ALso...1)exhaust speaker placement options before upgrading
2)dont put a large speaker in small room
3)dont put a small speaker in a big room
4)know your ROOM
5)did i menition...know your ROOM |
- Spend at least 20 times as much time listening to and thinking about music as you do listening to and thinking about gear
- If you have a system you like, stop for awhile. Don't read reviews, don't visit websites, don't go to stores. Why waste time doing all that when you could be listening to the system that *you like*
- No matter how cool you think that new piece of equipment looks or how great it sounds, somewhere somebody is sick of it (kinda stole this one)
- When speaking to non-audiophiles, always say, "Hey, listen to this CD, it sounds great." Never say, "Hey, check out how much wider my soundstage is with my new amp." Actually, when speaking to audiophiles, the same advice is probably good.
- Remember that even a basic audiophile system is a huge leap over mass market. After that, you're playing a game of (rapid) diminishing marginal returns. |
1) A good audio system forces you to music. A bad one forces you to something else.
2) Matching and room treatment are often forgotten.
3) If you are not happy now, jumping parallel is not going to get you anywhere. (If you don't like the speaker/amp combo, changing sources, cables,... will not change much. No component can change your speaker for you.)
4) Sit down and enjoy the music. |
If like music, the catalog to equipment ratio should be at least 3 to 2. This is easy to do even with 'expensive' systems: just get what you want and keep it for years as you ignore the industry induced upgrade hype.Conversely, if you like equipment more, you really only need a couple cd's and then you can spend your time comparing components, cables, rooms,etc. A great chef will make magic happen on my 30 yr. GE electric stove. Boxed stuff from the freezer section of the supermarket still tastes like ^%$^#$ no matter the equipment used to cook it! |
Have not followed this thread,but here are some things I have found to help.
1.Intergrate your system so that your HT does not interfer with your 2ch. playback.
I use a Passive with a Lexicon CP-3Pro which is better than a cheap reciever.
2.Buy stuff that can be modified if you cannot afford expensive gear.Get it modified as you go along.
Ex.Modified ART DAC and a good transport is better than a $3K Sony player.
3.Cables do count and I would check to see what the best affordable alternatives are for your equiptment.
4.Save your $$ by building your own tweeks.
5.When auditioning equiptment try to get it for a home audition.
6.Bring your own music and particular parts off tracks to see what they sound like.
7.Check to see if there is good used equiptment before buying new to save $$.
8.Spend alot on Music because that is what it's all about with the $$ you do save.
9.When getitng a sub get one that goes closest to 20Hz..Better yet try to get as close to full range speaker's.
10.Don't believe everything you read and checkout the source of the info.
Good luck! |
You can buy anything you want out there, but you'll have more fun by doing as much building (kits, plans, speakers, cords,cables) as you can. Of course some things may be out of your ability to do right away, but with practice and experience many types of components and speakers can be built. Start small and as you gain experience you can try more challenging projects. Also, modifying components can bring a lot of enjoyment. As for me, I could never buy someone elses project as long as I knew I could do it myself. If you really need a system now you can look for used gear and learn how to do modifications. Good luck and have lots of fun. By the way, I'm kinda new to this stuff too, and not to brag, but I've made all my own interconnects, power cords, built 2 mono-block tube amps, built large floor standing speakers, built 2 JR power filters, ran dedicated lines all in around a years time. I do have a great brother-in-law who got me started in this by giving me the amps to build, giving me some awesome Focal speakers and giving me much advice and technical help. All the advice and info you need can be found on these types of forums.
So what are you waiting for...get going! |
If your like me and start in you teenage years, by the time you have a good steady job you will develope a dream system along the way. Soon enough with all the experience knowledge and ear training learned along the way you will wise up and purchase your dream system, therefore you have reached every audiophilia's dream. But there are always Pros and cons of this.
but its all good in the end |
|
Phasecorrect what are you refering to? |
1) Dont sweat the petty stuff
2) Dont pet the sweaty Stuff
3) if you are the top monkey all you see are smiling faces when you look down. if you are not the top monkey, all you see when you look up are a##holes.
4) Dont take this stuff too seriously. A good system is great to have, but not if having that system means you lose out on other life experiences.
