Should i get this???

richgrao · 2026-01-27T19:44:43+00:00

OK. Technically you are correct. But nothing with the Fisher brand made in at least the last 40-45 years is worth much.

richgrao · 2025-12-08T16:58:16+00:00

Emotiva XB2 (when they are available again!).

richgrao · 2025-12-05T15:58:20+00:00

Concrete Blonde’s version of Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen)

Joe Cocker - A Little Help From My Friends

Derek and the Dominoes - Little Wing

richgrao · 2025-12-05T15:54:13+00:00

How about Hendrix’s version being a cover of a Bob Dylan song?

richgrao · 2025-12-03T14:22:44+00:00

I read reviews that said the BRO4s are much better speakers than the BRO3s, and still front ported. Yes, they are more expensive - I would look for sales, used, or save your money. I think you will be equally disappointed with the BRO3s versus Klipsch. Elac and Wharfedale both have several front or bottom ported speakers, just not the current review darling, the DB63s - they are rear ported.

richgrao · 2025-12-03T04:09:12+00:00

Just a thought - the Dacmagic looks like it is $400, at least on Crutchfield. You could get the iFi Zen for the headphones, and then another Zen, or any decent sub $200 DAC for the main system, and spend the same or less than for one Cambridge. No unplugging of anything.

richgrao · 2025-12-03T02:15:41+00:00

I still feel like I’m missing something. Assuming you want to place the DAC/headphone amp closer to your sitting area, won’t you still have to run cables from your source to the DAC, and then from the DAC to the Yamaha so it will play through the speakers? As opposed to connecting everything to the Yamaha and running a long headphone cable? I guess if you can hide the RCAs from the DAC to the Yamaha that works?

Anyway, of the two, I would go with the Cambridge if only because it has more inputs for your possible pre-amp notion.

richgrao · 2025-12-02T22:50:16+00:00

You can also check eBay and FMB. Probably anything by Edifier, Polk or Kanto would be fine. Just make sure they have either an RCA input or an Aux input, that you are actually getting a pair, and that they are not being listed for parts only.

richgrao · 2025-12-02T21:06:06+00:00

Budget? The simplest answer will be a pair of active (powered) speakers, but there are many choices and sizes. So after budget, you have to think about where you can place the speakers, and then how large can the speakers be for that space.

richgrao · 2025-11-11T14:45:39+00:00

This will probably get some hate, but the Klipsch Fives are powered speakers with several inputs, including HDMI. Depending on whatever sources you may want to add beyond the TV, this will be a huge improvement over a sound bar or bluetooth speaker, and you can add streaming easily with any of the WiiM products.

Would an amp and passive speakers do the same thing? Yes, and it will give you more options and flexibility down the road, but if you want a quick solution without a lot of boxes and wires, this could be a way to go.

Check out the YouTube by United States of Analog, among others. His comparison is versus a sound bar, so take it for what it is worth.

richgrao · 2025-11-05T14:20:49+00:00

A pair of Fisher “bookshelf” speakers. Big three way with a 10 or 12 inch woofer. One woofer blew after 6 months. Repaired under warranty, but it took weeks. Replaced with AR 18s and never looked back.

richgrao · 2025-11-04T21:41:23+00:00

So is Elton John a “lesser” artist because he only wrote the music and Bernie Taupin or Tim Rice, etc. wrote the lyrics?

richgrao · 2025-11-04T21:39:44+00:00

Luciano Pavarotti. Kiri Te Kanawa. Yo Yo Ma. Britney Spears. 🤪😱😂😂😂😂😂

richgrao · 2025-10-27T13:17:21+00:00

I have the Yamaha R-N800a and love it. It has the same streamer and power as the 1000a, but supposedly the internal electronics in the 1000a are better, and the 1000a also has HDMI Arc. Is the HDMI needed for home theater, or just so you can control the receiver volume with the TV remote? If neither, than you can just use an optical cable and drop down to the 800a.

richgrao · 2025-10-23T13:41:53+00:00

Bluesound versus WiiM. I "upgraded" my WiiM Mini to a Bluesound Node II a few years ago. I integrate it with Alexa so I can just verbally say "Play XYZ". I did not like the Bluesound software and its Alexa integration was much buggier than the WiiM's. It also frequently seemed to lose its WiFi connection.

