Good stuff to listen to 🎵

[Andreas Meyer]

Hey guys, right now I am listening to Rammstein’s new album called “Zeit” on my 1723 S speakers (sounds great ☺️).

From a “song-perspective” it unfortunately is a mediocre album, but from a production standpoint it is quite interesting.

While not super-audiophile in nature, they used 3D-Sound as mentioned in Apple Music’s album description.

Flake’s synth sounds really seem to come from behind or appear directly in your ear, also the guitar sound is PHat.

Songs I can recommend are:

1. Angst

2. Zick Zack

3. Armee der Tristen

4. Meine Tränen

5. Giftig

Do you guys have any opinion on Rammstein’s new album?

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[Michael]

Also listening to Frampton Comes Alive. Forgot how great this album is. I bought it when it came out. I was 12. I feel like my ears are much more mature now…

[arkmann]

Listening now on Qobuz good stuff but it’s still Halloween.  Maybe again tomorrow.  Have to go trick or treating!

[arkmann]

Michael agree both are great albums!  Gaucho by Steely Dan sounds fantastic too.  The bass on Babylon Sisters and Hey 19 really thumps on the Arendal 1723 towers.

[Kurt_from_Belgium]

Ok guys, I’m curious to know what kind of amplification you are using for 2 channel stereo? Class AB amplifier? Class D? Tubes? And why?

[Michael]

Class A/B Marantz Cinema 50, Cuz I keeps it simple. To each their own, but I’m all digital. I have an Ipad controlling Amazon Music and my 37,000 FLAC files on an external drive using HEOS built in to the Marantz. All digital and the Marantz has a top of the line DAC so that’s all I need. (Where the hell am I gonna store over 2.500 albums?) Now if other people wanna have Tesla coils and tubes, Victrolas and go-go dancers, it’s all good. IMHO, (and ONLY an opinion) I think it’s a waste of money to pay for high end equipment, then introduce distortion and noise by playing vinyl, but again, to each their own. I’ve seen $20,000 turntables out there.. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Might as well get a Victrola and call it a day…

 

[arkmann]

Class A/B Rotel amp connected to a matching Rotel preamp.  Conservatively rated at 200 WPC for both 8 and 4 ohms.  Upgraded from a Denon AVR when I moved from home theater to a 2 channel setup.  Wanted separates since I was a kid but always ended up with receivers which sounded fine but they weren’t my dream.  Best sounding power I’ve had.  Really able to drive the bass in the Arendal towers when I’m cranking up classic rock.  Headroom to spare.  Never stressed or sounds strained and can run for hours and stay as cool as the other side of the pillow.  The Rotel preamp has a great DAC connected by optical cable to a Bluesound Node for streaming mostly Hi-Res cuts in Qobuz.  Still play some CDs on the matching Rotel player but gave up playing vinyl long ago.  Don’t miss the skips, crackle and pops.

[arkmann]

If you like Frampton check out his blues album.  Especially track #4, You can’t judge a book by the cover.  Really jumps out of the speakers.

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[Kurt_from_Belgium]

@Arkmann I guess it was a big step up from the Denon AVR to the Rotel combo? Which Denon did you use? I’m all digital too, primarily streaming Tidal and maybe upgrading to Qobuz in the near future. In my current setup I have a Yamaha RX-A2080 Aventage. It performs great for HT but for 2-channel stereo I’m looking for an integrated amp with HT bypass like the Yamaha A-S2200. The R-N2000 is on my wish list too because it has a better SABRE ES9026PRO Ultra DAC. Would this be a mayor upgrade to the SABRE 9007S Premier Audio DAC in my current AVR? Or would I be better of with the A-S2200? Choices choices… 🤔

[Valentin Dumitrasc]

@Kurt – I am using a Class A Sugden IA-4 amplifier with SACD 30n as a source. And it sounds glorious. The 1723 Monitors are sealed and I am using a 1723 2S sub for the low end.

[Michael]

I would strongly recommend Amazon Music. Not just because it has pretty much the same music catalog and high resolution as any other service, but because of the entire ecosystem. I have two Amazon Studios in the dining room, which can play high resolution Dolby Atmos music, as well as two echos in the kitchen and an echo dot in the living room RCA out to the Marantz. this way I can create a group and have the same song playing in all three rooms downstairs at the same time. (to walk around the house hearing the same song playing in every room at the same time is pretty cool.) I can listen in the living room only using HEOS if I want. I have several 10 inch echo show that I can tell Alexa to show me the front or side door ring doorbell camera or any of the security camera video. Have 2 echo plus outside under the pergola. I can even open and close the garage door, turn lights in the house using the Alexas. I have a routine called “dinner time” where if I say that, it dims the lights in the dining room to 30% soft white and starts playing my jazz playlist. I say good morning and it starts playing classical music and gives me a CNN flash News briefing.  Driving around using the Amazon Music app I can even change playlists and tracks using voice hands free.  No, I do not work for Amazon. I’m just saying with Amazon Music it ties into the entire smart home integration. (No it doesn’t spy on me. That’s just irresponsible journalism)