I’ve Learned To Be Content......

[Jim Creek]

.....with what I have.

No more spliting hairs with that better cartridge, or that better phono preamp, or that better tube, or that better speaker....

Better IPA, better wine, better ganja makes everything sound better.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Excellent. Once we get to that point of diminishing returns, unless the upgrade is cheap enough it is beyond the need to make it happen. This doesn't stop the hunt, but it sure decreases the need to move something in for an upgrade.

Some folks might actually take all those savings from not upgrading (changing) and use it for more software or better streaming.

 

[GerardG]

I find myself in the same situation. I've not done upgrades or changes than rotate the cartridges and styli I have for quite some time. My entire set up has been done over the years on the cheap. I began to find the few fairly costly changes I did make made very little change for the dollars spent. For me, and I am only speaking for me, such began to look like a rabbit hole I did not want to fall into.

I enjoy my music, enjoy the three stereo systems I have set up and like the three main tables I spin my vinyl on. On these I rotate various Shure, Empire, Pickering, and Acutex carts. I further rotate various styli I've purchased on these. I've found myself content with what I have and what I hear.

I've even slowed my buying of tapes, records and CDs to a crawl. Having a 1000 records and at least as many tapes of various formats not to mention over 300 CDs I discovered myself looking for but not finding much old or new that interests. Love looking though and am happy when I see something that is of interest.

Having other interests is a help here as well. I find I have so much I want to do that my time is taken. I like that. Already quite ill and recovering from major surgery another sobering event that gave great pause and much self-reflection was my nearly being killed in a very, very serious car crash in October this past year.

I'm still recovering from that on top of recovery and dealing with several other chronic health concerns. I will for quite some time I suspect. For my purposes here it made me think even more and I realized in more than an abstraction how fragile existence is and to appreciate what I have and what I need/want to do each day.

I come to AK once a week or so and binge read topics and posts of interest to me. And, as the OP said I've learned to be content about it all. In so far as ganja is concerned though I'm allergic.

Gerard

 

[Djcoolray]

It’s funny, fact is so many follow others down the same rabbit hole and find themselves eventually in the same place. The quest for increased sonic quality when each component complements the assembly as a whole. But truthfully, I think there are some that are just chasing their tails and not seeing the bigger picture. Like everyone has a different idea of what they want without knowing what they want like a search that has no direction. Then you start to wonder if the only stream you should be messing with should be the one you pull fish out of. Like what my grandfather said that couldn’t be bothered with stereo equipment, what he said when I bought an AR system cheap....”boy, where is all that stuff going to get you” ?? The answer is nothing but a good time....and when we are old we have nothing better to do and that’s the reality of it !!!

 

[bobins08]

I get what the OP is saying. I just walked away from a very clean Denon DP 1250 with Grace 707 tonearm and a Denon DL 300 moving coil this past week. The price was right too. Why?

The DP 1250 is nice but I have a Kenwood 500 that I don’t use. I grade them as similar direct drives.

The Grace 707 is nice but I have a SME 3009 series II with fluid damper that I’m not using. Similar again and both require high compliance carts, not I direction I plan on going in.

The Denon 300 is nice but I have a 301 mk II which is better.

A few years ago I would have bought it to try it out, play with it, compare it and maybe sell it or my comparable equipment. Leaving me with more stuff in storage and no improvement to my main system.

I decided to keep the money and invest it in making my main system better. For that I have a plan.

 

[Ken Boyd]

To be content is a personal choice, and for others who enjoy finding new paths and making upgrades shouldn't be something that others concern themselves with.

 

[GerardG]

To be content is a personal choice, and for others who enjoy finding new paths and making upgrades shouldn't be something that others concern themselves with.

You are so right, Ken. It is a personal choice. Those that keep looking, find new paths, and make upgrades are engaged in this crazy hobby of ours in a wonderful way. Whether ones does so or not is something no one else should concern themselves about. I enjoy reading about those that do upgrade and smile and nod when they say they have found something new, more enjoyable and that they either appreciate music more or state they feel closer to whatever they feel audio nirvana is. Its all about what we want as individuals. We should and do respect those that feel differently. That's what its all about.

Gerard

 

[fredjones]

. . . Better IPA, better wine, better ganja makes everything sound better.

I agree, I find that my state of mind at this point has the greatest effect on how I enjoy my music now. I have several good amps, phono pres, cartridges and styli
They all sound good. The biggest variable now is usually me. And I don't rely on drugs or alcohol anymore (I'm allergic to the stuff), so it's just me and the music.

