I have a Dayton Audio HTA100 amplifier that came from the factory with Chinese-made 6F2 tubes installed for the pre-amplification. I believe the tubes are made by Shuguang but I'm not positive. However, I wasn't sure I liked the sound of these, so I swapped them out for some USSR-made ECF80 tubes. I had used these in the past on other equipment. Sure enough, I like the sound of these better. The Chinese 6F2 tubes almost had what I can only describe as a very harsh and not as "tight" upper range of sound. Is this to be expected or is it my imagination? Did they just need a longer break-in period?

Hi all, I'm wondering what kind of speaker wire and connectors I need to go from a Pioneer SX-950 to banana plugs.

Wondering what kind of device I would need to connect Q150s in my living room to listen to music, tv, have a PC connected there as well.

My RX817 from the 90s is starting to act a little flaky. So I figure it is time to upgrade and finally get some digital/optic inputs for my dvd, mp3 player, and tv without using a separate dac. I don't need to upgrade my 5.1 speaker set-up and don't want to spend more than $600. A built-in pre-amp would be nice but I have a separate pre-amp I can use if necessary (I don't listen to vinyl that much anyway). I'm looking for the best oomf for my dollar and good voice separation. I was leaning toward the Pioneer VSX-535/835/935 as it seems to have similar or better output than the RX817 and the pioneer has the hdmi connections I want. Any other suggestions?

One last thing, Chromecast/apple play/wifi connect might be nice but I don't want any music subscriptions or smart home features.

Maybe something that will last me another 30 years? lol.

I've been wearing out reddit for a week. please bear with me.

Just pulled the trigger on the ML foundation F1s and C1. They were on sale (went back order on Crutchfield pretty quick) and they checked off almost all the boxes for me, size being the biggest box. I am going to roll 3.1 for now.

I got $500 to spend max. New, open box, factory refurbished.

Eventually will upgrade and move this receiver to the bedroom (will stay 3.1 in there). All I really care about is 5.1, 4k/120, accu-eq (simple enough few clicks calibration) or something similar, 4 ohm stable. Measurements say the ohms can dip into the 3s occasionally (not sure how much this info matters).

wattage? I'd like to take advantage of the three channels driven @ 4ohms. With 100rms on the f1s and 75 on the center I wouldn't need anything too special to let them open up safely, would I?

In a time crunch. Speakers will be here in 10ish days. cross posted lol please help. TIA

Hey there, as the title says looking for a good phono amp to pair with Elac Unifi UB5. I would like it to be sub $300 I'm open to used equipment. I found a campbridge audio axa35 for around $200 but most places I've read have said it won't have enough power to drive the Elac UB5. Other consideration was the emotiva BasX A2m but no phono or sub out. Unsure how many vinyl setups have a subwoofer(will be listening to rap, rock, indie mainly) and I know these can cause issues with records skipping but I plan to isolate the record player a bit. So all in all looking for a sub $300 phono amp with subwoofer out to drive a pair of Elac UB5.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

I need some help! I got some audio stuff for free today and I managed to get my speakers connected to my stereo, but the problem is that on the back of the stereo there is a single black rca output labeled for the subwoofer. The reason I say this is the problem is because my subwoofer just has two speaker wires coming out of the back of it. I looked online and found a tutorial saying I could splice the wires into a single rca plug cut from a set of rca cables. I did that and still it didn’t work. I’m lost ?

I recently got a pair of B&W DM601 S3 and discovered my current amp from the 80s is crap, soo…. I’m looking for a nice amp around 300-400€. I mostly listen to vinyl, but sometimes I like to connect my phone, too. I don’t have a room dedicated to listening and my speaker placement is everything but good, so I’d say tone contols are essential. Thanks in advance!

Hi, I hope you can help me find a device for our specific use case.

Our current setup is very simple. It works, but is a bit cumbersome:

We have ADAM T5V speakers in the living room. These have XLR and RCA inputs each.

We usually connect either the TV or the vinyl player. The TV has a 3,5 mm jack which we connect to the speakers via a 3,5 mm to RCA cable, whereas we connect the record player via its attached RCA cable.

This setup means that we need to unplug and plug cables at the back panel of the speakers each time we want to switch between the inputs. It also means that the global volume control is a knob at the back of each speaker; the TV additionally has a headphone volume setting, but you need to enter the settings menu to change it.

So, what we are looking for is a cheap device that has a remote or app and can switch between the TV and the record player, as well as change the volume.

Guys, I'm trying to scratch an itch that I have with my KEF Q150s. I don't really like them that much and so I am looking for an alternative.

I bought them a few years ago without listening to them, because there are no audio shops near me (Small city in Brazil) and, since they were very high regarded among the reviews I read, I thought they would be a safe choice.

