Who else here is frugal?

I agree that cans can be wonderful, and compared to a custom made listening room, a real cost-saver, but ...
Frugality is not about doing without, but doing the best you can with what you have. Lots of us experience our sound system through our bodies and skin, not just our ears. If this is you, cans aren't frugal. They're inadequate.


Best,
E

I didn’t say my portable CD headphones system was the result of frugality. That’s the irony of my post. It was the result of avoidance of NOISE and DISTORTION. After all, you really only have three factors involved when you cut to the chase: the signal, noise and distortion. Minimize noise and distortion and you maximize signal. Make sense? So, in my portable system what I am doing without is noise and distortion.😛

There is no substitute for signal to noise + distortion ratio. 🤗

As I get older, having components that are lighter in weight and easier to use become more appealing. You can get good sound without spending tens of thousands.

geoffkait19,319 posts

Like I said you are absolutely right on all counts... I have known already that electrical pollution and noise in the room and house were stupendous unbeknownst to most or underestimated by all...But even for me it is amazing how the lost by this plague has destroyed the potential of my Hi-Fi system...I dont even speak about the other 2 plagues: resonance-vibrations, and acoustical treatment of room...

If someone dont want or dont need speakers it is for sure the way to go...
Like you said the equation is simple:

There is no substitute for signal to noise + distortion ratio. 🤗

People must learn that, even those , especially those that will keep their speakers like me... 


The last experiment I speak about in my thread is a stupendous proof of this … My best to you and all...

Erik- love the post.

As an engineer, we talk about having a design that is “efficient” - getting the most performance out of something without wasting anything.  Squeezing the most out of something.  So part of designing an efficient widget includes making the item low in cost without compromising its ability to do the task at hand. Notice I say low in cost, not lowest in cost.  To do this sort of engineering, requires creativity, and most other engineers (not necessarily end users or consumers) can look at an efficient design and appreciate it.  These days, engineers often call such a design “elegant”, as a compliment to how well it does what it is supposed to do.

i suspect your definition of frugal in the audio context is quite similar to an elegant or efficient engineering design. 
Having said that, I have to include that I continue to shop the used CD stores for the $4 CDs, and even frequent a Goodwill that has $1 CDs.  Granted these are always hit or miss, but there are many hidden gems .  And if there is a CD that I must have, I go to eBay.  I suspect three quarters of my CD collection was purchased used.   (No vinyl or streaming insults please)