5) Ignore what other people say, if it sounds good to you it is good. Be it hardware or music, your tastes and preferences are the only ones that matter. Dont listen to people who say your stuff is garbage, Keep in mind there are alot of stubborn, cynical, rude, and self righteous people. Also keep in mind for every one of those jerks, there are 10 people who are good genuine people.
6) Nails do not make good chewing gum. |
HAVE FUN! This hobby is a journey with lot's of adventure. Contrary to what is sometimes popular belief, the destination is beyond your lifetime. Plan and anticapate the road ahead but enjoy where you are now...it's really all you got and to miss it for frustrating anxsious envy is a waste and sad. |
1> Importance of a powerful amp: At least 70 honest watts per channel. My reasoning is that human beings tend to get tired of any one thing - no matter how beautiful. So, beautiful smooth color of a speaker can seize to please at some moments. However, a powerful amp blows life to any recording you have - all in a deliciously different way. This way, you have "v a r i e t y", and will please you more of the times. I personally like NAD and old Marantz amps (2270) in affordable amps.
2> However, this power has tobe tamed by a soft sounding quality speaker. Not a pleasant thing to admit, but foreigners (Europeans and Canadians) do make better affordable speakers. I think emphasis on culture in their societies favor higher standards of art appreciation, and we Americans can learn from that - what's the use of being a rich country, if our citizens do not enjoy quality things in life? Athena, paradigm, missions are soft sounding speakers everyone can afford.
3> Spend 10% of your system's cost on cables!
Buying quality gears, and not getting quality cables, is defeating the purpose.
4> Some music is an acquired taste - give them a chance by listening to them a couple of times at length before making a judgement. Complex classical music is even good for the intellect, and is more lasting in enjoyment. Like an old friend, will be there to sooth our hearts - making the inevitable bumps in our lives, more bearable. We all heard of the Mozart effect - give them to children for their intellectual development, as well as for their bright disposition.
5> Give quality to our loved ones, including children. I was surprised when 7 year olds could distinguish between a fine musical instruments from the less so. Quality sounds adds something to our lives I believe, and we (audiophiles or nuts which ever you prefer) have the key to a beautiful heaven. Let's invite our loved ones to it. |
Learn a little bit about typical male manifestations of Obsessive-Compulsive disorder. |
Learn how to listen...listen with your eyes closed....music sounds better at night.... music sounds better straight...think 3-d when listening {imagine the appreciation of an abstract painting and how it flows through you and relate that experience while listening } ...have your ears cleaned occasionally , professionally...read as much about audio and music as you can as it excites you into the interest of listening... If your system ever becomes a chore , unplug it and make yourself wait exactly 30 days to fire it back up ... get used to a single sweet spot ...understand the importance of the midrange ...go to live, unamplified musical events...protect your hearing... its the room , the room , the room ; study its effects .... keep an open mind and remember its one day closer to your death every single moment that passes you , dont dare waste it being lazy...get a dog and give your heart to it. |
As a musician I would suggest many audiophiles invest some time and money in some basic music theory instruction. Learn musical vocabulary, syntax and structure and truly hear the ideas being expressed through the language of music and not just the sound. Really understanding what is going on musically will enhance your listening experience more than any $600.00 power cable. |
1)the most important part of the system is the room (unless your room is perfect). The first problem encountered is not knowing that this lack of focus, sounstage or whatever, is due to room resonances, etc. There is plenty of information on the web about basic acoustics and DIY projects. With a little chance and some sweat you can fix some problems of your room and dedicate to the other "most important parts". By this I mean that everything counts. Sorry.
A mid-fi system in a perfect room will sound better than a HiEnd system on a poor room (the sentence is not mine).
2)then you have to deal with NOISE. When you think you got rid of noise you still have plenty of it! You wont know it untill you try good cables (there are cheap good quality cables around) or some specialized stuff. There are different kinds of noise. In digital, as important as noise is JITTER. Do your homework. I won't extend on that because I'm not an expert, but my excellent recent experiences with Monarchy DIP de-jitter box, stillpoint ERS sheets and Bybee Quantum purifiers made me a believer. Paraphrasing the sentence in (1) I would say that Mid-fi equipment properly treated for noise/jitter sound closer to Hi-end gear(for a relative small fee). And tweaking is fun.
