Very reflective thread, Sabai. You deseve a lot of credit.
I consider this whole audio thing a journey. That being the case, evolution goes hand in hand with that. I am sure there are some here who began their Audiogon life as devout solid state muscle amp users, and now love SET, or once felt that wire is wire. I would encourage people to accept with gladness how their perspective has changed, and not see themselves as you mentioned, misguided. But you're right, it's interesting to look at some of the things we've posted long ago. |
Sabai, I don't always agree or even understand some of the things you've posted about, but I'm really glad you're willing to share what you're doing. It's interesting and thought provoking.
Trelja brings up the concept of the journey. For me the journey is about my relationship with music, not equipment. By necessity I've had to deal extensively with equipment, we all do. But consider this, you're going to take a road trip across the continent, is the trip really about your tire's tread pattern and your gearbox shift programs or is it about the places you see and the people you meet. |
I tend to state things with less certainty knowing now that there are so many reasons (some unfathomable) as to why some folk feel the way they do. This doesn't lessen the strengths of my beliefs in any way but I now give folk a lot more latitude.
There is so much out there that hasn't been heard and won't be heard by any of us so all we can relate to is what we know, and that is never enough.
All the best,
Nonoise |
Think of your consciousness as a camera lens and your knowledge as auto-focus.
As your knowledge expands, you focus on different things or see a previous road traveled in a new light. |
Another way of looking at it: It was patently
obvious(providing they could see) to the earliest Aeronautical
Engineers, that Bumblebees could fly. A problem existed,
however, in that early Science could not provide an
explanation as to how or why, let alone hovering.
Understanding was limited to the principles of lift(per
Bernoulli). Not until scientists began the recent study of
Fluid Dynamics, could they fathom how those small wings,
regardless of how fast they might flap, could possibly get
such a fat ass off the ground! There are a plethora of things
audible to those that can hear and/or are willing to listen,
explanations notwithstanding. Many things that we don't know
how to quantify or explain(YET). |
Funny, as just this morning I was thinking about one particular belief I have held for years which has recently changed. And yes, that belief can be found stated here in the archives.
As one who has been posting here for more than ten years I can say I have changed my beliefs on several subjects. I've even gone full circle on a couple. Started at one end of the spectrum, gone to the other end and now find myself back where I started.
Things change, we change. |
Since there is little concrete right or wrong in audio, it is hard to be purely misguided other than in the sense that we all learn about new things and options as time goes on. More knowledge means more choices, more choices means better results sooner. Its all about knowing what your target is and when you are able to hit it or not and why. |
Trelja,
Thank you for your kind words. I also consider this a journey -- with a steep learning curve, excuse the pun. I started off with one box and lamp cord 8 years ago. Although I had my first system in 1967 it was only in recent years that I overcame health and financial challenges to be able to put together a wonderful system.
Of course, you are right. It is not so much a matter of being misguided as it is not having the experience under one's belt.
Onhwy61,
Thank you for your kind words.
I don't alway agree with myself either -- sometimes even after only a short period of time, alas. It's this darn learning curve. I sometimes get it in the neck way before I am even expecting it.
And, frankly I don't always understand why some of the things I do end up working. I let me ears be the judge even though logic or conventional wisdom say that what I am doing must be wrong.
For me, as well, the journey is ultimately about my relationship with the music. This is far more than a hobby for me. It is a passion. I studied classical piano at the Conservatory of Music for 12 years start at age 7. But much earlier my parents recognized that I was a "musical child". My piano teacher said I should have been a singer when I did my solfege exercises for her. Singing has always been my real love in terms of performance choices. But my life went in a different direction professionally. Nevertheless, music has always been an irreplaceable part of my spiritual life -- a constant and very close companion throughout my life.
For me, the journey also made it clear that I would have to develop a relationship with the equipment if I wanted to be able to appreciate the music more deeply. The bottom line always remains the music, of course. I just had to learn how to fix a flat and read a dip stick to make the journey possible.
Nonoise,
I know what you mean about latitude. There are so many factors to be considered. The wiser approach seems to be to allow for more options than one might have thought necessary and to learn to step back and reconsider things when new information arrives. It often takes a much more open mind than one might have thought to arrive at one's hoped-for destination.
Dweller,
How true when you said you "see a previous road traveled in a new light". It is all about growing.
Rodman99999,
How true when you said "Many things that we don't know
how to quantify or explain(YET)." As I am wont to quote whoever it was who said "Not everything that can be measured matters. And not everything that matters can be measured". This is so true regarding high end audio, IMHO.
Timrhu,
We never do know where all the changes will end until we finally get there -- and then more changes often arrive, unexpectedly.
