@lanx0003
Beware of isolating yourself and finding little to do outside of the home. If I gave up golf, I would have few relationships outside my PT job that provides a minor amount of human interaction but is hardly fulfilling.
After attrition doomed my Sunday morning roster of golf friends (a couple years before the pandemic) I joined a club to ensure I would have some golf tournaments to attend in order to satisfy my competitiveness. It is expensive, and I resist paying the grand each year in order to get on the club Whatsapp list to be included in the weekly tee times. I was worried about the political interaction with others, but found that golfers generally find other topics of consideration out of respect. It has been rewarding to compete again and winning and losing is just what it has always been- a time to feed the ego when I win, while realizing my own shortcomings when I lose.
I too, have the Wharfedale Lintons and your setup measurements are nearly exact to mine. They were the one upgrade that got my wife interested in what I was doing. (I would surmise it generally is always the speakers). Before that, I was generally ridiculed over the spending of monies seeking resolution. The Lintons arrival a few years ago was the moment that the wife took notice and started to realize my goals. That was a win.
So each year I recognize that I am spending an extra couple of thousand on golf that I could spend on upgrading my rig. What do I have to show for it? I would say a fuller life. More friends. A schedule that does not have large gaps to fill.
Tangible items, like stereos, are going to be someone else's someday. I have nightmares that when I pass, my younger wife just jettisons my gear for pennies on the dollar! I fathom that I will be looking down from above while she gives away cables that are, "just laying around". Maybe she will throw in those Ping clubs to close the deal!
So it is about the journey. Being an audiophile is as much in your head as the game of golf. You would be remiss to leave one for the other. Maybe now that you have reached a certain sound nirvana, it is time to buy a new set of clubs!
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I have the best audio system in the world and my dad can whip your dad.
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Competitive? No. Instructive as a learning experience? Absolutely. I learned to listen critically having the original Quad Loudspeaker beginning in 1974 and experimented with augmenting it with ribbon tweeters and a subwoofer. Although that made for a bigger, fuller range presentation, I don't think the results were necessarily "better." I remember hearing the original Wilson WAMM (which also employed an electrostatic midrange) and came to a similar conclusion--it lacked overall coherence (at least in the set up I heard).
I first heard full sized instruments over a friend's system comprised of the Duntech Sovereigns. This was in the late '80s. It was a very good system, but there was still something I liked about the apparent immediacy of stats. I heard the big Martin Logan Monolith(?) a very large electrostat at a salon in Paris with full Jadis tube amplification-very good on certain things. These listening experiences gave me exposure to what was possible.
I eventually switched, in around 2006, to horns using SETs and have been happy with that path of high efficiency, low power. I especially like the tonal character of the Lamm ML2 which in some ways defines the voice of this system. I still keep a vintage electrostatic system in my lounge, but it is more of a period system than any attempt at state of the art.
I've heard bigger, "better" systems than mine but all of it is "data" to inform me, exposure to what is possible being the key. It has helped me improve what I've done, though in some ways I've always considered myself an outlier--not following the traditional path. I don't regard any of this as "competitive" but probably "comparative" in the sense that it has informed me.
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After quitting golf as a hobby during Covid, two-channel music listening took its place and has become my main—almost only—hobby, aside from jogging. However, I carried over a similar sporting spirit: I only compete with myself. In fact, golf is probably the only sport that truly allows one to compete against oneself. My goal in golf, which gave me a sense of accomplishment, was breaking 80.
My goal for my stereo system is to create a tonally accurate, balanced, palpable, and immersive 3D listening space. It’s not an ambitious goal on paper, but it has taken me a long time to achieve. The good news is that it doesn’t require fancy or expensive gear, and my setup includes:
Wiim Ultra (DH Labs Mirage / Cardas Clear USB, 0.5m) → Gustard U18 (DH Labs HDMI 2.1, 0.5m) → Harmony μDAC (Mogami quad XLR) → Parasound A23 (Belden 5T00UP) → Wharfedale Linton.
And after nearly four years of continuous effort, I’ve finally arrived. The Linton remains unforgiving of poorly recorded music, but at least I’ve tamed it. As a reward, it delivers tonal accuracy, balance, and a wide, tall, and deep soundstage that extends well beyond the speakers, which are placed 11 feet apart, 4 feet from the front wall, and toed in by 10 degrees.
No competition with others along the way—just my own continuous journey of learning and improvement, if that answers your question, Mr. OP.
