How Do You Live The Audiophile Life

I was introduced to separates by a friend at university.

Later I read the UK domestic audio press which mislead me for decades.

I would have done better reading the pro audio press but stupidly kept believing that domestic audio was superior.

One day whilst working in a local broadcasting studio I was surprised (and annoyed) to find myself to be enjoying the Technics turntable more that the Linn LP12 I had at home.

This anomaly remained in my head until eventually the penny dropped - the Technics was the better deck!

Shock, horror, anger and paranoia followed. Okay, slightly exaggerating, but you know what I mean. I realised that I had been continually duped for years and years.

My eyes were finally opened and I gave up resistance (or was it just laziness?) against those wise words I kept ignoring for years -

You must listen for yourself.

As you say, dealers are getting thin on the ground so you need to get to shows, or find some local audiophile friends.

Don't expect to be floored by what you hear, in all my years I've only heard about a dozen wow products. These were mainly speakers - ProAc pyramids, Avantgarde Trios, some Italian bookshelves I've forgotten the name of, Kerr K320s, and Monopulse Actives. However it's almost always great fun attending.

Keep in mind also the world of used products since the high end of 1960 and after can match more or less anything of today.

It's only the budget end where things have dramatically improved I think. A $1000 system of today beats a $1000 system of 1960 if you adjust for inflation.

After all these years I begin to wonder whether experience generally tends to move you from the subjective to the objective camp in the same way politically you may move from the left to the right.

Idealism tempered by wisdom?

There has been a lot of good advice give...here is another 2 cents worth.

Take some time with the system you have now and over the next couple weeks, make some notes for yourself...what are the things you like and what don't you like....and use maybe no more than 10 songs to help you develop the list.  And while listening, use a phone app to check the loudness.


Examples:  tone, dynamics, spaciousness, punch, low end, detail or brightness, sibalance, harshness.

The idea is to get familiar with what your system sounds like and get familiar with what the songs sound like on your system...what do you like and what would you like to improve.

Now when you go elsewhere to listen, bring your list, bring your songs and you will now have a legitimate reference for comparison...and listen at the same loudness level that you do at home.  And make some notes again about what you hear and how it compares.


One final thing...don't be afraid of the internet direct companies...most have liberal listening and return policies and they make some fantastic gear...ok, you may have to pay some return shipping but except for big speakers it won't be that much money.

Good luck

Read reviews and, especially with speakers, listen before you buy. I made that mistake a couple of years ago when I talked myself into a pair of well regarded relatively high efficiency speakers that couldn't cut the mustard when compared to the less efficient speakers I already owned...being driven by a 12wpc little tube amp (why I wanted higher efficiency). Sold the new speakers, and listened to a pair of Klipsch Heresy IIIs...bought 'em and really like those...99db efficiency. 

To live the "audiophile life" you must own a smoking jacket and those Gucci loafers, at least two sporty cars, a stash of various whiskeys, and be prepared to spend hours alone admiring your belongings and understanding what Estoril Blue is.

The quality of the question you ask, determines the quality of the answer you receive. Quality question, Quality answers...

Bingo!

Also, do you hang around and act interested, or post some spur of the moment random thoughts and bail?

Feet proped up, black Russian in hand, brownie on the side, spinning vinyl. Thanks for asking. Enjoy the music