How does one get off the merry-go-round?

I read that our brain gets used to a sound after awhile, so we can come to enjoy a sensible modest systems like the majority of Europians. Even an esoteric systems can fail to satisfy us at moments, coz we get used to the sound and it simply doesn't "wow" us any more.

So I decided to settle with a system that is:

A) About 70-150 watts per ch amp - discreet and wide current.
Old marantz 2270
Parasound HCA 1000
NAD
Inexpensive tube amp

B) Speakers without listener fatigue that is bit transparent and liquid

Niles audio
B*W
Paradigm
Speaker City
Mission
Tannoy
Athena

C) Soft souning CD player without that steely digitalness
Parasound 88
NAD
Denon DCM 370


D) Silver cables DIY

I have been around live music all my life, and I can enjoy the sound of mid-fi systems. Some of the Hifi components have gone beyond live sound, which is not a bad thing, but if you are looking to creating a pretty realistic sounding system to enjoy music, you can do it for 2k. Just look at all the Europians with an integrated amp and bookshelfs, and they tend to take music more seriously than we (americans) do.

Krell sounds great, but I can't help thinking where have I heard live sound that is that liquid, transparent, and powerful? HIfi has created a new art field in this exciting period we are living in, but music can be enjoyed for less, coz esoteric HIfi has gone beyond live sound. I just wish the CD industry comes up with a durable CD player that matches LP sound - Still less texture in digital. Anyone in the industry, please keep pushing the envelop higher for faster processing of more info. - computer CPU has been getting faster - We can take advantage of this.

Really expensive Cd player doesn't make sense to me at this point, coz LP is still better.

So, to get off your upgrade bug, think about all the musicians who are happy with mid-fi - They say it is realistic enough to be enjoyed. Think about all the Europians with modest systems, and they take art appreciation seriously!

From the files of pop psychology, the actions that are rewarded are repeated almost unconsciously. When we buy a new component, it usually looks and sounds better, and we are rewarded, hence our habit of upgrade is reinforced. Manufacturers tempt us with beutiful looking pieces as if to say you can buy class and gentlemanship here.

So, while I am against constant bank breaking upgrades,
economical tweaks are always fun and educational. One of the benefits of dedication to a hobby is that we learn incredible amount with child like ease... and it's good for our brain, and keeps us young at heart.

You are right, we should get off this constant bank breaking upgrade bug - it will make our loved ones happy... and simply enjoy the music

Budrew,

Enlighten us with your great-sound-on-for-not-so-much systems - many want to know.

For those of you who say you get more excited about music, I would recommend internet sights like www.listen.com or www.napster.com

It's a payed sight ($25 for 3 months), but you can sample all you like - that should get you excited!
You can discover new music - even cross genres.

I came to a conclusion that since different music sound better on different speakers, we need a few sets. We can get Niles speaker selector and switch from one to another as music demands - we will our enjoy listening more of the times, and not get that upgrade itch as easily.

For instance, voice sounds better on speakers with low Q values - the spring in the woofer loaded softely - not too tightly. This gives a richer sound. Especially true for classical singers - when they sing loudly and make a sudden crescendo, it still keeps sound soft so as not to bother you - as with speakers with high Q value - hard spring loaded. This is especially true if you listen at high volume - on low enough volume, you might be able to get by without pronounced distraction.

High Q-value woofers do certain acoustic instruments well - like piano, guitar, and other string instruments, because they sound more realistic. The springy feeling one gets from the live performance is captured. However, not too many have a refined sound. Old JBL 4312 for instance have alnico woofers with high q-value, but still sounds refied - unlike many of the todays speakers with high Q-values. I like them even better than B&W top of the line series. Old Tannoys with tweeters built in at the center also sounds refined (even better than the JBL). I am talking about the Tannoy gold and not their newer plastic woofers.

If you have both, than you can switch from one to another, and get the best of the both worlds, as music dictates. But keep in mined, that no matter how much you spend on your system, it can never be completly like a live performance! Don't try to follow that dream - your bank account will thank you, and your loved ones.

However, if you have many sets of speakers at your listening pleasure, you will be satisfied more of the times, and hopefully this will solve the ever upgrade bug.

Hope you find your sonic nirvanah...

Cdc - I am sure you are right too - my DIY book described Q value as the spring behind a woofer - if you press on it, some feel tight, and some loose (some have more resistance) I mean by high Q, a tight strong spring. This might not be a universally agreed on audio lingo, but you get the idea, no?

On with getting off the meery go around, there was a time when I tried to captured the "live" sound - but no more. I have bought too many components chasing that rain-bow, and when I stoped to think about it, it became obvious how one system cannot do all!

Different speakers have different color to their sound, and look at the different colors many musical instruments make. Pretty soprano of female voice is again different from the mellow deep baritone. The speaker that captures the high sounds of a stradivarius (violin) sounds piercing on soprano. So don't keep pouring more and more money into this hobby - like a $70,000 turntable for instance. I am sure it's a little better than a $2000 set up, but then it still ain't the real thing...

I ended up with a few sets of speakers doing different things well, and I go back and forth depending on the music and my mood, and I seem to have cured the upgrade bug for now - but it's fun to look for new things too - I have to admit.

Something else to consider are 2 things -

1) Room acoustics - treatments
2) Dedicated power line

Without taking care of these 2 things, you may be wasting a lot of effort and money. You are not hearing the best your gears can offer.

Another thing is to experiment with silver cables - more liquid sound. You can buy silver here on the audiogon and other places, and DIY - RCA and speaker cables.

You might want also to experiment with effects unit - I had a system that sounded too dry, and when I added Yamaha Cavit 50, and added effects, the sound became liquid and transparent. I saved the system from being sold. The unit is only midfi-ish, so I wouldn't call it hifi, but it could be what your 2nd system is lacking.

The qualities necessary for me to enjoy a system is:

1) Liquid
2) Transparency
3) Accurate color

If a system has these 3, they are listenable for me.
Of-course it would be nica to have these as well.

1) Luxurius decay
2) Dynamic (300 watts would be nice)
3) Class A or A/B amp
4) Harmonically rich
5) Deep and wide soundstage

If you know specifically what you are looking for in terms of audio-lingo, then you can get there, without constantly searching and upgrading.

I hear of many stories of an audiophile, who spends as much as a luxury car, only to do more listening on a $3000 second system, on a computer for example (low jitter). The experts tell us that if we do the homework, we can assemble a satisfying systme for a lot less, and get off the merry go around.

Near field listening !
I am listening to a modest system now near field, and enjoying it quite a bit.

1) Sony es CD player ($800)
2) Marantz 2285 receiver (from many decades a go)
3) Mission speakers ($300)
4) Wires - $160
5) Oneac power conditioner ($170)

When I go near, I gain so much in audio pleasure - makes me wonder why more people are not into it. I get my favorite cup of tea, and a book, and my music playing practically in my ears, and I am in heaven.