I guess I count?

Currently have a Cambridge Azure 651a which is still serving me well and a pair of Canton Vento 886s setup in the lounge...

Source is ALAC driven by Roon through a Raspberry Pi Roonbridge plugged into a Cambridge Audio DACMagic Plus.

...and I am still looking to sell my Monitor Audio Silver RX6's if anyone is interested!

Have any audiophile's done ABX testing to make sure they can tell the difference between their expensive kit and just medium quality speakers like, for example, Audioengine or something?

 Haha, at least 2.

I am in Wellington, if anyone want a listen, just hit me up.

I have Focal/ASR/Aurender/PSAudio setup. Often give me goosebump. I like it a lot.

UHD:

 

Have any audiophile's done ABX testing to make sure they can tell the difference between their expensive kit and just medium quality speakers like, for example, Audioengine or something?

 

No...life's too short!

I have come to the conclusion over the years (and all this is in IMVHO!) that:

 

1. Speakers make the single biggest difference in any system and quality/delivery and sound signature are often very apparent between makes/models. Expensive doesn't always = best and there must be a very steep curve of diminishing returns once you have spent money on a quality "full range" setup, though I haven't listened to a $75k pair of Magico or a $300k pair of Wilson Alexander to be able to back that claim up! I think if I had the money I could happily spend up to NZ$20k but not really beyond that.
2. As long as the amp is well built, with quality components and puts out sufficient, clean, ultra-low distortion output to drive your speakers cleanly and without clipping at the volume you require, then investing any more money than is needed to deliver those criteria is pointless IMHO as it shouldn't change any of the core sonic qualities of the music. Caveats apply to Valve amps!
3. Source isn't that important. a decent $300 DAC should be as good as a $3000 DAC and a $30000 DAC can just f&*! off. Features/functionality will obviously change between models. I think I would struggle to tell 256Kb ACC from my ALAC files in almost all circumstances, but I am happy to keep my library lossless anyway...just in case!
4. I spent more on cables than I needed to, also "just in case". Guess I have more money than sense but my $60 interconnects, $50 digital coax (reduced from $100 lol) and $120 of speaker cable look nice and do the job. Spending that much was daft and spending any more is just silly.
5. Room treatment and placement can have a huge effect on the sound of your system. I need to do more work here.

The main site to come out of AudioEnz is...

http://darklantern.proboards.com/

The usual suspects from the Audioenz / WitchDoctor forums appear.

Vinyl fan myself. Project Debut Carbon upgraded with a perspex platter, speedbox and OM30. Amp is a Rotel A12, I had a Plinius before but it was to much power for my small listening room. Speakers are B&W Nautilus 805s with matching stands fed by kimba kable speaker wire ($800 worth - more money than sense, but they look really nice). I have a dedicated listening room with just the stereo, a 4K TV on the wall above it and one chair. I have no kids :-)

Excellent. Thanks.

geekiegeek:

 

Vinyl fan myself. Project Debut Carbon upgraded with a perspex platter, speedbox and OM30. Amp is a Rotel A12, I had a Plinius before but it was to much power for my small listening room. Speakers are B&W Nautilus 805s with matching stands fed by kimba kable speaker wire ($800 worth - more money than sense, but they look really nice). I have a dedicated listening room with just the stereo, a 4K TV on the wall above it and one chair. I have no kids :-)

 

Geekiegeek,

I also have a pair of 805 & Kimber cables unused atm. I do have a turntable (Rega) but not connected.

If you are around Wellington, drop by for a whisky and listen. We are in similar situation; stereo room n no kids.

UHD:

Have any audiophile's done ABX testing to make sure they can tell the difference between their expensive kit and just medium quality speakers like, for example, Audioengine or something?

I've only ever had 2-channel set ups as I've never been a huge movie buff, and haven't had the wiring in my houses to support a clean 5+ channel setup.

I've currently got the best sounding setup that I have ever had (notice I said "had" and not "ever listened to) which comprises of an Anthem 225 Integrated amp, a Rotel RDD-06 DAC, and a pair of Dynaudio DM 3/7 floor standing speakers.  This is based in my lounge and is connected to my HTPC and to my Bose Soundtouch adaptor.  100% of the music I listen to is digital, being either various streamed radio stations or Spotify.  I did have a Tidal sub for a while but lack of features decided its demise in my household.

I also have a two channel setup in my man cave consisting of a Cambridge Audio 650A amp, a cheap FiiO D03K Taisha DAC, and a pair of Wharfdale Diamond 10.6 floor standing speakers.

In the bedroom I have an Orb Audio setup (two satellite speakers, their small amp, and a sub) which is connected to both a TV and a Bose Soundtouch adaptor.

Finally I have a Bose Soundtouch 20 in my ensuite for morning listening as I get ready for work.

So not super expensive gear but each setup does the job I need.

Let's see how the thread goes. 2 channels, I have only two ears. Design/build vacuum tube power amps, mostly for amusement, and feeding a pair of mk1 Klipsch Heresys. Laptop with JRiver MC to USB DAC and passive attenuator stack mostly, Thorens/Grace/Supex combo with SS pre for vinyl, vintage Sony ES CDP for the silver discs. Can't be bothered with manic audiophilia, been there, done that. If the engineering isn't sound, you have an effects box, more or less. Design for low noise and max bandwidth, the truth will be self evident.

I've spent some time with the Heresy's (Gen3), very cool speakers indeed.

Trademe. A $150 amp won't be all that special, but its a place to start, even if an older AVR used in 2 channel mode. Can't suggest anything specific  at that price point though. If you like the sound of your speakers for now, keep them. Cheap speakers aren't good, good speakers aren't cheap. Stay away from vinyl, it's a crap sounding PiTA until real $$ get spent, even if fashionable.

Few other things to remember - old stuff cost a lot more than modern when new. That means nothing to its quality, there is plenty of junk around that is well built looking and heavy. Old amps will have things starting to fail, dirty contacts since they typically used rotary hardware switches and ran the audio thru the volume potentiometer, more places to get dirty and degrade the sound needing cleaning. Old capacitors will lose their effectivness over time so early 80s gear will start to need recapping etc.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/amplifiers-tuners/auction-1372727660.htm would be nice if it doesn't go up in price much more.

Avoid the low cost pioneer and sony home theater receivers - totally anemic power output since they assume you will use them with silly little speakers and all the bass will be handled by a sub.