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An unscientific poll: How often are you happy?

What percentage of the time do you just break out in a smile and thoroughly enjoy the music *and* the sound when you fire up your system? 10%? 50%? 99%? (The other times: you hear something wrong, something lacking, needs tweaking, needs upgrading, colorations, distortions, you hear a noise, a tube might be going, not musical enough, can't suspend your disbelief the way you want to, your expectations are disappointed, it doesn't sound like you remember the dealer's system did, doesn't sound like you remember your friend's system did, you made the wrong move with the last upgrade, you doubt the money you recently spent really made a difference, the recording is too flawed, you wonder what it would sound like if you changed this or that, you enjoyed it more in the car, you question whether you've truly got your priorities in perspective, etc...) Give your %, and list the approximate $ investment you have in the system (specify new or used valuation). Mine: happy about 15% of the time, valuation around $17,000 if all bought new. Conclusions - if any - drawn later...
zaikesman
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,568 posts
 
99% and would guess around $5K (new and used) in the current living room system. It sounded better before I downsized (lost a nice SET amp and a good DAC), but it still makes me happy. I do not concern myself with audiophile quality recordings (though don't pass them up either if the music is good) and purchase lots of software (mostly older material) on the used market (how good does one expect a recording from the early 1900's to sound anyway)?. I do not buy just anything and am somewhat selective as this morning I finished sorting and grading an LP collection of 500+ (for a friend to sell opn Ebay) and only found four that we wanted. I left her with all of the Japanese pressings, Living Stereo's, Half speed masters etc., as the music did not interest us. There are so many things beyond my control in our lives lately that it is sometimes a bit overwhelming, but happiness is not one of them and never will be if I can help it.
realhifi
159 posts
 
Hmmm....hard to quantify isn't it? I guess I'd put it at about 75%-85% right now. I think I'm pretty happy when the cd I put on is good more so then if my sytem isn't quite right. I've got about $5,000 in the system now and know that a few more tweaks will make a difference and bring it that much closer to giving me satisfaction and pleasure all the time. New wires.....that's the biggy in front of me right now. I truly love to listen every time I put something I love on, so.....I'm close.
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
50% or less.
gpalmer
174 posts
 
95% and about 12K with mostly used equipment. It's a 5 channel system so that isn't too bad. I'll be happy with this for quite some time. I'm not really an equipment buff, and for what I want it sounds just about perfect to me right now. The little tweaks I do, like cabling, just bring it closer to perfection (In my biased ears), but aren't required, I usually weigh equipment versus software and go software. The last little bit I would like to change would probably lower my wife's enjoyment of the system more than it would improve mine, so I don't think it'll ever happen!

Greg
kthomas
911 posts
 
Geez, I'd have to say darn close to 100% - my system is off in it's own room and when I'm in there I'm a)not at work, b) not listening to somebody tell me their problems (work, not wife!), and c) often have a beer in my hand. And, oh yeah, the music usually sounds really good too. I often hear the phone ring when I'm in listening to the music with a cold one beside me and I think, "now what's the point of answering that? There is NOBODY that could be calling that would improve my current situation!".

I'm actually happy close to 100% of the time even in the spirit of the question. It almost always puts a smile on my face to listen to my system. Without question, thoughts run through my mind occassionally during any given listening about what might be improved, but it's more intellectual than emotional, hence I remain happy but inquisitive. As stated in some of the other responses, my times of being less than happy are when the music I'm listening to isn't a particularly good recording. If I could get all the music I love to listen to in a recorded form that was equal to the best recordings I have, I'd never be unhappy. Which is not the same as saying I'd never upgrade again.

I have a combination audio / HT system - total cost is probably a bit over $30K retail, a bit under $20K of my $$ actually in it. -Kirk

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