Step 3 should be buying more music.
The two stages of audiophilia
1. Compulsively and fanatically build the best audio system you are able to and can afford.
2. Sit back, listen to MUSIC and enjoy your system.
2. Sit back, listen to MUSIC and enjoy your system.
77 responses Add your response
@limomangus, Your happy until you read an article that tell you different... If ever there was a hobby where the old adage about 'the grass always being greener on the other side' was true, it's this one. Nevermind the fact that it might sometimes be true, look no further if you want to see where much of our discontent springs from. It recently occured to me that whilst I'm busy on the lookout for new books to read, new music to listen to, new films to watch, there's a considerable library right here in my home waiting to be revisited... |
But the problem is I’m not too sure just who’s doing the embedding or who’s getting embedded.You are totally right... who embed who? My wife or me or the two of us embed each other ? Like in audio we embed our system ( this is acoustic) which at the end embed us with it ( this is psycho-acoustic)... After all audiophile listenings experiments and sex and love neither would be and thanks God! neither could be purely "technical" nor purely "objective".... All of audio is the stage, and we are merely players.Well said... |
@mahgister, The next time I fall out with my wife perhaps I could try using the line, "It’s ok darling, things will be alright once you’ve been embedded." Perhaps not. Although come to think of it, things do usually resolve themselves that way. But the problem is I’m not too sure just who’s doing the embedding or who’s getting embedded. Cue Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Brilliant Disguise https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uoEUwljiHv4 |
I am in the same boat as Audioguy. Class A + dual concentric.Fun post .... thanks .... But if i could add to your humoristic analogy a correction: Sex= technical performance of an audio system Love= musical audiophile subtle impressions quality Then if someone look only for sex or new hyped technical without end upgrade something is flawed in his kingdom so to speak... Because sex with a love one cannot be compared to sex with "one thousand and one" different women whom you dont love... Like the sultan i prefer Scheherazade... 😊 In my audio journey i have settled with the woman and audio system with whom i love the sex and the music the most and i decide to rightfully embed in all their working dimensions the system and the woman with many homemade devices to make the system and the woman sing... It cost way less than changing of woman each month and upgrading components without end.... With the woman and the audio system, one the choice of each one is settled, the KEY were the right embeddings devices "controls" so to speak.....But dont say that to my wife please.... 😁😊 |
Yeah, I think I’ve hit the pinnacle of my Stage 2 with massive upgrades over the last few years, they all have contributed to my enjoyment of the experience of listening to music. There is one more upgrade I’m considering. but I’m asking myself the question "when is enough, enough?" And so it’s time to just enjoy the music again and get off the gear merry-go-round. |
@larryro2 , I did the same thing going from a Naim pre/power to a Creek Destiny integrated. In no way did I regret the decision. That finally put an end to my worrying about endless amplifier upgrades - a Naim six pack anyone? The Creek is at least as powerful as my Naim combo was, and it has a remote. "I need to go to AA (audiophiles annon) for the twelve step program!" Maybe this forum is as good as? |
I’ve been in separates for 50 years! I just went to an integrated amplifier and love it! it sounds great great sound stage great clarity and it’s class D!!!!- lots of power! no heat either my bookshelf speakers sound so deep that a sub would be an overkill! So happy! now the problem- the amp Is so revealing , that a poor recording sounds awful! I need to go to AA (audiophiles annon) for the twelve step program! |
touchy subject! my pareto: 1) music 2) quality of analog and digital source 3) room speaker integration 4) speakers or earphones 5) power amp + pre amp price of gears does not always connected directly to quality of sound reproduction! there are many different analog and digital sound design philosophies to consider, in many cases accomplishing similar audio results. many ultra-expensive gears have “chic looking front panel”, and accomplish only Dr. FeelGood goals! |
Working towards
Sit back, listen to MUSIC and enjoy your system
but still trying new speakers that seem to be a good fit. I've downsized the amp while still retaining sufficient quality for low to moderate listening levels...so downsized the listening levels as well. So, a small Keces e40 class ab amp and I mean small, a Topping D70s dac and now looking for smaller speakers that don't fall too far off from what I have now...hardest part to replace btw. |
