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How you know your system is improving?

Fellow Audio Junkies - 

Over the last few years, I've invested in my first high end system. It's been a far costlier affair than I'd initially conceived. I started off simply wanting to listen to music in my home. At this stage of my life, I was fortunate to have some resources to invest which led me down the path of reading forums and reviews, while also having the opportunity to visit a few audio stores to demo equipment.

And down the rabbit hole I went... Once I realized all the nuances of equipment and their impact on the listening experience, I became fascinated with creating the most satisfying musical experience in my house. I ended up purchasing several amps, three sets of speakers, NOS power tubes, and a myriad combination of power cords.

With each investment, I would often remark to myself "yes - I hear an improvement..." But sometimes a doubt would cross my mind. Is this some sort of confirmation bias I've got going? Am I just throwing money away? Do I need to see a shrink? 

Admittedly, I was largely convinced things were improving, but a small part of my brain recognized I might be have been chasing windmills... 

Which brings me to this question: "How do you know your system is improving after you've made a system change or hopeful upgrade?" 

For me, a moment came last night when I put on a piece of music - Beth Orton - and played a track that a year ago sounded muddy or poorly recorded. There have been several system changes since I last played that Beth Orton track. As I began streaming over Quboz, I could hear details in the music which had been previously fuzzy and hidden. The tone of her voice was more real. Guitar strings came out of the fog... 

I guess the concept I often read about here, "using a test track" had become my new litmus test on whether my system was improving. It was inadvertent, but I think I'll default to this approach more consistently moving forward, going back to a few tracks that have proven to be challenging with the current system and giving them a go when a new component gets added. 

Yes, I know... nothing radical here. But would welcome how many of you benchmark improvements in your own systems! 

128x128bluethinker
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,837 posts
 

I learned one thing : the way we learn how to install any system together in a room matter way more than the separate piece of gear and their price tags... ( basic synergy for sure matter it is a starting point )

The second thing , there is no way for me to understand with my ears how to improve my system by buying pieces of gear for a so called "upgrade" ...For sure the soundfield may improve with any upgrade but it is not enough at all ...

Acoustics experiments, vibrations-resonance controls and electrical noise floor decreased are the three goals...Nevermind what is the cost of your system...😊

Once this is understood you can be happy even with a relatively  low cost system...

But probably a costlier system than mine will be needed ... Why ?  Because my speakers shine once modified and my headphone shine once modified... Then without modifications the cost for the same S.Q. will be much higher .,..But at a relatively low cost anyway if you learn the basic you will cure upgraditis ... ...

 

czarivey
5,721 posts
 

when it gets more music to listen most of the time.

mihorn
470 posts
 
toddalin

Things can sound "changed" without sounding either better or worse and sometimes it just comes down to preference. And preference can change.

I know what you mean by preference. But I’m not talking preference. One is actually better than another. You can compare the voice of below 2 videos. I can clearly hear one is more real human voice. Once you hear the better one, you won’t want to hear another by preference. It took me 4 months for improvement between below 2 videos. Alex/WTA

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hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,820 posts
 

Good advice here.

One thing I’ve stopped doing is calling anything in this hobby an "investment." Investments grow, they don’t depreciate. ;-)

"Investment" is a word I've used to tacitly apologize to myself (or my wife) for an expenditure which is completely, fabulously discretionary. In effect, I'm throwing money around to have some fun. I've chosen to not feel guilty about that anymore. So, no more "investments" for me. Just living.

 

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
616 posts
 

@OP. I use a small number of recordings that reflect different aspects of sound quality. I've used these recordings across many different systems to give a broader set of benchmarks rather than just internally benchmarking my own system.

+1 to GHD Prentices's advice especially re listening to live music.

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