AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => The Starting Block / Introductions => Topic started by: Big Red Machine on 26 May 2016, 12:58 am
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So how about we make a list of tools that any self-respecting audiophool should have at the ready? I have no idea what someone with a TT needs at hand. Not sure the proper Circle for this. Hope you agree this is a good idea.
Okay, I'll start the list:
db meter like a Ratshack meter
Tape measure
Hand mirror
Deoxit or other contact cleaner
Cheater plug for troubleshooting
Wattmeter
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/tools/test-measurement/Metrs-HVAC-R/energy-saver?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=COvYz6C89swCFYk9gQodI2gKjw
Wire gauge calculator
http://www.wirebarn.com/Wire-Calculator_ep_42.html
Basic calculations
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-ohm.htm
Binding post wrench
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-dJuDrlAsQ8S/p_703BINDPW/AudioQuest-Binding-Post-Wrench.html
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Level meter must for vinyl lovers, over the years I spare two for rack level etc
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7c_6WKB8y4o/TIEfgaQxDQI/AAAAAAAAAYI/jLOP26O52dU/s1600/construction-level.jpg)
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How about a DMM for checking things like cables and connectors.
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html)
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Jeweler's screwdrivers and hex wrenches with handles. Wire cutters, soldering gun canned air or better yet air compressor, and voltmeter.
Doc
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Ears :roll:
Remarkably helpful :wink:
Preferably your own ears as most people prefer to hang on to their own.
BTW, this is actually an excellent concept for a thread.
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A thesaurus, for our attempts to describe sound verbally
A corkscrew or bottle opener for liquid refreshments
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Great Topic, BRM.
I'll go with 'knowledgeable folks who are willing to help': http://www.audiocircle.com/ (http://www.audiocircle.com/)
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A laser beam for accurate speaker positioning.
A tube tester is ideal for those with lots of tubes in your system.
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The acessories are in limited number though useful,
there is no much more to add.
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The acessories are in limited number though useful, there is no much more to add.
Maybe so, but even a non-vinyl guy can add a stylus force gauge or cartridge alignment protractors. :thumb:
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I'll go with 'knowledgeable folks who are willing to help': http://www.audiocircle.com/ (http://www.audiocircle.com/)
+1 :thumb:
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A large closet.
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A large roll of cash.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=143687)
While not mandatory, it sure can make things easier.
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For vinyl, a record cleaning machine. A brush and some spray isn't enough.
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Here is my list for vinyl playback.
1. Omni-directional (top view) bubble level (I have the Audio Technica).
2. Regular bubble level (I have bought levels, sawed them apart and extracted the bubble level vial(s). I use this to reference the platter with one and set the headshell azimuth with the other.
3. Electronic scale for setting VTF
4. Small stylus brush for cleaning.
5. Record cleaning brush (I use a Discwasher D4).
6. Record cleaning fluid (I make my own from 3 parts 99% isopropyl alcohol, 1 part water put into a small 4 oz. spray bottle).
7. Cartridge Alignment tools (I have my own).
8. Blank disc (for setting AS), or if you don't like that, checking that the AS actually works.
9. Spanner screw driver (to set tonearm pivots)
10. Old record (used to set the VTF scale on, and cartridge alignment tool on).
11. Jeweler's loop or USB microscope (to examine stylus condition).
12. LC meter to check pf of interconnects from table to phono preamp.
13. Strobe disc (to check for speed performance).
14. Micro screw drivers and Allen wrench set(s) (both English and Metric).
15. Some kind of RCM or record cleaning method.
16. MOFI record sleeves.
All for now.
Wayner
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Don't forget you also need an understanding spouse or a good divorce lawyer.
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if you use a cd player a system enhancer disc is vey useful.
S
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Sorry for the previous short post.
Pressed the wrong button.
Purist audio has such a disc as well as Sheffield Labs.
These are also use full for setup and testing.
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When the word "serious" was added to audiophile, a can of worms was opened. The can's name is acoustics.
