Stuff You Tried To Love
I know we talk a lot about confirmation bias- we buy something and then convince ourselves we like it. Or something like that. But did you ever buy something you wanted to love and just couldn’t make it work? For me, Esoteric X-05 SACD/CD player. Bought from a local who was upgrading to the X-03. Big, beautiful piece of gear, but I couldn’t get used to the sound after 6 months of trying. Sold it to another local- I insisted he listen before he bought and I believe he sold it soon after as well. Totem Forest and Hawk. I loved the whole concept. Slim, easy to live with. Couldn’t get them to work in my room. The Model Ones were much better. I had a couple of other pieces, but this is long enough. BTW, these were bought used without audition.
Adcom GFA-545 (Nelson Pass version). Lusted after them in the 80’s when they came out, but could not afford them. Bought one used, and ultimately decided it was just too ‘dry’ and a bit grating to my ears. Sold it off to a local Adcom fan. Replaced it with a B&K 125.2 and it was like night and day to my ears….so comforting in its presentation. It was like ‘home’. Still like most old B&K amps for their presentation, have one in my bedroom system. |
Thanks for reminding me of Adcom. Have had the 555s and then the monos and couldnt really ever come to like them. Still use a 535 in my garage, although this is soon to be replaced with most likely a vintage tube integrated. If I dont sell my pair of vintage horns soon, A. Dudley's reference, they are destined for the garage as well. |
Jazz comprises more than 50% of my listening and at times has comprised a much greater proportion since I first began exploring it in the mid 70’s. There are numerous Jazz luminaries and genres missing from my collection because they simply don’t engage me. I’m not a scholar. I’m a music lover and I listen to what pleases me. RE: Miles, the Second Great Quintet and its predecessor with George Coleman constituted "desert island" recordings for me. I own none of the recordings by the earlier Quintet with Coltrane. No Chet Baker. No Ella. No Ellington. No Armstrong. No B. Holiday. No Basie. No Dolphy. Gee, I must really hate Jazz! Actually,I don’t hate any of the above. There are simply other Jazz artists to whom I’d rather listen.
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