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I spend my money how I want, I could careless what others think of my music room, I like to hear others systems but it does not effect what I think of my own, to each there own
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Stop Capitalizing words Unnecessarily. It's really Annoying!
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I don’t have to be competitive. My system is better than everyone’s lol
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Of course everyone compares their system with others that they hear. It’s just in our nature being competitive. And I’ll bet most everyone always thinks their own system sounds better whether it does or not. Happy listening!
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I find the notion that I am competing against anyone absurd. I think we are all in some sense fighting against a world that fails to place value on the joy of sound reproduction
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@gano “l am finding this thread disturbing”
@bjesien ”Tears in their eyes”
@rvpiano “Comparison is the thief of joy”
@immatthewj “My system is constantly competing with me”
All above good comments sum this discussion up. Some sincere, some piss taking.
There is only one logical solution for all those who obsess and need to compare. Enter your equipment/system love child into a tournament with other self-minded show offs.
Reminds me of those demented mothers who enter their dressed up offspring into those despicable all singing and dancing child pageants.
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Sounds like a genital measuring contest? Why would anyone be competitive with their system? It would be the most anti-audiophile thing ever.
I am finding this thread disturbing.
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My system is the best system ever. We’re talking tone like you wouldn’t believe. Texture is off the charts. Soundstage? So wide it makes your living room feel like Madison Square Garden. I’ve had audiophiles — big-time people, very serious ears — come over and they’re trembling. Tears in their eyes. One guy said it was better than his wedding day. Everyone says it.
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Being a Person who had many a occasion in the Company of Individuals Known, Not so Known and never met, with the Objective of being in the room to experience a audio system and then an audio system with different Sources added or other Devices attached in place of a resident device.
I have heard broad ranges of brief comments, I have heard many good quality descriptions and fair assessment where some are quite different from your own perception of what was being created as a End Sound.
I have come to learn individuals are unique when it comes to listening and the impact of a aesthetic. Some are Lower Frequency Sensitive, Some are Upper Frequency Sensitive and in general each has their own preference for the cohesiveness of the blend of the range of frequencies. Some are genuinely anticipating something special as a result of visually observing and not hearing, I have seen an item selected as potentially the star of the say, as a result of Polished Metal being the design.
What I am not seeing from individuals is Competitiveness as a common meaning - "the quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature ", this does not show for the audio equipment loaned to the system in use either.
Conviviality, Jovial behaviour in conjunction with Musical Encounters and a Little Learning is key and the fundamental.
Selections are not marked as a Judging, selections made are based on where it is unmistaken something valuable occurred and the device capable, might prove well introduced to other systems.
I have encountered Speakers that are not too difficult to transport used on system in a unique Space and been very very impressed. The same Speakers in a different Space and with a different system has not been as an impressive a End Sound.
Is the System change not creating a synergy with the Speakers, not letting them sing as they had on anther encounter?
Is the Room the Speakers are being used in not modelled in a way that allows the Speakers produced Energies to be tamed and not be contaminated with colouration from the room interfaces?
Was I as a Listener / Assessor not in the Spirits I was on a previous occasion and was not able to discover the mood that was generated on an alternate musical encounter?
I don't see Competitiveness at the area of the audio interest where produced End Sound is being an encounter.
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Being that humans are social creatures comparison and competitiveness always waiting in the wings. And success in the material world measured by the value of one's material wealth and possessions. So one must surmount much and remain mindful in order to not succumb to the competitiveness. @pindac I really do believe some take pleasure and joy from the competitiveness.
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" Comparison is the Thief of Joy "
I have shared this numerous times on this forum over the past few years.
One can spend oodles of hours fretting over what they have not got, the trudge to discover where one needs to go next is a heavy residual at ones feet and is not going to yield any worthwhile results if other factors are not addressed.
Our Hobby is about Entertainment, Enjoyment, as a result of Musical Encounters.
Musical Encounter is the End Sound, everything Upstream of Produced End Sound is not Sound it is electrical energy being managed.
End Sound is the conversion of the electrical energy, where the energy manifests as a unconstrained release of the energy into a Space which forms Sound.
The Space the Released Energy is Interfacing with, has a substantial influence and does a lot for shaping the Audible Experience of being exposed to the Audio Systems produced End Sound.
There is not an Upstream Device that is going to have any influence on the Space the Energy is released into, Up Stream Devices do not Remodel Space.
How does comparing Audio Devices in a particular Space have any real influence on the End Sound produced in that Space.
Remodeling the Space the End Sound is being heard in, will do more for changing ones perception of the Quality of the Sound, than any Audio Device change ever will.
