I've Obtained Audio Nirvana

[Early B.]

That's right -- I'm done (almost).

This is the first time in the (very brief) history of my 2-channel system that I've felt I have "arrived." In other words, I'm totally satisfied with the sound of my system. It sounds better than I ever imagined it could in my room. There's nothing in any audio store I've heard that sounds as good, regardless of brand name or price.

Seven lessons learned thus far --

1. Ya gotta tweak it.

2. Ya gotta mod it.

3. Ya gotta conduct extensive research on gear and demo lots of gear, cables, etc. in your room.

4. Ya gotta know what you want. It takes lots of time and lots of gear to determine that.

5. Ya gotta try stuff that is a radical departure from the traditional, including off brand gear.

6. Ya gotta learn a little bit about the technical implications of what you're doing. It's partly how you achieve synergy.

7. Ya gotta be patient and stick to your budget.


BTW -- I'm totally satisfied with my HT system, too.

[dorokusai]

I've heard that statement before :D

[shack]

That's right -- I'm done (almost).

This is the first time in the (very brief) history of my 2-channel system that I've felt I have "arrived." In other words, I'm totally satisfied with the sound of my system. It sounds better than I ever imagined it could in my room. There's nothing in any audio store I've heard that sounds as good, regardless of brand name or price.

"This too shall pass."

[tonyb]

Yeah...wait till Early gets some loose change in
his pocket......:)

[mulveling]

Congrats! It's great to hear when research and dedication pay off. I've also learned in the last 2 years just how horrible a 2ch system can sound if you do any of the following (pretty similar to your findings):
1) select components purely on hype, marketing, or a high price tag rather than careful evaluation. Also problematic - throwing together a whole new system of components before you've heard anything. You need a good baseline, something you can build upon.
2) plop the speakers down just anywhere, on anything, with no regard to optimal placement or floor decoupling. small things make BIG differences here.
3) ignore (or severely underestimate) room acoustics & acoustics issues in general. again, small things do big things here.
4) picking the wrong speakers for your sonic preferences is also a ticket straight to audio hell. I learned that I like warm, lush, musical, euphonic. anything too analytical, cold, bright, hard, edgy, lean - will not get listened to. I could care less what's more truthful as long as it's sweet to my ears. I could care less about sounding exactly like a live event - most venues sound like crap anyways.

For me, also, I spent too much time obessessing over relatively small differences/tweaks when I shoulda been paying attention to the big things above. If you're not happy and the things you're trying are making only minor differences - try something else, do something drastic.

[Ricardo]

Good to hear you're enjoying your system. I don't see a preamp in your signature; are you using the passive?

I am also very happy with what I have, but it seems every time I say "I'm there", that statement clicks something in my brain that itches, itches....and I end up changing something. ;)

[Refefer]

Isn't Denial one of the 5 steps of grief? ;)

[Early B.]

Gee, some of you guys don't have a lot of confidence in me.:p

I said it and I'm gonna stick to it, dammit!!;)

[Early B.]

Good to hear you're enjoying your system. I don't see a preamp in your signature; are you using the passive?

Yeah, it's a passive pre. Sig has been revised. Thanks.

[ND13]

I've got this SUPER SECRET piece of gear that'll change your mind on being satisfied.;)

Congrats on being content.

[Early B.]

4) picking the wrong speakers for your sonic preferences is also a ticket straight to audio hell. I learned that I like warm, lush, musical, euphonic. anything too analytical, cold, bright, hard, edgy, lean - will not get listened to. I could care less what's more truthful as long as it's sweet to my ears. I could care less about sounding exactly like a live event - most venues sound like crap anyways.

Here's another approach -- don't pick gear based on sonic preferences. The only thing that matters is truth -- it's what your ears are accustomed to hearing, and no matter how much we deny it, the true audiophile in all of us wants to hear the truth. Truth in music is when it sounds like the performance is right there in your living room. If that means "live" to some people, then that's the way it should sound.

Some of us pick gear that works well on some kinds of music and not so good on others. If the music itself is cold, hard, bright, etc., then that's how the gear should convey. In other words, the gear should be independent of the sound; it should only produce the music as it is, and not add its own "signature sound."

[pearsall001]

Yo Early!! Good for you bro! Now pinch yourself & wake up from that silly dream!!! LOL!! :) :D PS- It 'ain't over till the fat lady sings, & she's just warming up!

[Early B.]

PS- It 'ain't over till the fat lady sings, & she's just warming up!

Well, that's what I'm tryin' to tell ya -- the fat lady sounds great! She's kinda cute, too.

[george daniel]

Gee, some of you guys don't have a lot of confidence in me.:p

I said it and I'm gonna stick to it, dammit!!;)

I give him 30 days,,,,,tops :D

[janmike]

Congrats Early. I hope it lasts. Then again, I keep saying that myself. Enjoy.

