Hi all.
I come from the stereo era, when tubes were (Almost) the only thing available.
My first interest in stereo audio equipment was at the age of 18 (1966) which is 48 years ago. Writing that, does not make me feel younger, believe me.
I had all makes/models of gears and to me, most of them (At that time) sounded good.
I must admit that at that time, I was more interested in the melody/tune (Beattles/Ventures/James Last…) than the quality of sound.
I did buy/change several systems looking for better, but was never really satisfied; I think at that time, it was more owning nice looking gears with lots of buttons and switches, than getting better sounding gear.
Many times lately or more likely when I joined the Audio Circle band, I told myself: I won’t act as a narrow minded audiophile and I will try some tweaks, as long as they are affordable.
Cable lifters, speaker’s cables of different material and gauge, different makes of tubes, inexpensive and more expensive CD player, etc…
The most noticeable difference (Better or worst.) was with the tubes, some with much better sound and some with very little improvement, the wires and interconnects did not bring much improvements or it was difficult for me to tell if it was a real improvement or just an impression of improvement.
Audiophile fuses, shielded power cable, cable lifter and the same did not make a trace of improvement to my ears.
I am very reluctant in spending money for tweaks, because I simply don’t believe in them and most of them are over priced or have a profit margin of 500 to 1000% and that bothers me.
Yes, I know, they are in business to make money and not to relief the suffering humanity
As the years adds up in my life, I notice that I am becoming less and less demanding with sound quality, is it because I cannot afford more expensive and better sounding equipment or simply the fact that I am just tired of trying new stuff that don’t bring much in term of more satisfaction ???
I am now putting the final touch to my last system and I think that later on in my life, when someone will put me in a retirement house and/or in a toilet size room for senile persons, I might have only access to FM music via a small table radio, of course, if such a thing still exist in 2035 or I will listen to my tape cassette Nakamichi, if it’s still working or repairable and of course watch TV.
I read posts of those AC members that only think (Almost an obsession) about having the best of the best and trying to convince (Help) others to do the same thing as they do.
Well, to those I say:
Not everyone as the same requirements/taste and that (To me) they don’t seem to realize.
Well, I am happy with what I have and I am not looking for something better or more accurate or more linear…
I did listen to better audio systems than mine and guess what? They did not bring to me more joy, enjoyment, satisfaction.
My system cost me about 6,000 USD and that more than enough to play music.
I still want to do a few changes/improvements, because they will cost me very little $$$.
Our AC member JLM said and I quote:
" The only tweak that has probably ever helped is the earmuffs I use for hearing protection while I mow. "
Unquote:
I started wearing a pair of those construction type ear plugs when I get out of the house, because planet Vietnam is extremely noisy everywhere you go and I want to protect my hearing
to enjoy my music listening.
Guy 13 from noisy planet Vietnam.
