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One Super System or Several Mid-Fi?
- Thread starter oldflame
- Start date
bobins08
Celebrating Life
I have 3 systems. My finished basement has the main 2 channel system. I put the most dollars into it by a large margin and it’s a mix of old and new and pretty much everything is modded or custom to start with.
Having system in other rooms is a great thing if you can do it. My 2nd stereo is much smaller in scale and is in my home office. It is made up of cool looking and nicely performing vintage gear from the 70’s.
My 3rd is a 5.1 Home theatre with blue ray - it’s for iTV, movies, and music streaming in the main house.
So, I put a lot more into the main two channel stereo and others I’m less picky about but like a lot.
I feel very fortunate and grateful to be able to have this stuff.
Having system in other rooms is a great thing if you can do it. My 2nd stereo is much smaller in scale and is in my home office. It is made up of cool looking and nicely performing vintage gear from the 70’s.
My 3rd is a 5.1 Home theatre with blue ray - it’s for iTV, movies, and music streaming in the main house.
So, I put a lot more into the main two channel stereo and others I’m less picky about but like a lot.
I feel very fortunate and grateful to be able to have this stuff.
Brett a
~◦●○o0o○●◦~
Once I got my really good main system set up (in sig) I started/continued buying vintage stuff just to play around with and experience. (70's DD 'tables, Dual 3 speed 'tables, old receivers, old speakers, CD players, etc). Problem is, I really don't have need or space for more than one system, so what I have ended up with, after playing around with this stuff in the living room, is a "crapstack" of idle equipment that some day I think I might get around to selling.
I find I'm not really interested in having a "system" where I listen away from my main rig. The stock system in the car is good enough, the Sony boom box in the kitchen is quite excellent for what it is, and upstairs, I use a little bluetooth speaker next to the bed.
I find I'm not really interested in having a "system" where I listen away from my main rig. The stock system in the car is good enough, the Sony boom box in the kitchen is quite excellent for what it is, and upstairs, I use a little bluetooth speaker next to the bed.
www.records
Quality over Quantity
I am happy with just one good system. When I first got interested in seriously getting into this hobby, I brought lots of mutts home. I never look for gear anymore, I just listen to music when the mood hits. No fuss, no muss.
tanker 200
Super Member
I have one nicer main system (Sansui G-8700DB/khorns), a HT system (Yamaha A-1070, DQ-20's, 6 ADS 300's, Velodyne HGS-18), and several smaller systems around the house only because I come across a lot of free stuff. I bought the Sansui 40 years ago and the Yamaha a few years ago, but everything else were free finds. I've done some repairs, cartridge upgrades and refoaming but I think I only have around $1000 invested in everything in use. I have a lot of stuff to sell off that I don't think I'll ever use and hopefully that will fund a nice Mac amp.
Hawkeye83
Super Member
The struggle for me is always how much gear to have and how much to spend. I don't mind mid-fi, but I tend to aim for top of the line gear, or at least gear that was really expensive when new.
I realistically have 3 spaces to listen to music - downstairs living room (main system), upstairs living room, and office.
Also, I work from home, so I get more than 40 hours/week to listen to my gear.
And I also use the stuff in the two living rooms for TV and home theater...so my stuff gets a lot of use, typically!
Where I struggle is "stopping"...just having 3 systems and being done. I, like many here, like to experience a variety of sounds and a variety of gear. So I'm always looking for a good deal, or "the next thing."
Well, that has actually led to a lot of gear swapping, and getting rid of things I wish I still had, and "choice anxiety" (it all sounds good, so what to keep?!?!) It's almost made this hobby more stressful than fun.
One thing that helped is switching from separates to integrated amps w/DAC's built in. Less boxes, less temptation for upgrade-itis. Also less cables and clutter.
So, right now, I'm trying to pare down to just the 3 systems, and unload everything else. Just run with what I've got and be happy. I've got a few amps to get rid of, and 3 large pairs of speakers, and one pair of large empty speaker cabinets. I'm going to enjoy all of the gear while it's still in the house, but I won't miss it when it's gone. It's taking up too much space. I haven't been able to hang my guitars on the wall in over a year...or hang up the dart board (had to take it down because the speakers are in the way!)...and ideally I'd like to put in another bathroom where...you guessed it...I'm currently storing speakers.
