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Am I missing something here?

Hello to all Audiophiles on Audiogon.

I am currently using the following system to listen to my music.
Carver M500t
Nad 7130 as preamp.
Arcam r-blink Bluetooth DAC
 Boston A200 Speakers

I am a Bass player now for over 40 years playing various styles and one who listens to all types of music.

So I guess what I am trying to get at here is why am I left so underwhelmed by very expensive highly rated very “thin” sounding audiophile systems that I have encountered when auditioning systems considered for purchase?

I have listened to various tube amps, small to monstrous Piano Lacquered speakers..side firing woofers...etc..I have owned Maggie’s. and various box speakers..(still do) but yet I just can’t get  a similar reproduction in many instances of auditions for instance on a song like “Slap Happy” by Milt Hinton for Bass repro with not only weight, timbre, image and soundstage that my system gives me...also in the same respect minus the bass as say “Blue and Grey by The Who that justifies spending the dollars on a much more expensive system.

I feel my system gives a more true reproduction. Am I jaded from my actual playing music and hearing what that sounds like when comparing to a recorded listening experience?

All said for a system of mine that has cost me roughly $1,200.00 I would say it sounds better than most systems I have heard in the 10k+ region.

Thanks for listening.

Howard

ishkabibil
n80
2,116 posts
 
As many will point out, what an engineer intends his recording to sound like is rarely relevant to the circumstances and equipment the end listener can provide.

So you have to decide how you want your system to sound and build a system that will do that for you.

My system is probably 15 years old. Tower speakers with two 7 inch woofers and rear facing port on each. With a beefy amp and proper positioning I get all the bass I want and when I tried a sub-woofer decided I didn't want or need it.

The bass reproduction on my system is what defines it for me. I lucked into it. The point is, it can be done.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,190 posts
 
Not everyone wants to put the band in the room. And yes, at some point in the future the prized systems of 2018 will sound dated and their faults, which are not the same faults as earlier systems, will be easily heard. That does not mean that some people won’t prize that sound. There are still people using bamboo needles on shellac and they are probably completely enthralled by the sound.
what an engineer intends his recording to sound like is rarely relevant to the circumstances and equipment the end listener can provide.

Totally disagree!  High fidelity still means something to some of us.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,315 posts
 

Right now many speaker designers are on a trend toward what is typically called "neutrality" and "accuracy".  I think that's simply what you are hearing--or not hearing.  These goals spill over into the design of other equipment too.  Tube preamps vary a great deal in their sonic presentation, and they're generally not 300B-ish. 

See my thread https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/modern-mainstream-speakers-too-many-models-converging-towards-too

ishkabibil OP
422 posts
 
@n80 

Well said and thank you.

Actually thats how I feel about my system..lucking into it...albeit I went thru numerous pieces to find the synergy I wanted.
ishkabibil OP
422 posts
 
@2leftears..Thanks...I believe I hear a great deal of Neutrality and accuracy with my setup.

I dont want a sound signature so to speak in a system...
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