3) of course speakers are important, but If you buy a great, good and pleasant sounding pair of speakers you may never discover that you have a big problem concerning points 1) and 2). If you are still enjoying it, it's great. The problem is when you start to get tired of the sound and you don't know why. I think if my system/music sounds great with cheap speakers then it's time to concentrate on speakers and upgrade them (or adding more Bybee's). It is difficult to realize wich is the limiting step on your chain. Price is not always truthful.
4)As the sound improuves so does your hearing cappacity/accuracy and you will find two things(appart augmenting the listening pleasure):
a)you will find pleasure listening to other stereos of lesser quality (for a moment).
B)you will be compeled to upgrade. Try Yoga.
Good comments, Brainwaters. |
1. decide first if you want a 5 channel hometheatre or a two channel hi-fi. Trying to incorporate both in one system tends to leave one or the other neglected. I mean by system matching, with cost allowance. The hi-fi end will usually lose ground.
2. By in large most receivers kill hi-fi, but, there are some very amazing intergrated amps available.
3. Just like musical taste, you will probably develop a taste for different products that have their own musical signatures. The bottom end slam heard from transistors or the velvety soft sounds of set amps are available,(to mention only two). It can take years to learn where your tastes truly lie).
4. And last but not least...dont eat the yellow snow. |
Don't let signal degradation get in the way of buying a simple switch box; plugging/unplugging just to get the tuner 'on line' is really quite silly. |
1. Don't get started in the first place! You are better off remaining a virgin or smoking cigarettes.
Do whatever it takes not to get hooked...shock therapy, hypnosis, probes under eye-lids while watching a movie of some disturbed shmuck trying to correctly (right!) set azimuth, VTA, overhang, etc, for his/her $3400. cartridge.
Think, chant, mantra the name..."Boombox"..."Boombox"...
heed the warnings, they are all over this site...interconnects..."BAD"..."VERY BAD"...can cause attatchments that are impossible to break.
The minute you think "Power cords do make a difference" it's over! You won't even be able to answer a phone without being critical of the (ahem) "sibilance".
I have to go, they are knocking on my cell for the evening meal. |
Great responses so far. My advice-
Decide what level of system you want and can afford (lots of soul searching here). Then decide what type of sound you are after (lots of auditioning here). Pick up all of your components and cables to match the level and sound you are after (lots of Audiogon research here). Balance your investments (don't go with the $1000 cables and a $500 amp or $1000 amp and $10 cables). Buy used (exceptions can be made for speakers). Start listening (once the system is assembled). Fell free to try out tweaks, swap components, etc. Most important: buy lots more music and have fun!!! |
I - Join Audiogon and use it to research.
II - Set your opening budgets in moderation.
III - Buy a lot of music you really like as this music is ultimately the system fuel.
IV - Pace your-self with care do not become obsessive.I have known many who spend too much and lose interest.
V - Start with simplicity,basic system short runs solid
foundations and choice location.
That may be more than five... |
I've been doing this for twenty-five years. Here's what I've determined:
1. Speakers are most important.
2. Then comes source.
3. Amps are amps, they effect sound but NOWHERE near the level of #1 or #2. If a new amp changes sound dramatically, something is wrong with one of the amps.
4. If you're serious about sound, spend most of your money only on speakers, source and then amp [in that order].
5. Line conditioners are snake oil. Power cords are as well. Speaker cables give little bang for the buck, stick with Radio Shack wire.
BONUS ADVICE: Anyone who has spent money on line conditioners, power cords and expensive speaker cables will defend it to the death. Don't waste time talking sense or science to them. Let them be delusional and happy.
EXTRA BONUS ADVICE: If it's a cool gadget, I mean a really cool gadget and you gotta have it forget #4 and have fun. |
Virgil,
I'm mostly in agreement w/ you esp. w.r.t to your "BONUS ADVICE"!!
However, I feel that you missed 1 very imp. "component" - the listening room! So, to add to your list:-
0. the listening room is even more important. Good & correct treatment of it will allow you to maximize what you presently have. |
Bombaywalla- I think you are right on target; poor accoustics [listening room] can break an otherwise excellent speaker. Match the speaker to the venue for best results. |
1. RUN FAR AND FAST AWAY FROM HERE BEFORE YOU GO CRAZY AND BROKE. (probably to late)
2. Set a realistic budget.
3. Learn to listen, and listen to as many system's as possible.
4. Re-adjust your budget.
5. Forgive yourself the endulgance, it's too late, so enjoy the sweet music!
6. (bonus) Beat the kids BEFORE they touch the system. |
Clarification:
1. It was to late for me the day I was born. I used to sleep with the radio under my pillow. There is magic in them there notes, and the people playing them, and the spirits that guide them, and in me when I am open - which I can not seem to control at will; magic.
