When did you put the most effort in setting up your audio system?

markalarsen,

I bought one of those 3-wheel hand carts designed for climbing stairs also!

First, I tried taking a 50 lb. package with it. However, I did not go backwards though as you did. But still the cart wanted to roll down the steps too fast. So, I did not try to use that hand cart with my new 250lb. speakers...

ozzy

Each time I cleaned already clean records using Okki Nokki machine and Audio Intelligent fluids I heard a very small improvement in sound. I had to stop after five cleanings of some records, it became too crazy. I guess, if I had one of the best machines cleaning once would've been enough. Or once a year, at least.

My most of effort went to record collection and still goes on and on.

Discovering new music, getting records, playing them and enjoying.

The less is the acoustics/psycho-acoustic knowledge the more audiophiles are trapped in gear obsessed neurosis...😊

It is because they feel impotent to change their soundfield if they dont "upgrade " by buying ...

By fate and luck i did not have this money to invest in my sound obsession...Then it was mandatory to study...Buying was not an option... My "tweaks" were all homemade... A seller of Tweaks did not liked it  then because i did not buy anything... He complained even to me... I take it as a compliment...😎

I had the fun of my life working my acoustic room for a year ... Being retired i could do it full time and learn...

I will never do it again though ...

Too costly in tuning time.. And what is fun because we learn become tedious when we begin it again... Acoustic is way more than buying acoustic panels of various kind by the way... I designed my hundred Helmholtz resonators in some grid disposition relatively to each speakers and ears location...It cost me nothing save my time...

That is my audiophile journey...

I am very proud to be a bad consumer and a good learner...

I started on my first true high end system not too long after I got my first professional job after college. I think I spent at least two - three years getting my first system put together. There was a lot of swapping, as this component or that would not really do it. Incessant reading and trying to get the lay of the land. I took out my first loan to buy a Threshold s500 amp ($5K…. $19K in todays dollars). That became my first “permanent piece”.

That held me for about ten years until I got out af graduate school and got a job. Then maybe a year and a half upgrading my system to the next level. Including probably 500 hours into evaluating cables… how they differed etc.

Next cycle took less than a year. Next about a year.

This last one after I retired… the choice of components really quick, wires quick, then about a year of slow methodical positioning, vibration control, and room treatments.