Music Lovers...

[armchaireconomist]

Guys,

Since there is some interest in having a meetup. Let's do it after CNY. Me also damn busy these period. So really looking forward to taking a nice good break during CNY period and spend time with family...

Brabus,

The new volvo sg club website is now . Alvin is no longer the 'Boss' of the site. But he is still lurking around. Come back and join lah. We still have our monthly meetups at Turf City. But the venue may change.

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About audio systems (regardless of home or car). The main stages are:

1) Source (Analog or Digital)
Player to play the music ('software')
- Turntable (would need phono stage)
- Tape
- Reel
- CD, SACD, HDCD, DVD-A, etc
- Computer

If digital source, there will definitely be a DAC (Digital-to-Analogy Converter) where it transforms digital (waveforms) to analog (sine-wave) data.

2) Pre-amplification
For car, its the Head Unit. Basically, it controls the entire system by volume, tone control (most high end units don't have this), source selection.

BUT a lot of people (even audiophiles) tend to forget the most critical thing that the pre-amp does... And that's Pre-amplification. In short, it pre-amplifies the signal from the source to feed to the Power Amp. There are 2 stages: Input and output Stage.

Input and output stages can be tube-based or solid-state (transitor-based).

3) Amplification

As it is there are 3 popular types of amplifications:

a) Tube-based
Well... the first computer in Manchester was tube-based. So this technology has been around for more many decades.

b) Transitor-based (or Solid State)
Again there are 3 ways to amplify sound by solid state:
- Power Amp (by current and voltage only)
- Current Amp (by current only)
- Voltage Amp (by voltage only)

Power and Current amps are the most popular types by far. Whereas voltage amps are very rare. When I say I am using a voltage amp, even audiophiles go 'huh?'.

c) Digital-based

Plenty of new-comers to this technology (Class D, T, ICEPower, etc). A lot of car audio uses this because it can produce a LOT of power without pulling a lot of current. And thus is very efficient.

4) Speakers

Types:
- Driver-based
- Electro-statics
- Horn

The easiest to understand is imagine taking is signal from power amp, and the power amp will 'drive' the drivers (tweeters and woofers) in rhythm to the signal to produce sound wave. And walaa... music.

Personally, I regard this as the most important component in the entire chain.

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Please pardon me if I missed out any important components. These are off the top of my head. And I've not even gone thru' the technical parts of it and it's already getting boring... And also haven't touch on cables, listening environment, etc. Another time, another day...

But the whole point of it all is very simple: To get closer to the music...

Its an emotional affair... but I never, never 'tune' a hifi system to be comparable to live music. Because it can never be the same. It's like watching football on TV and live football. It's the feel, its never the same... so do watch concerts and live performances. Me and my wife was dancing and jumping during the Police concert, that will never happen in front of my hifi system... It's just not the same...

[BRABUS]

Hihi

Maybe can do a "Music Lovers Meetup" at my humble hifi shop. And you guys can bring your CDs, MP3s, etc.

Good idea?

Hi , pls let me know if there is such a meetup , i bring few of my ICE kakis who happen to own a few watchs over ! Actually we often meet up to discuss about watch and Audio , But most of us are Fans of Focal JM_Labs , be it home or car audio

Can see that you are in volvosg too , think its at least 5 years since i last log in, Wonder the boss Alvin still there ?


Cheers

[jazz_samz]

Bro, just to update you, Friday is NG for me... Need to 'clean' up the house by clearing the amount of unwanted junk at home before CNY.. typical hahaha Fortunately cleaning the house would be my FDW work..

Will arrange another time kae?


True, home and car audio setup are different, thats why I mentioned to have to write ups by those who are more inclined or proficient in it, so as to give a more insight to the setup of a particular audio system.
Just descriptive and the result of having a component versus what brand is used. For example :
Homesetup
- Pre-amp : What is it for... what are the difference in audio quality if this was in your setup than without.. what kind of price range to look at for low, med and high budget etc..

Duno if this makes sense but since there are a couple of audiophile here, thought it would be nice to share and educate on this topic despite we ARE in a watch forum..

Actually... its hard to compare between Car vs Home setup.

Nothing much beats having wind in your hair and Marilyn Manson screaming at you after a stressful day at work...

And in the same breath...

Nothing much beats sipping a beer in hand and Olivia Ong serenading you while lazing in a lounge chair...

[armchaireconomist]

Wah cheem...

Bros.. I suggest why not we have two write up and details to share your experience on Home Audio set up and Car Audio setup? What are the components and their purpose..?? SO for ppl like me who enjoy listening to music nia without the techcnical knowledge can also benefit?

Thinking the write up should be kept to this thread so as to not OVERLY disperse the crowd into too many threads...

