The end of the (upgrade) road?

[CageyH]

Having added a second set of Taket Batpure supertweeters to my system, and having tweaked my VTA slightly, I feel that my HiFi journey is now on the finishing straight, getting close to the end. It is nearing the time to sit back and enjoy what I have and listen to more music. Realistically speaking it is going to take some serious cash (or lucky purchases) to improve on what I have. Yes, there are still the "I wonder" moments where I fancy trying something else, only to find it is no better, just different. The only thing still niggling away at me is the speakers. The Electric Beach FH3s are very good, but sometimes I feel myself wanting a bit more slam/depth (did someone mention Edingdales?).

Since I joined AoS 5 years ago, a lot has changed.
I have gone from playing nothing but CD, to almost nothing but vinyl.
A few new components have come and gone.
I have played with cables until I found how good the Klotz MC5000 and the Sommer CarboKab 225 are, and stopped looking.
I have meddled with speaker cables, making some good DIY ones, before changing speakers and using some good quality copper cable.
Cartridges have gone from MM to MC and back again, with a few coming and going, leaving me a nice selection to suit all moods and moments.
The TT has gone from one of the most common decks available to something pretty unique and to something I really like the sound of.
I have changed my opinion on how important power is, and that mains cables can make a difference. I would never have believed it if I hadn't tried it for myself.

Although I know that there is always something better out there, I have got to the point where I just don't care anymore.
Most importantly though, I have learnt a lot from my time here, and I thank you for your patience.

During my time here at AoS, I have made new friends and acquaintances. Don't get me wrong, this is not a farewell, more of a "à bientôt".
I will drop in from time to time, just to say hello and catch up on the news.

[Jimbo]

I have watched your journey Kevin as it has been similar to mine and know where you have got too as I have reached this stage as well . Yes you can always buy other stuff but I have found other items are just different and not always any better, hence I feel quite happy with my system and I am sure you will agree it's now more about the music and not the system!

[CageyH]

I totally agree.
It sounds great now. I recently did a comparison between my first system I ever bought, one I lived with for 10 years and what I have now.
At the time of owning each system, I was happy with it, but there is no competition to which I prefer.

The money I would normally spend on HiFi components is being redirected to vinyl. both new and old.

[struth]

Nice on Kev. I am the
Same in that Ive finished my journey now. Thought I'd finished a few times but glad to say. Definitely finally.

Don't be too much of a stranger

[Marco]

Nice on Kev. I am the
Same in that Ive finished my journey now. Thought I'd finished a few times but glad to say. Definitely finally.

Don't be too much of a stranger

+1, matey. Lots of folk have joined AoS, as digital fans, and embraced the joys of vinyl, quite simply because we're so passionate about it here, and there are numerous threads with great advice on how to do it well, so I guess it's inevitable that it rubs off on folk!

Glad your journey is pretty much at an end. It's so important that there *is* and end goal in your journey, as otherwise the danger exists of simply becoming another unhealthy and endless box-swapper [as opposed to a healthy one like Jerry, but few manage the process as well as he does], and ultimately a 'hi-fi victim', chasing your tail and getting nowhere...

This hobby of ours should ALWAYS be more about the music than the boxes used, which should simply be a means to an end, so I'm glad you're 'there' now. I've been in that happy place now for some time, and it's a great place to be. 'Upgraditis' should be an officially recognised condition, and always guarded against!

Anyway, definitely don't be too much of a stranger, as you'll always be welcome here, and thanks again for all your valuable input, and help especially with the cables you've made up for others and myself.

À bientôt, mon ami!

Marco.

[Barry]

That's good news Kevin, and a good place to be. Well done.

Looks like you will have to change your avatar now!

Enjoy your system - but don't become too much of a recluse. Keep in touch

Barry

[clarkey555]

Having added a second set of Taket Batpure supertweeters to my system, and having tweaked my VTA slightly, I feel that my HiFi journey is now on the finishing straight, getting close to the end. It is nearing the time to sit back and enjoy what I have and listen to more music. Realistically speaking it is going to take some serious cash (or lucky purchases) to improve on what I have. Yes, there are still the "I wonder" moments where I fancy trying something else, only to find it is no better, just different. The only thing still niggling away at me is the speakers. The Electric Beach FH3s are very good, but sometimes I feel myself wanting a bit more slam/depth (did someone mention Edingdales?).

