After 25+ years, feeling discouraged and thinking of giving up the chase.

[Dr. Morbius]

I can't imagine not being happy with the Focal 807W speakers and all of that super nice hardware. :drool: I know you had some gloss white 826Ws on loan for a while too. And Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grands? Not happy with those either?

I would be grateful to be able to afford such tasty goodness. From my point of view your setup is beyond nice! :yes:

But I think you're missing my point. I'm tired of the chase. If I want to live with a room full of gear, I'd probably stay with what I have, or put the Vienna's back into service (I still have them). I'm thinking about clearing it all out and living without a room-dominating system. B/C honestly, I've never loved the way this stuff looks. It's presence in the room is something we all live with so I can have good sound. (I've made the best of the esthetics b/c I do have to look at it)

Then quit chasing. Your gear is fine. And your living room looks tasteful. Trust me, I've seen much worse. Every time I walk into my living room I see much worse.

About a year ago I went through something similar with my guitar playing (and hoarding). I'd spent a bunch of money trying to find what I wanted and when I finally found it I spent even more. But after 5 years of playing and still being a lousy guitarist I truly felt disgusted with all of it and put everything away. I was even at a point where I wanted to sell it all off.

However, here it is about a year later and my focus on audio gear acquisition is pretty much done and I've started playing guitar again a few weeks back. I'm rusty as Hell, but I'm having fun again. It does bug me that I don't have enough talent to be a decent player, but at least I'm having some fun.

To everyone who has tried to problem-solve my current system, I have two thoughts.

One is that I'm really tired of that process; the very act of trying to find satisfaction has worn me out.

The other is that in those 25+ years, I've tired many types of gear; I've had speakers of all types (cloth and metal tweeters, paper, Kevlar or aluminum cones, etc.), many different turntables, CD players, etc, etc.

I've also experimented with room treatments. As recently as today in fact. (I have a stash of ATS/Owens cornering panels on hand).

I didn't just wake up and feel this way. It's been long on my mind. I think it may be a matter of changing priorities and interests.

I wonder if I may just be done with all the concern with gear.

But I'm confronted with the reality of what that would be like as I think about what I would get rid of. The speakers, the amp and the power center can all go, so could the SACD player. But the Well Tempered? The Jolida phono stage? and I love my Rotel CD player.

One reason "the chase" can be so fatiguing is because it's a moving target. One can never truly arrive. It's just impossible on any budget.

I'd think about getting involved with some new hobbies, like teaching a cat to play piano or something like that.

 

[rockur]

My livingroom system is not much in use either.. about once or twice a week. On saturday night while watching a Blue ray movie. It's a 5.1 surround processor that drives 3 vintage 70s amp.
My main pleasure in audio, is experimenting... and experimenting about anything in music and audio components in my computer room. I drive here a system setup on my computer desk, at low volume and my "soul" is simply listening and in some way at the same time analysing how it plays.. in terms of sound. From one setup to another, I always discover new things, that could be better or worst, but different. Actually a Vector research VRX 3600R receiver. Probably a receiver that most here wouldn't have, being from the bpc era, but listening to it, I find a certain pleasure of judging it according to my personal audio sound taste, and versus the previous amp/receiver that was installed previously, a sansui 221 that I've gave to my son's room.
Volume is low, less then 5 watts and speakers (altec one) are close, less then a yard. Almost like a huge headphone. Of course those audio systems are bought used, often cheap, and being a former technician, I can fix them most of the time.
My point here to conclude, is that my real pleasure in listening to music have not being in the main system of the livingroom but from a small room corner,at low volume. This is where my connection to music and sound is really getting alive. I listen to radio, play vinyls (Thorens 145/ shure V15), and watch youtube rock shows
I've recently fixed a Grundig RTV-380U which isn't consider a hi-fi receiver. It will be next on test in this room.. to see if I like the sound of it on long term listening, or not. Again, it's sound experiment. A different discovery every time

 

[Br1ck]

You need one non fatiguing system which for me would be a tube amp or receiver and speakers you could listen to all day.

I lived with a Bose radio in my house for years, but have a detached office/ man cave. I just pared down to one system in my mind as an exercise and do believe I could live with that. Pretty good is good enough for me.

You must build a system that doesn't annoy you.

 

[Tom Brennan]

By the way Tom, welcome to Florida, St Augustine is a nice town, great weather and a few good places to eat.

The movers are coming Tuesday and we'll be in the new place late next week.

