What Matters and What is Nonsense

Good topic by the OP and an unusually civil discussion!  Thanks to all of you for that  I agree with the OP on many points, but let me add a few on what I've found matters most (at least, to me)...

1.  Recording quality (regardless of format) is essential.  A poor recording will never sound as well as a good one, in any system, in any room.  (Please copy, Michael Greene...)

2. Speakers do the most to create the 'sound' of your system.  But synergy of spkrs. and amp is CRUCIAL for optimum performance.

3. A good room makes a huge difference.  The less tuning or DSP necessary, the better.  But if you have problems, DO tune or use DSP to improve the room acoustics.  Even in the best room, bad spkr. placement will kill the sound, so start with that.

4.  The more revealing your system is (and your ears are), the more cables make a difference.   And yes, some cables do seem to cost ridiculous amounts of cash for 'wires'.  But my experience is that once you've built a nice system, the right interconnects, A/C cords and (to a lesser extent) spkr. cables can take it from 'nice' to 'extraordinary'.  Is that sonic improvement - and the emotional payoff when you listen - worth paying more than you THINK they should cost?  That's YOUR call...

5. Price is not always commensurate with quality... but (sigh) it often is.  I've always sought out 'bargain' components (and cables) that provide great sound, and often found them. (My spkrs. and amp both perform FAR above their pay-grade.)  Other times, you just have to pay to get the best stuff.  But remember that great sound CAN be had at a bargain, and that throwing a bunch of $$ into your gear w/out considering system synergy can be an enormous waste.

I hope this is helpful.  Thanks for reading, and...

HAPPY LISTENING!

Geoffkait wrote...

"it appears the most vociferous, outspoken and persistent skeptics and anti tweakers are the very same ones who frequently report getting no results"

BINGO!  And those people have a point - sort of.  They don't hear results, so they should not waste their time or money.  The common mistake is in assuming that others hear exactly what they do... which is (sorry) stupid, and trying to pass on the(ir) "truth" to the rest of us.

There is also another group of virulent nay-sayers who have not even listened, and just 'know' that everything with a price-tag is 'snake-oil' and 'audio jewelry'... and need to tell the world.  

Clearthink - Where do you get off calling Roger Skoff a liar?  Do you know him?  I DO, and he's honest as the day is long.  If Roger said he had that conversation, he did.

Fleschler - On the "audio jewelry" subject, I know from other dealers & distributors that there is a segment of HEA with tons of money and no interest in anything that does not look attractive (and expensive).

Good for them.  Most of those systems are poorly set up and sound mediocre anyway.  For the rest of us, there are 'bargain' components which provide similar performance at lower prices... in less exotic boxes.  Instead of complaining, just go find them.  Some folks on forums like this one can give you suggestions (but always listen yourself).

In fact, isn't that what these forums are for?  (Not to accuse people you don't know of lying. "Fake News" - Where did you get that from?)

@AMG56 - Sorry for the late reply.  I don't visit these forums every day.

I get everything you wrote.  Like you, I appreciate live music and that is the sound I'm trying to achieve at home, essentially to enhance my emotional connection to the music. That has always been my goal, and that is how I got into this hobby.

The high-end gear, the cables and the tweaks are all a means to that end.  I wouldn't spend my money or time on any of this if it didn't result in the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

I'm not wealthy and my system is relatively modest... by 'audiophile standards' (but IMHO it sounds more natural and more exciting than most of the fancier rigs I've heard).  I rarely change components, but I have made significant improvements by upgrading cables and a few other select tweaks.  (I say 'select' because many do nothing or even degrade the sound.) 

My only qualms are with people who shout "Nonsense!" or "Scam!" when they really mean to say, "I didn't hear any difference." or maybe even, "I'm skeptical, but I've never heard it."

'Clearthink', you need a new handle.  Or do you mean that you clearly think you know more than you do? 

Do you understand that identifying that source would embarrass him, undermine his product and ruin their relationship?

Nevermind, enjoy your ignorance and your conspiracy theories.  Given you too much of my time. Done now.

With all of the juvenile stuff you post, your calling me a 2nd grader?

Since you don't read well, I'll repeat...

      Given you too much of my time. Done now.

The funny thing is that even when I agree with Clearthink... I can't stand him.  As many of you have noted, he's insulting and juvenile... and just dying for somebody to take the bait on his political allusions.  I've seen his posts on multiple threads now, and he ruins every conversation with his vitriol and nonsense.

Can we please ignore guys like him and have an intelligent discussion?We didn't all come here to yell at each other, did we?