Best sound quality ever..........

[Tonsko]

Some kind of crazy top end Quad system. The dude had 3 or 4 pre-amps that he'd wired in specially to his power supply using cooker wire 'for a cleaner power feed'. I had no idea whether it actually made the blindest bit of difference, but it really did sound incredible.

[Crackie]

OldSkoolRS said:

I was particularly impressed with a system that takes into account the room, using a propriety system called 'room perfect'. The speakers were taller than me (not hard, but I think they're over 6 feet tall). It really sounded like the musicians and singers were live in the room with us, very clear and rich sounding, but neither shrill nor boomy on the bass...just right.

Unfortunately I neither have the space or the budget to buy this system:

http://www.steinwaylyngdorf.com/products/model-d-s...

I believe the set up is something like £180,000 (maybe more).

I've been impressed with the Room Perfect demos I've heard, so much so that I plan to add something similar to my setup at some point soon; possibly a DEQX or DIRAC processor. There are some interesting reviews about DEQX's demo using an $80.00 dollar pair of Tandy horn loaded evacuation speakers.

http://www.deqx.com/

http://www.minidsp.com/products/dirac-series/ddrc-...

[OldSkoolRS]

I'm pretty sure Lyngdorf would say that DEQX or DIRAC isn't quite the same as room perfect, but I don't know enough about any of them to comment myself. Only that room perfect measures at various points in the room to build up a profile of the room's response somehow, different to Audessey XT32 that I'm more familar with.

I've also heard a Lyngdorf stereo (plus sub pre out) amp that has room perfect for around the £2k mark, which some have suggested using as part of an AV set up where the Lyngdorf is used for 2.1 music. I heard it with the same MK speakers I have (MP150) and a smaller MK sub (X10) and it was pretty good considering the bare room it was set up in.

http://lyngdorf.com/products/amplifiers/tdai-2170/...

[Crackie]

OldSkoolRS said:

I'm pretty sure Lyngdorf would say that DEQX or DIRAC isn't quite the same as room perfect, but I don't know enough about any of them to comment myself. Only that room perfect measures at various points in the room to build up a profile of the room's response somehow, different to Audessey XT32 that I'm more familar with.

I've also heard a Lyngdorf stereo (plus sub pre out) amp that has room perfect for around the £2k mark, which some have suggested using as part of an AV set up where the Lyngdorf is used for 2.1 music. I heard it with the same MK speakers I have (MP150) and a smaller MK sub (X10) and it was pretty good considering the bare room it was set up in.

http://lyngdorf.com/products/amplifiers/tdai-2170/...

DIRAC, DEQX and Lyngdorf all take different approaches but they are all able to make significant improvements to room response at low frequencies. The DEQX is also able to correct the response of individual drive units in the nearfield before integrating their output. DIRAC uses measurements from multiple mic positions and then employs IIR and FIR filters to correct the impulse. Meridian's approach is to concentrate their correction to the region below the room's Schroeder frequency. REW http://www.roomeqwizard.com/ is a sophisticated piece of software which, like Meridian's correction, is designed to limit the influence of room modes. I believe REW only corrects below 200Hz and Meridian 250Hz. REW is free too........

Edited by Crackie on Thursday 2nd October 10:52

[Jon1967x]

My 2p to add more diversity.. It also depends on the music (and I'm not referring to quality of recording or media although that plays a part). I've had hifi which has sounded fantastic with complex detailed rhythmic arrangements or a female voice but lacked in punch or deep bass, and similarly the other way round. It's almost like a car, tune it for one thing and it compromises something else., agility v slam, transparency v sweetness etc

[probedb]

TonyRPH said:

But none of the above responses answer the OPs questions?

It's because it's not a straightforward answer and it will depend on the environment and the end user.

[Crackie]

probedb said:

TonyRPH said:

But none of the above responses answer the OPs questions?

It's because it's not a straightforward answer and it will depend on the environment and the end user.

Agreed it is not a straightforward answer but I'm just curious to hear opinions about the elite systems that people have heard/used. Do any common traits appear in these highest performing systems ? For example, whilst many have said the room is an important factor, there is little agreement about speakers, Ribbons and electrostatics have been mentioned but so far there are more who have felt speakers with conventional enclosures achieved the best sound for them.

Hopefully others will share their thoughts on the various components and room conditions in their 'Best' systems; we may even find some kind of consensus. Every day is a school day........

Edited by Crackie on Thursday 2nd October 23:22

[OldSkoolRS]

Crackie said:

REW http://www.roomeqwizard.com/ is a sophisticated piece of software which, like Meridian's correction, is designed to limit the influence of room modes. I believe REW only corrects below 200Hz and Meridian 250Hz. REW is free too........

I used REW to set up my DIY subs (a pair of 1500 watt sealed 15" cubes) but it doesn't 'correct' as such, just gives you the information to help you do that yourself with manual EQ (or maybe tweaking some delays/crossoversettings). There is a room simulation section which helped me choose the best starting positions for the pair of subs (the other speakers being fixed as they are wall mounted MK MP150). Then there is the measuring section which sends out test tones from my laptop to my amp and the result is measured by a USB mic I bought for the job.

I also found it useful to measure the combined sub/speaker response to select the optimum crossover and sub delay setting as in my case Audyssey/XT32 doesn't optimise the combined response as it only measures the speakers/sub individually.

[Crackie]

OldSkoolRS said:

Crackie said:

REW http://www.roomeqwizard.com/ is a sophisticated piece of software which, like Meridian's correction, is designed to limit the influence of room modes. I believe REW only corrects below 200Hz and Meridian 250Hz. REW is free too........

