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State of the Art? I don t care anymore.

I appreciate the endless obsessive quest to reach the next level of audio nirvana. But I am starting to wonder if it is really making me happy. It seems that the relationship between cost and pleasure is by no means linear. Some systems I have assembled seem to have had just enough performance and resolution to reveal how terrible a recording sounded, or how badly I needed to upgrade an associated component -- but didn't sound good enough to get me to the next level of reality. While I guess that is all part of the "fun", I just want to enjoy music again. I still love audio and I love reading all of your posts, but has anyone else sometimes felt this way? Could someone suggest a romantically, musically colored component or system where, despite their audiophile credentials and enthusiasm, they have forgotten about the equipment and just listened to music? I don't care about earth shattering volume, the deepest bass, the finest resolution, extended highs, accuracy, rock solid imaging etc. Just want to enjoy music again. I know this is not necessarily a new idea, but I find it very very difficult to achieve.
cwlondon
j_k
234 posts
 
I think I am there with some of you... The turning point was when I have noticed that my other hobbies were starting to take my spare cash... Now I have a really nice wood working shop for the price of way less than my speakers cost (I wear extreme ear protection)...

I still listen often(5x or more), but I personally reached the point to where I decided I was just going to listen, enjoy and upkeep, rather than strive for this or that that costs thousands a pop and never really completely does it for me. My forte in this hobby is the love of music, I grew out of the needing several complete equipment swaps over 10 years -- it became a hassle to me. When the recordings get to the point where my system cannot resolve them, maybe I will be the mad swapper again... I enjoy my stereo more after leaving it alone than when I was always changing equipment.

Maybe some of you should try your hand at a Lie Nielson No. 7 on figured Maple with some favorite tunes on an old 50s vintage Sherwood Mono Tube Radio setup (Garage Sound System) and you will naturally enjoy life more...
john_l
782 posts
 
Cornfedboy. That's deep sh*t, or at least good comedy. You're the most zen-like lawyer I've ever met.
A really nice little setup (I don't have all of it anymore) is a set of spica tc-60's with a conrad-johnson mv-50, sonograph SD-1 cdplayer, and an adcom 750 preamp. I had it hooked up to one of my televisions, but lots of times I just liked to listen to it when I didn't want so much detail and power to contend with. Sometimes you don't really want the band to be in your house. The old cj equipment is wonderful for relaxing systems, and priced very low for it's enjoyment factor. Not that detailed, but definitely magical.
henriques's avatar
henriques
0 posts
 
IT GOT SO BAD ,the first system i put togeather 12yr,s ago that i just sold everything.I was not focused on the music anymore.
Now when i put this last system togeather 8 mon, ago it,s not has bad,i geuss because it was so long between system,s and having ti listen to low fi stuff that this time i enjoy the music more i think. Now i put on some music and do alot of other things, rather than just sit in the sweet spot. Like on the computer, here on audiogon the music is in the next room loud enough to enjoy the real music rather than be anal about it,but still times i think why.
I do love this never ending hobby and reading these threads makes the hobby complete. of course my system well never be complete, but i enjoy tweaking more than buying.
This question was posed earlier, are we just crazy?
Non audiophiles think so
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Good thread Cw. Been there, in fact still going-- but haven't reached your level of desparation yet. I smoked cigarettes for 19 years and then quit "cold turkey", and I've now been off cigs for 20+ years. Well, HiFi is more addictive. The problem is we all go beyond the "knee" of the famous diminishing returns curve, ie we spend a lot more money for rapidly decreasing music quality/character. But music, not hifi, is good for us, so my suggestion is to set yourself a fixed "brick wall" (can't even get away from "hifi" talk in philosophical maundering) budget, say $5K, and put together a musical system based on that amount-- give yourself a plus or minus 10%, and that's it-- no more hifi gear. Spend the rest of your money on music. I'd base such a system on a decent integrated, maybe tubed, and go from there. But don't spend one cent more than your budget on your "system". Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Cheers. Craig.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Now for a musical inexpensive system John 1 I tink you've got it!! Oh the midrange magic of the Spica's. Nobody did it better for the dough.
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