[Tyson]

Sell your current gear at a loss, and buy the next hot thing.  Then you will be happy.

[Wind Chaser]

Then you will be happy.

Until...

[Tyson]

That's the spirit!

[JLM]

I wonder how many audiophiles have done a significant downsizing (simplifying, smaller, less of the various audiophile attributes) and why.

[Wind Chaser]

I wonder how many audiophiles have done a significant downsizing (simplifying, smaller, less of the various audiophile attributes) and why.

I have, mainly because it's no longer necessary to spend a roll to achieve good sound. 

[Wind Chaser]

That's the spirit!

Actually is green and you put it in a pipe and light it on fire.  OTOH it is possible to make the decision and choose to be happy.  Works wonderfully without any side effects for me.

[denjo]

I wonder how many audiophiles have done a significant downsizing (simplifying, smaller, less of the various audiophile attributes) and why.

JLM
I have significantly downsized to a simpler and smaller one box system! Why? There is much to be said about simplicity. Less cables to get obsessed with, less boxes, easier to use, benefits not just me but my family as well! i find that I am less critical of the equipment and, consequently, enjoy more of the music!

[rollo]

I have, mainly because it's no longer necessary to spend a roll to achieve good sound.

  Actually it never was. One only had to know what they were doing. I have heard and owned numerous great sounding systems that did not cost a bundle.
  Experience and savy go a long way. If ya now tone and have a keen sense of the live sound trust your ears.  Do NOT read the rags opinions one will find that sound. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
 les not forget this is a hobby as well as way of hearing our beloved music. So there will be tinkerers , impulsive buys and the rest. There is no right or wrong it is a personal decision.
  After some 40 years plus at this hobby we have seen and heard it all. From the mega systems to the NADs of the world. granted there are some fools out there just like any other hobby.
  Listen to as many types of systems you can. Whatever floats your boat is the right answer NOt what someones opinion is. Enjoy your music and don't look back.


charles

[eclein]

In the past year I have gone from 7.1, 5.1 now just 2.1 and have relied heavily on the used equipment listings in various places to achieve
what for me is the best sounding system I have ever owned. Years ago when money wasn't an issue I had all the proper manufacturers
equipment mostly purchased by price point- "the more money it cost the better it was.." -in my mind at the time.
 With a lot more education-mostly from here-and some incredible luck I've been enjoying music more and the thrill of finding a hidden treasure just puts the icing on the cake. I'll never forget how excited I was when I found my JBL 4312A's on CL for $50, I felt like a kid again buying my very first stereo system, I couldn't wait to tell my friends here at AC about my awesome find...now thats FUN!!!!
 Gotta run change CD's...

[K Shep]

I wonder how many audiophiles have done a significant downsizing (simplifying, smaller, less of the various audiophile attributes) and why.

I purchased as much as I could at one point (dac, preamp & speakers).  Then guilt about $ and the curiousity of "can I squeeze more out of less $ set in".  IMO and experience, the audible difference between a mfg's reference preamp and that same mfg's middle price point preamp is insignificant.  The chagnes I made to the speakers in my system aren't simpler.  I went from full range to monitors + sub and PEQ/x-over.  But the result is a more open sound and a 60% reduction in $.

[Wind Chaser]

Actually it never was. One only had to know what they were doing. I have heard and owned numerous great sounding systems that did not cost a bundle.

SNIP

Whatever floats your boat is the right answer NOt what someones opinion is. Enjoy your music and don't look back.

When I say 'good sound', that transcends well beyond mid-fi into the arena of what some might define as ‘very good’ sound.  I mean no disrespect anyone's standard… not trying to be smug here.  My first taste of high end was like my first orgasm or losing my virginity, actually it was better and more profound than that; more like a transforming life changing religious experience.  It occurred at the age of 18 when my hearing was much better than it is now.  Ever since then there was clear distinction in my mind between the characteristics of mid-fi and hi-fi.  It's in the sense or quality of hi-fi that I mean good sound and not mid-fi - not that mid-fi isn't good or bad if you know what I mean.

Back in the late 70's / early 80’s when I had that epiphany, there wasn't much to choose from compared to what is on the market today.  The internet changed everything, so instead of being limited to what was available locally there was a sudden increase in awareness of what was really out there.  Also numerous hobbyists started countless cottage industries opening up a flood of choices with unprecedented value.  As the years went by new technologies were discovered and matured there was also a rediscovery of the old.  That combined with the Internet and all the new cottage industries continues to this day to create a wealth of unprecedented possibility.

In the early eighties, it seemed to me that it took about 20K to get to the level of hi-fi where one could experience the clarity and the illusion of being at a real event without leaving their home..  Around the mid 90's the 10K seemed to be about the price of admission.  And early in the new millennium it dropped to about 5-6K for reasonably balance 3 dimensional sound.  Not talking Bob Carver’s version or extreme LF, but high definition holographic sound.  Now I think it's possible to get there enough in part for under 2K. 

