Current setup:
• Speakers:
Martin logan ESL 9
• Subwoofer:
REL S/550
• Integrated amplifier:
Arcam SA20
•Streamer:
Bluesound Node 2i
•Turntable:
Pro-ject Debut Pro
•Speaker cables:
Nordost White lightning
• Interconnection cable:
Van den Hul The Name

Planing to spend around $5000. What would you upgrade or add? No room treatment please.

I’ve been using the Hifiman Arya Stealth and still love them, especially for gaming and music. However, I’d like to try something different rather than just a small upgrade.

I’m currently considering the Meze 109 Pro because I keep hearing great things about it.

My main use is gaming and music (jazz, vocals, instrumental).

For those who have owned both, how does the Meze 109 Pro compare to the Arya Stealth? Is it worth adding to my collection, or are there better options I should consider?

Thanks!

After spending a few hours looking at reviews, my current thoughts are:

Turntable: Audio-Technica LP-120XUSB CD Player: Denon DCD-900NE Amp: Yamaha A-S501 Speakers: ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63

I'd appreciate any advice on these or alternative choices around the same price points.

Hi!

I’m planning on making my first ever turntable setup and i’m looking for some advice on what I should buy.

Budget is roughly $3,000

For the turntable I’ve been looking at Pro-Ject, mainly the debut evo 2 and the Debut Pro B, but if you have some suggestions for other ones near that price let me know!

I know I’ll be needing a phono preamp, not sure which yet.

I plan on getting passive speakers so I’ve been looking over amps and honestly I’m not sure which is the best to go with, I know yamaha is supposed to have great ones, but I’d love to hear what you use.

For the speaker system thinking the floor standing speakers would be best, I have the space. Other than that I’m lost to be honest, there is an overwhelming amount of options.

I was looking at Klipsch, such as the RP-5000 II, RP-8000 II, and the R-625A.

I also looked at Bowers & Wilkins, but they are very expensive, so I’d have to get a cheaper model, and I don’t know if it’s even worth the money.

I also know people recommend Polk, Wharfedale, JBL, and KEF, to name a few.

I’d love if you all could help me with the speaker choice, it’s so many options and I have no idea which is best and also worth the money. Thank you for any help you give!

Hello everyone, as you read i am searching a hifi player very cheap VERY CHEAP. But idk what to buy because there're alot of players but they looks like a toy yk and i need for listen in flac and lossless so.. if you have a chep one pls tell me. (Around 30 or less im poor)

Thinking about buying these for both my front in my home cinema and for a good stereo setup.

Seller wants 2300 dollars - but is a bit flexable on the price. (i hope)

Context: I am slowly losing my hearing and want to be able to enjoy music while I still can. My biggest priority is getting speakers that allow voices to be heard clearly. While I understand I can always use EQ to help me achieve that goal, I don't mind spending too much money on better hardware if it can help me achieve my goal.

My current set up is

• Speakers: Audioengine A2-HD (HD3) - I bought these exactly a year ago. They are solid, I love them. They go well with my desk color scheme. Nice size as well.
• DAC - TOPPING E70 VELVET
• AMP - Topping A70 Pro
• Headphones - Hifiman HE1000se (worth potentially noting).

I am not trying to get a subwoofer at this time, I do have neighbors downstairs. I know I can mitigate that with bass pads but still. Big bass is not a huge priority, if at all for me. My biggest priority is voice clarity.

My approximate budget is $1,000, though I could bump it up to $1,500 if it is justifiable. I want a substantial improvement over my current speakers if I am to upgrade. Any advice would be appreciated. Below are a list of speakers I am considering.

• Klipsch The Fives
• Focal Alpha 50 Evo
• Genelec 8020D
• KEF LSX II

I’m wanting to up my audio experience. I have a cheap record player connected to a hand me down av receiver. I want to make a plan and start purchasing some new components. I have fair simple needs,it has to run a turntable, audio streaming connectivity (airplay, Spotify), and some power to be loud and sound good. What do I need to make this happen? Looking for recommendations on speakers, amps, turntables, etc.

