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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
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.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
I agree with so much of what is important to you Judit, instrumental timbre being natural, first and foremost towards realizing long term musical satisfaction.

Beyond that there is recreation when walls really do dissappear and you are there. A small system is unable to do this on large symphonic music, at least I haven't personally heard one. My criteria is based more on an absolute reference of what is attainable more so than general enjoyment. To me there is a BIG difference between a large soundstage and recreating the soundstage of the venue. Another aspect of a great system approaching the pinnacle *the absolute sound* ?, is the ability to convey the space, dynamic shadings and image focus of individual instruments as we hear them in a live venue. To do this effortlessly and convincingly requires a large system.
ohlala
1,233 posts
 
"To me there is a BIG difference between a large soundstage and recreating the soundstage of the venue"

I heard that. With the better systems I have heard, I am not conscious of any soundstage boundary. But I digress.
6chac
235 posts
 
Hello Tubegroover, on a great system, you're not only hear the "image focus of individual instruments as we hear them in the live venue". You hear the un-focus on the ind. instruments, also. For some frequency are directional, and some frequency are not. :-)
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Well...I am further along than I have ever been...for whatever that is worth...and like many...I have made errors along the way...and have come to this conclusion: I prefer a simple system...monitors,intergrated,source...albeit all 3 being of very good quality...more or less a Brit influenced system...which suites inner city apt living...I also have learned the hard way...one way or another...to achieve hi-end sound...you gotts to spends some coin...
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