Ratz Hi-Fidelity corner

[MiM]

How are the Ratz listening to music and watching movies? Any questions or great ideas?

I believe I understand sound, although I really don't understand music, and I am more of a movie buff than a music lover myself, so I attached my video sound to my stereo about as soon as I moved out from my parents house in 1987. Already in my childhood home the "TV-room" was separate from the livingroom, and I have kept it like that since, except for a few years, when I lived alone. In the late 90's I started experimenting with surround, and now since several years there has been no regular TV in our house, only a small home cinema (video projector and full 5.1 sound) for serious watching, and computer screens for news etc.

Incidentally, I noticed today that the most cost effective way to improve the fidelity of your system (especially the high registry) might be dewaxing your ears

[Tero]

2 channels.

Speakers: max 2 loudspeakers inside
Bass reflex

Input:digital, analog

Portable: iPod, sound reducing headphones..so I can reduce noise in car, air plane
3000 tracks

Fat cords on headphones.

[Ronja]

Already in my childhood home the "TV-room" was separate from the livingroom, and I have kept it like that since, except for a few years, when I lived alone.

I really like this arrangement, where the living room is for socializing, for reading (and TBH not a small bit of laptop use ) and the "TV" does not dominate the whole household. As I mentioned to a couple of people when we were at the Promised Land, I can't stand places that keep TVs constantly switched on. When growing up I got used to that the TV was only switched on when someone was actually going to watch something, so I have never developed the ability to screen out a moving picture with sound. Music in the background does not disturb me, unless it's something I hate (like rap), but TV "in the background" - no, just no.

Anyone else who "hides" the TV in one way or another? My sis, for example, has a large cupboard for the TV, and when the doors are closed, the TV just seems to be gone. I like that solution, too.

[Tero]

My tv has the speakers itcame with. Not connected to stereo.

I have a DVD player connected, sound only, to stereo.

[MiM]

Portable: iPod, sound reducing headphones..so I can reduce noise in car, air plane

What sound reducing headphones do yo have? Are they good? Left my old Sennheiser 250's in a plane, so I need a new set. I kind of liked the Sennheisers in the beginning, but as they grew older / I grew accustomed, I didn't find their noise reduction capability that good. I know that in-ear sets give the best noise reduction, but I have always had problems with feeling comfortable with ear plugs.

[Tero]

Mine are some model sennheiser. Fine but some day ill rip the cord.

[Bella Fortuna]

Already in my childhood home the "TV-room" was separate from the livingroom, and I have kept it like that since, except for a few years, when I lived alone.

I really like this arrangement, where the living room is for socializing, for reading (and TBH not a small bit of laptop use ) and the "TV" does not dominate the whole household. As I mentioned to a couple of people when we were at the Promised Land, I can't stand places that keep TVs constantly switched on. When growing up I got used to that the TV was only switched on when someone was actually going to watch something, so I have never developed the ability to screen out a moving picture with sound. Music in the background does not disturb me, unless it's something I hate (like rap), but TV "in the background" - no, just no.

Anyone else who "hides" the TV in one way or another? My sis, for example, has a large cupboard for the TV, and when the doors are closed, the TV just seems to be gone. I like that solution, too.

This is what I have:



for just that reason - I like to be able to shut it away.

That said, I wish I had some kind of sound system as the TV speaker is kind of meh... has anyone tried any of these wireless speaker systems? I hate cords and wires and obtrusive speakers...

[SteveB]

Already in my childhood home the "TV-room" was separate from the livingroom, and I have kept it like that since, except for a few years, when I lived alone.

I really like this arrangement, where the living room is for socializing, for reading (and TBH not a small bit of laptop use ) and the "TV" does not dominate the whole household. As I mentioned to a couple of people when we were at the Promised Land, I can't stand places that keep TVs constantly switched on. When growing up I got used to that the TV was only switched on when someone was actually going to watch something, so I have never developed the ability to screen out a moving picture with sound. Music in the background does not disturb me, unless it's something I hate (like rap), but TV "in the background" - no, just no.

Anyone else who "hides" the TV in one way or another? My sis, for example, has a large cupboard for the TV, and when the doors are closed, the TV just seems to be gone. I like that solution, too.

This is what I have:



for just that reason - I like to be able to shut it away.

That said, I wish I had some kind of sound system as the TV speaker is kind of meh... has anyone tried any of these wireless speaker systems? I hate cords and wires and obtrusive speakers...

There a TV in that case or a passage to Narnia?

[Bella Fortuna]

Yes.

[SteveB]

I like the warm traditional country-ish design.

[Bella Fortuna]

That's from when I first moved in, but it's not substantially different now.

[Audley Strange]

Hmmm tricky. I have a home cinema with 5.1 surround and a 54 inch plasma screen, linked to a home network with 2, 21 inch monitors and a wireless and blue tooth links to various laptops and I-pod docks.

However I also have a room with only books and an drawing board in it and no electrics in my bedroom save for the light.

[Thinking Aloud]

The TV is fairly prominent in the room (i.e. not covered over) but it's in the corner, and rarely on. It has a "cinema sound" extra speaker which gives a better sound than the built-in speakers, but nothing earth-shaking. As far as music goes, there's a tiny hifi unit which runs through the speakers it came with - not very good sound, but then it's not for "listening".

Up in the 'office' there's my stack of black boxes dating from 1990 or so, running through a pair of speakers of the same vintage (however they're currently sitting on metal shelves, so lose a little "something"); attached to the recording gear is a pair of studio monitors, but they're sitting on the floor, which is about as bad as bad can be, but since I do most of my recording and listening via headphones, it's fine for now.

Eventually all my audio systems will be better / better arranged, but I'm not in a hurry.

[Ronja]

Hmmm tricky. I have a home cinema with 5.1 surround and a 54 inch plasma screen, linked to a home network with 2, 21 inch monitors and a wireless and blue tooth links to various laptops and I-pod docks.

However I also have a room with only books and an drawing board in it and no electrics in my bedroom save for the light.

[fretmeister]

5.1 surround in the lounge. Mrs F and I love movies. Although not a brilliant solution I also run music through the AV Amp.

But for serious listening, I use uncompressed files and Grado headphones. I would love a proper hifi for music but I don't have room for the telly surround and another set up, and TBH to beat uncompressed files and good headphones I would have to spend a couple of grand which I don't have.