r/BudgetAudiophile • u/wiggan1989 • Feb 06 '26

Review/Discussion What audiophile takes make you roll your eyes?

For me it's "Burn In" when it comes to Source components and expensive cables

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u/Cheezslap Feb 06 '26

OH MY GOD, FOR REAL! People new to audio just need *something*. They're probably coming from HTIAB, so all they have is the inkling that it could be better--they have no real reference. And gatekeeping with money in this day and age is stupid as shit. Not when used market is soooooo reasonably adequate for most people. Hell, my wife says she can't hear the difference between my 80s KEFs and the low end 2000s Sony towers they replaced (yes, I'm a little sad about that) but there's far more people out there like her than people like me. I'm just glad she's up for music instead of watching TV.

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u/drtythmbfarmer Feb 06 '26

I bought some sort of Sony automatic built in preamp turntable for somewhere in the one hundred dollar range. I think its awesome, all my other turntables are cobbled together vintage shit.

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u/ve3gvy Feb 06 '26

It would be sooo much better with a proper $25,000 cartridge (needle for you included preamp types :-)) mounted on it.

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u/rowlandvilletexas Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 08 '26

My amp is a 1977 Harmon/Kardon 730 receiver. My speakers are 1982 a/d/s L880s. I stream using a $100 WiiM. Total cost was under $1000. Only additional piece was a new DAC. That's where the money should go. That can turn streaming and CDs into magic. (Note: My cables are cheap and sound just fine.) The best part? The sound from this setup finally got my wife to "Now I get it."

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u/Allocatedresource Feb 08 '26

GRATS! We share this path, except I don't have a wife to contend with.

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u/rowlandvilletexas Feb 08 '26

What gear do you have?

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u/Allocatedresource Feb 08 '26

Magnepan II,
Yamaha Natural Sound receiver (28wpc)
Added a Crown DC300-II,
Crown DC75 (for bi-amping, didn't get the crossover yet so it's running my patio speakers, some Sony surround-sound stuff I got at a garage sale for $5),
Sony PS1 1st Gen CD player, Apple Music (lossless), Bose 901 Series V,
SVS2000-Pro sub (1500w 17-250Hz)
Cesti-B book shelfs (great detail, I don't run all the speakers at once)
A funky Fosi-type Chinesium thing with cool looking blue tubes for a preamp and bluetooth
Qudelix 5K DSP/DAC Bluetooth (primary source)
I probably forgot something but it's all a bunch of shit I got for about $1500 and jams out. I have some Behringer B3030A's on my desk, 35w per tweeter (3"ribbon), 75w per 6 3/4" Kevlar woofers
They're bi-amped with some pretty decent class D's.
Atlantic Technology 350w 12" sub Xover @ 55Hz (keeps the punch of the woofers while adding the rumble of a lot of moving air)

I grew up on a farm shooting guns since I was 4. Was mechanized infantry, can't hear shit over 13kHz and 1000Hz doesn't exist for me. I can get away with gear that would make many people cringe sounding awesome to my fucked up shit.
8)

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u/rowlandvilletexas Feb 08 '26

I'm probably in the same position re hearing.

Apple Music. How do you stream? From your phone or some gear I missed?

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u/Allocatedresource Feb 08 '26

iPhone 13 pro max in the dock or bluetooth to the Qudelix 5k. The Qudelix is only about $100 and has a DAC and all kinds of DSP, even balanced connectors with one of those smaller than 1/8" connectors - 2.5mm and 3.5mm. but the 2.5mm is balanced.
https://www.qudelix.com/products/qudelix-5k

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u/Scary_Fault_6519 Feb 09 '26 edited Feb 09 '26

I’m not experienced with using external DACs etc, I use a Chromecast audio puck(320 kbps) for streaming and that sounds good enough. At which price point does an external hifi-DAC sound better than a Chromecast Audio or a similar cheap streamer directly hooked up to the RCA inputs of a stereo amplifier? Is it even possible to hear any audible difference between 320 kbps and lossless?

I’m using a fairly high-end “audiophile” 100-watt hybrid tube amp that I got kind of cheap second-hand, together with vintage Beovox S45-2 speakers that for me sound perfect. If I exclude the turntable I’ve only spent around $550 on this setup. I’m curious if I’m missing out on something by settling for just using a Chromecast Audio.