One must have measurement software like REW or equivalent and a calibrated microphone to tackle the problem.
Dealing effectively with room modes and comb-filtering requires the data provided by accurate measurement as a prerequisite.
Scotty
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Get yourself a good assortment of CD with test tones and such. Or purchase "Goldwave" and make your own test tones.
I have used Goldwave to make a band limited pink noise signal, Various multisine and swept sine signals.
A good sound meter is very useful... Do not rely on Radio shack (+/- 4dB - C weighted)
Interesting article on smart phone apps. http://acousticstoday.org/acoustical-measurements-smartphones-possibilities-limitations-benjamin-m-faber/
And note that you can rent a "Truth" providing Bruel & Kjaer meter - Essentially +/- 0.25dB 5Hz to 20kHz if you want to set up a system precisely.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=165630)
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A tube stand for your tube collection:
https://www.k-m-a.us/collections/accessories/products/wooden-tube-holder
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A camera to post pix of your stuff to inspire/inflict jealously on others
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An open mind is important.
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An open mind is important.
Good luck with that! :lol:
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Fly Swatter for air guitar, also doubles as fly swatter in dungy mancave.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=167628)
Magnifying Glass for reading small print on cd jewel cases.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=167629)
Body Art posters to stimulate the mood.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=167630)
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Military Grade Fuse Holders are indispensable to the serius audiophile:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Quality-Military-Grade-Fuse-Holder-for-6x30mm-Fuse-Tube-20A-300V-1-pcs/302611511838?hash=item46750d3a1e:g:oIYAAOSwEaBaFbEK
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/g6sAAOSwnw9aFbEN/s-l1600.jpg)
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Military Grade Fuse Holders are indispensable to the serius audiophile:
Which military? Some are better than others :o :D
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Which military? Some are better than others :o :D
Due the chain and screw cap the audiophools will pay 10 x more when it be famous brand labeled in the US market.
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Due the chain and screw cap the audiophools will pay 10 x more when it be famous brand labeled in the US market.
Don't forget cryo treatment. And they should be NOS, preferably from a time where the men were men, planes had pilots, and fuse holders has gaskets and chains.
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Ho ho this was a long time ago lol
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how about a lighter and a fan ?
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how about a lighter and a fan ?
Any link or model?
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Gee, based on my experiences, the first thing I thought of was a fire extinguisher :D
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How about a magnifying glass, cheeter glasses and especially an LED flashlight. Apparently I can't see anymore. Luckily my hearing is still great, Ha
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Nice pair of hearing ears?
Good, well recorded music taste
Budget
An understanding companion
Time
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Assorted magnetic screwdrivers, mentioning for a friend...
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I believe a proper chair properly positioned with easy access consumables such as a good claret, beer bourbon,etc. and munchies with Handy Wipes so as not to contaminate the field upon changing sources. Whit1950
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Nice pair of hearing ears?
Good, well recorded music taste
Budget
An understanding companion
Time
Nailed it!
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Wire cutters
Wire Strippers
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Wire cutters
Wire Strippers
Let me suggest the wire cutter I use by some years already,
it is a cat nail cutter so no audiophile prices, forget WBT cutters,
I have two units one for cats that suits small gauges and other
for dogs that suits awg 12 or under, its a indispensable tool to
the pro and hobbist in the wire/cable service.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=206097)
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Contact cleaner spray.
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Fluke DMM
Temerature Controlled Solder Iron
Desolder Sucker
Dr Freickert Protractor
Fozgometer
Oh and agree A LARGE ROLL OF BENGI's
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An air horn strategically placed near the listening room entrance.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=213446)
It's for the third party person getting in the room during equipment testing/ evaluation and trying to get audiophile's attention - usually having the humble request to have the volume turned down, if possible.
A tap on the shoulder is A LOT more startling :o than a quick air horn blast.
:thumb:
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An SPL meter so you can prevent hearing damage and enjoy the hobby for years to come.
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spl meter for android.
thermal paste.
heat gun.
