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JPNut
07-12-2013, 09:26
Hi chaps,
I've had an interest in this hi fi malarkey for quite a few years now, in fact for nearly 3 decades when I come to think about it. Unfortunately that doesn't mean I've had or heard masses of interesting gear. It's rather been one man's puzzled wanderings through probably thousands of reviews in magazines and more lately online wondering whether there was any equipment out there (costing less than a small house) which would sound even vaguely like live music. Over the years I have of course managed to hear a fair amount of stuff at dealers, shows and friends' houses but nothing I've heard has made me suspend belief sufficiently to make me think I was there with the performers. I have begun to wonder whether such exists but then I've never heard an electrostatic speaker, high res streaming or assorted other kit that may be the way to audio nirvana.
My musical tastes have changed a little over the course of those decades. I was 17 when The Sex Pistols played at Lanchester Polytechnic in Coventry, and I was there. At the poly visiting a friend that is, but sadly not at the gig because in those days I thought prog rock was just great, man, and what was this new crap? Certainly nothing I wanted to hear. 12 months later I wouldn't have been seen at a Rick Wakeman gig for all the tea in China. Cutting a long story short these days I'd much prefer a late Beethoven quartet, a Mahler symphony or Shelly Manne and his men. Yes, I do like a bit of jazz, I played tenor sax in a big band for a few years.
My current system is a bit of a mullet, to put it mildly. I have a Resolution Audio Opus 21 CD player, Prima Luna 3/5 amps and speakers that date back to the start of my hi fi journey, Linn Indexes. I got rid of some Kef Reference speakers when we moved house 3 years ago as they wouldn't have worked in what was a relatively small room but now we've moved again and I have a large space to fill once more. I'm at a point in my life where I really don't want to be buying new gear so I don't want to waste dealers' time which in turn means I am now baffled as to what I should be looking at, or more accurately listening to. I do like ribbon tweeters when well done, this I know, but if anyone out there has any suggestions I would be very interested to hear what they have to say.
If you've got this far, thanks for reading these ramblings.
Paul

jollyfix
07-12-2013, 10:27
Hi Paul. welcome to AOS.

stiarno
08-12-2013, 15:26
Hi Paul,
I had exactly the same problem in that if you're not buying new then how on earth do you get to audition lots of different gear? Everyone says listen to as many speakers as you can and have a home demo but you can't do it if you're buying secondhand. With speakers I looked at the reviews and eventually bought a pair of Mordaunt Short Performance 6 secondhand, which have been the most realistic speaker that I've ever heard and am delighted with but I'm sure other people would have other (probably more expensive) favourites. Otherwise you could have a look at one of the larger secondhand dealers like the Emporium in Norfolk who would be pleased to demo some of their exotic gear.
Regards

keiths
08-12-2013, 15:47
Hi Paul - welcome to AoS :wave:

Great introductory post - hope you enjoy it here.

JPNut
08-12-2013, 19:28
Thanks for the welcome everyone. And I'd completely forgotten about those Mordaunt-Shorts, Christian, they look very interesting (even if there's no ribbon in sight). I'll keep my eyes out for them.

pjdowns
09-12-2013, 17:53
Hey Paul and welcome from another Paul :)

MartinT
10-12-2013, 08:18
Hi Paul and welcome to AoS. It's good to embrace all kinds of music and I am as happy at a Wakeman gig as at a Mahler concert!