True. Every try to get in a newer NSX? Im 6' and guaranteed to hit my head getting out of it. Other than that, it's a great car and you can get them due to Acura's (Honda's) inept marketing.
members and their systems
for the short time I have been on here, I see that members will start a thread asking about a certain piece of equipment or speakers.. they will then buy that piece of equipment / speakers, start a thread about it saying how good it is and then next thing you know, they are starting another thread asking about another piece of gear as they are looking for something different. what happened to that piece of gear that was so great ?
i get the whole buying thing....but where are members getting the money to do all of this stuff ? do they not have other bills such as rent / mortgage payment, car payment, other bills to pay for also ?
i get the whole buying thing....but where are members getting the money to do all of this stuff ? do they not have other bills such as rent / mortgage payment, car payment, other bills to pay for also ?
223 responses Add your response
@sokogear got it... i actually forgot that caymans since the original 987 never had sunroofs... guess they figure you want a mid engine car driven in open air the boxsters are right there that little section of roof panel is too short to build in a sunroof cassette anyways... they of course want to keep the cg low and want to maximize the already limited headroom thank goodness the germans don’t do what the japanese did with their sports cars, which is build it around an average size 5-9 height driver! |
@jss49- I was talking about the GTS Cayman. I am a sunroof guy so I have a 911 GTS that has a sunroof. The GT#s are the track cars that typically don’t offer sunroofs because for the added weight. I think there was a GT3 with a sunroof option for a year or two with the 996.2, but it has less power than my car and was more $$. I think if Porsche made the Cayman with a sunroof option (if that is possible), it would cannibalize 911 sales and cost them money. That would be my car - probably a GTS. |
You should try a Cayman GT4 - I’d get one if it only had a sunroof (maybe GTS - the 4’s are kinda pricey with the markups) ....Caymans are more fun than 911s. I’m not a cab guy. pag gt cars do not have sunroofs as they are meant to be track tools the only, and notable, exception is the 997.1 gt3 which came to the usa with sunroof only, as in 2006-7, pag had not yet certified non sunroof 911’s with the usa dept of transportation, since the 997 chassis/body was only introduced in 2005 - by 2008-09 the certification of the slicktop 997 was done, thus the 997.2 gt3 was sold in the usa only without sunroof that been said, the new 718 cayman gts has the new 4.0 liter mill... and softer suspension tuning than gt4 or boxspy... would be a very nice dual purpose car |
I’ll be honest, and I have no shame...I buy one piece at a time, ok sometimes 2....on credit. I then pay it off over time. I am very selective on what I buy, as i will be keeping it for a long time. Music Direct is one resource, as they offer up to 3 years to pay on large ticket items, zero interest. There is also paypal credit, they run offers for 24 mo. @ zero interest with a minimum payment required. Just as long as you can afford to pay it back and you are not laid off or fired, then I do not see an issue. Otherwise, with mortgage and other bills, I’m not sure how else I’d have what I have today. Oh, I also sell on Ebay and on occasion here....that helps fund something new or what have you. It can get to be a merry go round, but at some point you smarten up and settle on what you have. Nowadays I spend my money on LP’s....that can get out of hand too! 😁 |
@tomic602 - nice Lil (what is that?) garage. I'm sure the Porsche dealer was thrilled while you ate pizza in their showroom waiting for a better deal..... You should try a Cayman GT4 - I'd get one if it only had a sunroof (maybe GTS - the 4's are kinda pricey with the markups) ....Caymans are more fun than 911s. I'm not a cab guy. Don't be jealous of McLarens - $2K for an annual oil service - if you can get an appointment that is. |
"...i am sure the dude, who abides, does not have a cell phone...." Do not bet on it... OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Review | PCMag |
well social justice in 2020 and 2021 was helping out our local food banks..... The virtue signaling snak was aimed at aimed right at the bootstrap frugality sect, trigged just as i envisioned... Porsche is a soulless German appliace, with corresponding reliability, ranking the last four i have owned in order from highest to lowest: Boxster S, 993, 911 SC, 996 TT w X-50, only the Boxster purchased new ( i did camp out at dealer until they met my $ offer, ordered a pizza, had it delivered to waiting lobby.... how’s that for a signal ? In our LiL condo parking garage, there are 3 F cars, a Bentley ( yes the stereo rocks ), some Bavarian and Modern Porsche...none of the F cars are Queens and i don’t see them leaving on tow trucks... having said that a trailer tuna boat, 40 fishing days a year, and a tow rig makes audio look affordable..... |
