Ron’s New System

[tima]

I'm pretty much done, system has remained the same and haven't bought anything hi-fi for about 15 years.

I know there are newer models and updates out there that may? sound better, but i honestly don't care or even think about it anymore.
Got a sound i like and works for me, can listen to all the music styles i like, just buy music now.

Good for you! The latest and greatest may appeal but there is no guarantee it leads to lasting satisfaction. A few are hooked on getting noticed through continual expensive change. Imo the key is knowing what you want and how to recognize it. Once you get to that point it is much easier to be done.

 

[fbhifi]

If ever the good Lord should let me live long enough to finish my stereo system, I reckon you boys are gonna be mighty surprised that when I'm done, I'm done. No tweak'in, no twerk'in, no ground boxes, no noise filters, no thingies with antennas, no bee honey fuses, no nuth'in. Done means done.

God willing, you gotta at least do a little twerk’in when you’re done. Better yet, do one of your fantastic videos of you twerk’in to a selection on your now finished system to celebrate its completion.

 

[PeterA]

Good for you! The latest and greatest may appeal but there is no guarantee it leads to lasting satisfaction. A few are hooked on getting noticed through continual expensive change. Imo the key is knowing what you want and how to recognize it. Once you get to that point it is much easier to be done.

I agree Tim. Knowing what you want and how to recognize it is the beginning. The ending is understanding how to get there.

 

[microstrip]

I agree Tim. Knowing what you want and how to recognize it is the beginning. The ending is understanding how to get there.

In fact, in this hobby we only stop learning when we decide to not learn anymore. And learning will lead us to changes, unless we make a point on not changing for reasons such as desire of stability or audiophile tiredness.

Do you ever think that you could have ended thirty years ago?

 

[PeterA]

In fact, in this hobby we only stop learning when we decide to not learn anymore. And learning will lead us to changes, unless we make a point on not changing for reasons such as desire of stability or audiophile tiredness.

Do you ever think that you could have ended thirty years ago?

Learning is not what’s being discussed here. The discussion is about knowing when you’re done changing around your system, for reasons dependent on the owner of the system. Learning is an independent and different subject and activity. Sometimes they overlap or are intertwined.

Bonzo is learning without even having a system, beginning or finished.

Much of this process depends on priorities. My priorities are different than they were 30 years ago.

 

[microstrip]

Learning is not what’s being discussed here. The discussion is about knowing when you’re done changing around your system, for reasons dependent on the owner of the system. Learning is an independent and different subject and activity. Sometimes they overlap or are intertwined.

Sometimes? IMO learning is what should drive our evolution. You can't separate them. Surely we can fid people that change just for a change - they also do it with cars or cloths. But I am focusing on the knowledgeable audiophiles of WBF.

Bonzo is learning without even having a system, beginning or finished.

What is the point?

Much of this process depends on priorities. My priorities are different than they were 30 years ago.

Exactly my point - you got different priorities because you learned something new. Do you consider that there is nothing new to learn now?

 

[PeterA]

Sometimes? IMO learning is what should drive our evolution. You can't separate them. Surely we can fid people that change just for a change - they also do it with cars or cloths. But I am focusing on the knowledgeable audiophiles of WBF.

Yes, sometimes as you just demonstrated. And this discussion is not about you, Professor. You can add your perspective to the discussion, but we’re not talking about your specific case.

What is the point?

Ask him. Don’t ask me.

Exactly my point - you got different priorities because you learned something new. Do you consider that there is nothing new to learn now?

That is just completely wrong. You imagine you understand my priorities.

Perhaps we should get back to Ron and his hearing determining when he’s done.

 

[bonzo75]

In fact, in this hobby we only stop learning when we decide to not learn anymore. And learning will lead us to changes, unless we make a point on not changing for reasons such as desire of stability or audiophile tiredness.

Do you ever think that you could have ended thirty years ago?

Having a system impedes learning. Too much focus on very few components. Sure if they were free one could do unlimited learning. Even big spenders here stick to only a few components. Mike has had the same speaker for 20 years, and same amp, experimented more with analog. Same with many high spenders. Low or medium spenders, forget it, afrer 30 years you will experience 1%. Tang had 4 TTs, two amps, one speaker in so many years

Gets worse when owners of very few components spend time defending their lack of learning and justifying bills

 

[PeterA]

Having a system impedes learning. Too much focus on very few components. Sure if they were free one could do unlimited learning. Even big spenders here stick to only a few components. Mike has had the same speaker for 20 years, and same amp, experimented more with analog. Same with many high spenders. Low or medium spenders, forget it, afrer 30 years you will experience 1%. Tang had 4 TTs, two amps, one speaker in so many years

Gets worse when owners of very few components spend time defending their lack of learning and justifying bills

For me, this hobby is primarily about enjoying, not learning. Learning is a byproduct of specific periods of searching, but it is certainly not the driving force for me.

 

[microstrip]

Yes, sometimes as you just demonstrated. And this discussion is not about you, Professor. You can add your perspective to the discussion, but we’re not talking about your specific case.

Yes, I added my perspective. Do you want me to ask AI to find a nickname adequate for you when I debate with you? I sometimes rely on it for inferior tasks.

(...) That is just completely wrong. You imagine you understand my priorities.

Assuming we are addressing stereo priorities, you wrote many times about them, I read. I also did the same since long.

Perhaps we should get back to Ron and his hearing determining when he’s done.

Considering you have nothing worth to add, yes.

 

[Iamrael]

Having a system impedes learning. Too much focus on very few components. Sure if they were free one could do unlimited learning. Even big spenders here stick to only a few components. Mike has had the same speaker for 20 years, and same amp, experimented more with analog. Same with many high spenders. Low or medium spenders, forget it, afrer 30 years you will experience 1%. Tang had 4 TTs, two amps, one speaker in so many years

Gets worse when owners of very few components spend time defending their lack of learning and justifying bills

Should be noted however that Mike (and likely many of the others you refer) have tried many different amps and other components/room acoustic treatment during the time period as learning experiences.

