2. amps-preamps
  3. 175396-143318

No more "High End" for me...Back to Reality Audio

After a 3 year roller coaster ride with so called "Audiophile High End" Tube Amps,/Tube Preamps, multi thousand dollar DAC's, Speakers of all shapes and sizes, and several DIY mods. I've settled on what will be my "forever system" and stop chasing a Dragon that I'll never catch. There's more important things in life to worry about. Plus HIgh End crap can be very fickle at times. It has taught me though what sounds good and how to get there and of course how much it will cost new or slightly used.

For the first time, I'm building a system around the Speakers. I'm an electronics Geek so that has ALWAYS come first. I've always done DIY Speakers as well form High School to College to married life (my Wife puts up with A LOT).

My Bose 901 "passion" will be with me forever. I will defend those Sealed Box odd shaped boxes till I do. Any old Geezer will be told off wherever they knock that Brand down. I did it last last week.

Anyways, the list :

  • Klipsch Cornwall IV's driven by a pair of resto modded McIntosh MC50's
  • Sony UBP-X1000ES (gotta get some more before they and the 1100ES become as rare as the overpriced Oppo crap) with my mods to the Analog Output boards
  • Orchard Audio Ultra Amplifers x6 (I'm getting near the end of hand buiding/soldering the 6 pcb's)
  • Stax SRM-007tA with Koss 95/X Electrostatics
  • Surround Speakers will be 4x Series I/II Speakers with two on Tulip Stands and two more hung from the ceiling (what the Wife can see sitting down but can hear is always a good thing)
  • Center Channel with be two Heresy's resting horizontally angled up towards the screen slightly
  • two double stacked 12" H-Frame Subwoofers on the back wall 
  • All the Electronics will be mounted in the wall giving lots of space for the Cornwall to do their "thang"

To those still chasing the Dragon. Enjoy !

 

 

rajugsw
mofojo
2,303 posts
 

I do agree that high end can be fickle especially on less than perfect recordings. I have a set that sounds very very good on any damn thing. Have another set that sounds amazing with some recordings and dull and messy with not so well recorded material. 

rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 

If you have reached your destination in this hobby, congratulations. I will more than likely never reach a destination. For me,that’s part of the enjoyment. I don’t find it frustrating,I find it invigorating. 

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,102 posts
 

Adequation and synergy between the CHOSEN audio system and the room is the destination...

Chasing gear without adapting acoustically the room for the system does not preclude the enjoyment of spending money for sure , but upgrading gear is not ACOUSTIC experience...It is acoustic ignorance if upgrading is done for the sake of changing the pain’s place or the "tasted" colors...Sorry....

My definition of the journey is not the same as you...

The better ratio of S.Q. / cost for listening MUSIC....Thats all....

A high end sound which is not created by a high end system but by acoustic at peanuts cost...This is my journey...

Is it no an interesting journey?

I prefer that to meaningless upgrade because ignorance of basic acoustic...

Audio is acoustic FIRST and electronic engineering second...not the reverse...Guess why?

😁😊

If you have reached your destination in this hobby, congratulations. I will more than likely never reach a destination. For me,that’s part of the enjoyment. I don’t find it frustrating,I find it invigorating.

 

rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 

In my opinion,all things regarding sound reproduction matter. Especially the room. Why did you think I was only speaking about gear? I enjoy trying different ways to couple,decouple, isolate components. Therefore,until I stop enjoying the differences these things make,I will probably not reach my destination. Have you reached yours? Are you done experimenting with different ideas?  If someone has reached their endgame,that’s awesome. This is a hobby. Something to be enjoyable,and bring some pleasure in this life. People have different experiences and different goals. 
   Enjoy the music,

        Ray

        

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,102 posts
 

You are very right our journey is specific to ourself...Thanks to remind me that, i need it sometimes being a bit too passionnate and centered on myself...

But a remark:

The audio  journey is defined by precise acoustical and psycho-acoustical criteria of experience, TIMBRE being one of the most important, dynamic, imaging and soundstaging, listener envelopment and some other one; all these factors are perfectly defined SCIENTIFIC  acoustic experience on which we can increase our control with acoustic experiments OR NOT...

Playing by changing components for the sake of changing components is fun yes but could not replace the power of transformation of acoustic experiments...

I dont enjoy myself the difference but i prefer to enjoy at the end music toself, BUT  with no frustation about any aspect of sound in my room/system... Then i dont need any change ....

My best to you....

In my opinion,all things regarding sound reproduction matter. Especially the room. Why did you think I was only speaking about gear? I enjoy trying different ways to couple,decouple, isolate components. Therefore,until I stop enjoying the differences these things make,I will probably not reach my destination. Have you reached yours? Are you done experimenting with different ideas? If someone has reached their endgame,that’s awesome. This is a hobby. Something to be enjoyable,and bring some pleasure in this life. People have different experiences and different goals.
Enjoy the music,

Ray

 

Report this

 

More to discover