@glupson- at a minimum he gets free use of their gear to “spread the word” - I think he does have to return it (and maybe swap it out for something else.). He has said that. Any other discounts (especially from Better Records), who knows. At least the guys who make money from this stuff identify themselves here, but they are less “damn serious” than MC. |
Thanks for your defense @glupson.I have only ever criticized one person on this site. That is because of his hypocrisy as you’ve so clearly pointed out. One more instance of his hypocrisy - he only promotes certain brands not to be renamed again, and he says he does it only because he likes them and gets no special treatment from them. If that’s the case, what about the numerous other laundry list of products he uses? He doesn’t like them? Or they don’t give him something? Maybe not directly, but there must be some benefit. Lastly, he says people spend all day attacking others on AG. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. And yes, I do havre a system that has been improving over 40 years that I have commented on its various components where appropriate. Just because I don’t take pictures of it and post them doesn’t make me unenthusiastic about my audio and music passion. I don’t need to brag, not that it is only braggarts who post their pictures, just the “damn serious” audiophiles. Lighten up - this is a fun hobby and people who are interested can learn things here. Sometimes from you! The best example is he has said many times that he is not fussy! Try to control your laughter. I agree with some of his promotion like Townshend vibration control solutions. They helped me tremendously. It’s the ones that he says affect audio mysteriously that are highly questionable. All he can say is listen and have faith. Then when someone says they don’t improve the sound, he makes excuses. I am honest in my opinions when I try something, good or no change. IAnother proof point, after he told me to contact Townshend, he told me to tell them that he sent me. If no benefit to him, then why would he say that? @mahgister at least has a possible reason for the sound change as plugging in more SR devices to your electric grid can change the sound. I don’t see how that could be a positive, but who knows, and maybe it could do something. I have never personally criticized him. Now maybe MC will move along, but I doubt it. |
...at least I show up after everyone's' gone to bed or (perhaps) turned their heat down.....*phew* Spend what thrills or chills you on audio...and let your ears do the walking. ;) Cells....our 'lectric leashes tend to echo our desires and maybe our needs. Kinda like ones' underwear...*L* Since the business 'we' are looking to hire some new slaves (I mean) 'employees', we're looking at using a 'burner' for initial contact purposes. We can remain anonami to winnow the huff 'n chuff from the potentials to keep from being pestered by the wannabees. The hire hall at this point is such that any biped worth considering is already busy; we're looking for some newbies that exhibit potential without ingrained habits and lofty self-worth $ in their eyes.... Ones' that make new mistakes that don't repeat them just 'cuz they think they know Better.... "Well, I used a bigger hammer on it...." 'Your mistake was using it on the item, instead of your head...' |
tomcy6, "...do you have any new insights into the hot stamper Emotional Rescue? Have you listened to it some more? Has anyone else listened to it and opined?" As you can see, this thread takes anything so you are in the right place with your question. I have not played that record ever since that first (few) times. That game was for me just enough. The record is still on offer, but there have been no takers. I asked once or twice again on that thread, but nobody contacted me. I guess there is not much interest. I thought that someone who already has a regular copy might be interested in comparing and letting us know, but nobody so far raised her/his hand. I am only asking for it to be sent back whenever the person finishes with it. If there is more than one person, even better. The sample becomes more significant. Still, I lost hope. Maybe it is because it is not a usual Hotel California, Diana Krall, Pink Floyd variety? |
millercarbon, Do you ever pay attention to what you write? This is what you managed to mix in one single post. "No, seriously, this is an audiophile site. I am an audiophile. A damn serious one." This serious... So let me tell you! The best Porsche tech on the Eastside, Squire Tomasie at Squire’s Autowerke. When I needed a new alternator I called Squire and he said what time will you be here?....I enjoy a beer with Squire, Randy does the work, and I can go on and on with stories like this all day long. Because that is how I roll. Some words of wisdom... "...it seems this site is more for people who just want to spend all day knocking everyone else showing how great they are..." And then you present yourself with this... "Hope the world treats you as badly for your ill will as it showers pennies from heaven on me for my enthusiasm." Calm down your inept anger towards whoever is not you. |
