If I only knew then....

TroyD

Originally posted by billbillw
How about if someone says "They can hear a difference", but a scope/meter CANNOT measure any difference?

I can think of a few examples, but those arguements have been beaten to death around here.

I've got one for you....a solid state amp will usually outperform, in terms of specifications and measured performance, a tube unit. If that's true, why do people listen to tubes? The answer, IMO, is because not every audible difference will have a corresponding measurement on a scope, chart or graph.

BDT

polksda

"The vast majority of qualitative absolutes pontificated in this forum are merely personal preferences."

billbillw

Originally posted by TroyD
I've got one for you....a solid state amp will usually outperform, in terms of specifications and measured performance, a tube unit. If that's true, why do people listen to tubes? The answer, IMO, is because not every audible difference will have a corresponding measurement on a scope, chart or graph.

BDT

I'm sure with a sensitive mic, a high resolution recording plotted with 3-D waterfall spectrograph software could easily show differences in the freq response in a comparision like that. I totally agree that specs don't always translate to good sound. I was referring more to those more intangible differences in sound that only some "golden ears" can claim to hear.

mantis

Great topic Troy as much as it pains me to agree with you I do.

I have learned a ton over the years. I agree with waiting untill you can afford what you really want instead of settling. I did that many times and it always came back to me wanting more.

This time around, I bought exaclty what I wanted and I'm completely happy. For the first time , I can truely say that.

As far as the HT thing goes, well thats your opnion and I don't share that one. I love movies just as much as music and I tried the 2 channel thing with movies and find myself digging a full 5.1 or 7.1 system more. Different strokes and all that stuff.

Wire makes a huge difference as well as everything else. I'm still a firm believer of the system is what matters. The parts need to fit together and work well together to make a great system. I have really no order of Importance. If I had one, speakers would be first, then Preamp and amp that matches. Wire comes right in as they have to be connected somehow that makes sense.

I 2 have much to learn and I enjoy it so much. Our bussiness kinda is going in a different direction and I'm cool with that. more is better sometimes. Simple is still nice but I love all the new things. Sound quality Importance is the one thing I don't care for that the general public is getting away from. I don't think THEY ever had it, but the small group of people like us still enjoy that more then anything else. I know I do , do you???

I like to think I have a have a much more open mind. I feel I have been blinded in the past with brand names and others opnions. After I got past that and allowed myself to be more open, I found many cool things I didn't before. I was quick to judge and didn't allow myself to experience the product enough before laying judgment on it. It's nice I gotta admit.

Dan

TroyD

Dan,

We just may make a 2ch guy out of you yet.

Hell, you never know, one of these days you might even tube gear.

BDT

ND13

While doing some semi-critical listening last night, I decided to swap out the speakers. One thing that I have to say is this:

I would like to give a big, wet, sloppy kiss, square on the lips, to the person who invented the banana ends. They make our lives so much easier. Nothing like swapping out speakers in seconds flat.

That being said, I think I'm becoming addicted to SDA's. Is there an antidote?

steveinaz

Probably the biggest lesson I've learned is that source material is the weakest link in any system. Before you start chasing your tail with upgrade after upgrade, make sure your source material isn't at fault. Some CD's sound awful, there's no piece of equipment made that can fix that.

heiney9

No known antidote…….Just get a spare pair just in case!!



H9

heiney9

Originally posted by steveinaz
Probably the biggest lesson I've learned is that source material is the weakest link in any system. Before you start chasing your tail with upgrade after upgrade, make sure your source material isn't at fault. Some CD's sound awful, there's no piece of equipment made that can fix that.

Steve,

I couldn’t agree more with your statement. I always find myself gravitating towards recorded material that is exceptionally produced, lately. It just seems to heighten the listening experience for me. There are certain cd’s I can’t listen to, even though I like the music. The recording quality is not that great and it ruins the enjoyment somewhat. It can be really frustrating sometimes to find great music and have it poorly recorded/mixed. Of course there are always exceptions. The source material is the weakest link in a system, PERIOD.

