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How do I let go...the “D” word

A major life change has me contemplating selling my gear and “Downgrading.” And I don’t want to let go of anything. Last summer I lost my job due to the budget crisis in California. My wife of 29 years and I split and divorced. She got the house, etc., but not the stereo. I decided to fulfil my dream of going to Brooks Institute for my MS in Photography. So now I live a half a block from the beach, am unemployed, and going to one of the top photography schools in the world. Life is good!

Here's my dilemma: My old living room was 44’ X 30’ with high vaulted ceilings. The walls were rough cut wood and I had huge plants in every corner and other key refractive spots. Now I rent a small house in Santa Barbara and my listening room is small and has plastic walls and ceilings and glass windows all around. My Dyn’s are so toed-in that they’re more like headphones. I know I won’t live here forever, and that someday I will again have a great listening room. But for now...should I “Downgrade,” and to what; or keep it for better days?
rosstaman
rosstaman OP
455 posts
 
Nice website Marco. I'm going for my MS to teach. I'm 53 and not willing to compete with the 20+ year olds that graduate and are willing to put in 80 hours a week. Been there, done that! Teaching will allow me to "focus" on fine art, wildlife, travel, and undersea photgraphy while I teach. Besides If I teach I can get medical insurance, which I can't now due to a pre-existing condition.

If I sell my stuff, I'm thinking of going tubes. The VPI TNT V with table is huge and about 300 lbs. The Pass X600 are 175 lbs each, I think I'll keep the preamp and cd player, Any suggestions?

Ross
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
Rosstaman,

By choosing to pursue a lifelong dream, it sounds to me like your entire life just got an upgrade. I'd sell the components that don't fit right now, and buy those that do.

Congratulations!
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Rosstaman- How about giving us some kind of a budget. Assumme selling your TT, amps and speakers for $XXXX, keeping your CD and pre, banking $YYYY and spending $ZZZZ for new amp and speakers. And good luck.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
muzikat
929 posts
 
Let go. It's really easy, just choose a smaller well thought out system and don't look back. One thing about this hobby is there are MANY ways to acheive good sound, not all are large and expensive.
Good Luck!
rosstaman OP
455 posts
 
My budget will probably be around $8000-$10,000 give or take a few. For amps, speakers and TT. Obviously, I'll look to A'gon for the best. So what I need are smaller TT : possibly a Basis 2100. Tube monoblocks? Speakers that are easier to drive than the Dyn's.
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