What do you like to see next to be developed by a hifi manufacturer?

stranwood · « **on:** 9 Oct 2007, 08:49 am »

Hi guys,

What would you guys want and love to have but is not available in the market yet? DAC, amp, linestage, all-in-one, wireless media player, etc? Anything?

For myself:

1st. 4.2 power amplifier with active crossover integrated
2nd. all-in-one wireless media/AV player + internal DAC + amplifier
3rd. 7.2 channel vacuum tube linestage
4th. affordable SMPS power supply modules for hifi power amplifier use (GC, class-D, etc)
5th. high end DAC with tube linestage + active crossover integrated

Would love to see your feedbacks.

denjo · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 09:04 am »

A hybrid preamplifier which can switch between solid state, TVC and tubes! (chameleon!)

If its an integrated, then a high quality built in DAC (with USB, RCA and optical in) and phono stage.

adchin · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 09:22 am »

Some of the products that I have in mind, which I think are logical and desirable are :

1) Hybrid tube preamp driving a high powered gainclone or digital amp ( Hypex ? )
2) Decently priced wireless digital device that has a built in amplifier, so that I can stream movies, photos and music from the PC, to the speakers or TV. Would surely simplify home entertainment. Purchase the movie online when I'm leaving for work, and when I get home, shower and eat, I can watch the movie with the family, streamed in from the PC. I like this. It doesn't need to support multi channels. I'd rather have 2 really good channels rather than 7 crappy ones

Imperial · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 10:48 am »

A vacuum tube D/A ... that is the chip inside the tube... It could work! One could, I don't know use ... the Lavry circuit (or something?)and put in into a tube? That would be cool!

Imperial

mfsoa · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 12:52 pm »

Two-channel amps with different wattage for each channel for use with biampable speakers.
One channel ~ 250+ watts for woofers; other ~25 watts for mid/tweets. Separate power supplies.

Ultimate expression - 500+ Class D watts for woofers, 10-ish watts of triode tubes for mid/tweets on the same chassis, one input, gain matched precisely.

So you would use two of these for stereo speakers. A real niche product, I know.

BobM · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 01:12 pm »

How about a room corrections device that wasn't signal degrading and would work on both analogue or digital signals. We all need to take care of those humps, but these devices always seem to leave their own signatures, or remove things (like soundtaging or extension and such) that you would like to leave in your system.

Bob

PS - oh yeah, and doesn't cost $3000

craig223 · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 01:27 pm »

We need an operating system for PC based hardware that is meant for audio and video. The current systems were meant to run word processors and spreadsheets. We need:

Networking for speakers that have digital->analog converters and amps built in
Effective video scaling from the graphics card
Driver interfaces that are easier to write for
Built in equalization that supports multiple microphones/seating locations and stores them for selection on the fly
More effective AV file support/conversion/device export. Also, the addition of new file formats should be easily supported.
Power management that can shut down unused devices to keep heat/fan noise/electrical usage to a minimum

Add your ideas!

mcullinan · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 01:36 pm »

A wife that says " Yes Master" "I will do all of your evil bidding"

Mike

MaxCast · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 01:39 pm »

Quote from: mcullinan on 9 Oct 2007, 01:36 pm

A wife that says " Yes Master" "I will do all of your evil bidding"
Mike

I'd buy one of those.

Kevin Haskins · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 01:51 pm »

Modesty, humility and a sense of proportion.

BobM · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 01:55 pm »

Quote from: mcullinan on 9 Oct 2007, 01:36 pm

A wife that says " Yes Master" "I will do all of your evil bidding"
Mike

Can you say "Stafford Wife"?

Enjoy,
Bob

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 02:18 pm »

A couple things, the easiest of which would be HT receivers or tuners with HD radio. Right now HD radio is only available in car units and a few tabletop sets or shelf/mini systems.

Also nice to have would be a tube based multi-channel preamp/processor with a digital section that can handle all of the existing and new audio codecs, including DVD-A, SACD, DTS-Master, True HD lossless, etc.

lhgin · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 02:59 pm »

1. multi-channel tube preamp with built in high end DAC
* says it all does it?

2. 4 channel power amp with active crossover
* i can use it for bi-amping!
* maybe 2 channel SS, 2 channel tube for best of both worlds

BrianM · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 02:59 pm »

Vacuum tube-powered remote control. (For smoother, sweeter intensification & attenuation.)

Gaara · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 03:18 pm »

More ice based surround amps, gobs of power yet they still run cold.

A squeezebox like device that could run off a external harddrive (PC wouldn't need to be on, just hookup the harddrive to the SB and GTG)

miklorsmith · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 03:36 pm »

I'd like to see more amplifiers and preamps available with adjustable hi-pass filter capabilities. Separately powered and EQd bass systems make total sense. Where are the problems in every room? Bass of course! Being able to equalize bass frequencies without putting that EQ in the mains chains is where it's at.

There are RCA-connected, in-line filters available now but they are not top-grade and add a component to the signal path.

The best example I've seen is the Firenze Audio Rosso, which has a computer-adjustable crossover inside the amp.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/firenze/rosso460b.html

More manufacturers should be considering this, as in my opinion Zu and others have really seen the light in this regard but need the electronics to put it all together.

Steve Eddy · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 04:04 pm »

Quote from: Kevin Haskins on 9 Oct 2007, 01:51 pm

Modesty, humility and a sense of proportion.

Great answer!

se

Steve Eddy · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 04:05 pm »

Quote from: BobM on 9 Oct 2007, 01:55 pm

Can you say "Stafford Wife"?

You mean Stepford? Or am I missing a pun or something here?

se

JLM · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 04:28 pm »

craig,

An audio computer shouldn't have a fan.

I'd like to see someone "wake up" the home audio market to active loudspeakers. Other than single driver fans and PMC, very few can be found in home use.

JoshK · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Oct 2007, 04:34 pm »

A transparent, easy to use (remote) multichannel (not just 6 ch, like 16ch) attenuator.

A modular programable DSP/hardware crossover unit that is affordable. Say for 2ch stereo, you have 3 ways. The input accepts a digital or analog input and you have have 6 outs ( 2x3). This is much like the DEQX, except without the proprietary software. If I use LSPcad to design my xo filters, I can plug those in. If I use SoundEasy, I can plug those. If the manufacturer of your speakers has a filter design that he intended, he can provide his and you just enter in your filter into your active xo and away you go. If you upgrade to 4 ways or add a sub, plug in another module to handle the additional outputs, or if you want to go multichannel, do the same. Then the above attenuator handles the volume problem, but this could be a seperate box IMO complete with buffers for driving the amps.