Ouch, I couldn’t do it. It would be like having a Yenko Camaro or a beautiful Harley covered up in a storage unit and never driving them. Why?
How important is spending time with your gear?
In another topic we're talking about digital input speakers, and it got me thinking about something entirely different.
How important is it to spend time physically close to your gear, vs. enjoying it's output? If you could have your gear in another room, or closet, and you were left with just your speakers with no audible downside would you do it? Would you put your gear away and enjoy the empty space or do you need the physical closeness?
Clearly turntables make this a challenge, and there will be some poopy heads which don't get the question or can't stretch their imagination but for those who can, would you?
87 responses Add your response
I think most people here are anachrophiles. We do like looking at our gear while we listen. Of course many pieces are beautifully designed and constructed as well as engineered so it is a pleasure to look at it. eg my Martin Logan CLX Anniversaries, Simon Yorke record player, even the brutal Krell KRS200s.
But @bobpyle expresses the wish of the next generation. Kids today want music and everything else pumped directly into their brains and pretty soon this will be the norm. I can't think of anything worse, and I doubt the sound quality will be any good. But they don't care about that. Good SQ is not cool. |
Audio gear is like my motorcycle and automobiles to me. It’s a passion I’ve had all of my 59 years. Its akin to being next to my motorcycle even though it may not be running. I enjoy the mechanics and build quality even though it may not be doing what it was designed to do. I admire the design and engineering that goes into the things regardless of whether it’s pumping music or exhaust notes out. So answer to the original question; I need all of it around me, if I’m “on the property”. It’s like artwork to me. Cheers |
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@maxwave agreed! I downsized my home theater speakers from paradigm atoms to a Tannoy system. Speakers are less than half the size of the atoms, but shockingly sound just as good.. even the sub is smaller, but has a passive radiator making it sound twice as big. All home theater gear hidden away behind shaded glass doors of credenza. |
I am pretty much indifferent. I would not mind at all if the gear were in another room (I would actually be glad if I had such an extra room, just for the sake of more room). I don't care about the looks of the gear and don't need their presence. I had my monobloc amps facing the wrong way in the middle of the room just because that was more convenient than having the amps face in the proper direction (the power switch is on the back of the amps). |
I read your OP, paused to digest, and then felt disturbingly uneasy at the thought of it. Gave me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I think I need help 😜
You're not the only one! In a perfect world I wouldn't need any of the equipment to be visible, just a blank area where I could organise my imagination, but I entirely get the point made by @audioguy85.
"I just love gazing over at my technics direct drive with strobe illuminated in a dimly lit room. Also, peering at my tannoys with their beautiful bespoke wood finish, or watching my vacuum fluorescent VU meters on my vintage 3 head Aiwa tape deck doing their dance..."
Sonic beauty and visual beauty obviously do not have to be mutually exclusive. Naughty Erik, making us think in such abstracts. |
https://www.hackster.io/news/a-thin-film-speaker-for-low-power-high-quality-audio-93a6f9d9a9a6 Wouldn't it be better without even seeing the speakers. No size constraints no placement issues. Just holographic music floating in space. I'm for it. I like my tube amps and turntable as museum pieces but I'm limited to where they can be displayed. |
I enjoy looking at the stuff. It also helps a bunch to have it be visible and no more than a few steps away. You need to be able to operate the remote controls. You wanna be able to run to the turntable when you feel the need to clean the stylus, turn the record over or deal with a skip. I wanna be able to see what track number I'm on when I listen to the CD/SACD player. I want my tube amp to have plenty of ventilation. Sure, all the connecting cables are an eyesore. But I really can't complain. |
I recently downsized from all separates to a very clean looking and versatile all-in-1 unit. Nice having all that space back! Oh and looks and also sounds wonderful! Old gear went into an audio cab with glass doors upstairs where I can see it but not in the way. Nice! Seldom have to touch anything anymore….all done remotely as needed. Except when I break out the vinyl and convert that to digital for future playback. Does this make me a bad person? Call me heretic….. |
I like the workings to be out where I can enjoy them. The cause-and-effect is part of the pleasure for me. The whole world is built around the "device paradigm" but I like at least part of the world to have some of its workings exposed. |
Erik: The electronics for the main/living room system have resided in a hall closet for the past 20+ years (speaker wire fed through 4 small holes in the front/speaker wall). Just speakers and approx. 4 foot lengths of speaker cable in the living room (no TV in the living room either). My only TV is a 20" white Samsung flat screen located on a blanket chest @ the foot of our bed (white and small because it's less noticeable). I do not like looking @ electronics.
DeKay
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@erik_squires Would never have thought of this concept, but now you have brought it in to the world; I read your OP, paused to digest, and then felt disturbingly uneasy at the thought of it. Gave me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I think I need help 😜 |
I think it would be great. I like a cleaner look. Your comment got me to think about a local area store in Akron Ohio, Wooster Vintage Audio. They find old stereo console cabinets and resell them. The old stereo console often had your stereo speakers, Am/Fm tuner, record player, amp and preamp with tubes, all in one tidy package. It was a better way to deliver audio in many ways..... |
I would feel naked, well I guess my room would without my gear physically present, lol...my wife on the other hand would love that I pack it all away into a closet, whereas I’d probably spend lots of time in said closet...😁 To me, audio gear that not only sounds pleasing, but also is appealing to the eye is important. I just love gazing over at my technics direct drive with strobe illuminated in a dimly lit room. Also, peering at my tannoys with their beautiful bespoke wood finish, or watching my vacuum fluorescent VU meters on my vintage 3 head Aiwa tape deck doing their dance...or fixing my eyes on my Lava lamp on a shelf in the corner, watching it do its thing...I guess most would not understand any of this....I would feel empty inside not being surrounded by all this stuff. |
