2. amps-preamps
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I need help with my Equipment addiction

I can't leave well enough alone. My most disappointing days are days like today where I sit down to listen to my system, drink some wine, and unwind and... the system sounds great. I hate that. Nothing to tweak, everything is intergrating well: Clear highs, check. Fast, deep bass, check. Digital sound good with weight and impact, Check. Vinyl sound deep and well rounded with extended highs and excellent speed, check.

That's when the trouble starts. I start thinking, "What if changed cartridges?" "Well then I need a step up transformer, or a seperate MC phono stage", "Maybe I should just look at new preamps, even thbough I love mine now", "Then I need a separate phono preamp, I've always wanted an ARC preamp", then "Hey then I could buy an ARC tube amp for the high end of the Maggies and get bi-amp them"

Does it ever stop? How can I stop the cycle? I think I'm going to drink some more wine.
macdadtexas
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Hi Macdadtexas,

just to add to your audiophile pain, and as an ex maggie owner and maggie lover who was there too, Audio Research+Magnepan=happiness. Just how long the happiness lasts is another question.

As I said earlier, buy more music as it helps to stop the habit of comparing the same recording from one night to another. A computer does help as a source, as you can have instant access to huge amounts of music with the press of a key. No more searching the shelves for that elusive CD or LP. Your listening habits will change.
kevinzoe
167 posts
 
Equipment addiction you say??? Ever try your hand at room treatments? How good is any equipment if you don't have a room that allows equipment to show its stuff, warts and all? You may find that turning your attention / addiction to treating your room very satisfactory. It'll surely eat up much time trying the endless combinations and permutations of treatment categories (i.e. diffusion, absorption, reflection), various brands, and placement options. Keep good notes, measure, move one thing only and measure again. Have fun!
macdadtexas OP
1,794 posts
 
thx for the suggestion, but it's in our main great room area, and aesthics (the wife) won't allow any room treatments. I am just happy she lets me have the gear in here.
kevinzoe
167 posts
 
Bummer, your WAF is a serious limiting factor to contend with. Just a thought buy my DIY Skyline diffusors have been called 'art' by many visitors and they work very well acoustically too. Would appealing to her artistic side work? If you want info then ping me and I'll send you a write up I did for them.

There are also some firms that make "pictures" with absorption behind them (I think GIK and ASC offer them) so she can be admiring pictures of the little kiddies whilst you're enjoying the sonic and visual benefits.
jt3
33 posts
 
Great thread, I'm in the same boat. I know way more about high end audio (and vintage audio ) then I do about mortgages. That should be an issue, right?
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