Number of yrs. to reach the finished line?

Before you can even think about finding the finish line, you have to actually know what you want to hear from your system. For example, if you like the Virtual Dynamics sound over the Stealth sound, that tells you something.

Next, you have to open up yourself and seek out and if you're lucky enough to find someone who knows more than you and understands what you're looking for, listen to them.

My search ended when I found Roger (Irish65), Peter Israelson, Craig Hampel (CH Acoustic), John Pharo (The Cable Company) and Mark (Tone Studio) and actually listen to them.

It doesn't sound like you've gotten there Gary, it sounds like you're still flying on your own. The reviews and Audiogon forum contains too many opinions by audiophiles who don't know you personally and your personal preferences.

Chuck

I think that there is a finish line, but it's made by each individual. I think that point is when an individual says "I am fine right here".

It may be because they are really content with the sound from their system, which has the best chance of lasting. A lot of times someone may vow to stop because of the money spent, but that doesn't always last.

What Roger and Peter have shown me is that there is a point where you can be content if you know what you like and how to achieve it.

But in order to reach that point, you have be willing to accept the help and guidance of people in the industry who really know what they're doing and talking about, and will help without allowing monetary gains to be the driving force.

Chuck

I know that everyone is different, in both what they listen for in music, why they listen to music and as you said, the fun of experimenting with different components.

But I listen to escape and relax, and I'm 57 and have been actively buying and upgrading since I hit college. That's forty years, and a lot of different components and a lot of money.

I'm finally at the point where I want to enjoy my music without wondering what's next, because what's next is getting ready to retire.

Chuck

Glory ( Gary ),

Your post above says that you're falling off the wagon . . . again.

Chuck

I understand the fun in experimentation, I've done it for 40+ years.

The finish line, since there really isn't one for most of us, is the self made line in the sand that an individual may choose to draw. After all of this time, I've drawn my line because of my age and my time and money are needed for other things.

We all know that I can still erase and redraw my line anytime and as many times as I want. But in my case, the conscious effort to hold to my finish line is to upgrade my equipment knowing that I'm plowing money into the upgrades that I'll never recoupe.

Little tweaks aside because they're relatively inexpensive in the whole system's cost, it makes me think really hard before making another component change.

Chuck

Gary,

That's what I think about my system too, and why I try to stay away from the Tone Studio in Indianapolis. Mark always brings me back down to reality.

Mark Maryanovshy, the owner, is a cellist in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. When you walk into his audio store and sit down, it is like you're right there in the bar, or whereever, and in front of you is the band sounding as close to alive as I've even seen.

Mark is an expert at matching components and setting up rooms. Now I understand that I'm in a 10' x 12.5' room and that does restrict my possibilities in some areas. But it's so hard to listen to any system at Mark's without being taken in by it.

When you have someone like Mark, who will come to your home and set the system up, as long as you buy it from him, then you really know what is possible in the audio world.

I've gone down a different route where I didn't buy my components from Mark. My route is being guided by Roger (Irish65) and Peter Israelson. I'm in the process of Peter upgrading my Wadia for the final piece. Then Peter and Roger are coming in to set up my room.

There are people among us who have a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience, and are willing to help someone. Those are the people who will help someone get off of the upgrade treadmill, if they want to get off.

As long as someone is flying alone, trying this and that, going off of these forums and reviews, they're flying blind. I don't mean that in a bad way, but Audiogoners and reviewers who don't know someone personally and their musical tastes, can only offer advice based on their own experience and personal tastes. They can guess what you'd like, but it's just a guess and nothing more.

Chuck

Gary,

I want to say one more thing about this path that we are on. There's actually two paths. You're on one and I've switched over to the other about three years ago. Both paths have their merits, it's a person's choice which one that they want to travel.

Your path consists of building your system from stock components. That's good because they're known and resellable.

My path is buying components that I've found that I really like, and then having them taken beyond their stock specs through upgrades. That's good because I know that the stock sound is to my liking, and the upgrade takes it much further down the same road. That's bad because I know that I'll never be able to sell them and recoupe what I've put into them.

There's a hidden thing about my path too. By starting with components that I really like, the amount of money that I'm spending on the upgrades is less than buying, trying and then selling two, three or four stock components. That's a benefit to my path that isn't readily apparent until someone sits down and adds things up. But like I said, it's a more final path unless someone has loads of pocket money to play with.

Chuck

Mike,

Yes I do! I quit relying on myself, admitted that I didn't know it all and listened to Roger ( Irish65 ) and Peter Israelson.

Flying alone I had a really nice system. Riding along with the knowledge and experience of Peter and Roger has taken me to a truly amazing system.

Give Roger a shout, you will not regret it if you want to expand the essence of your system and perhaps get off the upgrade path. The journey was fun, but the feeling that I'm finished and how much I'm enjoying my system is much more rewarding.

Chuck