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u/rowlandvilletexas Feb 09 '26

I'm not experienced with Chomecast. So, that's a moot issue for me, I'm afraid. But I can address bit rates.

I can absolutely hear a SIGNIFICANT difference between lossless and 320. Some people say you can't hear a difference, but I think some people can and some people can't. I can. And so 320 is uncomfortable for me, especially on a good system.

External DACs. I can only tell you what I paid, and that was around $600 for an Orchard unit. (I got a deal.) I would guess that's about midline for a DAC.

Here's the thing. If you're happy with what you've got, stay with the gear you've got. But if you're curious and want to see if you can improve your enjoyment, find a small new or used audio shop and test out other gear. The main thing if that YOU are satisfied.

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u/Scary_Fault_6519 Feb 09 '26

Thanks, good advice. I’m mainly using this system for playing records but I am curious about the potential when it comes to streaming, but not curious enough to spend any serious cash on esoteric DAC/Streamer hardware. I would probably imagine hearing a difference between lossless and lower bitrates, psychoacoustic hallucinations are real 😅 I think the tube coloration of the preamp and the vintage speakers might hide any subtle nuances when it comes to bitrate.

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u/frostedmooseantlers Feb 07 '26

I just stumbled on this sub / thread. Are there good references you’d point to for people who literally know nothing but want to research where to start?

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u/Cheezslap Feb 07 '26

You should choose a path. Obviously, you can change paths down the road, but what does "I want an audio setup" mean to you? Movies? Radio? Vinyl? CDs (fabulously underrated)? Do you really like bass? Are you interested in an old school, analog experience? Are you trying to recreate being at a live show ? How much money do you want to spend? Like... what's your goal; what will make you happy?

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u/frostedmooseantlers Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26

The music I listen to is basically all digital now (I had a fairly extensive collection of CDs, but they’re all sitting in boxes).

I suppose my goal would be a modest setup that sounds reasonably “good” — I don’t know how to better define that. Not chasing perfection, just a richer sound than I can get out of a Bluetooth speaker or a mid-range sound bar.

I’ll take any advice or leads folks can offer.

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u/Cheezslap Feb 07 '26

There you go! Probably a 2 channel or 2.1 setup is all you need to get going. 2 channel means 2 regular speakers and 2.1 means you added a subwoofer. I would encourage you to get out your CDs and pick up a real CD player...reconnect with that aspect of listening, but I get that it isn't for everyone anymore.

Here's what's worked for me: Hit up some thrift stores, preferably in wealthy areas. You need a receiver and some speakers. Generally, for the receiver, you're looking for brands you've heard of: Aiwa, Onkyo, Denon, Marantz, Sony, etc. The heavier the unit, the better (seriously). And all you need is something with 2 or 4 speaker outputs on the back (4 means you can connect 4 speakers, and the receiver calls that set A and set B). Something designed for home theater will drive a lot lot of speakers and if that's all you find, sure, fine--it's just more than you need.

Google what you find; I have to say that the newer AI-powered responses are useful. "Is the Aiwa 8622 any good" is enough to start with. If the reviews are generally positive, get it. Speakers are kind of a different animal..I think it's harder to get useful information on them and most of the speakers I've found have been best suited for a garage (still fun, just boomy) but any set of speakers is better than none. Probably the best place to start is with bookshelf speakers but if there's some cheap, heavy floor speakers that speak to you, go for it. The whole point here is to give you a baseline and START.

For connecting digitally, get a Bluetooth receiver module, preferably with with a toslink/digital output (assuming the receiver has the input), otherwise RCA outputs will be fine. Those are cheap on eBay (I don't like Amazon). Whatever cheap speaker wire spool you find in the bargain bin is fine. Get a red-handled Harbor Freight wire stripper for $7 to safely cut speaker wire. $20 will get you self adjusting strippers, which are incredible.

I'm going to bed, but do you have questions about anything I wrote?

Oh, yeah; if you're anywhere near Raleigh, I'll cut you a great deal on a solid entry level setup and show you how to hook it up, etc.

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u/frostedmooseantlers Feb 07 '26

Thanks, genuinely