King of the low end - hope you guys don;t mind

ohbythebay

ohbythebay

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Joined
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Hey all,

Lets face it, a good majority here are higher end audiophiles with pieces of equipment that sometimes cost more than all my equipment put together. I have to tell you at times it is intimidating but yet, you never make me feel unwelcome.

Hopefully this is the niche I fill and hope I fill it well. There is a large audio population, especially those new to turntables and vinyl that just don't have the pockets deep enough to just buy the best of the best. A VPI turntable will cause them to drool and the sure knowledge that mortgage payments would be missed if they ever bought one.

What I have done over the past several years is try to find the best bargains delivering the highest sound to approach audiophile quality. some of my experiments have been successful, some not but in all cases I felt I gathered knowledge to help others (until I talk to Jeff and then I feel like a kindergartener being schooled by the dean at MIT...LOL)

So my passion with tables, carts, cables, tube amps, etc. is no where near the high end audio gear some may have but to the average piker, I am able to put together systems and sounds that really deliver. My own system right now is very balanced and gives much pleasure. Its not cheap but its not 10k worth either...,,,maybe 4 to 5k but that was over time..

Anyway, I hope no one minds when Rob posts his DIY stuff or the cheaper items...just trying to show there is some good quality on the lower end too...:disbelief:

Thanks for having me !!!
 
Rob,

It certainly help keep things in perspective. It's all good.
 
Absolutely not! We need to represent all ends of the music lover spectrum. From vintage to thrifty to esoteric (not the brand). From vinyl to digital to streaming. From tube to solid state to digital. From separates to integrated. We are all music lovers first and foremost.
 
Rob...I am not sure what prompted your post (i.e., if you were made to feel unappreciated in another thread which I hope was not the case and I am pretty sure was likely not the case) but as everyone here has already said, we are music lovers first and audiophiles second of all stripes. I have exchanged 1 or 2 PMs with Music Director on a like subject because he seems to be averse to the term audiophile, as he thinks of audiophiles as folks who spend an inordinate amount of money on gear and are not necessarily into music but rather showing off their gear. My take on the word audiophile (and on the AS culture here) is that an audiophile is a person who cares deeply about music and who seeks to play it back on gear that enhances the emotional connection to the music, whether you are spending a few hundred dollars on a piece of gear or tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The budget is just a function of one's financial situation. The obsessive compulsive disorder (:D) to find the gear that best expresses the emotional content of that music within that budget (whatever's one's preferences tube vs.SS, digital vs. analog, what have you...) is what defines the aduiophile ethos.

Always enjoy and look forward to your posts!
 
cmalak said:
Rob...I am not sure what prompted your post (i.e., if you were made to feel unappreciated in another thread which I hope was not the case and I am pretty sure was likely not the case) but as everyone here has already said, we are music lovers first and audiophiles second of all stripes. I have exchanged 1 or 2 PMs with Music Director on a like subject because he seems to be averse to the term audiophile, as he thinks of audiophiles as folks who spend an inordinate amount of money on gear and are not necessarily into music but rather showing off their gear. My take on the word audiophile (and on the AS culture here) is that an audiophile is a person who cares deeply about music and who seeks to play it back on gear that enhances the emotional connection to the music, whether you are spending a few hundred dollars on a piece of gear or tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The budget is just a function of one's financial situation. The obsessive compulsive disorder (:D) to find the gear that best expresses the emotional content of that music within that budget (whatever's one's preferences tube vs.SS, digital vs. analog, what have you...) is what defines the aduiophile ethos.

Always enjoy and look forward to your posts!
Click to expand...

Well said Cyril.

Joe - do you have any idea who Cyril is referring to with respect to audio gear OCD? I'm not sure. Not me. Hmmm....

Mike
 
My sentiments about being welcome here align with Rob's. While I have been here for a short time, (with one exception), I have never been unwelcome due to my economic position or lack of "high-end" or "audiophile gear" (with the possible exception of my main speakers in one system). In fact, not only have I been welcome, but as most here now know, I got assisted in a way that I never imagined!! The acceptance, encouragement, positive environment, etc. of this place is like none other I have visited or been a member of and I've done my share (3 audio forums no less). Yes, I had to get the courage up to join partly due to my fear of the term "High-end", but once here, I received a warmer welcome then on any other forum I've ever walked into! I'm still getting used to it.
Keep posting your stuff Rob so myself and others like me who have to save up for nearly everything (not necessarily a bad thing except for the risk of some emergency or unexpected event putting a wet blanket on the effort) and who live paycheck to paycheck can have a shot at High Fidelity. That said though, I am all too aware that many of those here who have systems that would crush mine by a mere glance have demonstrated that they know of affordable gear for the little guy that runs par to some of the higher end stuff. My CD player search is a good example. I thought I would not get more than maybe one recommendation in my price range, but to my amazement I got snowed on with recommends!
Thank you to Mike and the rest of the gang that created this place!!!!

