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When System Improvements Are Marginal

I’m fortunate enough to have some items that I’m considering purchasing loan this Holiday weekend.  And I have a question that I’m interested in obtaining responses on.

Typically, when I’ve inserted a new component it’s been fairly obvious what the contribution was that that specific component was making to my system.  I’m reminded of a comment made to me by a long-term industry professional that went something like, “When trying out a new component in your system the contribution or difference that component makes should jump right out at you.”

However, OTOH, one of the components that I’m considering purchasing is not jumping right out me.  In fact, there are times when I’m not sure whether it is making a difference.  And, there are times when I think that it is making a difference but the difference is very subtle.  And I like it.  But, admittedly because it is so subtle I wonder if it might just be in my head.  And in this case I’m reminded of the common comment that as our systems improve, any additional improvements become marginal.  Or, the law of diminishing returns.

Anyway, I’m sure there are at least a few members on the forum that have been in a similar situation.  And my question is, “What did you do?”

musicpod

Showing 1 response by mitch2

mitch2
4,168 posts
 
I also agree with the play it for awhile and then remove it method discussed by bdp24, and I have found that the more "dialed in" my system has become, the less I hear a "jump right at you" level of improvement from most changes.  I no longer sell one component before purchasing another and my recent amplifier search resulted in owning four pretty good amplifiers at the same time...all of which sounded very nice, all of which I could live with, but all of which had some trade-off.  The lengthy audition (about a year for 3 of the amps) led me to understand what characteristics of sound I value and helped me select the amp that sounded best to me.
OTOH, with digital gear, which continues to improve across the board, I have heard noticeable and immediate improvements, like with my DAC and Antipodes DX server.
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