You get one do-over in your Audio life...what is it?

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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We've all made mistakes. Bought something we shouldn't have (and lost money), sold something we wish we later had not, sold off an entire system to go in a totally different direction, only to realize later it was a mistake, purchased an expensive turntable only to realize later you're not up for all the fuss & muss, switched to tubes only to realize you prefer solid state (or visa-versa), etc.

If you got one do-over in your audio life, what would it be?

Mine would be:

* Not to have sold my McIntosh 2301's
 
Probably should have never purchased the TAD CR-1's. If I'd been a little smarter, I would have bought McIntosh MC2KW's when I had the chance and really been done.
 
The single most disappointing component I ever purchased was a Simaudio 700i integrated amp. I still wonder if there was something defective with it.
After reading glowing reviews and others touting the synergy with Dynaudio I was prepared to be impressed. Honestly there was nothing impressive about the performance. Bass was lacking and the sound was sterile and bright. It sounded very lackluster and the stated power output did not reflect as such. After inserting a different amp I quickly confirmed that this was not the product for me and sold it soon thereafter.
 
Should have kept my vinyl collection - which I sold back in 1998. I'm now re-buying many albums I once owned.

A second item, selling the Salon 2s. Even after 2 years, I still miss them. I know, I bent the rule of 1 - but just by a bit!
 
I missed it so much on Harbeth M40.1 so I bought it again. Next one would be the Tannoy Westminster.....Some time.


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Selling my Mac 601 system to flirt with SET amplification. My first pair of 845 amps basically blew a channel in the first week and subsequent purchases never worked out including one that arrived, new, with shipping damage which the distributor blamed on me. I had Melodys fine 845 amp in for demo last year and finally called it quits and stuck with Dart. Push/pull tube for me, only.
 
interesting topic.

i've made a lot of hifi mistakes (buying tons of cd's that i don't listen to anymore, sell complete hifi systems or components very cheap from frustration, losing a lot of money etc. etc.) - but i've learned from the mistakes. (i hope) :scholar:

i guess i'm one of these persons/ignorants that must make a lot of mistakes in order to learn and come further...:doubtful:

but i'm pretty happy now with my system - no changes planned ;-)
 
I have to agree with an earlier response, selling off or giving away all my vinyl back in the 80s when CDs first came out. Still kicking myself for that as well as selling my old Fretless Rickenbacker.
 
The one do-over I wish I could change was buying a pair of lemon Infinity Renaissance 90 speakers from a cowboy seller Larry Schwartz ('lwschwartz' on forums). That guy sold me a pair of speakers with textor repairs to cover chips, as well as damaged unobtanium grills he failed to mention to me in the ad or any of our conversations. Long story short, the seller washed his hands of it and stopped responding to my emails. And since the grills on the Rens are integral to the sound of the speakers (like Avalon), I decided to cut my losses and sold them at a heavy loss (taking into account o/s shipping). That guy is the reason I no longer buy used gear :mad:.
 
tube-vds said:
please tell us why - thanks.
Click to expand...

Their upgrade prices are ridiculous. They charge the same amount for a D120 -> D220 upgrade as the D200 -> D220, instantly devaluing my D200. They spent years doing nothing about the AIR issues while promoting the R2D2 speakers. It took a mass public outcry to get them to eventually admit that existing customer issues with AIR weren't a priority to them.

I wish I had spent more time and auditioned other gear specifically Ayre. SAM in the Devialet helped my Focals immensely but do almost nothing for my current Wilsons.
 
Should have never sold my Futterman OTLs.

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If I had one do over, I'd probably not have spent sooooo much time trying to create a hybrid HT and 2 channel system. It was always a compromise to one or the other or usually both. Choose one and maximize it for that purpose or get a bigger house so you can have one of each :)
 
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