Since I joined AoS 5 years ago, a lot has changed.
I have gone from playing nothing but CD, to almost nothing but vinyl.
A few new components have come and gone.
I have played with cables until I found how good the Klotz MC5000 and the Sommer CarboKab 225 are, and stopped looking.
I have meddled with speaker cables, making some good DIY ones, before changing speakers and using some good quality copper cable.
Cartridges have gone from MM to MC and back again, with a few coming and going, leaving me a nice selection to suit all moods and moments.
The TT has gone from one of the most common decks available to something pretty unique and to something I really like the sound of.
I have changed my opinion on how important power is, and that mains cables can make a difference. I would never have believed it if I hadn't tried it for myself.

Although I know that there is always something better out there, I have got to the point where I just don't care anymore.
Most importantly though, I have learnt a lot from my time here, and I thank you for your patience.

During my time here at AoS, I have made new friends and acquaintances. Don't get me wrong, this is not a farewell, more of a "à bientôt".
I will drop in from time to time, just to say hello and catch up on the news.

Good on you Kev that's a good place to be hopefully I will not be far behind I would much rather buy lots of lovely vinyl kick back and just enjoy the music as others have said don't be to much of a stranger
Best wishes mate

[brian2957]

Nice one Kevin , what a great place to be Don't be a stranger mate , your opinions and observations are valued on the forum

[Toppsy]

QUOTE=CageyH;887632]Having added a second set of Taket Batpure supertweeters to my system, and having tweaked my VTA slightly, I feel that my HiFi journey is now on the finishing straight, getting close to the end. It is nearing the time to sit back and enjoy what I have and listen to more music. Realistically speaking it is going to take some serious cash (or lucky purchases) to improve on what I have. Yes, there are still the "I wonder" moments where I fancy trying something else, only to find it is no better, just different. The only thing still niggling away at me is the speakers. The Electric Beach FH3s are very good, but sometimes I feel myself wanting a bit more slam/depth (did someone mention Edingdales?).

Hi Kevin,
Though the FH3 are excellent speakers (I should know as I have built several pairs for folk using various Fostex and Mark Audio drivers including a couple of pairs for myself) they do have there limits. To whet your appetite Below is a photo of my prototype MKII Edingdales that are now my official demo speakers. I am currently building a pair the Edingdale MKII speakers for a couple up in Tyne and Wear. These will be finished in Oak veneer. The demo pair in the photo below are skinned in a rather expensive Tamo Ash veneer.

.

Next you are in the UK you are most welcome to pop over to Topps' Towers for a review of the speakers. We can accommodate a sleepover to ease travel arrangements and my wife's hospitality is second to non. However beware. We do have quite a new range of speakers that might temp you? There is the new Headley range of small 2-way stand mount speakers that are a similar size in height to the FH3 but offer better low frequency response. These were the result of an initial bespoke request from a guy in the Cambridge area. The client wanted a small 2-way speaker and is a great fan of the ProAc range but his budget wouldn't stretch to the price of these fine sounding speakers and so his brief was can we design a ProAc inspired speaker within his quoted budget and with a downward firing port? The result was these:



We have expanded the range to include an all SEAS driver version and an all SB Acoustics Satori driver version. These are more WAF friendly but don't have the same slam as the Edingdales. Here is what the guy had to say about the originals we built for him:
http://www.audio-talk.co.uk/phpBB3/v...art=15#p147351

Look forward to meeting up with you.
Regards Colin

[CageyH]

Colin,

Thanks for the response.
I was in touch a few months ago with Scott and yourself about the speakers.
One of the questions I was going to ask was about possible demos, so I appreciate the offer of overnight accommodation.

I will be in touch closer to the time.