[IronRick]

Hello AudioCircle Audiophiles,
 
I've been an off and on audiophile for a few decades. My most recent resurgent came about when I found myself unable to work and retire properly. Being an introvert, I found myself with a smaller home, temporary disibility income and limited savings but I still have the bad habit of living beyond my means. Translated: I have expensive taste, love to shop and research and spend  most of my time at home exploring my new found love of music and audio gear. I spend to much  time on the internet.

 I came here because I see there is a lot of  logical discussion regarding gear and that's what I need most, logical advice. Before my disability ends in a few months I'd like to upgrade my system for "final retirement. This means inquiring gear that hopefully will stand the test of time. Decades ago I made the epic mistake of selling all my music gear and dove into the home theater rabbit hole. Long story short, I have come full circle and now and enjoy a nice Sennheiser sound bar with 65" OLED with a cute green blob in the center of the screen. I no longer have an analogue setup, from which I still have a bruised butt from kicking myself. I had a nice Roksan Xerxes/Rega/Grado setup. Current gear is my trusty Oppo UDP-203, Space Tech labs tube pre-amp, Bryston 9bsst, Dynaudio Evoke 20 and Enery 22 Reference Connoisseur. Cables are WBC interconnects an homemade Mogami speaker cables. Most of  which I acquired as pre -owned. I have recently acquired room treatment but have yet to install it. My living room is 14x14, ouch!

My desktop system includes, Audeze LCD-X, Senn 6XX, a few IEM's, Burson, Aune X8 with Sparkos, Neo USB, PC. Wiim PRO in standby.
 
Music is all over the map but comprises mostly of rock old and new, Blues/folk and some jazz/latin salsa thrown in for kicks. Desktop is via Tidal and Flac. Living room is still CD and Flac.
I hope  that's all. Sorry for being long winded.
Cheers.

[Blackmore]

Welcome to AudioCircle

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome to AC 

[toocool4]

Welcome to AudioCircle IronRick

I used to own a Roksan Xerxes, Artemiz arm, Shiraz cartridge and the original Artaxerxes phonostage the one that fitted inside the turntable.

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC IronRick   

[Phil A]

Welcome!

[JLM]

I've been on lots of my own audio journey.  Started in Junior High with my mom's (then) antique AM radio and a portable cassette deck where I recorded favs off the radio.  In college became the stereo guru as I learned about listening attributes and discovered the "high end" of audio.  Traded Pioneer gear for McIntosh, Nakamichi, and Fried.  Stayed with Fried speakers for years but the speakers out grew any room I could ever afford.  Then death of my first born, divorce, and down sizing. 

Next I discovered the internet as local audio shops closed.  Eventually found active monitors (used in practically all studios by the professionals).  Lots of advantages.  Consumers are fascinated by lots of gear, professionals need results.  My favorite were JBL 708P, a 2-way.  My last one was Buchardt A500SE, a complex 4-way using Purifi 6.5 inch mid/woofers and a wave guide loaded 0.75 inch tweeter that could run wirelessly or via XLR with room EQ and "master tunings".  Worked very well in my near perfect room.

Now in a much smaller room, hearing aids, and diminished technical understanding I've resorted to a headphone "system" (Apple MacBook Air M2, Apple Maxx wireless/noise cancelling, Tidal music source). 

[IronRick]

I actually started out going head first into headphones simply because I spend so much time at my desk/den and the wife controls the living room. My brother is big into headphones simply because he lives in condo and cant utilize a speaker type system. He is he one that convinced me to give the headphone rabbit hole a try. It's great but alas, I missed the sound/experience from a speaker system not to mention I seem to relax more in the living room and have taken up reading real books. More like casual listening with good dose of critical listening for kicks.

Old ears are a game changer for sure. What's strange and hard to believe is that, even with some tinnitus, I can hear the difference between some cables with the Audeze LCD-X. Crazy. Fatigue does set in rather quickly and then I'll switch to the 6XX's, which I use as my daily driver at the PC. I also use Peace Equalizer and it's a game changer for the LCD-X.  Cheers!