xHiFi ... audiophile grade computer audio?

[SpiralDragon]

sheesh.. for that price i can get my self a pair of mackie near feild monitors....... and i badly need them.....

[Jammrock]

I'm always amazed at how many audio nuts there are on MURC.

I think it will be interesting to hear them. They are obviously aiming for the same market segment that buys B&O products - sounds very good, looks even better. The company web site hasn't changed in several months, I'm sure when the official release hits on 1 April they post the full specs for the system, as no tech head would ever buy something without reading the specs.

As for sound, they aren't out, I haven't heard, but it will be interesting to hear.

Jammrock

PS - and no I don't think they'll beat out my B&W CDM 9NT's and Rotel amp combo.

[Umfriend]

Seems like the only spec these people list is that the tweeter modules go up to 50khz.. as if this isn't totally meaningless. Even a 10yo girl can't hear past half that high a pitch.

Just a question: is that 50khz in a pure sinus form, and would the range end lower for more "difficult" froms of waves? I thought that was one of the reasons why one would want some overhead in frequency range for the tweeters. BTW, mine are specced up to 80Khz (And I think my Amp goes up to 150Khz??)
Umf

[CHHAS]

Well, CDs are cut off at 20KHz if my memory serves me right, I remember Pioneer did some stunt a while back to try and "recreate" the lost high frequenzy information with varying degrees of luck.

[gt40]

Are you pple telling me that my 300w plastic self powered $19.95 computer speakers ar no good???

[agallag]

Originally posted by Marshmallowman
are they shielded?

No, they're not, but I don't use them in a way that would require sheilding. I don't really use them as PC speakers. They're positioned around my TV for movies and music, nice and wide apart, and I have a digital cable running from my computer over to my receiver. When I'm gaming, I use headphones, and when I'm playing the odd mp3 I'll fire it over to the good speakers.

Once I move into a decent sized place, where I'll have separate TV and PC areas, I'll need some PC speakers, but they don't really need to be audiophile quality for that. Maybe a set of Logitech Z-560s or something.

[Jammrock]

Well, CDs are cut off at 20KHz if my memory serves me right, I remember Pioneer did some stunt a while back to try and "recreate" the lost high frequenzy information with varying degrees of luck.

There you are correct. On the other hand, DVD-A and SACD have an upper end cut-off of 50 kHz. I guess some people think the upper range increases the dynamics of the music, much the same way a subwoofer does, even though you can't hear all that an sub can output (below 20 Hz that is). More felt than heard per-say.

Jammrock

[KvHagedorn]

Originally posted by CHHAS
90hz is a bit low for the cutoff to the sub, I think you can get away with going up to maybe 150hz, but definetely not higher.

At 100Hz, most people can sense directionality in music (some can perceive it at lower frequencies, but anyhow); if there is directionality, people can perceive that part of the music is in mono and coming from under the desk..

If you will forget the sub a moment, a "full range" speaker will never roll off above 90Hz. If it really is a sub, it is there for reinforcement of the lowest frequencies. This is a bass module, since it produces ALL the bass and mid-bass.

[Jammrock]

I've seen full range tower speakers go as low as 32 Hz, without having a built-in powered sub in it (like Phase Tech and Definitive Tech have built-in). In my limited experience in HT and high-high-end audio, the sub give the music/soundtrack more physical feeling and the dynamics of a really low frequency ranges.

One recording I heard in particular sounded great without a sub. When sub was added you could feel the music, hear a subway car rumble under the music hall (very faintly, but distinctly there) and added that extra oomph that made the recording shine.

As for soundtracks ... watch Akira or Jin-roh (both anime with great DTS soundtrakcs) with and without a sub. That's all you need to hear to know why subs are so important in a complete system. There's nothing like hearing and feeling the rumble of a dozen motorcycle engines or a high-caliber machine gun pounding against your chest.

Jammrock

[Jon P. Inghram]

<-------- Try a pair of these



Or these ---->

Hook 'em up with one of these --->

[Liquid Snake]

I was about to say what Jon just said Satelite/sub combos definitely don't sound as good as larger speakers, but it's not really feasible to use those large speakers for your desktop. Probably the best way to get great sound at your PC is to use some quality headphones and an amp.

[Muad'Dib]

Amen to those HD 600's Jon. And Mead Killion from your second link - the ER's - will be one of my professors in the next quarter or two.

Personally I think most comp. speaker rig will sound pretty much nasty - some better than others of course, but still nasty. For this reason, I am trying to upgrade my mains in my HT rig so I can move my current mains to my computer rig.

[Jammrock]

Personally I think most comp. speaker rig will sound pretty much nasty - some better than others of course, but still nasty.

Aye, that's why xHiFi plans on making their own soundcard. We shall see if their $500 (guess) sound card sounds any better than an Audigy 2 or the like. And the more important test, will it be DX compatible for gaming.

Jammrock

[Umfriend]

I'm just fantasising about a setup for the living room. I Figured that I'd like all audio and video be run from my computer, but with respect to audio, I guess the best way is to use digital outs to D/A convertors before the pre-amp. Makes any sense?

[Jammrock]

So you'd run a digital out from your PC to a sound processor to a pre-amp to an amp to the speakers.

Makes perfect sense.