What did you do to your stereo rig today?
Comments
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Extremely. IMO/IME.
But when you are there? Oh, man....
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
...There’s a noticeable improvement in the separation of instruments and, especially, lead vs. background vocals that just wasn’t there before.
Worsening audio tracks do tend to sound worse, until you surpass a certain point though. Just keep chugging. Some folks stop there. Others have discovered a point beyond....to where everything sounds, maybe not stellar, but definitely enjoyable on any level.
No more of having a secondary rig or going to the car to enjoy a certain tune.
Tom
This is the first time I've made a change where lesser tracks sounded overall worse than before, so that surprised me. I'm not saying it's entirely bad because I still hear things I didn't before. But, what I now hear on familiar recordings far outweighs any negatives related to that.
I am the epitome of someone who chugs! I love these kind of nuances, so I will keep chasing them.
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
Here is my point. There is actually a thread about it here on CP.
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/125574/poor-quality-music/p1
Jesse said it best (IMO) within this quote from years ago.Many times over the years I had the same thought about getting a boom box and calling it a day. Eventually I managed to put together a rig that excels with great recordings yet makes bad ones sound pretty damn good. Don't give up, you'll get there one day.
Been there, done that and got the T-shirt or 3 along the way. Don't get me wrong. There is no "level" that you have to spend to get there. Everyone is on their own audio journey and what level they stop at....or whatever level they keep pushing. That's up to that particular person.
It took me a LONG time to go through the phase of "Wow". I echoed the thoughts of not only yourself, but many, many others. Including the thoughts of the OP of said link. It's like....Why in the H would I keep chugging, only to get my most favorite selections that now sound like absolute chit?!!!??!!!?
I get it. What I am trying to relay is that there is another plateau beyond the horizon of what you think there is....or what you may think may be the end of audiophilia/Hi-Fi. That being that whatever you listen to? It is surprising and pleasurable. It does not matter if you are listening to Bob Marley, Neil Diamond, a 50's recording of Jazz, a compilation, compressed music, or otherwise.
Now, do you prefer to listen to some selections over others? Absolutely and without a doubt. But do you change the selection, without adjusting the volume to match that of the era/recording? Nope. You enjoy what you previously passed upon (as your audio journey advanced).
It's so nice to listen to selections that you forgot....as the resolution and performance of your system advanced....like they were new recordings. This time, you notice so much more to the music than you had ever experienced prior to that....and you get so lost into the music, that you forget that at one time along your audio journey? That it sounded like chit.
Tom
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
A perfect example, as I continue to listen to physical music tonight...
Tim McGraw. Greatest hits album. A ho-hum song in the past. "Please remember me". Nothing special, nothing that one would pay attention to (ever). That song, as I currently listen to it, is an audiophile track...with sounds that envelope you and every instrument is distinct. The lower registers are pure and not exaggerated (precise, if you will).
The harmony between the singers are great and everything between the percussion ensemble and the rest of the band is equalized, without anything sticking out. The more you turn it up? The more into the music (and subtle sounds) you hear.
This, in turn , makes you enjoy a previously ho-hum song like you have never heard it before. This is a horrible example, but it is also the example I want to portray.
A seemingly ho-hum song that now sounds spectacular and very enjoyable. Repeat, rinse upon multiple genres/generations of music?
You have now arrived at bliss. Enjoy.
In no way in H am I saying anything other than what I just relayed here. There is just something about pushing that envelope that pays off. In more ways than you know. You just keep listening....
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Here is my point. There is actually a thread about it here on CP.
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/125574/poor-quality-music/p1
Jesse said it best (IMO) within this quote from years ago.Many times over the years I had the same thought about getting a boom box and calling it a day. Eventually I managed to put together a rig that excels with great recordings yet makes bad ones sound pretty damn good. Don't give up, you'll get there one day.
Been there, done that and got the T-shirt or 3 along the way. Don't get me wrong. There is no "level" that you have to spend to get there. Everyone is on their own audio journey and what level they stop at....or whatever level they keep pushing. That's up to that particular person.
It took me a LONG time to go through the phase of "Wow". I echoed the thoughts of not only yourself, but many, many others. Including the thoughts of the OP of said link. It's like....Why in the H would I keep chugging, only to get my most favorite selections that now sound like absolute chit?!!!??!!!?
