Do you miss those days?

[organ]

You know, the days when your system was nothing compared to what it is now, and you'd spend so much time on little tweaks trying to maximize performance? Or getting really juiced because you just got yourself a new receiver. I miss the cheaper upgrades and tweaks I used to do.
As the rig gets better, tweaks begin to cost more and more:(.

[organ]

Oops, forgot to mention. It was the days when you first discovered new things like pro-logic, AC-3 (DD), proper 2ch set up and all those audio stuff. You're first set of seperates, or first dedicated cd player. Being so juiced up opening up that new component from the box, and then smelling the air as it opens. Adrenalline pumping. It was so much fun!

[cfrizz]

No I don't miss those days, because I tweek once, set it, forget it & sit back & enjoy it!

Some people are their own worse enemy.

[Keiko]

No I don't miss those days, because I tweek once, set it, forget it & sit back & enjoy it!

Some people are their own worse enemy.

You could take Ronco to a whole new level Ms. c.

Set it, forget it, sit back & enjoy it. :D

[cfrizz]

:d:d:d rotflmao!!! :d:d:d



you could take ronco to a whole new level ms. C.

set it, forget it, sit back & enjoy it. :d

[Danny Tse]

I am still living those simple days....

Still trying to set up my cheapie 2 channel system with the bare essentials. No expensive components (although all brand-new).....just maximizing what I already have.

[organ]

Danny,
That's cool. I'm trying to bring back those simple days. I'm thinking about doing the same thing with a pair of cheap entry level PSB or Paradigm bookshelfs. It's a lot of fun.

Cathy,
It's not really being your own worst enemy, I mean, when the gear you buy begin to get expensive, you want to make sure you're getting the best you possible can.
I don't think anyone would Ronco a pair of B&W's and Rotel seperates.

[candyliquor35m]

I'm happy with what I have. I may try a different tube pre- ($500) about once a year.

[cfrizz]

Well if you get the best that your money can buy, which is what you should do. Why can't you just sit back and enjoy it?

Tweeking is simply an excuse to find something wrong in a perfectly good system to give said tweeker an excuse to go spend even more money on something else.

Then moan & groan about missing those good old days!;):p:D


Cathy, It's not really being your own worst enemy, I mean, when the gear you buy begin to get expensive, you want to make sure you're getting the best you possible can.
I don't think anyone would Ronco a pair of B&W's and Rotel seperates.

[SolidSqual]

I'm in the process of tweaking again and measuring distances betweek the speakers and listening position. I don't miss this shit.

[Rivrrat]

I remember getting a Technics cassete deck because it had DBX, which I thought was far better than Dolby. Or, upgrading my TT cartridge was always a cool one too.

Getting my first Sony cd player in 85 was pretty cool. I paid 500 bucks for it because Stereo Review said that's about as low as they'd get. :confused:

My latest upgrade was a sub, and I haven't really enjoyed trying to get it dialed in. I must be getting old.

[lakesailor]

Actually the old days involved dual mono amps; a pre-amp, a phono pre-amp, dual cassette decks, an equalizer, a dbx noise reduction unit for those tape decks, an 8 track player, a turntable; a mixer for making tapes, an equalizer….it was insane. At night the whole room would glow and be lit up like a Christmas tree. I think the power company misses those days more than I do.

I do remember thinking it was pretty cool back in the day though. ‘Remember 45’s ?????

[lakesailor]

I remember getting a Technics cassete deck because it had DBX, which I thought was far better than Dolby. Or, upgrading my TT cartridge was always a cool one too.

Getting my first Sony cd player in 85 was pretty cool. I paid 500 bucks for it because Stereo Review said that's about as low as they'd get. :confused:

My latest upgrade was a sub, and I haven't really enjoyed trying to get it dialed in. I must be getting old.



I remember paying $ 1500 just to own a Pioneer PDM-6 the world’s first 6 disc CD player. That was like owning Pfizer stock in those days.

[Keiko]

I do remember thinking it was pretty cool back in the day though. ‘Remember 45’s ?????
I still have a big ole stack of em'. :o

I also got a TT, dual well cassette deck and 10 band EQ incorporated into my rig.
I know, most gear heads say, an EQ does more harm than good, but for me it adds to my enjoyment. I'm a freq bender. :)

[vonnie123]

cable tweeks, one at a time, been there done that.....there's always an improvement to be made.

[ntculenuff]

Some people are their own worse enemy.

this would be me. I'm always thinking i mught be able to get a little more by trying this or that. But if it wasn't for that mind set i wouldn't be where i am today with my car and home stuff :p

[Danny Tse]

Danny,
That's cool. I'm trying to bring back those simple days. I'm thinking about doing the same thing with a pair of cheap entry level PSB or Paradigm bookshelfs. It's a lot of fun.