 

[bonzo75]

Should be noted however that Mike (and likely many of the others you refer) have tried many different amps and other components/room acoustic treatment during the time period as learning experiences.

Not many, no.

 

[microstrip]

For me, this hobby is primarily about enjoying, not learning. Learning is a byproduct of specific periods of searching, but it is certainly not the driving force for me.

It is not a question of diluting opinions with words like "primarily". Enjoying is by essence the objective of sound reproduction. But you seem to confirm my hypothesis - most of the time once we stop learning about stereo sound we stop the desire to change. IMO we also learn from books, articles, magazines, experienced people and WBF, not just by experience.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Having a system impedes learning. Too much focus on very few components. Sure if they were free one could do unlimited learning. Even big spenders here stick to only a few components. Mike has had the same speaker for 20 years, and same amp, experimented more with analog. Same with many high spenders. Low or medium spenders, forget it, afrer 30 years you will experience 1%. Tang had 4 TTs, two amps, one speaker in so many years

Gets worse when owners of very few components spend time defending their lack of learning and justifying bills

If you want to learn, you buy good books, a soldering iron, a multimeter, an oscilloscope, a frequency generator and build it yourself. The first step is a small EL 84 tube amp and a good broadband speaker. I bet 80% of all DIYers start like this. Then come bigger projects with experience. At some point you'll just laugh at high-priced hi-fi because there is allways cost limit in order to make a profit. When building your own there are only limits in your head (knowledge).
You won't believe what quality can be achieved at a reasonable price, and there's also the feeling of success when the first sound comes out of the speaker. The feeling is priceless. There are plenty of construction suggestions on the internet.
just as food for thought for everyone who doesn't have two left hands.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

For me, this hobby is primarily about enjoying, not learning. Learning is a byproduct of specific periods of searching, but it is certainly not the driving force for me.

agree. as a music loving audiophile there are periods of learning during the enjoying, but if you view our hobby mostly as an academic learning and discussing/debating exercise as the main focus i view that is an extreme subset of how things should go. i listen, then listen some more, and then even more. it's my thing to do to reach the mental state i crave.

not having a system so not getting my 'fix' easily when i want would not work for me at all. YMMV.

of course, over 25 years of my hifi-internet activity i've done plenty of learning and discussing, so it is something i value and enjoy too, but it's never been 'THEE' thing, even though my time doing it has been mostly a joy too.

Having a system impedes learning. Too much focus on very few components. Sure if they were free one could do unlimited learning. Even big spenders here stick to only a few components. Mike has had the same speaker for 20 years, and same amp, experimented more with analog. Same with many high spenders. Low or medium spenders, forget it, afrer 30 years you will experience 1%. Tang had 4 TTs, two amps, one speaker in so many years

Gets worse when owners of very few components spend time defending their lack of learning and justifying bills

your thinking starts and ends with your personal goals for the hobby experience. taking shots at others for having different goals misses what hobbies are about. but hits the mark for science.

when gear hit's the mark in music reproduction performance there is no negative to being at peace to just enjoy and not to keep pushing further. even though the hunger to want better never goes away.

i am glad/thankful that we have the Ked's who value learning and analysis above all else and push us all to dig deeper. but i would not want to be in a place where that was it. we need the newbie delight with new pretty boxes from brick and mortar dealers with 10 demo cuts they like to listen to who love their brands and are in lust. and also the jaded DIY horn and SET builders worshiping at the alter of tone, and all points in between. our common thing is passion for great sound and music in all shapes and sizes.

never thought i would need to even think about defending enjoyment as the goal.

 

[microstrip]

(...) i am glad/thankful that we have the Ked's and the Micro's who value learning and analysis above all else and push us all to dig deeper.

Sorry, it seems you are not reading this forum and my posts. I often stressed that enjoyment was the ultimate goal of sound reproduction - even quoting sentences from a famous book who discusses in depth this aspect. Do you expect to see it in people signatures?

never thought i would need to even think about defending enjoyment as the goal.

Surely, no one thinks that defending evidence is needed ...

 

[Audiohertz2]

Having a system impedes learning. Too much focus on very few components. Sure if they were free one could do unlimited learning. Even big spenders here stick to only a few components. Mike has had the same speaker for 20 years, and same amp, experimented more with analog. Same with many high spenders. Low or medium spenders, forget it, afrer 30 years you will experience 1%. Tang had 4 TTs, two amps, one speaker in so many years

Gets worse when owners of very few components spend time defending their lack of learning and justifying bills

Very True , having no system is the best way to learn , you’re proof of concept ..

.

 

[microstrip]

For those who forgot about it:

• (...) Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

 

[Atmasphere]

Learning is not what’s being discussed here. The discussion is about knowing when you’re done changing around your system

Sounds like learning to me.

It can be quite enjoyable when you learn of better ways to make your system sound more like real music. At least that's how it works for me.

Examples:
1) finding out that the best sound isn't the result of spending money but instead finding out what sounds the best; IOW learning that intention drives high end audio rather than cost
2) finding out there are better ways to do things. For example using a phono section that doesn't require a 'cartridge loading' resistor to sound right. Side benefit: less ticks and pops.
3) and beyond- too many to name

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Sorry, it seems you are not reading this forum and my posts. I often stressed that enjoyment was the ultimate goal of sound reproduction - even quoting sentences from a famous book who discusses in depth this aspect. Do you expect to see it in people signatures?

edited my post to remove your name. sorry.

Surely, no one thinks that defending evidence is needed ...