Porsches are very reliable. Something like 60% of every 911 EVER made is still on the road after like 60 years. The difference with Porsche versus Tekton, Better Records and his other commercials he spouts is that MC doesn’t get any special treatment for promoting them. Wrong. You are so freaking wrong and full of it. Just like all the haters. I will now channel Jack Nicholson: "You can’t handle the truth!" Here’s the truth: I don’t promote anything! I’m an enthusiast. Period. Something really good comes along, something I care about, I get enthusiastic and share. It is that simple. You know this is true. You cannot find even one counter example. Also I am a royal tightwad with my money- and unlike most around here with the notable exception of mahgister I am equally tight with everyone else’s money. Constantly telling people do not waste money on this, do not waste money on that. Even with things like the recent Townshend, almost every time I include the fact you can get quite good results with springs like Nobsound and for a whole lot less. Not as good, but awful good for the money. Who in China I wonder is paying me to tell everyone how great Schumann generators are? When I am telling them to buy the cheapest ones around at $9.91 a piece? You are so full of it. So freaking full of it, you don’t even know! So let me tell you! The best Porsche tech on the Eastside, Squire Tomasie at Squire’s Autowerke. When I needed a new alternator I called Squire and he said what time will you be here? I get off work 2:30 so I guess around 3. "No, what time?" Okay, I get it. "I will be there at 2:55." So 2:55 I am rolling into the lot and Randy has the bay door up I pull onto the lift and before I can get out of the car he has the lift ready and I pop the lid and he is going to work. I enjoy a beer with Squire, Randy does the work, and I can go on and on with stories like this all day long. Because that is how I roll. You. Have. No. Freaking. Clue. You want to be a hater, spend all day venting your spleen (look it up) be my guest. Hope the world treats you as badly for your ill will as it showers pennies from heaven on me for my enthusiasm. No, seriously, this is an audiophile site. I am an audiophile. A damn serious one. As someone told me recently, it seems this site is more for people who just want to spend all day knocking everyone else showing how great they are, a lot of them probably don’t even have systems. Insightful comment. Can’t help noticing sokogear, no system. Move along. Please. |
sokogear, That is interesting fact about 60% of all 911s ever made still being on the road. I doubt they have never been repaired, though. Some years ago, I stopped by some car heading for auction. It was a little Ferrari. I think it sold for $12 000 000 or some number towards that. Eventually, I read its history, which was some read, and it was not even the same color like what it started as. I know, that is an extreme example. Going back to cell phones, I actually need to use the phone quite often and current phones are not only large, but also do not sit on the face that well. When someone hands me their phone, I feel like I am slapping myself with a brick. As far as texting goes, it is easier on a non-touchscreen phone. I can do it without looking at it. Maybe those are real "touchphones". You feel what you want to press. I do have an iPod Touch and, note this, a SONY Z5 Compact phone that has no phone service (a friend gave it to me) and that I use as a remote control for my server/streamer, weather forecast, and some silly Coronavirus screening, all on Wi-Fi. That is how I know my fingers are too big, letters are too small, phone is too big, etc. I noticed menus in restaurants, but they usually have a paper menu for a few of us who keep up with times, just not with these times. So, I actually understand why someone stays away from the phone like millercarbon does. However, it is not the way to retire rich. As I had mentioned before, my half-yearly phone bill costs me like a White Hot Stamper record that I bought out of curiosity, and not out of passion. |
