As long as you did your due diligence, dispassionately evaluating and analyzing what you need and why, reading through all the reviews, searching and sifting through all the user comments, talking to a few noteworthy individuals including of course the designer/builder, then what does it matter if you quaffed down a cold one before pulling the trigger?
Or if you didn't do any of that stuff, if you buy audio with the same care as an impulse purchase standing in line at the local Safeway, well then again what does it matter if you were stoned out of your mind at the time? You weren't giving it any thought anyway.
Me, what I'm in for is the ultimate sound quality per dollar experience. I know you don't get that by accident. So I try and avoid accidents. Drinking and buying don't mix. This is your system. This is your system on drugs. Just say no. Etc, etc. |
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I try not to suffer from the affluence of incohol. |
I had enough booze 16 years ago. In for??
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Getting to a state on mind where there is no need for substances is brilliant and fantastic.
Sadly I realise people can end up in bad places and the only way to survive is to block feelings and thoughts.
I wish it wasn't so, but what can be done? |
Pedroeb--I assure you, that is not why people take drugs. |
@vinylzone
+1
Just because you were "experienced" at the time doesn't mean you haven't done your research prior to purchase. I pulled the trigger on a nice Perreaux amp awhile back while I was "experimenting" with herbal libation. I am quite happy with how it improved the LCR of my theater. I was also quite learned at this point of the product. The left handers just made it less stressful to actually spend the $.
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Should be a great sounding piece of equipment vinylzone. Enjoy! |
@vinylzone Hey, as long as you did your research as @millercarbon suggested then, hey, congrats. It’s an experience. If you haven’t had tubes before, welcome! If you find that this amp is not right for you or your system, then there is always Audiogon and usaudiomart, and it will have been effectively a rental. Enjoy! |
Congrats on the legal weed and cool tube amp! A great combo... |
@kingbarbuda,
I had tubes in the past. I built my own tube preamp with mc phono stage back in the early 90s, and also rebuilt a pair of mono Conn tube organ amps, but only used them occasionally with my Apogee Duetta IIs. I also had a nice Eico ST70 integrated amp in a secondary system.
I've had solid state for a while now, as I thought that I really didn’t want to deal with tubes, but getting the Herron VTPH-2A started to change my mind.
BAT is one of those brands that I always felt made great sounding gear, but I wasn't willing to pay that much. So I put in a bid with a few seconds left, I really thought I had no chance in hell of winning.
If it doesn't work out, I should be able to turn a profit on it on a trade in or sale, so I'm not at all worried about it. Or it'll at least make a good backup or second system piece.
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Congrats on the legal weed and cool tube amp! A great combo... Yeah, it's the most effective (and cost effective) tweak when it comes to musical enjoyment. :) |
Hey vinylzone, I agree with the above...
First, BAT is awesome gear. That MSRP and even resale are legitimately deserved. I could be wrong, but in my experience I've never heard of anyone having a lemon/dog. There stuff is built for forever.
Soundwise, I've only dipped my toe in the BAT pool.
I'm in a preamp rabbit hole that is consuming me. I've been tempted to try a BAT preamp twice. The cost of entry is steep. But....
Can't wait to hear your review.
Life is short. Enjoy the BAT and your music Sir. |
VZ, congrats on your great buy! *S* Always a thrill to have a 'pop' (...or, should I say, 'pot'...;)...) decision pan out well....
Ones' mind ( or anyones', for that matter) is infinitely more complex than one can wrap it around (pun intended).
Having a spouse that majored in neuroscience over 30 yrs. ago 'brought that home', Literally....*L*
I believe everyone to some degree at some time has made that sort of 'go/no go' call, out or under a substance of some sort. For most, it's just the typical electrochemical day to day slosh we haul around with and within us. Addition of a atypical addition can heighten certain responses; as well as dampen them.
The tip of your right 'pinky'.
Almost automatically, you looked....or thought about it, and felt it's existence. Or, you 'saw' the intent of what I typed, and damped it down.
Audio, by its' nature and the way 'umans evolved with hearing 'colors' our responses to it, esp. for us who seek a more 'intrinsic' experience from and by it. What goes on between our ears actually effects the entire organism both gross and subtle.
Your 'snap' call to 'go for it' wasn't as ill-advised as you might 'think' it was. ;) You stated previous study of the device, as well as passing interest. You were compelled to at least monitor the auction.
