a simple rule I always follow.....

If we don't listen and learn about better gear how will we know what to look for in the thrift stores in a few years?
 
cool9 said:
Speakers that expensive are usually speakers that musicians like Rush, Elton John or Metallica are playing through at Madison Square Garden. They don't belong in my bedroom.
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No, not really. I'd like to have a pair of Revel Ultima Salon or Salon 2. They're far from concert/pa type speakers and cost in the vicinity of $20K per pair, new. I won't be buying new, of course, unless I win the lottery...
 
jdwk said:
I was thinking about a pair of speakers I'd like to hear, and I would probably pass on hearing them because they cost about 20k and thats WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY beyond what I could afford:


1.never listen to a piece of gear you cant afford to buy.
2. try your best not to buy gear that weigh's more than you do.


have you got any rules like this? yeah the title is now a typo cause there are two rules: :)
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Perfect rules to stay with outdated entry-level plastic gear that will never satisfy you!
;-)

"dolph"
 
Boy, if everyone followed Rule Number 1, there'd be about three people going to AK Fest.

I like to listen to expensive speakers for two reasons:
  • To hear what's possible (or what all the fuss is about)
  • To get a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of my own system
Re the second point, above: I've come home from some listening sessions on some pretty expensive gear and found that I'm often what I would consider to be between 85% and 95% of the way there. Given what I paid for my system, I'm pretty dang happy with that.

Eking out that last little bit of performance is where the law of diminishing returns really starts to take over.
 
Personally, I have always enjoyed hearing 6-figure "dream systems" at the Audio Salons I know and visit. There's nothing wrong with searching for that "absolute sound" in a hobby we all enjoy. I compare it to my watch collecting hobby. I have a few watches in the mid four-figure range, but enjoy seeing and handling Swiss Tourbillons and other $150K+ pieces, even if I will never be able to buy one.

On the high side, our "audio memory" is a lot less retentive than our sighted memory. After listening to a system that costs more than your house, once you settle into a nice listening session with your own beloved system and music, you will most likely still be happy with what you have and continue the never-ending quest for what we all can afford to "tweak" our equipment.

Goldwing
 
Rule #1 : Never believe at face value anyone who tries to sell you high end audio.
Rule #2 : It's only worth it if (a) it's a consumable or (b) it's not going to depreciate (much.)
 
jdwk said:
once again in a way only you can, you make assumptions and turn everything into negativity.
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+1

I have some lightweight gear here that has a plastic chassis. A NAP (Phillips) CDB650 CD player that is amazing to listen to. I have had it since 1990 or so and have taken care of it. The unit is right in my main system and does nothing to take away from the sound quality. It was rated TOTL by Audio when it was introduced. Nobody was concerned it was not heavy and it left us wanting more CD's to listen to. :yes:
 
I listen to six-figure systems fairly regularly. I enjoy it, not least because almost always, I come home to a system that sounds amazingly close or even better (usually I'd say different: better in some respects, perhaps not as good in others, but definitely competitive), but cost me a fraction of what those did.

The one system I heard some years ago that really did "spoil" me for a while is one that I'd have some reservations about hearing again, for that reason. I know it is head and shoulders above the usual "high end" stuff. (That system was built around IRS Vs.) But I'll go to the high-end audio show here, at which many of the world's most expensive audiophile manufacturers demo their newest and best gear, without fear. I know it won't "spoil" my enjoyment of my own system.

Plus, as others have noted, listening to good stuff educates your ears, so to speak. You become a more discriminating listener, when you listen more to various high-end systems. That is not a bad thing when you are trying to improve your own system.



As for rules, I think I have one predominant one right now: I don't buy any gear, unless it is a clear upgrade to what I have already (which is getting harder and harder to do, as time passes and my system improves), or something really unusual and "special", that I really love. No more accumulating vintage mid-fi stuff. :no: Now I'm much more likely to plan a purchase, save up for it, and pounce when the deal comes along.

