Mars is getting crowded...but it takes awhile to get there.For me,I've only just recently landed. If the words "obsessive,compulsive,and excessive"are any indicators of addiction then I am a bonafide equipment junkie from the mid 80's to today. Between Stereophile,TAS, and a number of others,I'd devour every review I could find.Have you ever found yourself spending more time on your day(s) off visiting as many different high end audio stores as you can,just to check out all the "really neat"latest "stuff"?How about knowing[at least]as much about a particular new item as the salesguy before he says a word?I could go on...but suffice to say: it is sooooo easy to get completely hooked on this holy grail thing that"newer,better,here-it-is!"becomes a totally consuming thing.How about "get a life?"...I'm often reminding myself of THAT phrase much more often now. Aside from your front- end stuff, I'm not "electronically savvy"enough to understand the legitimacy of "new and breakthrough" technology when applied in the pre-amp and power amp departments but I do trust my ears.. Bottom line to me is, if you've got a great sounding amp(to your own ears) try and be grateful and don't stir things up too much.You can shop features/versatility if you'd like when it comes to pre-amps,but don't get too caught up in that either.Enter your listening room,cue-up one of your favorites,take a few deep breaths,close your eyes,and enjoy a level of sound reproduction that 99.999% of the rest of the world don't even know exists,let alone is possible.Savor it,immerse yourself,and feel LUCKY.
Changing Amps?? Are you Sure??
All frustrated audiophiles out there,should heed this warning: stay with your amplifier if it sounds right to you.
I have wasted more money in the last 30 years, listening to the advice of the alternative press. You read "This amp is great, it does everything right". Then a year later, its not on the recommended component lists anymore. Listen people, if an amp is great, its great!! The fact is there are not that many good ones around. It has to be that many of the amps they recommended as great, really were not. They did not survive the test of time, not even a year.The Audio Research SP-11 preamp was just such a product.
Funny , when I sold my Audio Research D-150 amp(1976),to upgrade to the newer models, it was never quite right again. On and on went the upgrades into the hybrids, to the all fet input stages, only to finally return to my D-150 22 years later...mated to my quads. 22 years of wasted money. Anyone else go through this sort of thing? or am I from MARS
I have wasted more money in the last 30 years, listening to the advice of the alternative press. You read "This amp is great, it does everything right". Then a year later, its not on the recommended component lists anymore. Listen people, if an amp is great, its great!! The fact is there are not that many good ones around. It has to be that many of the amps they recommended as great, really were not. They did not survive the test of time, not even a year.The Audio Research SP-11 preamp was just such a product.
Funny , when I sold my Audio Research D-150 amp(1976),to upgrade to the newer models, it was never quite right again. On and on went the upgrades into the hybrids, to the all fet input stages, only to finally return to my D-150 22 years later...mated to my quads. 22 years of wasted money. Anyone else go through this sort of thing? or am I from MARS