burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

At 66, my hearing is 50 Hz to 13 KHz, give or take 6 db. I avoid BT because of heavy interference in my house from outside sources. It works from a few feet away, but not across a room.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Your loss of high frequency hearing has no effect on your perception of low frequencies, distortion, most transients or dynamic range - hence the value of understanding the difference between compressed and uncompressed digital formats and the reason the latter is preferred for those who want to experience the detail, frequency response (including the low end) and and DR of music. If you’re satisfied with MP3 audio and Bluetooth earbuds, then carry on, but don’t presume that those who have different listening tastes or knowledge are “fooling themselves” or that their search for excellent audio is “irrelevant”. Maybe you can’t hear, understand or appreciate the difference, but many of us can. Your comment is the equivalent of suggesting that all photographers over 50 should be satisfied with a 4MP camera and $50 lenses shooting JPEGs on full auto because their eyesight is diminished by age.

Cbrummer Loc: Lower Michigan

Well, I have some sympathy with that…

I’m in my sixties and grew up running loud farm machinery.

However, at decent volume with decent headphones wired in, wow!

Check out the Grado range. I spent a happy couple of days trying them all and learning that they and we are all different. I ended up clearly preferring monitor (no embellishment especially for bass) units.

That said, I do compromise when I also need noise-cancelling headphones as the environment definitely wonks out what I can otherwise hear. The various products have definitely evolved on this front but are not yet audiophile quality.

I found it best to try before I bought. My ears have turned out to be way more finicky than what a decent camera can do in my hands.

What happens by the way is that aural space is created (called the sound stage if you will) giving an opportunity to perceive separated sounds more fully and more recognizably.

My advice stands since 1970: get the best sound you can afford. Auxiliary: listen in the same room with your equipment.

Finally, if you absolutely must use Bluetooth look for earbuds or headphones suited to your tasks as well as your music. Likewise, Bluetooth speakers have evolved especially if you don’t need to fill a large area with sound. There are a ton to choose from and the results may surprise you.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Like many, I downsized drastically. Since I spend a good part of most days at my computer. I have some AudioEngine A5s sitting on my desk. The digital stream is piped through an AE D1, an external Digital to Analog converter, that is connected to the PC via USB.

Cbrummer Loc: Lower Michigan

There are dac devices available as dragonfly black, red or cobalt which connect in-line to the usb with a computer that absolutely (imo) transform the sound sent to buds, phones or speakers. Not too dear as these things go and extremely portable. I paired with a very small speaker from Cambridge: OontZ Angle 3 and was pleasantly surprised at what it brought to my office desk.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Yep, now that Apple is streaming a high res audio format, I may be in the market for an outboard precision DAC. Interested in hearing what DACs (with audio, not Bluetooth output) other members are using.

Cbrummer Loc: Lower Michigan

So, the Bluesound Vault 2i (and their streaming product, Node) are DACs.

bwmarkus

I too owned an original pair of L100s back in the day. The first ones had all 3 speakers inline. Powered by a Dynaco 400 amplifier, the sound was incredible. I Haven t heard anything comparable from similar size. Would like to audition the newly released models, but the price is staggering and I'm trying to stay downsized at this point in life.

Thanks for the post!

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

I've digitized most of my tunes, so I can play them from my computer or from an iPod with Sony wireless headphones.

But for serious listening I still have my big old system of components: Technics SL-1300 Direct Drive Turntable, JBL Control Room Monitors, Harman/Kardon Receiver, Pioneer RT-707 Reel to Reel, Sony Cassette Deck , & Sony CD Player/Recorder.

It's really hard to beat those JBL speakers. Still use it all.

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50 years of sounds

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Cbrummer Loc: Lower Michigan

THAT is impressive. I wish I had the space. Although if I did, vinyl is newly appealing.

Cbrummer Loc: Lower Michigan

Back in the day, Boston Accoustics, NAD, B&O, Dual, Pioneer and Linn…sigh…replicated all those components for me. It was kind of like a little altar to my music though.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I worked briefly for a commercial production recording studio in 1977-78. We had L-100 monitors in there. They were driven by a 300-Watts (RMS) per channel Crown amp. They were very accurate, but final ad mastering was done using a pair of Jensen 6x9 car stereo speakers driven with 5 Watts each! Radio spots have to sound great on crappy speakers!

twosummers Loc: Melbourne Australia or Lincolnshire England

Smart speaker + Spotify

Cbrummer Loc: Lower Michigan

Interesting insight. Thanks.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Those Dynaco Tube amps were classic. Some years ago, I wanted to investigate the idea that tube amps sound better than solid state (which is classic audio lore), so I built a quad KT88 monoblock amp with separate power supplies for the (DC) filaments and plate/bias so there was no AC on the amp chassis. After listening it in mono for awhile, I liked it so much, I built a second for stereo, and that’s all I listen to now. And yes, they do sound different (and better to my ears).