Anyhow, that’s my take on ‘good sound’.

[TRADERXFAN]

Well, I am done...
 

Very satisfied. More than I ever expected from an audio system.  Didn't think it could be this good.

-Tony

[TheChairGuy]

I wonder how many audiophiles have done a significant downsizing (simplifying, smaller, less of the various audiophile attributes) and why.

Pretty simple, straight signal paths here

I've blown a few $$$ along the way getting back to simplicity, but I have less invested in my system today than anytime in years.  I just have this nasty turntable collecting habit to break....

John

[doorman]

Simple is good!
Simple DIY is very good!
However, if it's done to elicit "wows" from others,or things like like bass that shakes walls at the expense of over all balance, or hot, zingy treble that makes you want to go outside after a few "favorites' are played, again, keep spending!!
Don

[Letitroll98]

I agree with the posters so far and will add that clear goals will help overspending and constant repurchasing of the latest and greatest.  An amp with a stiff power supply and major reserves of power goes a long way to curing all ills.  A preamp that has flexibility and adds as little as possible to the sound.  Front ends that stand the test of time with quality chipsets and bearings with tight tolerances.  Right speakers, not right now speakers.  If you have several components that are on somebody's "Components That Have Stood the Test of Time", or "Greatest Components of the Last 20 Years" lists you may be on the right track.

Now if I could just stop buying new phono cartridges.......... 

[cujobob]

I don't think great sound was easy to achieve for a low budget audiophile even ten-fifteen years ago.  There've always been speakers that represented good value...as that is just by comparison to what else is available.  Technology has really helped as well as better crossover designs and designers.  The internet manufacturers push the B&M brands to become better and it's more difficult to get away with ridiculous markups.  Crossover parts have improved, less electrolytics found in crossovers now, and while there is still some over-hyping and snake-oil in boutique tweaks out there, there's also some positive benefit to some modern stuff being used.  Things like No-Rez, better braced cabinets, better inductor layouts on crossover boards, and stuff of this nature are becoming more standard.

Electronics have also come a long way...it was nearly impossible to find solid inexpensive receivers or two-channel gear that had both the required wattage, sound quality, and features.

Overall, it's a good time to be an audiophile...except...that CDs mostly sound like garbage nowadays.

My main system has a pair of efficient speakers I love the sound of paired with an inexpensive receiver, no RCA cables, no fancy power cords, and it sounds amazing.  I have other speakers around the house I love, as well, but they really aren't as practical.  And practicality, for me, means more music listening.

[Dave_b]

Been to the promised land many times and was usually left for broke and not completely satisfied.  Over the last year I threw together what I consider to be a budget system and wound up being happier than ever before.  Some key mods have helped me bridge the gap from Ok sound to state of the art.

[Tyson]

Just to pile on here, the cost of really good drivers has dropped quite a bit.  I've owned speakers using most of the top line Scan Speak drivers, and the latest Dayton RS28F silk tweeter is just as good in most respects, and better than them in others.  Scan's are $200, the Dayton is $70.  Most importantly, beyond specs, it actually sounds as good as the Scans. 

Now, for mids, it's a tougher field, the Scans and the top line SEAS drivers are still not equaled by less expensive designs.  On the other hand, the cost and performance of very good woofers and subwoofers has definitely gotten better.

I'm also pleased to see that tube technology is getting better as well.  The use of Constant Current Sources is a real improvement to traditional tube designs, and the cost is crazy low (about $30 in parts). 

Mics have improved dramatically as well, and thanks to manufacturers like Earthworks, has brought very high performance/precision into the affordable realm.  With the advent of really excellent (free) measurement software like HOLM Impulse, you can really get an idea of how your speakers perform.

Throw in an international used equipment website (audiogon), and it's very, very easy to put together a great system for quite a bit less than in the past. 

What this means is that you can really, really put together a great sounding system

[timind]

I agree with the posters so far and will add that clear goals will help overspending and constant repurchasing of the latest and greatest.  An amp with a stiff power supply and major reserves of power goes a long way to curing all ills.  A preamp that has flexibility and adds as little as possible to the sound.  Front ends that stand the test of time with quality chipsets and bearings with tight tolerances.  Right speakers, not right now speakers.  If you have several components that are on somebody's "Components That Have Stood the Test of Time", or "Greatest Components of the Last 20 Years" lists you may be on the right track.

This makes sense to me. Unfortunately, even though I found the right speakers and front end years ago, it took me a while and some $$ figuring it out. Luckily I hung on to them as I experimented. Now all the over-hyped (IMO) pieces are gone.
Of course getting the room right is another major part of the story.