Do you miss those days?
organ
Posts: 4,969
You know, the days when your system was nothing compared to what it is now, and you'd spend so much time on little tweaks trying to maximize performance? Or getting really juiced because you just got yourself a new receiver. I miss the cheaper upgrades and tweaks I used to do.
As the rig gets better, tweaks begin to cost more and more:(.
As the rig gets better, tweaks begin to cost more and more:(.
Post edited by organ on
Comments
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Oops, forgot to mention. It was the days when you first discovered new things like pro-logic, AC-3 (DD), proper 2ch set up and all those audio stuff. You're first set of seperates, or first dedicated cd player. Being so juiced up opening up that new component from the box, and then smelling the air as it opens. Adrenalline pumping. It was so much fun!
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No I don't miss those days, because I tweek once, set it, forget it & sit back & enjoy it!
Some people are their own worse enemy.Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2 -
:d:d:d rotflmao!!! :d:d:dyou could take ronco to a whole new level ms. C.
set it, forget it, sit back & enjoy it. :dMarantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2 -
I am still living those simple days....
Still trying to set up my cheapie 2 channel system with the bare essentials. No expensive components (although all brand-new).....just maximizing what I already have. -
Danny,
That's cool. I'm trying to bring back those simple days. I'm thinking about doing the same thing with a pair of cheap entry level PSB or Paradigm bookshelfs. It's a lot of fun.
Cathy,
It's not really being your own worst enemy, I mean, when the gear you buy begin to get expensive, you want to make sure you're getting the best you possible can.
I don't think anyone would Ronco a pair of B&W's and Rotel seperates. -
I'm happy with what I have. I may try a different tube pre- ($500) about once a year.
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Well if you get the best that your money can buy, which is what you should do. Why can't you just sit back and enjoy it?
Tweeking is simply an excuse to find something wrong in a perfectly good system to give said tweeker an excuse to go spend even more money on something else.
Then moan & groan about missing those good old days!;):p:DCathy, It's not really being your own worst enemy, I mean, when the gear you buy begin to get expensive, you want to make sure you're getting the best you possible can.
I don't think anyone would Ronco a pair of B&W's and Rotel seperates.Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2 -
I'm in the process of tweaking again and measuring distances betweek the speakers and listening position. I don't miss this ****.
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I remember getting a Technics cassete deck because it had DBX, which I thought was far better than Dolby. Or, upgrading my TT cartridge was always a cool one too.
Getting my first Sony cd player in 85 was pretty cool. I paid 500 bucks for it because Stereo Review said that's about as low as they'd get.
My latest upgrade was a sub, and I haven't really enjoyed trying to get it dialed in. I must be getting old.My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself. -
Actually the old days involved dual mono amps; a pre-amp, a phono pre-amp, dual cassette decks, an equalizer, a dbx noise reduction unit for those tape decks, an 8 track player, a turntable; a mixer for making tapes, an equalizer….it was insane. At night the whole room would glow and be lit up like a Christmas tree. I think the power company misses those days more than I do.
I do remember thinking it was pretty cool back in the day though. ‘Remember 45’s ????? -
I remember getting a Technics cassete deck because it had DBX, which I thought was far better than Dolby. Or, upgrading my TT cartridge was always a cool one too.
Getting my first Sony cd player in 85 was pretty cool. I paid 500 bucks for it because Stereo Review said that's about as low as they'd get.
My latest upgrade was a sub, and I haven't really enjoyed trying to get it dialed in. I must be getting old.
I remember paying $ 1500 just to own a Pioneer PDM-6 the worlds first 6 disc CD player. That was like owning Pfizer stock in those days. -
cable tweeks, one at a time, been there done that.....there's always an improvement to be made.[
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Some people are their own worse enemy.
this would be me. I'm always thinking i mught be able to get a little more by trying this or that. But if it wasn't for that mind set i wouldn't be where i am today with my car and home stuff
Speakers:
Definitive BP7001sc mains
Definitive C/L/R 3000 center
Polk RT800i's rears
Definitive supercube I Sub
Audio:
Onkyo TX-NR3010
Emotiva XPA five Gen 3
OPPO BDP-103 CD, SACD, DVD-A
Video:
Panasonic TC-P65ZT60
OPPO BDP-103 Bluray
Directv x's 2 -
Danny,
That's cool. I'm trying to bring back those simple days. I'm thinking about doing the same thing with a pair of cheap entry level PSB or Paradigm bookshelfs. It's a lot of fun.
