#61
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My first audiophile stereo started when I graduated college in 1981.
SAE/JBL was high end to me back then, and before digital took hold. This is my latest mix of components. The MBL omni-directional speakers are eerily holographic - close your eyes, the speakers disappear, and the musicians are in front of you! Say what you will about being an audiophile, but to me this has been a fun and rewarding hobby trying to get small improvements in audio resolution and realism. Sometimes diminishing returns dictates, but many times it is just amazing the results! MBL 101E speakers Jeff Rowland 925 amps EMM Labs DV2 DA/Preamp REL212SE subwoofer Last edited by gfro; 05-04-2022 at 11:29 AM. |
#62
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I've been listening critically for about 40 years now - more of a high end mid-fi guy that knows how to set up my stereo for optimum performance. I've known so many over the years that spend zillions on uber high end gear and miss that most important part. The first consideration when I move into a new space is which room gets the system
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving" |
#63
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Tony
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“The guitar is a wonderful thing which is understood by few.” — Franz Schubert "Alexa, where's my stuff?" - Anxiously waiting... |
#64
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Just as with GAS where the 'G' is "guitar", so it can easily be with audio gear. For those with money to burn, I am sure it is great fun. As I recall, there was an audio magazine for the cheap skates like me. That is where I found out about the Advent 300 receiver. Tony
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“The guitar is a wonderful thing which is understood by few.” — Franz Schubert "Alexa, where's my stuff?" - Anxiously waiting... |
#65
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Reformed audiophile; good enough audio on the cheap
When I started making some money in the computer profession, I attempted to get some audophile gear. Strangely, I found, the more money I spend, the less happy I got with the equipmnent. Unless unlimited funds are available, it is always a compromise of some sort.
Having spent a ton of money, I always felt like "for all that money" the end results were just never good enough. I realized that this was madness. So I changed tactics. Now I swore of the pursuit of the "best" and just try to get something that sounds "good enough" for sane money, and worry about listening to the music instead. For my casual listening while working, I have a super inexpensive Lepai Tripath amp. Run into a pair of Micca speakers, I bought open box, for something like < 100$ for the pair. The Miccas feature a silk dome tweater, and a Feistel network based x-over. Feel free to laugh at me, but it is a rather natural sounding setup, with a lot of detail, esp. for vocals or combo jazz. Encouraged by the positove experience with the Miccas, I ended up installing 8" in-wall Micca speakers for my library, which I run off of an old German Dual stereo amp, I found in my father-in-law-s estate. Both of these are fed by their own Grace Designs O2 external SDAC. Given that the dac, and and speakers are good enough to reproduce all the detail, I find that the mastering/recording matters a lot, probably more than the sound chain (as long as some minimal standards are met for the repro chain) . I listen to a lot of hi-res digital audio, and pay a lot of attention to picking good recordings done by a known quality sound engineer. Recording well is hard, esp classical orchestral music. I also have an old Oppo blueRay player which plays SACD-s for my home theater. That setup has a multi channel Onkyo receiver, with all Infinity speakers. So what t I learnt, is for me at least, spending non-trivial money on hifi is counterproductive. |
#66
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@coder’s post got me thinking a little.
I started trying to buy higher end audiophile equipment a long time ago. The first thing I realized was it was an expensive hobby. You buy, you listen, you sell, you buy, you listen. Very passive as well. Additionally, like GAS and the guitar bug, fueled by all the wonderful instruments out there and especially on a forum of enthusiasts, there is always better, nicer, lovelier, unique, special, whims out there. It makes you want, yearn and spend. I solved my problem by channeling my basic electronics and high voltage switching experience (limited) into building stereo and speakers. I stink at wood work though. I made a few nice amps and DACs (which currently need repair) and kept myself off the streets for a while. But, unlike guitars, you can have too many amps (IMO [emoji849]). Now, it is guitars. I want to play and interact more with the music and spend less time critically listening. |
#67
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Autitioning audio gear
Pretty sure this has been said before, I think there is a significant factor of "we hear what we want to hear". I am surprised at the passionate arguments folks put up based on entirely subjective and casual auditioning about some totally ridiculous topics. For example, oxygen free copper.
