Anyone ever sit back...

VR3

And just think to yourself...

"What exactly am I trying to achieve?"

After a year or spending, saving, building the system of my dreams, I sit here satisfied -- yet with the feeling of need to upgrade more...

But what more is there to upgrade? It is like the business cycle...

You reach a point, and even though your lowest point is low, its still higher than the last lowest point -- Except in audio, it seems to be you reach a point and all other moves beyond that "level" are lateral shifts with no real gains...

I know it's a little early to be making New Years Resolutions --

But I'm not going to buy anything effing electronics the entire year of 2008 or I'm going to shoot off my left big toe...

Have a great day... lol

wingnut4772

Suuure you aren't.....I believe you.

audiobliss

Just be sure to have a friend video tape the shooting.

And if you don't have one with a video camera, lemme know...I can grab one.

shack

Just listen for awhile. Nothing more.

beardog03

I do that alot !

I am very happy with what I have acheived...very happy !

But like you said, you sit back and say.....It`s not JUST right....yet !

although what I have is no slouch, by any means, I still want more, better, different, etc.


I must say though...the new tubes have given me a new appreciation of my rig, as of late

How do you like the CDP you have ?
Is that your only source (main)

I think that once you have quality gear that has the right qualities and sound, it is just a matter of tweaking it to get it "just right"

I am always ready to go to the next level, but that leap aint cheap !!!

Demiurge

I don't have the disease where I need to constantly replace my gear. I don't know what that makes me, but I do enjoy audio a whole lot. Love my system right now. I have some upgrades I would like to make to my system to get it to the level I want to get to. Beyond that, though....I don't know, I really am satisfied.

I listen to music rather than the gear.

VR3

I absolutely love my Shanling

The only thing I would consider an upgrade is better gear from the same brand...

Thats part of my problem, how much better can it get...

I think my system performs 2-3 times what my Dad's does and his speakers alone - new - cost 9 times MORE than my entire system...

But I've spent the last 7 years just buying stuff, figuring stuff out --

And now I think I have built a setup that will put a smile on just about anyones face...

Especially mine...

Tickled to death...

VR3

But yeah --

I don't know what to tell ya... I think I may lose my mind if I change anything else... lol

Dennis Gardner

Enjoy this year's upgrade paths and whatever level of gear you've aquired while living at home by realizing that the real world outside of your little cocoon is waiting to kick your **** & take it all away..diamonds & diapers trump tubes & tires everytime.:D:D

TroyD

I've always said that if you listen to your rig and you are more preoccupied with what it lacks or what you think you aren't hearing....you are in the wrong hobby.

I've gone through a lot of gear in the past decade, mostly out of curiosity. I'm at a point though where I've heard and owned about all the stuff that I've wanted and have found the sound I like....so I don't have the desire to keep on the gear merry go round, and that's a good feeling.

BDT

John in MA

I decided it wouldn't be healthy to be into this sort of thing without a certain philosophical outlook. The ultimate goal is perfect reproduction of sound. That goal is unattainable, so I find no personal value in going nuts over merely getting close. Once at the "listenable" level changes to the hifi are only prompted by glaring faults, failures, or exceptional chance discoveries.

I see people with the money and space to sustain the pattern who do get caught up in it, and many don't appear to stay happy very long. The man with a seven channel bank of MC1201s wll be driven to replace them with MC1.2KWs. The one with the $200 interconnect will move to $400, 600, 800, 1000, and up and always feel he's missing something.

It's just a hobby after all. Hobbies are supposed to be fun. If developing a sound system becomes work and you're not getting paid for it, time to bail.

mark090852

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

But I'm not going to buy anything effing electronics the entire year of 2008 or I'm going to shoot off my left big toe...

Have a great day... lol

You can live with nine toes just fine.:D

Early B.

Here's a big lesson learned -- the "best" systems I owned were when I "downgraded."

If you think your cheap amp sounds mediocre, drop a few grand on a McIntosh or Mark Levinson or something like that, listen for a while, then put your old amp back in the mix. You may find that there are only differences in sound of the two amps, not better or worse.

Put your money in a good source and great speakers. Everything in between makes less of a difference, IMO.

VR3

I've owned so many amps...

And I must say you are nuts --

Now I am not going to sit here and tell you they will make or break a system

But they definitely have their own sound traits

Mono Blocks are so sweet, the channel seperation and depth of having mono blocks is absolutely surreal... there is no comparison

but amps definitely add or take away alot of clarity and seperation - but you will have to pay a bit to get that last 1%

This is all opinion of course, and obviously mileage may vary!

beardog03

I`m not listening to just the gear, I am improving the sound quality... a step at a time

I have reached a level that all of my gear is quality, well built gear...

