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Semi-mythical “End-game system”?

Inscrutable

Inscrutable

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Curious who among us has achieved this seemingly mythical achievement of independence?
How did your path get you there now?
I’m about to turn 70, and think I have done that with my main system. Not quite sure or there with what pieces I want in my vintage rotation.
 
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I don't know about end-game, but the system in my signature was put together new in the last 4 years, and there's nothing I feel any need to change. If better speakers fell into my lap, cool! But, I can live, and be happy, with what I've got, and that was kinda the point....
 
I would have to buy a house before trying to go for any system like that. I live in an apartment and am quite content with the stuff that I have right now. Although I keep looking for a Technics SU-V707.
 
End game — turn the thing on, listen to it, and don't worry about it.

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I'm very happy with what I have.

But I have done some playing around lately with a DSP and a couple of Fosi V3 amps. Experimenting with bi-amping. And most recently I replaced my speakers with a pair that I built.

The only thing that keeps me from endless experimenting and trying new gear is the harsh reality of economics.

So I do not now nor will I ever have an "end game" system.
 
RVT1K said:
I'm very happy with what I have.

But I have done some playing around lately with a DSP and a couple of Fosi V3 amps. Experimenting with bi-amping. And most recently I replaced my speakers with a pair that I built.

The only thing that keeps me from endless experimenting and trying new gear is the harsh reality of economics.

So I do not now nor will I ever have an "end game" system.
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Curious only. What is it about the amps that makes you want to change? Is it the sound or a search for something even better?

I used to change amps a lot, until I finally convinced myself that I wasn't really improving anything. But that's just me.

Thanks!
 
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I guess it depends on how you define that mythical achievement. I’ve already achieved a far higher level of performance than I ever thought would be within my grasp, and I recognize that any further improvement would cost far more than I would consider it to be worth. I might change something because it breaks or for my own convenience, but I’m done chasing “better” sound.
 
I spent a lot of years experimenting and changing out gear … sometimes for better sound, sometimes just to hear something different, sometimes exploring a different style/tech (like my foray into SET and single drivers and horns). With those experiences, the last 5 years or so made a conscious decision to buy a piece at a time that I could say it should be the last one of those I will buy. I did keep enough variety (2 very different speakers and 2 very different amps) to satisfy the urge to switch things up a bit. That’s the way I see “end game” … end of a very long game.
 
Mr Boochie said:
What was your conclusion to the single-ended experience?

Thanks!
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I enjoyed their sound … the body and palpability … but didn’t think I would be happy long term with the speakers they required.
But great for a change of pace. My best pairing was the Don Garber Fi-X 2A3 with Cain & Cain Abby

My Cary amp will do 50wpc in triode mode, so I still get a taste of that.
 
Inscrutable said:
I enjoyed their sound … the body and palpability … but didn’t think I would be happy long term with the speakers they required.
But great for a change of pace. My best pairing was the Don Garber Fi-X 2A3 with Cain & Cain Abby

My Cary amp will do 50wpc in triode mode, so I still get a taste of that.
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Thanks for the reply. Single-ended is something I never tried in Hi-Fi. Though I have several SE guitar amps and have built a couple. The overdrive and harmonics are sweet with these simple amps.

SEs with less feedback constraints and other complications, the tubes make all the difference in the world. Vive la difference!

:thumbsup:
 
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Mr Boochie said:
Curious only. What is it about the amps that makes you want to change? Is it the sound or a search for something even better?

I used to change amps a lot, until I finally convinced myself that I wasn't really improving anything. But that's just me.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Nothing more than a desire to try different things.
I was bi-amping with two Adcom GFA555 II's and felt the Fosi's were inexpensive enough to give a try. I kept the Adcom on the bottom end and tried the Fosi on the top. But, like you, I didn't really feel that there was an improvement. But I did have fun.
 
I honestly don't even think much about it. I've really enjoyed putting together the system I have; trying out various things, buying and selling until I got something that I'm really happy with. For the most part, even with my pretty modest collection of gear, I feel like I'm there so I'm not thinking so much of "endgame." When I'm sitting in the sweet spot, playing a well recorded album, I feel like I'm more or less hearing what I want out of it. I don't really have any friends that are really rabid hi-fi folks (at least none much more so than myself) so I don't have an opportunity to hear anything much more high end than what I've got... which might be fun, but even if it were noticeably better than what I've got, I don't think that it would trigger much gear lust for me at this point. I feel like at this point, I would need to spend significantly more than what I have thus far to get real improvements and/or treat the room, which I'm not likely to do... so "endgame" is really what I've got right now!
 
RVT1K said:
Nothing more than a desire to try different things.
I was bi-amping with two Adcom GFA555 II's and felt the Fosi's were inexpensive enough to give a try. I kept the Adcom on the bottom end and tried the Fosi on the top. But, like you, I didn't really feel that there was an improvement. But I did have fun.
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Thanks for the reply!
 
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