Learn to live with what you have. But really, how much of this uber exotic stuff do they sell? An acquaintance of mind just recently took possession of a Ypsilon CDT-100 CD player. They're built to order and took him eight months to receive. It's nice to look at all that great hardware but does nothing to get newbies interested in audio anymore. Yes, I dig a top end Esoteric SACD system but am more than happy with their entry player.
The Horror
After getting back home from “The Show” in Costa Mesa, California this past weekend, I walked over to my stereo system and turned it on. And silently wept. I had held out a feint hope that my cross-over modified 1.7i Maggies and mighty Parasound A21+, fed from a Prima Luna 300 tube preamplifier could somehow manage a slight shimmer of resemblance to the robust setups I witnessed at the SHOW. Not—- on— your —-life. Not even close. I slumped into my over-stuffed couch and stared long and hard at the thing I created: an anemic concoction of false hopes and wishful thinking. The horror, the truth: entry into serious audiophile listening begins with purchase of speakers that cost the price of the car I had to finance for 4 years, closely followed with the added expense of beefy sophisticated electronics and wiring, not a gaggle of cheap wanna-be plastic and tweeks. I so wanted to belong, but that’s turned out to be just a fever dream I’ve got to wake up from. Maybe one day, if ever I have the nerve to rob a bank, find Jimmy Hoffa, or survive a head-on collision from a sleepy Amazon driver, I might make it. Maybe. Feel free to play the violin with two fingers.
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@audiodidact I can imagine that horror actually and would be a little afraid to do what you did and commend you on the bravery. I think I would have waited a little while so the contrast could wear off. lol But then there's that little matter of truth, right? I have a question that I hope you will answer as it relates to the whole law of diminishing returns and super expensive gear. Which, by the way, yours is compared to mine. Did you feel like your system sounded great before the show? I apologize if someone else asked this. There are a ton of posts on this one. |
There’s a saying in photography (I’m a professional photographer): Amateurs worry about their equipment, Professionals worry about getting paid, and Artists worry about the light.
Something very similar seems to apply in the world of “audiophilio” and in this forum: Amateurs worry about their equipment, Professionals worry about getting the sale, and Music Lovers care about the emotional connection with the music.
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Good post! Most everyone has experienced this at least once. Many are in clubs and share their listening room because as other have stated, room treatment is the most important thing you can do. You can't overcome it with a brand lol. An ARC pre, a class A Pass amp, and B&W, Focal, KEF (even Tekton)... or many others will sound great in most rooms treated and tuned for that system. Go crazy with a DAC... Lampizator, Mola Mola, Nagra... And your TT if you want to put $50K into that. I loved the references to F1... Well let's take it down a few notches. Guy's that club race on weekends put all they can into theirs car. But I assure you.. The car is a proven winner. Mustang, Camaro, Porsche... But what they do with the motor and suspension makes or breaks the deal.
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I too own Maggie 1.7i’s, but powered by a Rotel 1090 amp and Musical Fidelity v90 DAC. Mamaw always told me, don’t mess around with audio heroin, there are people out there running with AV receivers and Polk speakers. Be thankful for what you have. We’re here to say it’s OK (well, most of us). Get some sleep, and I promise you the feeling will subside, given you don’t run into stupid money. |
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