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Am I Bad Listener?

Let me say from the outset that I love audio gear and I love the sound of mid-high end audio. But here's the thing ...

The only part of a system that I can hear a real difference in is speakers. In my system over the past few months I have tested three different amps (a 30W tube, a 150W SS integrated and a 200W SS amp plus a bi-amp configuration), a tube preamp, no preamp (direct to amp via DAC with volume control) and most recently a bunch of different speaker wires (my original Audience Maestros, a DIY Home Depot 10 gauge concoction, Anticables and two other sets of very expensive wires borrowed from a local dealer - some bi-wired & some single with jumpers). Oh, and a series of different IC's.

With the possible exception of the insertion of the tube preamp, I can't really tell much of a difference regardless of what I do. I have had similar experiences at dealers. But switching back and forth between different speakers I can hear huge differences.

I think my system sounds really good but is modest by comparison to many on A'gon - Olive Musica, Benchmark DAC, Minimax Preamp, Meridian G57 amp (sometimes switched for a Classe or Prima Luna) - so maybe that's it. In a modest system the effect of switching components or wires just won't yield huge sound changes. Or maybe I just don't hear in a very detailed manner.

I spend a fair amount of time reading posts here and people claim to have genuine sonic revelations by switching an interconnect or a tube or piece of speaker wire. I love buying the new stuff and giving it a try but I just don't seem to ever hear a sonic revelation and end up re-selling it.

Does anyone share my experience or is there something this sad, pathetic audiophile is missing?
itball

Showing 1 response by jtgofish

jtgofish's avatar
jtgofish
515 posts
 
Itball,
I think enjoying audio is a bit like enjoying wine.You really need some basic "how to sample instructions"in order to gain a higher level of understanding of what you should be listening for.

Past a certain point the way in which a system draws you in becomes highly dependent on its abilty to portray precise 3D images.Once you "get this" you should be able to detect quite small changes in your system.

I have heard plenty of expensive systems that simply don't do this properly-and some quite cheap ones which do.

It is hard to explain how to listen to this though.The best way is probably to hear some systems which have strong performance in this regard and ask the owner to point out what to listen for.

Of course a good hi fi retailer should be able to demonstrate this.Indeed they should insist on doing so.
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