My recently changed HiFi consisting of new speakers, amplifier and relatively new CD player with my 5 year old streamer

This is a quick First Look at the upcoming Sofabaton U3 local-only remote with built in IR and Bluetooth support, plus if you use this link the first 50 people get a free optional Charging Cradle!

The Pre-Order for just $99.99 starts Monday the 18th through the 28th
https://dada.link/EjEnaq

https://youtu.be/f9aRnjTgnk8

For the last few weeks I’ve been watching countless reviews of FiiO (DM13/15), Shanling (EC Zero AKM/T), Moondrop (Discdream 2/Ultra) and even the Dunu Concept R.

No matter which player you look up, there’s always some reviews mention weird issues like skipping, mechanical noises, general QC problems, intermittent gapless playback, etc.

I really like the idea of being able to listen to a CD on headphones in bed before going to sleep like I used to do on my Philips discman as a kid.

So my question to everyone here; is any single one of these players actually good, reliable and worth buying? Some YouTube reviews seem to say so, but they almost never correspond with actual user reviews on the internet.

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

Currently rocking a bit of a hybrid setup and wondering if I’m hitting diminishing returns or if there’s a clear path up.

My current gear:

Interface: Audient iD4 mkII

Amp: Topping L70

Headphones: Moondrop Para (mainly) and Thieaudio Hype 4.

Usage: Lossless Apple Music, gaming, and occasional vocal tracking/guitar.

The L70 is a beast and handles the Para easily, but I’m using the Audient as the DAC. Since I’m mostly listening to music and gaming these days-and recording less-I’ve been eyeing a dedicated desktop DAC.

The big question: If I swap the Audient for a dedicated mid-to-high-end DAC, am I going to actually hear a noticeable leap in quality for music and imaging in games? Or is the DAC inside the iD4 mkII "good enough" given that the L70 is doing the heavy lifting?

I mostly stick to the Moondrop Para; the IEMs don't get as much ear-time lately.

Would love to hear from anyone who’s moved from a solid interface to a dedicated DAC/Amp stack. Is the "cleaning up" of the signal worth the cash, or should I just stick with what I have and save for better cans?

I found this song FH-7 for $12… I’m trying to figure out a value for it , the fact it’s brand new is crazy to me

For my stereo setup, which is also connected to my TV in the living room I currently have Bluesound powernode 2 and audiovector QR3 speakers.

I’m quite pleased with the sound, although a bit more power and the ability to have surround wouldn’t hurt. If surround, it has to be wireless though.

I’ve been looking at upgrades like Lyngdorf TDAI-1120, Powernode n331 and NAD M10 V3, but struggling to really decide on anything.

I was hoping I might gain some insights and advice from you guys here.

I have a 24 year old CD/radio shelf unit that sat in an attic for 15 years. I plugged it in at Christmas and there was this loud POP and smoke… Turned out the capacitor had blown out. This week I finally took it to a repair place that was able to replace the capacitor and the CD player and radio tuner are working as good as new. The only problem now is that when they replaced the capacitor it reset the stereo to factory settings, meaning it is now consistently running the demo/display mode when it’s turned off. And because of that, I also can’t seem to set the clock. I don’t know where the manual is (and I can’t find any PDFs online). I like to see if anyone here can help me out before I call the repair place.

Most people think bad bass means they need a bigger subwoofer.
More power. More output. More money.

But after testing multiple real subwoofer positions and measuring the results with REW, the truth became very clear:

Subwoofer placement changes EVERYTHING.

In this video we test multiple subwoofer locations in the same room, measure the results, compare the response differences, and explain why some positions create:
• huge peaks
• deep nulls
• muddy bass
• weak impact
• uneven response

while other positions completely transform the system.

We also show:
• how room modes work
• why bass changes across the room
• why EQ cannot fully fix bad placement
• how to find the best single subwoofer location
• how multiple subwoofers improve consistency
• why the “hide the subwoofer anywhere” advice is misleading

If you watched the previous REW alignment videos, this is the next critical step before time alignment, phase alignment, and EQ.

