Looking for the best 2.0 speakers (around 500-600$ max)
Dec 30, 2011 at 1:33 PM Post #61 of 80
Hi guys, i still havent received my STX, but there is another option now.
 
The  Behringer SRC2496 - ULTRAMATCH, ive heard its very good for the price, and what is more interesting,...i can get it for ONLY 70 euros!  (brand new) and for the STX, i will have to play at least 170 euros!

Please report back, how does it compare to the mighty STX, how is the DAC/HP - AMP quallity?  thanks!
 
 
Dec 30, 2011 at 4:50 PM Post #63 of 80


Quote:
psyside said:
So your telling me that you hear no background hiss/noise at all in the videos i posted?
eek.gif

 
EDIT: I tried setting volume at listening position, and also at max, the speakers are dead silent.


 
Click to expand...



That hiss is part of the recording and no amount of tweaking will get rid of it completely if it's on the original source.
 
I've downloaded albums off HDTracks and was lured in by the 'audiophile' marketing but a few of the albums have audible noise just due to the equipment that was used to record it originally.
 
Dec 31, 2011 at 7:24 PM Post #64 of 80


Quote:
mtkversion said:
That hiss is part of the recording and no amount of tweaking will get rid of it completely if it's on the original source.
 
I've downloaded albums off HDTracks and was lured in by the 'audiophile' marketing but a few of the albums have audible noise just due to the equipment that was used to record it originally.
Click to expand...


Yea, that's what i tought as well. Happy new year to all btw :)
 
 

 
Quote:
limniscate said:
M-Audio DSM1 or DSM2 at audiomidi.com
 
They're on clearance.
Click to expand...



 
I already bought the Adam A3x, but thanks.
 
 
Dec 31, 2011 at 10:42 PM Post #65 of 80
Strictly separate amplification second hand here:
 
1. Proac Tablette 50 powered from a Zamp v.3. Got them used $500.
 
Other suggestions:
 
2. Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.2 or above.
 
3. Canton Karat M30 DC 3-ways.
 
4. Energy bookshelves, from before they moved production to labor camps.
 
5. Von Schweikert, never will you go wrong with those, auditioned but never
owned.
 
Trust me, no amplified studio monitor can hold a candle to a decent amp and
2-way bookshelf speaker for a small room or office.
 
Good luck finding your speakers, remember that sometimes sharing the cake
is better than eating the turd all by yourself. Although the phrase was originally
about marrying a ho, it also applies to audio:)
 
Don't get me started on interconnects, too much snake oil floating around. I got
fancy ones but second hand too. However, as others already hinted balanced is
good, even if only on DAC end like with my Dacmagic Plus, it will at least fully
conduct off any interference provided you are well grounded. Now the fully internally
balanced circuitry 5k preamps that most of us will never get are another topic.
 
As others mentioned, line conditioning is important, i am a believer in the old
Panamax gear, the ones without the annoying WalMart style flashy blue lights
that scream out the country of origin.
 
I got carried away a bit, for your budget Energy, PSB, or Paradigm speakers with
a Zamp v.2 or v.3 all used would fall within the budget.
 
Jan 1, 2012 at 11:25 AM Post #67 of 80
I've been in much the same boat lately and Santa brought me a pair of Dali Zensor 1's. They sounded pretty good with my Rotel RA-01 amp and QED cables but not stunning. I have them sitting on my desk. Anyway as luck would have it my Rotel blew up. Nothing to do with the speakers as the Rotel had an intermittent fault with the power button. That left me looking at no sounds on Hogmanay. Unacceptable. I phoned around and finally demmed a couple of stereo amps and settled on the Marantz PM6004. I also took away a set of Mogami speaker cables and a new Linn Black interconnect for the link between soundcard and amp. What can I say? Absolutely gorgeous sound but in no small part this is down to the cables. I've switched back and forth with my old cables and the difference is night & day. So much so that I'm now looking to pick up a good DAC so that I can further remove the signal processing from the PC. Garbage in - Garbage out, as they say.
 
The speakers were £180 from Amazon and the amp was £300 from Robert Ritchie Hi-fi. The amp's actually available a bit cheaper online but I needed one quick and I don't mind paying a small premium for the service a good hi-fi shop provides. The Linn interconnect is around £60 (I haven't actually paid for that yet) and the Mogami speaker cables aroung £26 per metre! That's expensive and a bit out of my league but they really do make a helluva difference.
 
Happy New Year.
 
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:01 PM Post #68 of 80
Guys thanks alot fort detailed response. I already bought the A3x, so we can forget about recommendations about speakers at this point, thanks again for your help.  Now i need opinions on Asus Xonar STX, vs Ultramatch pro SRC2496 vs EMU 0404 PCI-E.
 
1. Xonar STX - (180 euros)
 
2.  Ultramatch pro SRC2496 (Only 70 euros)
 
3.EMU 0404 (110 euros)
 
Which offer the best sound quallity?
 
Jan 6, 2012 at 7:28 PM Post #69 of 80
I hear the Xonar is prone to buggy drivers although it's supposed to sound great. I've never even heard of the Ultramatch so can't comment. The EMU is supposed to be excellent VFM. You can see the soundcard I use in my sig at the bottom of this post and I think it's excellent, however I have not compared it directly with any of it's competitors so it may well be comparitively rubbish for all I know. I'll be following your journey.
 
Jan 6, 2012 at 8:45 PM Post #70 of 80
Arx A1 (I think $250 at The Audio Insider) and get a good receiver or an inexpensive Topping amp. They're near $100 and provide great performance for the price.
 
Jan 6, 2012 at 9:34 PM Post #72 of 80
Ok guys, thanks! i almost decide to get the STX, but would like to hear  some more opinions? anyone heard SRC2496? its so cheap is not even funny, huge discount! and its available to buy at once...for STX i have to order.
 
Oh there is also M-audio audiophile 192, for (150) euros, M-audio audiophile 2496, for (85) euros M-audio fastrack USBII for (120) euros, M-audio fastrack USB II with avid pro tools SE (130) euros, M-audio Delta DIO 2496 (85) euros, anyone know how this models compare to the STX? bare in mind the stx is alot more expensive then this units.
 
Thanks!
 
 
Jan 6, 2012 at 10:35 PM Post #73 of 80
Nobody likes planar?
 
I did some searching today for some amps and such. You could pair up the Arx A1's with one of the following.
 
http://www.jr.com/yamaha/pe/YAM_RXV371BL/
http://www.jr.com/yamaha/pe/YAM_RS300BL/
http://www.jr.com/denon/pe/DNN_AVR1612/
http://www.jr.com/yamaha/pe/YAM_RXV471BL/
http://www.jr.com/yamaha/pe/YAM_RS500BL/
http://www.jr.com/denon/pe/DNN_AVR1712/#productTabDetails
http://www.jr.com/yamaha/pe/YAM_AS500BL/
http://www.jr.com/yamaha/pe/YAM_RS700BL/
 
There are a lot more that can drive these. I just love Denon and Yamaha. btw, IIRC all of the Yamaha receivers can go up to 192kHz/24-bit per channel. The Denon's I believe are able to based on the specifications on the website. I don't know anything about the A-S500. You'll need a DAC that can go up to 192kHz/24-bit per channel if you want that feature. I also don't know is the R-S500 and R-S700 have 192kHz/24-bit per channel capabilities. They probably do.
 
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