[Joey_V]

Early,

I said that before too.. but it never happens or lasts for too long. Always, there are improvements to bring us closer to that intangible idea of being "there".

However, I will congratulate you in this epiphany of yours... not many of us even have the guts to proclaim that.

Joey

[cfrizz]

Congrats Early! It sounds like you put a lot of work into this, so sit back & enjoy!

I hope you are able to keep your commitment of being through & enjoy your audio nirvana.

[haimoc]

The habit is to say "I am done", then turn back to look for something more, later.. Congratulations, Early B.

[rskarvan]

Early, I agree.... a good system must speak the truth.

[RuSsMaN]

If I had a nickel......

[Joey_V]

If I had a nickel......

... I'd be rich.

[pblanc]

Now you need to work on a system for the john.

[Early B.]

Just wanted to add one more thing ---

When speaking to some of the audio veterans out there, each of them invariably says the same thing -- "I wish I hadn't sold "so-and-so" because it was the best setup I ever had." And year after year they keep making changes in their gear. There's nothing wrong with that. Hell, it's fun. But at some point I'd like to settle on a system and just enjoy the music.

Ideally, I'd love to have a true "reference" system, plus a second system where I roll gear in and out just for the mere pleasure of it. The funds ain't there for that right now, but hopefully someday soon I could do that.

[RuSsMaN]

Dude, you've got a reference system, period.

I have a few regrets, but it's all fun. For instance, I sold my Spendor 1/2's to pay for some Sonus Faber Concerto. After about a week with the new speakers, I had that thought come over me 'what the fv(k did I do?'.

That was almost 2 years ago, about 4 months ago I bought a pair of Spendor SP1's - the model prior to the 1/2. Guess who's happy again?

I didn't have a reason in the world to sell my SRS 2's. I loved them, they sounded great. There's a small group of members that got to hear that setup - and every single one of them said it was by far, hands down, THE best SDA demo they have heard. Hell, I haven't had that rig for over a year, and they STILL talk about it. Why did I roll them out? I had 'em for a couple years, it was time to try something else. No more, no less. (and time for someone else to experience SDA - turned out to be fellow Polkie jcaut).

I get to that point about once or twice a year 'I just want to ronco this rig, and LISTEN'. In audio and life, I believe that a person that doesn't change is headed down the wrong road - no road at all. Change is growth, and experience - and experiencing gear is a part of this hobby I really enjoy. Then again, the old addage - if it aint broke........

Cheers,
Russ

[mulveling]

Here's another approach -- don't pick gear based on sonic preferences. The only thing that matters is truth -- it's what your ears are accustomed to hearing, and no matter how much we deny it, the true audiophile in all of us wants to hear the truth. Truth in music is when it sounds like the performance is right there in your living room. If that means "live" to some people, then that's the way it should sound.

Some of us pick gear that works well on some kinds of music and not so good on others. If the music itself is cold, hard, bright, etc., then that's how the gear should convey. In other words, the gear should be independent of the sound; it should only produce the music as it is, and not add its own "signature sound."

I can partially agree with that - I want my hifi to extract as much as possible from the recording in regards to detail & dynamics. I don't want it to gloss over or smooth out anything. I *definitely* don't want a system to impart its own grit, grain, or muck. It should be clear, comparing two systems, when one is lacking in these regards.

However, when it comes to overall tonal balance - who's to say whether a recording is supposed to sound cold, bright, warm, neutral, etc? The music goes through a bunch of junk before it gets on the CD, and you can't just look at the bits to determine whether it's cold or warm. How do we judge the truth here? So, I don't worry about what might be the truth here - I pick what's more natural, more "musical" to my ears. And 9 times out of 10, that's the speakers/headphones that most people describe as warm, organic, lush, etc.

[pblanc]

Agreed. In stereo, as in life, there is no such thing as absolute truth. Audiophiles who pursue absolute truth in their equipment sort of resemble religious fanatics who know they have the absolute right answers to everything.

[Early B.]

How do we judge the truth here?

You'll know it when you hear it.


QUESTION: How do you know the truth of anything?
ANSWER: There's a part of you that already knows.

(Just a little Monday morning philsophy for ya.);)

[madmax]

That's right -- I'm done (almost).

This is the first time in the (very brief) history of my 2-channel system that I've felt I have "arrived." In other words, I'm totally satisfied with the sound of my system.

BTW -- I'm totally satisfied with my HT system, too.

Uh huh... Sure. Good one, you almost had me. :D

[Deadof_knight]

Part of the fun is doing it all, in order to get yourself to the proposed Finished stage.

[george daniel]

Only 23 days to go until you beat the odds,,,I'll bet that you are experiencing some minor symptoms now,, don't worry,,it'll get worse as the days go by :) :D :D
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