~Eric
 
cmalak said:
Rob...I am not sure what prompted your post (i.e., if you were made to feel unappreciated in another thread which I hope was not the case and I am pretty sure was likely not the case) but as everyone here has already said, we are music lovers first and audiophiles second of all stripes. I have exchanged 1 or 2 PMs with Music Director on a like subject because he seems to be averse to the term audiophile, as he thinks of audiophiles as folks who spend an inordinate amount of money on gear and are not necessarily into music but rather showing off their gear. My take on the word audiophile (and on the AS culture here) is that an audiophile is a person who cares deeply about music and who seeks to play it back on gear that enhances the emotional connection to the music, whether you are spending a few hundred dollars on a piece of gear or tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The budget is just a function of one's financial situation. The obsessive compulsive disorder (:D) to find the gear that best expresses the emotional content of that music within that budget (whatever's one's preferences tube vs.SS, digital vs. analog, what have you...) is what defines the aduiophile ethos.

Always enjoy and look forward to your posts!
Click to expand...

Hi Cyril,
Yeah, I had a hard time getting myself to set foot in here partly based on the term "High-end" in the mission statement.:rolleyes:
I think I'm getting to be ok, with the term "Audiophile" (as you and I define it) within the waters of Audioshark, but not outside! Outside what is understood here the term or label, if you will is highly misunderstood and the meaning has become quite perverted to mean your correct assumption of what I think of it from the view of most folks.
I don't use the term to describe myself outside of here because I don't want to misrepresent myself or be misrepresented.

For me, the true definition of the term "audiophile" includes not just the desire to play music back on gear that enhances the emotional connection (the gear is not the sole means of an emotional connection to the music, it's really just a part of the means to an ends), but it's also working to squeeze the best performance out of what you have on hand until you can afford to get the piece that gives the most improvement if still needed.

~Eric
 
cmalak said:
Rob...I am not sure what prompted your post (i.e., if you were made to feel unappreciated in another thread which I hope was not the case and I am pretty sure was likely not the case) but as everyone here has already said, we are music lovers first and audiophiles second of all stripes. I have exchanged 1 or 2 PMs with Music Director on a like subject because he seems to be averse to the term audiophile, as he thinks of audiophiles as folks who spend an inordinate amount of money on gear and are not necessarily into music but rather showing off their gear. My take on the word audiophile (and on the AS culture here) is that an audiophile is a person who cares deeply about music and who seeks to play it back on gear that enhances the emotional connection to the music, whether you are spending a few hundred dollars on a piece of gear or tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The budget is just a function of one's financial situation. The obsessive compulsive disorder (:D) to find the gear that best expresses the emotional content of that music within that budget (whatever's one's preferences tube vs.SS, digital vs. analog, what have you...) is what defines the aduiophile ethos.

Always enjoy and look forward to your posts!
Click to expand...

+1 super one
 
MusicDirector said:
My sentiments about being welcome here align with Rob's. While I have been here for a short time, (with one exception), I have never been unwelcome due to my economic position or lack of "high-end" or "audiophile gear" (with the possible exception of my main speakers in one system). In fact, not only have I been welcome, but as most here now know, I got assisted in a way that I never imagined!! The acceptance, encouragement, positive environment, etc. of this place is like none other I have visited or been a member of and I've done my share (3 audio forums no less). Yes, I had to get the courage up to join partly due to my fear of the term "High-end", but once here, I received a warmer welcome then on any other forum I've ever walked into! I'm still getting used to it.
Keep posting your stuff Rob so myself and others like me who have to save up for nearly everything (not necessarily a bad thing except for the risk of some emergency or unexpected event putting a wet blanket on the effort) and who live paycheck to paycheck can have a shot at High Fidelity. That said though, I am all too aware that many of those here who have systems that would crush mine by a mere glance have demonstrated that they know of affordable gear for the little guy that runs par to some of the higher end stuff. My CD player search is a good example. I thought I would not get more than maybe one recommendation in my price range, but to my amazement I got snowed on with recommends!
Thank you to Mike and the rest of the gang that created this place!!!!

~Eric
Click to expand...

Eric, you are one of us !!
We are music lovers and the best of friends

:)
 
cmalak said:
Rob...I am not sure what prompted your post (i.e., if you were made to feel unappreciated in another thread which I hope was not the case and I am pretty sure was likely not the case) but as everyone here has already said, we are music lovers first and audiophiles second of all stripes. I have exchanged 1 or 2 PMs with Music Director on a like subject because he seems to be averse to the term audiophile, as he thinks of audiophiles as folks who spend an inordinate amount of money on gear and are not necessarily into music but rather showing off their gear. My take on the word audiophile (and on the AS culture here) is that an audiophile is a person who cares deeply about music and who seeks to play it back on gear that enhances the emotional connection to the music, whether you are spending a few hundred dollars on a piece of gear or tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The budget is just a function of one's financial situation. The obsessive compulsive disorder (:D) to find the gear that best expresses the emotional content of that music within that budget (whatever's one's preferences tube vs.SS, digital vs. analog, what have you...) is what defines the aduiophile ethos.

