What's next on your audio wish list?

[Scott Dolan]

Allen, check out some of the Canadian companies. PSB Speakers and Axiom Audio are pretty highly regarded for building the most accurate budget speakers on the market.

Aperion Audio out of Portland, Oregon is another you might look into.

[sidewinder]

But, with that said, I think you tend to get better value with tubes than with solid state in most cases.

Naim audio a part.

Amen, porcy. My first Naim Audio solid state amp (NAC 72) was actually bought in North America - I've stuck with them ever since. Big plus is that they offer a myriad of good upgrade options.

[porcy62]

I always respected Naim, I think their "evolution" is upright: they don't jump on the last trend, format, etc, they don't make luxury joint venture with luxury cars od yachts in order to gain customers in Dubai. My only problem with Naim is that I don't like their design.

ooopps: I just discover their joint venture with Bentley...

Edited March 4, 2014 by porcy62

[Scott Dolan]

Dynaudio builds the speakers for the Bughatti Veyron. Is that a bad thing?

[porcy62]

Dynaudio builds the speakers for the Bughatti Veyron. Is that a bad thing?

Not at all, but some audio firms tend to move toward most profitable market, like luxury, leaving aside the "sound", if you get what I mean.

[Scott Dolan]

Sure, I hear you loud and clear.

[porcy62]

Sadly Linn took that route under the management of the founder's son, actually without a great success, IMHO.

[Scott Dolan]

Yeah, and to a lesser extent you could also throw Pioneer and JBL in that conversation. Before getting into car audio, with huge contracts, they were pretty reputable quasi high end companies.

My buddy still has a set of 30 some year old JBL studio monitors in his digital studio to this day, and they're some of the cleanest speakers I've ever heard.

[porcy62]

I mean the ceo has full right to move the business to more profitable field, actually he has to, but expecially with small and medium firms rooted in "hi fi", it was a death move.

[sidewinder]

My only problem with Naim is that I don't like their design.

Their circuit layouts and wiring are pretty unfussy and very old-school. I took the Superline apart at the weekend to tighten up the BNC connectors and as an old fart electronics engineer it was a pleasure to see so many discrete components and hard-wired solder links.

Linn certainly did some great recent upgrades to the LP12 (Keel and Radikal for example). Never been a great fan of their amps..

Edited March 4, 2014 by sidewinder

[porcy62]

My only problem with Naim is that I don't like their design.

Their circuit layouts and wiring are pretty unfussy and very old-school. I took the Superline apart at the weekend to tighten up the BNC connectors and as an old fart electronics engineer it was a pleasure to see so many discrete components and hard-wired solder links.

Linn certainly did some great recent upgrades to the LP12 (Keel and Radikal for example). Never been a great fan of their amps..

Actually I am talking about the case, not the circuit layouts, I know it's silly, but...

Edited March 4, 2014 by porcy62

[Scott Dolan]

I think their amps look pretty nice, porcy. Pre-amps, well...not so much. The pre looks like they making fun of Marantz. But the amps have a nice, clean look.

Then again, it's pretty difficult to fuck up an amp as far as looks are concerned.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Scott Dolan

[porcy62]

I have these ones, and they look definitely nicer then Naim.

[Scott Dolan]

Good lord! I'll say.

Those are absolute beauties!

I prefer black due to my overall theme, but I'd be pleased as punch with those.

What model are they?

Edited March 4, 2014 by Scott Dolan

[porcy62]

Linn Klimax Solo monoblock, 500 watt into 4 Ohm.

[Scott Dolan]

*bows humbly*

porcy, that amp is just fucking amazing.

Jealous!

And I mean BIG time jealous...

[Scott Dolan]

Though, I do have one question: what the hell do you do with a thousand watts of power?! Do you live in a football stadium?

[porcy62]

Freud would talk of compensation law

[Scott Dolan]

Which explains my 120W into 4ohm amp.

Edited March 5, 2014 by Scott Dolan

[marcello]

I would like to find a pair of speakers in the $500-$600 range that are perfectly flat and can be used for mixing - not the usual studio monitors (I hate those); just a good accurate set; I already have an incredible set, but they will be going by summer as I have donated my mixing studio; so at this point I am looking for a decent replacement.

I have a feeling, however, that my price point may be impossible.

Maybe Avantone speakers will do the job, but I'm not a expert. Does Scott have a opinion?

[porcy62]

Which explains my 120W into 4ohm amp.

Obviously the theory works, but just the reverse, to low watt, but big tubes, like triodes.

Edited March 6, 2014 by porcy62

[Scott Dolan]

I would like to find a pair of speakers in the $500-$600 range that are perfectly flat and can be used for mixing - not the usual studio monitors (I hate those); just a good accurate set; I already have an incredible set, but they will be going by summer as I have donated my mixing studio; so at this point I am looking for a decent replacement.

I have a feeling, however, that my price point may be impossible.

Maybe Avantone speakers will do the job, but I'm not a expert. Does Scott have a opinion?

I'm completely unfamiliar with that speaker. Looks like it's a pretty decent speaker with good specs, but Allen said he doesn't like studio monitors so it likely isn't the speaker for him.

I will say this, a buddy of mine with a small studio once told me he always had a small set of decent speakers that he would use during the final mix because he wanted to know what it would sound like on lower quality consumer speakers because that would be what most people would be listening to his music on.

That's what these speakers are designed for, and I know he'd love them. Matter of fact, I'm going to send him that link. It will definitely put a smile on his face.