy to send them if you want to try them. That would give you plenty of options for integrated amp with built in DAC.


Did they also want fake blocked up windows so it looks like the houses were around in the time of the window tax?

We have had planning officers request fake windows before. Looks great in a drawing but real life is another matter.

Thanks for the offer, I may take it on once I have a plan.

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

That sounds like Slumming It. Not sure I could

 

[Lawrence001]

I've got a Yamaha all in one streaming amp with Bluetooth and WiFi, controlled by the Music cast app but family can just stream straight from their phones if they want either by Bluetooth or direct WiFi connection. It actually reads all the music files directly from your phone like on a NAS and lets you play them from the app. I think it's got Spotify but would need to check.

It's been a game changer for me, but as I only use it as a source from the tape out sockets, a bit of a waste of a good amp. So if you're interested I could do you a deal. Only thing is I'm in N London and don't have the/a box. Well I've got another I need for moving some kit but if you sent it back empty that could work.

 

[tuga]

That sounds like Slumming It. Not sure I could

It is probably temporary, 3 years perhaps, but I am already suffering withdrawal symptoms

 

[Lawrence001]

I've got a 1980s Saisho micro system in the garage that you can have for £250. Measures great...I'm just doing the graphs now.

Somehow I actually can't see that measuring great by any statistic. There are some things that even measurements can't make look good.

 

[wHIZZY]

The Lindemann Musicbook Source may be worth a look if you are after something small for use with active speakers. Not the most concise video but quite informative.
https://www.pursuitperfectsystem.co...with-style-lindemann-musicbook-source-review/

 

[tuga]

The Lindemann Musicbook Source may be worth a look if you are after something small for use with active speakers. Not the most concise video but quite informative.
https://www.pursuitperfectsystem.co...with-style-lindemann-musicbook-source-review/

Thanks.

AKM chips, DSD upconversion.
On paper it looks very interesting.

I need to look at the browsing GUI.

 

[savvypaul]

But what will friends say when they arrive at the home of the Wikipedia (Tugapedia) of hi-fi and then realise that you don't even own one?

I've got a 1980s Saisho micro system in the garage that you can have for £250. Measures great...I'm just doing the graphs now. PM to buy.

Somehow I actually can't see that measuring great by any statistic. There are some things that even measurements can't make look good.

Yeah, but I'm gonna put some Topping badges on it and fit a quantum fuse...

 

[Lawrence001]

Yeah, but I'm gonna put some Topping badges on it and fit a quantum fuse...

Ah if you get Topping involved apparently all bets are off.

 

[simon g]

Thanks.

AKM chips, DSD upconversion.
On paper it looks very interesting.

I need to look at the browsing GUI.

The pre is analogue, as well. You can use Spotify Connect, so same interface as you currently use for Spotify? The Latest Lindemann app is fine; intuitive, informative and connects easily and reliably. DSD can be turned off, if required. Proper pre functionality to boot, if you did feel the need to connect other sources, now or in the future.

Shameless plug; my MusicBook Source will be available in the next few weeks, if of interest. I have a very sensible price in mind!

 

[DomT]

I think I’d be happy with just a Marantz PM7000N and a couple of small Klipsch. Model depending on room size. But so many people so many tastes right?

As a Marantz fan I bought one of these but the digital inputs sounded really bad and HEOS was not a great experience. It pains me to say that I couldn't recommend it. I sold it within 2 months.

 

[tuga]

The pre is analogue, as well. You can use Spotify Connect, so same interface as you currently use for Spotify? The Latest Lindemann app is fine; intuitive, informative and connects easily and reliably. DSD can be turned off, if required. Proper pre functionality to boot, if you did feel the need to connect other sources, now or in the future.

Shameless plug; my MusicBook Source will be available in the next few weeks, if of interest. I have a very sensible price in mind!

I might be interested. Still too soon to say, and I won’t be back before the first weekend of September.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon storing my CDs into boxes, 210 litres of them. What to do with them…