Synergy

[YNWaN]

Essentially, I would second the comments made by Neil in posts 56 and 58.

[nat8808]

So, what you are saying Nat is that the shelf I put up a few years ago is subjectively straight and level therefore everyone who's criticised it for being wonky can go sling their collective (objective) hooks. I win...

No, cos 'straight and level' has a universal objective meaning so if you deliberately trying to make it straight and level then you were trying to objectively get the shelf to a stated measured standard but your 'tools' weren't good enough!

If you put it up that way cos you thought it was best, in looks perhaps, then that was your subjective decision and must be pleased with it !

The others didn't realise that it was a subjective art piece and were expecting the former. Wrongful expectation can lead to anger and so they should calm down and accept that it was their expectation of you that they got wrong.. it should only have been expected. Hopefully they are wiser now.

[nat8808]

In my view trial and error is a mugs game unless you have a bottomless wallet or an endless supply of equipment to play with for free.

Common sense, experience and watching specifications will stand most people in good stead.

I'd say the opposite is true.

When you go searching for specific equipment because you've concluded it should match well, you end up paying top prices because you don't want to spend years searching for a bargain to come up. You know what you want, so you go out to find it asap.

Buying things as and when they pop up at good prices means you never loose money. In fact, my hifi fund pool has only increased from buying things at (very) good prices when I can and selling on when I'm done at just average prices for the time.

My current integrated is excellent. I can't find any specs nor any mention of it anywhere... so I guess I shouldn't have bought it? My experience told me it was well made, a quality piece no matter if it matched any speakers I had or whether I did in fact like the sound. Had I tried to find anything out about it or ummed and ahhed over it, it would have gone and for even cheaper. I still have no idea about it, power output or anything!

There's excitement in discovery and needing to feel assured before making a choice is something to shake yourself out of IMHO (I'm still learning to myself before that sounds like I'm saying I'm on some kind of higher plain..).

P.S.

I guess I've forgotten about the synergy part.. If instant synergy is what you're after, just spend the cash and buy a whole system brand new from a good dealer. Then listen to your music - no need for forums or ever thinking about the gear ever again..

If you like the gear side too, then making mistakes and making discoveries is what it's all about - just make sure you're not in a position where you have to sell the last bit of kit in order to try the next. Keep as much as you can and sell on when you're at a good sticking point.

[synsei]

If you like the gear side too, then making mistakes and making discoveries is what it's all about - just make sure you're not in a position where you have to sell the last bit of kit in order to try the next. Keep as much as you can and sell on when you're at a good sticking point.

I have to say this approach has worked for me and for a fairly modest outlay to date