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Ears :roll:
Remarkably helpful :wink:
Preferably your own ears as most people prefer to hang on to their own.
BTW, this is actually an excellent concept for a thread.
I am assuming you are male, since most are in this hobby. :D
I would suggest a female set of ears, your better half, or a younger female. Females have more sensitive hearing. (Try saying something in the next room, and I'll bet she can clearly hear you, especially in an argument.) :lol:
Younger because most still can hear whole bandwidth of the audio spectrum.
As per trained ears, you can probably train them of the sonic nuances of music audiophools listen to.
Hope this helps
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a ten pound sledge hammer, when all else fails .......... :wink:
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A good lounge chair is important unless you like to stand and listen to music.
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A flashlight and a tape measure are a must for the fools in small rooms such as myself who endlessly experiment with the positioning of their electrostats
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American Express Card with no credit limit
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Quite an extensive set of lists so far. The only I would add, if it's not there already on some post, is a digital voltmeter to check tube bias.
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Just found a interesting Soviet 1973 tube tester €690eu under ''new'' condition.
L3-3 USSR Military High-end Tube Tester
https://www.ebay.com/itm/133381301779?hash=item1f0e252613:g:eMgAAOSwwgVejERF
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A BS meter.
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I am assuming you are male, since most are in this hobby. :D
I would suggest a female set of ears, your better half, or a younger female. Females have more sensitive hearing. (Try saying something in the next room, and I'll bet she can clearly hear you, especially in an argument.) :lol:
Younger because most still can hear whole bandwidth of the audio spectrum.
As per trained ears, you can probably train them of the sonic nuances of music audiophools listen to.
Hope this helps
A younger female and an Audiophile hobby….sheesh now we are talking big money!
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A very understanding and tolerant wife as you spend thousands of dollars on gear and keep upgrading to get better sound.
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A large roll of cash.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=143687)
While not mandatory, it sure can make things easier.
I'm going to say this is near the top of the list.
Reliable freight company that can pack and ship without trying to pay there mortgage on your back.
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Earwax removal kit
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Deleted.
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Patience. 🤣 There are lots of options and your opinion will change throughout the day. Take your time and focus on what stands out to you. Its not a race, and it is supposed to be fun!-Dodge
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Tube tester, tube equivalent chart, multi meter, soldering gun, solder, V-Caps🥰
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Oscilloscope :thumb:
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For those of us who are not "serious", I'd submit the "large roll of cash" (whatever "large" means to you) and understanding spouse are at the top of the list.
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Hope this is still considered within the topic: is there any consensus on a recommended dB meter?
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Ears.
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-Money
-Designated room
-Some tools
-Research
-Common sense
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Hope this is still considered within the topic: is there any consensus on a recommended dB meter?
I have an Mínipa made in China without probs since early 1990s.
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A thesaurus, for our attempts to describe sound verbally
A corkscrew or bottle opener for liquid refreshments
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Excellent choices
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How about a capacitance meter
and a more understanding wife.
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How about a capacitance meter
and a more understanding wife.
Those are on national backorder with no ETA. Capacitance meters are easy to find though. :lol:
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Those little speaker-binding-post tools, I think Audioquest makes one. They fit in the hand so nicely and there is a size at each end so they fit most speaker binding posts. You can feel how tightly you are torquing the post and there is no slip and no chance of making an accidental connection between the R and B posts. An excellent tool !
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Those are on national backorder with no ETA. Capacitance meters are easy to find though. :lol:
New to these forums… LOL’d at this one.
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I haven’t read the whole thread, but you cannot be considered a true audiophool unless you have a wife that can “hear a difference from the kitchen”.
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How about a DMM for checking things like cables and connectors.
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html)
We were talking about it at work the other day. We use to get a smaller Fluke, now we get a cheap one.
By all means: keep cheap ones as backup, but invest in a Fluke.
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I haven’t read the whole thread, but you cannot be considered a true audiophool unless you have a wife that can “hear a difference from the kitchen”.
