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Searching for the stereo holy grail

Dave1027

Dave1027

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
That's what this hobby always seemed to me. But I've always done it pretty much within reason, trying to keep my expenditures to a decent level. The last couple of decades I have tried every trick in the book to do pursuit very much on the cheap. I did not like my speakers so I modded them to sound the way I thought they should. I could have simply ditched them and bought others. I did the same with my sub. This has made it more interesting kept me in the pursuit.

But what exactly are we pursuing? Did you ever finish an upgrade and then sit back, listened and said to yourself, "Here it is, I have attained that which I was seeking." How long did that proclamation last? How did you know you were there? When listening what did you feel? Did you get to the point where the music was so realistic that your mind became confused wondering if you truly were sitting in your listening room or actually somewhere else? Did you reach an alpha state of relaxation?

These are just some thoughts I have always wondered about. You may now return to your regularly scheduled program. :music:
 
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It's a long strange trip.
I have recently become very pleased with my system to the point where I am not compelled to make changes.
This is a new feeling.
I still buy equipment I haven't heard before but I'm not expecting those things to stay very long where as before I was hoping they would be the answer.

The weird part is you just switch from hardware to software.
Hi resolution music can be just amazing.

Getting back into quality vinyl is also keeping me occupied.
Somewhere in this massive snowstorm is a truck with 900 vintage Jazz records
headed my way.

So don't worry, you wont lose the hobby when you reach nirvana.
Enjoy the journey.
 
I think it does not exist. A cruel legend indeed. ;)

Like a mirage you see it from afar but as you approach it, it disappears, only to reappear in another place or again further away.
 
This is a great question. I think it's dangerous to be too much of a perfectionist with audio. Better and worse is really subjective and it's easy to become obsessive, neurotic and start chasing your tail and wasting a lot of time, money and energy.
I think it's important to be able to turn those urges off though, and just enjoy the music through whatever your sytem happens to be. I think a large majority of us AK members have systems that sound more than "good enough" to enjoy if we let ourselves.
Audio reproduction is always going to be an artificial facsimile of reality. To try to make it more than ruins what it does have to offer,...for me.
 
Ever striving for a spiritual plateau, or realizing that there is no perfection as long as the human factor plays a part, so developing a sense of,"Thats pretty good."?
Personally have a long way to go for the first, feeling closer to the latter. I cant imagine ever being completely done, but Ive done alright with what Ive had to work with, and unless theres an unexpected explosion of some kind, the emergencies are all done, the rest is just keeping an eye out for the occaisonal affordable upgrade.
That being what it is, Im very happy with the conglomeration that Ive ended up with. the core pieces are great, its just some of the sources that could afford to change around.
 
I guess I am not excessive/compulsive about what I am missing. I don't have the top line of anything, but what I have is better than anything I have had in the past. I just enjoy the music and it just sounds good to me. :music:
 
sometimes i wish i could sit back and say yep i am finally there! but like yourself and apparently others my audio journey has been a budget one and although i have come across some killer speaker and equipment deals and inherited some fine speakers from my father in law, i still find myself wanting more but as this is my main hobby its the quest that keeps me interested, don't get me wrong i am able to appreciate and enjoy what i have but it doesn't stop me from wanting more from my system.
 
I think we each have our own individual favorite brands and types of equipment. Not long ago I finally came across a really nice old AR integrated amp. I love the old AR stuff. Old Fisher tube amps and Dual turntables are two favorites.
 
I'm there right now I think?And I'll keep telling myself that until the next time!.....:)
 
I tell myself that "I'm DONE!" all the time.. until I hear or see the next greatest deal. I don't think that anything will ever be perfect, there's always something out there that will be just a little bit better or more rare..etc.
 
The "Holy Grail" of audio is in direct proportion to the size of my bank account. Or lack thereof... :D
 
Every time I say that I am done, something different comes along. I keep "looking" and I never seem to find anything. I'm "looking," only to prevent me from buying something new.
 
"Somewhere in this massive snowstorm is a truck with 900 vintage Jazz records headed my way."

Nice.
Enjoy.
 
Felvis said:
"Somewhere in this massive snowstorm is a truck with 900 vintage Jazz records headed my way."

Nice.
Enjoy.
Click to expand...

Thank you!
It's the lifetime collection of a super audiophile who started collecting in 1953 and passed away last year.
I literally have no idea what's in the dozen boxes.
 
Right now I am listening to a classical station I could not receive in the past, but thanks to my new Sony HD Tuner it is coming in as clear as a bell. My speakers in my study are a pair of radio Shack Nova 8's and I'm powering them with a $100 stereo receiver (Sherwood RX-4109). If I change from the Sherwood to a Cambridge Audio Azur 350A integrated amp I could have the amp and tuner on a narrow shelf and open up a bookshelf for more books. The sound might be better, but I don't think it will be a major change because the sound is really beautiful to me as it is.

I think I've reached my nirvana , oh gosh, a violin concerto is playing right now and it is taking my breath away! Sorry for the interruption. OK, gotta run, I HAVE to just listen to this!:music:
 
I have seen too many audio fans fall victim to the "holy grail syndrome' to the extent where they are unable to enjoy the music.
I have found a combination which is fatigue free.....that is the key fatigue free.
 
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