Words From the Wise

- Every speaker and / or system sounds different. But, they are all supposed to sound the same. So, what's accurate? No one with any sense really knows for sure.

- Speakers are indeed the soul of your system as much as no two people are alike (see above).

- If you want to hear it, I imagine you will. Who am I to say no to that? It doesn't hurt anything.

- Never under estimate analog source material. Those 40 year old records sound great.

- Never under estimate high bandwidth digital (SACD and 24 bit digital) they sound great too.

- a very good system will never like all your source material. That's normal. Some source material is simply good music that sounds bad.

- Near field listening will get you there sooner. Your room was never a part of the original recording (those ambience reflections are already in the music). So, keep your room out of it if you can.

- Buy quality components you enjoy. To replace cheap equipment that you like, that died, will probably end in frustration as it isn't available any more (it' all broken by now!). Better to have nice things a long time. And, they hold their value if you have to part with them.

first piece of advice--listen to the "music" and not the equipment"--let your ears guide you as opposed to a commission oriented sales person. Also--"The Audio Beat"
is a great on line publication by Marc Mickelson--he always has great advise and responses-------tell him if u email him sheldon simon referred you to his site

1. Buy from long established manufacturers (e.g. B&W, McIntosh) with good QC that will be around to service what they sell - avoid the latest garage-based Wunderkinder.

2. There's a lot of snake oil out there - not everything works as advertised. If you can't hear a difference, don't buy it. Watch out for the power of suggestion.

3. Be aware of bang-for-the-buck and diminishing returns. A one thousand dollar amplifier will almost certainly sound better than a one hundred dollar amplifier, but a ten thousand dollar amplifier may or may not sound much better than a one thousand dollar amplifier, depending on your ears, your system, and the alignment of the planets.

4. That said, buy the best you can afford and then don't mess with it- avoid the temptation constantly to upgrade.

5. Are you the kind of audiophile that wants great sound without a lot of fuss? Or the kind that wants great sound but also enjoys geeking around with the equipment, experimenting with new stuff, etc.? If the latter, then consider ignoring # 4.

1. Its hard to spend enough on equipment to compensate for a poor listening area.(ie don't spend a ton of money unless you have a good space)
2. Spend the time required to position speakers and equipment properly.
3.Buy used equipment or demos from brands that have been around a while.
4. Be careful to match speaker efficiency with amp power

Oldears, I had no real choice in our 1500 ft2 place in New Mexico mountains. It is 10 x 13 x 8 and must also on occasion serve as a bedroom. Fortunately, I discovered the Zilplex cups. I still remember listening to Diana Krall's 'A Case of You' without them. It was okay but obvious that I was in a small room. Then I put the eleven Zilplexes up where the instruction said. When I resumed playing, I was shocked to hear myself at her concert! I had the eerie sense that were I to stand and walk forward five feet I would fall out of my listening room.

This is not to say, of course, that the irregularity of many rooms means they can be made easy to work room with the Zilplexes, but neither will spending more money on your system.