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HiFi satisfaction and/ or Musical enjoyment

Have you ever asked yourself if these are the same or different objectives?

For me I had an epiphany after over 25 years of chasing perfection that enjoying music is different than owning the best hifi gear. This happened when I grabbed an a used Pathos integrated, BS Node and Forte IV for my second system in my open floor plan.

I found myself listening much more to my 2nd system and nowhere near as much in my dedicated treated room with a reference level system costing >25x the price of my downstairs system.

 

After I realized my behavior I began a self assessment:

A.) Lower expectations are more easy exceeded

B.) The system is less resolving therefore average to poor recordings are still enjoyable
C.) I listened to entire tracks or albums that I wanted to listen to vs what sounded the most impressive on my reference HiFi system. Damn it is nice to listen to the music that you love.

 

Does it matter how you become satisfied with audio reproduction or just that you get there?

For me it just matters that I am happy and if I can get there with modestly priced gear and in this economy be subject to far less of a depreciation hit… hey that is a win win.

 

Below are a few other things that I learned about “my” preferences

1.) I prefer high sensitivity large speakers due to their ability to create realism (no replacement for displacement)

2.) Paper cones over any exotic materials

3.) High tech cabinet materials are great but I have no issue with properly braced MDF or plywood

4.) Wide dispersion designs (look for Klippel data on a speaker that you are interested in and see the horizontal dispersion)

5.) Soundstage scale and tone take the cake for me… throw a huge stage due to #4 above and nail tone and we will call it a day

 

So what did I do about this Audio crisis of mine? Sold all of the HiFi gear and grabbed some Cornwall IVs and some used gear to drive them at a fully depreciated price. Are Cornwalls perfect? Nope. Is any speaker? Nope. Screw it I am now a man free from HiFi BS and listening to music.

xp200dr
glenmschneider
24 posts
 

I personally can relate well to this post, as for a while too I found listening to my second system more enjoyable than my much more expensive main system.

and I used my second system as a reference as I switched and swapped out components, including cables, in my main rig until I found those qualities.

I’m quite pleased with how my main rig sounds now and it my first choice 100% of the time. Second system still sounds great when family activities send me downstairs.


Glen

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,424 posts
 

My epiphany is building the house of stereo. Other than still loving to listen to music concerts live, I no longer do much music listening on my secondary system, or my car for that matter, because it is so much less enjoyable. I think a lot of it has to do with what level listening room and system you had achieved.

waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
1,125 posts
 

My most enjoyable system is my outdoor system comprised of (modified) Boston Acoustics rock speakers, outdoor sub and (modified) "mid-fi" streamer/amp. The music enhances great conversation. Wine and beer help file down any audio "burrs" in the preceived sound quality.

mark200mph
207 posts
 

When I was a kid I listened to small hand held radio.it was all I had and enjoyed the static.grew up became productive in society and could buy better stuff.now I calm the savage beast with music.it is my only drug. It takes me to happier times.i enjoy learing off this forum with great conversations.as with all data you have to decide what fits your enjoyment.so enjoy the music stay healthy and congrats on your post.

daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1
570 posts
 
  1. I started building my system 5 yrs ago.  Everything I added or changed made an improvement in sound. I didn't know what I didn't know.

Finally, it hit me.  Music was just right.  I could listen for hours.  It was relaxing yet powerful.  .

Sounds like you got it figured out.  I also don't know why people feel the need to play Muppet judge and say sparky things.  Ignore that.  Welcome aboard.

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