MY FIRST SYSTEM
(from the “I’m an Audiophile and proud of it” series)

Hello!

While looking for help on the Internet I came across your website and I’ve got a question for you. I’ll begin by saying that I’ve always wanted to have a good audio system. While searching the Web, however, I found out that what I considered GOOD audio is mediocre at most.

I would like to spend up to 7,000 PLN in total and I don’t really know where to begin. I listen to a great variety of music; mostly electronica but I also like hip hop and heavier rock. After reading your guides I know I’ve simply got to go out and listen to some systems (which will be a bit of a problem in the nearest few months for me). Since my apartment is currently being renovated I’ll ask for this tip “remotely”: how do I arrange a system that I don’t yet know or own?

I have to plan the apartment layout, and since I’ve never dealt with “better” sound I don’t really know how to do it. I’ve been raised on regular speakers and headphones, so I never really thought about it. Everything was usually set up so it “stood and played”, but now I’d like to have my own listening space in the living room, and would like a system that also sounds well on parties :-)

Is putting speakers on a computer desk – in a way that you can listen to them while using a laptop – a desecration? Currently, according to my plan, the desk and sofa/corner sofa are in a line. I’d prefer the corner sofa, but would that influence the sound quality, if one of its sides was turned towards the speakers?

I know it all sounds a little complicated, but trust me, I’ve got no idea what to do on my own anymore. If it helps, I can attach a file with the living room’s floor plan. Currently, I’m making the renovation dependent on the future audio purchase, but I don’t know what decisions to make, taking into account my lack of knowledge on laying it all out practically.

Please forgive the long letter, but I hope I’ve interested you enough to make you try to answer :-)

Thank you in advance.
With best regards,
Przemysław

PS
If you could also suggest something when it comes to the stereo, I’d be extremely grateful – I’ll read more about it before I go to audition things. I’d like a computer or an external hard drive to be the source – could the computer be a few meters away from the system? I listen to everything (drum and bass, house, progressive, dubstep, hip hop, sometimes jazz and something calm as well as many different kinds of rock). I’d be extremely thankful if you could give me some ideas for a system.

Purchasing an audio system can either be an irrelevant episode with “weight” comparable to buying a vacuum cleaner or an iron, or a watershed moment, changing us forever. Any sort of activity can become an immersive and even self-defining hobby. It’s best when this hobby is somehow also your profession (as in my case) because we can allocate a lot more time and resources (cash, simply speaking) to it. This is a rare case, however, and most music lovers who also became audiophiles must divide their time between their career, family, many other activities and music. By saying “audiophile” I mean someone who performed a “leap of faith” to finally – often for the first time in their life – hear a music track in conditions similar to those imagined by the artist and recording producer. I saw a picture once (I don’t remember where, at the moment) which illustrated this very well: a recording studio – a hundred thousand USD; a mixing table – several thousand USD; a microphone – a few thousand bucks; an MP3 player – a hundred USD; and headphones for 99 cents. It really shows how one wastes the potential of a recording when using trashy products which have very little to do with music. This treatment of a record (or file) makes it impossible to fully understand the track you’re listening to, reducing it to a melody, ridding it of its sonorous pronunciation which is only audible when we play music with a well-prepared audio system.

While browsing magazines about hi-fi and high-end you’ll notice that most of their contents are tests and descriptions of expensive products. “High Fidelity” is no exception to this rule. It is forced, to some extent, by the market, where the basic price range (say, up to 2,000 PLN per component) is rather poorly represented (and it’s getting worse). But it’s also because it’s the hobby of the editors of these magazines, who reach for the devices, speakers and accessories that interest them and broaden their knowledge – usually pricey devices. There are two more aspects that reinforce the way things are. One is obvious – expensive, exclusive products bring most joy. The readers of car magazines see a Lamborghini, a Bugatti or another top-class automobile and dream about having something like that one day, all while being full aware that this dream probably won’t ever come true. It is a “bait” that all magazines use. But there’s another aspect that must not be omitted – expensive products designate the current level of technological development in a field, they define what is possible at the given moment; they are most often the carrier of innovation, and new ideas that cannot be realized in cheap products are realized in the expensive ones. “State-of-the-art” audio devices are necessary, for example, to draw out the horizon of what is possible. Most of the solutions used there will make their way to the lower price ranges sooner or later, enriching our knowledge and pushing forward the whole audio trade, not only its exclusive top range.

