2.0/2.1 Stereo System:

Refers to 2 loudspeakers (Left/Right) with an additional sub-woofer for bass for 2.1

Audiophiles:

An audiophile, from Latin audio^[1] “I hear” and Greek philos^[2] “loving,” is a hobbyist, identified by their love for music, or use of high-end audio electronics. Often underrated, many only claim to be audiophiles when they have crazily expensive equipments but to me it simply meant those who love their music the way the want the music to be like!

Speakers: Often known as loudspeakers with drivers to produce sound from your source

Monitor/Active Speakers: Self powered, does not require additional amplifier. Often used in recording studios to replicate music/sound the way it was suppose to be presented naturally. Sound signature normally claimed to be Flat, but often tweaked to the liking of the audio technician/researchers’ taste. Flat sound aren’t really favorable to everyone so please try it out before rushing to purchase!

Eg: Adam Audio A5s, Audio Engine A5s, Dynaudio B5 etc

Passive Speakers: as the term passive states, unable to produce sound on its own, thus requiring an amplifier to drive the speakers.

Eg: Wharfedale Diamond 9.1, Usher-S520, John Blue JB3 etc

Satellite Speakers: Term used for smallest speaker range, normally found in small Home Theatre System and multimedia speakers.

Bookshelves: A Tier larger than Satellite speakers.

Floorstanders: The largest speakers!! Normally standing about 1 metre tall minimum, has full range of drivers from bass to mids to treble.

Multimedia Speakers: Commonly used for PC/HTPC ( Hometheatre PC ) usually self powered/active, only required to connect to the soundcard. As many claim, this is the basic of the basic audio set up but with the likes of Logitech Z5500 and Creative T-20 speakers, they are giving some other brands a run of the money.

Sub-Woofer: A subwoofer is a woofer, or a complete loudspeaker dedicated to the reproduction of bass audio frequencies, from 150 Hz^[1] down as far as 20 Hz, or in rare cases lower. A.K.A Sub. -wikipedia. In order to get more bass, sub is normally place at the corners of wall to reflect the bass out, this ensure a more powerful delivery of sound. In rare cases are the “down-firing” subs like the sub of Altec Lansing ATP3 or the old models of Sonic-Ear as well as the new AudioEngine S8.

eg. Wharfedale WH-208 / AudioEngine S8

DAC: Digital Audio Converter

Exists in all Soundcards and CD Players, even MP3 players. They convert the signal transmitted via CDs/MP3s/FLACCs etc into audio signal to the Amps/Speakers.  This is rank no.3 importance to the whole audio system, it is definitely vital to have a DAC of a certain quality. A few examples that I’ve tested are:

Entry: Superpro DAC (<$200)

Super Entry: StyleAudio HD1V (<$250)

Mid-Tier: Citypulse da2.03e (<$650)

Top Tier: Benchmark Audio (<$2XXX)

Amplifier: An audio amplifier is an electronic amplifier that amplifies low-power audio signals (signals composed primarily of frequencies between 20 hertz to 20,000 hertz, the human range of hearing) to a level suitable for driving loudspeakers and is the final stage in a typical audio playback chain. -wikipedia

eg. Poppulse Amp does a wonder 60W per channel!

Speaker Cables

Interconnects

Powercord

Power Conditioner

tbc . . .

Welcome to my maiden entry, just a quick one on myself, I’m 22yrs old, Male, appeared on 24 Feb 1987. Currently I’m serving my National Service as well as taking part time degree from UOL under London School of Economics & Political Science.

As you can see, time & relaxation has never been a privilege for me so I normally sought peace & zen through music, which made me explore into these excitements of stereo equipments. I’ve been into audio for only a couple of years (in fact only 4 years), like most of you, Dad has often been the main influence in cultivating our bad habits and expensive hobbies.

It all started with him getting a Yamaha HT Amplifier + a Wharfedale moviestar 5.1 HT system + 120watt 8″ Thumping Sub Woofer. And the rest are history.

My current Set-up as follows

Speakers: AudioEngine A5 Monitors
Source: AMD 3500+ PC on 320kbs MP3s / Sony Playstation 3
Headphones: Senn HD200 / Alessandro MS-1
HeadAmp: Citypulse Headamp
DAC: Citypulse DA2.03E USB DAC
Sub: Wharfedale WH-203 80W/100W (Peak) 8″
Interconnects: Belden Silver Coated I/C (switchcraft XLR -> Neutrik 2 RCA) DAC -> Speaker
Powercord: Belden Power Cord MK II Hospital Plug (Citypulse)

Well, welcome to my world and let me guide you to my audio nirvanna and hopefully yours, too