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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
chalmersiv
12 posts
 

mid 70s ..magnepan and audio research at audio art on church hill in richmond va.....the sales staff had to make me leave so they could close


chuck929
19 posts
 
While inquiring about another component, dealer suggested PS Audio Directstream JR DAC. I bought it, And Everything Changed. It was like listening to Dark Side of the Moon for the first time. Have since upgraded to SR and DMP.
Second was at the Florida Audio show to listen to speakers. Many good ones there, but the Spendor A7s just sang to me. They are now singing in my listening room.
Hopefully 3rd will be when my GIK products arrive in a few weeks.
jszei
30 posts
 
1. First without question it is the impact high quality power can have on sound.  This includes device PSUs (linear).  Poor quality PSUs will pollute our music with noise.  Wherever possible substitute or upgrade with the best power supply possible.

2. Second is a properly treated room.  You can spend tons of time and money tweaking this and that, but properly treating your listening environment will have one of the biggest impacts and in the end influence the sound of those other things.  When I say "proper" room treatment I mean using a professional to measure frequencies, find dead spots or problem reflection points.
mg16's avatar
mg16
118 posts
 
Finding out how big a difference a preamp can make. Going from the cheesey Dynaco pat-4 in the 1980's, to the Pat-5 bifet was amazing to my ears. Even more so, when I bought a used Dynaco Pas-3 tube preamp with Telefunken 12ax7's off a guy for $75.00 ,several years later. I have now gone up the ARC line ,from the LS-7, to an LS-16, to currently an LS-25 mkii. Working my way up to the reference line someday soon hopefully.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
jssmith,

"What was your first big eye opener"

"My first blind amp test."
That is a good one.
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