These wifes was when I was young,
today you know how they are>
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=175024)
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I haven’t read the whole thread, but you cannot be considered a true audiophool unless you have a wife that can “hear a difference from the kitchen”.
So true…
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So how about we make a list of tools that any self-respecting audiophool should have at the ready? I have no idea what someone with a TT needs at hand. Not sure the proper Circle for this. Hope you agree this is a good idea.
Okay, I'll start the list:
db meter like a Ratshack meter
Tape measure
Hand mirror
Deoxit or other contact cleaner
Cheater plug for troubleshooting
Wattmeter
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/tools/test-measurement/Metrs-HVAC-R/energy-saver?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=COvYz6C89swCFYk9gQodI2gKjw
Wire gauge calculator
http://www.wirebarn.com/Wire-Calculator_ep_42.html
Basic calculations
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-ohm.htm
Binding post wrench
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-dJuDrlAsQ8S/p_703BINDPW/AudioQuest-Binding-Post-Wrench.html
Good morning, new member and budding (still largely clueless) audiophile here. This is my first attempt at setting up a hifi system my ears will appreciate. Recently attended Capital Audio Fest 2023 and loved the sound in Rogue Audio’s room, so doing my best to replicate it with a few budget-minded compromises here and there. Thanks for this helpful post.
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How about a capacitance meter
and a more understanding wife.
If you find an audio store selling more understanding wives, or any store for that matter, please let me know. :lol:
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So how about we make a list of tools that any self-respecting audiophool should have at the ready? I have no idea what someone with a TT needs at hand. Not sure the proper Circle for this. Hope you agree this is a good idea.
Okay, I'll start the list:
db meter like a Ratshack meter
Tape measure
Hand mirror
Deoxit or other contact cleaner
Cheater plug for troubleshooting
Wattmeter
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/tools/test-measurement/Metrs-HVAC-R/energy-saver?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=COvYz6C89swCFYk9gQodI2gKjw
Wire gauge calculator
http://www.wirebarn.com/Wire-Calculator_ep_42.html
Basic calculations
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-ohm.htm
Binding post wrench
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-dJuDrlAsQ8S/p_703BINDPW/AudioQuest-Binding-Post-Wrench.html
Any recommendations with respect to ac power supply? Thanks.
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(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=57044)
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A rational partner who can understand your passion but also calmly provide the pros and cons. If it were up to me I would have bought so many impulse buys instead of stuff that I also want. It’s nice to have someone to balance out my impulsivity but also doesn’t shut down everything right away.
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1- A Stereophile test disc with left/right, phase inversion, and 1khz test tone for level matching. I can't remember how many times I've arrived at someone's house to listen and there has been a left/right reversal, or actually speakers out of phase and nobody noticed. And then wanting to compare equipment and trying to level match with an SPL meter. You must match voltage which means....
2- A multimeter to match voltage. Doesn't need to be expensive.
3- Headlamp like for camping.
4- 2.0+ reading glasses even if you don't need them because it makes it easier to see things up close.
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The most basic thing you need before building almost anything is a plan. Build your audio system around one or two things you like most in music (regardless of the type of music you listen to!). For instance, if you love bass, then build a system around getting the best subwoofers, researching bass traps, eliminating the 50Hz bass bump in your room, etc. You'll take on a different approach if you're a treble guy or a silky midrange guy or the tube guy, or the heavy metal & hard rock guy.
Example -- I wanted a big, dynamic sound, so I have 3 subs and high-efficiency speakers with 12" midrange drivers. I wasn't gonna get a big sound with 6" drivers, regardless of the brand or style, so I stopped wasting time and money on "small" speakers.
IMPORTANT -- do not include a budget in your plan. Most audiophiles spend more money than they want to, so don't impose a money barrier. Hobbies aren't meant to be rational.
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Green pen (like a sharpie) for the edges of CD's
quality masking tape to mark speaker placement
Blue Tack, earthquake putty, or similar for vibration damping etc
screw drivers
microfiber cleaning cloth