Always enjoy and look forward to your posts!
Click to expand...

Very well said, Cyril!:scholar:

This post should be stickied in the welcome section as representative of the ethos of this site!
 
I have always felt welcome..and NO , no one has ever said anything contrary...that is what is cool about this place..high end, low end, agree, disagree, stubborn, easy..it is never personal and always helpful...My god the awesome folks here that have given their time...

I guess I was just feeling a little funny because of posts like the $49 miracle, DIy speaker cables...etc..but then I think..one of these days, even a person with high end stuff may just need that $49 miracle for something like a bedroom setup, a college student, something...and I gave them a good source and value..


Anyway, thanks...to all of you..Btw..I will post a head needle drops when Jeff sends me the IFI Iphono and Phonomena II this week...One of them will be mine...LOL
 
ohbythebay said:
I have always felt welcome..and NO , no one has ever said anything contrary...that is what is cool about this place..high end, low end, agree, disagree, stubborn, easy..it is never personal and always helpful...My god the awesome folks here that have given their time...

I guess I was just feeling a little funny because of posts like the $49 miracle, DIy speaker cables...etc..but then I think..one of these days, even a person with high end stuff may just need that $49 miracle for something like a bedroom setup, a college student, something...and I gave them a good source and value..




Anyway, thanks...to all of you..Btw..I will post a head needle drops when Jeff sends me the IFI Iphono and Phonomena II this week...One of them will be mine...LOL
Click to expand...

Check your porch tomorrow.....work already knows you won't be their :)
 
I've enjoyed all of the DIY threads Rob. I hope you continue to post stuff like that. I will be curious as to what you think of the Phonomena II.
 
Here's the thing Rob.

I know some people with a pair of stereo loudspeaker cables that cost more than not only all of my gear added together, but also my car, my truck, my boat, and even my house! And that, is a fact.

Now, those same people with those speaker cables; well, they know other guys with interconnects and power cords and power conditioners that cost even more than them speaker cables!

Super ultra rich people they don't frequent audio forums. ...Only the rest do.

And people living in the jungles of the Amazon or the deserts of the Sahara; them too they don't bother much to frequent audio forums of the Internet. They don't even have electricity for most of them, and they don't even have a job! ...They just hunt for food and survival.

This entire world of ours is vast, and ways of living and laws created by men vary profusely from one region to another.
BUT! We are all men and women, and we are all equal regardless. All of our blood is red, and we pretty much all love music. ...And peace too.

You were sayin' again?
 
bzr said:
Group hug...... no leg humping Mark! :D
Click to expand...
Lmao!!!!!!
That is why I like it here so much. In the same thread you get people's opinions who buy $50 phonostages and $10k phonostages and everywhere in between.
I also live paycheck to paycheck and can't afford the gear I'd like to buy.
I save individually for each piece I buy, and look to the used market as much as possible.
I research each piece for months ,looking for the right item. I can't afford to buy a new piece of gear and only sell it off for 1/2. If I don't like it.

My secret to buy better gear than I've bought in the past and spend more money on it..... I'm single again!!!!lol

Anyway I'm going off topic. Robs threads are among the most interesting on this forum and I look foward to reading em. Keep it up rob !!!
 
ohbythebay said:
Hey all,

Lets face it, a good majority here are higher end audiophiles with pieces of equipment that sometimes cost more than all my equipment put together. I have to tell you at times it is intimidating but yet, you never make me feel unwelcome.

Hopefully this is the niche I fill and hope I fill it well. There is a large audio population, especially those new to turntables and vinyl that just don't have the pockets deep enough to just buy the best of the best. A VPI turntable will cause them to drool and the sure knowledge that mortgage payments would be missed if they ever bought one.

What I have done over the past several years is try to find the best bargains delivering the highest sound to approach audiophile quality. some of my experiments have been successful, some not but in all cases I felt I gathered knowledge to help others (until I talk to Jeff and then I feel like a kindergartener being schooled by the dean at MIT...LOL)

So my passion with tables, carts, cables, tube amps, etc. is no where near the high end audio gear some may have but to the average piker, I am able to put together systems and sounds that really deliver. My own system right now is very balanced and gives much pleasure. Its not cheap but its not 10k worth either...,,,maybe 4 to 5k but that was over time..

Anyway, I hope no one minds when Rob posts his DIY stuff or the cheaper items...just trying to show there is some good quality on the lower end too...:disbelief:

Thanks for having me !!!
Click to expand...

..and then there are those folks -- bless their hearts...that have a system for each room of their house, each of which costs 10X more than mine. ..and here I sit with my home-made power cords. :exciting:
 
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