H9

dcarlson

After a couple of recent upgrades and the addtion of more tubes in the mix, I've found that CDs I previously thought were bad recordings have now come to life. I enjoy them much more.

Others that I thought were good recordings now sound overdone. Go figure.

ND13

Originally posted by heiney9
No known antidote…….Just get a spare pair just in case!!



H9

I'm kinda in that process as we speak. I have 2nd dibs on a set of SRS 2s. I get that tingly feeling all over when I think about it. As good as the 2B's sound, I know the SRSs will have to be a noticeable improvement.

wallstreet

Don't argue religion.

Don't argue politics. I've never seen anyone change their point of view on the previous two.

I like digital. LP's, tapes, tubes, knock yourself out.

It doesn't bother me that you don't agree with me.

I'll never have enough money.

I'm happy with the money I have.

I'd rather listen than talk.

I like to argue with opinionated people whether I agree with what I'm arguing about.

michael_w

Damnit all this talk on get what you really want and if you can't afford it save up for it is starting to get to me. Both my sources (dvd players - one for ht one for 2ch) have recently kicked the bucket and I'm going nuts thinking about things like a Cambridge D500SE or Rotel 1070....

Some pretty good advice people. Keep it comin.

mantis

TroyD,
I love 2 channel and the sound of great tube pre's and amps. I really like Audio Research.One day if I can afford to get into gear like that, I will. I'm sticking to the "If I want it and can't afford it, I'm not replacing it with what I can get into". I want to live by that to a certain degree. Out of my league stuff will stay there unless my wife hits the lottery.

I do however plan in the near future building a 2 channel rig. My theater needs to be completed first, then I'm building the 2 channel rig. I already got plans on what I'm gonna use unless something else comes along and tickles me more.

Dan

heiney9

Originally posted by ND13
I'm kinda in that process as we speak. I have 2nd dibs on a set of SRS 2s. I get that tingly feeling all over when I think about it. As good as the 2B's sound, I know the SRSs will have to be a noticeable improvement.

Noel,

I kick myself everyday for not owning a pair of SDA’s. The reason I’m so upset is I used to sell them back when they were new and with accommodation pricing I could have had a pair or two for next to nothing. I bought my RTA-11’s about a year before I started working at the audio store and thought those were just fine. In hindsight, while I’m still very happy w/ my ‘11’s, I wish I had bought a pair of SDA’s. I know I can get them used, but I’m not a big fan of purchasing high-ticket used speakers. Plus hardly any come up for sale in my neck of the woods. I positively won’t have them shipped.

I had the chance all those years ago and I missed out, and I’ve been regretting it ever since. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. J

H9

ND13

Originally posted by heiney9
Noel,

I kick myself everyday for not owning a pair of SDA’s. The reason I’m so upset is I used to sell them back when they were new and with accommodation pricing I could have had a pair or two for next to nothing. I bought my RTA-11’s about a year before I started working at the audio store and thought those were just fine. In hindsight, while I’m still very happy w/ my ‘11’s, I wish I had bought a pair of SDA’s. I know I can get them used, but I’m not a big fan of purchasing high-ticket used speakers. Plus hardly any come up for sale in my neck of the woods. I positively won’t have them shipped.

I had the chance all those years ago and I missed out, and I’ve been regretting it ever since. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. J

H9

Since you're in my neck of the woods, if the deal goes through, and I get the SRS 2s, we might be able to work something out for my 2Bs. And you're right, I wouldn't have them shipped either, except for maybe the CRS's or some with all the original packaging. They had to be shipped somewhere at sometime in the original boxes, so it must be a fairly decent way to ship them.

SCompRacer

You get what you accept.

SCompRacer

Originally posted by ND13
Since you're in my neck of the woods........

heiney in Forest City is around 3 hours from me, if it's the Forest City by Peoria. I'm up in Plainfield.