Stereo equipment

[Beirut]

Of course you're right, the binary information does not change. Where people get persnickety, and where things get expensive, is in the digital-to-analog converter. These really do make a difference. However, there's no guarantee that the $300 Harmon Kardon isn't using the same DAC that the $100 Sony sports. This is where reading and research come into play. Best thing would be to take a pair of headphones you really trust and listen to different CD players at a higher-end audio place. Note also that most HiFi stores have a stock of repaired or returned equipment. If you're looking for audiophile on the cheap, that ain't a bad way to go.

Definitely doing this on the cheap. I have some cash but I need to spend it wisely. Thanks for the info on the DAC. I'm going to read up on that.

My Yamaha surround amp is Dolby Digital DTS, does that make a difference? Is there a particular wire I should use from the CD player to the amp or just the standard RCA jacks?

Klipsh speakers range from very good to very bad. Again, I would strongly recommend you find a place where you can hear them for yourself.

I guess there is no other reasonable way to go. Just trying to narrow the options a bit. I don't mind choosing between a few kinds, but if it turns into Baskin-Robins with 31 flavours of speakers, I get dumb real fast and end up walking out with vanilla or nothing at all.

I'm a cheap imitation of an audiophile. Cursed with good ears, which means I can really hear when a system is not giving me the music, but also cursed with a strong sense of budget.

I resemble that remark. I'm a cheap imitation of an audiophile with one completely deaf ear and the other somewhat sabotaged by fifteen-years of chainsaws. So while I like good sound, I'm not really sure just how much good sound I hear compared to others. On the plus side, less expensive equipment is probably a perfect match for me.

I do think my Bose 201s, though good, are not good enough. Certainly I don't have the sound I want. I can discern clarity even with my hearing, but I don't hear it with my Bose. I'm missing the Bing! When you hear Mozart, for example, through excellent speakers you get the Bing! I have the Mozart, I don't have the Bing!

I used to frequent the Saturday Audio Exchange, a place where you could pick up $2000 speakers for $200. Don't know if they're still the scene, though.

Oh, wait a minute. You want bookshelf speakers? I have a pair of amazing bookshelf speakers that I'm not using anymore. They're kinda power-hungry, so you need a good amp, but I grabbed them from Saturday Audio Exchange some years ago when I found out they were top-of-the-line BBC studio speakers repackaged as a failed American experiment. I could ship them to you, and if they still work, you could toss me whatever feels right in cash. They've given me years of audiophile comfort, and I'd like to see them in a good home.

I'm aiming at bookshelf because I probably can't afford floor speakers. The biggest Klipsh bookshelf speakers cost $500. That's right up there in my max budget for speakers. I'll spend $500 but I want Bing!+ for that kind of cash.

And that's a very kind offer of your speakers. If you weren't waaaay over there I would drive over and give 'em a listen. Honestly, I can't answer you right now as I don't know exactly what I'm doing. (When do I ever.) Are these the speakers alone - just the cones - or box and all?