2. I set a realistic budget so that I had a place to start and to enable the breaking of inertia. I found out later that I had no clue about what was available, at what cost, nor how to judge value; of the components in contrast to each other and of the minute differences that can be the difference between nice and oh my God!
3. Listening over and over, reading, listening to dealers and audiophiles and re-listening, getting frustrated and re-excited. Discovered incredible tone, then discovered decay, space, dynamics. The first was tone. The second was soundstage. The third was quality bass, then extreme low frequency in musical context. Initial impressions soon went completely out the window and I had no idea what was real or what I liked. I finally heard a planner set up done correctly and "oh my god" now I get the planner thing (but still could not live without off-axis response.) I finally heard a tube set-up that blew my mind with richness and clarity, again "oh my god" (but I knew I still could not live without the frequency extremes and dynamic speed.) on and on and on.
4. Reset budget to be in line with what was required, for me.
5. I often feel guilty, but I soon realized guilt is better than regret and bitterness; after all I did (and still) work for it. Music was my first love and has been my constant through good and bad - sorry honey??? I love you too though. :)
6. This was simply meant to be funny. Said "Kid" has never messed with the system, but she taunts me and I see her eye it when she gets jealous and mad, like we kids do. I need to remember, she is she and not me, who was not so understanding of value and had limited control and did stupid things that defied all logic for no apparent reason. Fire is hot, hmmmm.... ouch!!! Duh. |
Do not set your Audio Beliefs in "stone" , think of them as "temporary" . There are many things I believed 3-5 years ago, that either technology, or just experience has taught me otherwise. I have seen too many friends defend their beliefs to the death and miss out on new experiences .Once you think you know it all you are locked up to any new ideas and concepts. Keep an open mind on everything. You might be surprised with the results ! |
TRY THESE 5 FISRT...
1.) OPEN A TD ACCOUNT BEFORE YOUR MONEY IS ALL GONE.
2.) SELL ALL YOUR STUFFS BEFORE YOUR WIFE DIVORCE YOU.
3.) RUN AWAY FROM THIS FORUM, DON'T EVEN GO ONLINE ANYMORE.
4.) TRY TO LISTEN TO NOISY MUSIC AND LEARN TO APPRECIATE IT.
5.) DON'T CHECK MAIL ANYMORE, LET YOUR WIFE DO IT.
IF YOU CAN'T DO THE ABOVE 5, TRY THE FOLLOWING 5...
1.) REMOVATION THE HOUSE BEFORE THE ROOM TREATMENTS DOMINATE IT
2.) GET RIB OF YOUR HEATER AS SOON AS YOU PURCHASE A TUBE OR CLASS A AMP
3.) BEFORE YOUR VISITORS ASK, REMIND THEM THAT THE CABLES ARE NOT WATER HOSES AND THE BIG AMP YOU HAVE IS NOT A MINI LAUNDRY MACHINE
4.) GET SOME EAR PLUGS IN CASE OF A COMPLAINT OR...
5.) BUY SOME TAPE TO SEAL YOUR WIFE'S MOUTH
Disclaimer: Above is just a joke. I am not responsible for anything whatsoever if you really go do it! Cheers =) |
The last guy was great. But virgil's remarks "are out to lunch" I will tell u right now he isnt the guy who will sit down infront of his hi-fi and listen. He will turn on his hi-fi and maybe listen for awhile. Probably use it for company and recreational time. To use line conditioning and snake oil in the same sentence tells me he isnt listening to hi-fi at all. Just another, at home appliance. It makes a big difference and is well worth the time to hear if for yourself. |
Since we are on audiogon, I'll stick to audio words of wisdom (IMHO).
1. Purchase the best used $1000-2000 SS midrange amplifier you can find >200wpc doubling into 4 ohms(ARAGON, PROCEED, B&K, ADCOM, even the top of the line ROTEL or ARCAM units are ok starter amps).
2. Purchase a $700-3000 preamplifier that you like with a phono stage if it is available. This is the biggest commitment and a big fork in the road. Make certain you can live with your decision if you choose tubes because it will color your eventual selection of speakers.
