The Wilt Chamberlain of Audio Gear

hilde45 - it’s 2021, it’s a very confusing time; maybe we want to identify as sluts and whores? :)

Thank you all for weighing in here;  I got a really good laugh reading your comments. :)

To expand on my listening preferences, I’m a tube guy at heart but I think SS, and in particular, British shoe box sized integrated amps can be so cool that I just love trying things out. For me, it’s like trying different flavors of ice cream; but whenever I have solid state gear it never seems to stay around that long. When I have tube gear, it just sounds right, and I have much less tendency to make changes. 
I prefer analog tuners but somehow always seem to buy digital tuner‘s every now and then, because they are super cool looking, but like SS gear, they never satisfy me in the long run.

I am also a bang for the buck kind of person. I don’t believe you need to spend lots on this hobby if you know what you were doing.

In my next entry, hopefully tomorrow, I’ll respond specifically to the comments you’ve all made.  Thank you all for participating.

** condosound - I’m just having fun with it, trying out different combos & enjoying the process, not that I need to try out different things. As I mentioned above, tube gear is my preference and when I have it, I’m generally a lot more satisfied not to make changes. But I’m always window shopping (on eBay, CL & USAM) to see what’s around. I really like rare stuff and for sure, part of the experience is aesthetic as well.

  
** cincinnatipete - I love the 4 corners stall and a team with lesser talent taking over the tempo of the game, like Petey Carill’s Princeton Tigers always did @ Jadwyn Gym. Yes, I’m a student of the game, even had a little bit of it back in the day as well. My big brother (RIP) played overseas professionally for 15 years as well, so kinda in the blood.

I’m in Philly and the heyday of the Big 5 at the Penn Palestra is still the Mecca of college basketball IMHO. There’s nothing like going to a game there and back then, it was amazing! They gave out 1000’s of cowbells and the place was loud as could be. Ref’s Time out after the first basket by each team as each team threw tons of streamers onto the court... they wrapped them up and reused them for the 1st basket in the 2nd half too. Several years ago, I went to the Palestra to see a game. No streamers! I asked my friend, a Penn alum, what happened to the streamers. Not allowed anymore
:(. The good ole days....

I’ll have to Google who was on the Tarheels back then who beat Wilt’s Kansas team.

Ok, back to audio talk...

** hilde45 - I never got big into the room, in terms of dampers and the expensive room treatments, such that, when you see pictures of it being overdone in a room, you say to yourself, oh that guy is definitely not married, nor is he getting laid with a room like that... however, the importance of the listening room cannot be overstated enough and is paramount to the experience.

** chorus - exactly !!!
** speakermaster - I’m feeling like a young Qui Chain Kane in the presence of your words, specifically your last sentence. If only, you’d call me Grasshopper :)

** tyray- YOU GO MF’er!!!!!! Clayton S40!!! Nothing like starting your audio journey right at the top! That’s terrific! Tells us what else you got goin’ on with the Clayton’s please. That’s like you’re starting off with Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Elizabeth Taylor. Way to go!!!

** bob540 - tell us your budget, your room size, what speakers you have, the type music you listen to mostly and how loud you listen and I can ale some good tube amp suggestions for you. I sold this stuff @ retail many years ago and this knowledge is how we crafted the right system to peoples needs and desires

** mrklas - Ha! Shoot, I’m not getting paid for my services either :)

** ozzy62 - over the past 37 years, I’ve had 48 different amp combinations, 43 different speakers, 30 different tuners, and 10 different turntables.

Comparatively:

Wilt Chamberlain:  20,000 women over 40 years = 14,600 days
20,000 / 14,600 = 1.37 woman per day for 40 years 

Ok, so I’m exaggerating just a wee bit.  My audio career is more like January & February of 1972 for Wilt.  Whose to say that after a game, he didn’t have a harem of a dozen women visit his hotel room, half of them just curious to see just how large he really was.  He was an incredible all around athlete, track star and professional volley ball player as well

Aw snap!  The authorities cancelled my earlier posting where I went in chronological order replying to the first 18 responses.  In a subsequent posting, I’ll try to recreate and sanitize the earlier response that got flagged.

Meanwhile:

** Twoch - I’ve been pretty lucky when it comes time to resale.  At worst, if you can break even, then it’s a good outcome.  You’ve listened to the gear for however long you kept it and came out even.  Many times I have made $$$ on audio purchases since I bought them right.  It can be a gamble though.  The best time in this hobby historically is in the winter when we are normally coupes up inside.  In the summer months, no one wants to be couped up inside listening, thus demand for it falls off and better deals can be had if you are buying because not as many people are looking.

Tyray - That is some serious gear there!!!

I’m on the lower end of the high end spectrum, currently enjoying (for now):

Living Room:Acurus DIA100, TDL RTL2’s, Ariston RD80SL TT, Cambridge Audio Azur 840C, Nak DR2, NAD 4300 Tuner, Spotify thru old IPhone

Bedroom:
Custom Fleawatt amp & passive tube buffered preamp, Omega Super 3XRS, Oppo DV970, Sony ST-80F tuner

Ok, it’s nearly a year later and my life has taken about the most drastic 180 ever!

Six months ago, I moved overseas to Israel and about 2.5 months ago, my audio gear arrived.  I tried to assemble the perfect desert island system of a small system with options (2 integrated amps & 2 pairs of speakers).  Did away with separates for an integrated amp and wanted something small and always loved the looks of those shoe box sized British integrateds.

 

I also lugged over all of my vinyl, cassettes, and cds yet also have a Bluesound node 2i.  I’m now selling off one of the systems and planning to live with less.

Here’s what I have now: