AS Seasoned Audiophiles, What Have You Learned?
- Thread starter Bill Hart
- Start date
Here are some of the things I have learned:
- Most Audio gear is ordinary
- Just because something is more expensive does not mean it is better
- Just because something is newer does not mean it is better
- Just because something is old does not mean its inferior
- Setup is at least as important as the gear
- The room is the most critical component
- it takes hundreds (even thousands) of right decisions to create a great illusion and just one bad one to destroy it
- there are lots of different approaches that each have their merits (e.g. tubes/SS, CD/streaming/vinyl, direct radiators/horns)
- don't waste time arguing with people on audio forums.
- Most Audio gear is ordinary
- Just because something is more expensive does not mean it is better
- Just because something is newer does not mean it is better
- Just because something is old does not mean its inferior
- Setup is at least as important as the gear
- The room is the most critical component
- it takes hundreds (even thousands) of right decisions to create a great illusion and just one bad one to destroy it
- there are lots of different approaches that each have their merits (e.g. tubes/SS, CD/streaming/vinyl, direct radiators/horns)
- don't waste time arguing with people on audio forums.
We regret to inform you that you have failed the * Audiophile HiFi Dealer entrance examination 001 *
That it's a hobby, so there's effort that goes into getting it just right.
Also, if you have a good enough turntable and arm, most cartridges sound really good.
And finally, everything is tone controls.
Also, if you have a good enough turntable and arm, most cartridges sound really good.
And finally, everything is tone controls.
I agree with this. However, In addition to fine-tuning for tone, dynamics and resolution need to be right for a convincing presentation. And I think those depend on other factors.
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I have heard the Mirrorphonics sound great at Munich, heard two sets of Bionors with Lamm and Kondo, and heard some Altecs, custom other horns with vintage drivers, etc. Vintage is to be respected. Drivers are great, crossovers and cabinets can be modded.
As to what I have learned:
1. If I could I would redo the search using the right records, i.e. listening points. However I understand this is not possible because you find records along the journey, so to find records you have to have spent a considerable time in your search already.
2. You mention big horns. And others mention big cones and panels. Yet, there is a lot of magic in small speakers, and simple set ups, that get out of the way of the recording better. They have less extensions and weight and all that, but by interacting less with the room and getting out of the way, suspension of disbelief can be better with the right records. Of course, if someone has big speakers that can get out of the way, that is ideal.
3. Price is way more complex than just the retail tag.
4. There are many sub hobbies. Cables, SS amps, SET amps, speakers, footers, analog, servers, dacs, etc. It is fine to indulge in different ones at different times. Personally for me, my hopefully final sub hobby is low watt amps. That will take a while though.
5. Understand your own purchase behavior. There is a big disconnect on how people listen, what they think, what they buy, how they justify. The sooner you understand what makes you tick and the people you talk to tick on these fronts, the better.
6. There is a big social element to this hobby. Whether meeting physically or virtually. So with 4, 5, and 6, when someone says I am just here for the music, he is either a. noob, b. lying to himself c. very advanced that he has been through all the subhobbies and extremely old.
7. Most people underdrive their speakers, some overdrive
8. 95% of the speakers I have heard are oversized for the room. I think it probably happens that an audiophile starts small, then keeps upgrading, then makes a jump to some big budget desirable he has lusted for as a small guy, and there he crosses the size line
9. Purchasing to announce on the forum is the biggest mistake, As the highs last for a few months then you need to make another big purchase to stay relevant
10. Don't lock yourself in upgrades. I would stay away from items where you stay locked in. It is just not worth it with the choices around
11. Videos are a great way to share knowledge.
12. On every other thing in life - food, work, sports, gym, diets, I have been able to share constructively. But in Audio it is almost impossible to be constructive without hurting the other person no matter how open he claims to be.
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Steve williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Reviews should be treated as no more than a starting point.
Some reviewers are better than others, but read between the lines of all reviews.
Don't confuse different and better sound.
Every link in the audio chain affects the sound.
Look for good synergy between the different parts of your system. Somethings that work well in particular systems may not work as well in a different system
Nothing beats hearing a potential new purchase in your own system in your own home.
Some reviewers are better than others, but read between the lines of all reviews.
Don't confuse different and better sound.
Every link in the audio chain affects the sound.
Look for good synergy between the different parts of your system. Somethings that work well in particular systems may not work as well in a different system
Nothing beats hearing a potential new purchase in your own system in your own home.
I 100% agree with you dcathro! Music has always been such a huge part of my life and now I’m at the age to truly enjoy it . I don’t understand how or why we have to argue over all it’s virtues. its a crazy hobby that should unite and inspire us. i just thanked my family for supporting and allowing me the freedom to have such a sanctuary and I refuse to spend my quite time arguing over what’s best.
I don't listen to much classical any more (heathen) though I retain the good stuff, some Decca,s UK Londons, EMI ASDs, Lyrita, etc. I visited Albert Porter (finally) a few weeks ago and we had a blast. He had a visitor, the Aries Cerat guy (nice cat) who brought a Greek record I bought. It's sort of new age/classical/jazz, not deep or inaccessible. Easy enough to find in the secondary market; Stavros Lantsias – Return, which only seems to be available in Greece. I don't know if you find yourself going through 'phases'- I do. I had a blast at Albert's. Part of the fun is the hang. I think in our cyberworld, we neglect that aspect of the hobby. I miss it. The end result is important, but the music has to grab you in some way-otherwise, you are just evaluating sound. Happy Schwazma!
My main takeaway from 37 years in audio is that we still don't know what the recording actually captured.
Nice post Bill, good to hear from you again..
Nice post Bill, good to hear from you again..
I have learned that the more I learn, the more I realise that I have much more to learn.
The greatest enemy of better music reproduction is an unwillingness to learn because of closed mindedness. The conviction that brand, price or reputation is a substitute for experience and understanding is a recipe for disappointing music reproduction. A really good room combined with careful speaker placement will get the best out of whatever system one has regardless of any other factor. Placement of the listening chair is as important as speaker placement. Trust your own ears more than brand, price or reputation. Second hand does not necessarily equate to second rate. The internet is an excellent resource containing copious amounts of well intentioned erroneous information and purposely distributed untruth amongst true information. Hence the benefit of experience and understanding at all times. Satisfaction is subjective. Rather than only reading others' impressions, get out and audition systems whenever possible. Finding out why a component sounds better is more educational than asking what sounds better.
The greatest enemy of better music reproduction is an unwillingness to learn because of closed mindedness. The conviction that brand, price or reputation is a substitute for experience and understanding is a recipe for disappointing music reproduction. A really good room combined with careful speaker placement will get the best out of whatever system one has regardless of any other factor. Placement of the listening chair is as important as speaker placement. Trust your own ears more than brand, price or reputation. Second hand does not necessarily equate to second rate. The internet is an excellent resource containing copious amounts of well intentioned erroneous information and purposely distributed untruth amongst true information. Hence the benefit of experience and understanding at all times. Satisfaction is subjective. Rather than only reading others' impressions, get out and audition systems whenever possible. Finding out why a component sounds better is more educational than asking what sounds better.
Yep, seat time is critical. We used to do it after hours at stores, in other people's homes, at "club" meetings. There is no substitute for hearing it for yourself and building up some experience in listening- despite sonic "memory" being suspect.
For sure. I'm trying to decide about cartridges right now and A/B is completely worthless. For instance, I'll listen to an SPU Royal N for an hour and then switch to the SL15 and my wife will say "I sounds muffled". But then I'll eventually tire of the Royal N and start a new day with the SL15 and she doesn't think it sounds muffled at all... and we never tire of listening to it. I have always judged component by this standard: Do I want to keep listening at night instead of going to sleep.
I learned not to chase and sit back and listen to the music.
Hi Bill, its good to see you around besides other forums. Its obvious isn't it? its about the music at the end of the day. Like you, I had a collection of vinyl that exceeding 10k LPs. I disposed of most of it around the early '90s only to buy back a portion of it. I set an arbitrary limit of around 2500 and blew past it a few years ago, I think I'm back up to 4k individual records. Anyways, what I've learned is that hardware comes and goes with fads and whatnot but vinyl/music collecting/curating in particular, is SOOO much more rewarding. If I do get the odd itch to change up my system, one only has to look at their 'want list' of LPs to tell them there's plenty unfinished business that takes priority. Here's looking at 2023, see you on the other side!
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