A sure way of knowing that your system is good is if your wife hates it!
How do I know if my systems any good?
I'm not able to leave my house due to a long-standing injury, so I'm unable to hear anyone else's system. I could list out my components but not sure what that would achieve. Lets assume they're all fine pieces.
what are the things that should be considered when listening and judging an audio system that combines streaming and home theater via bypas thru a preamp.
Maybe it's a great system.
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A way to know you have a good audio system is make a video of a particular music from your audio system with your smart phone (or high quality recorder). With same music and recorder, you can record the sound of audio dealer or friend systems. Then hear/compare them with a good headphone. The microphone performs persistent and always same regardless of environment and situation unlike easily biasing human ears. Alex/Wavetouch Audio |
If u spend 100k or more I’d say you have a good system. 😂. Just kidding but seriously for me I’ve always had a good system that I really liked. But I was never satisfied. I always found faults in just about everything where it was true or not. I finally upgraded my amps to the Audio Research Ref 750s and my Ref 6 to 6SE pre amp. Hoping this will be the system that makes me completely happy. Also I am going to be working on my room next. |
The only magical thing that help me creating my room and even understanding my new headphone is basic acoustic... most people think that electrical engineering is more important than acoustic then they look at the price tag of amplifier, tubes or not, and they are not even wrong, electrical engineering matter... But without acoustic basic and listening experiments, people dont even know what is a "sound source" and what is "listerner envelopment" , these two factors ratio, ASW and LV are technical term in acoustic... And the timbre experience cannot be recreated in a room if we dont even know what timbre is acoustically by experiments and a concept in acoustic about it and then the way to play with it in varying experiments ... Listening experiments will not give you "perfection" as marketing design promises do, they will give you the more precious gift of SATISFACTION, acoustically and personnally... Most basically good amplifier will work well in a very good acoustic room, none do well in a bad room because you cannot even evaluate the component in a fair way... Especially speakers... Without acoustic basic my own headphone cannot be figured it out and then cannot be optimized ...It is a complex hybrid headphone with a dual acoustic chamber in the shell... It takes me 6 months of listening experiments to optimize it.. Are tubes necessary? Not at all, some S. S, can rival tubes amp...But tubes amp differ of each other as S. S. amp differ.. There is no rule but synergetical electrical compatibility and then listening experiments.. But it takes the right amplifier , tubes or not, for this particular speakers or this particular headphone ...
All that boils down to extensive listening experiments and acoustic basic to guide us with specific concepts behind the audio vocabulary , without which most people as chicken with their head cutted, walk foolishly from an upgrade to another without figure out what they miss and what is wrong and what they need .. I know because i was like that 10 years ago in the beginning of my audio journey with no components and no money... Now i only listen music , my audio journey is : mission accomplished...With my past acoustic room or now with my headphone.. It does not takes money, in the opposite, sometimes money and price tag, fool people with costly system which are not so great because they dont know what acoustic means and they are passive consumers instead of being fun player in acoustic experiments and study ... I checked a dude on youtube with a million dollars bucks system horribly implemented in an empty room... my system value is 600 bucks... i laugh because my soundfield seems way better even through youtube and in an indirected way... But there is other very well installed system way better than mine but better not so better than i would kiil myself to buy them... Sound experience is like anything: there is a minimal threshold of quality performance and an optimal threshold...My actual system is between these too...Inferior to all costly optimal one for sure, but believe me way less far from them than what you could think... Why? Because acoustic basic knowledge tell me why and how... |
I wonder if I had tubes in an amplifier things would be alot better. That lower fullness at the lower range of a volume Setting is what I hear tubes offer in the way of a meaningful benefit. It's like pornography where no one knows how to describe it, but you know it if you see it. So maybe curvy seductive tubes would get me closer to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. |
