What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[88]

Do you have any cats, and if so, have you ever had problems with them climbing/clawing at the speakers?

K

No. (I like to be free to travel without worrying about pet care.) I love cats, though. The holes in the perforated metal covering might not be deep enough for their claws to get a good grip, but I don't think I want to find out the hard way! If they were cloth covered, then there would very likely be a problem. (I'm also single, but when my girlfriend comes over, she resists the urge to climb or claw them. )

[Kalevala]

No. (I like to be free to travel without worrying about pet care.) I love cats, though. The holes in the perforated metal covering might not be deep enough for their claws to get a good grip, but I don't think I want to find out the hard way! If they were cloth covered, then there would very likely be a problem. (I'm also single, but when my girlfriend comes over, she resists the urge to climb or claw them. )

Well, if you're going to spend about $80,000 on audio equipment, I'm sure that you could afford pet care--or maybe, like I have done sometimes in addition to, helped looking out for friends' pets in exchange.

By the way, there are female posters here--and they are trying to keep it a female-friendly site.  And I don't claw my speakers; I use a yoga mat to stretch.  And also have had cat trees.  Only once did I have a cat (one of two then) jump on top of my stereo cabinet.  All I had to do was to say no and get down (not shouting) but in a stern voice and she jumped down.

K

[88]

Well, if you're going to spend about $80,000 on audio equipment, I'm sure that you could afford pet care--or maybe, like I have done sometimes in addition to, helped looking out for friends' pets in exchange.

By the way, there are female posters here--and they are trying to keep it a female-friendly site.  And I don't claw my speakers; I use a yoga mat to stretch.  And also have had cat trees.  Only once did I have a cat (one of two then) jump on top of my stereo cabinet.  All I had to do was to say no and get down (not shouting) but in a stern voice and she jumped down.

K

I'm so sorry--I didn't mean to offend anyone. It was a bad joke about visitors, not a slight against females.

[AnotherSpin]

I'm so sorry--I didn't mean to offend anyone. It was a bad joke about visitors, not a slight against females.

Relax; you'll soon get used to the tense atmosphere here. I once had trouble with a kitten climbing to the very top of my tall fabric-covered Apogee speakers, but it was only noticed once, and I took measures.

[88]

Relax; you'll soon get used to the tense atmosphere here.

Well, there's something to look forward to. If it's always going to be like this, then count me out.

[88]

Well, if you're going to spend about $80,000 on audio equipment, I'm sure that you could afford pet care--or maybe, like I have done sometimes in addition to, helped looking out for friends' pets in exchange.

For the record, not that it's anyone's business, but I spent nowhere near $80,000. The list price for everything in today's market would be around $50,000, but I bought floor models of my speakers and a used amp on an audio market site, both at a heavy discount. I only paid full price for my CD/SACD player and my streamer, so about $31,000 total. Not exactly cheap, but worth every penny.

[AnotherSpin]

Well, there's something to look forward to. If it's always going to be like this, then count me out.

I don't like everything on this forum either. For example, the idolization of music from oppressive regimes or intolerance toward viewpoints that differ from the dominant ones here. Nevertheless, I find a lot of interesting things here and always enjoy reading the posts of certain members.

[DavidW]

For the record, not that it's anyone's business, but I spent nowhere near $80,000. The list price for everything in today's market would be around $50,000, but I bought floor models of my speakers and a used amp on an audio market site, both at a heavy discount. I only paid full price for my CD/SACD player and my streamer, so about $31,000 total. Not exactly cheap, but worth every penny.

Even though I know on one level that buying used can yield equipment in pristine condition at a fraction of the price, I foolishly order new anyway. It is still nice to see this post to remind me... even if you're not here anymore.

[Harry]

I don't like everything on this forum either. For example, the idolization of music from oppressive regimes or intolerance toward viewpoints that differ from the dominant ones here. Nevertheless, I find a lot of interesting things here and always enjoy reading the posts of certain members.

Hear, hear!

[Rinaldo]

My (t)rusty old desktop speakers (Edirol MA-15Ds I bought eons ago) started giving up, so I finally kicked myself into an upgrade within a 400-600 $ price range. Scouring audio forums led me to the following shortlist:

• Vanatoo Transparent One (no dealer on this side of the pond, bummer)
• Audioengine A5 (easy on the eyes and Bluetooth would be a bonus, alas WAY overpriced for what they churn out)
• Adam Audio T5V (almost pulled the trigger but the reported hiss scared me, as my ears love to fixate on unwanted noise)
• Kanto TUK (just over my budget and supposedly would need some serious EQing to set them right)

Then I noticed someone mentioning these cheap unassuming Mackie 524s. Active speakers, class A/B amp, reportedly silent as a tomb and punching above their weight in the sound department. And boy, do they ever. I was truly surprised you can get speakers sounding like this for half of what I'd expect to dish out (got a pair for 290 $). They sit at a computer desk in my 220 square feet study, the perfect nearfields for music and a little semi-professional mixing. Lovely mids, plenty of meat in the lows without muddying or overpowering anything (the larger 624s would be overkill). If you're looking for no nonsense desktop speakers but don't have the desire/budget to venture into professional/audiophile territory, these will do a wonderful job. I might mess around with them eventually, but right ouf of the box, they're delightful.

[Kalevala]

My (t)rusty old desktop speakers (Edirol MA-15Ds I bought eons ago) started giving up, so I finally kicked myself into an upgrade within a 400-600 $ price range. Scouring audio forums led me to the following shortlist:

• Vanatoo Transparent One (no dealer on this side of the pond, bummer)
• Audioengine A5 (easy on the eyes and Bluetooth would be a bonus, alas WAY overpriced for what they churn out)
• Adam Audio T5V (almost pulled the trigger but the reported hiss scared me, as my ears love to fixate on unwanted noise)
• Kanto TUK (just over my budget and supposedly would need some serious EQing to set them right)

Then I noticed someone mentioning these cheap unassuming Mackie 524s. Active speakers, class A/B amp, reportedly silent as a tomb and punching above their weight in the sound department. And boy, do they ever. I was truly surprised you can get speakers sounding like this for half of what I'd expect to dish out (got a pair for 290 $). They sit at a computer desk in my 220 square feet study, the perfect nearfields for music and a little semi-professional mixing. Lovely mids, plenty of meat in the lows without muddying or overpowering anything (the larger 624s would be overkill). If you're looking for no nonsense desktop speakers but don't have the desire/budget to venture into professional/audiophile territory, these will do a wonderful job. I might mess around with them eventually, but right ouf of the box, they're delightful.

Cool!  Curious as to how the upper range sounds?  I have a pair of B&W MM1's which I bought to use with my iMac which I love.

K

[Rinaldo]

Cool!  Curious as to how the upper range sounds?

I'd say this is where the price puts them back on earth. Nothing wrong there, but also nothing to write home about.

[Valentino]

So a WiiM Ultra has landed here. Great modern preamplifier at a very agreeable price.
It runs all relevant streaming services, Roon included, and also Squeezelite. In my system it replaces a Yamaha WXC-50 and a Squeezebox Touch:

[DavidW]

I've paid off my speakers!

[Kalevala]

I've paid off my speakers!

Well, that was speedy!  Congrats! 

K

[Rinaldo]

Now that's a system worth a premium!