Frequently asked questions about general hi-fi stuff including various types of equipment, technical concepts and advice for getting the best results.
Yes, though this answer somewhat depends on what you consider decent and affordable! Those looking for new high-performance machines for under $1,000 will find very little of interest. High-performance turntabling can’t be done for $1K new, spend a little more though and things start to improve. If you broaden your horizons to include pre-owned equipment, […]
Are there any decent, affordable new turntables? Read More »
Power can be a real issue in older houses, so here are a few suggestions. The first might seem obvious, but have everything checked and tested by a qualified electrician. This can identify and rectify wiring and ground issues, broken outlets etc. Power outlet testers like this one allow end-users to identify miswired outlets, ground
What do you recommend in terms of power supplies for hi-fi gear in older premises? Read More »
Anywhere from 200 to 2000 hours, depending on the cartridge design and stylus profile. I’ve written about this elsewhere, but the increased contact area of line contact gems leads to lower contact pressure, less friction, lower wear and better sound. The best line-contact types can last 2000 hours or more, but line-contact styli are more
The simple answer is yes if you want to keep it running. Ask yourself: do watches, power tools and motorcycles eventually need to be overhauled and/or restored? The answer, of course, is yes and this applies to everything built by human hands. I don’t need more overhaul work and many people are prepared to throw
Does all older hi-fi equipment need to be overhauled or restored? Read More »
Very simply, this type of equipment is often almost worthless after just a few years and therefore not worth repairing. If you add in poor serviceability and poor audio performance, compared to even modest hi-fi stereo gear, you end up with very few reasons to repair this stuff and why mjuch of it is simply
They definitely are in the case of analog FM, but there are four key considerations. The first and most obvious one is the contingency that broadcasters continue to use the analog 88 – 108 MHz FM band in Australia and elsewhere. Once these broadcasts cease, that’s it. The second is less obvious and that’s source
Are analog AM/FM tuners still a viable hi-fi source? Read More »
Not from Spotify, but with Apple’s new Lossless services, yes you can! Apple has finally updated its streaming music service and released Apple Lossless files across the board, with at least CD quality uncompressed, lossless 16-bit / 44.1kHz files, with some offered at up to 24-bit / 192kHz. You can now get hi-fi sound from
Can I get hi-fi sound from streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify? Read More »