My audio system 10 years ago sound like this :
I will add because it is important and was not in this list : unnatural artificial timbre
Now after my acoustic listenings experiments :
Then rule number one : Buy basic good component... It is a hard job to figure it out if you dont want to pay a heavy load of money... The rule number two is harder: You must read about acoustic and make simple experiments in the mechanical ( vibration control) and in the electrical dimension ( low noise floor) ¸And especially in acoustical relation between speakers and room... If you dont obey rule two sorry but you will fall for the upgraditis neurosis or worst for a life of audiophile frustration... but if money is not a problem you will buy a 50,000 bucks system and call it the best in the world but you will never know... But me i know WHY my 600 bucks system is one of the best in the ratio S.Q./price scale... |
For the vast majority of recordings (95%)- DOES: Sound life like, provides realism Has exciting dynamics, attack and quickness Can turn it up when you want to and still sound good Spacious, 3-dimensional sound stage Clearly separates the musical elements and performers Sounds clean and smooth Provides bass punch and feel Makes you smile and enjoy the music
DOES NOT Have noticeable peaks or hot spot notes in any frequency range Frequently sound like you want to turn it down lower than you would prefer Sound dull or mushy, lifeless Sound harsh or edgy Sound thin Sound distorted Make you avoid certain recordings because they do not sound good Make you cringe
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The folks who say things like, If you're listening at 3 am and can't stop, If you want to put on more and more records like your'e hearing them for the first time, etc.---Those comments resonate with me! When you hit the point where your music system is calling and calling you, you know you have got it good.
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You’re the judge! You can compare it to other systems that you’ve heard, but ultimately it’s up to you. +1 @jeffseight if its like that, non fatiguing, enjoyable! |
My end game i own it and cost me 600 bucks... And i dont say it is an endgame lightly... It lack nothing... It is an headphone system for sure now... It can be improved at the cost of adding between 10,000 and 15, 000 bucks and would became then competition for most high end system... I dont understand the fixation on the gear price ... Acoustic and psycho-acoustic experiments matter way more than investment in costly high end gear... At least in the S.Q./price scale ratio... |
Myself being 40 years into this rabbit hole ,is never ending for example streaming and digital has increased dramatically in musicality the last 3-4 years that’s where IHave seen improvements that = or better good vinyl but at a cost with all Ethernet cables ,usb, decent quality Ethernet hub ,and dac power cords , well over $10 k to truly get that you are there , that being said your speakers, electronics,and cabling need to be respectable minimal $20 k a good Audiophile average around $40-$60k for Audiophiles for over 20 years. I am currently working on my end game system in That range over the next year or less. |
...being the sort who wanders 'n wonders on the interstates and the crude paths of music...looking for that which surprises, disturbs, delights, and makes me punch bookmark....and the scroll grows, does it, oh yes.... ;) I like, nay, Enjoy....those 'tidbytes' that I put on 'loop', and let 'em roll...*g* If I look up after the while, and 2 hours have passed.... I've been listening....and not thinking of how....*s* The walsh give it a wonderful depth....the background hiss I can chalk up to my tinnitus, which is my constant companion which sometimes gives way. ...and get lost into simple piano...and the memory of snow....staring out a window, lost in a thought or a memory... *blissed* My equipment is not expensive....but it transports enough. My bottom line. *S* Enjoy yours. Hi @mahgister ...What part of CN, btw...? |
Agree with the “…if it sounds good”, “listen for hours”, “can’t walk away” school of appreciation noted here. My method is to enjoy what I have and tweak here and there, mostly with speaker positioning and AC power conditioning, not ADD but REMOVE as much noise as possible. And as for music, that is the real key to it all. Finding the true piece of magic that simply takes your breath away, even on modest systems like mine. |
Without prejudice to the hobby’s basic philosophy that usually fails to scratch the itch to upgrade or try new gear …and has elements of an addiction: - In addition of your system’s ability to get the fundamentals of music right; and, - that it adds clarity and resolution; and, - you enjoy its ability to lay out a vivid and coherent 3-dimensional stereo image, then what more could you want?