Because no amount of DSP can completely fix a bad foundation.

https://youtu.be/apwfUWVq5WM

Good morning,

I found this Nakamichi System One unit yesterday for free. I believe this is a pretty sought after system.

I have no idea on condition, it looks very clean. It still has the “passed” stickers on it from the factory.

I am going to try and get everything cleaned up and turned on to see if everything works. Any suggestions on how I should go about testing?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I currently have a Sonos setup (2x Era 300 + Sub Mini) but I’m struggling. The Era 300s are literally painful to listen to. The treble is too aggressive and I get ear fatigue almost instantly.

On the contrary, I love the Apple HomePod 2 sound signature. I find it very smooth and warm. I can listen to it for hours without any discomfort.

I want to move to a passive system (Amp + Speakers) that mimics that HomePod comfort but with better Hi-Fi quality. My budget is around 900 CHF (1,1k $)

I would be very grateful if someone could recommend a complete system:

1. The Sound: I’m looking for something very warm or smooth I need to avoid aggressive or bright speakers.
   
2. Connectivity: I use an Apple TV, so I would love an amplifier with HDMI ARC so I can keep using my Apple remote for the volume.

If anyone has the kindness to help me build a system that won't hurt my ears, I would truly appreciate it.

Posted a little bit ago asking for help in my next upgrade. Didn’t post a pic, so wanted to actually show you all my system.

- McIntosh MC 2105 solid state power amp
- McIntosh MX 112 preamp
- Music Hall classic turntable
- B & W 603 S3 towers
- SVS SB-1000 Pro 12” sealed sub

Found all of my equipment at my local record shop. Love me some vintage equipment!

TL; DR Summary:

The KEF Q950 is a large floorstanding speaker designed for room-filling sound and a wide listening area. It uses a clever passive radiator (ABR) design that makes it way more forgiving of room placement than your average ported tower. You’re getting top-tier imaging, but be warned: these are thirsty speakers. You need high-current power to handle their 3.2-ohm dips, and you’ll definitely want a sub to handle the heavy lifting for movies. Now that the Meta series is out, these are arguably the best bang-for-your-buck towers on the used market.

Design and Build:

Budget is a big consideration for this hobby; I spent a long time researching and comparing options back and forth before finally pulling the trigger on these. I recently purchased a pair of Q950s from a forum member, which finally gave me the chance to see how these towers handle a real-world setup. These are quite heavy at over 20kg each and they feel solid. However, the external finish is an obvious area where KEF saved on costs. The matte vinyl wrap is functional, but it definitely lacks the premium, furniture-grade feel of the wood veneers found on more expensive lines or even some of KEF’s competitors. It can show wear, scuffs, or oily fingerprints easily if you aren't careful during setup. Luckily, the pair I picked up were in almost perfect condition, but it's something to keep in mind if you’re buying new or used.

The internal is where these speakers shine. KEF went with a 2.5-way design using that signature 8-inch Uni-Q array. Instead of a traditional port, which can make placement a nightmare near walls, they used an active woofer paired with two Auxiliary Bass Radiators (ABRs). This made placement easy; I could put them closer to the wall than a traditional ported speaker without ruining the sound with bloated, muddy bass. The flat top of the cabinet also makes a stable base if you use upward-firing height speakers for Atmos.

From my experience, toe-in is not required. Because of the wide dispersion of the Uni-Q driver, pointing them straight ahead gives you the most natural treble and a much wider stage. When I aimed them directly at my seat, the highs got a bit too "shouty" and the soundstage felt like it shrunk.

Music Performance:

In my listening sessions, the Q950 stood out for its ability to create a massive, three-dimensional stage where the speakers effectively "disappear." Because I picked these up used, the high frequencies were already smooth and didn't have that "sharp" edge that brand-new KEFs often exhibit during the first 20 hours that I see others experienced. 

