Words From the Wise

Don't believe anyone who says you cannot get ever closer to realism in reproducing musical performances.

Don't forget to have fun and to enjoy the music.

Don't believe anyone who says all amps, all power cords, etc. sound the same. There are always very smart people out there who go beyond the conventional wisdom about how to build things.

Never conclude that your system is as good as it can be. Be satisfied and enjoy, but you are never "there."

Never be satisfied that you have your system best placed in your room.

Find others who share what you find to be good sound. They may be in your area, reviewers, or internet friends. They greatly broaden your horizons. When I first started in this hobby Stereophile and later The Absolute Sound were valued inputs in addition to two local dealers and one other local audiophile. All of this is gone now.

Don't be too concerned that few, if any, of your friends are audiophiles. I have been involved with many hobbies that have fewer adherents, such a catamaran racing and auto racing. Go to local audio shows and make friends there.

Have fun.

Hifisoundguy, yes, for years I rejoiced in the fact that my cheap house builder chose to use Eagle outlets, as they sounded much better than the Levitons, especially their hospital grade ones.

Relative to my early systems, all manner of new concerns have become important. Cabling, power cords, shelves, record cleaning, stylus cleaning, and isolation feet now matter.

Armyscout41, all that seems true in your statement is one should buy what one prefers and that seems obvious.

Transaudio, I guess I agree. I have always moved back and forth between differ types of drivers and never really happy with any, except for a short time. Presently, I am very happy with the Tidal Contriva diacera SEs, but if past history allows any prediction, this will be short-lived.

Rep4ever, I used to agree with you but now don't. My experiences with vibration control suggest that even miniscule vibrations can make music reproduction fail to have the realism it might have. One company's introduction (StillPoints) of many devices with their new "technology in isolation feet has given me sound that I thought I would never hear out of reproduced music. All that I can say is that very small vibration that are not somehow excluded ones system ruin your sound whether you have great speakers or poor ones.

Gshepardbuster, I have always wondered given the time I take to optimize new components, how reviewers can do so, in the short time they have the gear. Of course, some reviewers get the manufacturer to set up their gear for them. I also know that I have one very good room and one very small room in the two houses I live in. You hear very little about reviewers rooms.

Oldears, I had no real choice in our 1500 ft2 place in New Mexico mountains. It is 10 x 13 x 8 and must also on occasion serve as a bedroom. Fortunately, I discovered the Zilplex cups. I still remember listening to Diana Krall's 'A Case of You' without them. It was okay but obvious that I was in a small room. Then I put the eleven Zilplexes up where the instruction said. When I resumed playing, I was shocked to hear myself at her concert! I had the eerie sense that were I to stand and walk forward five feet I would fall out of my listening room.

This is not to say, of course, that the irregularity of many rooms means they can be made easy to work room with the Zilplexes, but neither will spending more money on your system.