So for me, it's 3 good systems...mid-fi or hi-fi...whatever I can afford...whatever is "good enough"...whatever I can be content with. No more hoarding and no more of the "choice anxiety."
Not saying I'll never start gear-swapping again or that I'd never go back to separates...I just want to take a break for a few years...focus on the music and other hobbies...and then re-visit.
I don't know if I've even answered the question, but for me, it's about having "just the right amount" of gear, for every space where it will realistically be used, and not a bit more.
I realistically have 3 spaces to listen to music - downstairs living room (main system), upstairs living room, and office.
Also, I work from home, so I get more than 40 hours/week to listen to my gear.
And I also use the stuff in the two living rooms for TV and home theater...so my stuff gets a lot of use, typically!
Where I struggle is "stopping"...just having 3 systems and being done. I, like many here, like to experience a variety of sounds and a variety of gear. So I'm always looking for a good deal, or "the next thing."
Well, that has actually led to a lot of gear swapping, and getting rid of things I wish I still had, and "choice anxiety" (it all sounds good, so what to keep?!?!) It's almost made this hobby more stressful than fun.
One thing that helped is switching from separates to integrated amps w/DAC's built in. Less boxes, less temptation for upgrade-itis. Also less cables and clutter.
So, right now, I'm trying to pare down to just the 3 systems, and unload everything else. Just run with what I've got and be happy. I've got a few amps to get rid of, and 3 large pairs of speakers, and one pair of large empty speaker cabinets. I'm going to enjoy all of the gear while it's still in the house, but I won't miss it when it's gone. It's taking up too much space. I haven't been able to hang my guitars on the wall in over a year...or hang up the dart board (had to take it down because the speakers are in the way!)...and ideally I'd like to put in another bathroom where...you guessed it...I'm currently storing speakers.
So for me, it's 3 good systems...mid-fi or hi-fi...whatever I can afford...whatever is "good enough"...whatever I can be content with. No more hoarding and no more of the "choice anxiety."
Not saying I'll never start gear-swapping again or that I'd never go back to separates...I just want to take a break for a few years...focus on the music and other hobbies...and then re-visit.
I don't know if I've even answered the question, but for me, it's about having "just the right amount" of gear, for every space where it will realistically be used, and not a bit more.
halkaloogie
The Jerk
I don't know if mine is considered mid-fi, hi-fi, or even lo-fi, but I have a main system that I tinker with and upgrade as things come my way. I also have a computer setup that is nothing to write home about but sounds fine and gets a fair bit of use. Other than that it's Bluetooth headphones off my phone while I work and the radio in my truck.
just dave
vintage rules!
I have a bunch of, I guess mid-fi gear.(8 receivers and 2 sets of separates) I think it sounds great,It's all connected to a switcher so I can listen to something different every day.There are a couple more pairs of speakers I'd like to get but nothing hi-end.Several guys have suggested I sell all my gear and get one hi end system.It might sound a little better but then no variety.What fun is that?
superdog
AK Member
You do what works for you.These people are not going to listen to what you have so don't worry.
Everyone has their own agenda.
quiet
Addicted Member
Long live the switcher.
grillebilly
Empty Head
It’s all relative. One persons dream could be another’s garage rig. Have your main system as good as possible within budget constraints.
I recently sold off some very pricey vintage receivers that didn’t cost me anything to help pay for a better system. I made the right call.
I recently sold off some very pricey vintage receivers that didn’t cost me anything to help pay for a better system. I made the right call.
I still say have 1 good system in your main listening area and have fun with the rest. You can do a LOT on a small budget with the other systems these days, either with very inexpensive gear, or selective vintage. As an example, in my kitchen I built a system with:
1. Lepai LP-2020TI amp $25 (hidden behind refrigerator)
2. Upgraded 12v-5a power supply for Lepai amp $10 (stock is only 12v 3a - not enough power)
3. Bose 161 used $60 (mounted under kitchen cabinets, not generally a Bose fan, but this was only small speaker with angled drivers for wider dispersion and they have very good sound quality compared to other small speakers I tried)
4. Theater Solutions 8" low profile subwoofer (only 4 3/4" high) : $120 (also hidden behind refrigerator, mounted on wall)
5. Old iPad (free -- too old/slow for regular use, but works as server for Pandora, TuneIn radio, and as TV through things like Xfinity Stream)
This system cost very little but sounds great -- really great. Totally hidden except for under-cabinet Bose and the iPad "head unit". My wife LOVES it. Next thing I'm going to do is add standalone tweeters ($3) to the rear of Bose and experiment with angles to expand the soundstage. That's the fun you can have experimenting with the non-serious systems.
