Latest Thread Images

Featured Sponsor Listings

Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

Feb 28, 2023 at 7:45 PM Post #111,977 of 194,290
callumrd1 said:
I'm very excited to say that I just received new-to-me KEF Q150 speakers and a new Gjallarhorn! I'm using them near-field on my desk fed with a Bifrost 2 and Asgard 3. I'm coming from a pair of KRK Rocket 5 powered monitors and these KEFs are much more resolving by far. I'm quite impressed (as someone who usually listens with Sennheiser HD800s). As to power, with the Asgard in low gain my maximum comfortable listening volume is right at the end of the pot's travel. In high gain they far exceed what I'd consider to be a safe volume for even a moment. So it seems like there's ample headroom on the amp's power for Q150s in the near-field.
Click to expand...
In my not so humble opinion? KEF's Uni-Q drivers are the best drivers in the business.

I've got a pair of your Q150's slightly bigger brother (Q950) in my living room, and they punch waaaay above their price range. Especially with Tyrs driving them. Not ported and absolutely no sub needed—just as I like it.
Also among the widest sweet spots of any pair of speakers I've ever heard.

I won't be giving those away for a very long time to come, that's for sure.
 
Schiit Audio Stay updated on Schiit Audio at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
https://www.facebook.com/Schiit/ http://www.schiit.com/
Feb 28, 2023 at 7:45 PM Post #111,978 of 194,290
Tony Levin
223357639_374913847326622_8789095781819506579_n.jpg
 
Feb 28, 2023 at 8:23 PM Post #111,979 of 194,290
dstrimbu said:
They are (old) drafting weights, shot filled leather bags. Not sure that they do anything, really - but they look cool. :sunglasses: A friend who worked for Crocker Land Company in San Francisco gave them to me years ago. They have a lot of history, holding large-format sheets of vellum on the drafting board of one of their civil engineers...
Click to expand...
Shot filled leather bags? Why does that sound so familiar?
IMG_3285.jpg

Please ignore the cable mess, I'm trying to!
I like the fact that your weights have a history. Mine were made by an old friend that I haven't seen in a long time.
 
Feb 28, 2023 at 8:24 PM Post #111,980 of 194,290
ArmchairPhilosopher said:
In my not so humble opinion? KEF's Uni-Q drivers are the best drivers in the business.
Click to expand...
Agreed! Intending on buying a pair of LS50's and pairing with a Ragnarok, I stumbled across a used pair of LS50w's for 1300, couldn't pass that up. They sound great; if you haven't heard these driver's yet, make a point to...
 
Feb 28, 2023 at 8:45 PM Post #111,981 of 194,290
ImagesbyMurray said:
Agreed! Intending on buying a pair of LS50's and pairing with a Ragnarok, I stumbled across a used pair of LS50w's for 1300, couldn't pass that up. They sound great; if you haven't heard these driver's yet, make a point to...
Click to expand...
I was lucky enough to hear the KEF R7 Meta the other day....wow. My first real speakers were KEF Q15, so always been a UniQ fan, but they have come a long way. Might be going with some R3 soon, though I did see Q950 there at the store, might try those it as well...but they might be a bit to big for my room. Good job the owner likes me!
 
Feb 28, 2023 at 8:49 PM Post #111,982 of 194,290
mlsstl said:
I know I'm almost a week late to this conversation, but just wanted to chime in regarding the irrational chase for more power that seems so prevalent these days. I've been running a pair of Ohm 1000s with an Aegir for the past two years and love it. That's after several prior years of using well regarded class D amps (first Bel Canto and the VTV Hypex) that had wattage many multiples of the Aegir's power. The Aegir wins hands-down. Now, I do cheat a little by having a sub in the system, which does take the low-end duty off the Ohms, but this setup plays louder, clearer and cleaner than I need. I've got no urge to chase wattage.

Now, as respects the new entries, the Rekkr and Gjallahorn, all I need to do is figure out a system to use them in...
Click to expand...
I agree Schiit goes well with Ohms, but a pair of Vidars instead of an Aegir. It will be neat to see how well the Gjallhorn goes with the mini radials.
 
Feb 28, 2023 at 9:01 PM Post #111,984 of 194,290
StimpyWan said:
Since this thread has been a good source for music recommendations, I wonder if there are any fans of Prog Rock here? I've been a progressive music fan for decades; YES, ELP, Rush, Genesis, King Crimson, and Kansas; I'm a big fan of them all. But, I'm not to up on as much modern Prog. I've only heard a few newer bands; I.Q., Porcupine Tree (and Steven Wilson), Dream Theater and Anima Mundi. I like electronic, space music, New Age and fusion too. Any other bands that I should look out for?

