MUSIC / HANDS-ON AUDIO
Music & my hi-fi system
Music is part of my everyday life. I put this system together around the way I listen, and made the cables myself. The small details of connecting everything are part of the enjoyment.
Cables I made myself
I assembled the cables for my own system using Van den Hul CS – 122 HYBRID speaker cable and Van den Hul connectors. Choosing the lengths and fitting the connectors let me adapt the wiring to the equipment and its position in the room.
The system I listen to
Speakers
Polk R700
The R700 uses a ring-radiator tweeter, a 6.5-inch midrange driver and two 8-inch woofers. Separate drivers cover different frequency ranges, while its Power Port 2.0 bass-reflex system extends the low-frequency output. Speaker position and the room still influence the result.
The granite slab provides a rigid, level base beneath the speaker feet.
Manufacturer ↗
Amplifier
Yamaha A-S1200
The A-S1200 combines volume control and power amplification in one unit. A toroidal transformer supplies the amplifier, and its floating balanced power stage drives the speakers. In this setup, the external DAC handles digital conversion before the signal reaches the Yamaha.
Manufacturer ↗
DAC
Topping E70 Velvet
The E70 Velvet uses an AK4499EX DAC chip to convert digital audio into an analogue line-level signal for the amplifier. Keeping conversion in a dedicated device gives the Linux streamer a separate audio output stage. The source format, playback software and output settings determine the digital signal delivered to the DAC.
Manufacturer ↗
Streamer
MeLE Quieter4C Mini PC
The Quieter4C is a fanless mini PC, so cooling adds no fan noise to the listening space. Linux Mint runs the playback software, while the 14-inch touch display provides local control. Bit-perfect playback depends on the software and audio configuration passing the original samples through without resampling or digital volume changes.
14-inch touch display · Linux Mint
I use the MeLE Quieter4C Mini PC with Linux Mint as a streamer, configured for bit-perfect playback in my listening setup.
Manufacturer ↗Speaker cable & connectors
Van den Hul CS – 122 HYBRID (halogen free)
The CS – 122 HYBRID has a conductor cross-section of 2.96 mm² per lead and a halogen-free jacket. Conductor size and cable length affect resistance between amplifier and speaker. I assembled the leads with Van den Hul connectors; secure termination and consistent polarity are the practical details at each end.
Van den Hul connectors · assembled by me
Manufacturer ↗Listening room — testing
The system in use
A short recording of my listening setup.
Two longer recordings from listening sessions at home.
From listening to MILA
Press play and listen to your heart’s content.
Living with a music system also made me think about the interface I wanted to use every day. That interest led to MILA, my personal audio streamer project.
Explore the MILA project →