like @millercarbon, I love music, I started listening, I mean REALLY LISTENING to music in the late 1960's. As my father graduated to better systems, I learned about musical timbre. I made myself responsible for recording chorus and big band recording on 1/4" reel-to-reel tape recording systems.
After college, I graduated to large Bozak speaker systems and ARC electronics, improving my listening as I progressed to better speaker and electronics.
For me, it's always about reproduction of classical music recordings.
I was generally happy with speaker Bozak Concert Grand system, but heard shortcomings in the midrange, also the imaging and soundstage.
My nest speakers were Acoustat Model 4's. Truly excellent but could never quite work out the issues with the interface. Transient response and smoothness was outstanding and response from the mids through the mid highs was flawless, but I could never get the imaging I wanted nor the frequency extremes in my room, And they were literally different-sounding with very small head movements. Vice-in-the-head to aj extreme.
So I started to develop my own speakers. Failed often, but made progress after each attempt and learned with each attempt. Tried single driver full range with limited success. Not fulfilling and with some nasty problems (still might be good for midrange applications, but not for me).
I discovered Herron electronics and was able to develop better systems because if the superior electronics Herron produced.
Now I'm satisfied with my own system, the speakers customized to my listening environment to reproduce the original recording as best as I can make possible.
Bottom line is that it's always been all about the love of the music.. I have no reason for upgrade except to see if the speakers can be as satisfying in a smaller footprint and closer field use.
After college, I graduated to large Bozak speaker systems and ARC electronics, improving my listening as I progressed to better speaker and electronics.
For me, it's always about reproduction of classical music recordings.
I was generally happy with speaker Bozak Concert Grand system, but heard shortcomings in the midrange, also the imaging and soundstage.
My nest speakers were Acoustat Model 4's. Truly excellent but could never quite work out the issues with the interface. Transient response and smoothness was outstanding and response from the mids through the mid highs was flawless, but I could never get the imaging I wanted nor the frequency extremes in my room, And they were literally different-sounding with very small head movements. Vice-in-the-head to aj extreme.
So I started to develop my own speakers. Failed often, but made progress after each attempt and learned with each attempt. Tried single driver full range with limited success. Not fulfilling and with some nasty problems (still might be good for midrange applications, but not for me).
I discovered Herron electronics and was able to develop better systems because if the superior electronics Herron produced.
Now I'm satisfied with my own system, the speakers customized to my listening environment to reproduce the original recording as best as I can make possible.
Bottom line is that it's always been all about the love of the music.. I have no reason for upgrade except to see if the speakers can be as satisfying in a smaller footprint and closer field use.