diff --git a/content/posts/audio-setup/index.md b/content/posts/audio-setup/index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c2fe26 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/audio-setup/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,71 @@ +--- +title: "Audio Setup" +date: 2022-08-16 +--- + +Over the years, I've invested in a (in my opinion) pretty good audio setup that +I use very frequently (especially during the winter). I'm quite fond of it, so +I'd like to show it off! And perhaps, someone out there might find the +information interesting :) + +# Hardware + +The hardware consists of four main parts. I use a [Focusrite Scarlett +2i2](https://focusrite.com/en/usb-audio-interface/scarlett/scarlett-2i2) both +as a USB-connected DAC and an interface for my microphone. I'm quite satisified +with the 2i2; it has served me well for a few years now. The fact that it can +act both as a DAC and a mic input allows me to declutter my desk a bit. +Otherwise, I'd have to buy a separate DAC and microphone receiver. Perhaps +someday I'll find a use for the second microphone input ;p Before I had the +2i2, I used a USB microphone and an AUX adapter that connected directly to my +headphone amp, so this really was a big upgrade for me. + +The 2i2's line outputs connect to a [Schiit Magni +Heresy](https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-1); the headphone amplifier. +Besides the glorious name, this product really is amazing. It packs a serious +punch for its size and price and I find it's a great match for my headphones. +The only issue that I've had with them is that they can crackle when you change +the volume, but luckily it goes away again once you stop moving the knob. +Personally, I don't think it's that much of an issue, but I figured I should +mention it anyways. + +Now for the stars of the show; the headphones. Perhaps I went a little +overboard with this one, but I don't regret it at all. My main drivers are the +[Sennheiser HD 660S](https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-US/p/hd-660s/). They +sound absolutely amazing paired with my Magni head amp. I'm by no means an +expert on audio, but I can definitely tell a major difference between these +headphones and any other pair we have in the house. The audio is incredibly +clear; I really can't get enough of it. + +Lastly, the microphone. During the pandemic, I bought myself a Devine BM-600 +XLR mic. The quality's quite good, especially for the price. Sadly I don't get +to use it a lot anymore, as I rarely call people on the computer anymore. +Before this however, I used the Devine M-Mic USB microphone. I mention this +because it's probably one of the best budget microphones out there. Last I +checked, it only cost around 30 euros and the voice quality is insanely good +for the price. + +# Software + +While I get the appeal of LPs and CDs, they're just not very practical with the +amount of music that I listen to every day. That's why I have a +[Tidal](https://tidal.com/) HiFi subscription. Due to me being a student, I can +get a 50% discount, meaning I only pay 5 euros per month for high-quality audio +streaming. I highly recommend Tidal; it has served me well for months and will +continue to do so. + +Due to me using Linux, I sadly can't use a native Tidal client, so I've had to +resort to using +[Mastermindzh/tidal-hifi](https://github.com/Mastermindzh/tidal-hifi), +specifically installed using the +[tidal-hifi-git](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages?O=0&K=tidal-hifi-git) AUR +package. It runs the Tidal web player in an electron session, along with some +wine magic to support HiFi playback. It even has a task bar icon and +everything, so it works about as well as any other native client. + +Right, I have to finish this post. The goal was to describe my audio setup, and +I think I accomplished that. I'm definitely not an expert on these things, so +I'm not going to go more in depth than needed. All I am is an audiophile that +cares a little too much about the quality of his music ;p + +Cheers