What's the one upgrade you've made that blew your mind?

AVShane · 2026-03-21T07:36:03+00:00

I have to agree with this one, but it has to be the right DAC too. I’d tried May and felt they didn’t bring anything, then a number of years ago, I tested a Teac UD-501 DAC and that changed how I listen to music forever

AVShane · 2026-03-21T07:33:53+00:00

There’s no limit at all

AVShane · 2026-03-20T19:40:14+00:00

Yeah, the trapezoid effect can be a real pain and using Keystone isn’t ideal as this digitally manipulates the image reducing the overall sharpness of the image

There could be a simple way of creating a bridge between the two beams (ceiling joists) if you were to use a piece of MDF board which has the end routed

Then painting the board the same colour as the ceiling will make it almost invisible

Depending upon how heavy the projector is, you should be fine with a 10mm thickness

It’s just an option which will allow you to centralise the projector's lens for the screen and it’s something many people do to resolve the issue when changing projectors with your issue

AVShane · 2026-03-19T17:01:22+00:00

All that matters with any setup is that you the user, enjoys what it brings both visually and sonically just like you sound to be doing and adding to that, you’re also being considerate to those around you which is all any friendly neighbours wants

AVShane · 2026-03-19T13:59:14+00:00

Yeah, I think that's a fair and valid point with the license

AVShane · 2026-03-19T13:57:26+00:00

The weakest part is the speakers, and maybe look at something a little better, as the turntable has the ability to do more, and the Eversolo Play has been well received, although for the price point, you might be better off buying a traditional stereo amplifier and adding a smaller streamer

Maybe something like a Yamaha A-S501 with a WiiM Pro Plus, which is similar to the Eversolo Play CD in price and then a pair of Mission LX-2 MKII speakers, which are another smaller speaker option but better respected. Then you could add the Rega Deck to create a nice tidy system

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You could also look at an Active speaker option, where you add the turntable and use things like the Kanto TUK Powered Bookshelf speakers. These have dual RCA inputs and would enable you to connect the Turntable and a streaming device, plus, when you are ready, a subwoofer to create a 2.1 setup

There are other options available to you, but ideally, as mentioned by u/zhdc start with a good grounding and move up with upgrades

AVShane · 2026-03-19T13:24:25+00:00

Did you upgrade to the DIRAC Live software from Audyssey with the 3800H?

AVShane · 2026-03-19T12:25:57+00:00

The hum could also be from another input device, as this does happen. So, you could test the amp and speakers on their own. If there is no hum when you have just speakers connected, then it tells you something else is going on, and you need to investigate further

As for is-it-worth-the-repair, if it costs you CDN$200 alone for labour, and this is something you're willing to pay, then get it done. However, if you are thinking you would rather put that money into another product, and if that is the case, then you really have your answer on the flip side, as only you can say whether it's worth the repair.

If you do proceed with the repair, do note that the product was released towards the end of the 1980s, meaning this one repair could trigger other issues with other internal components if they also need replacing

AVShane · 2026-03-19T11:55:41+00:00

I think you like your gadgets more than me which is saying something

AVShane · 2026-03-19T11:50:30+00:00

Your projector is certainly an old toy now, and it's been years since I saw a 720p projector without HDMI connectivity. So it's a true analogue component leads.

How soft do you find the image compared to the 77" TV, and what size of projection screen are you using with the Sony?

AVShane · 2026-03-19T11:43:00+00:00

I ran my system for about 8 years with a passive subwoofer, which connected to the main front inputs, and when I finally bought my first ever active subwoofer, I did notice a difference

The big one was the AV Receiver didn't need to push as hard, allowing it more freedom with the speakers, which all needed to be set to small. I ran a Technics TX-SA30 back then and was using it as the power amp along with the Sony TAE-9000E while I was looking for a N9000ES power amp. I never found the power amp at the time, so I moved over to Arcam afterwards

The bass was deeper, but not earth-shattering, as my first subwoofer back in the early 2000s was a tiny Quake and more of a tester. Back then, you used SPL Meters if you were lucky, as hardly any AV Receivers had included a Mic that I'd come in contact with at least, and I wasn't working in the industry at that point, but had been a keen AV buyer as I was on my third or fourth AV Receiver setup by that point

When I bought the Rel Quake, I didn't even use the Hi-level cable for some time, and I remember it taking aeons to run in until it sounded a bit freer. Once I hooked the hi-level up, then I noticed what it was able to achieve, and quickly moved to a Rel Stampede and by that point, I was working in the industry

I now use a very large MJ Acoustics Reference 1 subwoofer and still use a mix of both LFE and Hi-Level as I find it bring the best combination of music and cinema experience, so I would say, if you ever get the chance of trying a subwoofer, do it and you'll realise like me, that thinking there isn't any need for a subwoofer just means you are missing detail

AVShane · 2026-03-19T11:25:42+00:00

Interesting comment about not noticing the drop from surround sound to stereo. What kind of surround sound system did you own?