I used REW to set up my DIY subs (a pair of 1500 watt sealed 15" cubes) but it doesn't 'correct' as such, just gives you the information to help you do that yourself with manual EQ (or maybe tweaking some delays/crossoversettings). There is a room simulation section which helped me choose the best starting positions for the pair of subs (the other speakers being fixed as they are wall mounted MK MP150). Then there is the measuring section which sends out test tones from my laptop to my amp and the result is measured by a USB mic I bought for the job.

I also found it useful to measure the combined sub/speaker response to select the optimum crossover and sub delay setting as in my case Audyssey/XT32 doesn't optimise the combined response as it only measures the speakers/sub individually.

REW creates the 'mirror' biquad filters needed to correct the room flaws but you do need hardware to host and carry out the DSP functions. REW now have a tie up with MiniDSP for this http://www.minidsp.com/applications/auto-eq-with-r...
I use one of miniDSPs 4x10 digital active crossovers at home and use it for room correction too.

[OldSkoolRS]

Ah of course...I'd over looked the MiniDSP since my focus is on the more basic DSP built into my sub amp (Beringer NU6000DSP). Actually I have used the EQ calculations as a starting point for manually correcting, but last time I just got the general shape where I wanted, then used XT32 (Audyssey) to correct it. Since I'm going off using Audyssey on my main speakers I might have another go with REW to see if I can EQ the sub manually to my satisfaction...then I'll be almost back to how I was about a year ago when I had an older Arcam processor and a separate sub EQ.

[Cheib]

NorthDave said:

I dont know the whole spec but I listened to a set of ATC active monitors in the mid 90s which blew my mind. One of the reasons I now work in the industry!

Funny you should say that I once has a demo of an ATC set up at The Cornflake Shop...probably around mid 90's too....made a huge impression on me but couldn't afford it! Other systems I have heard over the years that have made a massive impression were some Sonus Faber speakers I heard at KJ West One and also a high end Meridian set up at Graham's. I guess my B&W 802's must have amde an impresion too because I bought them!

KJ West One is probably the dealer in London that has the most incredible systems.....worth a visit if you are ever near Oxford Street/Marylebone High Rd area.

[Mermaid]

Cheib said:

Funny you should say that I once has a demo of an ATC set up at The Cornflake Shop...probably around mid 90's too....made a huge impression on me but couldn't afford it! Other systems I have heard over the years that have made a massive impression were some Sonus Faber speakers I heard at KJ West One and also a high end Meridian set up at Graham's. I guess my B&W 802's must have amde an impresion too because I bought them!

KJ West One is probably the dealer in London that has the most incredible systems.....worth a visit if you are ever near Oxford Street/Marylebone High Rd area.

KJWest One, awesome choice of high end stuff - leave your credit card at home

[Sandy59]

For me I wanted a system that not only sounded really good, but looked good as a bit of furniture as well.
After listening to a few different systems at different Hi-Fi specialists, I eventually settled on this set up from Audio Affair in Birmingham.
Icon Audio amp and CD, Project turntable, and ProAc Speakers, with a basic Rotel tuner.

Interestingly I did a back to back test with an LP recently, new heavy one bought on line versus a 20 year old one, the old one sounded better. Where can you get the best quality new LPs these days ??

[Mermaid]

Sandy59 said:

Interestingly I did a back to back test with an LP recently, new heavy one bought on line versus a 20 year old one, the old one sounded better. Where can you get the best quality new LPs these days ??

180g vinyl

http://ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/ECM/2300/2399.php

[Sandy59]

Thanks, might just try them out.

[Esseesse]

TonyRPH said:

Of course it depends on the room - but myself for example - I have listened to many different systems in my same listening room (and other rooms) and experience has taught me what types of speaker system I prefer, if I like valves or not and so on (no matter what room they're in).

I have a hunch that this is what the OP was alluding to, but as usual I might be wrong.

To me, infinite baffle (sealed enclosure) speakers seem to have the best bass, no matter what room they're in.

But of course this is rather subjective anyway.

I'm in the same boat as you I think, and also quite agree about infinite baffles (not technically quite the same as sealed). That's not to say other setups don't work well, open baffle/electrostatics have something about them for me too.

Also WRT speakers, generally bigger cabinets do better, and higher sensitivity larger drivers (12"+).

[gizlaroc]

Sandy59 said:

How can you be into audio and have wooden floors!!??

[Esseesse]

One room that seemed to be particularly good for HiFi was a friends parents (cheap) conservatory. The house was a bit of a mess and he had taken it over. Although all the walls were shiny, the floor was concrete (which I think is good) and covered in thin carpet (not so good). Various corners of the room were full of junk which was probably good, and the plastic ceiling was pitched which I thought probably let a lot of sound go straight through it, rather than reflect it (probably good). Anyway a cheap pair of Quad 11L's (expensive for teenagers at the time) on a Quad 405-2 always sounded really really super there.

[robbyd]

ok - my system, second.

but the best; my friend's.

that is:

Rockport Sirius3 turntable / various Koetsus / Jadis or LFD battery phono stages / custom Jadis pre / custom Jadis monos with platinum-wired transformers / custom Rockport Altairs.

You have no idea how much power, weight, dynamics, detail, in fact, everything, this system throws at you.

[robbyd]

ok - my system, second.

but the best; my friend's.

that is:

Rockport Sirius3 turntable / various Koetsus / Jadis or LFD battery phono stages / custom Jadis pre / custom Jadis monos with platinum-wired transformers / custom Rockport Altairs.

You have no idea how much power, weight, dynamics, detail, in fact, everything, this system throws at you.