High-end audio from iMac

[Greenjeens]

Is 89 or 90dB enough?

I'd call that amp severely underpowered, unless used with a _very_ efficient pair of speakers or used to play music at low volume levels.

I'm of the belief system that an amp should reproduce accurately, and have enough power to play loudly and cleanly, within spec, and of course be affordable. I understand the fascination with putting alot of attention on the sound of "giant killers" and other low power equipment discoveries, as well as the flip side of expensive low power tube amps.
In real life I prefer my music played loudly and fairly rugged euipment. From time to time I like filling up a room with sound the harsh and congested sound from overdriving an amp is something to be avoided. Under powered amps, overdriven, can burn out tweeters.
All depends on what kind of sound one likes and how one enjoys playing with the equipment...whatever "floats your boat".

Just from the specs it just doesn't seem like a very flexible piece equipment, power wise for driving speakers at increased volume levels without distorting.

Listening to some different speakers, in the flesh, with some favorite CD tracks, might be a useful reality check.

What kinds of music would your system be playing, and how loud? Any plans to use a subwoofer?

The more I've read about the M-Audio monitor speakers, the more attractive they look. An 8 inch mid/bass driver is sure to put out some decent low end. I've got to find a friend to talk into getting a pair
Sure would be nice to audition a pair live...that's pretty frustrating, that online sales helped push those sound rooms full of speakers, nearly off the map
Yet the low cost from cheap overseas labour, with some fancy computer sound modeling and dedicated speaker builders input (i hope) has helped make some very good sound reproduction equipment widely available, at a low cost.

Reviews help a great deal, but it seems reviewers can have very different standards. Too many pictures, specs and text can create a big disconnect after a while, when the ears and a hands on approach would be more useful.
Try to listen to more equipment and find reviewers with a similar taste and philosophies, so you don't get too overwhelmed.
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Greenjeens

 

[orangezorki]

Hi,

Just thought that I'd resurrect the thread to say what I eventually decided to buy: http://www.fergusonhill.co.uk/

They're gorgeous, and I managed to get a listen to them today, and they sound pretty good as well. Not too much bass, but I could point to the exact direction each voice and instrument was coming from.

Once again, thanks to everyone who replied with their opinions and advice.

David

 

[Sesshi]

They look really nice

I wonder how the business works. I used to have the "TPH41", which is actually a Shanling SACD player. A value added reseller company?

 

[orangezorki]

They look really nice

I wonder how the business works. I used to have the "TPH41", which is actually a Shanling SACD player. A value added reseller company?

Thank you! - It's great to find someone who understands. I've just received a barrage of insults on another forum for not buying a pair of black-box monitors. With these, they sound great even when they are off. I loved how they sounded, and FWIW I've seen comments from 'audiophiles' that they were very impressed with the system, so I'm perfectly content that they are worth the money.

As for your SACD player - I googled it and that is a serious piece of kit. Strangely enough, the UK distributor is the same as Ferguson Hill. Do you hear the difference with the extra bitrate? I wouldn't be surprised, as at the Hi-Fi show I went to yesterday, the main impression I got was that beyond a certain quality of equipment, the quality of the recording was the main factor. And of course, I'd rather listen to something I like on cassette tape than an artist I can't stand on SACD.

David.

 

[Sesshi]

If you're going to find people who appreciate design, than it's gotta be on an Apple forum I do demand design with substance though. I've never seen this system before - it's very cheap for the distinctive design you get. I might get one to try out. I take it you went to the Heathrow show?

These days I have rather more expensive kit than the Shanling but the problem with a lot of SACD discs is that they're quite often not produced from DSD recordings. I've owned many SACD's which are effectively SACD-upsampled CD's (or something inbetween such as a 24/96 master transcoded to DSD). That's the great tragedy of SACD / DSD technology.

My disc transport actually does this in any case (upsamples CD to DSD) but I'm not a great proponent of this. It's like digital zoom: Sure you can blow it up more, but it looks more like unnecessarily changed picture the more you blow it up.

However some of the best recordings I have are on SACD, and they have been recorded as DSD. In those cases there is a difference. It's quite audible which is why 'fake' SACD's really make me angry especially after paying through the nose, and there are too many of them. These days I'm using the disc transport less and less and just squirting computer audio through the DAC. And there lies the other problem with SACD: I can't rip it. Unless they allow that, it's a dead format in my view. The last SACD I bought was like a year ago.

 

[orangezorki]

Sorry, Sesshi, you'll probably never see this as it's so long, but I came across this thread and realised that you asked me a question - Yes, I did go to the Heathrow show, which absolutely confused me with the combination of wierd designs and astronomical prices - I think that some of the attendees were drinking coffee which cost more than the Ferguson Hills!

Still waiting for delivery (should be a few more weeks) - but should be good...

David