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Burning question regarding upgrading paths

Thanks visiting my thread!

While you are here, please ponder on the following queries and answer to the best of your abilities. Each of these questions is designed to upgrade my state of mind. You ability is timed and will be weighted against the answers given by people who are the same age as you.

1) What is the best way to upgrade existing system "A"?
(upgrade=more clarity, dynamics and better soundstage)
(you only have $2000 to allocate)

A= Cal Audio Delta-AQ Emeralds
Meridian 518-Mapleshade ultrathin
Cal Audio Sigma-AQ Emeralds
Aragon 8002-AQ Argent/Midnight double biwire
KEF 103/4
LAT International on all electronic components

A) Upgrade DAC
A dac with tube output is prefered.
B) Purchase preamp
A tube preamp is prefered.
C) Upgrade cable between amp and speaker
Silver cable is prefered.
D) Digital cable
Make me a believer.
E) None of the above
Sell system A and start over
F) I don't care.

2) What is the fundamental utilitarian purpose of Zen Buddhism for the self and for the masses?

A) By fulfilling nature, man is fulfilled.
B) By acceptance of thought, man becomes congruent.
C) By meditating, man negates yin and yan from consciousness.
D) Meditation is good cardiovascular exercise.
E) Zen is derived from aryan caste systems designed to enslave the masses.
F) None of the above. (prove short essay answer?)

Stop, your test is finished.

Thanks for helping me sleep easier,
Etane
viggen
viggen OP
838 posts
 
Joeavid, what tubes are you rolling in your LS16 now? I got the CA50, and I am thinking about upgrading the signal tubes, currently using the stock sovteks. Also, the CD3 is a huge step up from the Alpha? What transport did you use when you had the Alpha? Also, I've actually been contemplating on selling my entire system and downsize to a monitor, integrated cd and amp. This will be easier incase "thieves like us" decide to "detach" me from my system.

Gunbei, go rin ro sho is the 5 rings? Yup, I told you someone on agon turned me on to that book. And, it was you ALL ALONG!
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Yeah, Bro.

GO [five]
RIN [rings, spheres, circles]
NO [denotes possessive]
SHO [book]

That's about the limit of my Buddhahead speak.
joeavid
47 posts
 
Viggen at some point maybe ,maybe not, you will see as I have that all the tube rolling,cd upgrading and so on are,as I said an illusionary attachment to forms which will only please you for a very short time.No one on this site can argue that we all experienced at some time a need to try to upgrade to a system that will provide more of a better sound or more detail or whatever you wish to call it ,and that this need is for alot of us never ending.It is ok to play with this hobby but when it becomes an obsessive craving ,it starts to take over your life.I am not saying that this is the case with you Viggen,but since you interweaved Zen Buddism with your desire to upgrade I thought that a truly honest answer was due.I am trying to get to the point of my suggestion to you,because I truly feel it is the one way to peace. Of course I have been down the same path with gear and sounds etc.but I honestly don't find it to be as essential.This is all starting to sound like philosophy 101 but there is an essential truth involved,and it encompasses all of life not just our particular hobby.
p.s.The quote" "Do not attach yourself to earthly things that moth and rust will consume or thieves will conspire to steal" is from JC.It was not a personal attack but you seemed to have taken it as such.
viggen OP
838 posts
 
Joe, which school of philosophy are you concerning yourself with in regards to illusionary attachments? When you mention "forms", I sort of think you are referring to the forms by Aristotle. But, you've mentioned Zen Buddhism too. I am sort of confused. You see, Aristotle is teological, in that every object in this world has a final goal. This means, the final goal of metal is to form my CA50 just to keep me happy. But then, Zen Buddhism's own teology is to find Satori, literally where truth is found in emptiness, but I emphatically think it means truth free from adulteration of non-truths. So, we are assuming that stereos and other "forms" or "illusionary" objects are non-truths that adulterate the real truth, satori, in the realm of zen buddhism. So, to make this short, what tubes did you find ephmeral enlightnment with your LS16? And, who is JC? The Ongaku master, JC Audio? BTW, my insomnia has nothing to do with my audiophelia. This post was originally made to answer some burning questions and to waste time while I couldn't sleep.
joeavid
47 posts
 
Forms are everything that exist materially in this world.I think modern physics has at least challenged if not proven Aristotle's teological dictum that "every object in this world has a final goal".Every object which appears to be solid is in actuality in constant flux,everything around us is in constant motion,there is no permanence or final goal unless of course you concede that all will eventually turn to nothingness,which will unfortunately include your beloved CA50 ,but you probably won't be around to see it's demise. I too have enjoyed the sonic pleasures of the CA50, but found that my insane desire to upgrade led me to sell it a ,foolish me. To answer your tube rolling question on the ls16 I tried only twice to change tubes .The first time was with NOS Siemens ,sounded a bit better but became too noisy after 2 weeks sent them back.Second time was with Telsa's new stock,after a month switched back to the Sovteks.I went back to the wisdom of the manufacturer,if you will,and the ls sounds just fine.The JC I refer to is Jesus Christ.
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