That brings me to another rule: I don't pay above market price, and never pay the high "eBay" type of prices for things. My goal is to AT LEAST break even, if I ever resell, even though most of the gear I now buy I don't intend to sell (at least not any time soon). Actually, I'd probably be willing to break this rule for the "right" item, but I can't think of what such an item would be.

I weigh more than 200 pounds. There aren't too many units that weigh more than me (mostly speakers), but if I were lucky enough to find a good deal on a good unit that heavy that I wanted, I'd just hire someone to help me bring it home. I hire a van driver, anyway, and I'd hire a moving company to help move a big sofa, piano, heavy appliances, etc.. so what real difference does it make? I wouldn't be able to grab the stereo and save it in the event of a fire, anyway, right?
 
niklasthedol said:
Perfect rules to stay with outdated entry-level plastic gear that will never satisfy you!
;-)

"dolph"
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jdwk said:
once again in a way only you can, you make assumptions and turn everything into negativity.
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niklasthedol said:
As usually with you, you can only contribute with boring and useless personal attacks.

"dolph"
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OK, in the words of Rodney King, can't we all just get along?

I think I see Dolph's point, and it isn't excessively negative. We all started in audio with something, and chances are, it wasn't something very good. And at some point, each of us heard some stereo system, perhaps out of our price range, that we aspired to own. By the OP's rule #1, when the speaker driver (yes, driver, it was a 1 way speaker) on my POC fake vinyl woodwrap Soundesign blew up from my blasting Zeppelin, Aerosmith and Sabbath at full volume, given the fact that I was a 14 year old kid without a job, I shouldn't have bothered to listen to even the affordable hi fi brands of the day like Sony, Technics and Pioneer. I should have set my sites on another Soundesign, or maybe Lloyds, because that was all I could afford. But I got a summer paper route, and saved my money up. It took over a year before I got the money together to buy a decent stereo, but I did. I suspect everybody has a similar story as to how they got into audio as a hobby.
 
Huh.. and to think my #2 rule is: Make sure I have to bring a dolly to get it in the truck with..
 
similost said:
Huh.. and to think my #2 rule is: Make sure I have to bring a dolly to get it in the truck with..
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Great.... Now I'm gonna be singin' that goofy Police song from Outlandos D'Amour (in case you're wondering, I'm talking about "Be My Girl - Sally" ).
:D
 
niklasthedol said:
As usually with you, you can only contribute with boring and useless personal attacks.

"dolph"
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that was not a personal attack, you have a tone about you that many others here do not have, if I were attacking you it would sound alot different than this. Besides your statement is basicly false because if you think about it, everyones budget is different, some people can afford most any piece of gear, so rule number one would in fact only keep you with "entry level gear that will never satisfy you" (read= your stuff isn't as good as MY stuff because you dont own the same class of equipment I do" ) if you dont have much of a budget. for those who have more money wouldnt be "held back" so........ whats your point?
 
jdwk said:
that was not a personal attack, you have a tone about you that many others here do not have, if I were attacking you it would sound alot different than this. Besides your statement is basicly false because if you think about it, everyones budget is different, some people can afford most any piece of gear, so rule number one would in fact only keep you with "entry level gear that will never satisfy you" (read= your stuff isn't as good as MY stuff because you dont own the same class of equipment I do" ) if you dont have much of a budget. for those who have more money wouldnt be "held back" so........ whats your point?
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You're pretty naive if you think I will continue communicating with your kind of issue guys............

My point is understandable for the chosen.
;-)

"dolph"
 
On subject:

Nope I can't live by that rule. I have heard three inspiring systems in my time in audio (40+ Years), two at VSAC. First was Jim Smith's Avant Garde system in his home. That was incredible. Then the Electron Luv system at VSAC 2003. This ranks as the best I have ever heard.

Second to that is Jeff's system using Goto drivers and horns from Experience The Sound at VSAC 2008.

Hearing these are inspiring. Sometimes depressing when I get home but inspiring.
 
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