Problem with audio dealer, if he is not your friend, is they don’t follow fiduciary principles. They want to sell the best (often the priciest) they have and usually trash talk (politely) when you talk about the products they don’t have, even if it is in your top list. One dealers best product is other dealers worst (may be I am exaggerating) just to get sale. It is like going to BMW dealer who gives negative comments on Audi or Merc. In the end you are on your own. I am not an an engineer to understand the complex compatibility, but agree with getting a right amp for right speakers. I found that talking to speaker company directly always has helped me. They give their unbiased recommendation to get right gear for your speakers. Just to comment on the spouse approval: if I had taken my wife, she would just select some good looking, less expensive SF speakers: usually they enjoy “music” regardless of source. We enjoy “sound” from high frequency to bass. And in doing so dissect every frequencies, sound stage, clarity, dynamic, etc etc and start hunting for right combination. This is the point where our wallet starts hating us. Like my wife says: why don’t you just enjoy music, rather than using “knife and fork” to dissect his vocal cords with expensive gears. Don’t know the answer to that. But I love this hobby and enjoy the “infinity shades of music”.
Rules of getting best audio ? maybe..
I have just started the hifi audio journey since about a year or so and have learnt a great deal. I am sure many of you here have much more experience in this arena and have gone through your journey. Some mistakes made, lesson learnt, but still it is ongoing journey.
I have set up my stereo as well as home theater, spent great deal of money and have learnt some valuable lessons and thought of setting up some guidelines/rules, so that if I could go back in time, I wish I had these steps in mind and followed these "rules" instead of doing costly trial and errors.
These are my rules for my past, if I had to start all over: Hopefully this might help someone who is about to start.
1. Buy the equipment you think is the best for "your ears" and not the second best, even if it is a little bit expensive compared to your budget, but within reasonable margin: this will prevent you from regretting and trying to sell the second best equipment you brought for significant loss, to go back and buy your best. We all know that in this journey "the law of diminishing returns" are real and costly. 2. On the other hand, just because the equipment is expensive, does not mean that they are necessarily best option for your ears. Something cheaper (less expensive, I mean) can be the best for your system and your ears.
3. Just because you are getting something for very cheap, does not mean it is a good deal: They are cheap for a reason.
4. Cables do make a big difference in quality of hifi. You don't have to be a "believer": you will hear those difference, if you audition them.
5. Add a good subwoofer to any stereo set up (full range speakers or not): They make you mids and highs shine like diamond.
6. Spend some time and money to set up room acoustics, consider room size, before you decide on how big your system will be.
7. There is no quantitative metric to measure "qualitative" fun. Trust your ears and your ears only. Pay attention to good reviews but don't rely solely and only on "reviewers" ears.
8. All said, in the end, it is "your ears" " your wallet" and "your music". Use it and enjoy it wisely. Work hard and play hard.
Share your "mistakes" and "lesson learnt" moments if you agree: if you don't agree, ignore this and don't trash please. Constructive criticisms are always fun though.
I have set up my stereo as well as home theater, spent great deal of money and have learnt some valuable lessons and thought of setting up some guidelines/rules, so that if I could go back in time, I wish I had these steps in mind and followed these "rules" instead of doing costly trial and errors.
These are my rules for my past, if I had to start all over: Hopefully this might help someone who is about to start.
1. Buy the equipment you think is the best for "your ears" and not the second best, even if it is a little bit expensive compared to your budget, but within reasonable margin: this will prevent you from regretting and trying to sell the second best equipment you brought for significant loss, to go back and buy your best. We all know that in this journey "the law of diminishing returns" are real and costly. 2. On the other hand, just because the equipment is expensive, does not mean that they are necessarily best option for your ears. Something cheaper (less expensive, I mean) can be the best for your system and your ears.
3. Just because you are getting something for very cheap, does not mean it is a good deal: They are cheap for a reason.
4. Cables do make a big difference in quality of hifi. You don't have to be a "believer": you will hear those difference, if you audition them.
5. Add a good subwoofer to any stereo set up (full range speakers or not): They make you mids and highs shine like diamond.
6. Spend some time and money to set up room acoustics, consider room size, before you decide on how big your system will be.
7. There is no quantitative metric to measure "qualitative" fun. Trust your ears and your ears only. Pay attention to good reviews but don't rely solely and only on "reviewers" ears.
8. All said, in the end, it is "your ears" " your wallet" and "your music". Use it and enjoy it wisely. Work hard and play hard.
Share your "mistakes" and "lesson learnt" moments if you agree: if you don't agree, ignore this and don't trash please. Constructive criticisms are always fun though.