No More Audiophile Hassles

[wgscott]

After seeing a thread titled No More Computer Hassles (in which a computer was replaced by a physical media player with a computer), it got me wondering how much of a performance hit one might take if one replaced all of the audiophile-oriented features with decent-quality consumer-grade options.

 

Let's say for example 99% of my music files are either redbook, AAC/mp3, or 24/48 or 24/96 PCM.  How much of a performance hit would I take if I just used iTunes and set Audio MIDI setup to 24/96 output, so that coreaudio would just upsample everything to that and send it to my DAC?

 

How much of a performance hit would be entailed in using, for example, a $1K consumer-grade TEAC DAC (which is the best I have, fwiw)?

 

How much of a performance hit would be entailed using a well-engineered, well-measuring, but moderately-priced generic amplifier (pick your favorite "topology")?

 

How much of a performance hit would be entailed using well-behaved speakers that cost $100s of dollars rather than multiples of $1K, especially if these used room/speaker correction and/or active monitors?

 

In other words, would we really lose all that much by forgoing all the audiophile expense and angst in favor of carefully-selected quality mainstream consumer-grade alternatives and focused more on enjoying music? Could we actually gain anything just by simplifying the signal path?

 

 

 

[wgscott]

Just to clarify -- this is a purely hypothetical/speculative question, the flip-side of another thread currently running.

 

I'm reasonably happy with my current main system (Audirvana + on a Mac Mini --> USB or USB/coax or network into a Teac NT-503 --> DIY Class D* bi-amp --> B&W CM7 speakers + Rel sub ± Dirac room correction, mostly lossless and high res and a few DSD). If I do any future upgrade, it would probably be a set of NC-400 amps and active/software crossovers.

 

*Doesn't suck.

 

I also have a bedroom system, which would probably qualify as "boutique" rather than consumer-grade, but it consists merely of an ATV2 (streaming my library via iTunes) --> cheap optical --> Peachtree Nova (original 2009 version) and D5 speakers; the sound from that is remarkably high-quality.

[wgscott]

Another option is not eating animal products ....

[wgscott]

11 hours ago, tne said:

Bill,

You pose a very good question that many of us consider from time to time.

What metric do you propose to use for "performance"? As we endlessly discuss here on CA, there are differing thoughts on this, and I would enjoy hearing yours.

 

# goose pimples per square cm of skin.

[wgscott]

10 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

What we really enjoy in having our light conversation here is someone dogmatically dismissing a whole category of equipment.

 

Especially since it is so out of character for this place.

 

He's been on this Jihad for awhile now.  Like most religious fanatics, he is impervious to facts and reason.  I very much doubt he could even identify the topology of the amp in a blind test.

[wgscott]

3 minutes ago, GUTB said:

I heard the Kalugas at AXPONA this year and was unimpressed (I forget the speakers in use). I can't use that as a definitive example due to AXPONA being a packed madhouse and most rooms sounded bad.

 

The Raidhos are considered one of the very best small speakers (and also cost $17k). How far detached from the speakers was sound originating? How deep? How solid was the three-dimensional presence?

 

You have to hook them up to a Class D amp to really hear them sing.  When that happens, the sound-stage gets really 3-D, veils are lifted as if ISIS has been vanquished from Raqa, and a rainbow appears with angels blowing on trumpets.  

[wgscott]

On 10/20/2017 at 7:14 PM, cjf said:

The poster throwing the carpet statement saying Class D sucks is obviously oblivious.

 

You are being extremely charitable. 

[wgscott]

4 hours ago, witchdoctor said:

No, get a second hand Carver A series or AV Series amp for around $300 on Ebay. This thread is about less audiophile hassles not more. I scored a Carver AV 505 on CL for around $150 and it is magic.

 

It is extremely unlikely he could even tell any class D amp from anything else gain-matched if he was blindfolded.

[wgscott]

Can anyone give an example of a standard middle to high-end consumer-grade (or better) class D amplifier that is measurably inferior?

[wgscott]

6 hours ago, GUTB said:

"Neutral" is a code word for "it sucks". Usually "neutral" means empty, toneless, ruler flat soundstage and unengaging. So that $300 integrated off of Amazon doesn’t suck, it’s just "very neutral". Some people like "neutral", and some like "colored". So there’s no judgment, no need to aspire for more, just tell yourself you like "neutral".

 

I like straight wire + gain, not audiophool sound effects.

[wgscott]

10 hours ago, fas42 said:

Sort of curious ... how do people know when they have "neutral sound" ... ?

 

They measure the frequency response with Audiotools, REW, Dirac, etc. ...  It really isn't that hard.  You just have to learn not to trust your ears.

[wgscott]

On 10/23/2017 at 2:16 PM, witchdoctor said:

It will be better if you give a price range instead of standard middle to high end.

 

So you can't.  

 

Figures.  You are just full of BS and vile bile.

[wgscott]

57 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

Is a vial of bile vile?

 

I hit the wrong key on the keyboard, but I kind of liked what I saw...

[wgscott]

Much better than the real thing.

 

Have you ever heard the way a tornado sounds when recorded with MQA?  The sucking is like a Class D amp.