3. Audition a variety of speakers with similar components to those selected in #1 and #2 above over about a 6 month period of time. Borrow from friends or dealer if they will permit so you can live with them for a while. Purchase the speakers you love, rather than what you think you can afford. Use the VISA or beg borrow and hock other valueables to get what you like and will love over the long haul. This could be really expensive but it could also be not so expensive. It really depends on what you like. Thiel 22's can be purchased used for less than $1k.
4. Purchase a good Rotel or Arcam or NAD (or similar Japanese models) CD player which you will upgrade every five years or so as technology advances.
5. Purchase a $500-1000 turntable if you don't already own one with a good $300 medium output cartridge. Listen to older recordings and get some variety into your listening library.
This forms the basis for many years of listening pleasure and future component upgrades as time and money allow. |
The music you listen to and you what sounds good to you is the foundation. The room (size,neighbors,spouse) are the next important. Buy the best speakers you can afford. Speakers are the hardest and most expensive thing to do right. Get a bigger amp than you need. Go solid state unless you have lots o $$.There is a difference in cd players, amps, tubes, etc., but everything above has to work first. Source is cheapest to get right (except turntables). |
Thats pretty good Infinity Audio. One more thing. Find someone to share the excitement with or it will become a labor of love that you alone must experience. Also read as much about whatever it is in audio that interests you . Be it vaccum tubes or the Absolute Sound. Buy back issues of say... FI magazine . This continued reading excites you into listening and learning . The more you learn the deeper you go and the more you will get out of it .... or put into it! $$$$. |
From the perspective of a psychologist who is somewhat new to high-end audio, I have the following to offer:
1. Take your time to choose and keep organized. At least three to four months allows for good research and plenty of time to listen to things. It is also fun to search for various components and learn about the different nuances of each. As buying hi-end equipment is a big investment and there is a lot of equipment out there to choose from, take notes or do some sort of rating system. Personally, I rate on themes such as "emotional impact" or "goose bumps" in addition to "soundstage", "transparency", and "musicality."
2. Audition speakers (or other components) in your home for as long as possible. Factors such as your mood, time of day, or even being hungry can influence your perception at any given time. Having the component in your home for several days or more allows you get to know the component in the confines of your room and equipment, which is likely much different from the sellers. If you fall in love with a piece, its time to buy, unless you love two of the contenders.
3. I f there is a tie between two or more components, try to audition them blind - if possible. This is difficult to do, but worth the hassle, and can only work if you are choosing between several components at the same store (e.g., different models of a CD player) or amongst various friends components. Not knowing which one of the two or three contending components that you are hearing removes any bias that you might have formed. (Of course, someone will need to tell you later which was component A, B or C.) In essence this makes your choice cleaner and based on your reaction only to the sound. It is easy to become influenced by "expert" salespersons, a friends opinion, or some other factor.
4. Someone else said this (12-14-01: Justlisten), and I agree - don't listen to salespersons opinions about equipment that they don't sell. I've experienced too many salespersons subtly or blatantly putting down perfectly good equipment. (E.g., one guy told me that he was "embarrassed" by the fact that had previously sold B & W speakers (which I mentioned that I had auditioned). This can be a manipulative strategy designed to create doubt about the other product.) The best salespersons have just let me listen and decide for myself, or may discuss the qualities of their product. If a salesperson tells you something "bad' about the competitors equipment, it's probably best to assume that s/he doesn't really have your best interest in mind.
5. Use several different types of music during auditions, and use the same pieces for each audition. Select amongst songs that you know very well. I like to use instrumental jazz, good male and female vocalists, classical, and rock and roll. This helps to capture the range, dynamics, and emotional impact of the component that your listening to. Ultimately, in my opinion, it is our emotional response to the music reproduced by the various components that makes buying audio equipment worthwhile. |
I just wanted to say great thread, very good info, thx all, Bob |
Didactically-
cant you hear this thread calling you? |
Lots of good advise so far.
1A) Patience.
1B) Patience.
1C) Patience.
1D) Patience.
1E) Patience.
Ok now that the most important issue is out of the way.
