DYohn
Emo VIPs
Posts: 18,366
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Post by DYohn on Feb 24, 2019 16:02:32 GMT -5
I'm leaning toward MrSpeakers Voce and a Woo 3ES.. maybe this summer...
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Post by monkumonku on Feb 24, 2019 16:17:24 GMT -5
The other day I was at the dentist and the music playing throughout the office was a Sirius station with hits from the '70's. His speakers are no great shakes but I was really enjoying the music, in large part because of the memories it brought back. I was also thinking how melodic it was compared to the "popular" stuff these days.
I also thought about how the speakers were only passable but that didn't take anything away from my enjoyment.
I find when I listen to music through my main system, part of me is focusing on the audio aspect of it and taking attention away from the actual music. The song itself might be great but I'm not giving it my undivided attention.
Regarding the thread question, I'd say right now I am done upgrading. I have no desire to replace anything; I think my system sounds great, even though I know there could be improvements. These improvements would not be worth it from a cost benefit standpoint, though, which is why I don't even bother keeping up with new gear. There's no aspect of the system that I find myself unsatisfied with though I guess if I sat there and listened carefully and then read what others say about their own systems I might start thinking X might be better if replaced by Y, and coming up with some "what-if's." But nope, I'm happy!
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Post by RichGuy on Feb 24, 2019 17:33:35 GMT -5
Right now I am very happy, very content and have no desire to change anything. However that does not mean tomorrow there won't be something that I just absolutely have to have and need it now!
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Post by geeqner on Feb 25, 2019 10:02:38 GMT -5
I'm somewhere between Dyohn & Bonzo -
I'd say that I'm always LOOKING ("keeping my ear to the ground" regarding technology and enjoy reading about vintage stuff) - but I only actually spend money on audio gear at infrequent intervals. A piece here and a piece there - Usually about every other year or once every 3 years. And when I do - it's usually on something that I've either pretty carefully researched or I've spotted an incredible deal.
To be honest - I ENJOY the research / "the QUEST" (that's a big part of why I am on this forum)
I've ALWAYS been one of those people who would rather own a few NICE things than a whole-bunch of "stuff" - as a result, I am pretty "picky". I would also rather purchase something truly "solid" USED than compromise on something that is new, but not up to my standards. The REALLY "esoteric" stuff is usually out of my league price-wise (plus as an "Enginerd" - I like to think that I have a pretty strong "Techno-BS Detector" and can spot stuff / features that is of questionable real-world value).
That's probably what attracts me to Emotiva
Over the years, I have upgraded a piece here & there when I felt that it would be of real benefit. My old NAD Receiver that has served me well since the late 1990s is probably due to be replaced because of the age of the Capacitors within it etc. (I got it and a pair of Polk 5JRs [which replaced most of my 1979/1980 Zenith gear] for about $150 when my wife's hairdresser lost her husband and moved)
I do not have a lot of discretionary funds to spend on Audio gear. When I DO scrounge-up some moolah - I have to balance my current desires for fishing and photography gear, so the Audio stuff sometimes suffers due to "more immediate" GAS wants in other areas.
As one gets older and acquires better and better gear - at some point, making that NEXT "move-up" becomes increasingly difficult / costly.
Currently, my system works well for the room that it is located within - so, no major changes (except maybe preamp) are expected. If we move to a place where I can have a "Ron Cave" - then maybe I'll "go crazy" on some carefully picked and restored vintage pieces for that room, but as they said at the end of Conan the Barbarian, "but that's ANOTHER story..."
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Post by mshump on Feb 25, 2019 10:26:43 GMT -5
I haven't upgraded for about 2 years now. I've been spending the time listening and enjoying. Am I done upgrading ? Probably not.
Mark
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Post by jackfish on Feb 25, 2019 11:07:02 GMT -5
I retired in 2014. For years my system was mostly vintage gear consisting of:
Harman Kardon Citation 11 preamp Two Phase Linear 400 power amps Stacked double New Large Advent Loudspeakers on 18” stands, each speaker fed by one power amp channel Akai AT-2600 FM tuner Harman Kardon TD4200 cassette deck Oppo DV-980H universal disc player Technics turntable with a Shure M97XE Phono Cartridge DIY baffle step compensation circuit
Music library of hundreds of CDs and a couple hundred LPs
This system was very satisfying, yet as I approached retirement I knew maintaining such a massive system would be a problem. So I looked for an upgrade that would be good enough to live with going forward and at least somewhat reduce the amount/mass of equipment.
So after significant research/auditioning I arrived at the following for my “I’m done chasing!” system:
Apple MacBook Air, iTunes, BitPerfect Two 2TB external drives Schiit Bifrost DAC Emotiva USP-1 pre amp Emotiva ERC-1 CD player Emotiva UPA-1 power amp, pair I kept the vintage tuner and cassette deck ProJect 1 Xpression III turntable with Audio Technica AT440mla cartridge Magnepan MMG loudspeakers sent off to “Peter Gunn” for his Magnestand mods in beautiful quarter sawn red oak Rythmik F12 subwoofer
Music library of ripped CDs into ALAC Apple Lossless files and same hundreds of LPs
I’ve listened to a lot of stereo gear and for the cost this system is all that I ultimately need. However, there is always pining for other equipment that I want. But at this stage of life this is it unless I win the lottery. So now I am listening to music instead of listening to gear.
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Post by jamco on Feb 27, 2019 0:36:23 GMT -5
It’s a perpetual hobby, not a destination.
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Post by audiobill on Feb 27, 2019 5:46:52 GMT -5
For me, the truly excellent quality and value of VTA and Audio Note tube components, further enhanced by building them myself, makes it very difficult to "upgrade", if that's even possible.
Audio Research, Conrad-Johnson or Mcintosh, closest competitors, would cost 4-5 x what I've paid.
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