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top ten things you learned about HiFi on Agon

Here's my list in some semblance of order:

1. how to more critically listen to music and determine what my system is doing right and what areas could stand some improvement
2. room shape and speaker position matter a lot
3. about other websites where I can get more detailed information on a particular subject
4. importance of the source
5. importance of good power cables
6. importance of a solid foundation for your equipment
7. importance of tonearm and cartridge matching and setup
8. about silver fuses
9. concepts related to amp and speaker matching
10. the concept of overall system balance and working towards a particular system sound.

I have really learned quite a bit by coming on this site. I generally used to think I knew my way around HiFi gear, having built speakers and owned various systems over the years, some that worked "pretty good" (put together by budget, market research, ear and accident), and some... well, not-so-much. I have a much better idea of where my understanding is now (thus the screen name), and feel like I am only scratching the surface.

With that said, every time I listen to my system these days I am aware of how much better it sounds compared to only a few years ago - due in large part to advice based on your writings and rantings on here. And this accomplished by adding many tweaks, a few key accessories and without adding or swapping very many major parts over that time span (except three turntables and four cartridges [but no microphone!]). Thanks Agoners for all the great information!!!
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Showing 5 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,850 posts
 

Reeling in the years….

 

I learned how to have a better perspective on things overall.

Frankly I also learned there is a lot of BS tossed around regularly and how to just ignore it. Very valuable!

Also helped me get over an infatuation with tube gear. Just not my cup of tea I’ve learned over time. But they are still way cool!

I learned a lot of useful things from the incomparable Almarg, who was in a league of his own as a  voice of reason and as a communicator of useful technical nuggets, which is the key to making good decisions. Miss that guy! A class act all around!

Many useful tidbits from others too numerous to list. Way more than 10.

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,850 posts
 
"Audiophiles need to learn more about the recording process (both past and current practices). If they did they would better understands the limits of what home audio reproduction can accomplish and what it cannot."

Very good point!
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,850 posts
 
11. There is no magic involved with Magicos
12. Democrats like Class D. Republicans like Class A
13. Yes, there really is a genre called "Black Metal"
14. Superman uses a really expensive power cord in his system
15. Yes, there really is such a thing as a $5000 IC
16. we should all sell our belt drive turntables. DD is really the bomb after all.
17. take a 30 year old DD table and add thousands of dollars worth of enhancements and your records will finally sound great
18. All the good tubes were made years ago by people who are now dead so prepare for the great tube depression coming our way in about 20 years or so.
19. Equipment by Soundesign does not sell well on Audiogon.
20. The fewer people who actually own a piece and the more expensive it is, the better it has to be.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,850 posts
 
1. Tubes are cool.
2. records are cool too
3. digital s--ks
4. No hifi buff would be caught dead with a digital hi def TV because digital s--ks
5. noise and distortion is bad
6. avoid threads with the word "best" in it
7. BAM stands for Brick and Mortar
8. reel to reel is really cool
9. some audio buffs really hate omni speakers becasue they can't stand all that sound bouncing around the room
10. most Audiogoner's have a good sense of humor.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,850 posts
 
Here's one I forgot:

Don't waste time and money trying to make a particular recording sound better than it really is. Focus on getting the most you can out of the most recordings you can regardless of their inherent quality or sound. This is the true path to audio happiness and contentment for most.
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