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Poll

As per title - you can choose 3 things.

Laptop, because I dont care about sound in the least
2 (2.4%)
Mini stereo, 'convenience' speaker placement
4 (4.8%)
Mini system, 'proper' listening position, or close to it
1 (1.2%)
OK quality stereo, convenience placement
4 (4.8%)
OK stereo, listening position
2 (2.4%)
Good ass seperates, convenience placement
9 (10.7%)
Seperates, listening position
5 (6%)
Monitor setup
3 (3.6%)
PC speakers, stereo
9 (10.7%)
PC speakers with sub
6 (7.1%)
Car
15 (17.9%)
headphones, low end
6 (7.1%)
Headphones, mid-high end
13 (15.5%)
Other - please say
5 (6%)

Total Members Voted: 41

Author Topic: What do you listen to music on the most  (Read 9311 times)

MDV

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What do you listen to music on the most
« on: September 02, 2010, 02:46:54 PM »
Its a fairly systematic error now that people complain about bass in particular in my mixes, occasionally the drums (esp kick).

So wash your bloody ears out!  :P

No, seriously, I have no problem hearing it on the systems I mix on and reference on and nor does anyone else that hears any of my mixes on these systems, so since both systems are quite carefully configured pretty high end things and all my headphones are good ones, maybe I'm not mixing in an easily translatable way. So I'm going to set up, if possible (or rather, if this pole ends up saying what I expect it to) another reference system thats representative of what most people are listening on, and hopefully I can use that to make my mixes translate better/learn when it sounds like they will on my normal systems.

So, what do you use?

In case you cant tell, the main things that occur to me are the quality/type of system, and whether you have it set up for a listening position (if you, like me, arrange your furniture around your speakers!) or if they just went where they'll go.

If your exact thing isnt there, please pick the closest if appropriate (for example, with my decent soundcard going into a good-ish NAD amp into B&Ws that are placed roughly equidistantly from the walls and in an equilateral triangle with my head where I normally sit, I would say seperates, listening position), or if its really not there (Ben, I'm looking at you!) go for other.

Please just choose one if you can, if you have one go-to system but if you spend a lot of time on different ones fairly equally, by all means choose multiple things.
« Last Edit: September 02, 2010, 02:50:41 PM by MDV »

Roobubba

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2010, 03:05:08 PM »
Separates, listening position, in the lounge (but less time than:)

Other: Shure SE-420 in-ear twin driver phones. I spend a lot of time listening to music through these - either via phone or laptop, as I spend a lot of time commuting. They deliver a solid amount of bass with good clarity, and there's no discernible break up at any volume that I use.

I do listen to a lot of music in the car, but not 'new' stuff I'm listening to eg on forums/web in general, so I left that off.

Roo

Twinfan

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2010, 03:10:53 PM »
Other - digital radio

PhilKing

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2010, 03:20:20 PM »
I have a few systems that I've put together through the years.  The system I listen on most is a Quad 34 pre-amp, Carver TFM-15 power amp, Mission 700 speakers, Carver SD/A490t valve CD player, Rega Planar 2/RB300/AT cartridge record player, Sony MiniDisc & Revox cassette deck.  This is in my office so the speakers are on top of a wall unit.

My main system uses Quicksilver valve monoblocks, Carver Preamp Linn Sondek/Ittok/Benz Glider cartridge, Sony SACD and other Carver eqiuipment with Joseph Audio speakers. 

My personal system is still a Sony Minidisc, but I have a relatively decent system in the car (Audi Bose system).
So many pickups, so little time

Denim n Leather

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2010, 03:26:38 PM »
Travel system:
Sony PSP (16/44.1 WAV)
Skullcandy ear buds

Office system:
Arcam CD92
Creek 4240 amp
Acoustic Energy Aesprit 3 speakers
(Nordost cables)

Home system 1:
Linn Karik or Sony PS3
B&K Reference 50 preamp
Krell ST150 power amp
Sonus Faber Minima loudspeakers
(Straightwire cables)

Home system 2:
Arcam DV137
Audio Research SP9 preamp
Rotel power amp (forget the model)
Sonus Faber Concertino or Thiel CS1.6 loudspeakers
(Audioquest cables)

DAW playback:
Tascam interface or PC sound card
Linn LK240 mono block amplifiers
Hales Transcendence One loudspeakers
(Audioquest and Kimber Select cables)
« Last Edit: September 02, 2010, 03:28:09 PM by Denim n Leather »

Denim n Leather

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2010, 03:30:35 PM »
The B&Ws are killing your mixes.