If one was to graphically represent the number of people who use audio devices, depending on their price, one would receive something pyramid-shaped, with a spiky top and very wide base. Most music lovers obviously use the devices from the lowest price range. This system could cost around 7,000 PLN.
Looking objectively at Mr. Przemek’s decision, who represents a very large group of people entering the audio zone, you’ve got to bow your head before him: it’s really big money. Anyone who’s got 7,000 PLN in his pocket can say that he’s not part of the poor. Although this is an absolute minimum expenditure in terms of getting an audio system, it might give a heart attack to every person who likes as much as Muzak played in the elevator. This money can be spent on very many – much more practical – things, such as a vacation, new furniture, car upgrades, painting your house, clothes, shoes, and others. I’m not going to discuss those things – they’re necessities, and that’s that. However, since you’re reading this text, I’m assuming that you have some deeper desire, a need for something more. Something that begs for it to be fulfilled – a desire for MUSIC, and, more precisely, the emotions and feelings connected to listening to it (or auditioning in the case of a music lover-audiophile; see HERE). And this can only be “done” with money.
The simplest method is going to a concert. You don’t need to revolutionize your house, the payment can be spread out over time, and you get in touch with music live. It’s a good path to take, and going to concerts is a must, not only because of the emotional charge they carry, but also due to their educational value – we “learn” sound that way, especially if we’re talking about concerts without amplification (nearly always it’s classical music). The only problem is that this is very occasional – it’s a success if you get to go once a month. But what about the rest of the time? What about all those artists who aren’t performing near your house? What about those who have already passed away? What about studio recordings that can’t be taken onto the stage? For that, an audio system is essential.

To begin your adventure in the audio world you have to make the decision on buying a system for music playback. And I’m thinking about a real system, not some random mini-speaker set or – even worse – home cinema. The easiest method is to focus on headphones. The explosion of this market sector, connected with file players, most commonly Apple mp3 players (although they usually aren’t really mp3 players), as well as computer systems, means we have a wide variety to choose from. The simplest system is just a cellphone with good headphones. No, I’m not joking – I’m thinking of your cellphone’s radio. Many years ago, back in the day when I worked for “Sound&Vision”, my wife bought me a portable, tiny Aiwa radio (the company doesn’t exist anymore, liquidated by Sony when they bought them). Listening to Polish Radio III, and then to Polish Radio II on the train, tram and bus really got to me and gave me lots of happiness. When the device broke, I smoothly transitioned to listening to the radio on my phone. Because I became seriously interested in it, I can responsibly say that the sound quality of a cellphone’s headphone output differs dramatically from model to model, but is quite good in better phones.

Either way – it’s the simplest way to listen to music. You just need to get some good headphones and you’re good to go. It’s worth testing them out with your phone, though, because they often have a short connecting cable. It’s important, because the headphone cable works as an aerial – a short one won’t provide a sufficiently strong signal. The next step can be buying a small file player (but not an mp3 player!!!) which plays files in CD quality (at least), either the uncompressed WAV format, or the lossless FLAC.

