Your Best Moment of Audio Exuberance


My girlfriend stayed home today while I drove her car (circa '98 BMW 740i with CD changing factory stereo) to a New Year's day party. While I find her 740i to be an underpowered, overweight, undersprung yuppie saloon with a screechy, bloated stereo to match, I must admit it was, nonetheless, great fun to crusie along at 80 MPH and ABSOLUTELY CRANK the Los Lobos CD that her brother gave me for Christmas. (The band was new to me -- has anyone heard "Oh Yeah" from This Time?) It almost reminded me of the good old days that got me into this insane hobby -- just being young, listening to music at high volumes and having a good old time. What setting, atmosphere, equipment or musical selection gives or reminds you of your happiest audio moments?
cwlondon
Cranking Black Sabbath Volume 4 in a large basement rec room 20x30. A Mac 2100 and a C-26 running a pair of JBL C-50 S8R Olympus speakers. By the way I still don't hear very well.
Isn't it ironic that with all the modern advances and improvements most people remember sound from systems of yesteryear. Maybe that is the key to why this hobby is withering.
I had a few of these experiences. #1. A few years ago I test drove a Dodge Dakota pickup with a factory stereo. I was cruising down the highway, and Radar Love by Golden Earing came on. I never liked that song until then. It really rocked and sounded great (my own car systems have never been that great). I think it made me drive faster too! #2. The first time I played the Beatles "I'm looking through you"(Rubber Soul) through a Golden Tube preamp. It was so alive, I bought the preamp. #3. Every time I listen to Lyle Lovett's "She's already made up her mind". The low bass in phenominal, and when cranked a little, down right scary. Just my 2 cents worth.
My experience occurred ten years ago in a crowded, hot, busy high end audio shop. I was visiting the unknown store with a friend when I heard Krell reference monoblocks driving Martin Logans from a (forgotten) digital source. Even with those lousy conditions I heard a glimpse of heaven. The quality was astonishing. That peak experience introduced me to this hobby.
Probably at 14 years of age listening to In My Time Of Dying by Led Zep on my old crappy record player at an incredibley loud level ..when it got to the drum break I kicked out my bare foot and flayed my arms in my best John Bonham/Animal impression breaking my middle toe on a chair leg...... Alternatively at my mates house at a similar age a group of us used to be in awe of my best mates cooler older brother..one day as he passed up the hallway my mates door swung open to reveal one our other friends standing in the middle of the bedroom standing playing a golf club (?!)as AC/DC blasted away in the backround....great days.