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if you want buy of many more music media then thats it you really enjoy ,, if you still looking for beter and better component then thats mean you not satisfied qith youe system ,,, help to decide ---->https://youtube.com/shorts/zRakw_KIfWI?feature=share thanks for everyone who had support me! |
Is your system engaging and satisfying? I am retired and listen about three hours a day and have to tear myself away each night. My system is the result of 50 years of research, effort, and investment.
A generality. Regardless of how good your system is, it can be significantly better when investing 2x in a component or the entire system. However, it cannot be blind investment… the investment must be in components that play to your tastes and compatible with your other components. To be able to do this, you must read extensively (and/or audition), I recommend professional reviews: Stereophile, The Absolute Sound, HiFi+. Read about your components… then others. Given you cannot go out. After researching, try upgrading one component. What is the effect? If estatic… congratulations. Move on to the next. Also, I agree with @mjcmt, musicality turns out to be the most satisfying parameter over time. The thing that emotionally involves you in the music. Many of us have moved to tubes in our old age, because they are musical. If you haven’t read Robert Harley’s, the ultimate guide to High end Audio… it will point you in the right direction.
We could probably be of some help if you post photos of your system. Lots of time you can get greater sound just by moving things around, or upgrading a single component.
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Thanks for your kindness my friend...
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All of what you said is right... But your forgot to mention that nevermind our different tastes, nevermind our different histories, we can all understood what is a good soundfield when we meet and immerse in it, as you rightfulle said BUT you forgot to mention that there is a reason why? but you guess it right... There is an objective reason... Acoustic is the reason why... And acoustic has nothing vto do with taste... The same reason by which audio science progress, not only in engineering is acoustic and psych-acoustic experiments ...As the revolutionary Choueri BACCH filters for example or the tuned resonators grid in my headphone... All audiophile vocabulary express something about audio component experience which is subjective.... But acoustic science is objective facts and psycho-acoustic too and help to understand our experience and putting concept on it.Then help us to design simple listening experiments to improve what we already own BEFORE blindly upgrading it... Elementary very simple basic principle in acoustic guided me toward sonic heaven with listening experiments... Most audiophile ignore and dont bother themselves by experimenting with it and this is the main reason behind consumerism upgraditis and frustration,...Nothing else...
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Welcome back @mahgister . |
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@mahgister: Well, assuming that the sound perception is personal and subjective: What would be the point of discussing sound systems and good sound in general if everyone has different opinion and sound preference. And how do we explain the fact that most of us agreed when it comes to good recordings, good music venues around the world, good symphony or musical performances in general, good hi-fi shows or bad ones? Obviously, we hear and perceive sound in a similar and uniformed way. On the other hand, I agree that we have different preference in music genres and that might well influence the overall expectation of one"s sound system performance. However, that should not be a major factor when it comes to a good objective sound perception of music.
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You are right... I only say that it was not necessary to look for audible defects, they where in front of me without even asking me to look for them... I am a perfectionist for sound, bad sound destruct my experience..... But one day i reach my goal... After that upgrading is neurosis because "immersiveness" is not only a subjective experience but also an objective acoustical definable set of conditions which we can work to realize ... For me it is accomplished...
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@mahgister : "Why work on finding fault with your system? A great use of time is finding more music that you enjoy." Because we’re perfectionist and need both - great music material and even better sound system. When you love what you do, it really is not work. |
I never look for defect in my different audio systems... They were all evidently not very good to start with... First we must buy the right components... But the job dont end there as most people erroneously think... It begin there...Any set of components must be optimized, if not the sound limitations will bother most people , at least me... Now i can look for music and never bother myself about sound... But i learned non stop for few years of listening experiments... I like Koran and chinese and japan musicians too ... 😊
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Very right and wise post thanks...
