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How you know your system is improving?

Fellow Audio Junkies - 

Over the last few years, I've invested in my first high end system. It's been a far costlier affair than I'd initially conceived. I started off simply wanting to listen to music in my home. At this stage of my life, I was fortunate to have some resources to invest which led me down the path of reading forums and reviews, while also having the opportunity to visit a few audio stores to demo equipment.

And down the rabbit hole I went... Once I realized all the nuances of equipment and their impact on the listening experience, I became fascinated with creating the most satisfying musical experience in my house. I ended up purchasing several amps, three sets of speakers, NOS power tubes, and a myriad combination of power cords.

With each investment, I would often remark to myself "yes - I hear an improvement..." But sometimes a doubt would cross my mind. Is this some sort of confirmation bias I've got going? Am I just throwing money away? Do I need to see a shrink? 

Admittedly, I was largely convinced things were improving, but a small part of my brain recognized I might be have been chasing windmills... 

Which brings me to this question: "How do you know your system is improving after you've made a system change or hopeful upgrade?" 

For me, a moment came last night when I put on a piece of music - Beth Orton - and played a track that a year ago sounded muddy or poorly recorded. There have been several system changes since I last played that Beth Orton track. As I began streaming over Quboz, I could hear details in the music which had been previously fuzzy and hidden. The tone of her voice was more real. Guitar strings came out of the fog... 

I guess the concept I often read about here, "using a test track" had become my new litmus test on whether my system was improving. It was inadvertent, but I think I'll default to this approach more consistently moving forward, going back to a few tracks that have proven to be challenging with the current system and giving them a go when a new component gets added. 

Yes, I know... nothing radical here. But would welcome how many of you benchmark improvements in your own systems! 

128x128bluethinker
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,140 posts
 

both @hilde45 ​​​​​@mahgister are two of the more thoughtful members on this site. I enjoy reading posts from both.
This supposed rivalry is downright silly.

 

Since more than 1 year nothing will do...😁

I even apologized for my bad english many times... In private and in few threads...I think that he was wise and interesting person for discussion.. I dont think that anymore.....

He is coming back more arrogant each time...

He never replied with an argument to any of my post answering his reasoning..He decided then to use sarcasms and patronizing as he just did correcting my writing or complaining by my number posts,he harassed my postings about an acoustic revolution right now , just 2 weeks ago with no reason to do so and he never read one anyway..He is too dumb it seems to understand the 6 articles i posted about an earth shattering revolution in acoustics...

Why is it doing this with me and not others?

Many others wrote a not so good english here...

The reason is simple this dude who boasted to be a very world well known corrector, as he said, is an arrogant narcissist who cannot support that i cited and used many philosophers or scientists and any content over his head...

if i am wrong why only my bad english posts and only my posts could attract his arrogant patronising sarcasms ?

I apologised to him at least 6 or 7 times to make a friend for discussion sake,since more than a year even in private...I will not do more...I am no more interested by this empty head patronizing corrector...

it is an hypocrit who calculated well his replies...He knows that i reacted thats my character...

 

😁😊

By the way in my 8 years here i only encounter two narrow minds...

One who is no more here who accused me of killing people ( science gave me reason now) and our "corrector"...

It is a good score... Even in heated discussion everyone here is likeable... Anyway i entertain no gruges against anyone... But i reply if someone say that "tastes" is the center of audio which is not even wrong and misleading ..I gave arguments not mere sarcasms...

😊

 

 

 

 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,935 posts
 

For those looking for improvements and a frugal way  to make the “ investment “ consider a used copy of Jim Smith’s book on getting better sound ( and enjoyment ).

 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,186 posts
 

You didnot mentin the cost.

In Audio this rabbit hole never ends !

If streaming that is the biggest weakness in most 

Audio systems an absolute since digital noise travels

House to house ,from your modem router combo

A LPS power supply a Must, thst $5 wall wart adds to the noise 

Linear tube audio ,on audiogon  make a Great lps

Thats a good start then good ethernet cables  

Upgraded ethernet hub and decent power cords.

 

markkpa
14 posts
 

Two guidelines have served me well over the years - both are good indicators that my system is improving: 1) I find myself turning up the volume.  Generally, as distortion goes down, I’ll be inclined to listen at louder levels.  When I turn down the volume, I’m more likely to be objecting to some artifact of distortion rather than decibels.  2) I find myself watching less TV.

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,978 posts
 

I SAID:

I’m trying to follow, so is this what you said, basically? (I tried to rephrase it.)

Then I put in an extensive rephrasing.

Does anyone see how I'm trying to understand Mahgister? Is that so unclear?

But instead Mahgister says:

Since more than 1 year nothing will do...😁
I even apologized for my bad english many times... In private and in few threads...I think that he was wise and interesting person for discussion.. I dont think that anymore.....
He is coming back more arrogant each time...

QUESTION: What is arrogant about asking someone if I am understanding them? That is sympathetic and kind, in my world.

Instead, we get a triggered response from Mahgister. Take a deep breath and try to see sympathy when it comes your way.

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