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Where are you at on the curve?...

I feel I started my journey or "quest" for audio satisfaction around 1990. Although I was "interested" in quality sound reproduction since the mid 70's. It's been over 10 years now, and I have learned so much, and soundwise have met or exceeded my desires and expectations.
My journey started when I could not understand why, when I played a CD, it sounded great, but would essentially "chase me out of the room". I could not fathom why I could not enjoy the CD for more than a few minutes, but with a record
I would want to sit, or stay and listen. A lot of the progress I made was pure luck, other things came from constant research, reading, listening and asking questions.
Before AudiogoN I would actually call some of the people selling equipment in Stereophile before they charged for classified's and ask them questions. Most any audiophile would want to tell me everything they knew, and that was a big help, as where can you go for education in this field?
Circuit City, Magnolia Hifi? Not. I did not know a single person in which to confide in my need for the things of which I read about in Stereophile. I am not asking what equipment one might have that has brought musical enjoyment or satisfaction. One can browse around here and get an idea of musically satisfying components. I feel on the "contentment" or "musical satisfaction" curve, I have reached somewhere in the pinnacle of the curve. Not to say that I will ever reach the pinnacle. Nor have I reached a "plataeu". I would love to get and try more things I can not afford. But, I have never been at this level of satisfaction before. I love this stuff, and will always be interested in it. Learning-wise, I will always be on the lower end of the climb, as I feel I am of average intelligence, and have much more to learn. So, how about you? Where are you at in your quest for "satisfaction"?
pelv
twl
3,251 posts
 
The "curve" is asymptotic. You can spend more and more, but you are never going to get all the way there. Find a spot you are comfortable in and enjoy the music. Nobody ever gets to the top of the curve. Nobody.

For myself, I am at the beginning. I've been involved with audio for over 30 years. I have alot of experience, and even worked in audio salons. I have embarked on an experimental journey which embraces alot of DIY, custom made products, and generally very out-of-the-mainstream stuff. I'm currently into micro power systems, and short signal paths, with acoustic air and room coupling to take up the SPL slack of the low power output. In other words, high efficiency, but no horns. IMO, front-horns go too far. I have small amps, and huge speaker enclosures with high efficiency single drivers. Synergy with a system like this is very very complex. Some might compare it to deep-sea fishing with ultralight tackle. It provides me with a new set of challenges that go beyond the usual, and stretch my capabilities. At the same time, it has worked very well to greatly improve my musical enjoyment, by giving me a deeper look into the music I have listened to for years, and not heard as much, as I am hearing now. I am also finding that it is possible to reach great heights in reproduction, without spending as much as some think necessary. If you think you're near the end, then find a new road.
kthomas
911 posts
 
I'm at the sweet spot of the curve, for me. We'll remodel at some point, and that will probably whet my appetite for an upgrade / change, but that'll be at least a couple years. The combination of what it costs to upgrade a component in my current system and the current economy, I've set my sights on new software and I'm loving every minute. You can buy a lot of software for the price of a high-end amp, and you can do it a bit at a time. By the time I do upgrade again, I'll have another several hundred CDs.
flemke
596 posts
 
Enjoy the ride.
Tim
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
I'm with Subaruguru, go to a concert and realize how far off the illusion really is. The answer is when the performer(s) venue and room become one and there are no electronics or transducers evident to remind you. This is the reason we keep on searching. Not to say that there haven't been some heroic efforts by some to get closer. It takes time, money, committment and continued tweeking and at the end of the last tweek or component change when you think you're almost there something else will remind you that you're not.

Symphonic music lovers realize the truth, a great recording, large room, large system, loads of power is the starting point. There is no compromise for recreating an 80 piece orchestra in a home environment. I surmise by the question that the pinnacle of the curve equates to believing you are there?
judit
217 posts
 
I have been reconsidering recently what it means to be "there". In some respects, the most comfortable listening position for me at a concert is IN the orchestra, not in front of it.

In the intimacy of my own home, I want to listen INTO the music even more thoroughly, and I want the instruments to sound natural. I like resolution, detail, pleasing reproduction of natural instrumental timbres, and bloom. I am less concerned with large soundstage. I want lots of information at moderate listening levels.

My conclusion: I don't have an audio system to reproduce "the live event". I go to concerts for that purpose. I have an audio system in order to form a more intimate connection to the musical composition and the players than I am able to do at a live performance.
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