Audiophile in an Airstream

[thiel]

Just a shout out for high end, self powered, bluetooth computer/bookshelf speakers. Gives you some stereo separation, but still relatively portable.

The stuff that Polk and Edifier are putting out does a pretty great job at a nice price point.

[dgtoole]

iPhones play FLAC and many other formats. You just need an appropriate player app. eg Onkyo as an example. Many offer HiFi streaming for $$.

[Rounder44]

Originally Posted by dgtoole

iPhones play FLAC and many other formats. You just need an appropriate player app. eg Onkyo as an example. Many offer HiFi streaming for $$.

I understand the newest or yet to be released iOS will allow this much easier. So far there is a work around to use Quicktime on the iPhone but the problem was getting the files on.

Even with the update it's not an iTunes native procedure as I understand.

Thanks,

R44

[Soyboy]

My '99 came with the factory, crappy Audiovox system with downward facing speakers over the sofa. It stunk. I ripped it out, put in an Alpine head and amp along with a Bazooka sub that fit right under the sofa. I then installed JL Audio speakers in both the downward position over the sofa and the outward facing position in the ends of the cabinet over the sofa (of course I had to cut holes for that. Of course, this is all "highway rated" mobile equipment. Fortunately, the wires running from the head unit to the sub are hidden by the pleated curtains (along with wires for my solar controller). It's not super high end but it sounds many, many times nicer than what was in it before. I am very pleased with it. I also have the TV sound running through it (another wire running up the wall behind the curtains BTW). That makes movie watching much more enjoyable and with the downward facing speakers it sounds great, your mind makes up for the soundstage being presented from over your head and you never notice it. As is likely with others, being of a certain age my hearing in the higher frequencies is not what it used to be, plus I have tinnitus (thank you power tools, Jimi Hendrix et al LOL). So high-end audiophile speakers would be a bit lost on me at this point anyway. For headphone listening, I keep a pair of Grado SR 80's in the trailer. They sound great and have an excellent dollars spent to performance ration. But that is very subjective too (as are any speaker/audio set-up).

[Jaxon]

Unless you're boondocking out in the... uh, boonies, remember no matter how good the sound is inside the trailer, it ain't near that good outside and around it.

Besides, your neighbors may have different tastes in music (might end up in a situation with their music loud enough to make Dueling Banjos sound like an opera!)...
.

[LakeState]

aluminum can

[Etonnement]

Howdy,

Not exactly an audiophile but as a constant podcast/music-listener, surprised someone didn’t mention this. To me the biggest barrier to sound quality wouldn’t be the environment, which at least you can maximize, but that the AC is really loud. Not in pure volume, but (at least in our 22’ Sport) it creates like a noise cancellation barrier in the center of the space that hides any sound on either side of it. Also, differences in needed volume from when the AC is on cycle vs. off have led me to relying on headphones most of the time.
Now, in bigger models this is probably way less of an issue- my brother’s 30’ Safari being the other extreme, it doesn’t intrude nearly as noticably.

[tommydSL64]

Sorry to ruin your circus, but ALL of you are the last people I want to be next to, in any campsite. Audio is fine if the rig is parked on your private property, but those of us who go outdoors to enjoy it unencumbered by
noise aren't gonna like audiophiles no matter how much it costs!
The new trend I see in "outdoor entertainment centers" on RVs is pretty much backward of the idea of camping, isn't it? I mean if you want to crank up volume, best place to do it is inside some nice headphones.
Smartphones everyplace are bad enough.

Just my opinion, from an old Luddite.

WTH are people going camping for, anyway?

[Lara Me]

I use 300b tube amps and VPI and EAR vinyl system at home. In the AS I looked at putting in a serious system but it is hard to wire an amp that will do justice and not drain batteries, even class D. You need to run heavy gauge wires which is hard to do in a finished trailer. So, I’ve used just a basic speaker upgrade (first Infinity Reference in my 28 and later Polk in my 27 when I realized how compromised the AS is for sound). If I was more serious I’d use the newer Morel speakers which are efficient and warm. Upgraded sub to a bazooka (I know...I know...) mostly for video. If I want audiophile sound, I bring an Astell & Kern portable and my Focal Clear headphones.