Thanks. :grinning:
Click to expand...
Opeth: swedish band that started as progressive death metal and over the years mutated to a more "traditional" prog rock in their last albums. The key element that gave Opeth the reputation of being the "best" metal band ever for so many people is the exquisite blend of brutal sound with extremely melodic/beautiful/melancholic passages. If you're not used to growling (singing to sound like a monster) I'd suggest to give it a try to a couple of their heaviest albums (Ghost Reveries, Blackwater Park, Deliverance), if you listen to them a couple of times, there is a fair chance it will click and then you'll appreciate how fantastic musicians they are. Three examples of those albums...







By the way, Steven Wilson produced Blackwater Park, Deliverance and Damnation. So, if he's involved, you know it will be pretty damn good.

If at the end of the day the heaviest aspect of Opeth it's not your cup of tea, you have plenty of other alternatives in their catalog. Albums like Heritage, Pale Communion Sorceress and In Cauda Venenum have no growls. Also, when they were at the peak of their most heaviest sound they released Damnation, which was a surprise cause it's a very mellow (with a sinister vibe) album that earned them a lot of applause.













Liquid Tension Experiment: You mentioned Dream Theater, well... in case you don't know, back in the day they had a sorta parallel project called Liquid Tension Experiment, it's basically Dream Theater without vocals, and with the legendary Tony Levin on bass instead of John Myung. The sound it's like Dream Theater on steroids which it's pretty bizarre considering DT sounds a lot like they already are on steroids xD







Riverside: These guys are from Poland. Progressive Metal but more melodic and less over the top, compared to Dream Theater. That allows them to make extremely catching tunes with kick ass guitar riffs (they also have very beautiful ballads).









By the way, Mariusz Duda, Riverside singer and bass player has a project called Lunatic Soul, it's progressive too, but with some electronic/ambient elements, it's pretty good IMO.







I also forgot to mention that Kevin Moore, the first Dream Theater keyboard player, started a project called Chroma Key after he left DT. It's a weird mix of progressive with avant-garde and a touch of electronic. Regardless of the genre, I love it and I applaud him for taking a totally different musical direction.





Haken: These guys are from England and also fall under the progressive metal umbrella. While they have some growls here and there, overall the vocals are clean and super melodic (the same can be said about the music, very catchy).







Animals as Leaders: This is a band formed by Tosin Abasi, one of the most impressive guitar players that have appeared in the last 15 years or so. The guy plays 8-string guitars so you can already imagine his sound is HEAVY. At the beginning the band consisted of himself only, so he chose to use a software for the drums which gives the first album a kinda electronic vibe that I personally love.







Plini: This is a young fella from Australia, one of best guitar players that I've had the pleasure to discover in the last years. He has a great amount of skills but also he never stops being melodic, he knows exactly when to press the gas pedal and shred without tiring the listener ear. His music is kinda hard to classify cause there's a progressive element in it, but at the same time is nothing like all the other examples that I've put here. Plini himself defines it as Happy Prog.







OSI: What the hell OSI means? Office of Strategic Influence, another project from former DT keyboard player Kevin Moore and Jim Matheos (Fates Warning). This is great prog rock with some electronic elements, very refreshing sound to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qd8-v4VWVc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CufGvFqAR3c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRuSoU_Pw4o

Planet X: A fantastic progressive band founded by Derek Sherinian (another ex-DT keyboard player) and Virgil Donati, who is to me, pretty much the only drummer that deserves to be called "mutant".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ3hUySljVY

This video is a proof of how amazing Donati is (oh yeah, Doug Shreeve is ridiculous too)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4aEz_nr8p8

On the Virg: Another Donati project...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL_oMf3YvRk

Donati also has a very strong fusion background (on his own and collabs), sadly, since it's not a popular music, it's hard to find links to put here, anyways, some examples...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMHwzFOfNb8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6_fQIqLdls

Regards!
 
Last edited:
Feb 28, 2023 at 9:32 PM Post #111,987 of 194,290
Does the Rekkr have enough power for bookshelf speakers? Was looking for something small to power some. What would you recommend for a pre amp with the Rekkr?
 
Feb 28, 2023 at 9:57 PM Post #111,990 of 194,290
Oveja Negra said:
I must confess my goal was to break the internet. I guess I failed.
Click to expand...
Well, you almost broke this thread. Nearly an entire page taken up by....music? Damn. Please consider injecting a cat pic or a favorable comment about NC BBQ next time. 🤣 🤣

Seriously, great post and thanks for taking the time to share it. A lot of that I haven't heard before, but looking forward to listening to it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

  • ... and 10 more.
    • Total: 354 (members: 37, guests: 317)
    Back
    Top