Actually... its hard to compare between Car vs Home setup.

Nothing much beats having wind in your hair and Marilyn Manson screaming at you after a stressful day at work...

And in the same breath...

Nothing much beats sipping a beer in hand and Olivia Ong serenading you while lazing in a lounge chair...

[armchaireconomist]

Oh ok volvo , used to drive a S40 T4 many years ago , manage to change the stock HU, to a double din dvd player , but back than the s40 doesn't come with steering control , i think there is some kind of module to work around the steering control IIRC , but think abit expensive .

I now driving the new S40. Every damn thing is integrated. Even the amp is not just an amp, HU controls are also inside. So after finding out all the potential 'risks' and warranty/servicing issues...I decided to leave the audio stock. I really don't want to wake up turning up my headlight switch and instead the wipers go off.

Actually... good also lah. cannot spend money...

[jazz_samz]

Wah cheem...

Bros.. I suggest why not we have two write up and details to share your experience on Home Audio set up and Car Audio setup? What are the components and their purpose..?? SO for ppl like me who enjoy listening to music nia without the techcnical knowledge can also benefit?

Thinking the write up should be kept to this thread so as to not OVERLY disperse the crowd into too many threads...

[oliginal]

Bro, IMHO, the sinfoni amps is just too overprice ! Sound quality ok , but i won't pay that kind of $ for their low to mid end amp, I've audit their top of the range amp , call the Desirado or something like that match with Micro P Z series limited , the sound is indeed nice ! But 1 piece of that 2 channel amp set you back around 22k , you need 4 amps to run full active
For that amount of $ spent , i suggest you look at other option !
Luxman is 1 very warm and sweet amp ,price range still acceptable !
The above is just my personal opinion !


Cheers

Thanks for the info bro.... was recommended the sinfoni class A but after considering decided to hold back cos it going to involve another 10+k for the 4 amps and I still prefer to get watches first. Heehee

[jazz_samz]

thanks bro. Will go down and check.

[BRABUS]

Em... F1 produce a more analoge sound , vocals seems more powerful !
Display not as nice as the ODR ,
ODR , clarity is better , can hear more detail from instrument .
Display is one of the nicest around !

Both are flagship HU from 2 electronic giants , both have their + point , That's the reason why , i still keep the F1 with me .

[newkid]

Haha, nice setup ! Highend one as well !
Used to be on F1 9990 + 990 setup , but change to ODR 3 mths ago , still keeping the F1 though, heard that its discon liao .
Got chance can meet up to audit your system !


Cheers

hi, cld you share your opinion on the sound quality of ODR and F1 since you've owned both?

[newkid]

Love jazz, new age, spa, chinese and english pop music...
Thought to start a thread to share our music preference.

I especially take interest in local artist and currently trying hard to find Olivia Ong's CD.. Never knew off her before but the show LITTLE NYONYA's theme song really brought out the beauty of her voice to a first time listener to her...

I am already a fan..

Anybody knows which album is the song 如燕 found? I hear she has 3 albums and am dying to get all three.. Anybody have news where its available, do let me know.. I've tried Borders and Sembawang to no avail..

Cheers...

i saw a few olivia ong's cd at "that cd shop" at pacific plaza.

[jazz_samz]

good to see that this thread brought music or audio lovers together.

Now I know who can ask for advice should I be shopping for a home or auto audio system. Hahah

[seiko.citizen]

wow it seems that not only do we have a common interest in watches, but audio too

my former setup at home: toshiba modded dvd player > ASL OTL32 > beyer dt880. of which i am left with the dvd player . the OTL32 and dt880 is no longer with me :sad: now thinking of getting back into vintage audio again.

recently acquired a pioneer SA740 amp which i shall be modding soon

[BRABUS]

Oh ok volvo , used to drive a S40 T4 many years ago , manage to change the stock HU, to a double din dvd player , but back than the s40 doesn't come with steering control , i think there is some kind of module to work around the steering control IIRC , but think abit expensive .

[armchaireconomist]

Fiber-optic ? Let me make a guess ? BMW or Benz ?
Last time my 2001 E200ML also running fiber-optic , but i manage to get my installer remove everything and change my whole setup !Hehe...
Some prefer home audio some car audio , but i must admit , for the same amount of money spent in car and home , home audio wins !
Too bad , don't really have time to enjoy music at home !

My ride is Volvo. I did checked out several installers and most of them (except one) don't even dare to touch. While that one say can... but may lose electronic control of some car functions because everything is integrated.

And also got some horror stories that playing around with electronics caused the car to freeze, etc. So I rather not munck around with a black box.

But ok lah... the stock system is already quite ok.