How Do You Live The Audiophile Life

asvjerry,

"..padding the ’listening den’ enough so it looks less ’room’ then padded cell...."


That’s made my day.

I guess I shouldn’t laugh too much, just in case someone else actually went that far.

I will admit to considering it though.
Only considering - but in this instance lazyness was my guardian.

cd, I suspect a SO somewhere 'modded' the door to the audio cave door with a lock on the exterior ONLY....👀!  (🤷‍♀️*L*)

The reason and rationale could likely be understood, given 'extenuating' circumstanse....extremism begets extreme response, in relationships as well as audio pursuits....but all of this is mere conjecture on my part. *G*

I haven’t stepped foot in an audio store in more than 20 years, yet my system has continued to evolve via several relatively low cost DIY upgrades.

I’m fortunate enough to have acquired a couple of Dynaco ST-70s, and a Lazarus Cascade Basic tube pre-amp years ago. During the Covid 19 lull I rebuilt all of them. The Dynas got the wonderful VTA PCB boards, and the Lazarus got new caps and resistors....all got new tubes. The Dynas are now running in a vertical bi-amp configuration, as suggested by VTA’s Bob Latino.

While I was at it I bought some bulk 4-conductor 12 gauge OFC cables and made some new runs of speaker wire.

Overall, the system has never sounded better to me, and it’s been a lot of fun to find some renewed interest in it.

Next up - A fairly inexpensive outboard DAC for my old Denon CD player.

asvjerry,

"....extremism begets extreme response, in relationships as well as audio pursuits....but all of this is mere conjecture on my part. *G*"


I hope so. Even though the existence of the hi-fi widow has been known since the days of Edison, I'd like to think we're all doing better than that - lockdown or no lockdown.

My own audiophile journey has known many low points, for sure many have  cleaned the mains plugs and fuses, but the holes for the wires too and sockets too? Then there was that ludicrous 350 mile round trip to pick up some Quad ESLs, and let's not even start on all those various turntable mods..

However, however getting locked up in my over bass trap-treated room by my spouse?

Well not yet, anyway. 😉

@knotscott, +1....Breathing new life into some vintage things is a reward unto itself...*S*  "Returning to one's roots' is just as valid (imho) as chasing SOTA....

Those objects may have begun your 'obsession'....so there's a certain degree of joy in engaging in some 'introspection' as to what lit your fire in the first place. ;)

Spouse & self took great satisfaction in taking a 1907 Victorian bungalow back in SF and getting it ready for it's next century.

Absolutely no qualms about doing the same for 'vintage' anything should be the same, frankly.....unless the item has achieved some sort of status of 'religious worship' amongst 'those that know'.  Then it's better to send it on it's way, and let someone else default virgin status...*L*

Hi, cd...*G*  I keep thinking about a line from Laurie Anderson....

"Are things getting better?  Or are things getting worse?"

I suspect we've all gotten to plumb that ying/yang well enough to finally 'go with the flow', but give it a directive 'tap' to keep from getting drowned or beached....*L*   The Lockdown Lowdown luckily hasn't effected us as a
couple or as a business entity to any great degree...other than making us look like the rest of the masked hoard.  Part of the daily details....life 'n strife continue....

My 'audioexodus' has been a sorid and assorted mortal coil all it's own.  No 350 r/t's (but I'll bet it was worth it , wasn't it? *G*) involved, but from 'meh' to 'medium rare, warm center' with artichoke and a Real Caesar salad with a good red took some time. ;)

I/we had our 'quiet time', when audio had to 'go on mute' for awhile; I think that can occur for many reasons, and we had ours....

It's returned with a vaguely reduced roar....;)  Currently, SAF is happy that I'm engaged in my 'preoccupation' with things dipole and omni.  As long as the SMGa Maggies' exist in the pending living room....no concern over being trapped in anything approaching a padded anything. *L*

Turntable mods....*L*  Tangetal truant, I confess.  Looking to 'mod' an SL8 Rabco that used to be a daily driver.  Actually Own an ST4!  Noisy critter, bought for 25$ new, in box, from a dealer that couldn't move it....
(Bought just because it was there and needed a home where it may be laughed at, but loved just for what it is...weird. *L*)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC6YLH02jeg

This says it all better than I could ever....;)

Cheers, Jerry