2) Educate yourself in how and what to listen for in music. The Artist and Sound Engineer don't give us instructions on how there tone should sound, the location of the instruments within the sound stage what a Straticaster (SP) sounds like verses a LesPaul (SP), what a Fender tube amp sounds like verses a Pevy (SP), Why an artist might change the pickup in their guitar to alter the tone of the instrument or why they choose a specific cable to bring forward the midrange of their guitar, how to listen to a grand piano with the lid of the cabinet closed verses open and the irritating resonance (that interfers with the sweet decay of the note) of that piano with the lid closed even when it is a Steinway, what kind of microphone was used, what sound board, what monitors, what effects. Ok I think that covers (2). If you don't get the point yet sell your system and invest in your significent others listening room.
2A) Patience.
3) The accoustical environment that the recording was done in. Is the room alive, dead or some where in between. Are the artists in there own rooms in the studio where each has its own acoustic signature. Can you tell if a kick drum has the back cut out, does it have a blanket or foam in it, is it reflecting and reverberating from the paint on the walls, is the mic in the room picking up those reflections or is there accoustical foam absorbing the snare softening the sound. Or are the musicians in a single room where the main mic picks up the sonic signature of the other instruments within a given room. How has the engineer set instruments (The human voice is also an instrument) within the sound stage. Is the engineer affecting the tone of the instruments through the board or is the engineer working with the artist to achieve the tone they are after in a given song. If you have not gotten it at this point I recomend investing in a good boom box phillips would do nicely.
3A) Patience.
4) Your ears should not hurt even during long loud listening sessions. If they do "THE TONE OF THE RECORDING IS DONE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PROVIDE A BRIGHT HARSH SOUND" In other words what equipment was used by the sound engineer (Ears are equipment) does the engineer have hearing damage at certain frequency ranges. Ok for those that have hung on this long I assume you get it, now it is time to accept the following realities.
4A) Patience.
5) Ok learn what quality recordings and tone are all about. What are the artist and engineer trying to achieve. What equipment and environment were used. Audiophiles IMHO are engineers whether we want to admit it or not. Trying to achieve and accurate reproduction of the recorded music. If you are easily offend read no further.
5A) Patience.
The slam!! Does everyone get it yet. You are an engineer. The producion of sound or should I have refered to posts 1-5 using high end audio equipment and listening room acoustics.
The ultimate slam!!!! The musical reproduction system is only as good as the sum of its components. (The Human Ear is a component), the room is a component. Without good listening habbits and the right environment within which the reproduction of music is to be done, it doesn't matter how much you spend on what. Now lets see is the problem the recording engineer or the reproduction engineer. DAM ENGINEERS WHAT ARE THE GOOD FOR, JUST GIVE ME THE MUSIC AS IT WAS MENT TO BE HEARD BY THE ARTIST. OH I FORGOT :-( I HAVE BEEN ENGINEERING MY NEW SYSTEM FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS TRYING TO DO JUST THAT.
It is a journey and the education along the way is worth every penny spent.
Ladies, and gentlemen good luck in your searches may your ears guide you through life. |
1. Take a 1 month break once a year, no hi-fi, nothing.
2. Go to bed at a decent hour, and not 2am checking ads.
3. Enjoy some wine with your music ( ALL systems sound nice then )
4. Get some forgiving gear, so that more than 20% of your cd's are listenable.
5. STOP ANALYZING THE MUSIC, STOP SEARCHING FOR FLAWS ! |
1. Protect your ears - wear plugs when vacuming, cutting the lawn, move away from blenders, avoid amplified music at bars and shows where you cant hear conversation above the noise. Take ear plugs to movies. I'm 54 - hearing sensitivity od s treasure to protect.
2. Take a music appreciation course. It will give your left brain something to do while listening, other than analyizing defects in your system. Understanding music better is a great joy and will lead you to explore.
3.When assessing equipment listen to a simple, one instrument melody (a solo flute playing silent night made my wife cry as it soared high and she insisted I but the big babies that produced it. The beauty should make you want to cry too. Then listen to a highly complex and dynamic piece for crowding and choas. The complex should sound breathtaking not assaultive.
4.Kick out any sales person who tries talking to you as you are trying to listen. Go back several times before taking it home and then try it there.
5. Listen over good headphones to give you an idea of how much inner detail is possible. |
The most important link is always Speakers, followed by source and amplification last. Pick out your taste in speakers first. Esoteric cables beyond basic sturdy construction are a waste. Room treatments, moving the furniture around and hanging some rugs on the wall can also surprise you. |
1/ In speakers, with very rare exceptions, fewer drivers is better but a single full-range driver is usually not adequate. 2-way and 1-1/2 way designs rule.
