Ever had one of those 'Special' sessions

[RobbieGong]

After big changes to my system I managed to get a really good, uninterrupted session in. Oh! boy, I really don't know where to start. I actually went to post on Strokes of Genius but gave up as the words really wont relay or do it justice.
The combination of my newly acquired Sansui AU 919 integrated amplifier and Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil has literally left me astonished, gobsmacked almost emotional. I have never heard music come from my system like this before, just absolutely amazing. The insight into the music and each recording has had me literally tingling with the sensation of it all. I'm gonna stop there cause there's more tunes to play, but honestly, I'd call this one of those times when you genuinely feel so good and so good about what you love, which is this whole thing and above it all and ultimately the music !!! :)

[hifi_dave]

Had one of those sessions this afternoon. I was trying out the new EAR Acute 4 CD player into an EAR V12 amp and Harbeth SHL5+ speakers. I sat there with goosebumps and tears in my eyes listening to Simon and Garfunkel and Leonard Cohen. Magical.

[RobbieGong]

Had one of those sessions this afternoon. I was trying out the new EAR Acute 4 CD player into an EAR V12 amp and Harbeth SHL5+ speakers. I sat there with goosebumps and tears in my eyes listening to Simon and Garfunkel and Leonard Cohen. Magical.

Yes Dave :exactly:, Doesn't half make it all worth it. These moments are utterly priceless :)

[Barry]

Well done Robert,

Those occasions are infrequent but memorable when they do occur.

I think the last time I spent hours on end playing vinyl was when I re-auditioned my Decca cartridges. And for CD it was when I acquired a Studer-Revox C221 player.

[Pete The Cat]

Yes. Not often but you feel like you want to spend all day and night playing everything on the shelves. And you end up with a big stack of filing to do the day after which is quite satisfying :)

Pete

[Puffin]

Must be a Saturday thing. I had a great one today too.

[Audio Al]

:):cool:

[Macca]

I'm a bit concerned that some of you only have a session like that on rare occasions? It is pretty rare I don't have a session like that, usually down to something being wrong with the system (as opposed to me). If it all sounds fine I literally can't drag myself away and my system is nothing special in the scheme of things, believe me.

I mean isn't that the point of dumping all this money, time and effort into an audio system? Like owning a performance car it should put a smile on your face every time you drive it. If that isn't happening take it down the garage and get it mended!

[Jimbo]

I'm a bit concerned that some of you only have a session like that on rare occasions? It is pretty rare I don't have a session like that, usually down to something being wrong with the system (as opposed to me). If it all sounds fine I literally can't drag myself away and my system is nothing special in the scheme of things, believe me.

I mean isn't that the point of dumping all this money, time and effort into an audio system? Like owning a performance car it should put a smile on your face every time you drive it. If that isn't happening take it down the garage and get it mended!

Yep I get that special feeling every time I put my system on because there is always a piece of music that raises the emotion and that's what it's all about in the end!

[Floyddroid]

Had one of those sessions this afternoon. I was trying out the new EAR Acute 4 CD player into an EAR V12 amp and Harbeth SHL5+ speakers. I sat there with goosebumps and tears in my eyes listening to Simon and Garfunkel and Leonard Cohen. Magical.

Just a tad more expensive to Robert 's system don't yer think? However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and i am willing to bet Robert's system plays music rather nicely. I have no doubt that the Radlett Audio system sounds good it is well out of context in comparison being that you could buy a decent sports car for that kind of cash.

[Macca]

Yep I get that special feeling every time I put my system on because there is always a piece of music that raises the emotion and that's what it's all about in the end!

As long as the system isn't doing anything obviously 'wrong' then I'm happy and can listen for hours. otherwise my instinct is just to switch it off. Aside from the emotional response, which I suppose is down to the individual person and how they connect with the piece, there is also the physical thrill of playing good music at a volume and with a quality level that does it justice. A sorted system at any price level will do both of those things. Of course getting it sorted can be easier said than done.

[Idlewithnodrive]

I'm also at that very enviable state that most sessions bring a smile to my face. The only ones that don't are those when I'm not really in the mood to be listening anyway.