I believe I started a thread here a long time ago about this....but I get more satisfaction out of assembling a good sounding, but inexpensive system. My current system is basically a Cambridge Audio integrated amp ($250.00 new from Audio Advisor), a $100.00 Sony DVD/SACD/CD player, and a pair of Energy Connoisseur C-3 bookshelf speakers. I may plug in my cheapie turntable ($100.00 Technics belt-drive turntable), but that's about it. Cost me less than $850.00 to assemble the whole thing including cables and stands. Certainly not the best but I get good sound for not a lot of $$$. Spend the rest of my money on music. -
As the rig gets better, tweaks begin to cost more and more:(.
That is true, but dang my rig sounds good these days. It is so worth it to me. I'm planning to upgrade my preamp next and I'm hoping to get a Modwright SWL 9.0 to replace my $300 entry level tube preamp. It's so fun getting new gear. -
You know when you reach the point that pretty much everything you play sounds good and you tell yourself im happy with what I have, sure there may be better out there but this sounds so good I dont want to upgrade you are in a good spot, and then you decide to upgrade because you read somewhere that something else sounds so much better than what you have.
I miss the days that the system sounded so good because the upgrade and new tweaks sound like **** now compared to what it did and it wasnt an upgrade in sound.
My one and only piece of advice if your reach the point where you are truly happy with the sound you have is this dont get rid of anything till you try the new item/s out and make certain it is truly an upgrade, just because some reviewer said somewhere this new item is better than what you currently have doesnt make it so, and it may not have the same synergy with the rest of your components.
You can spend so much time and money on new toys that you miss whats really important, the whole reason for doing this, the listening too and enjoyment of the music and or movies.
REGARDS SNOWWell, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all
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That's what we are ALL waiting for Mike!
Great post Snow.:)I'm happy with my set up.
The only thing I want are more classic rock SACD titles released. Is that too much to ask for Sony? Dag nabbitt.Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2 -
My one and only piece of advice if your reach the point where you are truly happy with the sound you have is this dont get rid of anything till you try the new item/s out and make certain it is truly an upgrade, just because some reviewer said somewhere this new item is better than what you currently have doesnt make it so, and it may not have the same synergy with the rest of your components.
For many audiophiles, the improvement in sound is secondary. Let's be honest -- it's the thrill of the hunt that gets the adrenaline pumping. It's like pursuing a woman... once the deed is done and the thrill is gone, it's time to go on the prowl again (if you're single:p).
Everything that's good has a tension and a release of tension. For instance, many people love horror, action, and suspense films for this reason. Audiophiles, like most other hobbyists, enjoy the "catch and release" phenomenon. We do things, not for the end goal (i.e., the best sound), because in audio, there's no such reality. Instead, we're content with perpetual experimentation, not ultimate gratification.HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50 LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub
"God grooves with tubes." -
I remember getting a Technics cassete deck because it had DBX, which I thought was far better than Dolby. Or, upgrading my TT cartridge was always a cool one too.
Getting my first Sony cd player in 85 was pretty cool. I paid 500 bucks for it because Stereo Review said that's about as low as they'd get.
My latest upgrade was a sub, and I haven't really enjoyed trying to get it dialed in. I must be getting old.
That's because DBX was better than dolby. By leaps. Any NR system that could produce a 95db signal to noise ratio should've been a slam dunk for the record industry. Unfortunately, DBX couldn't get the studios, and labels to play along, so prerecorded cassettes were all produced with the dolby system and their unrealized HX Pro propoganda. Yea, I'm bitter.
DJ= 8-->{I> -
Being so juiced up opening up that new component from the box, and then smelling the air as it opens.
Funny how something so trivial....that has absolutely nothing to do with the performance of the product....is really one of the coolest things when buying a new component.
My other favorite new component ritual is popping the hood open and looking inside ( And taking pictures ) before ever even plugging it in.
That way I can look at the pics while listening , and see what I am going to mod after the new wears off
The first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club
