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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
sawbuck
14 posts
 
Speaker placement is the single biggest factor in getting the best out of your system. Search YouTube for examples and or lessons. Here is a good start  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Pf0ycbyBM&ab_channel=RockyMountainInternationalAudioFest

Remember, most speaker designs assume being 2-6 feet from the back wall, so read the manufactures recommendations. There are many speaker today which are being design to be close to the rear wall just make sure you buy what your room allows for.

Minimum of one sub two is better 

This is personal but I have found a separate DAC had a noticeable difference. The output of a DAC in the $500-$1500 range will get you 95% of what is available from modern DAC's. In that price range you can also get it with a pre outs which help to simplify you system setup 

For Movies and surround sound an AVR works but for two channel stereo a dedicated stereo amp is the way to go, just make sure it does not have a DAC capability within it if you go with a stand alone DAC. Double processing is not the best.

Today a good streamer is worth while and there are many which are very good. Here are two examples of the concept

This one provides DSP capabilities and can send its signal to a Separate DAC
https://www.minidsp.com/products/streaming-hd-series/shd-studio
.
This one is the same as above only includes a DAC
  https://www.minidsp.com/products/streaming-hd-series/shd

Have Fun and Enjoy the Music




mitchagain
451 posts
 
This is a lifetime hobby; so, take your time and continue to educate yourself. Always try to buy the best quality item that you can afford at that time. This should help you avoid regretting a purchase. If you're on a budget (like most of us), put together your system in stages. Obviously, start with the main source components (amp/preamp, media player(s) & speakers). When the itch to upgrade strikes (which it will), you can now decide on adding or upgrading things like DAC's, subwoofers, phono preamps, cables, power conditioning and isolation/vibration accessories. This should keep you busy for decades. After all of that, you can decide if there are any weak links that need to be upgraded.
lwin's avatar
lwin
576 posts
 
A lot of great advice here. One I would add is don’t be afraid to buy used. You can really increase your buying power by doing this.



lordrootman's avatar
lordrootman
379 posts
 
Dont get music that makes your system sound good, buy equipment that makes your music sound good. (Learned from experience)
lordrootman's avatar
lordrootman
379 posts
 
Never tell your wife the true cost of your system
Use the equipment to listen to the music. Don't use the music to listen to the equipment.
It's more expensive than a child. And needs It's own toyroom. Your friends will want playdates.
Always audition everything in your listening space, with the option to return it for a full refund if necessary.
Make sure you let your wife buy all the clothes and jewelry she wants. Tell her she looks her best with designer purses and gem quality jewelry. My wife is now into sapphires. Perfect because nice ones start at $1K and easily go up to a pair of nice monoblocks.
You will never be done upgrading...just roll with it.
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