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High end audio - mid range ears

I've been an interested observer to many threads for a while now, and as much as I love audio, I've come to understand that my experience and budget is really mid-fi at best.  Some of the topics, the gear, and budgets are well above me, but I like to learn.  You guys have a wealth of knowledge.

My interests are way above my current investment, but I've built my systems over the years based on what I can get away with or what an apology can sustain.  My wife, you see, doesn't share my enthusiasm (A Sony clock radio is fine for listening to NPR and she finds all my components and listening zones just too complicated.  Comments like, "How many speakers do you need in one room?" pretty much explains it.)


So here's the thing...
At 62, I'm not a young guy any more.  Though I'm constantly striving for the next level of audio gear I can get away with, at what point is it a losing battle because our ears simply can't hear the frequencies or discern the subtle differences?

Everyone makes sure the audio gear and dynamics of the listening area are matched perfectly, but how -- and I assume everyone thinks about this -- how do you justify better and better technology, when the most critical component will slowly but surely fail to hear the improvement?

Rather than argue pros & cons of a particular pre-amp, streaming device, or cable system, thought it might be entertaining to understand you philosophical perspective. 

I'm all ears...but like much of my gear, they're vintage.


cona

Showing 1 response by tomcy6

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,625 posts
 
You can definitely benefit from better gear, but you have to maintain domestic tranquility also. Very good sound can be had at the less expensive end of the audio spectrum and the law of diminishing returns holds true for audio gear big time.

It is very hard to tell what will sound really good to you in your listening environment. Unfortunately, reading about audio is not the best way to find out. Are you near an audio club or audio dealers? I advise you to try to find a way to listen to some better audio gear before you start buying.

One suggestion that I would make is to try to find some powered speakers that stream audio themselves or have a small streamer/dac that they work with. This is the direction that audio is heading and it will save you much expense (including not buying cds or lps) and headaches putting together a more complicated system.
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