I think it has an awful lot to do with just being entirely happy with my system which, by the way, is also low rent, which I guess also adds just a dash of smug factor into the equation :)

[DSJR]

I'm deeply jealous of those here who can spend hours of 'me time' just listening to music. You're either single, not working much or luckily have VERY understanding partners who can afford to lose you into your hobby - most ladies don't like spending hours listening to music - or even like music I fear and mine hates practically everything I listen to as well.

Nah, I have to snatch short sessions for music when I'm alone and with no 'noise' or distractions around me. Sometimes it's on headphones, other times while I'm working. Strange thing is, I'm probably enjoying it more now because I'm not taking it all for granted as I once did.

[Dauntless]

I'm deeply jealous of those here who can spend hours of 'me time' just listening to music. You're either single, not working much or luckily have VERY understanding partners who can afford to lose you into your hobby - most ladies don't like spending hours listening to music - or even like music I fear and mine hates practically everything I listen to as well.

Nah, I have to snatch short sessions for music when I'm alone and with no 'noise' or distractions around me. Sometimes it's on headphones, other times while I'm working. Strange thing is, I'm probably enjoying it more now because I'm not taking it all for granted as I once did.

Mine hates The Yellowjackets, Ry Cooder and Freddie King and detests John Mayall! All is not lost because she likes Rakhmaninov and Ella Fitzgerald!

[Barry]

I'm a bit concerned that some of you only have a session like that on rare occasions? It is pretty rare I don't have a session like that, usually down to something being wrong with the system (as opposed to me). If it all sounds fine I literally can't drag myself away and my system is nothing special in the scheme of things, believe me.

I mean isn't that the point of dumping all this money, time and effort into an audio system? Like owning a performance car it should put a smile on your face every time you drive it. If that isn't happening take it down the garage and get it mended!

I suppose you could say I have a

[Marco]

........a what?

Has your computer run out of ink, or should we take turns at filling in the blanks? :D

Marco.

[struth]

I suppose you could say I have a

Life and lady:D

[Barry]

I'm a bit concerned that some of you only have a session like that on rare occasions? It is pretty rare I don't have a session like that, usually down to something being wrong with the system (as opposed to me). If it all sounds fine I literally can't drag myself away and my system is nothing special in the scheme of things, believe me.

I mean isn't that the point of dumping all this money, time and effort into an audio system? Like owning a performance car it should put a smile on your face every time you drive it. If that isn't happening take it down the garage and get it mended!

You could say that every time I use my system it brings a smile to my face. But the point of the OP was enjoying a "good uninterrupted" session, where as Pete says "you just want to play everything you have on the shelf". That is what I referred to, when after changing a component in your system you are so pleased and intrigued by the change, you literally spend hours and stay up half the night, playing record after record, or disc after disc to examine and investigate the improvement. Those occasions are comparatively rare.

Being fortunate to have retired early, I can say that when I am at home my system is often in use for ten to twelve hours a day, playing records, CDs or the radio (I watch comparatively little TV). I get enormous pleasure from my system, which whilst not immune from any further changes or upgrades, is in a state with which I am satisfied, happy and comfortable.

[Barry]

........a what?

Has your computer run out of ink, or should we take turns at filling in the blanks? :D

Marco.

Oops! I'm using my girlfriend's laptop, which seems to have life of its own. Either that or I'm no good using it. :o

[Firebottle]

Distracted evidently Barry ;)

Good show :D

[RobbieGong]

You could say that every time I use my system it brings a smile to my face. But the point of the OP was enjoying a "good uninterrupted" session, where as Pete says "you just want to play everything you have on the shelf". That is what I referred to, when after changing a component in your system you are so pleased and intrigued by the change, you literally spend hours and stay up half the night, playing record after record, or disc after disc to examine and investigate the improvement. Those occasions are comparatively rare.

