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How do you know what you're missing?

Without listening to better systems than your own, how do you go about targeting what to improve? How do you know what is possible? It's a case of you don't know what you don't know. I get that indistinguishable from live is the definition of high fidelity, but I don't see that as a realistic aspiration without a dedicated built to spec room and a few orders of magnitude more expensive gear.

Reading reviews or forums can't possibly educate as well as demonstration. "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture," applies to the hardware as well as the media. I've isolated myself for many years prior to current circumstances. I can't remember the last time I actually went and listened to someone else's system. For that matter it's been years since I heard live music, too. (I don't count serenading the cat at home.)

Is it a case of you'll know it when you see it? Is this not a common problem? Or do you just not know it is a problem?
cat_doorman
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano
2,509 posts
 
Really an excellent question.  One that I’m asking myself just now.
Being a former musician, I know very much what live music sounds like.
And my system does resemble it closely.
But I didn’t spend real mega bucks [<$20,000) on it. What do systems in the upper five figures and above sound like?  How real is real?
After a certain point are we just chasing minute changes that really don’t matter?
denverfred's avatar
denverfred
252 posts
 
You won’t know what you’re listening for until you hear it.
Upgrade your most "suspect" cable and sit back. It’ll take 2 weeks or more for it to break in and you need to hear what that sounds like. What your favorite vocalist sounds like as break in takes place. Then do it again.
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,961 posts
 
Almost all audio system are never listened to their potential maximum S.Q. by their owner that will never know what they are able to give....

Simple, learn to embed your audio system in the mechanical dimension, in the electrical noise floor of your house, and in the acoustical dimension of the room...

After that most upgrade would become less tentative and often useless if your audio system parts were wisely choosen to begin with...

Upgrading is half the time a reflection of our ignorance about our actual own audio system...

My system value is 500 bucks, upgrading it will cost me too much (more than 10.000) because it is so well embedded now, and anyway i am now happy with it....

Are you able to listen to 9th Bruckner symphony and able to hears all orchestral details and instruments timbre? If yes, your audio system is well embedded and wisely choosen....

Audiophile experience may cost peanuts if you learn how to embed your system.....


cat_doorman OP
236 posts
 

Q: If I’ve never had chocolate cake (or haven’t had any in a long time), what are some ways I can insure my recipe turns out as good as possible WITHOUT tasting a bunch of other chocolate cakes or making dozens of trial cakes? What is chocolate cake even supposed to taste like?

A: Try lots of chocolate cake to see what you like. Then reverse engineer the recipe.

A: Make sure to preheat your oven. That is the most important thing.

A: What kind of frosting are you using? The right frosting makes a big difference.

A: Look within to find your perfect inner chocolate cake. Become that cake in the world.

A: You need to use real chocolate. That processed stuff or premixed stuff is no good.  

A: Have you tried cupcakes yet?

A: Try small variations of the recipe to see which you like better. Practice, practice, practice.

A: Go to a baking contest and try all the cakes. 

A: What you really want are brownies. I make special brownies. They’re the best. The secret is in the butter. 


jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@cat_doorman 

i have absolutely no idea what your point is, but i did just scoop myself some chocolate ice cream

your fault  :)
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