Mapman,
I could not agree more with your post. It is all about learning and choices. |
In the 10+ years that I've been on Audiogon, I've observed myself evolving to some extent. My tastes used to be described simply as "lean and detailed". I still do appreciate that, but now it's something much more complex like, "Musically involving, incorporating inner and outer detail with spacial realism/imaging and depth". But the gear that I liked back then I still like, and the stuff that I thought was overpriced and not worth it is still, well, overpriced and not worth it. In fact, I haven't purchased any item in several years, so I must have it dialed in OK.
What's changed most about me, though, is my musical library. I've created a nice music server full of music that I'd never heard of back then. I used to listen to classical, rock, and pop. Now New Age, Bluegrass, and Jazz are some of my favorite genres. This has changed so much more than my choice or preference for certain types of gear, or tubes vs solid state, etc.
Looking back at my older posts, I'll stick by them as still relevant and appropriate opinions even today. To me, the fundamentals (speaker/room interface is VITAL, amp/speaker matching is significant, and preamp/amp matching is important as well) haven't changed.
I guess the executive summary of all of this is that for me, anyway, it's the preference for the music and not the audio gear that has changed the most.
Michael |
Sufentanil,
My music preferences have also broadened significantly in recent years. Many more jazz and classical recordings have found their way into the collection -- as well as a serious amount of blues. |
My biggest change in recent years here is also probably the diversity of music I listen to and in my music library. I also manage to carve out at least a few hours a week to listen no matter what. |
I find nowadays, with everything pretty much clicking with my setup, I get enjoyment listening to almost anything. Everything has something unique to offer sonically.
Now I wonder mainly... how long can this last? Nothing ever stays the same indefinitely. |
I do wince whenever I come across some of my old -- and dead wrong -- statements of fact and/or opinion. Keeps one humble :-) |
Dopogue,
I have had the experience more than once of reading through old threads and thinking, "What an odd thing to say." When I checked the member's ID I found my own name appended to the post.
I have even gone back and forth in a seemingly confused manner with some of the things I have done over the years. A recent example is my use of cables in series that I started experimenting with a few years ago. When I had my Joseph Audio Pulsars some cables in series improved the SQ. But when I got my Raidho C1.1 monitors and introduced David Elrod cables into the system those cables in series sounded absolutely awful. They came out fast. But when I started introducing Shunyata cables into the system I was hearing a leanness in the tonality. So, I took some Furutech DIY cables that I had made up and, once again, started experimenting with series cabling. I had not used these particular cables in series before.
By golly, I was bowled over by the great synergy. Leanness gone -- glorious sound with no anomalies. Both cables feature OCC cryo-ed copper so maybe that's why. At any rate, my Furutech DIY cables are all back in the system now with SQ far superior to using the Shunyata cables on their own. By the way, the synergy created with my Furutech DIY cables and David Elrod cables is awful. Go figure.
I posted to another forum about how I was using these Furutech DIY cables in series with Shunyata cables. The silent response was deafening. I guess this was their polite way of saying I must be out of my mind. Well, so be it. But my ears are still intact -- tested recently and capable of hearing 16,000 Hz. So, I trust my ears and let others think what they will. |
My greatest regrets have been at Noon, when I reread something I'd posted at 03:00(brain death, defined). |
You have one choice in life, either get better or get worse.
If you think you can remain the same you may be sure it will be the latter. |
Schubert,
You make an interesting observation.
If you are talking about audio systems, then striving for improvement is very important if you are interested in getting closer to the music. But, at some point, most people reach a point where there are no more improvements to be made.
If you are talking about life in general, then I think it's a bit more complicated. When I went through health crises worse came before better. And we are all getting one day older as each day passes. So, it is a challenge to keep getting better through the aging process. With a deep understanding of factors that create pathology a lot can be done. I have written two books on the subject. We can also improve our health through staying fit. But, of course, there is no such thing as stopping the aging process itself. |
About life,just so Sabai, just so.
The secret is to live ONE day at a time, I have the same 24 hrs in a day at 79 as I did at 19.And contrary to the poets advice, DO go gently into the night, trusting in the creator. |
Schubert,
I agree, one day at a time is best. When we were youngsters my father used to say "Make haste slowly". Dad was right. Of course, it is in our nature to look ahead and plan and try to push the river. But if you get too far ahead of yourself you may find yourself retracing some steps. This has happened to me more times than I would like to admit. The best laid plans of mice and men ... |
Yes, it is easier to say than do .
But, like most things in life practice makes perfect. |
It's hard for me to look very far back as the first few decades I was involved in audio there was no internet. But I'm sure my opinion about audio and music has changed greatly and will still change. I'm not done upgrading, never will be, so I'm not done learning about audio and music.
Just as life goes on so will my love of this grand hobby.
Tim |
Tmsorosk,
I am on board with your statement that "I'm not done upgrading, never will be, so I'm not done learning about audio and music."
Just when I think I am done tweaking and tinkering another idea or product or opportunity presents itself -- and there I go in pursuit. Not everything works out but each successful step takes the SQ to a higher level. |
