First post, love this sub! Started down the rabbit hole about 10 years ago and after numerous upgrades and endless tweaking, I’m happy with where it is. Feedback and suggestions welcome.

Turntable Marantz TT-15S1
Cartridge Soundsmith Zephyr Mk. III
Amplifier Cambridge Audio Evo 150
Preamp Rega Phono MM MK3
Speakers KEF R7
Subwoofer KEF Kube 8

Hello, lovely people!
I just wanted to share some photos from a recent meeting with Joe from Superior Audio Systems in Chicago.
Off the bat, if you are in the neighborhood and looking for someone who knows their stuff front to back, pay Joe a visit. He is a wonderful human being and an absolute wealth of knowledge.
On the speakers, these are a pair of LFT-8c’s that sound phenomenal. They are amazing speakers technically (though I am not qualified to explain, I don’t believe haha), but more than that they acoustically punch far above their weight-class. They are incredibly precise and, with their in-built subs, have a strong low-end presence that is every bit as technical as the highs.
Concerning the second photo, Joe was showing me the setup he had at an audio show a few years ago featuring the LFTs and a very interesting addition: plasma tweeters. They deal with the frequencies from 1000Hz up. He did not still have them in his listening room, but I thought I would post about them here to see if anyone knows more about them. He said they used to be integrated into a speaker cabinet, but that someone had removed them to act as a stand-alone.

Thank you, cool humans, and have a great day!
-N.S.

I never thought a Columbo episode would make me search for a turntable. I loved Peter Falk, and man what a fantastic show that was. I've been binge watching Colombo on Tubi, anyways!

I have always loved vintage audio gear. For me, it is not just about the sound. It is about the history, the engineering, and the stories behind these machines.

A few nights ago I was watching an old episode of Columbo called “The Bye Bye Sky High IQ Murder Case” and something caught my eye sitting in the background. It was an ADC Accutrac 4000 turntable.

I had to look it up because I thought there was no way that was what I was seeing. Sure enough, it was the same model that played a role in the episode’s murder plot. A turntable from the 1970s that was considered incredibly advanced for its time, with programmable track selection and features that felt like something from the future.

Now I actually find myself trying to track one down.

Not because I think it will outperform my other turntables or because I believe it is some magical audiophile device. I want one because it has a story. It is a piece of audio history and a reminder of a time when companies were trying new ideas and pushing technology forward.

How many turntables can you own where you can say, “This model was featured in a Columbo murder mystery”?

That is what makes collecting vintage gear fun. Sometimes it is not just about specs and measurements. It is about the memories, the history, and the little things that make a piece of equipment unique.

I just did an offer on one that needs work, if I can bring it back to life. I already know I will be smiling the first time a record starts spinning on it while I watch that episode again.

To be continued.

Why can't everything be mastered this good? This master from the original tapes, not trying to cover up noise floors or clipping, just giving us the full experience. Mind is a bit blown. The versions of these songs im used to hearing sound nothing this spatious and detailed and snappy and rich.

Disclaimer: I didnt make this video, im just enjoying how it sounds

Loving my set up! Focals aria with powernode connected by Chord Rumour X

Still trying to figure this out. I have a pretty decent setup - dual SVS SB13 subwoofers, high quality normal speakers. Movies are amazing, sub effects are near-heartstopping sometimes. (try the new blade runner or dune 1)..

But..

While the overall quality of my music is _much_ better than that what I hear in clubs and at concerts, the bass, for *most* songs is outright anemic in my home. Yes my amp is indicating the subs are enabled, no crazy crossfades or night modes enabled.

- Perhaps this simply is what the artist intended, and I should note down a few songs I find amazing in said clubs.

- Perhaps the clubs massively turn up the bass and sacrifice overall balance?

But just as an example, beyonce's partition (platinum edition, with the live audience and downward frequency sweeps at the start) is great in my home, but taylor swift's bad blood is decidedly mid.

