Dream Amps I Could Not Afford 20 Years Ago Now Undesirable


As a young audio enthusiast I used to lust for the high-end Audio Research LS25Mk2 and Reference Two preamps but couldn’t afford them during that time. Today at their used prices they are much more affordable now but I no longer find them appealing.

Does anyone here have such similar experiences? Stuff that you dream of owning 20 or 30 years ago do not appeal to you anymore and considered as junk (as an exaggeration).

Another one is Focal JM Labs Mezzo Utopia as the high price made it look unattainable 30 years ago. Now when I look at it in the For Sale ads mostly in poor condition with worn cabinet, the aspiration of owning a seemingly unattainable high-end gear from the past seems to be a thing of the past. The new Focal Utopia speakers are another story though..

ryder

Showing 1 response by asctim

I wanted Wilson WATT / Puppies back in the 1990s. Then I wanted Klipschorns, which I got and still have, and don't listen to much anymore. Now I want to try new and unorthodox things, so DIY is required, and I've lost interest in owning off-the-shelf complete speakers, although new things could come along so I watch with interest. 

I was interested in a DEQX for years, but after enough reading of reviews and experimenting myself with the kinds of phase adjustments and time aligning it might be able to do, I feel I've moved past the need for anything like that. 

The TACT stuff looked interesting to me for a while, more recently Trinnov. I'm no longer convinced that I'd be getting that stuff to do what I want any better than what I've already got. 

The latest object of interest was the BAACH system. After trying active XTC I've decided that while I'm a big fan of crosstalk reduction, I'm getting as much as I need for now with what I've got. You can push it too far.

Now what's on my mind is to set up a double bass array, so I guess I want a bunch of woofers to place on opposite walls. I've got all the electronics to pull it off other than all the woofers. It might be great. Or maybe it won't make much difference over what I've already got. Or maybe worse. It's more an issue of curiosity to try it rather than a desire to have it.