I believe I started a thread here a long time ago about this....but I get more satisfaction out of assembling a good sounding, but inexpensive system. My current system is basically a Cambridge Audio integrated amp ($250.00 new from Audio Advisor), a $100.00 Sony DVD/SACD/CD player, and a pair of Energy Connoisseur C-3 bookshelf speakers. I may plug in my cheapie turntable ($100.00 Technics belt-drive turntable), but that's about it. Cost me less than $850.00 to assemble the whole thing including cables and stands. Certainly not the best but I get good sound for not a lot of $$$. Spend the rest of my money on music.

[Keiko]

I believe I started a thread here a long time ago about this....but I get more satisfaction out of assembling a good sounding, but inexpensive system. My current system is basically a Cambridge Audio integrated amp ($250.00 new from Audio Advisor), a $100.00 Sony DVD/SACD/CD player, and a pair of Energy Connoisseur C-3 bookshelf speakers. I may plug in my cheapie turntable ($100.00 Technics belt-drive turntable), but that's about it. Cost me less than $850.00 to assemble the whole thing including cables and stands. Certainly not the best but I get good sound for not a lot of $$$. Spend the rest of my money on music.
+1 Danny...Might not own the highest end of gear. But it is the best simply because I/we enjoy it and invest most of the $ on the music. :)

[Ern Dog]

As the rig gets better, tweaks begin to cost more and more:(.


That is true, but dang my rig sounds good these days. It is so worth it to me. I'm planning to upgrade my preamp next and I'm hoping to get a Modwright SWL 9.0 to replace my $300 entry level tube preamp. It's so fun getting new gear.

[snow]

You know when you reach the point that pretty much everything you play sounds good and you tell yourself im happy with what I have, sure there may be better out there but this sounds so good I dont want to upgrade you are in a good spot, and then you decide to upgrade because you read somewhere that something else sounds so much better than what you have.

I miss the days that the system sounded so good because the upgrade and new tweaks sound like ass now compared to what it did and it wasnt an upgrade in sound.

My one and only piece of advice if your reach the point where you are truly happy with the sound you have is this dont get rid of anything till you try the new item/s out and make certain it is truly an upgrade, just because some reviewer said somewhere this new item is better than what you currently have doesnt make it so, and it may not have the same synergy with the rest of your components.

You can spend so much time and money on new toys that you miss whats really important, the whole reason for doing this, the listening too and enjoyment of the music and or movies.




REGARDS SNOW

[Keiko]

I'm happy with my set up. :)

The only thing I want are more classic rock SACD titles released. Is that too much to ask for Sony? Dag nabbitt. :p

[cfrizz]

That's what we are ALL waiting for Mike!

Great post Snow.:)


I'm happy with my set up. :)

The only thing I want are more classic rock SACD titles released. Is that too much to ask for Sony? Dag nabbitt. :p

[Early B.]

My one and only piece of advice if your reach the point where you are truly happy with the sound you have is this dont get rid of anything till you try the new item/s out and make certain it is truly an upgrade, just because some reviewer said somewhere this new item is better than what you currently have doesnt make it so, and it may not have the same synergy with the rest of your components.

For many audiophiles, the improvement in sound is secondary. Let's be honest -- it's the thrill of the hunt that gets the adrenaline pumping. It's like pursuing a woman... once the deed is done and the thrill is gone, it's time to go on the prowl again (if you're single:p).

Everything that's good has a tension and a release of tension. For instance, many people love horror, action, and suspense films for this reason. Audiophiles, like most other hobbyists, enjoy the "catch and release" phenomenon. We do things, not for the end goal (i.e., the best sound), because in audio, there's no such reality. Instead, we're content with perpetual experimentation, not ultimate gratification.

[djreef]

I remember getting a Technics cassete deck because it had DBX, which I thought was far better than Dolby. Or, upgrading my TT cartridge was always a cool one too.

Getting my first Sony cd player in 85 was pretty cool. I paid 500 bucks for it because Stereo Review said that's about as low as they'd get. :confused:

My latest upgrade was a sub, and I haven't really enjoyed trying to get it dialed in. I must be getting old.

That's because DBX was better than dolby. By leaps. Any NR system that could produce a 95db signal to noise ratio should've been a slam dunk for the record industry. Unfortunately, DBX couldn't get the studios, and labels to play along, so prerecorded cassettes were all produced with the dolby system and their unrealized HX Pro propoganda. Yea, I'm bitter.

DJ

[shadowofnight]

Being so juiced up opening up that new component from the box, and then smelling the air as it opens.

Funny how something so trivial....that has absolutely nothing to do with the performance of the product....is really one of the coolest things when buying a new component.

My other favorite new component ritual is popping the hood open and looking inside ( And taking pictures ) before ever even plugging it in.

That way I can look at the pics while listening , and see what I am going to mod after the new wears off ;)