Being fortunate to have retired early, I can say that when I am at home my system is often in use for ten to twelve hours a day, playing records, CDs or the radio (I watch comparatively little TV). I get enormous pleasure from my system, which whilst not immune from any further changes or upgrades, is in a state with which I am satisfied, happy and comfortable.

Spot on Barry. It's a been a long journey consisting of highs and lows, frustration and a lot of patience. Yesterday, I guess I was bathing in the joy of arriving where I've been trying to get to for a while now. The sweetness of the music was the evidence, the proof that I'd got to where I was going. Hearing things in my fave tunes that I thought I knew inside out, lifelike instrumental textures, insight into crackles in voices that I never knew where the case.... yeah it was and is just fab. This set up brings a big smile and tingles not to mention a bit of smugness that this is actually my system.... yeah, I'm proper chuffed :)

[Beobloke]

Sadly, the pace of life means I don't get a chance to really properly sit and just listen as often as I would like. However, last summer, I found myself at home after work on a Friday evening and, despite a list of DIY awaiting my attention and a huge pile of hi-fi repairs on the "to do" list, I decided a relaxing evening in the listening chair was called for. Mrs B had an urgent report to write and told me she'd be home about 8pm, so I decided to delay dinner until she arrived, cracked open a bottle of wine, cued up a record and settled down.

To cut a long story short, the good lady finally arrived home at 9:15 to find me, an empty bottle of wine and another one half finished beside me, with a big grin on my face telling her how amazing my system was. Her response was "I know - I could hear it outside and the front door was rattling in its frame". :D

She's away with work for three weeks from this afternoon - I don't think I have anything else planned for this Friday... :eyebrows:

[Marco]

Excellent... Did you remember to take off the dress your were prancing around in before she came home? :D :eyebrows:

Marco.

[struth]

The wife catching you in her best crinolin is a no no.:D

[RobbieGong]

Sadly, the pace of life means I don't get a chance to really properly sit and just listen as often as I would like. However, last summer, I found myself at home after work on a Friday evening and, despite a list of DIY awaiting my attention and a huge pile of hi-fi repairs on the "to do" list, I decided a relaxing evening in the listening chair was called for. Mrs B had an urgent report to write and told me she'd be home about 8pm, so I decided to delay dinner until she arrived, cracked open a bottle of wine, cued up a record and settled down.

To cut a long story short, the good lady finally arrived home at 9:15 to find me, an empty bottle of wine and another one half finished beside me, with a big grin on my face telling her how amazing my system was. Her response was "I know - I could hear it outside and the front door was rattling in its frame". :D

She's away with work for three weeks from this afternoon - I don't think I have anything else planned for this Friday... :eyebrows:

That's quality Adam, I can just hear the almighty 'hick!!' before you responded to her :lol:

[Havana]

Had one of those sessions this afternoon. I was trying out the new EAR Acute 4 CD player into an EAR V12 amp and Harbeth SHL5+ speakers. I sat there with goosebumps and tears in my eyes listening to Simon and Garfunkel and Leonard Cohen. Magical.

If only I had a spare £14K! :)

[hifi_dave]

I have just had another pleasurable session using the SHL5+ with a Croft Integrated and Rega Saturn-R. Most enjoyable listening to Dylan, Chicago Transit Authority and Bloomfield, Cooper, Stills Super Session. Took me right back to my long haired youth. Made even more pleasurable by the Sun shining through the windows..:smoking:

[Macca]

Glad you are feeling better and enjoying your music, Dave :)

[hifi_dave]

Glad you are feeling better and enjoying your music, Dave :)

Thank you.

It's been a catalogue of problems following on from the Achilles rupture. I had a double Pulmonary Embolism brought on by the Aircast boot, then a 7 week chest infection and now throat problems caused by the coughing. I've forgotten what it's like to be well but I have had a few nice days with the Sun shining, listening to music and having the Grandkids running me ragged. Onwards and upwards..:thumbsup:

[walpurgis]

Spring soon Dave. That'll put you right mate! :)

[hifi_dave]

It's a lovely crisp, sunny day here. I will have a short listening session this morning and do battle with the garden this afternoon. I need to top up my vitamin D.