2/ Keep things simple. For example, some people buy a disc player for Redbook and another for SACD/DVD or some such. Keep yourself sane, channel your funds, and buy one good source that will play all the formats you want to buy.
3/ 2 Channels done right are enough. Better really, even for movies.
4/ A good tube amp on a simple chassis is the best performance-per-dollar buy in amplification. You have plenty of choice at any price point.
5/ If you don't buy a tube amp, one of the McIntosh autoformer solid state amps will be grand.
All else is comparatively minor. Well, 3 more: The "previously-owned" market has tremendous bargains; no one ever regretted owning an EL-34-based tube amp; don't expect anything resembling music to come from any device labelled "Krell."
Phil |
* Dont compete, someone always has better, but at more cost.
* Dont put-down other peoples gear, just because you can afford more doesnt make you better, and to insult anothers hard earned money spent on what they enjoy is pathetic.
* If your music to equipment ratio is way out of whack rethink if you are truely a music lover ($20000 in gear and $1000 in music is crazy, you love equipment more than music |
Great thread. 1)Tube amps are over rated-but they do sound lovely; solid state is a better bang for the buck but not as much fun to look at in the dark. 2)Vinyl is wonderful but it is a pain, and expensive and you need a record cleaner. 3)SACD is wonderful with much better dynamic range than CDs but the selection sucks. 4) Add a subwoofer with an electronic crossover is usually the best bang for the buck upgrade. 5)Building your own speakers using electronic cross-overs, will give you the best sound for the money, but buy expensive drivers. 6)Don't live in an apartment, live in a house. 7)Enjoy the music, not the equipment. "If music be the food of love, play on!" |
1. Buy the best (analog) source component you can afford, first! If you can't recover it, you will never hear it, no matter how "great" your speakers or amps are.
2. Keep in mind that the strength of synergy in your system is vital. Everything needs to work together.
3. Get lots of great (records) music that you love, old, new, reissued.
4. Please don't buy gear that does not clearly sound better (in your system/room) than what you already own.
5. Sit down in the sweet spot with someone you care about and realize that this is what it is all about... have a zen moment. |
1. Invite attractive women to your house and play music they bring over. (very key)
2. Beverages (sorry I am a bartender)
3. Then repeat... |
Spend a lot more than you can |
It Only Looks as Good as it Sounds. Listen With Your Eyes Closed, No Peeking. |
DOn't belive ANYTHING you read in "6-moons" or by any paid reviewers. Rely only on your own ears, never pay good money for any piece of new equipment without first auditioning the item. Research-Research-Research online posts by actual owners. Don't buy any audio item just out of curiosity to find out how it sounds. Don't assume a pretty face (panel) equates with superior sound. Buy items built like a tank to military specifications, for longevity. If you want something good then you have to BUILD IT YOURSELF. |
To maximise your return from your existing system without additional expenditure. Try these-
1. Place all your gears on solid ground in direct contact with the floor.No carpet in between. If floor is not concrete/ marble/ tiles but wood may have to experiment with cone/ spikes. Avoid use of shelves whenever possible. This should improve the airiness/ high frequency response and overall transparency.
2. Room treatment- to wall on both sides of the speakers to avoid echo marring the sonic picture. To both corners of front wall as high as 8 ft with uneven surfaces. Experiment with different positions of the damper/ diffusers to adjust tonal balance for higher/ lower highs and fuller/ leaner lows.
3.Tilt the axis of speaker forward/ backward .Toe in /out. Away / nearer the side /front walls to enhance accuracy / warmth etc.
4. Clean all your components' electrical connections.
The above measures are nearly free and guarantee to give you a perceivable improvement.
Happy listening.
George |
1. Ears = heart. If this connection is lost- something is wrong. Fix it asap.
2. Never buy something you can't get your money back out of (should it not work out for you). This usually means buying used gear at sane prices.
3. Don't overlook the room- acoustics play the big role.
4. Never let anyone (or any ad) tell you that you are wrong. There is no right or wrong. If you dig it- it's all right.
5. Buy lots of music. Don't turn into a gear freak- buy RECORDS!!! Be a music freak instead... |
Like Valve and vinyl said. Amen, brother. |