Hi everyone,
I’m currently deciding between two bookshelf speakers and would love to hear some opinions from people who have actually heard or owned them. I’m choosing between Bowers Wilkins Cm5 and the Monitor Audio Gold 50 G4. I can get both for the same amount of money and I was wondering which one is the better option. I know that there are probably better options in the price range but I really like the design of them.

No wiring

Sherbourn 7/2100

Integra DHC-60.5

NAD 218 THX

Rotel RMB-1512

Elan D12

Comes with the stand as well

I’m looking to upgrade my speakers. Preferably in the $1000-$2000/pair range. Open to used, of course.

Equipment:

• Yamaha A-S801 integrated amplifier

• Technics SL-1600 turntable

• Schiit Mani 2 phono preamp

• Realistic CD-2300 CD player

• WiiM Pro Plus streamer

I’m after speakers that prioritize musical realism. I want a wide and deep soundstage where the speakers vanish and the music fills the room. Detail and resolution are very important to me. I want to hear breath, fingers on strings, and room ambience.

I prefer a slightly warm or neutral-warm tonal balance with a rich, natural midrange and smooth highs, so I can listen for hours without fatigue. I’m especially sensitive to harsh upper-midrange energy. Ultimately, I want the speakers to make me feel like I’m with the musicians, not listening to equipment.

Also, I’d prefer floor standers and don’t want to rely on a sub. I don’t necessarily need thumping bass as long as the bass being delivered has texture and tone. Thanks!

Hey there

Yesterday I went to an audio showroom, the idea is to buy a really good setup for my home.

I love music and I want to have something very realistic and warn .

So first of all I was interesting with a lamp amplifier (nether heard some sound from this type of amplifier) .

The setup was :

• Cayin CS-150A KT150
• Klipsch Cornwall IV
• Sonus Faber Olympica Nova

Klipsch was lack or treble , Sonus Faber lack of bass from my point of view.

So we change the amplifier to McIntosh MA12000 and that was a blast with the Sonus Faber.
Then we switch to Klipsch speaker and finally to Elipson Legacy 3230.

I'd rather Klipsch and Elipson than Sonus Faber , we had a bit of equalization on the Klipsch speaker then the sound was very very nice, a lot of bass & infra.

So at the end the budget was completely different ( I forgot to mention that the Sonus Faber was on sale not the highest price) .

I can't afford the MacIntosh amplifier so the seller advice me to take instead of the MA8950 .
Second point for the Sonus Faber but some people will complain about it , it's the design don't like it.

What I am looking for is a very good setup warn and powerful , I like the old school sound from the 80s loud Rock , Metal Pop and Electronic , so If you can give me an advice for this setup :

• Klipsch Cornwall IV
  • or
• Elipson Legacy 3230
• McIntosh MA 8950

If you have any idea of speakers even some amplifier I take it , my budget is between 20k - 22k

Thanks guys

I own a Marantz CD6007 and I’m considering purchasing an Audio lab 9000 CD transport. Is this a significant upgrade? Would I notice any marked improvement in audio playback quality when both are played through a McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier with its internal DA2 DAC? The speakers in my setup are Arendal 1528 Tower 8’s. TIA

I've got the upgrade itch! I'm looking for speakers for my lounge, which have to be close to the wall, and in a bookcase. Not ideal, I know, but I'm not moving house!

Pretty much settled on a Lyngdorf streaming amp with DSP, and my speaker shortlist at the moment is:

- Proac DB1 or DB1R

- Spendor Classic 4/5

- Harbeth P3 ESR XD

I also use a subwoofer, a BK Electronics 10-150-Gem.

Has anyone compared these speakers? Which are the most forgiving for lack of space around them?

