Words From the Wise

I know this is going to be unheeded considering my recent involvement with another thread but here goes: You're a complete idiot if you spend more on snake oil than you did on your gear. I'm referring to wires and cables, receptacles and plugs etc. Your gear is capable of only so much. If you want serious improvement, spend it on gear. Either by internally upgrading what you have, or replacing it.

You are correct, it won't be heeded, but that does not mean it's not true. There are more people on this site, that believe what you said, than you might think. I think the pervasive audiophile peer pressure keeps many quiet.

I've done more stupid things than I care to admit to. But who's ever learned anything the easy way;)

- 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