I get it. What I am trying to relay is that there is another plateau beyond the horizon of what you think there is....or what you may think may be the end of audiophilia/Hi-Fi. That being that whatever you listen to? It is surprising and pleasurable. It does not matter if you are listening to Bob Marley, Neil Diamond, a 50's recording of Jazz, a compilation, compressed music, or otherwise.
Now, do you prefer to listen to some selections over others? Absolutely and without a doubt. But do you change the selection, without adjusting the volume to match that of the era/recording? Nope. You enjoy what you previously passed upon (as your audio journey advanced).
It's so nice to listen to selections that you forgot....as the resolution and performance of your system advanced....like they were new recordings. This time, you notice so much more to the music than you had ever experienced prior to that....and you get so lost into the music, that you forget that at one time along your audio journey? That it sounded like chit.
Tom
Wow indeed. That F1 quote regarding Vr3's quote was just shortly after I joined CP and was in the midst of building my "first" real set up with Monitor 70s (speakers with removable grills
).
Every time I upgraded a speaker or component, I'd hear something new in my movies.
I have always been a music lover, but my initial ratio was 90/10, movies to music.
Over the years as my rig has progressed, my ratio has changed. And now (15 years later), some weeks, it's only music from my setup, and I love it.
Who'd a thought way back then, a knee dragging knot head would be part of this group????!!!
Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2
Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)
EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman -
So, that Mutec clock cable is seemingly taking for ever to burn in and get acclimated to the system. For that reason aand others, I am having a love/hate relationship with it. On the previous page of this thread, I had mentioned the sonic changes between this cable and the other one.Main differences right off the bat....and none of this is night and day, just subtle....
Upper frequencies seem to be ever so slightly more pronounced/accentuated
Lower registers are more articulate and further defined
Improvement on visceral impact
More relaxed and, shall I say, calm background
Background sounds more pronounced/noticeable but not in your face
All of the above are still the same, but are no longer as subtle as they were, when I first put the cable in. The placement of singers and instruments, along with the image specificity has definitely improved as well. The separation of singers is now very clear and the distance between them has improved....and not by just a little bit. Extremely calm background.
One aspect that I am not sure I like, is that the tonal balance has now shifted. It does sound a little lean. More accurate, but still a little lean. Now, I will say this. The streaming rig did the same thing at one point, and while it sounded great, it just wasn't preferred. I actually preferred the tonal balance of the other clock cable, but I also prefer the aforementioned aspects of this cable. Like I said, Love/hate relationship.
Looks like might have to upgrade the PC from the SRA Signature to the Takshaka on the Esoteric transport and quite possibly the DAC as well, if I want to get that tonal balance back. That's what I ended up doing on the streaming portion of the rig and it worked like a charm. Those Takshaka's definitely bring great tonal balance and weight to the sound.
Since it is taking so long for this to burn in, I will just keep it playing non-stop for about another week, then revisit. Enjoying the tunes along the way.
Tom
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Installed Vera-Fi Audio Snubway and Main Stream plugins. Nice cleanup in SQ. As usual, you notice the noise more in its absence than its presence. Thought I didn't need the filters with everything running through a PS Audio P10. Bad logic. I wasn't doing anything about the flow to the regenerator which, in an apartment building where I don't have a dedicated circuit, is/was a problem.
Thanks for the tip, Tom!
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You are welcome @Dr_Wu. When you target specific noise that enters the system, what you don't hear, makes you hear further into the music. I'm honestly glad I was able to help. Enjoy the music, brother.
Oh, play around with placement, if you haven't already. It does make a difference.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
I demonstrated Drew's cables and the Hartleys to a couple of sons of the roofing Co. owner.
Wow, they said.
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
Added a new piece of furniture yesterday to the listening room; my first treadmill. Plopped it in the sda sweet spot and that's likely going to be it's spot for the foreseeable future. I really need to do something as it's too cold or rainy to walk outside and my Stairmaster really started bothering my knees.
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WAIT!! There's no laundry piled on it.....This belongs in the you're doing it wrong thread.....
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WAIT!! There's no laundry piled on it.....This belongs in the you're doing it wrong thread.....
Hey now don't knock the people that pile their laundry on them. That could be the reason I own it as it was a freebie from fbmp. I'm happy especially since it's an $1,800 commercial Nordictrack unit with no issues. -
Haha! My treadmill is in the near vicinity of my listening room, though far removed from the sweet spot.
Congrats on your commitment to your health!
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM
