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Emotional rollercoaster

I think I've been slowly improving my system over years. Starting with garage sale finds and tip finds to eBay and ultimately spending serious dollars on some decent amplification and speakers. I was even going to post recently about how the journey has been worth it.
Then this afternoon I tested an old Akai AA-5200 that I'd retrieved from under my ex's house (left it there 8 or so years ago) and I connected it to some old magnat 10p speakers I picked up for about $40 ages ago.... and behold.... I was listening to about $60 of hi-fi equipment that sounded extraordinarily nice and made me wonder why I'd spent a hundred and fifty times that much "improving" my main system over the years. 
It's left me disillusioned and fragile. Is spending big bucks a sham. Where have I gone wrong. It's an emotional rollercoaster. Help.



mid-fi-crisis
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,867 posts
 
Good point that the room is the part of the system you have least control over so inevitably it’s always about putting the right setup in place for the room and no two rooms are exactly the same. 
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 

     Well said, baylinor!  I agree completely.

     You can either treat and control the room or let the untreated room control the sound.  You're correct, room treatments are as critical for good results just as a good, solid foundation is critical for a building.

Tim

redwoodaudio
413 posts
 
This is a refreshing thread. When big money meets big expectations, the disappointment can be really hard to swallow. When you realize you've been chasing an ideal that's not attainable and you're poorer for it, hurts. The OPs post is real. The roller coaster doesn't slow down by itself. The hype keeps on hyping. 

I'm starting to realize this in my own pretty new audiophile journey. Trying to avoid early mistakes of big money on unknowns. Buying used where possible. Trusting my ear. Becoming less sentimental about gear I've purchased.

Thanks for sharing, OP. 


chilli42
107 posts
 
Could nostalgia be part of what you are feeling/hearing with your old equipment?  So I wonder what I would hear and how I would feel if I could hear the LPs on the system I had when I was 25 years old?  I am darn sure it would bring back memories and feelings long since gone (girlfriends parties, friends, etc) ... that are very much missed.  No equipment I have today (no matter how good) could quite bring back the sound that goes with those memories that drive the emotional response to the music.  So listening to Led Zeppelin on a factory FM radio may resurrect the feeling of cruising with all the windows open, my girlfriend at my side and a joint in my hand more effectively and enjoyably than any expensive system ever could.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
cd318,

"For example where, in the miles and miles of column inches can you find a group test review of high end speakers?"


At some point, I have not cheked in some time, British magazines had comparison tests of speakers. I am not sure how believable they were and if they ever had high end, but they existed.



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