A portable player and headphones would only extend the radio situation. A step forward would be using a computer as a file player. And this is where the current market trends help us. You have to install some good software, like foobar2000 or iRiver and equip yourself with an external DAC with a USB port and headphone amp. And some headphones, too. Good converters/amps, such as the mini DAC or HUD-mx2 from Audinst, or even the hiface DAC from M2Tech, would be just right. In the future you could additionally buy JPlay, which works with foobar’s and iRiver’s “skins”, and you’ll get an even better sound. This system will allow you to play CD-quality and high-res files. You could buy some good headphones for this, e.g. the HE-300 HiFiMAN. It can also be a base for a more complex system. Having a digital player, which a computer-and-DAC combo is, you can take a step forward out of the headphone and into the speaker world. You can plug in active speakers to the Audinst and M2Tech and place them before you, on a table/desk, where you’ve got your PC/laptop screen. It’s worth getting good interconnects and network cables. It could be something from Chord or Supra http://www.jenving.se - they’re proven solutions. The speakers should be placed as far apart as possible, facing toward your ears, and you’re set. To decouple them from the table you can put them on a neatly-cut, polished wooden board, adding to their aesthetics, and place the speakers themselves upon small spikes. That’s how you’ll get a really nice system for a sensible amount of money.
You could, of course, focus on passive systems, where the amp and speakers are separate. And it could be a truly high-end system – I’m thinking of something like a NuForce and Amphion (see HERE). The NuForce DDA-100 amp has a digital USB port, hence you won’t need an external D/A converter.

The system we just described is based around a computer acting as the sound source. Along with the speakers it forms a system which would be called a “computer” system. It can, however, be extended, or you can focus on the next step – moving the speakers away from where the computer is. The first option will fulfil the basic criterion that Mr. Przemek set up for the system – it will sound well and you’ll be able to have a party around it. Real listening sessions will be limited to the space around the computer, though, meaning while you work, game and browse the Internet. If we move the speakers out, we’ll be talking about a classic audio system, with a computer used as a source. And that addresses Mr. Przemek’s Post Scriptum suggestion.
You can do it in two different ways. In the first, you keep using the NuForce DDA-100 and the speakers are placed before the place in which you’ll listen to music. They can be stand mount speakers, e.g. something from Monitor Audio or Castle, or floorstanding speakers – a Monitor Audio or Audio Academy (e.g. the Phoebe IV). It’s important to follow the basic rules of positioning the speakers. Most importantly, there shouldn’t be any items between the listener and the speakers. A coffee table is okay, as long as its surface isn’t glass. The speakers are placed against one of the walls, leaving at least a few dozen centimeters of space behind them. They have to be equidistant from the listener, forming a triangle. The distance between the speakers should be at least 2 m, and optimally 2.5 – 3 m.

The drawing Mr. Przemek sent shows that part of the triangular sofa will be in front of one of the speakers. It’s an unfavorable situation, because the speakers will be working in a different acoustic environment. And that means we won’t get an accurately recreated soundstage or good tone. Moving the whole thing could be a solution, as in moving the speakers to the right, to at least partially take the left speaker out of the corner – that’s another unfavorable setup. If you can fulfil all of the aforementioned prerequisites, and you put some thick carpet on the floor, then everything will be good. It would be even better if the wall the speakers stand against was covered with bookshelves. You could also use some great-looking acoustic panels from Vicoustics (we wrote about them recently HERE). The speakers should be placed on spikes, and the spikes upon low platforms, preferably made of wood (about 3-5 cm high).

To sum up: we’ve summoned a complete system to life in a particular room. It can stand up to 5 m from the computer, which is the longest possible USB cable length. This is not the only solution. We can focus on a classic integrated amp, e.g. the Music Hall a15.2 or 15.2 and a D/A converter, e.g. the Cambridge Audio DACMagic 100, the Arcam iLink or the rPAC (with a USB port), the Audinst or the M2Tech. A better, but more expensive choice – the Hegel HD2. Or you could give up on the computer and switch to a file player. And here’s where many new possible paths open up. If you’d accept a slightly bigger expenditure, you could do it quite elegantly, without taking up much space. You’d buy an all-in-one player like the Naim UnitiQute, which is a file player/Internet radio, FM radio and stereo amplifier, for 6,000 PLN and some Audio Academy or Monitor Audio Bronze-series speakers. Plus the cables. There’s a new series of similar devices from NAD, like the D7050 and others. I saw them at the show in Munich with Dynaudio speakers from their latest Excite series – marvellous sound (see the coverage of the event in the June edition of “High Fidelity”). Each of these solutions is an entrance into the true world of kickass audio. It’s worth the time and money, because it will more than pay for itself.

