HiFi - For The Audio Connoisseur

Hullo! I need some help with my home-theater/music-listening setup:

• I'm NOT an audiophile and very limited knowledge of audio, but I would like to find the best compromise with the hardware I'm dealing with
• speakers: old 2× TSM Puris 400
• video devices: Apple TV 4K + EPSON projector (wall mounted, away from amp and speakers)
• current amp: old Technics SU-X70 (I also use a Technics turntable attached to it)
• current streaming solution: Eve Play as AirPlay 2 receiver for Apple TV

Now, the Eve Play has proven unreliable and the company customer service is terrible. It is also very limited, but I can return it for full refund. I am looking at the following alternatives:

1. Replace the Eve Play with a Wiim Pro or Pro Plus, while keeping the Technics amp
2. Replace both the Eve Play and the amp with a Wiim Amp (not Amp Pro as it lacks AirPlay)
3. Replace my whole audio system with 2× HomePods (pls don't insult me!) or other AirPlay capable speakers (I would give away turntable compatibility this way)

I cannot run cables from my projector to the location of the amp/speakers, so please understand my constraint of having to use AirPlay 2.

Summing up, I'd like to know if:

• an old amp is still perfectly viable or a Wiim Amp could give any improvements?
• anyone has experience with a Wiim Pro or Pro Plus, for both music and movies?
• I think it's worth keeping the speakers: any downsides that I don't know of? I read that speakers don't really get old
• do you have any other suggestions?

Thank you in advance for any tips!

I love Michael Jackson and his music and was wondering if there has ever been a release of his music on audio-only Blu-ray so that I can truly own the music in its ultimate highest quality on Blu-ray physical media with the advantages over CD such as higher res 24 bit audio, surround sound support and better durability/longevity.

I know you can burn Blu-rays yourself but I don't have much experience with that and don't want to buy a burner, the disks etc. and put in all the effort, I preferably just wanna buy a single finished product.

Is there maybe a site that lists all the Audio Blu-rays ever released since this seems to be a very small niche that's hard to find in general? Cause so far I couldn't find any Michael Jackson music release on Blu-ray.

I'm preferably looking for the album Dangerous. I know that the albums have 24 bit and Atmos releases, so the content is definitely there. Only question is if it exists on Blu-ray physical media. And if there is no official release, is there maybe any third party service that can do this?

Do you suggest any particular player?

What do you think about Klim products like Discover or Nomad? Have you had the chance to try them and compare them with vintage players like Sony?

Update; I went with Tidal. I'm a bit disappointed that no competitor has functionality like Spotify Connect without licensed hardware. I got Tidal running under Mopidy on my media box but I have to use a web browser and the Mopidy front end that works so so instead of the mobile app or desktop client. I don't feel like shelling out for another third party service or change my amp when I've got a decent setup for everything else. I already miss the ability to seamlessly go from mobile to speakers to a computer in a different room. Weird because it really doesn't sound very complicated to me when every Tidal client is already online and disconnects when playback starts on another device.

I'm getting fed up with Spotify because all the usual reasons and now the CEO calling music "content" with "nearly no production costs". Fuck that, time to vote with my wallet after being a user after an early beta invite.

What I want is a service that

1. pays music creators decently,

2. that has a comparable catalogue outside the charts

3. and that works well with a good UI on Windows, Linux, Android

4. and either headless on a RPi or has a integration with Kodi with high bitrates or even lossless.

Searching for comparisons drowns me in click baits and auto-generated content. I'd appreciate some real world experiences.

Edit; Thank you kindly for advice on self hosting etc. I am well aware of that option, a hardy sailor from the olden days as I am. Nowadays though I can and want to pay for the hassle free immediate availability music catalogue as a streaming service that in turn pays the artists for their delicious sounds in my ear holes.

I decided on the middle-of-the-road Technics SL-1500C.

I’m nearly done setting it up, feels great to get back into vinyl. 😎👍🏻

I haven’t owned (or used) a turntable for some 30 odd years.

Now I want to get back in the game. Musts for me: direct drive, must be ready to play out of the box. Nice to have: bluetooth, phono preamp, USB I have no DJ ambitions but if controls ala the SL1200 are included I don’t mind but I will likely never use them.

I have pretty much narrowed it down to 3 turntables but they are in different price ranges and i’m not sure if more money will actually matter?

1. AT LP-5x. Looks nice, wont break the bank.
2. Technics SL-1500C. Pricey but looks nice too.
3. Cambridge Audio Alva TT v2. Breaks the bank but seems to have all the features.

Thoughts? Am I overlooking a turntable?

Hi there…I currently have a Pioneer SX-770 receiver powering Kef K140 2 way speakers. I am planning to get a set of Kef Q4 3 way speakers. Could someone with more knowledge advise if it will be worthwhile changing and if my receiver has enough power for the Q4s? Thanks!!

So, I have a 2.1 system that sounds pretty ok, but yesterday I was running a test (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AC-ExFnAgXo&pp=ygUMc3BlYWtlciB0ZXN0) that revealed that I have some wild volume differences between certain frequencies all over the spectrum. I then listened to the same thing over my headphones (Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro) and there all frequencies had pretty much the same volume.

Is this normal or should I aim for equal volume over all frequencies for my stereo? If so, what's the best way of attack? Room treatment?