sgreg1, "Their only hope is that they come full circle and rediscover the love of music" I think you may be painting with a rather large brush here. Personally, I've never lost my love of music (or stopped purchasing it), through tweeks or equipment changes. I would go as far as to say my love of music has increased with system (including room) improvements. |
I look at the two stages different.Stage one is the love of music and you will do any for that love. Buy a system you feel will help nurture that love of music. Spend all your free time loving that music. Always looking for new artists to grow and deepen that love. It is a journey that can be very fulfilling.Stage two is the down fall that too many fall into. Their love of music turns to their love of their system. This sends them it to a tail spin that they can never get out of. Chasing new equipment based on a post from someone who does not own the piece but gives an opinion. Thinking they are hearing things they really can’t hear. Tweaking things just to tweak, buying new because the technology has to be better it’s newer right?Great post really! Thanks... You are spot on right.... I myself suffered for 8 years of this "disease" which is also could be a marvellous journey though.... What take this marvellous journey to his natural and usual end in my case was acoustic science... Without acoustic treatment and controls all audio system are compared one against the other to be evaluated for themselves... With acoustic treatment and controls, which are applied individually to some specific gear in specific room; in this instance and circonstances, the distance between what we can qualify "sounds" and what we can qualify "music" or "spoken words" or "singing voices" melted progressively at some level in one singular experience : sound was no more only some signs but something now uniquely meaningful.... For me it was the revelation of the art of listening... Alas! i am not a musician....Nor an acoustician.... Only a lover of music who was dreaming to afford for himself Hi-FI.... |
I look at the two stages different.Stage one is the love of music and you will do any for that love. Buy a system you feel will help nurture that love of music. Spend all your free time loving that music. Always looking for new artists to grow and deepen that love. It is a journey that can be very fulfilling.Stage two is the down fall that too many fall into. Their love of music turns to their love of their system. This sends them it to a tail spin that they can never get out of. Chasing new equipment based on a post from someone who does not own the piece but gives an opinion. Thinking they are hearing things they really can’t hear. Tweaking things just to tweak, buying new because the technology has to be better it’s newer right? Their only hope is that they come full circle and rediscover the love of music and remember that system love is that high maintenance girlfriend who you can never satisfy and will dump you in a heartbeat! |
Agree with audioguy and a similar system esoteric class a integrated with Fyne audio speakers. Over 30’years from Polk to audio physic to Martin logans(now relegated to ht). And sold my separates during a downsize. No more slam, prat soundstage. Definition. Back to musical reproduction and done with audiophile anything |
Two stages? 1) spend as much as you can building the system of your dreams. 2) read about how to get great sound out of your system and room. 3) ...but completely ignore everything you’ve read about how important the room is. 4) thinking that all that money spent with shades of improvement means you just didn’t spend enough on equipment. 5) accidentally finding out how important the room is by moving into a much older house. 6) quietly knowing it’s all about the music but still running toward better sound. 7) acceptance: enjoying your system, your room, your now aging ears and your music collection for what they are: imperfect but pretty damn good and immensely enjoyable. |
I got off the "merry go round" and bought Sugden class A and Tannoys...I have been living happily ever after since....no desire to trade up or trade in etc...to me, it sounds wonderful. My mmf-7.3 turntable (walnut) with Ortofon 2m bronze is also wonderful. Yes, not the most expensive tt out there, but it sounds great to me. I think I can live with what I got for a very long time. I spend my money nowadays on more Lp's and Cd's, even though I already own more than a reasonable amount, lol. |
Hello, I probably will never finish changing my system. I love to try new things with my system. Also, Tech changes. IsoAcoustic/Townshend isolation, A Sound Smith cartridge that does not need a separate phono stage, materials like Carbon, Kevlar, Ceramics, and Beryllium to make lighter and stiffer drivers, and last but not least the KEF KC62 subwoofer that plays down to 11hz in a box smaller than a one foot cube. It should be physically impossible, but it’s out there. If you think you are done with your system it’s because we have missed to many audio shows. This store in the Chicagoland area lets you try before you buy: https://holmaudio.com/ We all need to get out of our audio caves and see what’s new. |