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Assuming you’re experienced audiophile/music lover. If you listen to your system on daily basis for about a month and after every other song you hear, you still shake your head of disbelieve of how good the sound is, you just might have an excellent system to be proud of. It’s very easy to be impressed of a sound system for a day or two, but the true understanding and appreciation of a good sound takes longer time. |
Yes you are right it is all relative... But i must relativize your relativization .. 😊 I own the top headphone of the year 1978 and one of the top amplifier of this same year... My actual system after 6 months of listenings experiments is a top system... Not the best and i will not dare to compared it to 50,000 bucks Sennheiser orpheus headphone system... But i am not so far as to be frustrated at all... My system cost me 600 bucks all included... Then price tag, save at the two extrem of the scale means way less than people think in real S.Q. or are common place evident... One thing i know for sure , for the mean average audiophile investment under 25 ,000 dollars is enough ( for top of the world headphone listening for speakers perhaps a few thousand more) , i put the frontier just as an indication, not as a truth ;over 25,000 bucks the price tag means way less more than people think... I can demonstrate right now how one of the best system in the world can be put together and will cost around maXIMUM 20,000 BUCKS or less for headphone...Paying more will not improve this basic system save in a very marginal way... Knowledge is more important than price tag...And in a room acoustic knowledge is more important for the S.Q. than just price tag ... I can use three physicists who designed these 3 products to prove my point.... The best dac ever , with no contender is already here, and one of the best ever designed amplifier too... These two i dont own them, but cost around 15,000 bucks and may cost even less... i did not own these 2 products but I own already a good pair of top headphone with a very good amplifier .. Thanks for your post ... I wish you the best...
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The answer is, it is all relative. If you compare your system to a 10 dollar boom box, it is amazing. Compared to a 250k reference system, your system is likely not so great. I don’t know your system, but I can say with confidence that compared to the source of music for everyone in the world, and since the dawn of time, your system is better then the VAST majority and probably in the top 1%. Of all the people I know, very few have a stereo (which is shocking to me) and those that do most all have a home theater or $2000 system. |
I aimed to ectasy when sound disapear and only music stay... But it takes me 10 years to reach it... There is simple evident problem any audio forums can help to cure... But the hardest factors to solve is not so much a mere specific evident problem , but a tree of UNDETECTED problems because you cannot hear them or you cannot think about them anyway because they are not perceived and then you cannot even think about what to do first to optimize what seems to be an already good system without problem anyway... Most people stay there happy with what they own as it is right out of the box and it is OK... The only way i learned myself was by systematic listening experiments... A lot of them... Now i am in music listening with no more evident sound problem, and even if we can always improve for sure the sound, i am too deep in music ectasy to bother me with sound...But it takes me 10 years of buying gear to stumble on the right S.Q./price ratio gear ... And 2 years of intense acoustic experiments and many experiments in the mechanical , and electrical dimensions... Buying will never replace experiments listening experiments , around the basic mechanical, electrical and acoustical dimensions...Because optimization is not mere problem solving , it is experimenting with our ears... Audio experience is complex problems way over simple physics and engineeering, because psycho-acoustic play half the tune so to speak ...
The goal in audio for me is "immersiveness"... The way the listener is engulfed acoustically in the music/sound experience in 3-D with speakers and now in the last year with headphone because i lost my dedicated homemade acoustic room ... I just started a thread about "immersiveness" because most people dont know how to describe it to begin with and it is hard to describe anyway and to put all conditions together , then perhaps i will learn new things from others experiences ... 😊 In a word nobody can know if their system is good and more than just good without listening experiments ... Comparisons with other gear in other rooms help to for sure... But it is not enought at all... It is why most people conditioned by marketing judge sound experience by the price tag...It is way more difficult to experiments with what we already own than to just buying new costly upgrade ... But even gear upgrades are in need of listening experiments for the necessary optimization... And upgrade do not replace basic mechanical, electrical and acoustic facts and experiments... It is my experience... |
