Did your system getting better the more money you spent or more experience you gained?


This is something that wanted to ask folks. Initially I said I would never spend x amount of dollars in this audio journey. 20 years later I’m here and did what I said I wouldn’t but I’m happier than ever. Best system to this date. But it wasn’t about money only. I gained knowledge on what was possible and the quality and design of the gear I wanted. I see people just throw money into audio and never be happy or satisfied. I think that happens because they don’t think for themselves as well as have the resources? Thoughts ?

calvinj

Exactly my own experience said in a more simple and direct way than by me... Thanks...😊

 

I called "the minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold "the level where i am...

Passed this threshold we race and go toward the "maximal acoustical satisfaction threshold " ... Most people are not there anyway...It takes a dedicated room and very costlier gear...over 100,000 bucks for the room only ...Most people are unable to do a dedicated room by themselves at low cost ... It takes too much time anyway ...

The good news is that the minimal threshold is not a stopgap at all...

It is all we need to enjoy music with no serious limitations...

An unnatural timbre, a bad imaging, a narrow soundstage , are serious limitations...

I dont suffer of any of these defects with my speakers... ( active low cost one completely modified )

My headphone are TOP audiophile when optimized with a soundscape out of mu head when the recording is well done in church or in studio......

The only factor that matter for most of us anyway is the ratio S.Q. /price..

The winner is someone who pay the least and enjoy the better result ( in a relative way with the investment cost for sure) Then i win ... 😁

And being bothered by the sound , thinking always about it instead of listening music is annoying... My money goes now for music...

How do you think cost 40 albums of the musician you love ?

And i love hundred of musicians...

I will never buy 40 dacs instead ... It is ridiculous... 😊

Guess which is the bigger possible improvement a dac or a tuned room ?

Those who answer the dac had learn nothing in acoustics...

 

 

Experience saves me money. Ultimately I can get better sound if I spend more but I have found there’s an upper limit to my ability to enjoy. Once the sound quality reaches a certain threshold I’m basically there, so no reason to push it further. Mostly what drives me to try new things now is just curiosity. What will it sound like if I do something novel? Even if I limit myself to moderately priced components, experimenting can get expensive quickly. And that’s where experience comes in again. I’ve learned to think more and build less. Think about every reason why I shouldn’t try something, and be as sure as possible there’s not a better way to do it before I actually start ordering stuff and cutting wood. Thinking about assembling a new system can be as much fun as actually doing it! Meanwhile I’m blissfully enjoying my current system, occasionally trying a minor tweak that doesn’t require me to buy anything.

 

 

 

@asctim , @mahgister

 

Exactly. This is one of the personal attributes you need to understand about yourself and the folks that are posting. What is your goal / personality / values?

I am a fanatic, if I can find a way to get a small amount closer to the absolute sound (what that sounds like is also personal value. I get tremendous pleasure out of it. If I can put in another hundred hours or another $10K… then it is absolutely worth it to do both. I am happy to do without a new car or fancy 🧻. Kind of the definition of an audiophile… frequently considered a disease, as opposed to a passionate pursuit or interest where rational boundaries exist.

 

Not surprisingly, I am like this about anything I pursue. Photography, bicycling, wine. I think most folks have an approach to all their pursuits and it is typically similar across the board. My motto has been “do or do not” for far longer than Yoda has been around.

Reading your posts, you seems to have done your job of informing yourself well...

Anyway we are all different...

Myself i am like you passionnate...I want a good sound too but i take another road...Budget was tight then no other choice than learning much about mechanical, electrical and acoustical embeddings controls with no cost, then homemade...

My passion for few years was acoustics experiments... I am done with it now and my first passion is music with a good sound at last... I listen music all day reading or not... 😁

I dont doubt your dedication... And your experience will be useful for those who want to go where you aim for... Not one of those people will take me seriously anyway....My own goal is already reached and now i know enough to do it again for the third time in any conditions and at any price... For me now it was minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold at peanuts cost... Give me 20,000 bucks i know how to reach near the maximum threshold with that....

I trust you after reading your posts then i had no reservation about your seriousness... Simply we take divergent road...I am happy with what i learned... And we spoke for  different crowds or different needs...

@asctim , @mahgister

 

Exactly. This is one of the personal attributes you need to understand about yourself and the folks that are posting. What is your goal / personality / values?

I am a fanatic, if I can find a way to get a small amount closer to the absolute sound (what that sounds like is also personal value. I get tremendous pleasure out of it. If I can put in another hundred hours or another $10K… then it is absolutely worth it to do both. I am happy to do without a new car or fancy 🧻. Kind of the definition of an audiophile… frequently considered a disease, as opposed to a passionate pursuit or interest where rational boundaries exist.

 

Not surprisingly, I am like this about anything I pursue. Photography, bicycling, wine. I think most folks have an approach to all their pursuits and it is typically similar across the board. My motto has been “do or do not” for far longer than Yoda has been around.

 
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@maghister don’t get me wrong.  Improving sound with less money is the key.  But the overall enjoyment at what you can afford is the ultimate goal. 

we seem to have returned to the endless circular reasoning debate from this and previous same threads...it all matters, not one or the other...we all have different options, resources, skills...equipment, matching and synergy, room acoustics matching the equipment etc etc