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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
orgillian197
119 posts
 
Make equipment changes, cable changes, room treatment changes, etc one at a time and allow yourself time between them to fully experience what they may or may not have wrought. All changes are not necessarily good ones, which is why other poster's advice on return policies is key.

And rather than reject other's observations out of hand, try things like checking whether or not you can hear directionality in cables and fuses, whether changing speaker positions finds a better spot, or even if burning in new equipment makes a difference you can hear. These cost nothing but time, and who knows, might be the biggest bang for the buck you ever heard.
garypennstate's avatar
garypennstate
34 posts
 
Room and speaker setup. If you need help with this get Paul McGowan's book 'The Audiophiles Guide' and /or Jim Smith's book or CD set 'Get Better Sound'.
markmendenhall
223 posts
 
there’s a difference between what’s ‘better’ vs. what’s ‘different’

and a difference between what’s ‘better’ vs. what you prefer 
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,605 posts
 
...after 40+ years of 'chasing fi'....

Please yourself, and the mind between the ears you own.

Enjoy reading of others' systems and approaches; keep in mind 'they' may have a level of 'discretionary funds' you lack.

Ignore 70ish%, as it at the end of the day, Opinion based on what they have.  The balance will be more useful and applicable to your 'quest'.

The space you place self and stuff in has an enormous effect on your system.  Dealing with that may strike some as heresy, be it by treatment (or lack of) or the use of devices that either make 'sense' to your ears or is within your budget.  Think of it as an ongoing 'experiment'.

Remember: Nothing you do is 'wrong'.  It may not work 'correctly', but half of the 'fun' (as in most human relationships) is in 'The Chase'.

There is an addiction factor in 'The Chase'.  Be aware, know when to 'cold turkey' yourself.  Your cars' transmission IS more important than a new cartridge for the TT.

Do keep in mind and at the center of your personal 'Chase':

It's The Music, not the means.  If most of what you hear sounds fine...

STOP.

Tread carefully afterwards with regards to 'enhancements', lest ye lose what ye hath attained.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
jimrobie
46 posts
 
This was a REALLY GOOD idea for a thread.  Big nods to:  don't focus solely on specs, the ancillary benefits of highly efficient speakers, listening to various equipment, recording quality etc.  Lots of great advice for young audiophiles.  In between the advice I heard a lot of "in my 50 Years of listening".  My advice:  BUY USED.  The fact that many of us have been doing this for 40, 50 or 60 years means we are getting old and possibly deaf and there are very few youngsters listening with their phones who will likely replace us.  I would also warn: that used $4000 Amp might not fetch $1000 in three years when there are even fewer of us left.  Buying used also makes it easier to listen to different equipment in your environment and experiment.  Fewer and fewer high end audio stores exist and even if you get to one you will not find as many options as on Audiogon.  You also won't be listening in your room with your equipment for a meaningful amount of time.  Keep in mind shipping big Magnepans or heavy amps will drive up cost and will limit potential buyers in the future when you try to sell it.  Being an audiophile is a HOBBY not a retirement investment.  To me it's more fun to try three different, quality used components over a number of years than to sink the money into a single one and be unhappy.  There is lots of great, high quality gear out there that was built to last and is very serviceable.  While it might not be a great time to sell high end equipment, it's a great time to buy used.
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