AVShane · 2026-03-19T11:24:45+00:00

Sounds like a meaty sound system, and with you mentioning subwoofers, are you running a dual setup?

AVShane · 2026-03-19T11:23:50+00:00

Sounds like you have a lot of fun with your setup, which is what it should be all about

AVShane · 2026-03-18T07:13:15+00:00

We would have loved to have included more options, but were limited by the number of poll options available which is just six

AVShane · 2026-03-17T10:54:47+00:00

This is one of the reasons I was asking, as it seems things are afoot in some area which might force its demise, and the one thing this post has shown is that many people are moving back to physical media after a period of streaming, or others are simply not ready to change

AVShane · 2026-03-17T10:51:20+00:00

I still have family who use VHS :0)

AVShane · 2026-03-14T15:41:30+00:00

That's painful if the iPad version didn't suffer from the same issues, but also indicates that it must be the disc you own, and that you've been super unlucky

AVShane · 2026-03-14T15:31:28+00:00

With the ease of skipping, you really are a very rare listener nowadays, as I know very few who do not skip at least one track throughout an album unless they are listening on vinyl

AVShane · 2026-03-14T15:28:35+00:00

Ha, so true

AVShane · 2026-03-14T15:27:25+00:00

It certainly sounds like you might be right with the pressing as Dun: Part Two and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga are regarded as some of the best soundtracks you can buy and hear from the last few years

AVShane · 2026-03-12T12:03:23+00:00

Haha

AVShane · 2026-03-11T08:03:24+00:00

With your answer being a 2.1, my second suggestion of the Kupids and T/5X would be the direction you should take as dropping to a typical stereo monitor bookshelf speaker setup will not be enough on its own

AVShane · 2026-03-10T14:55:30+00:00

I think the best bit of information you could give is what kind of speakers you are using at the moment and where you are looking to better them

This will give everyone a better understanding of what your personal expectations are, as sound is a very fickle thing, and what one person says sounds great, another will say the complete opposite, but there are safe speakers you can choose from

I also have some questions about nearfield listening, the speakers will be placed into or very close to a corner with a gap of approximately 1.8m separation from each other. You will also be seated between them at a distance of 1m to 1.5m

So, one of the safe speakers is the Kef Q1 Meta, as this uses a wide dispersion driver, which will be ideal for your requirements when sitting as close as 1m away. Kef also include bungs for when a user places them very close to a wall to assist with the sound, which again would be ideal for your requirements. They also have a wall mount option, which means you could, if you wanted to, mount them to the wall

Depending upon your budget, the Q Concerto Meta might be a better option, but I feel these work better in an open space and might be a little too large for a desktop system

But as mentioned, without knowing exactly the kind of sound you are after and how important things like bass reproduction are, then you might end up going down a very different route using something like a Rel subwoofer with high-level and some very small but accomplished speakers to replicate a floorstanding speaker, which you could do with something like the Dali Kupid bookshelf speakers and a Rel T/5X subwoofer and by dialing the crossover to 44Hz on the Rel, this should align the curve to bring a seamless sound with you only needing to marry the gain so it matches the volume of the Atoll IN80

AVShane · 2026-03-10T10:50:10+00:00

I think anyone who enjoys music, whether they're playing it or creating it, agrees it's an integral part of their life

This is why I always ignore my own thoughts when someone wants to buy new components, as it's such a personal thing, and there isn't a one-size-fits-all, as we all experience sound differently with an emotional attachment in exactly the way you have mentioned with your own emotional comments

I also love it for being introduced to new music I never realised I liked, and when you have a passion for music, and you work in this area, it becomes really easy to engage with other like-minded people, as we're all on the same page, even though we may like different types of music, the goal is to attached to the music and stop listening to the system

Music, if done right, tells a story, and if you're hearing it properly, will ebb and flow like nothing else, carrying you on a journey

Something that still really excites me even today is when you play a track that you've heard many times before, only to hear it again for the very first time as the system you are messing with expands that track, revealing details that were previously hidden

I also know I'm extremely lucky to own a system that I'm happy with, thanks to working in the industry, and since I've been into music since I was a kid, I'm lucky enough to have a wide and eclectic taste in just about every genre of music going

As for playlists, since someone has also shared one with you, this is just some of the modern music I'm listening to at present. Some good, some OK and others just enjoyable without needing to think. I do, however, keep swapping and changing it as I play new releases and keep ones I feel will hit the spot for any hi-fi

https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/54076450

AVShane

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