 

[JimPA]

By the way Tom, welcome to Florida, St Augustine is a nice town, great weather and a few good places to eat.

I am glad to see Tom back on the forum. :wave:

I listen to a lot of talk radio when working outdoors at my Christmas tree farm on a Sony Walkman.
I only do serious listening to music on my main system.
I listen to a lot of talk and news radio on my secondary system in the same room and some music on the Fm stations.

 

[Tom Brennan]

I am glad to see Tom back on the forum. :wave:

Thanks, you're too kind.

I've been online a lot lately because I'm all jazzed up waiting for the move and I'm unable to settle own and read a book, being online kills time easily. I have a bunch of books backed up and once I'm settled will probably be scarce around here again for a while.

 

[Frank Sol]

Many times I get less frustration therefore more pleasure from my 'lessor HiFi' stuff

I'm not going to get into name brands...

1. My expectations are lower

2. The nuances do not standout good or bad

3. System is smaller in size

4. The 'big bang for the small bucks' is gratifying

 

[Mister Pig]

I burned out on this hobby too - just got so tired of the chase for better and better, more specs, more positive reviews, more trips to the high-end stores, more chasing the good used stuff, more flavor of the month, more money.

When it got to the point where I didn't even listen to my system much anymore I stopped, boxed it up and focused on nothing but live music - anything and everything, as much as I could get to and afford which luckily near a big city like Toronto, was a lot. Even found I loved music that I had never even considered before.

After a few years, I stumbled on a shop where I heard a really good low-power SET system and I was back - big time. Whole different approach (with a lower price tag) but it brought way more of what I loved - the music I was enjoying - and way less of what I burned out on.

A paradigm shift that flat out worked for me and made this a fun hobby again - no turning back.

Starting with a clean slate is a good option. But perhaps it is time to look at a paradigm change. I was going to recommend the same thing, SET and high efficiency speakers gets to the heart and soul of music in a way that other systems do not...at least in my book. I have owned two amplifiers from the same company of around 8 years, they just satisfy over the long run.

If music is ingrained into you to the extent that you have been in this hobby for that long, its probably not going to be something you will be happy walking away from. But you do sound frustrated, perhaps with the gear, the sound, or something else in your life. Putting it away for a bit is one way to work through things. When away from a system for a bit, its amazing how it becomes that much more lovable when you get back to it. Everyone goes through phases of interest and then a loss of focus.

Honestly, I would really recommend you get a chance to listen to a SET based system, listen to a good pair of planar type speakers, perhaps single driver speakers. Make a decision on what type of presentation and system makes the music engaging and alive. Understand what "does it" for oyu, and then build a system for the long term. It may mean selling off everything except perhaps the Well Tempered. Then go without for awhile, and do the listening so you can find the beauty in music again. If you can't, then it perhaps would be time to hang it up.

But you know what they say, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over. Look at a fundamentally different way to building an audio system, and see what some of these "fanatics" ahve to offer.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[luddite]

It doesn't sound to me like you are so much saying you're tired of audio, or what you've got, so much as you're fed up with expending energy thinking about it. So don't do anything about the audio gear except stop thinking about it. If you're inclined to listen to some music, it's there.
Focus on another interest that might have taken a back seat for too long. You might find yourself energized again in another direction.

 

[Masterdraco]

maybe time for a really good quality tube headphone amp and decent set of headphones? you could box everything else up and forget about it for awhile and still listen to music just a thought. every time i get a system just the way i like it. it becomes a problem for one of my neighbors. i just sold off a pair of 18'' subwoofers to keep the city peace.

 

[shelly_d]

It is clear that the hunt has burned you out. Clearly you also don't want the large number of very different and busy looking boxes in the living room. From your desire to keep some of your components you still want to connect with the music, at least on an occasional basis.

Take the break you want. Feel no guilt about it. Even withdraw from this group for a while (though I confess I would miss that cute little kitty in your avitar.) Sell off the stuff you are not satisfied with, all of it. Put the money in a seperate bank account to later use. Live quietly for a while. Eventually you will find that either you don't miss it or you do. If you do miss it use the money you put aside to reenter the hobby. If you don't miss it, sell your remaining gear, take the money you set aside and what you get for the stuff you were holding on to and do something fun with it. (If you find having nothing is too far maybe get one of those nice sounding KLH table radios or something similar just for NPR or the news or whatever.)