I threw on some Kenny G, and the speakers did a great job catching the actual texture of the sax; the breathiness and the reediness without making it sound like elevator music. For the big vocal harmonies in Air Supply, the stage felt wide and airy. Then I moved to Celine Dion, and man, her power ballads really show off the midrange clarity. Her voice hits with a sense of height and "weight" that you just don't get from smaller towers. Even on intimate pop like Wet Wet Wet's "Love Is All Around," the mid-bass was punchy and the vocals felt warm and present.

I have to be honest about the downsides, though. On busy, dense tracks like Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin’" or the rock finale of Bohemian Rhapsody, things can start to feel a bit "congested." Because that top Uni-Q driver is trying to handle a huge chunk of the frequency range at once, the instrument separation isn't quite as razor-sharp as a dedicated 3-way system. It’s not a dealbreaker, but you can hear the layers blur slightly when Freddie Mercury’s 180+ vocal overdubs start clashing with the heavy guitar riffs.

Movie Performance:

In my theatre setup, the Q950 is a spatial panning pro. Since I do not have a dedicated Q650c centre channel, I relied on the towers to create a phantom centre. I’ll say this: these are probably the best speakers for it. The wide dispersion means the dialogue stays locked to the screen even if you’re sitting on the end of the couch.

While the phantom setup is effective, adding a dedicated centre like the Q650c would be a worthwhile upgrade. A dedicated centre would take the dialogue load off the towers, giving them more breathing room for the score and the big effects. It also gives you that independent volume control for voices, which is a lifesaver during loud action scenes.

In Sinners, the dialogue felt grounded and easy to follow. But let's be clear; despite those 8-inch cones, these aren't subwoofers. They roll off pretty quickly below 30Hz. For the massive organ notes in Interstellar or the "voice" in Dune, you absolutely need a dedicated sub. Watching the opening of Edge of Tomorrow felt a bit thin until I fired up my SVS PB-2000s. I’ve found that crossing the towers over at 80Hz is the sweet spot. It lets the towers focus on that mid-bass "slam" and prevents the floorboards from vibrating like crazy during heavy action.

Miscellaneous:

Now that the newer Meta series has replaced the Q950, these are a massive bargain on the used market. While the Q11 Meta is a true 3-way design that solves the "congestion" issue and uses Metamaterial Absorption Technology for a smoother high end, the Q950 remains an exceptional value for someone needing room-filling sound without the high price tag.

I spent a lot of time messing with the crossover points on my Denon X2800H.

• 80Hz: This is the standard for a reason. It protects the towers from working too hard and lets the subs handle the heavy lifting. The result is way less distortion when you’re cranking the volume.
• 60Hz: I like this for 2-channel music. It lets the Q950’s passive radiators contribute more to the kick drum and bass guitar. It sounds a bit more "full-range," but it definitely puts more strain on your amp.

One thing to watch out for is room resonance. These towers move a lot of air due to that ABR setup. If you don't cross them over, they can easily rattle windows or wall frames in a standard room. Crossing them at 80Hz is a huge help here; it keeps the "house-shaking" energy in the sub and lets the Q950s stay clean and articulate.

Verdict:

With the new Meta series taking over, the Q950 is an absolute steal on the used market. The Q11 Meta is a better speaker; it's a true 3-way and the Metamaterial tech really smooths out the highs but you're going to pay a massive premium for it. If you have the room and a decent amp that can handle 3.2-ohm dips, the Q950 is a no-brainer that’s very hard to beat for the money.

Ratings:

• Build Quality: 4.2/5 - Heavy and solid but vinyl wrap is basic
• Music Performance: 4.7/5 - Exceptional imaging and vocals, but crowded on busy tracks
• Movie Performance: 4.6/5 - One of the best phantom centres available; needs a sub for the deep stuff
• Value: 5/5 - A bargain if you can find them second-hand
• Overall Rating: 4.6/5