(not that I'm a huge fan of the two ladies, they are just well known songs that reportedly have good bass)

Any theories? Songs to try? Halp plz.

not sure if this is the right sub, but I'm searching for earplugs to wear that will still allow the music to sound great.

Some exciting early information from Alsozone/3eAudio about their upcoming GaN Monoblock amplifiers:

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/what-makes-a-palm-sized-monoblock-believable.442522/#post-8341411

https://alsozone.com/pages/gan-mono-founder-feedback

Their website have a short Founder Challenge if you like follow.

I’ve been reading about how many Atmos releases are created as home mixes rather than preserving the original theatrical dynamics. Some comparisons suggest this can result in noticeably reduced dynamic range, even when dialogue is level matched.

For example, I’ve seen claims that:

The Matrix cinema DTS mix has roughly 7 dB more dynamic range than the Atmos mix, making explosions and major effects substantially more impactful at the same dialogue level.

Turbine’s Twister release includes both Atmos and Auro 3D mixes, and some listeners report the Auro 3D mix preserves much more of the theatrical dynamics, with effects sounding dramatically more powerful than the Atmos version.

If you’ve done direct A/B comparisons, have you noticed the same thing? Is this something you’ve found across multiple titles, or is it limited to certain studios and releases?

I’m especially interested in hearing from anyone who has measured the mixes or compared them on a calibrated home theater. Which movies showed the biggest differences?

Hello all! Long time lurker here. I just got a new pre and power amp, to replace my integrated NAD C388 with BluOS module. I got the Wiim ultra and Parasound 2250, but I am having difficulty getting the gain right. I get clipping at low volume, with different speakers. I tried to reduce the input gain in the power amp, but then I can’t reach any reference volume (and I still get clipping when using 80-90/100 volume on the Wiim). I have tried troubleshooting with Ai, but I don’t know what else to do. Do any of you have any tips on how to proceed, what to hear or test for, etc?

Edit: I am using B&W 704s2 floorstanding speakers, that are 4 ohms, but dip below sometimes. I also tested the amp on a pair of Dali Zensor 1s that are 8 ohms, with same result of clipping.

I'm after some advice on using a valve amplifier in UK.

I live in UK now but when I returned here from the US I brought back a Jolida JD 102CRC valve amp that uses 120 V. It's a nice amp and I'd like to use it but I only have a cheap transformer 120 to 240 V. I worry that the cheap transformer will provide a less than "clean" voltage to the amplifier affecting the quality of the sound.

1. Am I worrying about something I shouldn't be?

2. Is there a high-quality clean power source transformer that I could buy to use with the amplifier? According to the manual it only needs 200 W to run.

I want another system but these are old and from the past, any new systems with this flair and futuristic cyber feel?

I found a pair of Alesis M1 Active 520 which cost 100 euros (≈ 113usd), The deal seems good to me but according to Claude Ia, the fact that they have remained in its box for 10 years without being used can have harmful consequences on its operation.

I'm starting my first home studio so I haven't mastered this kind of thing yet, is it worth it to take them or is it risky?

Hey fellow audiophiles! I have the 2016 version of the Rega planar 3 turntable, bought new in 2018, and I’m about to put a Grado Timbre series wood cartridge on it. But an AI bot just told me that if I need a spacer to raise the arm, the standard weight will bump up against the dust cover and you also need a special, very expensive weight that’s smaller, to clear the dust cover.

What are y’all’s opinions on this issue? What have you done or not done in this situation?

Thanks! I have an appointment at my local retailer to install the new cartridge in a couple hours and I wish I had some advice going in…

Can a DAC really cost $375,000? We traveled to Watsonville, California, to find out what goes into making MSB's Sentinel.

I mainly listen to vinyl (Pro-Ject Debut RecordMaster II + Ortofon OM20), Qobuz Hi-Res streaming and CDs. My speakers are Polk Audio Monitor XT20. Sound quality is my highest priority; features are secondary.

After years of research and saving, I finally built my end game system. Glad to have arrived here, as it’s felt like my own personal Odyssey.