Upgrading my hi fi paranoia

[Macca]

Question: how can you tell if the component you've heard make a breathtaking improvement in one system is guaranteed to make the improvement in your system? You get a chance to take it home to audition?

Sometimes that might be possible. My point is it is easy to feel satisfied with what you have if you have not heard better. Whether you buy the specific components that you liked so much is irrelevant. You have found out that another level is possible, so you start looking again at improving what you have.

[Marco]

My point is it is easy to feel satisfied with what you have if you have not heard better.

Indeed, and which is why, if you really want to own a top-notch system, you need to continually push the boundaries and get out there and hear different set-ups, test your equipment against it and see just how it fares, and also allow others to come and hear your system, and ask them for their honest opinion/constructive criticism.

I can't abide folk who like to 'hide' and remain stuck inside their cosy comfort zones, where nothing that they think they know is ever challenged. No-one should be 'afraid' of exposing their equipment to such scrutiny, and widening their horizons as to what might be possible, if you truly wish to own a great system, instead of kidding yourself on that what you've got is much better than it actually is!

That's why meets, such as NEBO, can be so rewarding and often act as a veritable ear-opener.... My advice? Always keep pushing those boundaries and striving for the best, until you reach the stage of having achieved your goals, which after many years of building and tweaking, is the happy place I'm in now with my system

Marco.

[magiccarpetride]

Sometimes that might be possible. My point is it is easy to feel satisfied with what you have if you have not heard better. Whether you buy the specific components that you liked so much is irrelevant. You have found out that another level is possible, so you start looking again at improving what you have.

I understand. I know that another level is always possible, I don't need to actually hear it.

[magiccarpetride]

Indeed, and which is why, if you really want to own a top-notch system, you need to continually push the boundaries and get out there and hear different set-ups, test your equipment against it and see just how it fares, and also allow others to come and hear your system, and ask them for their honest opinion/constructive criticism.

I can't abide folk who like to 'hide' and remain stuck inside their cosy comfort zones. No-one should be 'afraid' of exposing their equipment to such scrutiny, and widening their horizons as to what might be possible, if you truly wish to own a great system, instead of kidding yourself on that what you've got is much better than it actually is!

That's why meets, such as NEBO, can be so rewarding and often act as a veritable ear-opener.... My advice? Always keep pushing those boundaries and striving for the best, until you reach the stage of having achieved your goals, which after many years of building and tweaking, is the happy place I'm in now with my system

Marco.

Sounds like you stopped pushing those boundaries. Maybe it's time you start eating your own dog food?

[Marco]

Lol... As they say, why 'fix' what ain't broken?

Of course, anything can always be improved, but there comes a point when the journey has to end [mine has been on-going since 1982 until now, so not exactly a 'quick trip'], and if you got into this game primarily as a music lover, simply seeking to hear your favourite music at its best, not continually dick around with boxes, then when you're in that happy position, it's simply time to kick back and fulfil your system's primary function

So for those still on their 'journey', continue striving for the best, but *know* when to stop, before your striving takes over your THRIVING...

Marco.

[Macca]

I understand. I know that another level is always possible, I don't need to actually hear it.

Knowing it in an intellectual sense isn't the same as actually experiencing it, though. Then you get the emotional drive, and there's nothing more effective than that in sparking action.

When you go back to your system, which previously was fine but now sounds broken by comparison it is pretty hard to carry on sitting still. I know your system is already fairly high end so it isn't going to happen as often for you as it has for me. And if you don't get out much (in a hi-fi sense) then it never will.

[agk]

Lol... As they say, why 'fix' what ain't broken?

Of course, anything can always be improved, but there comes a point when the journey has to end [mine has been on-going since 1982 until now, so not exactly a 'quick trip'], and if you got into this game primarily as a music lover, simply seeking to hear your favourite music at its best, not continually dick around with boxes, then when you're in that happy position, it's simply time to kick back and fulfil your system's primary function

So for those still on their 'journey', continue striving for the best, but *know* when to stop, before your striving takes over your THRIVING...

Marco.

True. "what a long strange trip it's been".

[magiccarpetride]

Knowing it in an intellectual sense isn't the same as actually experiencing it, though. Then you get the emotional drive, and there's nothing more effective than that in sparking action.

When you go back to your system, which previously was fine but now sounds broken by comparison it is pretty hard to carry on sitting still. I know your system is already fairly high end so it isn't going to happen as often for you as it has for me. And if you don't get out much (in a hi-fi sense) then it never will.

No, I know that. Like I said, ignorance is bliss. I am 'fortunate' to be living in the backwaters, so no exposure to awesome stereo systems for me.

But I am also very curious, so I tend to harass local purveyors of pricey hi fi equipment by bringing along my records and asking for an audition of some of their high end gear. I want to hear something that will make my jaw drop on the floor and say "I wanna!"

So far, no cigar. All the uppity configuration I've listened to didn't reveal anything that I'm not already hearing on my home stereo. Often times, surprisingly, I find that my home stereo sounds better, more coherent, livelier, with more punch and whomp.

Overall, I find that the ultra pricey high end hi fi I've listened to so far tends to sound too polite to my taste. The symphony orchestra crescendos never swell so violently the way I hear them in the concert hall or on my home stereo. The heavy rock drums don't crush bones with as much might as they crush bones and skulls on my home stereo.

Bottom line, I like the sound with a lot of balls, substance, weight, drama and cutting edge presence. I like the sound that's almost impolite, no manners

[magiccarpetride]

Lol... As they say, why 'fix' what ain't broken?

Of course, anything can always be improved, but there comes a point when the journey has to end [mine has been on-going since 1982 until now, so not exactly a 'quick trip'], and if you got into this game primarily as a music lover, simply seeking to hear your favourite music at its best, not continually dick around with boxes, then when you're in that happy position, it's simply time to kick back and fulfil your system's primary function

So for those still on their 'journey', continue striving for the best, but *know* when to stop, before your striving takes over your THRIVING...

Marco.

Yes, and that was exactly the point of my original post. Once you reach that plateau, then the race for the best mastering/pressing commences!

[paulf-2007]

Firstly let me say, expensive kit doesn't always give the best playback.
I can honestly say I've not heard any kit sound better than my own and I've heard some very exotic, expensive well regarded kit at people's houses and several years at Scalford. Commercial shows have left me cold. There was a period on wigwam when several people, me included, were DIYing front horn set ups, I didn't hear them all but those I did I liked. My mate Jim has oris horns with lowthers and they are very very good. Since I got my Zu's I've been the most settled for many years but then they work much like single driver speakers with a tweeter helper but the bass is way better.
As I've said before I like single driver speakers but couldn't live long term with their limitations.