Happen to you? Gear chasing because the fundamentals were wrong.

Thanks very interesting post... I live the same experience... A room with a flat response is hell not heaven.. It is not even possible in most room anyway..

Not understanding the frequency spectrum. Thinking that a flat room response is the ultimate pinnacle. We all know how annoying peaks in the bass region can be, but I have since discovered that small peaks (around 3 db) at certain frequencies, in the mid’s and low mid’s can add a richness to vocals and that certain dips in the mid’s can remove a hollowness from vocals that can show up from time to time. A peak in the upper mid’s can add a very striking presence to vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, upper register wind instruments and snare drum strikes. Strategic dips in the upper mid’s and highs can remove the hard edges that you sometimes hear on vocals and can diminish background noise that you don’t even know is there until it’s gone, which reveals a noticeable amount of clarity and detail and creates more air around each instrument. Lastly a peak in the upper high’s that can add a shimmer to cymbals that gives them an almost crystal like quality.

Starting out I fell for reviews and the mystery of tubes without knowing anything about speaker matching and tube rolling. I look back at certain pieces of gear and wonder if I knew then what I know now would I have liked them more. Also I wildly underestimated the importance of speakers overall in a system focusing on digital preamps and amps.

@nonoise

+1

Yes, when I started out I looked at the color glossies and reviews in non-high end audio magazines (1979). I bought this highly touted Onkyo tape deck… sounded good (although I had nothing to compare it to). Then, wondering through a high end store the salesman showed me a used (seven year old) Nakamichi tape deck (with wood enclosure!, at much more than the Onkyo). I took it home and swapped with my Onkyo. Jaw dropped, my life was changed forever. The Nakamichi was simply a screaming deal for the money).

I realized the popular press was without a clue… like me. At the same time I learned peak watts… and quickly watts rms were no predictor of power, and total harmonic distortion ment noting). I took a deep dive into research and got the stapled together “The Absolute Sound”… magazine… really more of a large pamphlet. Later Stereophile. I started learning by listening. So my first few missteps pointed me away from specs and any popular rags. Hence my disgust that AMR pops up touting “science and specs”… pointing folks away from true performance.

I listened to a current speaker model and loved it, but got cheap and bought the close-out without hearing them! I bought those speakers based on lots of reviews and industry hype. I knew better than to buy unheard, but the deal...the deal! From the start they were too bright for me. I swapped out lots of amps, pre-amps, cables, sources etc. I ended up selling them and bought new speakers. My audio life changed for the better. I now advise anyone to listen to as many speakers as you can, spend more on speakers than you feel is wise, then shape the rest of your system based on feeding your speakers what THEY need. 

I have dirty power in my area and it took some time to find this out and clean it up.