end game audio system -- how do you know you are there?

This is a great thread with some interesting and good points!

Speaking for myself I have no plans for changes or upgrades as I am very pleased with the sound and use of the systems.

Following various people on various fora I have noticed some that make a high number of horizontal moves, changing this and tweaking that, without ever being fully satisfied. An endless merry-go-round and a lot of money sunk into it. So I promised myself that I would not change unless it was a significant improvement - and that means spending funds I dont have, this side of a lottery winner! My former system lasted 19 years...

In any case, listening to music is still the most important part, a point also made by others here. Enjoy.
 
Right now I'm playing Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie over my new system and it just carries me to a wonderful place...no politics, no street violence, no escalating pandemic, no war, no global tensions. Just peace, tranquility, and a high like no other. Great music, great sound, great musicians. It just doesn't get any better.
 
cmarin said:
Hi Ken,

Hope you are well and throughly enjoying your current wonderful MSB-Vandersteen system.

I can relate totally to your post. In many ways, for me the enjoyment of this hobby, aside from the pure listening pleasure, also comes from continually learning new things about audio, and applying that knowledge to hopefully improve the listening pleasure; even though the improvements quickly reach a point of decreasing marginal benefit per unit cost.

So I’m curious to hear your thoughts on what, in your case, motivated you to move from system 1 to 4 and then to system 6, although the two systems previous to 6 “produced stellar sound and musicality”? And what specific improvements do you feel you gained in system 6 versus 1 and 4?

Thanks


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Hi Carlos,

System 1 with the Apogee Duetta Signature speakers provided the most lifelike vocals and piano I ever heard in my listening room. Just stunning realism. What eventually drove me crazy was too much brightness in the the treble. I didn’t know much about how to address these issues back at that point in time, so I moved on.

System 4 with Pass XA-100.5 monoblocks and Revel Salon 2 speakers sounded luscious after the amps had warmed up for 4 hours. A truly magical sound. The big negative was a lack of bass at anything but high volume levels. My normal listening preference is low to medium volume levels.

My current system with MSB Select 2 DAC and Vandersteen monoblocks and Model 7 Mk2 speakers has no weak points. Smooth effortless treble, organic and natural sounding midrange, and robust and perfectly tuned bass for my room. I can listen all day without any fatigue. No need or desire to bring in a new system again.

Best,
Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Hi Carlos,

System 1 with the Apogee Duetta Signature speakers provided the most lifelike vocals and piano I ever heard in my listening room. Just stunning realism. What eventually drove me crazy was too much brightness in the the treble. I didn’t know much about how to address these issues back at that point in time, so I moved on.

System 4 with Pass XA-100.5 monoblocks and Revel Salon 2 speakers sounded luscious after the amps had warmed up for 4 hours. A truly magical sound. The big negative was a lack of bass at anything but high volume levels. My normal listening preference is low to medium volume levels.

My current system with MSB Select 2 DAC and Vandersteen monoblocks and Model 7 Mk2 speakers has no weak points. Smooth effortless treble, organic and natural sounding midrange, and robust and perfectly tuned bass for my room. I can listen all day without any fatigue. No need or desire to bring in a new system again.

Best,
Ken
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That’s fantastic Ken. Truly a balancing act including how to incorporate your own preferences and how they may evolve over time. Congratulations on reaching your endpoint!

I’ve been thinking about how to respond to your question without getting wordy yet capturing the basics - another balancing act! Will respond soon.


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Randy Myers said:
Wow, boy can I relate... I think I am so close... I absolutely love the sound of my system... I am completely astonished that a step down in speakers would actually bring me to nirvana. Then something inside me says... but but, maybe just more power, or or this or that... but honestly at this point I am not sure where else I would go.

I was thinking that everyone says I need more power for the Magnepan's, but then I listen to the "little" T+A and see it provides more pure power than I will ever need and it sounds sooooooo good... but but but... then I realize this system sounds amazing to me.. maybe it is time to just enjoy...
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I also went down in size and complexity in my system some years ago. I went to a pair of Maggie 1.7's and was driving them with a VTL ST80 ( or 85? ) and it was really, really fun to listen to. I had 2 other brands of speakers at the time that were highly admired ( and much more expensive). They were both for sale soon after. One of the panels came unglued and I shipped both to Magnepan to have them repaired. Their service and pricing is excellent. Playing with the the positioning and whether to use them tweeters in or tweeters out was part of the fun. BTW....I have had two of the Falcon NW PC's over the years. Their service is outstanding and if you have to call them you get the same guy every time. As long as you are having fun, congrats.
 
I have an active dsp system that I enjoy and find no fault with with the exception that the hobby isn’t very interactive if I can’t throw money at it. Maybe I’ll send an email requesting chrome plated emblems or something. I can see why audiophiles have a second system.
 
It should be mentioned (Jim Smith already alluded to it) that the "room" is as much a part of one's system as the components, so "end game system" should also mean you won't be moving or otherwise changing your listening room
 
When you are broke, destitute and divorced from spending all your money on audio gear.

Or

When you can finally sit and listen to music for hours at a time without looking for flaws in your system.
 
In my case it was pretty simple. At age 34 I failed a hearing test and was no longer able to be a consultant in the broadcast industry mainly radio. Simple aging in my case, I didn't hear as well as did in my twenties.

So goodbye AR-LSTs, hot rodded Great American Sound Amps and a fancy turntable.
 
aKnyght said:
having spent the past 2+ years slowly and methodically building / upgrading my system, i must say that at this point i am really, really enjoying it. when listening critically, i no longer find myself thinking that i need to upgrade this component or that cable, etc. instead, i find myself thinking about things like the quality of the recording.

honestly, i do not think embarking on another upgrade cycle would increase my listening enjoyment one iota. so, i may have reached my version of the proverbial end-game.

however, that being said, the tinkerer/hobbyist/audiophile in me says this is a heck of a lot of fun -- keep going!!

just curious how others here know when they have reached or will reach their end-game -- and once there what do you do?
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There is no end-game. For most people it is a matter of financial or mental exhaustion, recovery and expenditure once again to improve and upgrade and to keep the obsession/hobby/cycle going. Getting off the merry-go-round is possible and quite doable through self discipline. Whether one wants to or not is a different story. Have fun either way! What doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger!
 
aKnyght said:
just curious how others here know when they have reached or will reach their end-game -- and once there what do you do?
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When all the money is gone, and that you finally find solace in the simplicity of enjoying music listening in all humility and accommodation with frugality and science and senses and sensibilities.

When you are close to Jeff Bezos' net worth.

With the connection between your emotions and the artists.

With the acceptance of who you are and not what you have.

Following our own musical journey, without no destination home.
The rest follows; listening with our deepest soul and sharing on audio/music forums with people like us, like you, like them.
 
NorthStar said:
When all the money is gone, and that you finally find solace in the simplicity of enjoying music listening in all humility and accommodation with frugality and science and senses and sensibilities.

When you are close to Jeff Bezos' net worth.

With the connection between your emotions and the artists.

With the acceptance of who you are and not what you have.

Following your own musical journey, without no destination home.
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Brilliant!
 
You know when you don't have to ask, because, you just damn well know there's no explaining what you "hear"!!
 
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