Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 29

Thread: real Hi Fi

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    near Kilmore central Vic but work in Melb every day :(
    Posts
    359
    Total Downloaded
    0

    real Hi Fi

    anyone on here with contacts (as in works for an importer ect so can get good discounts) on Hi Fi gear
    (and i'm talking real Hi Fi not the harvey norman stuff)
    I'm looking at updateing a few pieces and am not brand loyal (just know what I think sounds nice) so a good bargain can always sway me
    thanks
    Jase

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Singapore via Melbourne
    Posts
    1,938
    Total Downloaded
    0
    get out the soldering iron Jase...

    www.aksaonline.com

    beats anything that costs 5 times as much (even with discounts) and it's an aussie product. Hugh the owner/designer is a fantastic guy to deal with. I own and built a power amp and a tube hybrid preamp of his - both absolutely outstanding.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Close enough to their Shire to smell the dirty Hobbit feet
    Posts
    8,059
    Total Downloaded
    0
    There are a lot of variables to make the HiFi sound nice. Size of area flooring in the room, shape of the room, I have heard a $1000 dollar stereo sound better than a $15000.00 stereo basically because it, and the room was set up correctly. Do you want it just for music or home theatre or both. In my opinion the worst thing to happen for HiFi was the introduction of surround sound, prologic and that sort of stuff. I doubt most of the people who work in the department stores would know what a valve amplifier is, let alone sell one.


    If just for music
    Hit the net onto the audiophile sites, do your homework, get a huge budget well as big as you can get, go for a designated amplifier not one of those 7.1 you beaut gismo's that do everything. Oh and don't be cheap on the speakers. Having the worlds best amp is useless unless you have the boxes and drivers top back them up.

    Try the smaller named shops in the major cities, north shore of sydney have a few.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    near Kilmore central Vic but work in Melb every day :(
    Posts
    359
    Total Downloaded
    0
    I know what you mean dobbo
    This system would just be for stereo (music)
    I've had home surround sound stuff for the last 15 yrs and still prefer the sound my old hifi stereo (now living in the shed) I bought it in 86 for about $6 grand and on apprentice wages at the time that was heaps

    all the home theatre stuff is great for loud surround sound and watching movies by not for stereo hi fi
    I already have 2 home theatre setups (1 (yamaha) in family room and a better (rotel) in lounge room) but I'm longing for something more (& shock the wife actually sugested it when I mentioned wanting better sound)
    Note the HiFi addiction could be worse then the landrover addiction (and I have 4 of those)
    I haven't set a budget yet or even really looked at what's out there apart from a few hrs on the web and 2 quick drop in's into shops on the weekend (was out with the wife)
    Room accoustics in the lounge are pretty good now just have to work out what I want get some bucks and cough them up (the bucks part may take some time)

    oh and Glen (echidna) I'm not afraid of the soldering iron, I was an electronics tech in a past life and don't mind playing
    I had a look on thier site and must say hmmm interesteing?
    what models did you get and what did you compare it to?
    & what speakers are you using

    thanks
    Jase

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Alstonville...is near Byron Bay
    Posts
    3,034
    Total Downloaded
    0
    You're right there, Jase.

    I once had a boss who was an audiophile. He had TWO Thorens turntables at $15,000 a pop, and that was about 20 years ago............

    Sitting off the wall in the office are two lovely old Leak Sandwich speakers from about 1960 something, they still sound sooo neat....

    GQ

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Singapore via Melbourne
    Posts
    1,938
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by jase
    ... oh and Glen (echidna) I'm not afraid of the soldering iron, I was an electronics tech in a past life and don't mind playing
    I had a look on thier site and must say hmmm interesteing?
    what models did you get and what did you compare it to?
    & what speakers are you using

    thanks
    Jase
    I compared the AKSA 100n to lots of different amps costing up to $20k (I'd never spend that!) and without sounding too anal, the neutrality of the sound is what gets me - it's not analytical or warm, but very very noice for the $$$ ... I'm a mod on another forum dedicated to DIY hifi, so I've got a vested interest in suggesting you make your own!
    www.audiocircle.com

    the preamp I have is the GK1-r - a tube hybrid in full dual mono configuration

    as a former electronics tech, surely you would rather make your own?
    anyway, it's all up to you, but I gained a real lot is DIY'ing - renewing skills, getting great bang for buck etc....

    my speakers are DIY too - based on the sigfried linkwitz 'orion' - they are about $5k in parts...imagine what it would cost in 'retail' form, easily $12k I think...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Adelaide, SA, Australia
    Posts
    187
    Total Downloaded
    0
    And before you put your soldering iron away, check out www.vaf.com.au. I know the owner Philip, and I can tell you that these speakers are truly magnificent. But beware - they are so revealing, that you will divide you music collection into those that are well recorded and those that are not. It's too painful to listen to some CDs, as it reveals poor recording. On compiliation albums, its easy to pick out tracks recroded at studios with good equipoment and those with crap equipment - something I could not do before getting the DCXs. To be neutral, some say Crix are as good, but personally I dont find this. I was a top end B&W fan until I found Vaf....

    And rotel is a great setup - do you have the home theater RSX 1057? I personally thought this unit was great as the pure stereo performace was exceptional, so is a good balance of a home theatre amp used for stero listening too.

  8. #8
    p38arover's Avatar
    p38arover is offline Major part of the heart and soul of AULRO.com
    Administrator
    I'm here to help you!
    Gold Subscriber
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Western Sydney
    Posts
    30,160
    Total Downloaded
    0
    My hi-fi hardly ever gets used.

    My Thorens TD125 turntable, SME arm with Shure V15 cartridge are in the garage and haven't been used in about 15 years.

    My garage stereo is a Harmon Kardon stereo receiver with KEF speakers in the garage section and JBL in the electronics workshop. The Harmon Kardon cassette deck hasn't been turned on in years.

    The lounge room has a Pioneer amp (can't remember the specs) with Wharfedale speakers. It hardly ever gets turned on. The TV is not connected to the stereo system.

    Ron (ex-electronics tech)
    Ron B.
    VK2OTC

    2003 L322 Range Rover Vogue 4.4 V8 Auto
    2007 Yamaha XJR1300
    Previous: 1983, 1986 RRC; 1995, 1996 P38A; 1995 Disco1; 1984 V8 County 110; Series IIA



    RIP Bucko - Riding on Forever

  9. #9
    alfam Guest

    Wharfedales

    G'day. I might be interested in your Wharfedales if your interested in parting with them? Thanks. David

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    ChCh New Zealand
    Posts
    547
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Although not the cheapest around, HiFi, Home Cinema & Home Entertainment Systems - AudioTrends Ringwood, Melbourne are really quite good for the mid to higher end of the market. I used to live with a couple of the guys that work there and the system we had at home was amazing. We had a party one night and the sound could be clearly heard 2 blocks away. When the Police turned up to ask us to turn it down they asked to come inside and look at the setup.

    They will do better deals for cash, as will most stores. They are now located of Heatherdale Rd in Ringwood.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Search AULRO.com ONLY!
Search All the Web!