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The 5 stages of making a bad audio purchase

This is tongue in cheek people, so let’s keep the replies light shall we?
The 5 Stages of Making a Bad Audio Purchase:

1. Denial: "My system, which before was of course totally awesome, is now totally awesomer! The sound stage isn’t just 3 dimensional any more, it is 4 dimensional. I can feel fingers sliding across guitar strings, drums are like my head is against the snare, and the bass goes 10hz lower ...."

2. Anger: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T BELIEVE MY SYSTEM WENT FROM AWESOME TO AWESOMER!!!. You obviously have a crap system, your ears are crap, you are just jealous."

3. Bargaining: "Hey, this gadget will make your already awesome system totally awesomer! 60% of MFR list is a great deal for it! That’s 40% off and you don’t even have to pay tax. I am only selling it because I am upgrading to the even awesomer version 2. My loss is your gain."

4. Depression: "I can’t believe I spent $5,000 on this thing ....."

5. Acceptance: "Sure, 75% off list is fair."
atdavid

Showing 11 responses by glupson

glupson
7,842 posts
 
"Either way.... there’s a 99.9% chance one of us is wrong."
I am rooting for geoffkait. Come on, you can make it to 100. You have done it before.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
fleschler,
"Dozens of audio critics spent hours listening to that system all over the U.S. and thought it was the most entrancing music reproduction system ever."

If what you are talking about is the system that was exhibited at Capital Audio Fest two weekends ago, and it does seem it is by the names you mentioned, it is very subjective.

To me, it was obviously good, even great, but nothing to write home about. Except maybe the price. As far as I am concerned, it was not the most enjoyable system at that show. I am not sure if geoffkait has heard it, but I have.

It does not matter what dozens of (assumingly professional) audio critics say about it. It matters what your wife says about it. To me, it matters what I thought about it.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
ieales,

Thanks, but I made it. It was interesting. I have not done it in decades. Two hours a day for two afternoons at CAF and one hour total in New York. Not that bad. I would not do it for third weekend in a row.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
Smearing others aside, but I often, if not always, find music played at home (any home) way more "exciting-sounding" than the one played live. In some sense, the artificial one sounds "better".

I spent last two weekends checking out two audio shows. Say whatever you want about their hotel room acoustics, it is a world better than my room with no treatment. I managed to hear some piano and some guitar at those shows. Sounded great, but I was suspicious.

Later, I checked how piano and guitar truly sound. Nothing like those expensive systems at the shows. Yes, not the same piano, not the same guitar, but it was too much of a difference. Electronic one was more "real" than real one was. I do not really mind it, but let's not kid ourselves.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"...and therefore base their assessments on their fantasies."
"The truth of the day"
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"...like someone is going to build ADUs and have homeless move onto their properties,"
Technically, they will not be homeless anymore, if I understood correctly. Otherwise, it does not seem like a reasonable expectation.

Anyway, it is nice that you have an opportunity to make the room the way you feel is the best.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
fleschler,

Four garages, things that dreams are made of.

Interesting story about building laws and big buildings overshadowing small ones. It seems you need Elliot Glass.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
geoffkait,
"Sprechen sei Deutsche? 🤡"
Assuming it was Deutsch without the last "e", be careful with your requests.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
fleschler,

That is an impressive list of items that went into your listening room. My bathroom has none of that, as far as I know.

I bought Elvis Presley's Moody Blue (again) and it was advertised as remastering by someone else with Kevin Gray. The best I could find so far.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"...mimicking the high experienced from heroin, meth, alcohol and cocaine."
Do they all work the same way? They all have some bad effect afterwards. Does music mimic that, too?

"...I can tell you 100 percent that a high end Audio system can nearly cure these disorders."
"Nearly cure"? You mean "temporary relief of symptoms"?
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"My listening room cost exceeded $500/sq. ft."
What the heck is that? It is silly.

My bathroom can beat up your listening room.

I did recently buy a record remastered by Kevin Gray. If you see him, tell him there is a satisfied customer out there.
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