@nitrobob i hear you my brother. I know I’m in a good place because I no longer equipment search. That’s a sign. When you music search only you are in a great place. I’m music searching only.
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@brauser i understand completely after years of searching im in a great place now. Im just gonna stay right where i am. If there is better out here the so be it. My system is giving me all the things I like so im gonna stand pat and be happy! |
Through a combination of a relatively inexpensive (digital) speaker management system and a near-state-of-the-art power treatment solution for the entire setup. It requires DIY speakers, but since mine are open-baffle, I didn’t need a full-blown wood shop in my garage.
Speaker management system: With one of those, and once I had comprehensive levels of immediate control over crossovers, timing and (more than enough independent bands of parametric) EQ, I was able to go to work improving my sound without having to upgrade my gear every time out. There’s actually no such thing as getting the crossovers “absolutely perfect”, or at “THE correct setting” for example...that would be impossible for anyone (since there’s literally no such thing) given all the parameters involved. No ear, and no mic in the world can do that perfectly, it’s all a matter of interpretation. The only hope for anyone – whether for individuals or manufacturers – is to devote as much time as possible to the tuning process (whether passive or electronic) until one arrives at what one might wish to call the (relatively) “best”, or most optimum, solution. Obviously, any manufacturer cannot devote an indefinite amount of time to this. Sooner or later, the speaker design has to go out the door to the customer, right? After all, time is money if you’re in production work. But no manufacturer can predict each customer’s specific needs and build the best possible speaker for each one of them. But with comprehensive control over the parameters, I can build the very best speaker system for my own gear, my own room and to suit my own ears. IOW, the full potential is that, for my own sake, I can Literally do a better job at speaker designing than Any manufacturer can do for me. It may take a while to learn though, I didn’t have the technical mastery to know what I was doing right out of the box. That has taken me well over 2 yrs and I’m still learning (though it’s easier now that I seem to have graduated).
Power treatments: But, like any other digital product, a digital speaker management system can sound...well..digital. That, and for the rest of the components, is where the power treatment solution comes in...absolutely critical, but it has been flawless for me and has elevated the entire system, even with somewhat pedestrian components among them, right into the heart of the high end. No compromises.
In fact, it looks like I’ll be coming into a good amount of money this next year, God willing. The prospect is enough for me to consider throwing this system out in favor of an all new one, with perhaps almost any budget I might like to throw at that. I’ve had some months to consider that now. And you know what? I’ve pretty much decided against it – and for no other reason than this setup now sounds so excruciatingly good, that I think I’d be crazy to throw it over for the promise of anything else. I'm 65, and I think I’d rather spend my time enjoying what I’ve worked for, than to chase the dragon all over again. But, I'm in no way merely surrendering to my age - it truly does sound that good! I may get an additional amp and extra pair of woofers to increase the power response, and get a 10-mghz atomic clock for the digital front end, and I can call it a day. When I build a new home soon enough, I can build an appropriate custom room to put it all in. So yeah, I plan on keeping this one! |
My first system was in HS and college - a Fischer stack. It was gone by age 30 at which time I became lost in the Bluetooth wilderness. Fast forward 20 years to the summer of 2023. I bought a used pair of JBL LX300s from a friend and added a Project Debut Carbon Evo TT and a chifi class D Douk “tube” amp. This past October I visited a true audiophile buddy and marveled at his Maggies, Rega TT and Naim amp, along with assorted other high end “stuff”. A month later someone on an audiophile FB page (thanks, Carl) said he was thinking of eventually selling his Maggies and it turned out he lived 15 mins from me. Feeling I might beat the rush, I asked if I could come check them out. A few days later they were playing at my house with his Rogue amp (they needed power they were accustomed to, right?), my black Monday acquired WiiM Ultra streamer and my tried and true TT. The JBLs and Douk amp are now downstairs for enjoyment by my wife and the unwashed masses. (Band name?) I’m a lightweight audiophile at best and my trip has been pretty short but here I am. Content. Satisfied. Dare I say done? |
Never really had a hifi system. My money went into cameras as that was my profession for 30 years (editorial work). Around 2007 I was teaching and one of my instructors asked me if I knew anything about tube amplifiers. Got the bug. Bought a used Primaluna PL2. and BW 602 ( and Project Expression TT and used Tuna) Replaced the BWs with Triangle Cometes ( sold the TT and bought a VPI HW-19 mk iv) Replaced the Triangles with Ref 3A de Capos Went to see friend in Phoenix who did a small gig at Arizona HiFi, saw and heard a 2/6 watt Grommes PHI-26. fell in love. Had to wait a year. So indulged and bought a used Decware Mini Torii ( keep the Grommes, used in a second system) Love this 10 tube wonder Pretty much this is the system ( added a new CDP Emotiva ERC-4, had a Mac Tuner MR-71 but bought a MHDT DAC and a Schitt Eitr and stream via my Macbook, added a NIB more than 1/2 off KEF 10b sub Only thing I might change is a more efficient speaker (although it will cost) but the de Capos can get pretty loud And maybe a nice streamer with a HD
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