The point of the triangle should terminate 18" behind your head, btw, not at your head.

Philly Q

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2010, 04:00:47 PM »
Mostly through Windows Media Player on my PC, with headphones.

Not ideal sound-wise, I know, but it means I can do something else at the same time.  And I do nearly all my listening late at night, so phones are more practical than speakers.

I do have a (very old) separates system, but it doesn't get used at all and in fact my stand-alone CD player has been broken for years and I haven't really felt the need to replace it.
BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM

Denim n Leather

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2010, 04:04:48 PM »
Philly, I always knew you were a heretic, but your blasphemy still shocks me! :)

ToneMonkey

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2010, 04:07:36 PM »
Only a little front room (in a very little house).

Speakers are TDL RTL2 One next to the telly near a corner and one in front of a bookcase behind the arm of a sofa (for the first time ever, I actually have to use a ballance control).  Denon PMA-250SE amp.  Got a Denon DVD 1710 as a CD Player which I use as a temproary measure ( for about three years).  Sometimes plug my laptop in with a headphone to phono connector.  

Phil - Got a mini disk player for sale if you want another.  Yamaha MDX 595.  (Your about the only other person I know with one)
« Last Edit: September 02, 2010, 04:09:33 PM by ToneMonkey »
Advice worth what you just paid for it.

blue

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2010, 04:14:44 PM »
at home i have a sort of mid range (i think) seperates system.  i had a NAD C542 cd player, which sounded nice, but i just stopped recognising discs!  so now it's:
Cambridge Audio universal player
Yamaha DSP-A5 amp
Mission 6pack full range surround speakers and sub.

i only use the front pair for stereo music, and don't use the sub for music.
cry HAVOC!! and let slip the pigs of war!!!

MDV

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #10 on: September 02, 2010, 04:22:04 PM »
The B&Ws are killing your mixes.

The point of the triangle should terminate 18" behind your head, btw, not at your head.

Killing? Are they really that bad?

Anyway, thanks for the info, didnt know that!

And cheers for the responses chaps

Philly Q

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #11 on: September 02, 2010, 04:31:46 PM »
Philly, I always knew you were a heretic, but your blasphemy still shocks me! :)

Which particular bit of blasphemy?  :lol:

I don't have a high-end hi-fi system for exactly the same reason I don't have a big guitar amp - neighbours above, neighbours below, making a lot of noise just isn't an option.  I'd be pissed off if they were playing loud music, I'm not going to do it to them.

And to be honest, even if I lived in a remote hilltop mansion I probably still wouldn't be cranking it up much.  I don't really like loud music.  I just want to hear it, not rattle the windows and shake the floor.

It's better than not listening at all.  I'm more interested in the content than the sound quality, anyway (which doesn't mean I'm going to dump all my CDs and replace them with mp3, by the way!)
BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM

MDV

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #12 on: September 02, 2010, 04:42:49 PM »
Its not about volume its about quality. Youre average mini system or standard pc speakers or whatever are to a well configured good system as a 10 inch black and white tv is to a 48 inch plasma screen.

imo

Ratrod

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2010, 04:51:56 PM »
I voted Mini system, 'proper' listening position, or close to it.

But mind you it's a Philips MCD-908 with pre-amp tubes, digital power amp and speaker boxes made out of wood with a glass top and ribbon tweeters.

BKP user since 2004: early 7K Blackguard 50

Dmoney

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Re: What do you listen to music on the most
« Reply #14 on: September 02, 2010, 05:06:41 PM »
Its not about volume its about quality. Youre average mini system or standard pc speakers or whatever are to a well configured good system as a 10 inch black and white tv is to a 48 inch plasma screen.

imo

plasma sucks.

I mostly listen to music on my ipod. i use £39 sennheiser in ears. I think they cancel noise and have some in-ear bass response thing going on. Most of what I listen too is shockingly recorded anyway. so meh.