But years have gone by and I changed sources, amps, installed a DAC and my system has never felt OK for me. I spent so much time EQuing my room, adding and removing sound panels, furniture, decoration, all in order to try and fix it, to no avail. Right now I'm using my computer to play Flac and, whenever I have company, Spotify. Very rarely I use a CD. I am currently powering them with a Pioneer VSX-532 receiver.

Previously, when I was much younger and spent more money than I should on car stereos I reached the conclusion that I didn't like metallic speakers. This conclusion was due to two experiences: 1- I used a MB Quart PCE-216 2-way and loved the mids, but hated the highs, so I changed the titanium tweeters for a Seas Prestige 27TFFNC and loved the way my system played. And 2 - I hated a local cinema that used aluminum based drivers for the highs and loved another that reportedly didn't use the same drivers. (Don't know which they used) I might be wrong with the conclusion, because correlation does not imply causation, but that is the data I have.

So, with all this in mind, do you have any recommendation on speakers?

Thank you very much! :)

I have been buying more vinyl lately and some of the funds are in less than stellar condition. My routine for now includes using distilled water and some isopropyl alcohol in a sprayer and then using a soft, lint free cloth to wipe it down following the grooves in a circular motion. Allow to dry and play. I still get quite a lot of static, pops and crackels from some records though, so I need to improve this area!

I am either looking at the Knosti antistat cleaner or a cheaper ultrasonic setup from Amazon. I am quite intrigued with the goat hair bristles of the Knosti and the reviews seem really great! Same for the ultrasonic cleaner, some great reviews!

Does anyone have any other recommendations or reasons to use the above mentioned products for cleaning vinyls?

Currently I have an Adcom GTP-500, which is pretty nice , phono stage, remote. It's running a Primaluna Prologue 5 tube amp, I'd like to upgrade to a tube preamp as well, to keep the whole chain tube based. I'd like to keep it under $1k. Any ideas?

Hi all, I'm looking for speakers to use in my living room (6m x 4m) They will be used for music 80% of the time, I'm on the lookout for a sub for movies etc. but not too bothered about that really. Only recently getting back into hifi so obviously first stop is the local free ads. Both these speakers have decent reviews and a fair share of haters for each too so I'm interested in opinions here. M74s... £100 D230s.. £120

The Missions are sold with spikes

Pro, cons, opinions all wecome

I'm embarrassed to even ask this question, but... I'm running a WiiM Pro, connected to a NAD C3050. 'A' Speakers are Klipsch RP600M II, with a Klipsch R-12SWi sub. 'B' Speakers are KEF Q150, with a Klipsch R8-SW sub ("borrowed" from my wife's 5.1 system). I use one or the other, never A+B. Normal listening levels are about 68-70 dB.

Does it make a difference if I control the volume with the WiiM (as a pre-amp), or with the NAD (amplifier)? Should I max the amp so it can push if necessary, or max the WiiM and set the volume on the NAD? Something in the middle, using both? TIA

I recently switched to streaming on Deezer from YouTube Music to try out the access to lossless audio. I feel like I can hear the difference at times, depending on what I am listening to and so far have liked the mixes that Deezer serves up.

That said, when I stream from my Chromebook, it seems to sound a LOT better than when I stream through my iPad. Note that I am connecting both via a USB to the digital input on my integrated amp (A Sprout PS Audio), which powers some Polk bookshelves and I also use a Sony powered subwoofer from the analog out on the amp, so the crossover from the sub is not interfering with the speakers.

In sum, I am running digital into the amp, so I would think the DAC in the amp is running the show. Yet, the sound seems noticeably clearer and cleaner coming off my cheap Chromebook than my iPad. Any ideas how this would be the case, or whether I am just hallucinating?

Relatedly, should I keep the output volume lower on the Chromebook or iPad and turn my amp up higher, or max out the volume on the computer end and keep my amp turned down a little lower?

I currently have Sony STR DH 590. Is Onkyo 757 a good upgrade ? It has dolby atmos. Is dolby atmos good ? Thanks

Hi all

Sorry if this is in the wrong sub... If so, any guidance as to where to post would be great. I have been reading all the audio subs but can't find one to fit.

I am looking to purchase something to fill my pad with sounds. Soundbars I've never really had any experience with and the more standard hi-fi system has changed lots since I last owned one (10 hrs). The last thing I had was a Bose climate II (I think).

I generally watch very very little TV, watch about one film a year but constantly listen to music and radio.

My main focus Sound Quality - High and low ends. I listen to church organ music and dance/house music, both of which are intense at each end. Al music types in-between too as love to explore. Volume is not so important but the option would be good. Also, should be good good if I want to watch a film. Gaming at times too.

Am I better to head to soundbars? Soundbars with Subs? Hi-fi systems?

Budget is limited to sub 1000gbp. Placement is a typical/standard UK flat.

Thanks folks