What was your first big eye opener with regard to audio?



Hello friends,

what was the most fascinating thing you did with the compilation or optimization of your system in terms of SQ or performance, that really got your attention in either a good or bad way?


what was it that actually impressed or surprized you once it was in place?


or what DIY project was it that once done really gave your audio system a big shot in the arm SQ-wise?


maybe it was simply finding out just how much some items could cost


something always seems to take place that changes our philosophies or understandings and maybe even our approach to arranging a fine audio system.


what was your’s?

 

Perhaps it was buying a quality rack, platform, or maybe a pr. of amp stands?


rolling tubes? adding iso footers?


biting the bullet and bringing in a decidedly  more expensive or merely a different electronic component? DAC? Line stage? Mono blocks? Speakers?


what amazing things could be done with as little as 8wpc?


for example, my ‘eye opening’ events came two  fold. adding power line conditioning and using upscale wires/cables, or power cords.


which of these came first I’m not sure but all of them  came with a huge amount of prejudice on my part as to them doing anything positive to the quality of the sound, but indeed they did!


other things came along with nearly the impact or mind altering impact but those were the initial items that paved the way for me to keep an open mind with respect to building an audio system and preserving its synergy.


what was or has been your epiphany? your most surprising  ‘move’ in audio land?


blindjim
A pair of Mordaunt Short speakers in 1985 hooked me.  Sold them and regretted it ever since.  Could never find another pair.  They weren't anything special, but they had a tremendous sound and moved some air.
In the army, at the stereo PX, standing in front of a pair of big Tannoys. They were only lined up on a shelf with countless other speakers. Even so, it was obvious that something very right was going on. I didn't buy them. Too expensive back then. Next time was at WES Stereo in Allentown, Pa. They had the Carver Sonic Holography C4000 preamp hooked up in a TINY room. I absolutely flipped. All of the instruments had their own space. I thought everyone was going to want one of these preamps. The next revelation wouldn't come until 1995 at Soundex in Jenkintown. Snell Type B's, Threshold T400, T2 preamp, Krell KPS 20i and most important; Transparent Reference speaker and interconnects.
To this day, I haven't ANYTHING that comes close to the sound I heard that marvelous day at Soundex.
I had a few revelations:

1. My late mom's cousin had me put on a pair of Olsen headphones, through his early 60's stereo, and I was hooked. I was about 12 years old.

2. Swapped out some okay AR interconnects, on my analog tuner, to some low end Audioquests and was amazed by what a difference they made.

3. My friend worked at a high end audio store in the late 70's. He purchased a wonder system that consisted of a Linn TT with some sort of MC cartridge, Linn Isobarik speakers, Naim electronics and whatever high end interconnects were available at the time. I listened to a Ricki Lee Jones direct to disc on his system and found out what imaging was all about. It was a well engineered album, but that system made it absolutely stunning. I think he still owns that system.
My biggest eye opener was when I purchased my first power conditioner, a Shunyata v Ray. As soon as I hooked it up even my wife noticed. It was a transformation. 

@jnovak
To this day, I haven't ANYTHING that comes close to the sound I heard that marvelous day at Soundex.

jim>
I guess everyone will have that one session or event that continues to haunt them with its incredible ppresentation.

mine was an all tube 30wpc set of monos and a pr of VSA VR 4JRs of all things. some unknown tube cDP, perhaps Cary. the Thor line stage and EL 34 monos played Diana Krall. the sound was glorious. evocotive. emotive utterly engaging.

not able to afford that rig's price tag I tried mostly in vein to duplicate its sound. using some of the same and some different pieces. got the line stage still. had the same speakers. got similar costing cables and power filters. a BAT SS amp.... then a pr of EL 34 monos. at that point things were very close indeed. then I exchanged the vSA units for Silverline Sonata IIIs and the presentation exceeded that of the former showroom demo, but it still did not have the former demo's inner glow within the notes.

the monos I used were running 60wpc in ultralinear, the demo monos ran SET at half the power of those I could acquire.

I've come to the notion once you find a rig that you love, duplicating it elsewise is likely not gonna happen. emmulating it? sure. bettering it in some regards? perhaps.

but if you love that demo's sound, asemble that outfit as precisely as you can in your digs as synergy is a result of all of its components.
thanks much.

for me... experiencing sound when it is ultra good takes on spiritual properties.