Do yourself a mental and spritual break and decide what you want.

Good fortune whatever you decide.

Shelly_D

 

[JesusChrysler]

Stop thinking.

Find music you would like to hear.

Play it.

Enjoy it.

#*@! worrying about the gear.

My **** in my mancave would drive 98% of you guys crazy cuz it's not " right".

I don't care. It plays my music I want to hear. Period.

Perhaps you have lost sight of the end of your means.


(the music).



Matt

 

[BigElCat]

The hobby is drawing me in further than I had anticipated. I haven't hit a happy plateau stage, yet. I have my speakers restored, and about $400 worth of parts for my tube amp waiting.

I'm taking a hiatus from the audio equipment, at least long enough to winterize my house.

I do enjoy the music, though.

 

[JesusChrysler]

Botrytis: jinx!



Matt

 

[68custom]

maybe consider parking it all in a closet and see what you can put together for $100 or so. and focus more on the music?

 

[bluesky]

Personally...

I think I've come full circle. Tonight.

I really like, enjoy, and love the sound of my stereo system. Zero complaints. Everything is perfect...perfect for me. Everything was TOTL back in the day. Sounds nice!

I have 2 pair of 1970 Sansui SP-2000s (AlNiCo magnets). One pair sound 'really nice' and the NOS pair is in the closet in original boxes. The pair I'm using...I LIKE them! A lot! :yes: :thmbsp:

Anyway... I've been thinking about getting new speakers for 4 years or so, so...I've been doing a 'ton of research', mega hours of research really, on all kinds of speakers and reading threads, etc. It's all mindboggling.

I've always wanted a pair of vintage JBLs, ever since 1970. I've finished my research on JBLs tonight, about 30 minutes ago. I'm DIZZY. Really ' DIZZY '.

Then I saw THIS thread.

I like the way my SP-2000s sound. And it seems like so many folks don't like the sound of their stereo system and speakers. :scratch2:

So I think what I'm going to do is: restore my SP-2000s, which I really like, and ' totally enjoy ' in the first place...and it's done.

That's exactly what I'm going to do.

And even though my speakers capacitors are 43 years old, the speakers still sound fine! (I have no idea why???, but I'm really happy about that.) So there really is no hurry to even restore or repair anything.

 

[kevzep]

Maybe you need to use this 3 step process
1. open a beer (if you drink alcohol, otherwise your favorite drink).
2. sit down in your favorite chair.
3. turn on your favorite music and enjoy.

With this 3 step process you are guaranteed to enjoy things more.

The hunt gets tiring and I even though I picked up more equipment, I am finding more I like than not.

Be less analytical and just be in the moment!

Stop thinking.

Find music you would like to hear.

Play it.

Enjoy it.

#*@! worrying about the gear.

My **** in my mancave would drive 98% of you guys crazy cuz it's not " right".

I don't care. It plays my music I want to hear. Period.

Perhaps you have lost sight of the end of your means.


(the music).



Matt

Yeah, I agree with the sentiments here.....it seems there's a lot of talking about gear, it really is the music which is important here.

I have a nice system (or at least I think so), and i enjoy listening to music.....

I can get into my car and if a song comes on the radio I like, I will turn it up and enjoy it despite my car and car stereo is 14 years old....
It's the music which is important, and I think if you like the music, you will become less critical about your system.....

Listen to the music, not the system......

 

[audiodon]

I've got a SET amp with minimonitors and/or single-driver systems that gets used in my office system.
People raved about it at the summer Frankenfest.

You're welcome to drive up to Arlington to refresh your ears and talk things over anytime with someone who abandoned audio for 20 years.

 

[RamblinE]

How can OP make listening to music better fit into his lifestyle?

For me, I already live headphones but I found myself less and less wanting to be tethered to my desktop in order to listen to my favorite cans which need an amp.

Bought a portable headphone amp and the problem was solved. I can listen to music off my phone whether I'm doing the dishes or reading a book, on my best cans, and everything is right with the world.

How to factor enjoying music into your lifestyle is an angle I'd take in trying to figure out how to reignite the fire.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[zebra03]

It doesn't sound to me like you are so much saying you're tired of audio, or what you've got, so much as you're fed up with expending energy thinking about it. So don't do anything about the audio gear except stop thinking about it. If you're inclined to listen to some music, it's there.
Focus on another interest that might have taken a back seat for too long. You might find yourself energized again in another direction.

I like this response Luddite .