Am I Bad Listener?


Let me say from the outset that I love audio gear and I love the sound of mid-high end audio. But here's the thing ...

The only part of a system that I can hear a real difference in is speakers. In my system over the past few months I have tested three different amps (a 30W tube, a 150W SS integrated and a 200W SS amp plus a bi-amp configuration), a tube preamp, no preamp (direct to amp via DAC with volume control) and most recently a bunch of different speaker wires (my original Audience Maestros, a DIY Home Depot 10 gauge concoction, Anticables and two other sets of very expensive wires borrowed from a local dealer - some bi-wired & some single with jumpers). Oh, and a series of different IC's.

With the possible exception of the insertion of the tube preamp, I can't really tell much of a difference regardless of what I do. I have had similar experiences at dealers. But switching back and forth between different speakers I can hear huge differences.

I think my system sounds really good but is modest by comparison to many on A'gon - Olive Musica, Benchmark DAC, Minimax Preamp, Meridian G57 amp (sometimes switched for a Classe or Prima Luna) - so maybe that's it. In a modest system the effect of switching components or wires just won't yield huge sound changes. Or maybe I just don't hear in a very detailed manner.

I spend a fair amount of time reading posts here and people claim to have genuine sonic revelations by switching an interconnect or a tube or piece of speaker wire. I love buying the new stuff and giving it a try but I just don't seem to ever hear a sonic revelation and end up re-selling it.

Does anyone share my experience or is there something this sad, pathetic audiophile is missing?
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Showing 1 response by tobias

For some time I have been wondering about my own enjoyment of the music. I wonder if it doesn’t depend on myself and my own state of mind as much as it does on my system.

There are moments when I realize I’m listening for details, evaluating the gear and the presentation, getting hung up on system faults... these are often times when I’m tense and worried and not ready to relax. I get all analytical and fussy. I couldn’t really listen to the music even if I were paid to do it.

At other times I can let everything go, listen for the musical message and not care about the details of the gear and all the rest.

I think I need both of those states of mind. Because of the fussy moments, I have tweaked the system until it sounds much better now than when I got it. But I’m sure glad there are the other times as well.