What Matters and What is Nonsense

Hi

I am kinda new to this but here is my $.02. I have always loved music and have had a stereo system since a teen Pioneer receiver, Mission Freedom speakers, techniques turntable Sanyo cassette. Nothing great. Then about 15 years ago I  upgraded to Onkyo Receiver 626 Mordantshort speakers, then added Sonos connect. All my friends thought that I had a great sounding system and I was also happy. I then purchased a HSU sub which further enhanced the sound. 6 years ago I heard Monitor Audio silver 6's and loved them and purchased. My friends still enjoyed my system. I have a client who has 3 high end systems and I asked what I could do to enhance my current system. He told me what to buy and here my experience begins. He said that my Monitor Audio speakers were good but too small for the size of my room. I should also buy a NAD51 DAC and a Parasound A23 or used A21. If I could find a REL sub Stadium 3 or better add that. I should buy an oppo, a power conditioner and upgrade cables. I struggled to pay $15k in cables like he has for each system. The first thing I purchased was the NAD Dac and Parasound A23. Once that was hooked up with regular BB cables that I had my Monitor Audio speakers never sounded so good it was a huge improvement. So that got me going. I bought a Bryston Pii and although it isn't as friendly to use as the Sonos is I think I hear a more clear sound. I purchased average cables MacKenzie XLR and Coffee USB AB. I can't honestly say I hear a difference over BB RCA's. I found a REL Stadium 3 and it sounds way better than the HSU The HSU was too boomy and the REL just extended the bass nicely. I struggled to come to grips with a power conditioner however whomever I spoke with said it would make a difference. My client said Running Springs Jacco was a good one. I had the opportunity to borrow a RS Haley and it did make a slight difference to the sound slightly clearer and separation in voice and instruments were better. Where the big difference in the power conditioner came to be was when I disconnected it My music sounded really harsh which I had never heard before and the separation wasn't the same between instruments and voice. I couldn't find a Jacco to buy but I broke the bank when a Dimitri came up for sale. I also had the fortune to buy at a great price I think BW 803s and they sound even better than the Monitor Audio. I have heard the 800D3's and would love a pair one day. As far as cables go I bought a signal cable power cord and I have to say it made my music sound more laid back. Not sure if I like that or not and the more upbeat music seems to be missing something not as  punchy with just a regular power cord. I am running cheap speaker wire that was put through my walls when I built my house so I don't know what expensive speaker cables will do to my sound. Anyway that is my story I am not an expert just a guy who loves music but I have to say that the changes that I have made have made a noticeable improvement in my system. As far as interconnects go I have tried a few different ones all lower cost and I can't say that I hear a difference so the jury is still out on those.Still struggle with $1,000 cables.

It all matters and choosing gear that operates well together is also important.  The degree to which you want to re-create the original recording in your listening room is a personal matter.

Although I have one high end system for all music, my living room second system cost me $5K for used gear (Legacy Signature IIIs, highly modified voltage tap not ultralinear tap Dynaco ST70, custom built sub-mini tube pre-amp, a modified Pioneer DV-05 (certainly not stock), Stillpoints, GroverHuffman cabling). My wife rocks out on that system with it’s 6 10" woofers. It appeals to guests for pop, jazz and classical as well. Most comment, "wow, that’s some great music system!" "I wish I could afford that (they can, they just don’t know how to assemble a high end audio system), until they hear the audio/music room system. Yes, I installed an SR black duplex and one SR blue fuse (all there is). No room treatment, no SR HFTs-not needed in a good acoustic space. However, my audio/music room needs a lot of treatment, severe slap echo, windows, ample flat walls/cathedral ceiling). So the latter room has 2 pair of Hallographs and 32 HFTs of various types assembled throughout. I got rid of all of the wall hangings and acoustic panels (diffusion and absorption types). The sound is more spacious now with greater clarity and difficult to hear any slap echo while music is playing.

Again, the room is about 50% of the sound. The speakers are important but so is everything else. The speakers and amps have to pair correctly. The pre-amp is to be as neutral as possible. The tweaks are for vibration/resonance control and for acoustic room control. Simple in concept, often difficult to achieve. Used gear can be part or all of an audio room/system providing ample musical listening satisfaction.

Good discussion except for the occasional silly snark. The OP opinion/style seems fine to me. Personally I (also) have a strong background in EE as well as being a musician This informs my opinions but doesn't make me The Oracle obviously. . Reasonable but limited funds for audio. For me the most fun is had getting the most sound for my dollar and "sweat equity" as well as learning along the way. So I recap and adjust bias on old equipment and consider tweaks as they come along based on my interest, the cost and the fun factor. I am predisposed to being skeptical to things that seem to violate laws of physics. I understand and do not denigrate the human nature of expected outcomes. To me certain claims seem more like belief systems akin to religion or the Paranormal etc, which is also a big part of the human condition.  Nothing wrong with that as long as not hurting other people.  I think it is valid for "skeptics" to warn other interested parties, which is part of what this forum is about, that, based on science and/or experience, certain claims SEEM improbable to them, preferably without insulting others beliefs and experiences. The reader can decide if such arguments are convincing to them, or not, as they can do for the comments by those with other perspectives.
I tend to work toward a sound that makes my classical and acoustic heroes and folk-rock, sound most realistic, usually involves a mandolin violin and/or a female vocal. The process is a big part of the fun, obvious I know to most of you.
Choosing and placing/adjusting speakers and modding the room when possible is productive and fun.(Walked into a showroom expecting to buy KEF's, walked out with Rega RS3 speakers because the seller correctly though they might do better for what I told him I was after) Re-doing the guts of older electronics is fun and sometimes musically  productive, always educational. I like to solder.
I have tried hard to hear differences in speaker cables and can't.

A quality SVS sub helped refine the sound in a big way. Not miraculous, or jaw dropping, just better. I never notice "phase" or "crossover" issues affecting musical enjoyment. And the individual parts are easier to move around for this old back. (Compared to ginormous main speakers)

Ultimately the best way to get the best acoustic sound is to play it yourself with pals, and/or see it live in a "sound friendly" environment.
I got as much "emotional support" and almost as much aesthetic pleasure from recorded music when I was younger and broker as I do now.
Enjoy the ride because soon, you know, we will all be dead.

(and maybe someone else will a get our stuff in a killer deal at auction and carry it on!)

As an addendum, I read the Daniel Drasin referenced by Geof. I appreciate the link and the perspective. It seems to try a little too hard to debunk the debunkers. Most of us and especially those of us in science and medicine know that last years  impossibility is this years fact and sometimes vice versa. BUT the bar is, and should be pretty high to support unlikely or unique claims.  So issues of reproduciblity especially by those who have no financial or profound personal stake in the results is important as is a potential theoretical framework, or at the very least lack of a violation of well established fundamental laws of physics. Sure you can propose those violations also but it helps to be a genius.  A good skeptic DOES listen to and consider unusual  or unlikely proposals and experiences but is fair for them to be...rational and...skeptical.