Only then might one be able to really give accurate assessments to changes made within a system.
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Mostly I can't compare many of my components to others as many are custom builds or highly modified. I don't even understand comparisons in many cases as our systems, rooms, ears so unique, difficult to apply a single reference to anything.
I presume monetary value of our components/sytems is the main point of competitiveness within this community.
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I don't compare. That is a fruitless venture
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Matthew,
Have you tried Parcheesi?
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My system is constantly competing with me. And it usually beats me. It has totally dominated me in checkers; I can still occasionally win a chess game, but those victories are rare.
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You have know what the target is first to have a chance to hit it.
I can't agree more. I should know what I have which might hurt me later. The sound impacts the human health more than we know. And it's natural to avoid the bad sound (too many systems and speakers hurt our ears).
The pursuit of best sound is relative and knowing what's available is essential. Comparing the sound of mine to other systems is a easy way to do so.
The audio companies must make the better sound equipment. Their sounds are stuck for last 100 years and the sound is actually getting worse in my opinion. Listen to TV and radio music. All new songs and recordings are tipped up and sterile sounding that I lose interest in few seconds. When I turn on the radio news, I must careful and select certain better sound station cos some stations sound hurt my ears.
My system is absolutely the cleanest sound system (most refined) and I'm still trying to improve it knowing how important my work is for the future of all sound products. So, I can enjoy distortion/veil free recordings and smooth/clean sound radios. Alex/Wavetouch audio
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Through having developed a Social Aspect to my Audio Interests many many years ago, I have been able to listen to many many systems and introduce others to my own system.
Additionally I have been able to share lessons learned and been instrumental to others decisions being made for their systems futures through doing demonstrations of Audio Devices learned about and adopted through my meeting with others and being very influenced by what has been encountered.
I am not possessive of owned Audio Devices, I am quite Happy to loan items from CD's to Amp's for Short Term or Long Term to do the Rounds.
My most recent Commission Produced Design/Build for a SP10 MkII being a Kaneta Design, housed in a Panzerholz Chassis / Plinth is out on loan for quite a few months, it is with a SP10 MkII owner using a Traditional Chassis Mounted on a Panzerholz as the Plinth.
In general most of my Listening Experiences are on a range of Systems from SS to Valve with Digital and Analogue Sources, with Off the Shelf and Bespoke Built Designs in use.
Systems Values regularly been listened to are from £200Kish descending to £20K+ish.
It could also be stated if certain systems were created using the most current versions of the Audio Devices available, system Values could easily double in the lower costing areas.
I have come to learn System Value, means very very little where End Sound is concerned. What does stand out, is Synergy being created in a System.
There have been times during a Social Get Together where a swap out of a device for an alternate device has been jaw droppingly good and immediate arrangements have been made to continue the marriage of devices.
Would I aspire to the 200K system - No, I have heard as impressive for substantially less monies. Would I aspire to a Lesser Costing System - No, my own experiences of end sounds that can be produced in my own system is more than enough for my needs.
As a Group of Interested Individuals who enjoy Audio Equipment and listening to replays of Recorded Music, there is enough available to help each system owner gauge where their own choices for their own Audio Systems has been wise choices and maybe not as wise as one would like. Fortunately with regular meetings, the not so wise choices are pretty much no longer an issue, the changes that have proved very valuable are resident in systems.
Stopping being a Listener Locked Away in their own Private Space and becoming a Social Listener where Open Door to Others is the Intention, Transformed every thing about my interest in Audio Systems and Listening to recorded music for the much much better.
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rank against who , owning same speakers , preamp , cartridge .??
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No rank but I always use live music and what I consider to be good reference systems as, well, references. You have to know what the target sounds like first to have a chance to hit it or even come close.
However were I to rank, my rankings would of course be the correct ones. 🙏
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No ranking. No competition. It is a shared journey to reach the most satisfying sound quality for each of us. I don't play team sports. The sports I pursue are either solo... long distance bicycling, mounaineering, SCUBA diving, exploration... one team achieving together.
If I learn about a characteristic that mine doesn’t have... then it goes into my knowledgebase. Something I might want to include in my own system.
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There is always better if you seek it. At some point I had to say enough is enough. I’ve been on this journey since age 12 and now 71. I’m pretty much satisfied with what I have. I have 6 amps from Pass, Hegal, Accuphase, Macintosh, Electrocompaniet, and Krell. Then there are 12 pairs of pairs of speakers. I can get pretty much whatever sound I want.
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