This is the low-profile sub mounted on the wall behind the refrigerator:
1. Lepai LP-2020TI amp $25 (hidden behind refrigerator)
2. Upgraded 12v-5a power supply for Lepai amp $10 (stock is only 12v 3a - not enough power)
3. Bose 161 used $60 (mounted under kitchen cabinets, not generally a Bose fan, but this was only small speaker with angled drivers for wider dispersion and they have very good sound quality compared to other small speakers I tried)
4. Theater Solutions 8" low profile subwoofer (only 4 3/4" high) : $120 (also hidden behind refrigerator, mounted on wall)
5. Old iPad (free -- too old/slow for regular use, but works as server for Pandora, TuneIn radio, and as TV through things like Xfinity Stream)
This system cost very little but sounds great -- really great. Totally hidden except for under-cabinet Bose and the iPad "head unit". My wife LOVES it. Next thing I'm going to do is add standalone tweeters ($3) to the rear of Bose and experiment with angles to expand the soundstage. That's the fun you can have experimenting with the non-serious systems.
This is the low-profile sub mounted on the wall behind the refrigerator:
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Monad
Super Member
I ended up going multiple directions, with gear/ systems over the last few years>> <3
but then i picked up a pair of really nice monos, a few months back and it made a lot of the other gear seem less good.. to the extent that I don't want to listen to it anymore.
So that's when I decided to eat a Tide pod..
Wait no, that's not it at all. :|
>> It's when I decided to focus on 1 main system..
Recently, I upgraded speaker cables, tube sets, interconnects.. mostly great deals from AK'ers off BT..for some super reasonable prices.
The resulting SQ come up is awesome and I might not have made those purchases, if I hadn't decided to focus.
I'm not effing around w second system DAC, connects, components..Tide pods, any of that anymore and it's liberating.
Currently, I have 2 preamps, locked in a pitched battle for primacy. The outcome is shadowy. The only thing that is clear, is that the upcoming sell off will be epic and transformational.
but then i picked up a pair of really nice monos, a few months back and it made a lot of the other gear seem less good.. to the extent that I don't want to listen to it anymore.
So that's when I decided to eat a Tide pod..
Wait no, that's not it at all. :|
>> It's when I decided to focus on 1 main system..
Recently, I upgraded speaker cables, tube sets, interconnects.. mostly great deals from AK'ers off BT..for some super reasonable prices.
The resulting SQ come up is awesome and I might not have made those purchases, if I hadn't decided to focus.
I'm not effing around w second system DAC, connects, components..Tide pods, any of that anymore and it's liberating.
Currently, I have 2 preamps, locked in a pitched battle for primacy. The outcome is shadowy. The only thing that is clear, is that the upcoming sell off will be epic and transformational.
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toodletunes
Well-Known Member
I concur with so the many folks that have responded that this is so situation specific that there's no finite answer. In addition to our primary, higher end system (which has the two pair of speakers in the two rooms most frequently used for critical listening), we have three additional systems in other rooms/spaces. Just not crazy about the music being ambient, nor the 'zoned' thing. The three outrigger systems are more mid fi in nature, and quite satisfying.
A good example of how handy this can be occurred a few evenings ago. We were listening and enjoying some bevvies when a colleague of my wife's called, wanting to discuss a work matter. That conversation went well over a half hour, and by going into the record room and putting on something I'd thought of, I was able to listen at the level I chose while allowing my wife the ability to roam while conversing without the music interfering.
If it works for you, what else matters?
A good example of how handy this can be occurred a few evenings ago. We were listening and enjoying some bevvies when a colleague of my wife's called, wanting to discuss a work matter. That conversation went well over a half hour, and by going into the record room and putting on something I'd thought of, I was able to listen at the level I chose while allowing my wife the ability to roam while conversing without the music interfering.
If it works for you, what else matters?
Here's my take on the high end. The item in question is pushing the boundaries of what's possible, setting new standards for others to strive for. This usually comes with a hefty price tag, but price alone does not make a piece low, mid, or high end.