Audiophile Growing Pains

Gaara

Anyone have any funny or frustrating stories about lessons learned as a "Audiophile".

For example when I first got into this hobby ~5 years ago I got really into cables and was spending way more on them than I should have. I bought from Avic Cable who still is in the business today.

Well I wised up about a year after spending ~ $500 on cables and realized I was being ripped off, and all the guy was doing is taking standard Canare/Belden cables and putting techflex on them. Of course he gave them fancy names and spewed all kinds of jargon mixed with specs to, which to a fledgling audiophile was very convincing. The $90 1m Component Video was really Belden 7787a which could be had for $45 at BJC. The stereo audio and digital coax was Canare L-5CFB which could be had at Heartland for $30 and $15 respectively. The $100 speaker wire was Canare 4S11 with cheap connectors, I could have better made at Heartland for ~$65.

Even the sub I bought was a Dayton Titanic in disguise, I could have gotten it for ~$500 on PE assembled and he was selling them for $900 w/ "tweaks" which turned out to be bs.

So in the end I was spending 2x what I should have because the guy was spewing snake oil about skin effect and velocity propagation and I bought it up. So lesson learned, before blindly buying anything do a little research. Many companies just brand common cable (Signal included) to make it their own and to charge a mark up.

Serendipity

Gaara wrote: »

Anyone have any funny or frustrating stories about lessons learned as a "Audiophile".

I have quite a few, which include being scammed on a purchase and overpriced cables (Straight Wire Analog IC's). PM me if you want details...

shack

Gaara wrote:

Anyone have any funny or frustrating stories about lessons learned as a "Audiophile".

No, I can't recall a purchase or direction I've taken in this hobby that would fall under that category.

cfrizz

Neither can I Shack, because I stay as far away from the title of "Audiophile" as I can get.

It is simply another word for SNOB who thinks his crap don't stink.

I also firmly believe in the saying "If it sounds too good to be true it probably is."

I do my research & let common sense & my ears be my guide.

steveinaz

My biggest adjustment was after selling my Bose 901 VI's I owned for almost 14 years. No matter what you may think about their "value" or price-to-performance ratio, they have a very smooth quality to their sound; they are a very easy speaker to listen to. My first switch back into traditional forward radiating speakers (Pinnacle CGT's) took some time---everything sounded in-your-face, fatiguing, digititis out the ****. An upgraded source started snapping things into focus, and my DAC got me the rest of the way there. It took me years to figure out that the Pinnacle speakers were actually very, very good--and sometimes I regret ever selling them off as Pinnacle has gone all HT shiney-crap, tiny drivers now. What a shame, they made some wonderful speakers.

mule

Ignorance is bliss...

I learned that you can spend 1500 at circuit city and have a decent system that is all you really need and you have to spend 5x that to get a truly noticeable improvement.

If I had only continued to drive past that fancy pants audio store and never stopped, I would still be happy with my fancy boom box and had a good bit more money in my pockets

steveinaz

It's like my favorite saying "the better your equipment gets, the better it has to be."

danger boy

I think the term audiophile is overused... not to downplay anyone's system, but I think most of us would probably not qualify as being a true audiophile... at least not with the level of gear most of us have. certainly not me. :eek:

steveinaz

I think an audiophile is simply someone who really gets into music and their equipment--nothing more. It doesn't represent a price tag, or some esoteric level of equipment.

danger boy

can you be an audiophile with a $149 boom box? :eek:

mule

I will quote someone from the forum, I don't remember who it was and maybe not the exact quote but I think it is a good one and one to keep things in perspective...

you listen to the music and not the equipment.

obieone

An audiophile is described as someone who is enthusiastic of music reproduction.
When it becomes an OBSESSION, then it's called something else.:eek::D
It's all a question of perspective.

Serendipity

cfrizz wrote: »

I also firmly believe in the saying "If it sounds too good to be true it probably is."

Yeah, but there are some people out on A-gon and eBay that scam unsuspecting buyers who honestly thought they were getting a good deal.

cfrizz

You are most likely right Steve. However, the term always ends up somehow emphasizing the "price tag & esoteric level of gear." And the attitude that goes with it!:D

steveinaz wrote: »

I think an audiophile is simply someone who really gets into music and their equipment--nothing more. It doesn't represent a price tag, or some esoteric level of equipment.

Gaara

steveinaz wrote: »

I think an audiophile is simply someone who really gets into music and their equipment--nothing more. It doesn't represent a price tag, or some esoteric level of equipment.

That is what I meant it to be, the literal meaning which I think is to love to listen. I choose that term instead of "music lover" or "2ch enthusiast" because it seems more all encompassing. My system is used more for games then anything else, so most terms don't really describe a person like myself.

I'm surprised no one else has any learning experiences, Steve you had your holy grail experience going from what a $60 coax to the $15 special.

Ern Dog

I became aware of my first growing pain when I started reading Polk Forum. I realized that I made the mistake of buying an Onkyo avr that didn't have pre-outs. So to get the benefit of an external amp, I had to buy another avr with pre-outs first. Live and learn.

woofiepaws

The biggest pain has been not buying what I really wanted, and then upgrading to reach that level and spending a lot more money.

The second pain has been learning to not buy new. Audiogon is my friend!

NotaSuv

An audiophile.... hhhhhhhhhmmmmm a level I dream to reach one day

fossy

Pain can also be a blessing though --- $100 pair of 7c's have sent the $900 lsi9's to the audio closet ... but I would have never even known about the older polk's had it not been for this forum .... so pain & pleasure .... yea baby

I'm sure I will find use for them in a later application --

Frank840

I alway thought Rca cables were digital untell I switch to fiber optic. let me explain. i use to have my cable box (Comcast) hook up with rca's to the reciever. same with the dvd player ect. well those movies said dolby digital. well there was nothing digital about. i switch to fiber optic and went to go change one of the setting on the reciever and it wouldnt let me it kept saying Dolby Digital. i had to readjust speaker levels but Digital over analog I love it. I felt like a idiot and was happy about it.. so now every thing is fiber optic.. also little thing on how to use the reciever like how to get bass out the fronts with a subwoofer without being in 2 channel.. I just love audio stuff..

reeltrouble1

I wish I had not wasted so much money on life's necessaties.

RT1