You 'saw' an opportunity.
Bingo!...and congrats...*G*
(I can imagine you sitting @ the keyboard with mouth open, eyes wide, and brain in a 'ground loop'....esp. when f'd up. *LOL*)
*G* How many of us have chosen a spouse or sigother in that fashion? ;)
Yeah, almost scary...*LOL* Happens daily, sober or not.
Enjoy (until you don't), J |
@asvjerry , um, EXACTLY. You captured it.
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@jbhiller
*L* I think it's captured us, frankly. 'Hard-wired' into the system nervosa...;)
The discussions regarding the 'uncanny valley' 'twixt us and the ascent of AI are fascinating to me. Regardless of how much an AI can rise to in terms of its' depth of knowledge and the speeds it may have to employ what it may know about us, I still feel an accomplished magician could pull a rabbit of his/her butt and have an AI go 'what?!' *L*
I saw where a guy triggered Alexa up on two cell phones and let them have at each other. A novel 'communication Fail' ultimately.
*S* Always preferred looking at the 'fringe', where things 'unravel'.
At least I 'guessed good' on my spouse...40+ years so far, and deed done 'influenced' by a number of factors....yeah, that was 'one'.... ;)
It's good to take ones' brain out for a walk occasionally....knock the dust loose, rattle the neurons a bit.
Can't get too much crazier than we are already....*G*
Cheers, J |
I was perfectly happy listening to a vintage Audio Research SP6B and a modified and rebuilt GAS Ampzilla, owned for 40 years and 46 years. But years of wondering how might better it be with better parts now available led to sudden acquisition of a Cary SLP05 ultimate upgrade and a SST Son of Ampzilla, both bought at essentially half price. Now I am wondering, did I really want to do this? On the first song with the new gear, I anticipate relief that the sound is indeed better... |
I have known to be guilty of building under the influence of some nice weed. |
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Alcohol and related substances lower our inhibitions. That is why we served them to our girlfriends while dating and to our wives when we are hoping to get lucky. Any purchase we make represents the outcome of the struggle between our desires and the part of our consciousness acts as a brake on those desires.
At least when we wake up in bed and have to interact with another person that under other circumstances we may not have had a desire to spend time with, it’s just a matter of making a quick exit and perhaps a trip to the Doctor to get an STD check. At least buying a tube amplifier won’t give you gonorrhea or genital warts, but it sure can blow a hole in the wallet. Perhaps the circumstances described by the OP may be the reason that many sellers here complain about buyers that stiff them and find absurd reasons to void a transaction. Perhaps Buyers Remorse is really Stoners Remorse |
Buyers remorse will pass when you start to enjoy your new equipment. I usually get buyers remorse when I buy something new and see a used one later at a really good price. |
Well, I don't spend what I don't have, under the influence or not. And next on my list to upgrade was my preamp.
I have no buyer's remorse, only excitement to receive it. It's on the truck for delivery by end of day.
I think a lot of people have gross misconceptions of the effects of weed. Sort of like some people commenting on gear they've never heard. |
So i've been listening to speakers and intend to do my final review with the same hearing enhancement the OP references, as that is far and away when i'm enjoying my system the most. My dealer will even do later evening appointments (think 9PM start). Sorry audio dealer that is. |
I’m surprised no one has started a thread asking if they think their system sounds better on pot ....
But I do .....LOL |
I don't know if my system sounds better. I know I connect with the music better. I close my eyes, the room and system just seems to disappear and the music takes me where it might.
I don't like listening to the "sound" of my system, so much gets lost in the intent of the artist/writer/composer/performer(s) and I worry about stupid stuff like microdynamics, inner detail, prat, and all the other audiophile stuff. For me it's all about the emotional connection with the music.
Don't get me wrong, listening to the sound of my system has it's purpose, especially when evaluating new gear. But I'm in it for the music much more than the sound. |
I do not regret buying under the influence. Those speakers will be with me until the estate sale. |
If no animals or humans were injured or abused in the purchase of your BAT then you win....the time for regrets is before you light the fuse...or...(you get the idea).
If the purchase is a quality piece the worst that can happen is you might pay a penalty by losing a few $ throwing it back into the audio lake.
