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Audio Lessons Learned - post your best advice for the newer members!

Hi,
I thought it would be great to have our longtime audiophiles post their "lessons learned" along the way.

This is not a thread to start arguments, so please do not do that.
Just a repository where newer members can go to get a few good tidbits of knowledge.

I'll start - I have been an audiophile for 50 years now.

1. Learn about how humans hear sound, and what frequencies SHOULD NOT be flat in their response.. This should be the basis for your system. "Neutral" sounding systems DO NOT sound good to the human ear. You will be unsatified for years (like I was) until you realize this.

2. I do not "chase" DACS anymore.. (I went up to 30K Dacs before realizing the newest Dac chips are now within a few % of the high end Dacs.) Do your research and get yourself a good Dac using the best new dac chips. (about 1000.00 will get you a good one) and save yourself a fortune. - This was one of the best lessons I learned (and just recently) . It allowed me to put more of the budget into room treatment, clean power, and cables which are much more important.

3. Do you want a pleasant or unpleasant sounding system?
I had many very high end systems with NO real satisfaction, until I realized
why a certain company aimed for a particular sound..

4. McIntosh:
As a high end audiophile, I regarded McIntosh as just a little above Bose for about 40 years.-- (not good)
I thought I was an elite audiophile who knew way too much about our hobby to buy equipment that was well made, but never state of the art and colored in its own way.

This was TOTALLY WRONG, as I realize now.
McIntosh goes for a beautiful sound for HUMAN ears, not for specification charts. This is not a flat response, and uses autoformers to get this gorgeous sound. If you know enough about all the other things in our hobby, such as room treatments, very clean power, and very good cables, you can bring a gorgeous sounding McIntosh system to unheard of levels. I have done this now, and I have never enjoyed my music more!

Joe55ag


joe55ag
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,399 posts
 
Understand that all recordings sound different. They run the gamut and sound they way the producers intended them to not the way you want them to or think they should.

So no hifi will make them all sound the way you think they should. If you can hear how each is produced differently and the ones you care about draw you in you are in a pretty good place.



This is the key to satisfaction and staying off the upgrade merry go round. If you are also a true music lover you will learn to appreciate the ability to hear whatever is there well and be satisfied.

Expectations must be tempered by reality.
bluorion
479 posts
 
Fun topic! Mine are:
1. Do the research--it will pay off in the end
2. Check out audio shows if possible
3. Try new things---something you wouldn't normally try like cables or power cords
4. Try to purchase where you can get a 30-60 day trial period
5. Most of all-----HAVE FUN!
baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,429 posts
 
Keep it as simple as possible regardless of your budget and once it sounds right, quit messing with it.  You will keep your sanity and enjoyment of music. Don't sweat EVERYTHING for the perfect sound which does not exist. That obsessive type of behavior will have you listening to sound specifics instead of music. That's when you've gone too far. Just my advice.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,399 posts
 
Oh and hifi satisfaction is a very personal thing. Never pay retail on expensive items without some kind of verified money back satisfaction guarantee. There should be a trial period within which you can return for money back.
skypunk's avatar
skypunk
499 posts
 
If you want to be really confused, ask a question in this forum.

Wait for it.
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