Post your workshop sound system.

[AngryScientist]

The video of the Pegoretti workshop got me daydreaming about upgrading my workshop sound system to something nicer to listen to while I tinker.

One question in 2024 is where does your media come from? I have Apple music that I listen to in the car and while running but my shop has always had a basic FM radio set to the classic rock station.

Inspired by Peg, I'd like to maybe listen to some blues, jazz, etc. Expand my horizons. Is streaming music the best solution right now? That would probably:

a) significantly uncomplicate the setup (no cd player, tuner, turntable, etc)

but

b) rule out some vintage equipment.

Let's see what's in your shop??

[kdawg]

Used to have my only record player but it died a few years ago so now I have a mini hifi thing that I got cheap - which is in the process of dying so going to replace it with something similar.

Mine is really only used to play hundreds of acid house/techno etc mixtapes from he 90s!

[TonyP]

I've got an FM tuner running thru some old car speakers that weren't being used. Mostly leave on https://wdcb.org/. If you're looking for Jazz and Blues and expanding horizons, this is what you're looking for.

https://wdcb.org/internet-stream

[bigbill]

Bluetooth speakers with Spotify on my phone. I have the cool speakers with wireless charging so I just set my phone on top.

I also have a CD player from 1990 and all my old discs in the shop so I can always listen to those.

[robin3mj]

Big fan of Audio Pro speakers. Started out with one of the bookshelf models and that has been supplemented by a smaller bookshelf one, a woofer, and now the big daddy, which is connected directly to my turntable.

Streams all the usual services, and you can easily pair/unpair them.

[jclay]

My shop is 22x16x9 enclosed, insulated, on concrete slab.

Carver CT-17 Preamp Tuner
Adcom GFA 535 II Amp
Genisis 2+ Speakers
Adcom ACE 515 AC Enhancer/Controller
Schitt Magni Headphone Amplifer
Andover Songbird Internet Streaming Appliance
Sony 5-Disk CD/DVD Changer
Spotify
In-ear monitors (wired, at the kit)

One corner of the shop is my drum-kit "studio" and the headphone amp reflects that; I need independent control of the speakers and IEMs.

The Songbird streamer, while low end but still remarkably good, is what extended the life of my old hifi equipment which is way too nice to replace without just cause. I ditched the FM antenna and were it not for CD material from my band I'd toss the changer too.

Having lost some nice gear to lightening strikes I unplug when not in use, and as you already know you can get equipment that would consolidate my rack into one compact unit.

[TRuth]

b) rule out some vintage equipment.

I have some crap old receiver and some crap old speakers and I use one of these to stream audio from my phone when I'm not listening to the radio tuned to KCSM Jazz 91.

[steve garro]

IMG_3325.jpg

In the background.........Sony & Onkyo & who knows what else driving four klipsch speakers.
CD and IPOD compatibility.

Excellent sound Q.
- Garro.

[jclay]

four klipsch speakers.
- Garro.

Nice.
Which Klipsch model?

[Too Tall]

That's hilarious. I've had the same set of Klipsch Heresy since college. Great LOUD speakers :)
For those in the klipsch know I've also got a set of Klipsch Belle that need a new home or else I gotta build a concert hall.

[mnoble485]

I've got an FM tuner running thru some old car speakers that weren't being used. Mostly leave on https://wdcb.org/. If you're looking for Jazz and Blues and expanding horizons, this is what you're looking for.

https://wdcb.org/internet-stream

Tony,
Thanks for this. I am always on the look out for jazz, blues and jazzy blues!

Mike

[steve garro]

That's hilarious. I've had the same set of Klipsch Heresy since college. Great LOUD speakers :)
For those in the klipsch know I've also got a set of Klipsch Belle that need a new home or else I gotta build a concert hall.

I got all four for free from two different people, and they match, which is super hilarious.
Actually, I didn't pay for any of it, and I have spare amps stashed as well - they ARE loud, and with great clarity
- Garro.

[jclay]

Tony,
Thanks for this. I am always on the look out for jazz, blues and jazzy blues!

Mike

And you might enjoy streaming Blues Radio, Athens, Greece! It's quite good and was my go-to until getting a Spotify account.
https://bluesradio.gr/

[Peter Polack]

Tony,
Thanks for this. I am always on the look out for jazz, blues and jazzy blues!

Mike

Here's more for your jazz/blues hunger.

WPKN, Bridgeport CT

Mondays 1-4PM, The Jazz Sound with Rick Petrone.

Tuesdays 1-4PM, Afternoon Jazz with Lisa Sahulka

Thursdays 8-11PM One Step Ahead of the Blues with Mark Mushin

Sundays 7-10PM Cool Blues and Rare Records with Al Bell.

Of course, you can play their archived radio shows to see if you like anything.

[AngryScientist]

Met a nice local gent today and bought this set-up for short money. I passed on the EQ as it would be lost on me in the garage. He had it set-up in his garage and we jammed out to some Bruce and shot the breeze. Sounded excellent.

Used vintage gear is the way to go with audio, for sure.

[TRuth]

More jazz. The Sunday afternoon Latin Jazz show is wonderful.

[thollandpe]

Satan built my subwoofer.


844716B7-E0FD-4444-BBA5-A528B8319FE5 on Flickr

[thollandpe]

My kid has a set of kg2’s we happened upon. I’ve been trying to get a pair of these to replace the old Realistics (don’t even dare to mock Radio Shack speakers, you audiophile snobs) in my workshop/barn/bridge. These were at a place we stayed, a motel owned by somebody who plays in a band called Wilco.





Facebook marketplace has been faithfully chasing down all kinds of Klipsch for my perusal. My neighbors will certainly know when I’m working on bikes. Is there music that repels mosquitoes?

PS Also, Sony 300-disc changer that I changed the belts on to work again. Sometimes the condensing humidity is an issue, but mechanically it’s been fine.

[Peter Polack]

Did you BUY those LaScalas or just listen to them?

[rmplum]

easiest is streaming to some powered speakers - lots of good options now and unless you have a lot/any surface treatments done to your garage it's gonna be pretty heavy on the reverb - so how much do you sweat having really Gucci speakers out there?

I currently have one of these:
https://apos.audio/products/xduoo-mu-603

feeding a 25yr old Nakamichi AV-300 receiver and some similar vintage NHT SuperOne XU bookshelves mounted on the wall, with an old 8" Paradigm sub stashed in the corner. Lots of power for the garage or working a bit out into the driveway.

If you already have a set of speakers, you could grab one of the myriad of Class D amps/bluetooth receivers and be in business quickly:

I have a similar unit to this and I've used it in all sorts of applications (my old bike barn, a few graduation parties, work events, etc) over the past 5 years where I want just a little bit more than a bluetooth speaker will do:

FOSI amp.jpg

Many flavors available under $100, tube/no tube etc. I dig the tubes, mostly for aesthetic reasons. It's currently in our living room linked to an old ADCOM tuner and can easily be switched back and forth between its analog inputs and bluetooth.