new member, some questions, need help please


Hi, my name is Jaime.  I've been lurking this site more intensely over the past few months as i'm at the end of my career and would like to assemble a very nice, better than mediocre equipment and listening environment.  I was heavily into audio and considered myself an novice audiophile for a few year back in circa 1988.  Got into med school, married, children, mortgage, fast cars, fine wines and, well, you know how it goes thereafter.  fast forward onto the current epoch, a few lbs heavier, tinnitus in one ear and still have the bug and still covet some equipment that I could not afford back then.  Well, don't hear too much of Mark Levinson, Wilson Audio is still around, cassette player are out (remember Nakamichi :-) ), now there's so much digital this and digital that, servers, streamers.... I've got much to learn.  But, for now, I just have one question regarding one piece of the audio chain...... speakers

I've alway wanted to own Wilson Watt puppy ever since I first heard them in 1990 paired with Jadis amp and preamp.  Wow, still remember back then the music was palpable and haunting (remember i was and still am a novice).  I"d like to return to Watt puppy and a great amp, but here's my question:  Specifically regarding Watt puppy series 8..... are they too old to be meaningful in 2024? Do speakers lose their magic to an extent that renders them less capable to a significant extent after 15-18 years (assuming proper physical condition condition for their age) or do they still have enduring quality sound after all these years?  I know that my ears and temporal lobes of my brain ultimately have to please me, but I do have to start somewhere with some knowledge moving forward, hence my ask for help.. thank you very much in advance.

Jaime

jaimeromero

Showing 2 responses by vthokie83

If you are not in a hurry to make a purchase, and can wait 6 months, I'd recommend that you go to Axpona in the Chicago area. The show is April 11th through13th. I'd go the entire 3 days,

There will be a lot of the best manufacturers of speakers, amplifiers and preamps, streamers, DACs, etc. You could listen to so much in such a short period of time.

If you are not so patient, you could go to a big dealer (like Upscale Audio near LA), and spend a couple of days listening to your hearts delight. There are so many companies now that did not exist 20 years ago that are state of the art, and you owe it to yourself to get acquainted with them. Some of them are still craftsmen building equipment by hand here in the US, and there is some excellent audiophile equipment coming out of Korea, Japan, Europe, and yes even China

willywonka

I am lucky enough to live in the Chicago area, about 20 minutes from where the show is held in Schaumburg; so I go every year. It really is a great way to find new gear and manufacturers, I still remember the first time I heard a couple of different Joseph Audio speakers; brilliant. Next year I will be focusing on streamers, and possibly speakers