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Am I a burning out audiophile????

...or am i simply a music lover to begin with???

Disregarding the debate that could potentially be born from the statement above, I sit here in my 18x18x8 room listening to Diana Krall's 'When I look in your eyes' through a pair of Totem Winds powered by a Krell kav-400xi and Jolida JD100a source. It sounds great, it truly does! It does so many things right and so little wrong! Why then, do I have the question in the back of my mind - 'is this system as musically engaging as my past system was?'

Tonally, it's better. It goes deeper. It's more accurate, smooth, well balanced, etc. etc. etc.

The prior system the back of my mind questions is that of the Totem Arros powered by a PrimaLuna Prologue Two with Cairn Fog source in a 9x11x8 room. If memory serves me correct - pure magic! What I thought at the time (and am wondering now) was the epidomy of emotional involvement!

Q.1 - am I only remembering the 'good times' with the prior system? (like how we photograph only the good times of our life and wax nostalgic about how great things used to be)

The move to the upgraded system was initiated by my desire to listen to more music with my wife. Today, (and last night, and the night before...) I still find myself listening by myself. Regardless of the extra chairs in larger space!

I also wanted to simplify and combine my seperate systems (5.1HT and 2-channel) into one higher-end 2-channel dual purpose system. The result is great sound, but perhaps not the most musically enagaging two-channel nor the most enveloping, impactful HT either? As a dual purpose system it performs great, but it isn't send ingtingles down my spine or have me toe-tapping like the smaller Arro system did.

Q.2 - have I gone too far??? Have I treaded into water where I have to think about the music too much to enjoy it??? Am I asking too much of a single system???

The road from system #1 to system #2 has had a lot of in-between systems that have just led to frustration and/or musical dissatifaction, but too much too get into detail here...

Q.3 - which brings us back to where I started; am I a burning out audiophile??? Am I simply thinking about this too much???

I don't know what I expect in response to this babble? I don't know if these questions are even 'real' or simply part of a rhetorical rant? Anyway, thanks for listening and feel free to post and thoughts or comments....
jh2os
jh2os OP
244 posts
 
The main body of the room is actually 17'8x18'8, and is open to a 8'x12' alcove on one side and a 4'x10' dormer on the other so it is not as bad as I may have led you to beleive...

...however, Erasmusj, your idea is an interesting one.

Soundlogic, your statement sounds logical. ;) I think you may be onto something there and it is something I find myself wondering as well!

I know this is good equipment and it does sound good, I am just THINKING about my system more now than ever before!

Before I had the bright idea to combine & have the money to get 'better' electronics, I didn't really question what the next best thing was, I just enjoyed the system. I need to get off this train!!!
jh2os OP
244 posts
 
Shadorne, you are absolutely correct. On more complex musical sources the Winds do out perform the Arros and at higher volumes levels as well. They outperform them on many levels and in many noticible ways. I am disturbed as while I can easily discern this and even enjoy these added benefits, something just doesn't quite seem right - the emotional engagement.
danlib1
819 posts
 
Many of us- thrilled by the musical high induced by our systems- seek to make the experience better. With some things you buy, the synergies click and there's magic. With other components, there's less synergy adding up to less emotional involvement with the music, hence less satisfaction.

Isn't this just how life is?

I think often of a line from Paul Simon that I think is central to all human experience:

"The thought that life could be better, is woven indelibly into our hearts- and our brains"

Enjoy the music.
cdc
1,838 posts
 
As I see it, there are too many choices out there. How can anyone possibly find the "Best" system with hundred of speakers and thousands of combinations to choose from.
Secondly, each system has it's strengths. Depending on the song, volume, your mood, etc., one system could sound better than another. Change the song and the "Best" system is now something else.
It's an enigma that spending more money does not gaurantee more peace of mind. It should but it doesn't, go figure.
What worked for me is single driver. If you can live with the limitations, there aren't many choices out there. So less to decide between. Because of the inherent simplicity the differences are pretty obvious.
A second option is adding a sub to a little system like mine. A third option is a speaker which runs up to 5-10kHz and add a supertweeter like the Ling.
As for your wife listening, my girlfriend tells me my little system "Sounds really good". Women don't listen in the same way as men and what may sound good to you may not sound good to her. As on dealer recently told me "There aren't many women audiophiles out there because they hear a lot more faults on stereos that men do.". So may I suggest getting your wife involved in the auditioning process and she may gain a better appreciation of stereos and who knows, with her input you may get a better stereo than you have now.
kthomas
911 posts
 
At some point you have to admit to yourself that what you've got is pretty damn good, even if there might be something better out there. That doesn't mean that you're swearing off pursuing better / different, just that you can not worry about it constantly.

I've also found that being realistic about what my room can support and what the rest of the household will tolerate helps me forget what could be, and focus on enjoying all the music I have.
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