@glupson - I didn’t think of the burner phones. They are mainly used by drug dealers, but I guess they can be more economical than a monthly plan. You don’t have to be connected all the time if you have a smart phone. You just turn notifications off. You can go on .the web when you need to. Like directions, ordering at restaurants without waiting in line, and texting, which I fought for a while, but it is actually very efficient. Porsches are very reliable. Something like 60% of every 911 EVER made is still on the road after like 60 years. The difference with Porsche versus Tekton, Better Records and his other commercials he spouts is that MC doesn’t get any special treatment for promoting them. FYI - I don’t like the big smartphones because they don’t fit in a pocket easily and I get criticized because I still have an iPhone7. I think they are up to 12s now. I like the size of the 7 best, and if I need something bigger, I use my wife’s extra iPad (worst case, my lap top). In some situations, they are actually required. Some restaurants’ menus have to be accessed via a QR code and some teams only issue tickets electronically and they scan your smartphone to enter the venue. If you leave the house much I would recommend you give it a try. You might like it. You can even read Audiogon on it and post! |
sokogear, "Just cause the non-data flip phones are meant for the tech deficient doesn’t mean that thrifty people can’t use them." I think that millercarbon mentioned somewhere that he does not have a phone with a plan, revolving kind I assumed. I might have imagined that, though. I have a few phones for guests that I reload from time to time instead of having a revolving plan. I am one of those who does not have a so-called "smartphone". It is not because of technological deficiency, although I do not claim proficiency either, or because of thriftiness. In fact, my phone cost me more than many pay for their brand new iPhone with a plan. Newer "smartphones" are too large to be convenient, while too small to be comfortable to read from. I like to be away from the Internet so "you can always be online" that I hear often is not appealing either. There are more issues, but I will not go into them. I have actually heard that Porsches are quite reliable and my comment was only because in millercarbon’s world there is no place for imperfections of Porsche, Tekton, Raven, and whatever else. |
There is a true story of a famous reform (the least traditional type) rabbi who gave a sermon in Toronto, Canada in the '70s. He recounted he read a story in the press somewhere of a middle-class lady being interviewed about her sexual habits vis a vis her husband - in some detail. Which she fully answered apparently with little care. At the end of the interview, the questioner asked, "There's just one last thing, how much is your total annual income?" Her reply: "Don't you think that's a little personal?" The question as you've asked, birdscantrow - flirts with titillation more than it needs to. The setup as to why people switch so readily has some very interesting psychological undertones that you then refuse to ask about. If you had & then added besides I'm curious where audiophiles get all this money from, it becomes more overtly sociological/psychological in all sorts of interesting ways. As it is, you come across more like the little boy with his nose pressed to the store window salivating for the rocking horse behind it. The prioritizing of resources to fund audio & the various demographics involved is not an uninteresting question, but given this is primarily a more directly audio forum with some related issues as well, linking it to some of these more substantial issues would've gotten you much more enlightening responses. |
I suspect accumulation is the key to how many get to higher priced systems. I started out many years ago asking the same question; all this high priced equipment, how can people afford it? Starting out with beginner equipment, over many years buying mostly used and selling the old I can afford the more expensive. I sometimes look at the total retail on my equipment and wonder how I got here! For some of us it takes nearly a lifetime to get to sound quality we could only dream about decades ago. |
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Spending a lot on fishing, hunting, biking, automotive gear is understood and considered normal. Big spending on audio equipment sounds idiotic to many, when in fact it is all quite idiotic. Unless, of course, you have nothing better to do. Then it makes some sense. $100k and that's enough, people, moderation time. |
People put loads of money into all types of things. Fishing for example, be it fresh or saltwater. Look at all of the ordinary Joes who have a bass boat parked in their driveway. Someone who is seriously into bass fishing has at least a 50K investment in just the basics. There are Hundreds of thousands of rabid Bass fisherman/women out there. The same with Hunters. I've seen guys with gun collections which are incredible and the amount of money they spend is up there. Harley Davidson lovers, Hot Dodders, etc.. very easy for these guys to have spent anywhere from 50-100K on their passions. People who drop serious change on audio equipment are not odd ducks. There are different passions out there spending like money. |
I'm not sure why I would ever buy anything new except for a phono cartridge. Having said that, for my office system, I bought a Schitt Mani new, but that was $107. Not exactly hi-fi prices. Everything else - speakers, amps, tonearms, turntables, cables - I can buy used or demo and not worry about depreciation. |