I once had an argument with a friend of mine who swore he could hear the difference beween a cheap and expensive USB cable. Hmm. no concept of "digital", and apparently overactive imagination. I think a person's current state of mind and expectations matter more than reality. I think it is a fair question "But, can you pick out the better sounding [subsitute your favorite topic here] in a blind test? Esp with the kind of money at stake, I think that should be a fair requirement. But, surprisingly I do not see this done too often. What happens instead, some self-anointed expert comes along, and talks about the topic in poetical, colorful, but mostly meaningless terms. When somebody says "smooth bass" or "muddy" or "clinical" or "harsh" or "brittle" or any of these favorite BS terms, my eyes start to bleed. Maybe that means something to somebody, but I put forward that there is no universally valid interpretation, of what those poetical terms actually mean. I think we agree that there are gross differences that anybody can hear. A high-end stereo probably can be picked out in a blind test when compared to a cheap integreated $60 computer sound system. Why is the blind test method not done more? I think people love to talk about audio in these strange terms, and to somehow feel superior to others that dont. It goes something like: "I have a lot more money to blow on audio than you do, and I am an expert and you are not. Now adore and emulate me". |
#68
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Certainly some things are hoodoo, and just the result of rampant capitalism. But, relatively frequently over on the actual guitar part of the forum, somebody starts a thread that goes something like "My $300 import sounds just as good as your $30k Olson, and I won't be convinced otherwise." Usually somebody on one of these threads will say something like "just because you can't hear a difference, it doesn't mean other people can't hear a difference... you don't know what they hear." There's some of this involved here too. Discerning difference takes practice, and we're all wired differently. Though, certainly there are quite a few people out there whose livelihoods rely on convincing use that there is a difference, and that difference is not only worth the money, but will also make us happier. Clearly the truth lies somewhere in between the two extremes.
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"What have I learned but the proper use for several tools" -Gary Snyder Bourgeois DR-A / Bowerman "Working Man's" OM / Martin Custom D-18 (adi & flame) / Martin OM-21 / Northwood M70 MJ / 1970s Sigma DR-7 / Eastman E6D / Flatiron Signature A5 / Silverangel Econo A (Call me Dan) |
#69
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Audiophiles
I think the spirit of this thread was for AGF users to share their audio systems in a positive way. Coder, just as you accuse others of hearing what they want to hear, it seems to me that you believe what you want to believe. Your negative experiences with high end audio may be vastly different from others. For instance, I have enjoyed listening to my high end two-channel system for over twenty years, and through many small and larger upgrades. For me, one of the most enjoyable parts of my week is being home alone and sitting down to listen to music with my eyes closed and undisturbed. It is very peaceful and relaxing. It's hard to explain, but when listening to a great recording on a great system and imagining the musical performance happening right in front of me, an enjoyable part of my brain gets stimulated that does not happen in any other way.
Also, just because you believe audio components should be selected by blind listening tests, does not mean that others share your views. I for one, don't want to choose my audio components that way. Looks, company reputation, reliability, features, cost, size and product design philosophy are some of the factors I consider when choosing what audio components to buy. Also, one small upgrade may not make a noticeable difference at first, but combining lots of upgrades over time does. Do you follow your own advice in other areas? For instance, the purchase of a car is a big expense. Do you sit blind folded as a passenger in several cars during test drives to see which car you like the best? Of course not, because there are many other more important factors that go into purchasing a car. I consider myself very knowledgeable about high end audio, but I certainly don't try to force my opinions on anyone else. I also don't brag about how costly my audio equipment is. I am not a wealthy person, so investing in audio equipment is a big consideration for me. Because I get so much enjoyment from it, I think it is worth it. I have also purchased almost all of my audio gear as pre-owned from websites like Audiogon. Quote:
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John Tucson, AZ 2020 Kraut 00, Swiss/Brazilian, build 2018 Eady EG Pro Electric, Redwood/Mahogany 2013 Baranik Meridian, Blue Spruce/Cocobolo, build 2008 Baranik CX, Blue Spruce/African Blackwood 2008 Breedlove A20 Masterclass 12-string, Adi/IRW 2003 Thames classical, Euro/Brazilian Fodera Standard 4 Fretless bass, figured walnut Last edited by Cocobolo Kid; 05-05-2022 at 05:32 PM. |
#70
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I used to think interconnects were pretty much all the same and the differences were negligible. After some comparisons I believe there can be significant differences that are readily apparent. OTOH, I believe speaker wire does not make much of a difference. YMMV.
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#71
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I can tell you without hesitation that there was a significant difference. The old CD player was one of the early Adcoms, so that was part of it, but there is not doubt in my mind that the upgrade from 20.00 to 80-100.00 interconnects had something to do with it as well. I do close field listening in a completely darkened room, and it really sucks you in. Subtle differences become quite apparent.
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving" |
#72
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#73
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#74
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I trust my ears. But it depends on the entire system. When I had a $2,000 system it didn't make a difference. On a $10,000 system, I hear the difference very clearly. YMMV. |
#75
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https://ethanwiner.com/myths.html For a time I bought into at least the possibility mentioned in the hype. Later I focused mainly on the speakers and the room acoustics.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |