An analogy to cars could be useful here-
i've owned a pontiac (poorly engineered but easy/cheap to maintain 2.volvo- precise but underpowered, VERY EXPENSIVE to maintain 3.ford mustang 5.0- overpowered, imprecise, cheap to maintain 4.honda accord- precise, needed a little more power- reasonable maintainance 5. toyota 6 cyl.solara-could use rear wheel drive, but better than the accord. now, a ferrari would hug a race track, but not city streets (i.e.-average recordings). i must say that when i grew up in this hobby, you got a receiver, a turntable, and a nice pair of $500 speakers. the wire was thrown in. and i had NO complaints.
now i can hear deep into good recordings, AND i'm still HAVING FUN- the 1st and last commandment in audio. but my system is pretty complicated and expensive. and my speakers weigh over 200 lbs each, which is kind of obscene in itself.
so it does bother my conscience from time to time. but listening to d.krall-live in paris- well, you can almost hear the audience breathing out there...
i've owned a pontiac (poorly engineered but easy/cheap to maintain 2.volvo- precise but underpowered, VERY EXPENSIVE to maintain 3.ford mustang 5.0- overpowered, imprecise, cheap to maintain 4.honda accord- precise, needed a little more power- reasonable maintainance 5. toyota 6 cyl.solara-could use rear wheel drive, but better than the accord. now, a ferrari would hug a race track, but not city streets (i.e.-average recordings). i must say that when i grew up in this hobby, you got a receiver, a turntable, and a nice pair of $500 speakers. the wire was thrown in. and i had NO complaints.
now i can hear deep into good recordings, AND i'm still HAVING FUN- the 1st and last commandment in audio. but my system is pretty complicated and expensive. and my speakers weigh over 200 lbs each, which is kind of obscene in itself.
so it does bother my conscience from time to time. but listening to d.krall-live in paris- well, you can almost hear the audience breathing out there...