I think it's a perfectly reasonable question and there are many reasonable answers in the thread about who saved up how. I suggest next time someone posts a question for "what speakers should I buy, my budget is 10K - and I got the money from my uncle, I knew where he hid the cash for the speakers he was planning to buy, so I don't have in on my W2" :) |
Thanks @mitch2. Much tougher for her - I just had to write checks. She probably will have to take care of me at some point (hopefully later than sooner). She has another year+ in her residency and then a 2 year fellowship, (after 4 yrs of med school and almost 2 years of residency) and all the hypochondriacs in the family are already bugging the crap out of her. @glupson - Porsches are actually more reliable than you think (watch .... I'm probably jinxing myself and my 10 year old one will have a problem next week) but MC could still get a flat tire. With those low profile sticky tires unfortunately we get lots of flats. I guess he carries a portable tire inflator. He could have some other type of emergency. He is the only person I have heard of that has no cell phone. No texting....wow. Just cause the non-data flip phones are meant for the tech deficient doesn't mean that thrifty people can't use them. |
@millercarbon - no cell phone??????? How can you live in the 21st century? What if your car breaks down? I'm not saying you even need a smartphone. You can get a non data phone meant for people who don't know what the internet is for as the famous @mahgister would say is "peanuts". I'm sure your must be joking. As far as the original post, I've been incrementally upgrading very s l o w l y over the past 39 years which has lately accelerated a bit since the kids are finally off the payroll (physician daughter was a marathon). I try to always make the newest component the best of the system, buy demo or used in new condition and don't collect the stuff. When I'm done with item it's traded in or sold outright. There are all types on AG. $500 systems to $500K systems. I cringe when I hear people looking for $30K speakers or $50K amps, but I have no idea about their financial situation or their values. They could be lottery winners, or wall street types. It could be like Monopoly money to them and they are keeping up with the Joneses. Last I checked it's a free country. |
My Dad told me that I could make more money in five minutes by marrying a rich woman than I could in a life time. I didn’t listen All the money I did make I spent on lunch. Like many here I have friends in the business and that’s what aids in the gear that once was the be all and end all getting replaced. |
aewarren, "Did you understand glupson’s post about Naim? I didn’t!" It attached to "I recently bought a complete Mark Levinson audio system and the dealer threw in a Lexus." (which I think was a funny comment) Naim For Bentley | Car Audio Systems | Naim Audio I would also recommend Burmester. Both are great applications in given environment. Bugatti EB 16.4 VEYRON (burmester.de) |
I absolutely NEED this shirt..... https://www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/men-s-t-shirt-hot-stamping-animal-print-short-sleeve-daily-tops-1... That about sums my 'tude up.....*LOL* Cheap, too.... ;) |
@aewarren...*S* I'll assume a friendly suggestion re: https://www.naimaudio.com/products Nice....*S* New or used, natch....we all have our prefs about 'stuff'... I run such a weird batch of things that most likely consider me brain and ear damaged. *L* But, they're meant for flexibility vs. 'absolute performance' and they make me happy....which, in the end is my interpretation of the Concept. 'Concept' being Why we do what we do, audiophilia-wise. *S* Currently, I'm in a space that is hardly 'perfect' in terms of 'proper' acoustics, and will never be such. A steel building with 13' ceilings, plywood walls, concrete floors, and various 'n sundry STUFF about my speakers. So I cope with it... 'High-end' here would cringe. *LOL* I'm so used to dealing with 'problematic spaces' that I hardly blink anymore.... ;) Hey, it's Fryday! Yay.... |
@keegiam, aewarren, 'and all the ships at sea' (for those of you who remember That phrase...*L*)... Nearly Everything I own is used, or has been about me for decades in some cases; it was SOTA then, and it still is, spec-wise. The exceptions: -IC's; most cables and speaker lines are new....not fancy, but capable. -A digital crossover (beats a bunch of individual boards) -A digital splitter/mixer, for my own devious (and perhaps demented) purposes...and Yes, I heard that...*L* -A purpose built computer for audio only that'll boot your laptop into a corner. It works in conjunction with an older one that basically monitors what's going on... The 'freeware' I run is able to accomplish nearly Everything I can consider doing in an audio environment, including mine. Like some 'hot rods' and 'rat bikes' of my (and likely your) past... ...'tain't 'pretty'....but It Works. Real Well, thanx. J |
