Stuff You Tried To Love


I know we talk a lot about confirmation bias- we buy something and then convince ourselves we like it. Or something like that. But did you ever buy something you wanted to love and just couldn’t make it work? For me, Esoteric X-05 SACD/CD player. Bought from a local who was upgrading to the X-03. Big, beautiful piece of gear, but I couldn’t get used to the sound after 6 months of trying. Sold it to another local- I insisted he listen before he bought and I believe he sold it soon after as well. Totem Forest and Hawk. I loved the whole concept. Slim, easy to live with. Couldn’t get them to work in my room. The Model Ones were much better. I had a couple of other pieces, but this is long enough. BTW, these were bought used without audition.

chayro

Showing 6 responses by mdalton

@sokogear 

Totally agree re A Love Supreme.  But love his lyrical stuff (e.g., My Favorite Things, Plays the Blues, Ballads, etc.), and love virtually everything he did with Miles - the contrast with the Miles “notes not played” approach was pretty brilliant.

Phillips SACD 1000.  Back in 2001, it was all the rage.  Made the cover of Stereophile, lots of hyperbole.  It originally sold for $2k, but all of a sudden I saw prices at $400, so had to do it.  Well, turns out it suffered from a known flaw with the cd transport that Phillips couldn’t, or wouldn’t fix.  I mean, this was a gorgeous piece of gear: heavy, beautiful, minimalist.  But even before my transport gave out, I didn’t really hear it as the game-changer I was hoping for.  There were almost no SACDs around, and I had a pretty nice, modified Nakamichi changer.  I was able to get my money back, but it did involve a little conflict with the dealer.

@stuartk 

Wow.  The purpose was simply to share with another member a piece of music I love, and to see if you might love it as well.  That’s all.  I’d be a little surprised if you didn’t, but wouldn’t judge you.  And of course it wouldn’t diminish my love one way or another.

Btw, it’s my desert island song. if I had to choose just one. 

@stuartk 

Please do me the following favor:  put on “Bye Bye Blackbird” from “Round About Midnight”, listen to it with fresh ears, and please let us know what you think.