new member, some questions, need help please


Hi, my name is Jaime.  I've been lurking this site more intensely over the past few months as i'm at the end of my career and would like to assemble a very nice, better than mediocre equipment and listening environment.  I was heavily into audio and considered myself an novice audiophile for a few year back in circa 1988.  Got into med school, married, children, mortgage, fast cars, fine wines and, well, you know how it goes thereafter.  fast forward onto the current epoch, a few lbs heavier, tinnitus in one ear and still have the bug and still covet some equipment that I could not afford back then.  Well, don't hear too much of Mark Levinson, Wilson Audio is still around, cassette player are out (remember Nakamichi :-) ), now there's so much digital this and digital that, servers, streamers.... I've got much to learn.  But, for now, I just have one question regarding one piece of the audio chain...... speakers

I've alway wanted to own Wilson Watt puppy ever since I first heard them in 1990 paired with Jadis amp and preamp.  Wow, still remember back then the music was palpable and haunting (remember i was and still am a novice).  I"d like to return to Watt puppy and a great amp, but here's my question:  Specifically regarding Watt puppy series 8..... are they too old to be meaningful in 2024? Do speakers lose their magic to an extent that renders them less capable to a significant extent after 15-18 years (assuming proper physical condition condition for their age) or do they still have enduring quality sound after all these years?  I know that my ears and temporal lobes of my brain ultimately have to please me, but I do have to start somewhere with some knowledge moving forward, hence my ask for help.. thank you very much in advance.

Jaime

jaimeromero

"Got into med school, married, children, mortgage, fast cars, fine wines"

My hearing has been in a steady decline for quite some time. The stereo doesn’t quite provide the intimacy and emotional connection to the music of years past. But, my cars have gotten faster. If my left knee holds on a little longer, banging gears accompanied by the exhaust note of the "correct" number of cylinders (8, or more) still brings out my inner 9-year-old.

Good luck in the quest for the perfect speakers for you.

 

back in circa 1988. Got into med school, married, children, mortgage, fast cars, fine wines and, well, you know how it goes thereafter. fast forward onto the current epoch, a few lbs heavier, tinnitus in one ear and still have the bug and still covet some equipment that I could not afford back then. Well, don’t hear too much of Mark Levinson, Wilson Audio is still around, cassette player are out (remember Nakamichi :-) ), now there’s so much digital this and digital that, servers, streamers.... I’ve got much to learn.

You could spend a lot of cash these days and make mistakes, not get the right combo of gear..or just get tired of things. Mark Levinson is still very much around and his current company is called Daniel Hertz. He sells integrated systems now, speakers + his front end electronics in 1 package and prices range from 20k to 200k (capable of blowing the socks off other things).

Such systems make it easy for you, takes the guesswork out and prevents you from popping in and out of rabbit holes, i.e. this methodology gets you straight to enjoying the music. So, if you are the doc who’s busy saving young lads from dying in the trenches all day, wanna get home, chug wine and relax to music, go the Levinson route maybe.

Daniel Hertz System

But, if you are a tweaker/tinkerer nerd (like many audiophiles), like the thrill of constant tinkering, exploring different permutations, flavors, etc...Levinson’s stuff is not the right avenue for you. For the latter type of tweaking/nerding, you just audit stuff, buy stuff, hoard stuff, mod stuff, sell stuff, etc.... keep it more cyclical, keep at it.

Many systems live and die on the room and room acoustics. Start with the listening room, consider your budget and start acquiring information like you would with any other hobby. I think in the right hands any modern pair of speakers can sound great with proper room, size, placement, and treatment. I'm not an example so much as a victim of difficult rooms, but have heard enough nice ones to still believe.