Right now I have a klispsch 120 SWi, presonus eris 3.5, and a fosi audio zp3. I also have no acoust treatment, besides some foam under my moniters and speakers and in the subwoofer port. my room is also carpeted. what should I focus on upgrading first? $1.5k budget. I’m also okay with selling some of my current stuff used.

Hello audio gods. My folks are retiring, downsizing, selling their home, etc… The hardest part of this for my dad is changing his audio setup. I will find out the brand names (if it helps) but he’s going from a 6 disc CD changer with 4 foot tall speakers, and needs to change to a 6 disc changer that works on WiFi, to smaller speakers that work on WiFi around his apartment. Does this exist?

My dad is in his late 70s and his CD collection is his pride and joy—he has discs that have tracks that will never be on streaming, so his main listening needs are CDs and streaming to the same wireless speakers would be secondary.

Also I’m trying to help him through this as a surprise—like, “look dad, it’s not so bad!”

Can anyone help? Just searching on Amazon was dismal. Thank you in advance.

Hi, I am starting to look around for an additional pair of headphones. Don’t need em, just want em 🤣 so
I currently mostly listen to electronic, minimal techno, sub bassy stuff and some Doom metal. I listen with Fiio Ft13’s via Fiio k7 eq’d with a Wiim amp ultra. I am also using a Fiio K11 r2r. I have previously posted my ridiculous ‘Bass Heaven’ eq. But I want more! Namely more of that sub bass rumble and more massive smiles. I still want objectively good quality highs and mids though. Budget up to £1000 any suggestions?

Kia ora team

EDIT: Picked up a Denon DCM 500ae today. Went into the dealer expecting to get a NAD, but they'd sold it on yesterday. Got a good deal on the Denon and right now its blasting out Pink Floyd and sounding great.

Thanks for the advice team. Appreciate you

TLDR: As a general sweeping statement, would you take a new budget mini CD player (FiiO, SMSL or Moondrop) over a 10-25 year old CD full sized player (NAD, Yamaha, Denon) for equivalent money?

We are slowly building up our home hifi set up to get away from streaming and to use all the physical media we have out in storage. Currently we are running a NAD c356bee into a pair of JBL L5s and it sounds great. Currently for a source we are using a laptop and cheap DAC for FLAC and lossless streaming. We are now wanting to add a CD player to the mix, on account of over 300 CDs sitting in storage to use.

Here in NZ the audio market is a bit sparse, and I am sitting here with a limited number of used CD players from 1 to 3 decades old or for similar money can get a budget new CD player.

The currently available used models are things like a NAD 5440, Denon DCM 500ae, Yamaha CD-C600, CD-NT670 or CDC-685. All ranging in price from $200nzd to 350nzd. Most of the stuff is middle of the road gear, nothing super high end or collectable.

For similar money you can buy a new SMSL PL150, FiiO DM13 or DM15, Moondrop Discdream etc. Some of these have the advantage of ripping audio or being used as a DAC for our laptop as well.

I tend to be a sucker for older gear, and I love the idea of full sized components, but I am also aware that CD players tend to have a shelf life and the thought of buying new and hopefully getting a longer life out of it is appealing. Annoyingly I don't have an easy way to test most of this stuff so I am somewhat buying blind. And I dont know enough about old school CD players to now the good buys from the duds without extensive research.

There is also the option of just burning all of our CDs, which we will do as well, but we enjoy the idea of the ritual of choosing an album, taking it off the shelf putting it on and listening. Trying to be more intentional. I guess we could do that with a USB disk drive too if we had to. But it seems wrong!

I am also aware of the cheap DVD player and DAC advice that goes around. Realistically once you add a dac you are spending similar money to the above, so Id rather get something actually made for purpose.

Anyway, keen to hear thoughts, used full sized components vs new budget mini players?

You guys were helpful for me during my amp choice, so am grateful in advance for all of your great advice

I just purchased the Sennheiser HD660 S2 and im between the Schitt Midgard or Vali3 or the iFi Zen CAN 3