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+1 Especially with bendy stuff like records or breaky stuff like turntable bits. Last time I used SAPO was in 2015, and they bliksemed away a $50 copy of Chris Cornell's Songbook, which you won't find for less than $300 now. I've checked the sums sideways, the local suppliers are very...

Many non-gatefold 2LP releases do not have printed inner sleeves. And many gatefold releases have printed sleeves. Don't really care about the outer sleeve, TBH. Gatefolds can be finicky to return the slabs into, but the artwork is always welcome too. Either way, I purchase the record for the...

As usual, it depends... I didn't watch the video so can only comment on personal experience. Generally, the half-speed masters in my collection are a step above a regular pressing of the same album, in terms of sound quality. This generally holds across MoFi, more recent Abbey Road half-speed...

It's definitely good to give it some time, and let everything settle. You might want to go back and compare the TT's internal phono with the AVR. I think you could spend anything from R2k-R10k. The risk with the former is that you might not get an improvement. The advantage of the latter...

That's a good TT with a good cartridge, you may find benefit in trying a standalone phono stage. The built-in in either the TT or AVR would be very basic. But fix the gain issue first.

For the price of the adapters and high quality cable, it's worth looking at Wiim Mini or Wiim Pro. Works well with Airplay, Wiim app or Tidal Connect (and many others - but those are the three options I use)

I can confirm the same. I haven't tested optical vs. coax, but I can confirm it works on Wiim Pro to output MQA. However.... at first it sounded terrible. Stuttering, freezing. Until I figured out the settings. So for those struggling with the same, do the following on the Wiim Home app...

I don't think you need to overthink this in terms of speaker efficiencies or write off the Exclame or jump immediately to subs. You need a larger speaker that will move more air in that large room. Start there - as that is your biggest gap right now. The ones listed here are great options...

I know you've ordered already, but I can highly vouch for the iFi ZEN DAC v2. As a combo DAC & headamp for R4500 it's hard to beat. For the extra cash (to R5500) you could upgrade the USB cable or get the iPower power supply too. I cannot comment on the K7, and I'm sure you'll be very happy...

Ironically, I think an inverter does much of what a power regenerator does, in the sense that it takes DC from the solar panels and batteries and has to generate a clean sine wave. The sonic improvements of power regenerators are well documented. And whilst this is not optimized for audio, I...

I appreciate that service levels in CT might be different to Joburg. But I have just tried to get a simple re-assignment of a Vumatel line at a new address. It's not even a new install - I specifically chose a Vumatel option because the line was there already. It took them ten days to re-assign...

+100 for the iFi ZEN Phono Why? You have the amp and speakers already. The Zen phono will handsdown beat almost any built-in phono, and many more expensive standalone phonostages. So that part if your audio chain will be great-sounding and fuss-free for a long time. I have done my time with...

Couple of thoughts: 1. If you only want to upgrade the fronts, look at the FS200/FS250 range, because it should have a tonal match with the rest of your HT speakers. You don't want to have the centre (in particular) completely different to your fronts. 2. If you are running good subs (sounds...

Looking at old ads will not help you right now - it has become difficult to achieve good prices for secondhand items. That said - your kit are all popular brands, so you shouldn't struggle. Hifishark is a good indication of value overseas, then you need to knock that back a bit for SA market...

I do agree with @fdlsys that you want to plan and execute the upgrades smartly. My experience with my mid-80s Linn (bought for only R6k, with Akito arm) is that it is imminently able to absord additional upgrades and still retain its strengths. Even though the only original parts on mine are the...

I can vouch highly for the Starmap upgrades. Will be some of the best money spent. In addition to the other comments, HFX Systems are still able to source Linn parts and even the Starmap upgrade. Or genuine Linn upgrades, if you're willing to part with both kidneys and a piece of your liver.

Agree - although I think the points in the video hold at cheaper price points too. And the conclusion might not be what folks wanted to hear, but it's certainly true for me. My journey has been the other way round than in the video (where he has a strong digital setup and added vinyl). I...

Agree with this. Unless you wish to add all-risk cover for your audio items (very expensive), they will generally be included in your household contents. So there are two things an insurer will look at: 1) Are the total household contents correctly valued, generally at the reasonable...

I read this, and identified as an "older folk". And the answer is absolutely not. Vinyl playback (and primarily the sound quality) connects me to my favourite music like no other medium. I'm young enough to have grown up with CDs, and ended up replacing ~400 of those with about ~1500 records...

Yeah it's a real problem. The greedy giants are killing the goose (and not for the first time).