Cheers to all who are in this ridiculous hobby for the pure musical enjoyment. |
Ok, I just got the BAT presmp, I only had time to unbox it. I think I hit the jackpot.. The unit was checked out and serviced by BAT earlier this month, and the repair invoice also had a new set of factory tubes included.
Hopefully I can set it up later tonight.
I think I'm going to get small before shopping for a new amp when I'm ready. It sure worked out great this time :). |
*L* Watch out, VZ....Just because you 'hit on the audio Lotto' doesn't ensure the 2nd round. ;)
Take the time (and the next buzz event) to research that amp. *G*
Pick a 'top 3' and enforce Patience.
Anything good in the used marketplace almost demands such.
Approach it like a Vegas impromptu wedding; Sure, it might work out.
Like the man said:
"You feeling Lucky, punk?"
That one went really bad...*L* |
Is there a better way to enjoy “Kind of blue” ? |
all kinds of interest in the BAT tube preamp. 33se or 53se on sale/used |
@OP, I hope you have some hours this holiday weekend to sit back with the BAT! Enjoy! |
I got in about 5 hours last night, I just couldn't stop listening and comparing. I know the new tubes aren't even burned in yet, but what I heard last night was extremely promising.
This preamp has balls, something I would not normally attribute to a preamp. Bass was deep, extremely tight, and fast. That continued up through the entire spectrum. Soundstage is much improved in depth, width, height, especially localization. It's also dead quiet. Pausing a digital source while listening at very high levels, the Maggie's were totally silent, even with my ear right up to the speakers.
Not at all what I expected from a tube preamp, in a very, very good way. I could not detect any deficiencies comparing it to my current preamp.
This is almost certainly a keeper, at least so far. As an added bonus, the Harmony has definitions for all the remote functions for my hub and remote, and it even has a ht bypass function. |
Yeah it's hard when you can't hear the equipment on your own.You need will power not to buy something ,someone told you it was good,with hearing it yourself. |
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Just wanted to add to my last post. Was replacing my Audio Research SP6B with a new used Cary SLP05 with ultimate upgrade worth the price? YES!!! What an amazing improvement in soundstage and palpability...
so the upgrade bug can indeed pay off bigtime |
@vinylzone, nice score!
BAT seems fairly well balanced, in terms of playing well with others.
Now I wonder what is on your amplifier short list.
Perhaps more BAT, SS amp w/ tube pre, all tubes?
Happy hunting, and perhaps use the same technique on your amplifier purchase ;-) and let us know if you get the same results. |
I took last Friday off and was listening to some music after partaking of a newly legal substance.
I have a feeling that might not have been a "cold one". Reading is fundamental indeed. |
@jallan,
Yes, this one has definitely paid off. I'm super pleased so far.
@performane_series,
I have Maggie's, so I'm thinking solid state. Had a Bryston foe years, drone my Apogees really well, but a channel died so I sold it and bought a PS Audio S300 to bridge the gap until I did some other things the system needed first.
I have to say, the S300 is revealing every thing I've done to the system so far, has enough to drive the Maggies as loud as I care to listen.
Having said that My current short list is BAT and Bryston, but I haven't talked to my local dealer yet, and haven't really researched current offerings much. |
vinylzone,
Bryston and perhaps Simaudio; good brands that are high-current and stable across a wide impedance range.
I'm not a current/former maggie owner, so cannot comment on best SS amp to use with your BAT preamp. I hope your local dealer is helpful, good luck and have fun.
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If you got it at a good price I say good for you! Not much risk there if the price was right and I’m sure it sounds great.
Speakers are a little more risky because of the high shipping costs but still I will not buy until I factor everything in and do research of previous sales. If I feel I can get back +- 100 bucks or so I’ll give it a go.
A little hooter and some good tunes is great! The couple times a year I partake I’m usually up til 3am jamming away by myself. |
Vinylzone,
Congratulations on the new acquisition. As long as you buy anything used at a price you could resell it for if you don’t like it, you’ll never get hurt in this hobby. Buy all accounts the BAT is a good piece of kit, nice tube attributes leaning ever so slightly on the darker side of neutral. While great recording sound luscious, a bad recording not as bad as other equipment can portray the music as.
I hope this provides you a pleasant surprise and and it becomes your musical best friend. Have fun with it!
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