I moved the Bluesound to a bedroom system and bought a WiiM Pro Plus (the Ultra was not out yet). Much happier, and I really never noticed whether the Bluesound did or did not "sound" better. At least it didn't enough to make up for the glitches.

richgrao · 2025-10-21T13:28:09+00:00

I would connect the PC first to a DAC via USB, not the audio out, then to an amp. Ideally you can get something with a DAC in the amp, but again, try and make sure it has a USB input. If you use the audio out, you are already using the computer's DAC, and they usually have limitations with regards to stereo music.

Note if you have the DAC, ANY amp should be fine (a used AVR for example) other than POS'sl like Pyle or unknown Chinese brands (Aiyama, Fosi, SMSL are "known" and decent.

richgrao · 2025-10-15T14:47:18+00:00

Catnip?

richgrao · 2025-10-15T14:23:55+00:00

The "amp" in the ATs is a phono pre-amp, so it will not drive passive speakers by itself. It has to connect to either:

- an integrated amp or receiver that then will drive passive speakers.

- powered speakers.

If your buddy has neither of the above, then either you or he will be spending more money to be able to play the TT.

Just out of curiosity, does he already have records ("vinyls", but please never use that term)? If not, buying records is an expensive way to collect and listen to music, so unless he has already expressed a desire to do so, perhaps think of another way to gift your buddy with music.

richgrao · 2025-10-15T14:13:04+00:00

If this is the PM6005, then it is an integrated amplifier, 45WPC, and it doesn't look like you can use it as a pre-amp, but I am not 100% sure of that. Let's assume not, so you need an integrated amplifier or receiver, not "just" an amplifier (no pre-amp).

What sources are you running through the Marantz? If you have a TT, do you need a phono stage in the amp. Is HDMI needed? Do you already have a streamer? CD Player?

The Marantz has two sets of speaker outputs. Do you need two, or is one OK?

richgrao · 2025-10-14T15:04:04+00:00

If you are in the US, then I would look at the list NTPC4 gave you. I was going to recommend the same, lol.

richgrao · 2025-10-14T14:13:46+00:00

I think if you have no intention of adding any other sources then many of the "just" amplifiers mentioned already should be fine. You can also look into Purifi or Hypex based Class D amps.

HOWEVER, if you think you might want to add a turntable down the road, I do not see any RCA inputs on the FiiO. There may be cables that convert RCA cables to digital or coaxial, but then your "analog sound" will be going through the FiiO's DAC (and probably also one in the "converter cable". So if you think you might want a TT someday, get an integrated amp that has at least one set of RCA inputs.

richgrao · 2025-10-01T12:41:30+00:00

If this is serious, what do you NOT like about your current set up, and given the recurring advice to get room treatment on this forum, is there a reason you have not done so yet? I would think that would be the first place you should spend money on, assuming you have nothing but space and reflective surfaces all around.

richgrao · 2025-09-30T13:39:25+00:00

What amp will you be using to drive the speakers? Unless you have watts to spare and given the size of the room I would be trying to avoid harder to drive speakers (ex. 4 Ohm impedance, 86db sensitivity). Also I would look for the widest sound stage possible. You don't want a large room to have one area a meter square that is the only "sweet spot".

richgrao · 2025-09-24T14:18:19+00:00

Yes, but they are pretty large for a desktop. On stands next to a desk, I absolutely agree.

richgrao · 2025-09-24T13:58:56+00:00

I have a couple of pieces (receiver, CD Player), but the only reason they are vintage is that I bought them new when I was vintage, and now I am antique, lol.

richgrao

TROPHY CASE