Who else here is frugal?

“whenever I attend a Symphony Concert I realize that no home system could ever reproduce the sensation of being in a large hall.”

we have friends whose seats at the Myerson Symphony Hall in Dallas sport a brass socket embedded in the floor, a socket where the main microphone is placed when recordings are made in that hall. Needless to say that the sound there is wonderful. But, swear to God, I’ve experienced better sound from my home system. Being a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic, I was blown away when that happened - couldn’t believe that it could be possible. After reflecting on it, it dawned on me that the engineers who produced the SACD could shake out the compromises and/or imperfections of the hall. At any rate, it was really an eye opening phenomenon.

mahgister
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...

>>>>I wrote almost twenty years ago the primary malady that crystals offer a remedy for is vibration - not (rpt not), as often assumed, RFI. When you assume something you make a fool of me and Uma Thurman.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “But I’ve used the crystals wherever RF can interfere with the signal - Schumann resonators, near small vacuum tubes, on power supplies, on top of CD players. So the crystals MUST be absorbing RF.”

Geoffkait, i assume nothing , I know nothing, I only know the results of my experiments... By this last post i just wanted to give to you credit about your minimalistic option for Hi-Fi audio, that’s all...

But if you want to speak about crystals, I dont know if crystals works only by vibrations absorption, or by cleaning the EMI noise also... I assume it act on the 2... But I am no scientist, i konw only the results of my experiments and that is not possible for me to justify or extrapolate any scientific explanation for and by this results … Even if i had my own opinion and impressions about that... And what I says implicate only me not you by the way...

Then relax when I gives to you credit for your minimalistic option...It is that I am able to recognize when someone is on a right track... But you know what wise men says: " there is many ways that go to heaven"... :)

hombre,"it only requires the the intelligence to make the distinction."

   So,if someone decides that they want,and can afford the $54K amp,they are of sub intelligence? Maybe I read or misunderstood your statement? If so, I apologize.

@glupson...and I didn't respond to your query re 'homes', which I meant as a 'owned residence'; a single-family house.  As opposed to an apartment, condo, or that which one can't 'enhance' without raising ire or some similar crop of irritance..;)

Yes, "things" in specific (audio)....I drifted off into generalities, which given the 'frugal' topic effected my comments. It most certainly does so in my overall existence.  A small portion of that 'overall' is my audio enhancements to it and within it.

Not having a larger portion of 'net income' to devote to 'better' equipment, I could kvetch and be surly about it.  Instead, I take it as an challenge.

One can start with a raw diamond, and begin to polish it.  If you're skilled at such, you end up with...a diamond.

Now, if all one has is a more 'common' gemstone....a 'pigs ear' rock, to 'push' the analogy...

I think you get my drift. *S*  It's more of a feat to actually make the silk purse.  Or a lovely stone, desirable for itself rather than 'market value'....

Even stepping aside from the $ dimension, I'll wager that I like my system just as much as you do yours.  The  'enhancement' that I pursue is quite different than cables, power conditioners, and other exotica (to me, anyway).  The enjoyment is in the pursuit, as it is for pretty much everyone who posts here.

And I'm at a point that even the DIY forums I've haunted can't really advise me much further than they have.  I thank all who have made observations and suggestions, but I'm now free to follow my muse.
And to apply what I've gleaned from there...and what I see here, reading between the lines...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzf3FHO_Cx0

(wait for it....*S*  I like to work to this...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ijd_iN9Blk

One of his more 'accessible' pieces....and a good woofer workout...;)