 

[Joel66]

My income has taught me to be content therefore, I upgrade vicariously through others here.
Seriously, I enjoyed my "lowly" AT3600/AT91 cartridge but felt I "needed" to upgrade. Instead of spending $75-$150 that I couldn't honestly afford, I went with a $30 stylus upgrade. I can happily say I'm glad I took that step. The sound has certainly improved. I know that I'm headed for the "rabbit hole" but, I'm taking baby steps. I've learned a lot from many members here and I'm very grateful for that.

As for the supplements, I've never found a wine that I liked. I stick with Coors light (only because I can't get Lone Star without driving 7 hours). I can't partake of the ganja without a semi-automatic table

 

[illini]

.....with what I have.

Jim, I'm trying to get to where you are right now.

But I love discovering new gear and how it can reproduce music.

And we begged you to get the 1200 instead of the Traveler.

Regards.

 

[Jim Creek]

Jim, I'm trying to get to where you are right now.

But I love discovering new gear and how it can reproduce music.

And we begged you to get the 1200 instead of the Traveler.

Regards.

New gear is addictive. The problem is that the thrilling feeling of new gear only lasts a short time. I’m off that treadmill. Enjoy your journey.

 

[sberger]

I like to try different flavors, but I stopped trying to throw dollars away at new stuff looking for even better sound years ago. And I only buy old stuff.

No more drinking or drugging for me, but new music and new records is what gives me my buzz these days.

 

[Powertech]

I only shell out money if I can see a valid return for it. I'm not into fancy cables or anything like that and I ignore sales blurb. I also try to read between the lines with regard to equipment reviews. If there is a logical reason to upgrade something then I will do it. Most of my equipment has been modified to some extent. Not by buying gimmicks though. A couple of examples: My active crossovers have new very quiet power supplies I built into them because that was going to make a big difference to them. I have completely rebuilt and upgraded the suspension system on my record deck, increased the static mass of the chassis and improved resonant damping of the whole thing. It all cost very little, but it makes a big difference.
The end game for me is to try and do justice to the musicians and recording guys that created the music, give it the best platform I can and then sit back and enjoy it.

 

[dwaller131]

Agree with the OP. I've been down that rabbit hole, buying what I thought would be 'better' gear, only to find out that I couldn't tell a difference, or the difference from what I already had wasn't what I wanted. Plus, expect for my turntable ( a Harman Kardon T45c with a Precept PC220 cart), every piece I presently have has some sort of sentimental attachment to it. I like to think of a very dear friend while listening to my stereo; he gave me his KLH Model Fifty Two about 15 years ago (he bought it brand new in 1974), about 7 years before he passed away). He told me stories about bringing it home and how his friend's had told him, at the time, that he had wasted his money. And how the place where he bought it from said that because he was into jazz that THIS was the right receiver for him. I have "replaced it" many times over the past 6 years or so, only to always go back to it. It sounds very good, not as good as some other pieces I've had (a Sansui 6060 comes to mind), but I really didn't care about that Sansui (or the others) the way I do the KLH.

 

[jeanmarie]

Allergic to ganja! !! What a DRAG!!!!

 

[4-2-7]

Better IPA, better wine, better ganja makes everything sound better.

And is very limiting in what one can do and achieve in life.

 

[bimasta]

better ganja makes everything sound better.

Once we get to that point of diminishing returns, unless the upgrade is cheap enough...

Better ganja is hardly a "cheap" upgrade...unless you grow. Not suggesting, just sayin'...

I wish I could grow Koetsus....

 

[TomInTacoma]

I'm content - but always have my eyes and ears open for '...the next better thing...' While I'm not actively planning on upgrades, sometimes something falls into my lap that actually makes my set up sound better. Recently that happened when a fresh looking Adcom HC/E moving coil cartridge and stylus came into the shop on a donor machine. I tried it and was impressed - Presto! - upgrade!

Sometimes we get too wrapped up in a minuscule details and the 'science' (my quote) of listening to music that we instead listen to the hardware that produces the music. I don't want that for me.

 

[GerardG]

Allergic to ganja! !! What a DRAG!!!!

Its ok, really as it made me violently sick to my stomach. Horrid feeling that way for hours. Even a few of the prescription opioids I was given had nasty sides to them. Oxy gave me terrible...no... crippling headaches. Good news is there were non-opioid, non painkilling options to help. Music helps as much as anything though as its relaxing.

 

[ghamilton]

I am content with my SOTA SAPPHIRE with Sumiko FT-3 arm. I'm content with my recapped Sansui AU-919. I am content with my Vandersteen model one speakers in a mid-sized room (12x14). I am content with my Shure V15 type 3 with a JICO NEO SAS stylus.