So back in my teens and early 20's I loved 2 channel audio. I had no money, but what I did I spent on mountain bikes and audio equipment. This peaked around 1992 with my purchase of some Klipsch Quartet's and an Adcom 545II amp and 535 pre-pro along with a denon 5 cd changer. Had to have monster cable then also....
Graduated college, got married, got a job and didn't do much audio for a few years as I was broke, working and had my first good car.
Around 1998 I bought some audio equipment again. NHT loudspeakers, a Pioneer Elite Receiver and a small velodyne sub. Other than getting a center channel and rears for my first home theater , in a small apartment during grad school and my first small house, I didn't make any changes until 2005 when I bought a bigger Onkyo Receiver for switching purposes. I always loved going into high end stores and listening and missed having what I considered a killer system but without a dedicated room, having 4 kids, and moving a few times I didn't have time or funds. But I missed it.
Fast forward again to Winter 2012/13 and my wife suggested I use a room in the basement for a small media room. I was thrilled - had the paint guy there in 2 days, bought a new plasma and figured I'd be thrilled. Just would tweak my NHT stuff, maybe upgrade to inexpensive separates again (which I did...) and be done with it.
It's now 20 months later. I've gone from those NHTs to Golden Ear Triton 2's and associated 5 channel system, to klipsch palladiums, to my soundscape 8's and center being built.
I now have dual SVS subs.
I went from my onkyo to a used Harman Kardon Signature 2.1 amp and an emotiva UMC 200, to a marantz 8801 and that HK amp, to the 8801 and a Butler 5150 amp... and now I have a Classe SSP-800 with the Butler and I'm on the verge of buying a used CA 5200 or 5300....
I woke up a couple days ago realizing I'm out of control. Some of this I blame on Big Red Machine. I was thrilled with the SS8's and my equipment but I listen loud and I listen to crap recordings. So, things get bright (the palladiums were crazy bright) the SS8's weren't bad but on bright recordings even they started to get bright on me. I like detail and dyanamics.
BRM left me with a couple of quotes "the pre-amp is the biggest thing you need to upgrade" (here I was thinking that it's marantz's top of the line, and marantz after all is known for being smooth...) and "you have no idea what those speakers can do yet".
Well... those are two things I did NOT want to hear! It's like throwing down a gauntlet.
I was very close to buying a new Krell Foundation (offered an insane deal) but every review said the SSP-800 was a HT pre-pro that was excellent in 2 channel (turns out "they" are right). I got a great deal and figured I could sell it maybe even at a profit if I didn't like it.
The SSP-800 had me thinking - YUP, BRM was dead-nuts correct. The Marantz "was" the issue (though it's still a great pre-pro for home theater and for the money). The Classe has all of the detail and dynamics but it isn't harsh, ever.
So I love it, but I'm out of control. Part of me wants the matching amp so I started looking for it (and the butler 5150 for the money is killer)... my hope is if I pull the trigger I will be done... other than maybe having Jim build me up some surrounds.
Anyways... anyone else ever think they were out of control? For a fleeting moment I said I should sell all of it, and just go to a mid-fi system. BUT, it makes me so happy to listen to... BUT I have 4 kids...
I mean, I was pretty happy with the Golden Ears...