These are only a few possibilities, but they’ve been tested by me – I’ve heard them all. You can see the system with Arcam’s electronics and Castle’s speakers HERE, and the system, in which I used Arcam’s iLink DAC HERE. I can imagine a system with an Arcam amp, Audio Academy or Knight-series Castle speakers, Arcam or Cambridge Audio DAC, and Chord cables, which will be equally good as the ones mentioned above. Starting with one of these is like being born again.

For sale

To all those who would like to buy some audio gear from a trusted source without spending a fortune, I have some equipment to offer either from my own system or after my reviews.

1. Acrolink Mexcel 7N-2100 analog interconnect. A beautiful cable (which can also be used as a digital S/PDIF cable), sent directly from Japan. In perfect condition, after a review. No box to go with it. For sale is the 2 m test version. Review HERE. Asking price – 6,000 PLN (2 m), the list price – 11,000 PLN for the 1 m version.

2. Acrolink 8N-A2080III Evo analog interconnect, 1.5 m. It’s a limited edition, only 250 copies have been available. Review HERE. Asking price – 5,000 PLN (1.5 m), the list price – 9,900 PLN. Perfect condition, no box.

3. Tunami Oyaide GPX-Re power cord. Unused, still boxed. Review HERE. Asking price – 2,300 PLN per one cable, the list price – 3,590 PLN.

4. Acoustic Revive RAF-48 isolation platforms (air floating; under CD players and amplifiers). I have two for sale, brand new, still in original boxes. Came straight from Japan. I personally use them in my system. The review can be found HERE. They are one of the best ways of improving the sound I know. Asking price - 3,500 PLN per piece, the list price - 4,690 PLN.

5. Wireworld Platinum Eclipse RCA-RCA analog interconnect, 2 m. Reference cable for American Wireworld, of a rare two meters length. Its list price is prohibitive, but from me it’s at your arm’s reach. Useful wherever a greater distance from the source to the amplifier prevented you from purchasing a reference cable. Now it is possible. List price – 22,390 PLN, offers welcome. Condition - very good. Complete with a metal case and certificate of authenticity signed by David Saltz, the owner of Wireworld.

6. SAEC OPC-X1 optical digital cable, review HERE. It’s a reference optical cable, one of the best I know. Practically unavailable outside Japan. Asking price – 1,000 PLN / 1 m, the list price - 650 EUR. Virtually new, used once, for a review.

7. SAEC XR-4000 analog interconnect (balanced), review HERE. Asking price – 2,000 PLN, the list price - 980 EUR. Virtually new, used once, for a review.

8. Acoustic Revive Power Reference power cord. Reference power cord from this Japanese manufacturer. Used for two months, after review. Mint condition. Review HERE. Asking price – 3,000 PLN/2 m, catalog price – 4,390 PLN/2 m.

9. Acoustic Revive RST-38 isolation platform, used, x 1. Not in perfect condition, I have used them for some time, hence the price. Asking price– 1,250 PLN, the list price – 2,790 PLN.

10. Arcam Solo Movie 5.1 DVD/SACD/HDCD/CD player, multi-channel amplifier. A long name, but it’s a purist unit. Combination in a single housing an audiophile audio and video player, and a 5-channel amplifier - all in the Arcam quality. Original price - well over 10,000 PLN, asking for any offers. I used the player for a year; the amplifier section has never been used. Mechanics has been replaced for new. It sits in a box, which is a shame; should better bring some joy to someone. Review HERE.

11. Oyaide AR-910 analog interconnect, 1 m, balanced, pure 5N silver. New, still boxed, sent straight from Japan. Description HERE. Asking price – 1,300 PLN, the list price – 2,100 PLN.