What happens when you get too old?

[mikecole]

Interesting thread as I am going thru the same type of thing. I will be 65 next year and hopefully able to retire. We will be moving to smaller quarters and simplifying. I am already planning on retiring my main system and just living with a desktop system since I am usually on the computer when I listen to music anyway. I am searching for a single box that will do everything, but have not found anything quite yet. Currently I have all separates - Border Patrol DAC, Schiit Audio Magni 3 for headphone listening and my Croft Integrated feeding a tiny pair of Audience The One speakers. If I could replace all the boxes and cables, I would be a happy camper. I doubt a one box solution will ever sound as good as this, but I have found that when doing something else mildly occupying my attention (such as surfing the web), the music always sounds good. I am guessing that just listening to the music and forgetting about the sound of the music would make make having these separates a moot point. Not *completely* sure of that though :-) I may try out a Creek Evo100a since it has everything I would ever need and is small and simple. Stereo does not seem quite that important anymore, but at the same time I have a hard time erasing the last vestiges of audiophilia. My rational mind says let go, but the emotional side of me says NO. Oh well, I will see what happens when the time comes. Besides, having something nice and simple will be helpful as my mind deteriorates.

[struth]

Interesting thread as I am going thru the same type of thing. I will be 65 next year and hopefully able to retire. We will be moving to smaller quarters and simplifying. I am already planning on retiring my main system and just living with a desktop system since I am usually on the computer when I listen to music anyway. I am searching for a single box that will do everything, but have not found anything quite yet. Currently I have all separates - Border Patrol DAC, Schiit Audio Magni 3 for headphone listening and my Croft Integrated feeding a tiny pair of Audience The One speakers. If I could replace all the boxes and cables, I would be a happy camper. I doubt a one box solution will ever sound as good as this, but I have found that when doing something else mildly occupying my attention (such as surfing the web), the music always sounds good. I am guessing that just listening to the music and forgetting about the sound of the music would make make having these separates a moot point. Not *completely* sure of that though :-) I may try out a Creek Evo100a since it has everything I would ever need and is small and simple. Stereo does not seem quite that important anymore, but at the same time I have a hard time erasing the last vestiges of audiophilia. My rational mind says let go, but the emotional side of me says NO. Oh well, I will see what happens when the time comes. Besides, having something nice and simple will be helpful as my mind deteriorates.

Suppose a pair of Bluetooth active speakers from qacoustic and a dac/headphone amp connected to pc would be closest. Ive got both and have to say I could if I had to, happily survive with them

[Gordon Steadman]

My rational mind says let go, but the emotional side of me says NO. Oh well, I will see what happens when the time comes. Besides, having something nice and simple will be helpful as my mind deteriorates.

Ah yes indeed.

I too now listen mostly to the Mac. I have even dumped the external DAC and feed the amp - an old Rogers Ravensbrook - from the Mac's headphone socket. Although not so hi-fi, I feel more involved with the music in spite of the fact that it's still digits. Who knows why?

Letting go is the hard bit. After building up a nice collection of some of the things I lusted after as a young man, they are now sitting on a shelf unused. Every time I decide to sell them, part of me says "you'll regret it". Most of them still sit there! I've managed to lighten the load a little but quite how I will ever part with the Quad and Sugden stuff, especially the 57s, I'm not sure.

[paulf-2007]

I saw a programme with two guys base jumping in Switzerland. All you need to do is copy them, but without the parachute. Cheap enough.

Sounds like a plan. Enjoy the drop.

[struth]

Sounds like a plan. Enjoy the drop.

yeah and you can be buried in a magnaplaner

[hifi_dave]

Letting go is the hard bit. After building up a nice collection of some of the things I lusted after as a young man, they are now sitting on a shelf unused. Every time I decide to sell them, part of me says "you'll regret it". Most of them still sit there! I've managed to lighten the load a little but quite how I will ever part with the Quad and Sugden stuff, especially the 57s, I'm not sure.

I had a loft, literally full, with vintage Hi-Fi. The past two years I managed to offload most of the stuff I had no real interest in but I still have a huge amount of stuff to move on. I have kept gear I used to own and gear I lusted after and could never afford, back in the day - Quad 33/303, 22/II, Radford STA15, Radford monos, 301, 401, TD124, G99, various SME 3009 and 3012, Revox G36, F36, McIntosh tuners etc, etc. I can't let go..

[walpurgis]

I had a loft, literally full, with vintage Hi-Fi

So did I. All gone now apart from a boxed Pioneer turntable that I've not even seen for about ten years. PL-15R if I recall.

[hifinutt]

Interesting thread as I am going thru the same type of thing. I will be 65 next year and hopefully able to retire. We will be moving to smaller quarters and simplifying. I am already planning on retiring my main system and just living with a desktop system since I am usually on the computer when I listen to music anyway. I am searching for a single box that will do everything, but have not found anything quite yet. Currently I have all separates - Border Patrol DAC, Schiit Audio Magni 3 for headphone listening and my Croft Integrated feeding a tiny pair of Audience The One speakers. If I could replace all the boxes and cables, I would be a happy camper. I doubt a one box solution will ever sound as good as this, but I have found that when doing something else mildly occupying my attention (such as surfing the web), the music always sounds good. I am guessing that just listening to the music and forgetting about the sound of the music would make make having these separates a moot point. Not *completely* sure of that though :-) I may try out a Creek Evo100a since it has everything I would ever need and is small and simple. Stereo does not seem quite that important anymore, but at the same time I have a hard time erasing the last vestiges of audiophilia. My rational mind says let go, but the emotional side of me says NO. Oh well, I will see what happens when the time comes. Besides, having something nice and simple will be helpful as my mind deteriorates.

mmm at 65 you potentially have till over 100 so might be a very very long time till your mind deteriotes !!

[Sherwood]

Although it is not quite the one box solution I can strongly recommend this. It is effectively a DAC and amp in one box. Very compact and runs cold so easy to place.

https://theartofsound.net/forum/show...hlight=nuforce

Surprisingly powerful too.

Geoff

[mikecole]

mmm at 65 you potentially have till over 100 so might be a very very long time till your mind deteriotes !!

At the rate I am forgetting crap, I will be virtually mindless by the time I am 80 - and ready for that trip to Switzerland ... if I remember to go