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  #21  
Old 02-19-2018, 04:26 PM
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ylee ylee is offline
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I love this thread because I'm afflicted with seeking the next upgrade and these thoughts go thru my head all the time. It's like customizing my motorcycle here and there each year or my cars/SUV/family van with something to increase their utility or capability. I do try to buy equipment from manufacturers who have a history of offering future upgrades as they update their product lines. Hence I chose the speakers, preamp, and DAC I have. But in other areas I do select the "giant killer" component with the hope that it will give me at least a couple years worth of enjoyment until I'm prepared to spend more. For example my current amp at $3k costs 1/5th of the monoblocks I'll take delivery of this summer, which by then I'll have had the current one for two years. Doing the math it's equivalent to keeping my upcoming amps for 10 years.

I have thought about waiting five or more years and then dropping a huge sum of money on a system once and for all. But that's like wolfing down a fine six course meal in a half hour! It's certainly the cheaper course to follow, but then my audiophilia nervosa wouldn't be satisfied and I'd seek a similar release with another hobby!
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Last edited by ylee; 02-19-2018 at 07:55 PM.
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  #22  
Old 02-19-2018, 04:36 PM
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SAPHANA SAPHANA is offline
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To me, the fun is in the process, not in the final result. And, I don't believe the "perfect" system exists. When you are there, you will have a new goal. It's an endless process, and that's where the fun is.

As long as my *current* goal is affordable to me, I won't worry too much about the financial impact.
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  #23  
Old 02-19-2018, 04:39 PM
Bar81 Bar81 is offline
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While the theory is fine in a perfect world, I don't see the proposal as being realistic in the real world.

The underlying assumptions in your theory are: (1) the person building the system will know what they want exactly, (2) the person has the knowledge/understanding to conduct proper research and (3) the information necessary to make all determinations is available.

All of the above assumptions have issues.

The first assumption is very unlikely since a person can practically only understand what they want (unless they are exceptionally lucky) by trying at least a couple of different recommended approaches to see which one they enjoy. It's only by experience that a person learns what they want - it might be the case that the person thought they wanted a relatively neutral system and then fell in love with tubes.

The second assumption is problematic in a similar way as the first assumption in that a person is likely to learn what is important and to learn to read into reviews and commentary based only upon experience with some of those same components being reviewed and in turn, then learns how to conduct research using the imperfect resources available to us.

The third assumption is particularly problematic in the case of speakers since their specifications tell one little about their performance. If a person is not lucky enough to have the speaker measured as part of a review, you're pretty much taking shots in the dark as to whether it's going to do what you want. I can tell you that having my speaker measured by Stereophile allowed me to easily discern the issues I was facing with my earlier amps and allowed me to make a very educated choice as to my new amps to get the performance I was looking for. Without having access to those measurements (and learning a lot about what those measurements mean) I don't know if I would be happy with my system, much less so satisfied that I'm effectively done.

Ultimately, that upgrade cost is money very well spent as it helps a person to better understand the gear and what they want and materially increases the odds that they will be happy with the system they finally put together.
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  #24  
Old 02-19-2018, 04:54 PM
nicoff nicoff is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bar81 View Post
While the theory is fine in a perfect world, I don't see the proposal as being realistic in the real world.

The underlying assumptions in your theory are: (1) the person building the system will know what they want exactly, (2) the person has the knowledge/understanding to conduct proper research and (3) the information necessary to make all determinations is available.

All of the above assumptions have issues.

Very good points.

Another variable to consider is time. Technology is always changing. What was SOTA 30 years ago is not SOTA today. Digital components, for example can become obsolete in a mere 5 years.
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  #25  
Old 02-19-2018, 07:54 PM
FRO FRO is offline
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Tell me about Digital components.
I cannot even sell my Esoteric D-02 at almost 70% off its Retail!
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  #26  
Old 02-19-2018, 07:58 PM
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One guy can put together a vintage, SOTA system of the day and be perfectly content - nothing wrong with that. Another guy has to have the latest of what he’s into at that time, and nothing wrong with that and some guys in between.

Maybe that’s our issue or even a common denominator, we as an audiophile will never be content - this is an absolute term, and really why should we?

In the end learn as much about where you want to go, what you are expecting to hear, when you hope to get there, how you will pay for it and who you believe can help accomplish your advancement without leaving you short.

Not really saying anything different then anyone else here -

Money is for nothing’ chicks for free
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  #27  
Old 02-19-2018, 08:45 PM
PHC1 PHC1 is offline
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Funny but I still recall exactly what I wanted for my first system. I already had my first mid-fi system consisting of Denon components and Polk Audio speakers. Nothing exciting but it was playing music.

The year was 1989 and I was in still in college (second time around after electronics school) working evening for an electronics company learning on the job and doing some mil-spec soldering of components for their government contracts. At that point I had already worked out in the field as a computer technician for a company that used to service RCA, GE, Campbell Soup, etc.. Good times. This was back in the day when I could bring a hard drive controller card back to the shop and repair it myself with a soldering iron and replacement parts. Can't do that these days.

I already had exposure to high end audio walking into the audio stores and just listening. So the frame of reference was already there between my Denon/Polk and stuff I was hearing at the audio stores. After numerous trips and auditioning sessions my dream system was an ARC Classic 60 tube amp with then the new ARC LS1 preamp and Thiel speakers... A very lofty dream that I could never afford. I decided I was going to piece it together and work my way up.

I settled for a preowned Counterpoint amp after selling the Denon for next to nothing. Then sold the Counterpoint and bought a McCormack DNA.5 amp. Then came the Audible Illusions preamp and finally the Polk speakers were replaced by a pair of Martin Logan SL-3. This took years.

In retrospect, I should have just saved up and waited a few years and could have purchased that system that I wanted since I was offered a very attractive package deal from a very nice old timer who was working the audio store then. Never did achieve that dream system although I have owned many ARC products later in life. Still, that desire for that first system is vivid in my memories to this day.

So, no it doesn't take a rocker scientist to figure out what good sound is or what one needs. No reason to over complicate this hobby. It's all relative anyways, a good system is a good system, if it sounds great to your ears, it is not the wrong choice.
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  #28  
Old 02-19-2018, 09:11 PM
PHC1 PHC1 is offline
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Can't find any pics but I also built my own pair of 2 way speakers after reading the Loudspeaker Design Cookbook cover to cover twice. It was very easy. Bought pre-built cabinets from MadiSound, designed my crossovers with the drivers I chose, put it all together and voila! Sounded pretty decent too. A friend of mine bought them from me as I was upgrading to ML speakers at the time. It's not difficult and I would recommend trying it for those with some basic electronics knowledge and basic soldering skills. Fun project.

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  #29  
Old 02-19-2018, 10:20 PM
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I would rather not dwell on either the economics or the justification for same. If I did I wouldn't spend another cent.
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  #30  
Old 02-20-2018, 01:25 AM
2fastdriving 2fastdriving is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2 View Post
I would rather not dwell on either the economics or the justification for same. If I did I wouldn't spend another cent.
This. Lol
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