r/hifiaudio

Hey everyone, back with a quick update on my setup. Really happy with the current synergy here. Here is the gear list:

Streamer/Preamp: WiiM Ultra
Amp: Cambridge Audio CXA81 MkII (Limited Black Edition)
Speakers: KEF Q1 Meta
Subwoofer: Polk HTS10 (connected via amp pre-out)
Stands: Norstone Stylum 2 with Norstone Counterspikes
Cables: Proson Arctic Series (Speaker, Optical, Subwoofer)

The Q1 Meta paired with the CXA81 MkII is a match made in heaven. The clean power drives the Metas beautifully, bringing out great precise imaging without sharpness. The Polk HTS10 fills in the sub-bass nicely where the KEFs roll off.
As you can see in the photo, the wall behind the setup is totally bare. I want to close it up and make it look clean, but with actual acoustic benefits.
What would you suggest for the back wall to balance looks and sound? I am thinking about wood slat panels, DIY Rockwool art panels, or maybe a central diffuser with some floating shelves and plants.
Would love to hear your thoughts on what would look and sound best, also, what do you think about the setup ?🙂

Hi all. I used super lube synthetic grease on my CD player’s laser rails. Is this the right stuff to use over white lithium grease? I picked it because it says plastic safe and the laser guides that touch the rails are plastic

Today I was removing my Ortofon 2M Red cartridge from my old turntable because I'm picking up a Rega Planar 3 tomorrow.

The headshell connectors on the old tonearm were extremely tight and wouldn't budge. I used a pair of tweezers to remove them, but they were so stiff that I actually ended up pulling the wires away from the solder joints on the connectors. I then removed the connectors separately.

All four connectors eventually came off, but I noticed that on the top-right pin there's a small metal piece stamped R6. As I removed that connector, the R6 metal tab slid about 1–2 mm up the pin, away from the cartridge body. I gently pushed it back into place with my fingernail, and it now sits firmly where it was.

I'm now worried that I've damaged the cartridge just a day before getting my new turntable. I know I could buy another 2M Red body for around £80 and use my Blue stylus, but that's still a decent amount of money, and it's stressing me out.

Have I likely damaged the cartridge, or am I worrying over nothing?

On the platter? Cornelius - Ripple Waves.

(Roast if you want but I spent like under $100 on everything audio wise as most things were acquired for free)

Really just want to get an amp for towers and a sub that needs amp maybe upgrade to Cerwin Vega towers in front Mtx in the back heard someone doing so with these exact towers and they said it sounded great and no doubt as they sound amazing up front.

MTX Audio AAL212B x2
Fisher ST-992 x2
Klipsch R-120SW
Klipsch RP-400C (not in use due to someone wanting to use it as a food table in my shared household)
All powered by a Denon AVR-S960H (which does pretty well but if I want more speakers I would assume I would need an amp for good balance on power)

Any suggestions on other ways to put the fishers to improve quality would be much appreciated thank you.

Okay, at r/budgetaudiophile they say its a headphone.

So i proudly post it here

I was happy to receive an xDuuo TA-10R.

It works not only as a headphone amplifier, but also as a nice little preamp.

It has an optical and a coaxial digital input, as well as a USB input that can be used with drivers for Windows, Mac, and Android. But I suspect it will also work as a USB audio device without drivers. I assume it will work the same way with Ubuntu.

A analog line inomput is avaiable too.

And theres a line output to connect to any amplifier. So its a preamplifier and easy to use with old amps wich only have one Aux-input.

The display is a 0.96" yellow-blue type, similar to those found on the ESP8266 MCU or standalone. It shows the selected input, the volume, and for digital inputs, the format and sampling rate.

Pressing the volume control selects the various inputs; turning it adjusts the volume in several clicks, and there’s a noticeable click stop on the control.

The included tube is a 12AU7 stamped with the “X” for xDuuo, maybe a standard chinese tube, maybe they differ depending on imventory at manufacturing, who knows. More on that later.

So plugged in the old Tinhifi T2 and connect a HK DVD25 via coax digital to run CDs.

One negative point now. You cant 'shut down' the amp or set it to stand-by. You have to switch off at the back. It results in a loud 'pop' in headphone, even at 0 volume. So plug off the headphone first. Luckily at line out theres no pop.

The initial listening test was somewhat disappointing, the sound was muddy and muffled.

So I inserted a Telefunken ECC82 (manufactured in Ulm, Germany, Diamondbottom). Immediately, the sound took on a whole new dimensio, wide open, with clear, strong highs and mids. The bass was precise and powerful. It rocks. But I still felt there was a slight veil over the sound; it was as if the handbrake were still partially engaged, somewhat muted. Not full attack.

Then I tried an S&H Siemens ECC82. It was truly mind-blowing. The haze was gone instantly, and it really rocked very hard. Everything was clear and light. The bass was even more precise, the electric guitar really cut through, and the bass guitar was significantly more precise. The drums had real punch, and the cymbals were delicate and clear. The vocals stood out cleanly among the instruments.

It sounded as if a thin silk curtain had vanished.

That really rocks hard, anyone who’s into metal will love this.

But I still had the original 12AU7 from xDuuo. I let it break in for 10 hours. Lo and behold, it’s not nearly as bad as it was at the start. It sounds clear and well-defined; the soundstage is open, and the bass is round. But it doesn’t quite match the incredible attack and clarity of the Siemens or the Telefunken. Still, I’m giving it another 50 hours.

There's still the Shuguang 12AU7-T to try, a very good, completely new design featuring triple mica and a few remarkable details, such as the metal surface enlarged by many small, fine ripples, a shield between the two sections, very fine and close windings (slightly visible thru the holes), and a monocrystalline glass coating. I love everything about it. I like it when a new design manages to improve on this old technology, even just a little.

Even the very first listen when it was brand-new was already impressive. It renders details with incredible precision.

The other headphones are the K702 and the Deva pro and the Wa'ner SG. Same results. Even the Deva pro was not lame like on other amps (he cant rock hard, but nice).

That's enough for now. Once the original tube and the 12AU7-T have burn in, there will be more.

hi everyone. This vibrarion is not audible by ear but present while listening to records. Turntable is on a completely different surface and in an angular position to speakers: 1,5 meter of distance

amp is Telefunken STM1 and does not have any filter.

Turntable is Telefunken STS1 and it already has factory "insulation" pads. Do I need to put some kind of feets under the speakers?

Help appreciated!

more info: https://imgur.com/a/wK2XDLc https://imgur.com/a/nn4pEHB

Both used, serious sound for the price