Decisive moments your your audio journey

Great post OP! Most definitely I have had 2 such moments. One was back in the late 80's. While listening (under the influence of some damn good pot) to Yes "Parallels" live from the Yesshows cd. At one point I was so into it and the music was so clear (Advent speaks) and powerful I felt like I was on an amusement park ride. It was truly an out of body experience but ever since then when I hear the term "moved" when it comes to music I think back to that moment when I literally felt like I was actually moving. It was amazing! 

The other moment was the first time I sat down for the first session after bringing home my Dynaudio Audience 82's back in 2002. Lights out, 24x24 room with 12 foot vaulted ceilings. As soon as I played Diana Krall 's "This Can't Be Love" the second I heard her voice on that very first track I was just awed. Awestruck. Goosebumps and this overwhelming feeling that I could not believe anything could ever sound this good. It was in that moment that I actually said to myself 'this is it it can't get any better'.

On a busy in store weekend in the mid 80’s I was picking up my rebuilt Quad 57’s and the store owner was demonstrating them with a Spectral amp. The sound stopped the entire store, went quiet. Two customers pulling the trigger on loudspeakers stopped their purchase! 

When I opened my shop in 1974, I had Audio Research and Magneplaners there.  After listening to them, I then put every other speaker we sold (about 16 different high-end brands) on the same electronics and some others (McIntosh, Phase Linear, Crown, etc.)

I learned that ALL boxes and horns and electrostat's distorted the recorded music.  Only the Maggies did not.

And, while the other electronics were OK, they were not as accurate as those from Audio Research, even on boxes and electrostat's.

Eye-opening time that helped me continue to educate myself so I could bring the best possible (most accurate) products to our customers.

Not much has changed, although some boxes are getting better, and some electronics are much improved.  Still, Maggies are the most accurate when set up properly with the best electronics.

Cheers!

Great post, OP. Enjoyed reading these interesting stories. 
 

Like everyone on here, it’s an incremental journey. There have been seminal experiences and some good rigs thru the years. But the latest increment was, on a whim, buying a pair of ESL63’s three years ago.  Had to sign up on AGon to buy them. Got them home, hooked them up, and my jaw dropped. I never imagined recorded music could sound like this.