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Can HI FI components really make music?

Hello everyone. I am posting this question possibly a bit early but I am getting frustrated and am about to throw in the towel, sell everything and buy a Bose wave radio and call it good. My question is does a good HI FI system ever really sound like live music? At this point I think not. I have been in this hobby for about 7 years and just can't seem to get there. Even the system at the local "hi end" dealer does not come close to live music. My system has evolved over the years to the following:

Wadia 861 CD
VTL MB 125 mono blocks
Supratek Chennin Pre
(2) Vandy 2WQ subs
Vandy 3A Sig
Cardas Golden Cross inter con
Kimber Bifocal XL spk cable
Vandy model 5 Xover

All this gear is in a 13x35x8 room. Although the sound is quite good. Better than most any other system Ive heard it still has a long way to go. In all fairness the 3As are not completely broken in but I dont think they will improve to the extent I want them to over the course of the next 30 hrs. My dealers solution is that I should get rid of the Supratek and replace with a VTL 5.5. I dont think so. Been there done that. Although the VTL is decent it cant compete with the Supra.

At this point I think maybe the VTL 125s are just not sophisticated or powerful enough to give me the sound Im looking for. I think they are the weak link along with cabling. I stated earlyer that the dealers system doesnt do it for me either and I think that may be due to the fact that their biggest amp is 185 wpc. Im thinking maybe a sophisticated amp with say 400 wpc might get me there with the 3As. I dont know... but I am not willing to spend 100K to what I want nor could I afford to.

For those of you that are still with me any and all input welcome. I am not one of those thin skinned audiophiles that cries like a baby when someone has the audacity to insult their precious gear. So fire away.

Thanks
braro
newbee
4,751 posts
 
I don't know what 'sound you are looking for' but if you're looking for live, forget it. You will never even come close, dispite all of the hype! But, having said that you can still put together a fine system which will allow you to come close to replicating the information on the disc you are playing.

You are talking about your equipment - frankly you aught to be getting some fairly fine sound with your present stuff, even if its not as loud as you would like or would be available with a more powerful amp, or even if your speakers are not the last word in detail or transparency. All of this leads me to ask what you have done to maximize speaker and listening position set up and room acoustics?

But if you really want 'live' music in your room, forget it and get the Boze - you'll lead a less stressful life and live longer. :-)
holzhauer
201 posts
 
Shahinian loudspeakers come very close to the live event. I have heard many of the big name/big money speakers. Although I could buy speakers costing more than my Shahinian Diapasons, I would be wasting my money and taking a step down in sound quality.
c5150
115 posts
 
Hey buddy....been there ,done that.Your gear is amazing!Only your hearing is BETTER.You know there is more to it,and your right.Hi-fi can't cut the mustard,it sure can cut the cheese.Oh, that was me......Sell the whole thing ?...oh yeah!I did and will never look back.My guess is that your not as crazy as I am.Your ears tell a different story.
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
Unfortunately I believe your are in pursuit of the unobtainable. I for one have been to a few live performances and I am glad my system doesn't sound like that.
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