The only thing I think about when I upgrade is what it may bring to the listening table, and is it going to be what I think it is....will it fix this without changing that....It`s not a majorly critical thing that I try to fix, but it`s fun to try and "fine tune"

Your right, this is a hobby, and as such I like to play with my gear.
I love music, and smooth detailed sound is my goal....and I have acheived this...in spades
but I like gear, and I want to try different brands, types. cables, speakers, etc.

That`s a big part of the fun.
I could stop right now, and be very happy with what I have, but I would miss out on all the stuff I want to experience


The new tubes just made my rig step up to a whole new level...I also swapped the Jolida tubes from some NOS Seimens, to the gold Pins I just got here at CP...
Man what a change !
I love them...they fit right in with all the other tubes / gear that I`m currently using....outstanding !

But I would like to experience Trey`s CDP one day....
It just looks so cool !!:D
I have found a keeper with the Cary F1 Pre amp...very versatile, but the Inverted thing is kinda weird to get over....keeps making me think I have done something wrong !!

beardog03

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

Mono Blocks are so sweet, the channel seperation and depth of having mono blocks is absolutely surreal... there is no comparison

That`s what I`m talkin about

That`s what I want to experience

TroyD

I dunno gang....I've gone both ways. Mono construction does not GUARANTEE good sound. There are a hell of a lot of good stereo amps out there. Like anything else, it's all in the execution of the design.

BDT

beardog03

I do love my amp..!

Dual mono design

But I have always wanted true mono amps

who knows, after a bit I might just go back to what I have...which I can always do, because she aint going anywhere !

I may see if I can do some upgrades / mod her someday, but she stay put

I bought her new , with zero miles, and I think she will go the distance

Plenty of power too...:)

hearingimpared

All in all I am happy with my rig. I know I can do better on the digital front end because I've heard better. I want and will get a high end digital front end that when I listen to it can be satisfied that it is as good as or as close as my analog front end.

After that it is just a matter of tweaking the room, and good compatible cables.

As far as the the front and the speakers being the only thing that matters . . . NOT!!!!

My dual mono designed amps coupled with the tube pre are leaps and bounds better than what I have had and have given me that great tonal accuracy that I've been chasing since I was a younster.

TroyD

Sean,

There is a HUGE difference in 'enjoying' the gear aspect of it and being 'obsessed' by it.

There are folks out there that no matter what they have or listen to, it will never be good enough. To me, that is not enjoyment unless you are masochistic. That being the case, find something that you DO enjoy.

Then, there are folks, like me, who do change out gear. I do it out of curiosity and wanting to experience different things. Personally, I've never done it because of an inherent dissatisfaction with the sound.

BDT

TroyD

Roger that!

BDT

Demiurge

Zero wrote: »

First and foremost;

Drop this “It’s all about the music” ****. Look. I’m all for a vain effort to make yourself look more grounded than your peers. If you were 100% content with nothing more than the music; you’d have little more than a tabletop radio you bought from Walmart, happy as a pig in **** with no care or concern as to what else is out there.

Where in this thread did anyone say it was all about the music?

Early B.

Zero wrote: »

Then one day, it dawned on me; why in the hell should I be looking for one system to ‘do it all’. ...I like to get a taste of everything, and it took years for my slow brain to realize that to get what I want, I’d need at least two systems.

Bingo.

The reality is, for many of us, we don't have the space, WAF, or money for multiple rigs, so one size fits all.

The trick is finding what you like most in your music or what genre you like most, then build your system around it. Forget about getting classical music to sound exceptional on your system if you only listen to it once in a blue moon.

steveinaz

Sid
Take the focus off your main rig, and put together a vintage rig. It cures the audio boredom, is realtively inexpensive, and is tons of fun.

lightman1

Trey, My two channel is vintage all around. Come on by and listen.

Serendipity

audiobliss wrote: »

Just be sure to have a friend video tape the shooting.

And if you don't have one with a video camera, lemme know...I can grab one.

I can send you a video camera too

Serendipity

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

But I'm not going to buy anything effing electronics the entire year of 2008 or I'm going to shoot off my left big toe...

Have a great day... lol

It's not 2008 yet hurry, 4 weeks left to buy the gear that you always wanted!

madmax

TroyD wrote: »

There is a HUGE difference in 'enjoying' the gear aspect of it and being 'obsessed' by it.

This is so true. Luckily I'm one of the "obsessed" ones.
madmax

beardog03

I too am possessed....

Ricardo

I don't understand you guys, always changing speakers and stuff. I have not changed anything in the last two years, and fully enjoy what I have :p:p

halo

Ricardo wrote: »

I don't understand you guys, always changing speakers and stuff. I have not changed anything in the last two years, and fully enjoy what I have :p:p

Cough, hack, cough, *horseshit*, cough, hack, cough!:p;)